Designer-turned-entrepreneur Phil Franks (Nucleus Creative; Owl & Key) joins Rodric to unpack what he learned building for brands like Hilton, Panda Express, and Victoria’s Secret—and why the real unlock in any business is people, process, and presence.

Phil shares how becoming a dad pushed him to leave agency life, the SOP mindset he now “lives and dies by,” and why modular construction has him excited to build tighter, faster, and smarter.

They trade notes on coaching, niche focus, CAC-thinking for builders, and the difference between hiring as an expense vs. an investment.

If you’re stuck doing $600/hour tasks for $0/hour outcomes, this one is a breath of fresh air—and a nudge to get out of your own way.

• 00:00 – 02:15 Meet Phil: agency roots, early web, learning under the hood of big brands.
• 03:05 – 07:30 Fatherhood reframe → leaving the agency; building a family “office” with two companies.
• 09:04 – 12:30 What big brands taught him: SOPs, repeatability, and “people architecture.”
• 13:50 – 16:00 Rodric’s $600/hr test and the shift from building houses to building people.
• 18:22 – 21:10 Why modular/panelized is compelling; finding the right GC to protect margin.
• 21:46 – 24:25 Listener Q: “What are you chasing?” Phil on alignment through seasons.
• 25:05 – 29:50 Coaching, circles, and picking clients (and when to walk away).
• 30:57 – 37:45 Ground zero → $65k MRR: brand, offers, and niche clarity for builders.
• 36:47 – 40:40 Niche > noise; using CAC to think like a modern builder.

• SOPs aren’t paperwork—they’re profit protection and peace of mind.
• Build “people architecture” before you scale product or projects.
• Delegate anything below your target hourly value; stay in your $600/hr lane.
• Modular/panelized can compress timelines—if your on-site team truly understands the system.
• Niche wins: speak to one bleeding-neck problem for one person.
• Think CAC, not “free referrals”—paying great partners can be your best deal flow.

• “Things have to flow. People have to know how they work, and they have to be repeatable.” —Phil
• “You’ve got to go from building houses to building people.” —Rodric
• “Niche feels counterintuitive—until it works.” —Phil & Rodric
• “What are you chasing? For me, it’s alignment in this season.” —Phil

Phil Franks — Co-founder, Nucleus Creative (brand/digital) & Owl & Key (leadership & life design). Find him at nucleuscreative.co and owlandkey.co.

📱Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phil_franks/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philfranks/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nucleuscreativeco/

📘Rodric’s book:

Overview

Grant Bowen, Founder & CEO of Peak Projects, breaks down what an Owner’s Rep actually does, why “durable decisions” de-risk high-end residential builds, and how true collaboration saves time, money, and sanity for clients and builders alike. We get into fixed-price vs. cost-plus mindsets, boots-on-the-ground networking, and the role of tech vs. human trust in ultra-premium projects.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Cold open + welcome
• 02:20 – What an Owner’s Rep does (budget, schedule, quality, team)
• 04:49 – How a great Owner’s Rep “pays for themselves” via fewer mistakes
• 06:40 – Fixed price vs. cost-plus, and making “durable decisions”
• 10:23 – Why Peak doesn’t market like everyone else (relationships > ads)
• 11:08 – Regional footprint: CA, PNW, Mountain West, East Coast, Hawaii + Caribbean
• 14:26 – Tech is useful—but trust still wins
• 15:13 – Grant’s question for the next guest
• 15:50 – The question Grant asks to know the real you
• 16:52 – Final takeaways & how to connect with Peak Projects

Episode Highlights

• Owner’s Reps reduce risk and friction by guiding 1,000s of decisions from day one.
• “Durable decisions” + coordinated plans let great builders do their best work.
• Expect some changes on multi-year builds—design a process that absorbs them.
• Relationship-driven work (handshakes > hype) still wins at the ultra-high end.
• Technology accelerates collaboration, but trust and empathy tie it all together.

Notable Quotes

• “We remove the noise so architects can design and builders can build.”
• “Our investment prevents costly mistakes—and saves priceless client time.”
• “There’s no substitute for the human element when you’re earning real trust.”

Resources & Guest Links

• Website: https://www.peakprojects.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/peakprojectsllc/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peak-projects/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peakprojectsllc/

Guest-to-Guest

• Grant’s question for the next guest: “What’s your five-year plan for your business—and for your life and family?”

Question to Grant (from Blake Stratton): “What question—when you ask it—helps you be more you?”

Resources:

Million Dollar Flip Flops

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Ready to transform your business and your life while making a difference? Grab your copy of *Million Dollar Flip Flops*—the ultimate guide to creating a life and business that feels just as good as it looks. And here’s the best part: 100% of the proceeds go directly to our foundation, Send a Student Leader Abroad, with a goal of sending 1,000,000 deserving kids on life-changing trips around the world.

