Episode 84: Do the Right Thing: Leadership, Second Chances, and Staying Sober

In Episode 84, John Morris gets real about what “doing the right thing” looks like when you’re leading a growing company and a community. He shares why decisions must be logical—not emotional—when you’re responsible for the greater good, how PHP Commercial Painting became bigger than any one person, and why daily “What’s your win?” check-ins keep a large team feeling like family.

John also walks through a raw, in-the-moment story: a former employee calls while slipping back into alcohol. What follows is tough love, clear boundaries, and a concrete plan—90 days in a program, vocational training, and a guaranteed shot at a job if he does the work. This episode is about sober leadership, second chances without enabling, and building systems—halfway houses, mentors, budgeting basics—that turn “handouts” into a real hand up.

Highlights:

• Making unemotional, business-first decisions for the greater good

• Why PHP’s identity is bigger than a name

• Daily wins: the 9 a.m. Zoom that builds culture

• Tough love, treatment, and a path back to work

• The recipe for success: common sense, budgeting, and sobriety