The IGNITE Podcast with Josh Stone

Josh Stone
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Helping Engineering, Town Planning, Surveying & Architecture Consultancies grow to $10M a year & beyond Build A Profitable Consultancy | Hit 30% Net Profit Margins Operate More Efficiently | Unlock your Businesses Potential & Grow with Confidence Download our free Business Plan template to build out your Business Plan & consistently grow your business - https://www.coachignite.com/the-business-plan-template Join our next online workshop – The Profitable Consultant | Learn how to build a Profitable Consultancy, that generates consistent 30% net profit margins - https://www.coachignite.com/the-profitable-consultant-workshop Book a 15-minute Business Growth Call | A short, no-obligation catch up where we can touch base and really look at where you are now, where you want to be, and then build a personalised plan together for how to get you there - https://www.coachignite.com/business-growth-call 📞 0408 063 479 ✉ admin@coachignite.com 🌐 www.coachignite.com

  1. Referrals & Word of Mouth Aren’t a Business Growth Strategy | EP 158

    1D AGO

    Referrals & Word of Mouth Aren’t a Business Growth Strategy | EP 158

    Referrals and word of mouth are great, but on their own, they’re not a business growth strategy... In this episode, I break down why relying solely on referrals keeps your pipeline unpredictable, why confidence drops the moment referrals slow, and how strong consultancies combine reputation with a simple, consistent business development rhythm to create real control. I explain why referrals can’t be forecast, how reputation without proactive outreach limits growth, and what it actually looks like to layer daily structure and visibility underneath word of mouth. I also share a real client example that shows how adding a simple LinkedIn outreach system alongside referrals creates confidence, consistency, and clarity - without replacing what’s already working. 👉 Check out our $10M+ Consultancy Roadmap Training. It’s a step-by-step guide to help you move from wherever you are now - whether that’s $1M, $3M, $5M or $10M and beyond - and build a business you can genuinely be proud of >> CLICK HERE

    12 min
  2. The Delegation Trap: How You’re Secretly Staying Stuck | EP 157

    FEB 9

    The Delegation Trap: How You’re Secretly Staying Stuck | EP 157

    Most consultancy owners think they’re delegating, but behind the scenes, everything still runs through them. In this episode, I break down why handing off tasks without handing over decisions keeps you busy, overwhelmed, and stuck, even with a capable team around you. I explain why phrases like “just check with me before it goes out” quietly turn you into the bottleneck, how owners unintentionally train their teams to wait instead of think, and what real delegation actually looks like if you want time back without standards slipping. I also share a real client example that shows how transferring ownership, authority, and decision-making (not just tasks) is what finally frees founders up and allows the business to move forward without them behind every decision. 👉 Check out our $10M+ Consultancy Roadmap Training. It’s a step-by-step guide to help you move from wherever you are now - whether that’s $1M, $3M, $5M or $10M and beyond - and build a business you can genuinely be proud of // https://youtu.be/qhusAlo3msw?si=JHK1JjXMMgJO08Hw

    12 min
  3. Build a Business You Don’t Need to Escape From | EP 156

    FEB 2

    Build a Business You Don’t Need to Escape From | EP 156

    If you’re constantly hanging out for the next holiday just to recover from your business, something’s off. In this episode, I break down how to build a consultancy that actually feels good to run — one that supports your life instead of draining it. I explain how to redesign your weeks around high-value work, why your role must evolve as the business grows, and why relying on holidays as a recovery strategy is a warning sign — not a solution. I also share a real client example that shows what happens when founders step out of low-value work, build the right team and systems, and finally create a business that can run smoothly without them hovering. 👉 👉 Check out our $10M+ Consultancy Roadmap Training. It’s a step-by-step guide to help you move from wherever you are now — whether that’s $1M, $3M, $5M or $10M and beyond — and build a business you can genuinely be proud of - https://youtu.be/qhusAlo3msw?si=JHK1JjXMMgJO08Hw

    12 min
  4. You Don’t Need More Clients — You Need Better Ones | EP 155

    JAN 27

    You Don’t Need More Clients — You Need Better Ones | EP 155

    Most consultancy owners don’t have a workload problem — they have a client quality problem. In this episode, I break down why chasing more clients often leads to more stress, lower margins, and less control — and why upgrading the quality of your clients is one of the fastest ways to improve profit, clarity, and momentum. I explain how low-value clients quietly drain time, energy, and emotional bandwidth, how to objectively rank your clients from A-grade to D-grade, and how to let go of the wrong work without panicking or stalling growth. I also share a real client example that shows why 80% of revenue often comes from just 20% of clients — and how intentionally creating space allows better, more profitable work to show up faster than expected. 👉 Check out our $10M+ Consultancy Roadmap Training. It’s a step-by-step guide to help you move from wherever you are now — whether that’s $1M, $3M, $5M or $10M and beyond — and build a business you can genuinely be proud of - https://youtu.be/qhusAlo3msw?si=JHK1JjXMMgJO08Hw

    13 min
  5. Confidence, Not Pricing, Is the Real Problem | EP 154

    JAN 12

    Confidence, Not Pricing, Is the Real Problem | EP 154

    Your pricing isn’t the real problem — your confidence is. In this episode, I break down why engineering and built environment consultancy owners struggle to charge what they’re really worth, why fear is driving how you price projects and approach fee discussions with clients, and how showing up with calm confidence changes how clients behave and treat you. I share a real life coaching client example of how backing yourself and staying clear and confident leads to clients stopping negotiations and asking for discounts — proving that confidence alone can flip the dynamic and see you charging what you’re really worth. 👉 Check out the $10M+ Consultancy Roadmap (Step-by-Step to $1M, $3M, $5M, $10M and Beyond) to grow a profitable consultancy without burning out >> Click here to watch

