What If Authenticity Beats Experience In Business?

When Meaning Beats Comfort: Leading by Starting at the Bottom...AGAIN!

What kind of leader walks away from a thriving business to start at the bottom again—and does it more than once? In this episode of Consulting from the Couch, host Steve Goodson sits down with Thomas "Tog" Goss—a leader whose career defies every conventional rule about success. Law enforcement officer. Firefighter. Paramedic. Successful entrepreneur running a multimillion-dollar lawn care business. And then, at 43 years old, a nursing student starting completely over. Today, Tog is the Chief Operating Officer of Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin, a 140-bed rural hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia, serving approximately 150,000 people as part of Advocate Health—the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States. But the path to get there is what makes this conversation extraordinary. In this episode, we explore: * The fatal crash that sparked Tog's calling to emergency service; * Early grit in construction and his first business lessons; * The shift from firefighting and paramedicine to entrepreneurship; * Building a multimillion-dollar lawn care company on one principle: reliability; * Why he walked away from business success to enroll in nursing school at 43; * The humility of returning to a Level One trauma center as a CNA to earn respect; * The 110% mindset and how "positive thoughts produce positive outcomes"; * Mentors who opened doors, refused to let him settle, and believed in him before he was ready; * Leading the cardiovascular ICU during COVID with the philosophy "no one goes alone"; * Servant leadership habits that build culture—picking up trash, dust-mopping hallways at 4 a.m., being visible; * Rural healthcare innovation: life jacket loaner stations, tele-linked EMS, solar energy offsetting 40% of hospital power; * Community partnerships that save lives and fund critical equipment; * Investing in staff education and advancing careers; * Faith, family, and the courage to choose meaning over comfort; and * What he wants his legacy to be—and his advice for anyone stuck at a crossroads. Key Themes: This conversation is about reinvention, courage, servant leadership, and the unwavering belief that great healthcare should reach every person—no matter where they live. It's about choosing meaning over money, humility over ego, and service over status. Tog didn't become a great leader despite starting over multiple times. He became a great leader because of it. Because he knows what it feels like to be the rookie in the room. Because he's worked every level of the organization he now leads. Because he chose, more than once, to trade comfort for meaning. Who This Episode Is For: * Anyone standing at a career crossroads wondering if it's too late to change * Leaders who want to understand what servant leadership actually looks like in practice * Healthcare professionals considering leadership roles * Paramedics and first responders exploring transitions into nursing or healthcare administration * Entrepreneurs questioning whether success equals meaning * Anyone who's been told they're too old, too late, or too far down one path to start over Connect with Tog Goss: Website: https://toggoss.com [https://toggoss.com] About Consulting from the Couch: This podcast is about leaders—what makes them tick, what drives them, and the challenges they face. Hosted by Steve Goodson, who spent 35 years in the electric utility industry working with some of the most genuine, humble, and exceptional leaders. Each episode delivers nuggets, tidbits, and takeaways for the emerging leaders of tomorrow. About BLC Consulting, LLC: This podcast is brought to you by BLC Consulting, LLC (Brown

What If Authenticity Beats Experience In Business?

What if your first real job was owning the business? At 18, Shelby McFarland gave up a full-ride scholarship to co-own a window tint and sign shop. She earned respect from employees twice her age, learned hard lessons about hiring friends, left a failed partnership, and started over with nothing. That restart became The Marketing Broker. Today, she serves startups, small businesses, and Fortune 500s with one philosophy: authenticity beats experience, and heart-led marketing wins. In this conversation, we unpack: → Earning respect as a young business owner → Building culture through radical transparency → The BOSS framework and 3 C's of leadership → How motherhood sharpened her leadership → Real advice for first-time founders This is leadership forged in the trenches. Connect with Shelby: themktgbroker.com @themktgbroker Get her book: "Market Like a Boss" at shelbysmarketingbook.com [https://www.shelbysmarketingbook.com/] CONNECT WITH SHELBY: Website: themktgbroker.com [https://www.themktgbroker.com/] Instagram: @themktgbroker & @bossbabe_shelby Book: shelbysmarketingbook.com [https://www.shelbysmarketingbook.com/] Email: broker@themktgbroker.com [broker@themktgbroker.com] ABOUT THE PODCAST: Consulting from the Couch is a podcast about leaders, what makes them tick, and the challenges they face. Hosted by Steve Goodson, featuring genuine conversations with exceptional leaders. Website: blcconsultingllc.com [https://www.blcconsultingllc.com/] Email: steve@blcconsultingllc.com [steve@blcconsultingllc.com] Brought to you by BLC Consulting, LLC. KEYWORDS/TAGS  Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Small Business, Marketing, Authentic Leadership, Young Entrepreneurs, Business Ownership, Startup Advice, Heart-Led Marketing, Company Culture, Work-Life Integration, Women in Business, First-Time Founders, Business Strategy, Servant Leadership, Transparency, Credibility, Confidence, Consistency, BOSS Mindset, Marketing Agency, Fortune 500, Startups, Steve Goodson, Shelby McFarland, Consulting from the Couch, BLC Consulting

