Why Every Penny Counts When Tariffs Hit Your Bottom Line

💡 What do cowboy boots, China tariffs, and mindset coaching have in common? This episode will change how you think about margins, manufacturing, and leadership clarity. Jeff Jones reveals how something as small as a 4¢ tariff can create a multi-million-dollar ripple—and how to turn disruption into direction. "Every penny counts right now." Guest Bio Jeff Jones, Founder of Twisted X, built an iconic western footwear brand that’s now leading the sustainability charge in American manufacturing. With boots made of recycled materials and bold reshoring strategies, Jeff brings both grit and green thinking to today’s SMB landscape. Vitals (Stats & Metrics) • 4 cents/pair = $4M/year: Small tariffs add up fast when you ship millions of products. • 95% of footwear is imported: Highlights U.S. manufacturing dependency and risk. • 80/20 leadership principle: Jeff uses coaching tools like Kolbe and DISC to drive business clarity. • Post-pandemic impact: From “pallets in parking lots” to reshoring planning. Medical History (Summary) Jeff Jones shares an unfiltered look at how tariffs, supply chain chaos, and leadership blind spots forced him to rethink every part of his business—from sourcing to self-awareness. Exam (Detailed Breakdown) 📍 00:00 – Meet Jeff Jones & Twisted X’s origin story 📍 05:48 – Tariffs 101: Why 4 cents matters 📍 12:55 – Boot math: Unit margins at scale 📍 19:18 – “You can’t grill with a candle”: The fallacy of simple reshoring 📍 24:40 – The pandemic’s wake-up call on logistics 📍 31:05 – From footwear to feedback: How leadership coaching changed Jeff’s trajectory 📍 34:50 – “Most leaders need a mirror”: Coaching insights & mindset shifts 📍 41:30 – Embracing discomfort, facing friction, and investing in people Treatment Plan (Resources & Mentions) • Twisted X – Eco-forward Western footwear • Leadership coaching tools: Kolbe, DISC • Past episode reference: Why Identity Is Now Your Weakest Link – Ep. 107 Call to Action (Guest) 👢 Want to learn more about Twisted X’s sustainable mission or connect with Jeff? Visit twistedx.com or follow the brand’s innovation journey on LinkedIn. Podcast Call to Action (Fulcrum) ✅ Like what you heard? Subscribe on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | PocketCasts | Amazon Music 📝 Request your initial consultation at: https://www.fulcrumgroup.net/talk-to-th3-doc-podcast/ Glossary • Tariff – A government-imposed tax on imported goods. • Reshoring – The practice of bringing manufacturing back to the domestic market. • Kolbe – A psychometric tool to measure instinctive strengths. • DISC – A behavioral assessment tool measuring personality traits. Top 20 SEO Hashtags #SupplyChain #Tariffs #SMBLeadership #Reshoring #ManufacturingMatters #FootwearIndustry #TwistedX #MadeInUSA #SustainableBusiness #MarginsMatter #BusinessMindset #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachingTools #KolbeIndex #DISCProfile #Entrepreneurship #CrisisLeadership #CashFlowMatters #TalkToTh3Doc #FulcrumGroup