Why Most Leaders Chase the Wrong Scoreboard

Why Most Leaders Chase the Wrong Scoreboard

What if the scoreboard you’ve been chasing your entire life is the wrong one? In this solo episode of The Long Game, Josh Sparks shares the story behind The Stoic CEO, a keynote that challenged how leaders think about success, ambition, discipline, and fulfillment. Josh grew up in chaos. Foster care. Addiction in the home. Survival mode from an early age. That survival instinct eventually turned into ambition. He built a roofing company that grew into 25 brands across North America and nearly 1,500 employees. From the outside, it looked like success. But internally, something was still missing. This episode explores the realization that many ambitious people eventually face: You can win the scoreboard you created in your head… and still feel unfulfilled. Drawing from Stoic philosophy and real leadership experiences, Josh breaks down the four virtues that changed how he approaches business and life: Wisdom Courage Justice Temperance Along the way, he shares lessons on: Leadership under pressure The difference between intelligence and wisdom Firing toxic high performers Discipline vs motivation Building culture through accountability Why most people anchor happiness to the future Reframing adversity and setbacks Creating a life that can withstand chaos This is a conversation about becoming the kind of person capable of building something meaningful without losing yourself in the process. Because eventually every leader has to answer the same question: What scoreboard are you actually playing for?  - - - - - - -  The Long Game is a podcast hosted by Josh Sparks, featuring conversations about leadership, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and what it really takes to build enduring businesses and meaningful lives. Josh is the founder of Infinity Home Services, one of North America’s largest residential roofing and exterior services organizations, with 25 brands across the United States and Canada. Through conversations with founders, operators, executives, and industry leaders, The Long Game explores the lessons, principles, failures, and philosophies behind sustainable success, both in business and in life. Because the best things are rarely built overnight.

What the Top 1% of Sales Reps Do Differently (Backed by Millions of Real Conversations)

In this episode of The Long Game, Josh sits down with Sebastian Jimenez, founder and CEO of Rilla, to break down what actually separates elite sales reps from everyone else. This isn’t opinion. It’s based on millions of real, in-home sales conversations across roofing and home services. We get into: The exact communication patterns of top 1% reps Why average reps talk too much and lose deals How elite reps handle objections without creating tension The “relief valve” that drives urgency without pressure What most sales training gets wrong How AI is changing the way sales teams are coached and developed If you run a sales team or sell in the home yourself, this is a look at what’s really happening in those conversations and where deals are won or lost. This is how top operators think, coach, and improve. If you want, I can also add a stronger CTA at the end depending on whether you want this to drive inbound, recruiting, or just engagement. Infinity Home Services is on a mission to save our communities from unscrupulous contractors by partnering with great operators across the country. If you’re a home services business owner and want to learn more about what a partnership could look like, connect with us here: https://www.infinityhomeservices.com/Contact Subscribe for more conversations with operators playing the long game.

What It Really Takes to Run a $500M+ Home Services Company

Most people think scaling a company is about growth. More revenue. More people. More markets. But the reality is, what gets you to $5M… or even $20M… is not what gets you to $500M. In this episode of The Long Game, Josh sits down with IHS CEO Jay Teresi to talk about what it actually takes to run a $500M+ home services company. From leadership and decision-making to building teams and creating alignment at scale, this conversation breaks down the shift from being an operator to leading an organization. They cover: What changes as a company scales Where most leaders struggle when they step out of the day-to-day How to build teams that can operate without you The difference between managing and truly leading Why growth alone doesn’t create a great business Jay brings decades of experience leading at scale, including his time at The Home Depot, and now as CEO of Infinity Home Services. If you’re building a company and thinking about what the next stage looks like, this is a conversation worth paying attention to. Infinity Home Services is on a mission to save our communities from unscrupulous contractors by partnering with great operators across the country. If you’re a home services business owner and want to learn more about what a partnership could look like, connect with us here: https://www.infinityhomeservices.com/Contact Subscribe for more conversations with operators playing the long game.

Why Bad Roofers Keep Winning (And How to Beat Them)

Most roofing companies don’t fail because they can’t install a roof. They fail because they don’t understand the game they’re playing. In this episode of The Long Game, Josh Sparks, Founder and Chairman of Infinity Home Services, sits down with Luke Wilson of Skywalker Roofing to talk about why bad roofers continue to win jobs, how they get away with it, and what separates the companies that actually last. From storm chasers and insurance-driven chaos to cutting corners and racing to the bottom, this conversation breaks down what’s really happening in the industry and why it creates an uneven playing field for great operators. More importantly, they talk about how to win anyway. If you’re a roofing company owner, this is a conversation about building something that lasts. If you’re a homeowner, this will change how you evaluate who you trust with your roof. Topics include: - Why bad roofers still win jobs - The truth about storm work and insurance claims - Common mistakes contractors make trying to compete - What great companies do differently - How to build a roofing business the right way Infinity Home Services is on a mission to save our communities from unscrupulous contractors by partnering with great operators across the country. If you’re a roofing business owner interested in learning more about what a partnership could look like, connect with us here: https://www.infinityhomeservices.com/Contact Subscribe for more conversations with operators building real businesses in roofing.

Honor the Legacy, Build the Future — Kenny Romanini Jr

In this episode of The Long Game, Josh sits down with Kenny Romanini Jr., President of Park Hill Roofing, for a conversation about legacy, leadership, and growing the right way. Kenny shares the story of Park Hill Roofing, a family business that began with his grandfather and was carried forward by his father before being entrusted to the next generation. He reflects on what it meant to step into leadership, the weight of protecting a family legacy, and the challenge of scaling a business without losing its values, culture, or soul. Josh and Kenny also talk about the practical side of growth, including systems, process, leadership development, and the mindset required to move from running a small business to building something much larger. Along the way, Kenny opens up about faith, family, adoption, and the personal priorities that shape how he leads. This episode is about more than roofing. It is about staying grounded, leading with conviction, and building a future that still honors where you came from. The Long Game is hosted by Josh Sparks, Founder and Chairman of Infinity Home Services, a company on a mission to elevate what it means to be a contractor in North America. Each episode features real conversations with leaders who are focused on people first and long-term impact. Subscribe for new episodes and more stories from leaders who are playing the long game.