Wired for Change: Marshall Cherry is Empowering Rural Communities

What does purpose-led leadership look like when the service territory where you are the electric provider stretches farther than your population? In this episode of Consulting from the Couch, we sit down with Roanoke Electric Cooperative CEO Marshall Cherry to explore how a hometown leader is redefining what’s possible for rural North Carolina. From his early days in member services to a 32-year journey into the CEO chair, Marshall shares the mentors, crises, and tough calls that shaped a leadership philosophy built on transparency, listening, and measurable results. We dive into the co-op’s modern member engagement model—why “seven-by-seven” communication works, where AI supports service without replacing the human touch, and how face-to-face member meetings rebuild trust in communities that have felt overlooked. You’ll also hear the inside story of Roanoke’s grid modernization efforts, advanced metering investments, targeted energy-efficiency upgrades, and the bold decision to build a fiber backbone and launch their own broadband company. The result? Local service that outperforms national companies and creates the foundation for workforce development, telehealth, education, and small business growth. Looking ahead, Marshall’s Connect 2030 strategy outlines a roadmap for “gig-connected communities” ready for mid-scale load growth, job creation, and long-term regional vitality.  Whether you care about cooperative leadership, rural innovation, or the future of energy and broadband, this conversation delivers the practical insight and hope that local action still matters. If you enjoy the episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who cares about community, leadership, or the future of rural development.

The Business of Giving Back

Some communities grow because a big investor arrives. Others, like Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Onslow County, grow because small decisions, rooted in service, continue to accumulate.  In this episode of Consulting from the Couch, banking/finance veteran and community builder Scott Riggs joins us to unpack how microloans, partnerships, and servant leadership are powering new jobs and stronger neighborhoods across Onslow County. We explore the Community Business Loan Fund, a gap-financing model that helps small owners who aren’t “bank-ready” turn good ideas into payroll. Riggs also takes us behind the scenes of Project Frontier, the coalition effort that brought Amazon’s last-mile facility to the community—a blueprint for how readiness and relationships beat luck every time. From honoring mentors to launching Capital Connections, Scott shares a grounded vision for what real community growth looks like: quality of life, balanced work, and opportunity that lasts. Run Time: 36 minutes Capital Connections Scott Riggs, Founder https://rsriggsassociates.com/ (910) 340-2306 scott@rsriggsassociates.com

Leading with Purpose: Faith, Sports, and the Next Generation

What if a football camp could change the culture of an entire community? That question drives this conversation in this episode of Consulting from the Couch. We sit down for a fantastic interview with Ken Lovell, Director and Minister with Coastal NC Fellowship of Christian Athletes, whose mission is to bring everything together in Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. Ken shares his journey from the Marine Corps to ministry, unpacking how purpose—not position—has guided his leadership across four counties. He walks us through the growth of FCA’s Eastern NC Team Football Camp, the power of student-led huddles, and how discipleship—not just inspiration—creates lasting transformation. From the “sandpaper” principle of accountability to the ripple effects of the FCA’s reach in Okinawa, this episode demonstrates how faith, leadership, and teamwork can transform communities. Whether you’re a coach, parent, or leader, you’ll find practical wisdom on how to engage, equip, and empower the next generation through purpose. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform and join the movement at BLCConsultingLLC.com.