Episodes

In this conversation, Joe Blackburn, Jason Croft, and Rich Bales of Avanti Group unpack what it looks like to walk away from medical device sales, move to a new city, and build an insurance practice that operates nothing like what the industry is used to seeing. Rich entered insurance during what agents were calling the hardest market in decades... and used it as a launching pad. While veteran agents panicked, he asked a simpler question: why are all these people so angry at their current age...

In this conversation, Joe Blackburn, Jason Croft, and Tyler Bloom dig into what it actually takes to walk away from a six-figure salary in the middle of a pandemic and carve out a position in one of the most niche corners of the business world. Tyler is the founder of Bloom Golf Partners, a recruiting firm built specifically for golf course superintendents and private club leaders. He started in a basement in June 2020 with nothing but relationships and a clear picture of a problem nobody was...

In this raw and unfiltered episode of The Lion's Edge, hosts Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft sit down with Sam and Paige Thomas to uncover how a self-taught goldsmith with zero business experience went from sleeping on floors to building a thriving multi-store jewelry empire. Joe Blackburn reveals why Sam is the secret weapon behind The Lion's success and breaks down the exact mindset shift that separates the "okay" entrepreneurs from the unstoppable ones. Jason Croft digs deep into the operati...

Gary D Cook didn't set out to become a real estate investor. He just bought some houses to get a storage facility... and the bank kept saying yes. In this episode, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft sit down with Gary to break down how he went from running a 4-bay mechanic shop in a town of 600 people... to owning 100+ apartment units and a flooring distribution business that's scaling fast. Here's what you'll learn: • How to scale WITHOUT losing the personal touch that makes clients obse...

In the latest episode of The Lion's Edge, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft tackle one of the most gut-wrenching dilemmas every growing entrepreneur faces: how to move upmarket without abandoning the clients who got you there. Joe breaks down the "ratcheting" process... using real examples from his Inner Circle members who are crushing it (and struggling) with this exact transition. He reveals why most business owners stay stuck at their current level out of fear... and the THREE decisions that s...

In this raw conversation, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft expose the hidden time-wasters that keep business owners spinning their wheels instead of growing. Joe reveals his "Rubber vs. Glass" framework for identifying which problems actually deserve your attention... and which ones are just distractions masquerading as priorities. You'll learn how a clogged pipeline creates phantom problems that eat up your calendar... why chasing unresponsive prospects is costing you way more than just time...

Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft cut through the AI hype to reveal where business owners should actually focus their energy in 2026. Joe challenges the mainstream narrative by asking the question nobody else is asking: Where's the MUST in your business? Because people do what they must... not what they should. Jason brings real-world predictions about AI's integration into daily operations... while Joe keeps it grounded in practical implementation challenges. Learn how to identify your ...

You're wasting your time grinding for clients who treat every dollar like their last. In this episode, Joe breaks down why moving upmarket isn't just some bougie strategy - it's survival. He'll walk you through the mechanics of why selling a $10K offer takes the same effort as closing $100K... so why the hell are you choosing the harder path? Jason Croft jumps in with the tactical side - showing you how to actually DEMONSTRATE your value to higher-end clients without getting caught in impo...

Most people think they're "hungry" for success. They're lying to themselves. And Joe Blackburn's about to call out exactly why that comfort zone is gonna bite you in the ass when you hit your 50s and 60s. In this episode of The Lion's Edge, Joe breaks down the brutal truth about what separates real business owners from people just playing pretend... While Jason digs into how you actually CULTIVATE these traits (without being delusional about where you're starting from). Here's ...

Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft rip apart the biggest lie in entrepreneurship... That "hustle harder" is the path to scaling past 7 figures. Spoiler: It's not. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why the entrepreneurs making the MOST money are obsessed with two specific things (People & P&L)... and how ignoring either one creates a ticking time bomb in your business • Joe's "5P Day" framework that prevents you from becoming a "Corporate Fireman"... constantly putting out fires instead ...

Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft tackle the most controversial topic in the entrepreneurial world... When is it OKAY to sacrifice balance for success? In this raw, unfiltered episode, you'll discover: • How to reframe "work-life balance" when you have massive goals (Joe's dad worked maniacally but Joe has ZERO resentment... here's why) • Jason's framework for communicating with your family about seasons of intense focus (this prevents the guilt and resentment) • The "90-day rule" tha...

With Q4 in full swing and 2026 around the corner, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft cut through the noise to reveal the three critical areas that will actually move the needle in your business—right now. Joe brings his signature no-BS approach to leadership development, breaking down why even million-dollar business owners struggle with thinking small, and exactly what to do about it. He shares his proven daily system for dialing in mindset (hint: it starts at your kitchen table), reveals why "th...