    11 min
  6. Engineers Let Themselves Become a Commodity (And Doctors Didn’t) | EP 153

    JAN 5

    Engineers Let Themselves Become a Commodity (And Doctors Didn’t) | EP 153

    Engineers didn’t lose respect overnight — it happened one “yes” at a time. In this episode, I explain how the engineering & built environment profession gradually became commoditised, dropping fees & profit margins — while doctors protected their value — and what you need to do to stop being discounted, rushed, and disrespected. I share a real client example of saying no, holding standards, and attracting higher-quality opportunities. 👉 Check out the The $10M+ Consultancy Roadmap (Step-by-Step to $1M, $3M, $5M, $10M & Beyond) to grow a profitable consultancy without burning out >> Click here to watch

    11 min
  7. How To Have A Proper Holiday Without Your Business Falling Apart | EP 152

    12/28/2025

    How To Have A Proper Holiday Without Your Business Falling Apart | EP 152

    Your business shouldn’t collapse without you.    If stepping away feels risky, it’s not bad luck.  It’s feedback.    In this episode, I break down why most consultancies struggle to run without the founder — and why it has nothing to do with effort, talent, or commitment.    It comes down to five predictable constraints:    - Decisions funnelled through one person.  - No operating rhythm the team can follow independently.  - Critical knowledge trapped in someone’s head.  - Unclear ownership when things go wrong.  - And boundaries that train dependency instead of capability.    When those exist, holidays aren’t a luxury — they’re a liability.    For this episode, I walk through how we systematically removed these bottlenecks as our consultancy grew from $3M to $30M.  Not by hiring endlessly.  Not by being “less involved.”  But by designing the business to operate without heroic intervention.    I also explain why a proper holiday is one of the most effective stress-tests your business can run.  It reveals where structure is missing.  Where trust is fragile.  And where growth is artificially capped.    If your goal is a consultancy that scales cleanly past $5M, $10M and beyond —  Being optional is not a lifestyle goal.  It’s an operational requirement.    This episode lays out exactly how to think about that shift.    PS: If you’re interested, here are 4 ways I can help you right now:     Grab a copy of my new book | Profitable Engineering Consultant | 9 strategies to grow with confidence, get your time back & consistently hit 30% plus net profit margins – Click Here    Subscribe to our podcast | Learn how to run a more profitable consultancy and grow successfully – no fluff, just actionable and practical advice from someone who grew a consultancy to $30M and exited successfully – Watch Here or Listen Here + make sure you subscribe!     3. Download our free Business Plan template | Map out your Business Plan & grow your consultancy with confidence – Click Here to download now    4. Book a 20-minute Business Audit Call | We’ll do a full review & audit of your business, uncover the #1 bottleneck that's holding you back right now & develop a 3-step action plan together for how you can get results faster. You'll leave this call with a clear and actionable plan for what to do next in your business – Book Here

    18 min
  8. The Shareholder Framework You Must Build Now | EP 151

    12/01/2025

    The Shareholder Framework You Must Build Now | EP 151

    Businesses don’t fall apart from delivery. They fall apart at the top.    I’ve coached hundreds of consultancy owners.  I’ve sat on real boards.  I’ve scaled from $3M → $30M with 20 shareholders.  And I’ve seen how fast a business can fracture when governance isn’t set up properly.    This week’s episode is the conversation most founders avoid — until they can’t.    Inside, I’ll show you:    Why founders lose control without even realising it  (and how to make sure it never happens to you).    Why minority shareholders disengage silently  (and what this does to culture and momentum).    Why “everyone gets a say” sounds fair  but destroys speed.    And why the wrong voting structure traps good businesses in endless friction.    Then I show you the model that fixes it.    The exact two voting frameworks that work.  When to use each.  How to keep the business fast, aligned, and conflict-free.  And how to write it properly into your shareholders’ deed.    This is real-world, in-the-trenches consultancy leadership.    If you’re serious about scaling…  If you care about alignment…  If you want a business that grows past $10M and actually stays healthy…  Listen to this episode — especially if you’ve introduced (or are planning to introduce) new shareholders into the business.      PS: If you’re interested, here are 4 ways I can help you right now:     Grab a copy of my new book | Profitable Engineering Consultant | 9 strategies to grow with confidence, get your time back & consistently hit 30% plus net profit margins – Click Here     Subscribe to our podcast | Learn how to run a more profitable consultancy and grow successfully – no fluff, just actionable and practical advice from someone who grew a consultancy to $30M and exited successfully – Watch Here or Listen Here + make sure you subscribe!     3. Download our free Business Plan template | Map out your Business Plan & grow your consultancy with confidence – Click Here to download now    4. Book a 20-minute Business Audit Call | We’ll do a full review & audit of your business, uncover the #1 bottleneck that's holding you back right now & develop a 3-step action plan together for how you can get results faster. You'll leave this call with a clear and actionable plan for what to do next in your business – Book Here

    18 min
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Helping Engineering, Town Planning, Surveying & Architecture Consultancies grow to $10M a year & beyond Build A Profitable Consultancy | Hit 30% Net Profit Margins Operate More Efficiently | Unlock your Businesses Potential & Grow with Confidence Download our free Business Plan template to build out your Business Plan & consistently grow your business - https://www.coachignite.com/the-business-plan-template Join our next online workshop – The Profitable Consultant | Learn how to build a Profitable Consultancy, that generates consistent 30% net profit margins - https://www.coachignite.com/the-profitable-consultant-workshop Book a 15-minute Business Growth Call | A short, no-obligation catch up where we can touch base and really look at where you are now, where you want to be, and then build a personalised plan together for how to get you there - https://www.coachignite.com/business-growth-call 📞 0408 063 479 ✉ admin@coachignite.com 🌐 www.coachignite.com

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