The IGNITE Podcast with Josh Stone

Josh Stone
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MARKETING

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. How To Lift Team Performance Without Being A Jerk | EP 167

    16H AGO

    How To Lift Team Performance Without Being A Jerk | EP 167

    Most consultancy owners know they need higher standards in their business. The problem is they are not sure how to get there without damaging relationships or turning into someone they do not want to be. In this episode I break down exactly how to lift the performance of your team without avoiding hard conversations or tolerating things you know are quietly dragging the business backwards. We cover why what you tolerate becomes your standard, why avoiding hard conversations is costing you far more than you think, and why most performance issues are not people problems at all — they are clarity problems. I also share a great example from Boardroom members Debbie and Patrick, who lifted performance across their business not by being harder on the team, but by getting clearer on expectations and creating space for people to step up and take ownership. Inside this episode we cover: - Why tolerating underperformance sets the standard for your whole business - The real cost of avoiding hard conversations - How to remove emotion from performance management - Why clear expectations lift performance more than pressure does - What Debbie and Patrick did to get their team performing at a higher level If you run an engineering or built environment consultancy and have been putting off a conversation you know you need to have, this episode will give you a clear framework for how to handle it properly. 👉 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

    15 min
  2. Why Hiring More People Won't Fix Your Profit | EP 166

    APR 13

    Why Hiring More People Won't Fix Your Profit | EP 166

    If your margins are tight and your instinct is to hire more people to deal with business bottlenecks, this episode is worth listening to before you do. In this episode I break down one of the most common mistakes I see consultancy owners make: using hiring as the default solution to a profit problem. More often than not, adding headcount makes things worse before they get better — and in many cases, it is not the real issue at all. I unpack why every new hire is a cost before it is a return, why throwing people at problems is usually avoidance of the real issue, and why the most profitable phases of a consultancy are not the growth phases — they are the consolidation phases. I also share a real example from inside our Boardroom community. Mandy recently hit 30% net profit for the first time in her business, and she did not hire a single extra person to get there. Inside this episode we cover: - Why hiring reduces profit before it increases it - Why most business problems are systems and process issues, not people issues - How to diagnose what is actually holding your margins back - Why consolidation phases are where real profit is built - What Mandy did differently to hit 30% net profit If you run an engineering or built environment consultancy and feel like margins are being squeezed no matter how hard you work, this episode will give you a completely different way to look at the problem. 👉 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

    19 min
  3. Why Growth Plateaus Are Actually Good For Your Consultancy | EP 165

    APR 6

    Why Growth Plateaus Are Actually Good For Your Consultancy | EP 165

    If your consultancy has hit a growth plateau recently, this episode is for you. Most engineering and built environment consultancy owners panic when revenue flattens out. They assume something's wrong. But in this episode, I want to completely reframe the way you think about plateau phases. In most cases, they're not a problem. They're a necessary part of building a strong, sustainable consultancy. I break down why strong consultancies grow in cycles rather than straight lines, why the consolidation phase is where the real foundations of a business get built, and how the most successful founders use these periods deliberately, instead of reacting to them emotionally. I also share the story of Meredith, a client inside our Boardroom community who used her plateau phase to build her business playbook, document systems and bring in two student planners and a VA. The result is a consultancy that's structurally stronger and ready for the next wave of growth. Inside this episode we cover: - Why growth happens in cycles, not straight lines- How plateau phases expose operational weaknesses that need to be fixed- The difference between reacting to a plateau and using it deliberately- How to create a mini business plan for your consolidation phase- What strong consultancies focus on when revenue growth slows If you're running an engineering or built environment consultancy and things feel like they've plateaued, this episode will show you exactly how to use that period to set yourself up for the next stage. 👉 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. Why You Need To Reinvest If You Want To Grow | EP 164

    MAR 30

    Why You Need To Reinvest If You Want To Grow | EP 164

    A lot of engineering and built environment consultancy owners quietly hold onto the very thing that makes growth possible. In this episode, I talk about one of the most common patterns I see inside growing consultancies: money sitting idle in the business bank account while the founder delays hires, delays systems, and delays bringing real capability into the business. We unpack why hoarding cash inside the business feels safe but actually slows your growth, how delaying investment in people and support roles keeps founders buried in operational work, and why the strongest consultancy owners have a completely different relationship with money. I also share a real example from inside our Boardroom community. John and Amanda made the decision to invest in an Operations Manager and admin support. What happened next is exactly what this episode is about. Inside this episode we cover: - Why a large business bank balance isn't the same as a strong business- How delaying hires creates the founder bottleneck- Why admin and operational support is an investment, not overhead- The mindset shift that separates growing consultancies from stagnant ones- How to think about deploying capital: inside the business and outside it If you run an engineering or built environment consultancy and find yourself hesitating to invest back into the business, this episode will give you a clear framework for thinking about where your money should actually be 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 - https://youtu.be/qhusAlo3msw?si=JHK1JjXMMgJO08Hw

