The 2–3% Rule: Why Profits Are Unnatural and Small Improvements Change Everything - featuring Spencer Ward
Release Date: 12/30/2025
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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_outline
Stop Talking About Yourself, Speak to Your Perfect Prospect Instead - Featuring Spencer Ward
Idaho Business Podcast
If your marketing is falling flat, this episode tells you exactly why — you’re talking about yourself instead of speaking directly to the person you want to serve. In this straight-shooting breakdown, Spencer shows you how shifting from “we/our/my” language to “you/your” language instantly transforms the way your prospects see you. You’ll learn how to identify your perfect prospect using the same framework taught by Mike Campion, including the exact demographic, psychographic, and behavior questions you should be asking (pulled straight from the Perfect Prospect Survey). You’ll...
info_outline
Building Businesses That Outgrow You — with Garrett Foster of Prevail Legacy Builders
Idaho Business Podcast
In this episode of The Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer sits down with Garrett Foster — a business builder, consultant, and founder of Prevail Legacy Builders — to talk about what it really takes to scale beyond self-employment. They unpack the transition from working in your business to working on it, the 80/20 rule of delegation, and why having the right people in the right seats can make or break your growth. Garrett shares his journey from the construction industry to providing fractional CFO, COO, and HR services that help entrepreneurs step out of the weeds and back into strategic...
info_outline
Niche Hard, Win Big — Seth Horst on North Idaho, First-Responder Roots, and Building a $100M Team
Idaho Business Podcast
Today on the Idaho Business Podcast, Spencer sits down with Seth Horst—realtor in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, retired California Highway Patrol officer turned Idaho convert, and host of the Idaho Experience podcast (and the North Idaho Experience YouTube channel). Seth shares how his team of former first responders and veterans grew by being unapologetically themselves, niching hard, and attracting clients who share their values. They dig into why culture beats everything, how clear core values filter both hires and clients, and why North Idaho’s throwback, say-hi-to-strangers vibe makes...
info_outlineMost 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 examples, including what reducing employee turnover by just 3% can do for a 50-person team, and how a modest 2–3% price increase across 90 customers can add tens of thousands of dollars to your bottom line.
This isn’t about working harder or chasing a miracle year. It’s about tightening standards, assigning ownership, and making disciplined decisions that protect profit and strengthen your business for long-term growth.
If you’re serious about running a cleaner, more profitable business—and not just a busy one—this episode is your starting point.
If you are feeling the love, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you are!!
If you'd like to be featured on an episode go to theidahobusinesspodcast.com to APPLY!