As a thank you for your support, we’re offering exclusive bonuses available only for our podcast listeners. These bonuses are packed with extra tools and resources to help you implement the principles from the book faster and more effectively.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable...

In this energizing episode of Million Dollar Flip Flops, Rodric welcomes Dr. Ryan Williamson — neurologist, former Navy physician, and author of The Incredible Brain.

With his book launch just days away, Ryan shares how small, intentional lifestyle changes can radically improve brain health, prevent chronic disease, and help you live with more vitality.

From “exercise snacks” that take just six minutes a day to the power of habit stacking, Ryan explains why health isn’t just about living longer—it’s about performing better right now.

The conversation dives deep into overcoming resistance, designing your environment for success, and finding your “why” so you can make the right decisions automatically.

Whether you’re an overworked business owner or just tired of feeling tired, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways you can implement today.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why up to 90% of health outcomes are determined by lifestyle—not genetics.
• The “Core Four” pillars of health and which one is the easiest place to start.
• How to reframe exercise from a time cost to a productivity multiplier.
• The neuroscience behind resistance and how to overcome it.
• Simple habit-stacking strategies that make healthy choices automatic.
• Why clarity on your “why” changes everything about how you live.

Memorable Quotes:

“A healthy man has a thousand wishes, but a sick man has one.” – Dr. Ryan Williamson

“You can’t afford not to exercise—because without it, you’re literally cutting years off your life.” – Dr. Ryan Williamson

“Your habits compound in one direction or the other. Make sure they’re taking you where you actually want to go.” – Dr. Ryan Williamson

Resources & Links:

🌍Ryan’s Website: transcendhealthgroup.com

📱Follow Ryan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.ryanwilliamson/?hl=en

📱Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-williamson-70089a276/

📚Pre-order: The Incredible Brain: https://transcendhealthgroup.com/book/

Resources:

Million Dollar Flip Flops

Follow Us on Insta

Ready to transform your business and your life while making a difference? Grab your copy of *Million Dollar Flip Flops*—the ultimate guide to creating a life and business that feels just as good as it looks. And here’s the best part: 100% of the proceeds go directly to our foundation, Send a Student Leader Abroad, with a goal of sending 1,000,000 deserving kids on life-changing trips around the world.

As a thank you for your support, we’re offering exclusive bonuses available only for our podcast listeners. These bonuses are packed with extra tools and resources to help you implement the principles from the book faster and more effectively.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights, impact a young leader’s life, and be a part of something bigger....

In this episode of Million Dollar Flip Flops, Rodric sits down with Blake Stratton — coach, consultant, dad, and self-proclaimed “pivot artist.”

Blake helps moms and dads escape the golden handcuffs of unfulfilling careers or rigid business models so they can reclaim time, freedom, and impact during the fleeting “good old days” of raising a family.

Together, Rodric and Blake dive deep into:

• Why risk avoidance is an illusion — and how to reframe what you’re really risking in life and business.
• The toleration point where people either retreat to comfort or break through to transformation.
• Lessons from Ivan Illich, KFC logos, and why the best coaches don’t just hand you spreadsheets — they coach the person, not just the business.
• How mindset, courage, and clarity create more growth than any tactic or PDF ever will.
• Why investing in help (employees, coaches, systems) is the difference between scaling and stagnation.

This is a powerful conversation about the courage to change course, the risk of staying stuck, and how to live a life you won’t regret at the end.

Quote Highlights:

“Risk avoidance in a vacuum doesn’t exist. You’re always risking something.” – Blake Stratton

“It’s never been about the money for me… and that’s why I make a lot of money.” – Rodric Lenhart

Timestamps:

• (0:00) Blake’s latest pivots and client focus
• (4:00) The bittersweet choice to step away from Boardroom
• (9:45) CAC, LTV, and million-dollar pace conversations
• (16:00) Escaping the golden handcuffs & parenting perspective
• (20:00) Risk vs. tolerance and Ivan Illich’s legacy
• (27:00) Coaching through mindset shifts (investment vs. expense)
• (39:00) Walking the talk with family, travel, and lifestyle design
• (45:00) Coaching the person vs. giving spreadsheets
• (52:00) How Blake prioritizes tasks (and why the Eisenhower Matrix isn’t enough)

🔗 Guest Links:

🌍Website: https://www.blakestratton.com/

📱Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blakestrat/?hl=en

📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakestratton/

📱Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blakestrat

Resources:

Million Dollar Flip Flops

Follow Us on Insta

Ready to transform your business and your life while making a difference? Grab your copy of *Million Dollar Flip Flops*—the ultimate guide to creating a life and business that feels just as good as it looks. And here’s the best part: 100% of the proceeds go directly to our foundation, Send a Student Leader Abroad, with a goal of sending 1,000,000 deserving kids on life-changing trips around the world.

