Stop Trying to Be the Cheapest - Featuring Spencer Ward
Release Date: 10/28/2025
What Idaho Business Owners Can Learn from the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo - Featuring Spencer Ward
Idaho Business Podcast
Last weekend in Las Vegas, I spent a full day at the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo learning what my Bronco is actually built to do. Steep climbs. Rock crawling. Technical descents. Sand. Situations I would’ve never attempted on my own. I left fired up. Not just because it was fun—but because I realized something: most of us are driving vehicles (and running businesses) that are capable of way more than we’re asking them to do. In this episode, I break down what the Off-Roadeo taught me about pushing your limits, applying what you learn at conferences, and why growth only happens when you’re...
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What Our First Acquisition Taught Us About Making the Next One Smoother - Featuring Spencer Ward
Idaho Business Podcast
Most acquisitions don’t fail because of bad math—they fail because of people, timing, and moving too fast. In this episode, I walk through the real mistakes we made in one of our early acquisitions, what it cost us, and how that experience completely reshaped our post-acquisition playbook. If you’re buying service businesses—or thinking about it—this episode will save you time, stress, and talent. We’ll talk about why “good changes” still trigger fear, how fast system rollouts can backfire, and why learning first earns you the right to lead. I’ll also break down our updated...
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Idaho’s Economic Status: What’s Really Happening & Where Opportunity Lives - Featuring Spencer Ward
Idaho Business Podcast
Idaho’s economy is strong but it’s not without pressure points. In this episode of The Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer breaks down the current state of Idaho’s economy, including unemployment trends, job growth, population shifts, and the industries driving real demand across the state. We talk honestly about tight labor markets, growing sectors like healthcare and construction, and why service-based and B2B businesses continue to thrive in Idaho. We also touch on agriculture, a cornerstone of Idaho’s economy and address the reality of low commodity prices and the pressure farmers are...
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Why the Trades Are Idaho’s Most Overlooked Opportunities - Featuring Spencer Ward
Idaho Business Podcast
For decades, Americans have been told there’s one clear path to success: go to a four-year college, get a degree, and everything else will fall into place. But today’s labor market—especially here in Idaho—is telling a very different story. In this episode of the Idaho Business Podcast, we break down why skilled trades like electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, welders, and fabricators are becoming some of the most in-demand and opportunity-rich careers in the state and across the country. We look at national labor data, Idaho-specific workforce trends, and the growing gap between...
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Letting Go Without Losing Control - Featuring Spencer Ward
Idaho Business Podcast
Every business owner has one thing—the process, problem, or recurring issue that keeps pulling them back into the weeds. In this episode of The Idaho Business Podcast, we talk about why businesses get stuck when everything revolves around the owner—and how clear systems and SOPs are the way out. Not as corporate red tape, but as a leadership tool that creates clarity, accountability, and freedom. We break down why most owners resist SOPs, how micromanagement quietly kills momentum, and what real empowerment actually looks like inside a growing company. You’ll learn how to hand things off...
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How to Start the Year Right, Build the Machine, Then Aim It - Featuring Spencer Ward
Idaho Business Podcast
Most business owners don’t need more motivation—they need better structure. In this episode, we talk about how to start the year on the right foot by fixing the fundamentals that actually create freedom. We break down why every position in your company needs a clearly defined SOP, how systems protect your business from turnover, and why relying on people instead of processes keeps you stuck in the weeds. Then we shift to growth—specifically why chasing every customer is a losing strategy. You’ll hear why choosing a niche allows you to market with precision, spend less on advertising,...
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The 2–3% Rule: Why Profits Are Unnatural and Small Improvements Change Everything - featuring Spencer Ward
Idaho Business Podcast
Most business owners head into a new year chasing big goals and big growth, while quietly ignoring the numbers that actually determine whether the business wins or bleeds. In this episode of The Idaho Business Podcast, we break down why profits are unnatural, why they disappear without discipline, and how reviewing your KPI’s, P&L, and balance sheet at year-end gives you real leverage going into the new year. We walk through the 2–3% Rule—how small, intentional improvements in turnover, pricing, and expense control can create massive, compounding results. You’ll hear practical...
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Stop Writing Yourself Out of Opportunity: The Real Cost of Chasing Write-Offs - Featuring Spencer Ward
Idaho Business Podcast
Most business owners are laser-focused on one thing at tax time: paying as little as possible. On the surface, that feels smart. In reality, it can quietly shut the door on financing, real estate deals, acquisitions, and long-term growth. In this episode, we talk straight about the hidden cost of aggressive write-offs and why writing everything off can make it nearly impossible to get approved for loans or build real wealth. Using a real-world investment property example, we break down how lenders actually view your financials, what “clean income” really means, and why your tax return is...
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Your People Are Your Team. Build It, Live It, Enjoy It - Featuring Spencer Ward
Idaho Business Podcast
The holidays expose the truth about your culture—either you’ve built a real team or you’ve got a group of people merely sharing a schedule. In this episode, we dig into what it actually takes to treat your people like a true team, not just employees who punch a clock. You’ll hear why core values are the backbone of every healthy business, how leaders can bring them to life instead of letting them die on a poster, and why injecting fun into your company isn’t childish—it’s your competitive advantage. When your team feels connected, valued, and part of something meaningful,...
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AI Prompts Every Idaho Business Owner Should Be Using Right Now - Featuring Spencer Ward
Idaho Business Podcast
AI is changing the game for small businesses—especially in places like Idaho where most owners are still trying to figure out how to use it. In this episode, we break down the exact prompts every Idaho business owner should be using to sharpen strategy, improve sales conversations, tighten operations, strengthen hiring, and free up more time. You’ll learn how to use AI as a practical, everyday tool—not some techy fad—to write better messages, build systems, solve team issues, spot financial risks, and even balance your work and family life with more intention. If you’ve ever wished...
info_outlineIn this episode, Spencer Ward breaks down why being the cheapest option in your market is actually the fastest way to go broke.
Too many business owners start out thinking low prices will attract customers — but without knowing their numbers, they end up losing money on every job. Spencer uses a powerful boat analogy to explain how chasing cheap work is like drilling more holes in your boat instead of plugging the one that’s already there.
He shares insights from Mike Campion, Alex Hormozi, Tony Robbins, Patrick Bet-David, and Carl Allen — along with real-world lessons from over a decade of running profitable service companies across Idaho.
If you want to build a business that lasts (and actually pays you), this episode will help you:
✅ Understand your numbers and cost per labor hour
✅ Stop competing on price and start competing on value
✅ Charge what you’re worth and still grow your customer base
✅ Build a brand that’s sustainable, not cheap
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