Leadership, Discipline, and Building Something That Lasts with Jeff Baker

In Episode 8 of the Killer Growth Podcast, Sam McVay sits down with Jeff Baker, owner of The Grounds Guys of Wichita, for a deeply honest conversation about leadership, risk, people, and what it really takes to build a business that lasts.

Jeff shares his unconventional path into entrepreneurship—walking away from a 13-year career in law enforcement to start a landscaping franchise with no prior business background. What began as mowing yards on days off turned into a long-term journey of discipline, hard decisions, and personal growth. Along the way, Jeff opens up about the realities of scaling too fast, learning to make difficult people decisions, and why indecision is often more dangerous than making the wrong call.

This conversation goes far beyond landscaping. Jeff talks candidly about servant leadership, retaining great employees in a demanding, seasonal industry, and why he believes employees don’t work for business owners—business owners work for their employees. He also shares one of the most personal moments of his life: a health crisis that forced him to step away from work, confront his own limits, and redefine how he carries fear, control, and responsibility.

Listeners will hear insights on:
Leaving a stable career to bet on yourself
Why the franchise model accelerated Jeff’s business maturity
Hiring for attitude and training for skill
Retaining employees through care, consistency, and trust
The danger of growing too fast without infrastructure
Leadership under pressure and learning to release control
Balancing ambition, family, faith, and personal health

This episode is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t just about strategy or success—it’s about endurance, humility, and learning how to lead people well when the stakes are high.

https://killergrowth.com