As a thank you for your support, we’re offering exclusive bonuses available only for our podcast listeners. These bonuses are packed with extra tools...

In this episode of Million Dollar Flip Flops, Rodric sits down with Jess Jensen, founder of Co-Pilot Communications and executive communications strategist for leaders from growth-minded founders to C-suite executives.

Jess shares her five-step framework for helping leaders show up as real humans online—building trust, attracting opportunities, and standing out in a noisy digital world. From her time leading marketing for giants like Nestlé, Adidas, Qualcomm, and Microsoft, to working one-on-one with founders, Jess explains why storytelling, consistency, and a willingness to experiment are the keys to cutting through the noise.

The conversation dives into:

• The three things Jess looks for when assessing a leader’s messaging.
• How to use stories outside your industry to make your brand more compelling.
• The most common misconception founders have about their own communications.
• Why “being yourself” is more than a cliché—it’s a competitive advantage.
• How personal branding can 3x your engagement over corporate messaging.

Whether you’re leading a billion-dollar brand or a 10-person business, Jess’s insights will inspire you to stop hiding behind polished PR and start showing up with real personality.

• “Be yourself. Don’t just regurgitate PR fluff—show up as a full human.”
• Consistency matters more than perfection. If you’re not active on any platform, start there.
• Sharing wins is fine, but mix in personal stories, perspectives, and causes you care about.
• “Most people think they have nothing important to say—until you help them see it.”
• Personal brands get triple the engagement of company brands on social media.

• 0:00 – Intro to Jess Jensen & Co-Pilot Communications
• 2:00 – Three things Jess looks for when assessing messaging
• 6:00 – Using stories from outside your industry to connect
• 9:00 – The biggest misconception founders have about communications
• 14:50 – The one rule every leader should follow online
• 15:30 – Jess’s journey from corporate brand marketing to founder
• 22:00 – Organic vs. paid social media strategies
• 26:30 – Jess’s impact goal: making digital a more human place
• 30:00 – Jess’s newsletter & where to connect

🌐 Website & Newsletter: copilotcommunications.com

📱LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicakjensen/

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicakjensen/?igsh=bjh0ZWdoZzU5dTlv#

Resources:

Million Dollar Flip Flops

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Ready to transform your business and your life while making a difference? Grab your copy of *Million Dollar Flip Flops*—the ultimate guide to creating a life and business that feels just as good as it...

Episode Highlights:

• Stephen shares how he went from an accounting background to running a $30–$50M custom home building business in Raleigh, NC — in just four years.
• Why he believes hiring is about attitude over resume, and how training and clear systems turn good hires into great ones.
• The role of time audits in freeing up energy and identifying tasks to delegate.
• His mindset on hiring: why every new team member is an investment, not an expense.
• How communication and expectation-setting are the real secrets to thriving with high-end clients.
• Stephen’s “give everything, expect nothing” philosophy that’s guided both business growth and personal fulfillment.
• His big goal for 2026: creating the freedom for his wife to step away from her job and focus on raising their kids.

Best Quotes:

• “I can train skills. What I can’t train is attitude.” – Stephen Dunn
• “If you’re not documenting and tracking, your team doesn’t know how well they’re doing.” – Stephen Dunn
• “Hiring is always an investment, both in the business and in your family.” – Stephen Dunn
• “Give everything and expect nothing in return.” – Stephen Dunn

Timestamps:

• 1:41 – Stephen’s path from accountant to custom builder
• 3:23 – Scaling to 20 homes/year and $30–$50M volume
• 4:33 – The hiring mindset: people vs. process
• 9:27 – Delegation, time audits, and systems
• 15:00 – Why hiring should be seen as an investment
• 18:32 – Stephen’s “why” and his goals for impact
• 29:43 – Custom builds vs. specs: managing client experience
• 36:45 – Stephen’s parting tip: “Give everything, expect nothing”

Connect with Stephen:

🌐 Official Website: exeterbuilding.com

📱 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenadunnjr/

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sdunn90/

Resources:

Million Dollar Flip Flops

Follow Us on Insta

Ready to transform your business and your life while making a difference? Grab your copy of *Million Dollar Flip Flops*—the ultimate guide to creating a life and business that feels just as good as it looks. And here’s the best part: 100% of the proceeds go directly to our foundation, Send a Student Leader Abroad, with a goal of sending 1,000,000 deserving kids on life-changing trips around the world.

As a thank you for your support, we’re offering exclusive bonuses available only for our podcast listeners. These bonuses are packed with extra tools and resources to help you implement the principles from the book faster and more effectively.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights, impact a young leader’s life, and be a part of something bigger.

Click the link, order your copy, and claim your listener-only bonuses today!

