Leadership, reflection, accountability, culture, and growth drive Episode 71 of Crossroad Conversations. In this episode, the Lewis Brothers kick off the new year with an honest Year in Review, breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and what they would do differently as they continue growing a multi-store family business.

The conversation focuses on why real leadership requires reviewing mistakes without defensiveness. The brothers reflect on wins around culture, community involvement, and placing the right people in the right roles rather than simply hiring to fill seats.

They discuss how leaning out the organization, strengthening internal culture, and using micro meetings helped improve clarity, accountability, and productivity across departments. These small, focused leadership conversations allowed them to peel back layers, address inefficiencies, and make better operational decisions.

The episode also covers lessons learned from new systems, delegation, and operational challenges, including construction delays and staffing gaps. Rather than reacting emotionally, the brothers explain how slowing growth at the right time protected long-term quality and customer trust.

The conversation closes with leadership lessons heading into the next year, emphasizing delegation, empowering managers, protecting culture during growth, and intentionally reviewing both successes and failures instead of rushing past them.

KEYWORDS
leadership, year in review, accountability, culture, family business, delegation, management systems, employee development, community, business growth

TAKEAWAYS

Honest review strengthens leadership
Culture matters more than speed
Right people in the right roles drive growth
Micro meetings create accountability
Systems only work when used correctly
Slowing down can protect long-term success
Delegation allows leaders to scale
Transparency builds trust
Reviewing mistakes prevents repetition
Growth requires reflection, not just momentum

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Reviewing mistakes without defensiveness
00:54 Episode introduction and year-in-review focus
03:09 What worked well this year
05:13 Right-sizing the team
08:34 Micro meetings and productivity
11:00 Manager ownership and accountability
14:29 Systems and process lessons
19:39 Why most businesses skip reviews
21:27 Construction and staffing challenges
25:20 Adjusting processes
30:00 Training and onboarding lessons
33:48 Priorities for the next year
37:26 Delegation and leadership growth
42:23 Closing reflections

Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving.

Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!

Discipline, fitness, consistency, resilience, and long-term health drive Episode 70 of Crossroad Conversations. In this episode, the Lewis Brothers are joined by endurance athlete and coach Tracy Byrd for a Fitness Edition conversation recorded on bikes, focused on how physical discipline translates directly into leadership, business, and life.

The conversation walks through Tracy’s journey into endurance sports, including becoming a seven-time Ironman finisher and qualifying for Kona, one of the most demanding achievements in triathlon. She explains why success in endurance events isn’t about race day, but about the habits, preparation, and consistency built long before the starting line.

They dive into the philosophy behind Food First Fitness, emphasizing why nutrition fuels performance and why you can’t outwork poor habits. Tracy breaks down how small, sustainable changes — not extreme diets — create long-term results, whether the goal is improved health, better performance, or longevity.

The episode also covers a major turning point in Tracy’s life: a serious accident that resulted in multiple broken bones, surgeries, and months of recovery. She shares how the setback forced her to recalibrate expectations, redefine progress, and rebuild both physically and mentally — offering powerful lessons on patience, resilience, and staying disciplined during difficult seasons.

The discussion highlights why discipline beats motivation, how consistency compounds over time, and how fitness habits spill into confidence, leadership, and decision-making. The episode closes with practical encouragement for anyone looking to start where they are, rebuild momentum, or move forward after adversity.

KEYWORDS
discipline, fitness, consistency, endurance, resilience, leadership, nutrition, personal growth, accountability, mindset, long-term success

TAKEAWAYS
Discipline matters more than motivation
Consistency creates long-term results
Nutrition fuels performance and recovery
You can’t outrun poor habits
Small changes compound over time
Setbacks redefine progress, not end it
Recovery requires patience and perspective
Fitness builds confidence and mental toughness
Leadership improves when you model discipline
Start where you are and keep moving forward

TIMESTAMPS
00:03 Fitness Edition kickoff (recorded on bikes)
00:28 Meet Tracy Byrd + endurance background
01:06 Seven-time Ironman and qualifying for Kona
03:18 Food First Fitness philosophy
05:02 Getting started and the role of coaching
06:02 Nutrition basics and common mistakes
06:34 “You can’t outrun the fork”
09:26 The accident that changed everything
14:12 Training consistency and time commitment
21:23 Starting where you are
24:47 Small sustainable changes that stick
27:22 The mental side of injury and setbacks
27:50 Surgeries and rebuilding step by step
29:43 Physical therapy and recovery process
29:57 Redefining goals after adversity
34:28 Motivation vs discipline
39:47 Final encouragement and wrap-up

Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving.

Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!

Discipline, doing hard things, fitness, confidence, and personal growth drive Episode 69 of Crossroad Conversations. In this episode, the Lewis Brothers are joined by Jay Jones, a Marine Corps officer, endurance athlete, and performance coach, to break down why doing hard things on purpose changes how you show up in every area of life.

The conversation explores how physical discipline builds mental resilience, why confidence starts with keeping promises to yourself, and how fitness habits spill directly into business performance, leadership, and family life. Jay shares his journey from collegiate football to the Marine Corps, endurance running, and coaching athletes of all levels — from high performers to everyday people who just want to feel better and live longer.

They discuss why comparison kills progress, how starting small creates momentum, and why consistency matters more than motivation. From running in freezing temperatures to finishing races without medals, the episode reinforces a core belief: confidence is built by proving to yourself that you can do hard things, even when no one is watching.

The episode closes by connecting physical fitness to business success — explaining how confidence, discipline, and self-accountability directly impact leadership, decision-making, and the ability to inspire others by example.

TAKEAWAYS

• Doing hard things builds confidence that carries into business and life
• Comparison slows progress; consistency accelerates it
• Fitness discipline strengthens emotional control and decision-making
• Small daily habits create long-term momentum
• Confidence grows from keeping promises to yourself
• Motivation fades — systems and discipline remain
• Physical resilience builds mental resilience
• Leadership improves when you lead by example
• Comfort is the enemy of growth
• Progress compounds when you stay consistent

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Doing Hard Things Becomes Addictive
00:58 Growing Yourself to Grow Your Business
01:55 Setting the Stage for a Big Year
03:18 Fitness Background & Early Sports
04:59 Transition to the Marine Corps
06:18 Learning to Run Under Pressure
07:40 Why Running Builds Mental Strength
09:03 Keeping Promises to Yourself
10:11 Building Next Level 360
12:10 Training Mental Toughness
13:08 Pikes Peak & Embracing Discomfort
14:23 Finishing Without a Medal
15:31 Doing Hard Things Removes Panic
17:40 How to Start Without Burning Out
18:56 Small Daily Goals Create Momentum
21:11 Be Where Your Feet Are
22:21 Starting the Day with Small Wins
23:02 Fitness Rapid-Fire
27:06 Why Most People Set Fitness Goals
28:54 Fitness Spillover Into Business
29:14 Confidence Changes Performance
31:04 Leading by Example
32:12 Helping Others Become Better
33:14 Training Athletes vs Everyday People
35:04 Setting a Date Creates Accountability
36:27 Embracing the Pain of Earning It
38:09 Why Hard Things Feel Different
40:05 Mental Strategy in Endurance Events
41:08 Confidence Under Pressure

Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving.

Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!