The Business Growth Journey

From Bakery Science to Fractional CFO: Taylor Busch on the Relentless Drive Required to Grow

In this latest episode of The Business Growth Journey, Nick Termini sits down with fractional CFO Taylor Busch. Taylor’s path is anything but a straight line—from a late-night teenage telemarketer to smuggling baby bunnies and mastering the exact science of pie crusts. Taylor shares how she balanced a 40-hour work week, 18 college credit hours, and raising a toddler, all while launching her first LLC out of her apartment. Tune in to hear a masterclass on time management, aligning with your future self, and making the hard choices that build unstoppable resilience.

From Laid Off to CEO: Quinton Lewis on Building an Aviation Empire

What do you do when your industry leaves town and you're suddenly out of a job? If you’re Quinton Lewis, you start an LLC, fly to a conference you’ve never heard of, and build a business from the ground up.   In this episode of the Business Growth Journey, Nick Termini sits down with Quinton Lewis, co-founder of Helios Airborne Solutions. They dive into the "scrappy" early days of aerial survey, the terrifying reality of your first flight lesson at 18, and how a "bias for action" can solve the problem of not having a million-dollar sensor (yet). Key Takeaways: - The transition from employee to business owner. - Overcoming the "fear of heights" (literally and figuratively) in business. - The power of networking: Why showing up is 90% of the battle. - Navigating the high-stakes world of aviation and geospatial data.

Small Towns, Big Dogs, and the Power of Being "Wildly Curious" with Kim McGownd

Curiosity didn't kill the cat; it built a career. In this episode of The Business Growth Journey, Nick Termini catches up with Northwest Missouri State alum Kim McGownd to trace a journey that goes from the gymnastics mats of a tiny Missouri town to the boardroom of a national pet food distributor. Kim isn’t just a business developer; she’s a "wildly curious" pioneer who helped shape the natural pet food industry long before it was mainstream. She and Nick dive deep into the grit required to build a territory from zero, the transition from being a high-stakes hospitality pro to a high-stakes buyer, and why hitting the "reset" button at age 40 was the best business move she ever made. Highlights of the conversation include: - The "Coach’s Daughter" Mentality: Why being raised in a sports-obsessed small town gave Kim the competitive edge to survive "BD 101." - Reading the Room: Lessons from the Grand Balloon on the Plaza—how high-end networking is the ultimate sales training. - Trailblazing the Pet Space: Navigating the early 2000s movement of premium nutrition and "human-grade" treats. - The Power of the Pivot: Moving back to KC and finding the humility to rebuild a life and a brand during a global "sabbatical."

Letting the River Cut Its Path: The Vision of Craig Greco of Greco Paintworks

What happens when you stop forcing life into a box and start letting your vision "cut its own path"? In this episode of the Business Growth Journey Podcast, Nick Termini sits down with Craig Greco, the powerhouse creator behind Greco Paintworks, to discuss the raw, unfiltered reality of turning a sudden spark of curiosity into a premier creative brand. Craig doesn’t just paint; he engineers excellence. From his early days as a 75-pound distance runner with Olympic dreams to his career in law enforcement and juvenile probation, Craig has spent his life finding the "point of no return." He shares the incredible story of sitting at his desk in the Clay County Family Court, seeing a viral email of 3D art, and deciding—right then and there—that he was going to teach himself to draw. Nick and Craig dive deep into: The "River" Philosophy: Why Craig refuses to pigeonhole his business, allowing Greco Paintworks to flow from nursery murals to Super Bowl cleats for the Kansas City Chiefs. Burning the Boats: Why Craig believes a "Plan B" is just an invitation for failure and how he navigated the terrifying leap from a steady badge to a full-time airbrush. The Science of the Surface: A candid look at a high-stakes failure on Monday Night Football that forced Craig to master the chemistry of paint to ensure his work survives the world’s toughest athletes. A Foundation of Faith: How Craig leans on his faith and family to navigate the "feast or famine" cycles of entrepreneurship. From the University of Nebraska’s cancer awareness cleats to custom-painted garage doors and KitchenAid mixers, Craig’s mantra is simple: "If it sits still, I’ll paint it." This episode is a must-listen for anyone needing the grit to push past their comfort zone and the vision to let their own river flow. "I’ve allowed this artwork to be a river of its own... wherever it goes, I just let it lead me." — Craig Greco   Connect with Craig Greco: * Website: GrecoPaintworks.com (or KCMuralArtist.com) * Social Media: @GrecoPaintworks on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

The Ownership Mindset: Travis Wentworth on Academic Failure, Risk/Reward & The Entrepreneurial Leap

Travis Wentworth's path to entrepreneurship is anything but conventional. He started with a PhD in chemical engineering and a relentless pursuit of independence, leading him to discover the four pillars of his business success. In this episode, Travis walks us through: The Mentorship of Failure: How his advisor created the crucial space for him to fail (even after melting a $ 20,000 furnace), which eliminated his fear and enabled him to view Academic Failure as a necessary tool for growth. The Entrepreneurial Leap: The journey from earning a PhD and applying his technical expertise in data analysis and systems thinking to scaling businesses in cybersecurity and dentistry. The Ownership Mindset: The core lesson that drives his success: accepting radical ownership and accountability for all outcomes, which unlocks control over his own fate. Navigating Risk/Reward: Why accepting the Risk/Reward function is the ultimate action step for growth, and how leaders must approach the inevitable setbacks that come with the journey.