Most people are living in a financial fantasy. They think they'll retire at 65 with a million bucks and cruise into the sunset. Here's the brutal truth... You're probably gonna live to 130. (Yeah, you read that right.) And inflation isn't taking a vacation. So that "comfortable retirement" you've been planning? It's gonna run out faster than your patience at the DMV. In this episode, Joe Blackburn drops some uncomfortable math on your head... While revealing the MASSIV...

Joe Blackburn tears apart the biggest lie entrepreneurs tell themselves... That they can somehow skip the hard work and jump straight to "passive income." Spoiler alert: It's bullshit. In this no-holds-barred episode, Joe breaks down why chasing multiple income streams before you've mastered ONE thing is financial suicide. He introduces the concept of your "Gusher" - that one thing you can do unconsciously that prints money... and why maxing it out should be your ONLY focus until you...

Most entrepreneurs are sitting around waiting for someone else to give them permission to win. Their spouse. Their parents. Their friends. The market. Even themselves. But here's the brutal truth... Permission isn't coming. In this raw episode, Joe Blackburn breaks down why "every day you put it off, the old you survives" and how that weaker version of yourself is literally killing your potential. Joe and Jason dive deep into: • The relationship dynamics that either...

Joe Blackburn just crushed his biggest mastermind event yet. 28 entrepreneurs in the room... and what came out of it will change how you think about building wealth. Because while everyone's worried about AI taking jobs... There's a massive opportunity brewing that most people are completely missing. Joe calls it the "Silver Tsunami." And it's about to dump $10 TRILLION worth of businesses into the market by 2030. But here's the thing... Most of these won't be fancy investme...

Joe Blackburn drops some uncomfortable truths about pricing that'll make you squirm in your seat. If you've been racing to the bottom on price because you're scared nobody will pay what you're worth... this episode will slap some sense into you. Joe breaks down why most entrepreneurs price like they hate themselves. How to use "bracketing" to find your sweet spot. And the one question that'll expose cheap competitors for the frauds they are. Plus... Jason shares why pricing high actu...

Ever spent days losing your mind over something that turned out to be... nothing? Joe did. A simple camera setup issue turned into a 2-day rage spiral that consumed his entire world. Wrong cord. Wrong port. That's it. But here's the kicker... This wasn't just about tech problems. It's about the pattern most of us are stuck in WITHOUT realizing it. We get tunnel vision on tiny problems... Fan the flames with our frustration... And create massive fires out of small spark...

Most business owners spend their days griping about their "bad hires." Meanwhile... The smart ones are busy turning their existing team into profit machines. In this episode, Joe Blackburn drops some harsh truths about leadership that'll make you rethink everything. You'll discover: • Why pouring 80% of your energy into your A-player is the fastest path to explosive growth (even if it pisses off everyone else) • The "movable middle" strategy that transforms average employees in...

Most successful people are playing way smaller than they could be. And it's not because they lack skills... Or connections... Or even opportunities. It's because they've trapped themselves in a mental prison built out of two simple words: "What if." What if it doesn't work out? What if I lose what I've already built? What if people think I'm crazy? In this episode of The Lion's Edge, Joe Blackburn (founder of The Lion) and Jason Croft dive deep into the psychology that ke...

Ever notice how the most successful entrepreneurs think COMPLETELY differently about money, time, and what's possible? That's not an accident. In this raw episode, Joe Blackburn reveals the secret experiment he's been running on himself... and how just 8 weeks of skipping his morning mindset routine nearly DESTROYED his mental state. Even though his circumstances hadn't changed. Even though he was still killing it. Here's the uncomfortable truth: Most entrepreneurs are running multi-...

This episode of The Lion's Edge is gonna save you from being just another commodity in the marketplace. Jason and Joe dig into a critical mindset shift that separates the top 1% from the order-taking masses... And it all comes down to one thing: positioning yourself as the EXPERT, not the vendor. Jason kicks things off by referencing "The Four Conversations" - a book that fundamentally changed how he views sales positioning. He sets up the framework for discussing how you establish auth...

Is your business held hostage by mediocre talent? In this hard-hitting episode, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft reveal why most business owners are losing the battle for A-players without even realizing it. Joe shares the mindset shift that transformed his recruiting strategy from "who's available?" to "who's the best?" - regardless if they're looking for a job or not. You'll discover why most elite talent WON'T be found on job boards and how to attract them anyway. Plus, learn the courage i...

Most people are trapped in the daily grind... Reacting to whatever life throws at them. But the true Lions? They're playing a completely different game. In this episode, Joe Blackburn and Jason Croft break down why having a 10-year vision separates the merely "good" from those pursuing GREATNESS. Learn why elite performers don't just plan next quarter - they visualize where they'll be a decade from now, then work backward. Discover how The Lion members are held accountable to t...