Together, let’s change lives—one trip at a time.

www.MillionDollarFlipFlops.com/book

**P.S.** Every book you buy gets us one step closer to sending 1,000,000 kids on life-changing adventures. Let’s make it happen!

What if 95% of your daily actions were happening without your conscious control? And what if you could take command of them—just 12 minutes a day?

In this episode, Rodric sits down with John Mitchell, entrepreneur, speaker, and author of The Missing Secret. At 50 years old, John realized he was living an “average life” despite his potential. His deep dive into Think and Grow Rich led him to uncover the book’s elusive full secret—one that helped him 25x his income and find the love of his life.

John explains the science behind why most people never achieve their dreams, how to gain control over unconscious daily actions, and why this method works only for the top 2% committed to success. Along the way, Rodric and John explore personal stories, mindset shifts, and the power of structured visioning to transform every area of life.

Whether you’re running a $50M business or just starting out, this episode will challenge your assumptions and show you a repeatable, science-backed way to play the game of life at a higher level.

• The 95% Rule: 95% of your daily actions are unconscious, and they determine your success.
• The Missing Secret: What you envision in detail with emotion daily is what shows up in your life.
• The 12-Minute Technique: Feed your subconscious a precise articulation of your ideal life to make the right actions automatic.
• Five Life Areas: Self, health, romantic relationship, spirituality, and career.
• Why Most People Fail: For 98% of people, more success is just a preference—not a commitment.
• From Scarcity to Legacy: How John went from feeling average to teaching success science at the University of Texas.

"If your daily actions determine your success, and 95% of them are unconscious, then you don’t control the very thing that’s determining your success." – John Mitchell

0:00 – Meeting in Austin & show kickoff

1:10 – John’s backstory and the two life goals

2:53 – Discovering the problem in Think and Grow Rich

5:22 – The personal struggle that became rocket fuel

8:11 – The lightning bolt realization about unconscious actions

13:16 – Why simple isn’t easy and the GPS analogy

14:13 – How the 12-minute method works

16:25 – Where to find the Missing Secret

17:02 – Creating an epiphany for the audience

18:30 – Verifying the 95% statistic

21:04 – Why most people are winging life

23:03 – Darren Hardy and the 2% rule

26:17 – The question for the next guest

26:58 – Mindset as the #1 business success factor

27:39 – The story of baby Ginger and life’s preciousness

Website & 9-Minute Video: themissingsecret.org

🌐 Official Website: https://thinkitbeit.com/

📚Book: The Missing Secret https://thinkitbeit.com/

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mitchell-76483654/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themissingsecretjohnmitchell/reels/

Resources:

In this episode of Million Dollar Flip Flops, Rodric sits down with business consultant and coach Cary Prejean to explore what it really takes to scale a business. Cary’s 40-year career—from Big Eight accounting to helping small and medium-sized business owners nationwide—has revealed a simple truth: everything in your business, good or bad, you created.

They dig into the mindsets and systems required to move from micromanaging to true leadership, why actionable financial data is more valuable than a stack of reports, and how empowering your team leads to higher profits, morale, and productivity. Cary also shares his take on satisfaction vs. happiness, the dangers of “no good help” thinking, and the pivotal shifts that allow owners to reclaim their role as visionaries instead of bottlenecks.

Highlights & Timestamps

• [6:23] Cary’s backstory: from CPA to transforming business owners into leaders.
• [9:50] Why you created every problem (and every success) in your business.
• [10:21] The micromanagement trap and how it drives good employees away.
• [15:03] Should you share financials with your entire team?
• [17:39] Risk vs. reward: helping employees understand ownership realities.
• [20:05] Cary’s #1 mindset for success: pursuing satisfaction over happiness.
• [23:46] The power of saying “no” to bad-fit clients.

Quote of the Episode:

“Whatever you measure, whatever you monitor and measure, will improve.” – Cary Prejean

Connect with Cary Prejean:

🌐 Websites: strategicbusinessadvisors.org

strategicbusinessadvisors.us

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryprejean/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caryaprejean/

Resources:

Million Dollar Flip Flops

Follow Us on Insta

Ready to transform your business and your life while making a difference? Grab your copy of *Million Dollar Flip Flops*—the ultimate guide to creating a life and business that feels just as good as it looks. And here’s the best part: 100% of the proceeds go directly to our foundation, Send a Student Leader Abroad, with a goal of sending 1,000,000 deserving kids on life-changing trips around the world.

As a thank you for your support, we’re offering exclusive bonuses available only for our podcast listeners. These bonuses are packed with extra tools and resources to help you implement the principles from the book faster and more effectively.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights, impact a young leader’s life, and be a part of something bigger.

Click the link, order your copy, and claim your listener-only bonuses today!

Together, let’s change lives—one trip at a time.