    10 min
  5. The 5 Things Holding Consultancy Owners Back | EP 163

    MAR 23

    The 5 Things Holding Consultancy Owners Back | EP 163

    In this episode, I’m joined by Doron Dinor, one of our coaches inside Boardroom, to unpack the five things we see holding most consultancy owners back. After working with more than 150 consulting businesses across engineering and the built environment, the patterns are pretty clear. Many founders are working incredibly hard, but their growth keeps stalling for the same few reasons. Doron and I talk about why so many consultancy owners stay stuck in the technician role instead of stepping fully into the business owner role. We also break down the feast and famine pipeline cycle that leaves many consultancies constantly chasing the next project. We then dive into profit and why margins quietly erode in consulting businesses, along with some simple ways owners can protect and improve them. We also talk about the different phases of business growth and why periods of plateau are often necessary to build the systems and team required for the next stage. Finally, we discuss the power of having a clear plan. Without one, it becomes very easy to fall into decision fatigue and end up reacting to everything instead of intentionally growing the business. If you run a consultancy and feel like growth has slowed or become harder than it should be, this episode will help you see where the real constraints might be. 👉 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

    18 min
  6. Strategic Business Development for Consultancy Owners | EP 162

    MAR 16

    Strategic Business Development for Consultancy Owners | EP 162

    Most consultancy owners approach business development reactively. They rely on chasing leads, responding to enquiries, and following up opportunities as they appear. But if you want to win higher-quality clients and bigger projects, that approach eventually hits a ceiling. In this episode, I break down what strategic business development actually looks like inside a consulting business and why the best firms don’t just chase work — they win it by design. We talk about the difference between daily lead generation (LinkedIn outreach, marketing, calls and relationship building) and the longer-term strategic BD activities that help you access better clients, bigger projects and more predictable growth. I also share a real example from my own consulting business where we spent two years deliberately pursuing one ideal client, which ultimately led to a major long-term project worth millions in consulting fees. Inside this episode we unpack: • Why strategic BD starts with getting crystal clear on your ideal clients• How to identify the rooms your best clients are actually in• Why positioning and branding matter when pursuing elite clients• The power of referral partnerships in opening the right doors• How collaboration with other consultancies can help you win larger projects If you’re tired of relying on ad-hoc business development and want a more intentional approach to winning better clients, this episode will give you a clear framework to start thinking more strategically. 👉 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

    26 min
  7. Why Consultancy Owners Undervalue Themselves | EP 161

    MAR 10

    Why Consultancy Owners Undervalue Themselves | EP 161

    Many consultancy owners believe they have a pricing problem. But most of the time, the real issue isn’t the market, the client, or the fee structure. It’s confidence. In this episode, I unpack why so many engineering and built environment consultancy owners hesitate when it comes to pricing their work. We talk about the subtle ways uncertainty shows up during client conversations and how that can lead to unnecessary fee pressure, discounting, and difficult negotiations. I also share a coaching example from one of our clients that shows how quickly the dynamic with clients can change when you stay calm, clear, and confident in the value you bring. When you stop second guessing yourself and lead the conversation properly, clients often stop pushing back altogether. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable discussing fees, struggled with clients negotiating your proposals, or wondered whether you’re charging what your work is truly worth, this episode will give you a different way to think about the problem. 👉 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

    11 min
  8. Why You Can Be Flat Out and Still Not Profitable | EP 160

    MAR 2

    Why You Can Be Flat Out and Still Not Profitable | EP 160

    Being busy is not the same as being profitable - yet many consultancy owners only realise this once the numbers don’t stack up. In this episode, I unpack where profit actually leaks during projects, why busyness often hides inefficiency, and how disciplined delivery systems protect your margins. You’ll learn why most margin loss happens after the project is won, how rework and unclear scope quietly erode profitability, and what strong consultancies do differently to run more controlled and profitable projects. I also share a client story demonstrating how tightening delivery systems led to their first 30% profit month — without winning more work or increasing workload. 👉 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
See All (193)

About

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

Information

You Might Also Like