“Work On It – Not In It” – NEW BOOK BY JIM JOHNSON

The book's central premise: treat your business as a vehicle to work ON, not just work IN — build capacity and systems so you can do more in less time.

There are 12 growth strategies (six foundational, six operational); the first volume covers the foundational stack: culture, training, accountability, systems/processes, sales, marketing, production, recruiting/hiring, finance, and leadership.

Know which of the three leader types you are — visionary, integrator, or 'distiller' (Jim's term for a higher-value integrator who listens, sees the big picture, and refines ideas down to what truly drives growth).

Leadership isn't 'good vs. bad' but 'great vs. poor' — defined purely by your ability to motivate and inspire people to follow a unified goal.

The most important leadership skill is the ability to connect, supported by seven specific habits for connecting with your people.

Add 'rocket fuel' by appointing champions for each area of the business — culture, technology, fun — so you gain capacity instead of trying to do everything yourself.

Understand the difference between strategy and tactics: tactics are the visible actions (the ad, the wrap truck, the hiring), while strategy is the invisible system tying them together — which is why competitors can copy tactics but never replicate results.

Self-awareness is the foundation contractors have historically lacked; stepping back to work on the business and understand yourself as a leader is where real growth starts.