Blue Collar Smart

Who Are You When the Career Ends with Dr. Greg Bourgond

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Host Hugh Hornsby welcomes Dr. Greg Bourgond to discuss faith, purpose, and life transitions. Bourgond recounts his parents’ divorce at 12 and a defining “hugging the lion” moment that fueled lifelong focus, his 29-year Navy career retiring as a naval intelligence officer, and varied leadership roles in business, churches, and graduate education. He describes coming to Christ on August 11, 1973 after losing four babies and later founding Heart of a Warrior Ministries, now 30 years old. Bourgond outlines his book, The Winter of Your Life (“If you’re not dead, you’re not done”), explains four seasons of life, warns against identity in work, and shares practical steps for pursuing God’s counsel, planning, and meaningful legacy.

00:00 Welcome to Blue Collar Smart

01:25 Meet Dr Greg Bourgond

02:38 A Life of Many Callings

05:40 Finding the Right Ratio

07:17 The Lion Vow at 12

09:29 You Were Made on Purpose

11:15 Coming to Christ

15:17 Heart of a Warrior Begins

19:22 Winter of Life and Identity

22:10 The Four Seasons Framework

24:36 Inside the Book

27:57 Cancer Wake Up Call

29:05 Faithful Available Teachable

32:18 Where to Get the Book

33:55 Character Over Competence

35:24 Yellow Pad Advice

37:43 Nine Steps to Finish Strong

Thanks for listening, and please share this episode with a trade leader who is ready to build something bigger than a business. Every share helps us reach more owners, executives, and industry leaders who are committed to investing in their people and strengthening the future of the trades.

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Get practical leadership insights, proven people-first strategies, and resources designed to help trade leaders build stronger teams, grow profitable businesses, and create organizations that stand the test of time. Join a community of owners, executives, and industry leaders who believe the future of the trades is built on people, relationships, and leadership.

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

Interested in executive advisory, leadership coaching, speaking, or mastermind opportunities? Connect with Hugh and discover how a people-first approach can help your organization grow with purpose, clarity, and lasting impact.

Show Sponsors

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About Dr. Greg Bourgond

Dr. Greg Bourgond is the founder and president of Heart of a Warrior Ministries, where he has spent more than three decades helping men develop lives of integrity, purpose, faith, and leadership. His background spans 29 years of active and reserve service in the U.S. Navy, including service as a Naval Intelligence Officer, along with leadership roles in the defense industry, business, churches, seminaries, and higher education.

Learn more about Dr. Greg Bourgond and Heart of a Warrior Ministries:

https://www.heartofawarrior.org/

Visit iWallet at https://www.iwallet.com/

Leading the Future of the Trades with Daniel Quinonez

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Host Hugh Hornsby interviews Daniel Quinonez, newly named CEO of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC), about his blue-collar upbringing in Newark, New Jersey, and his career path through construction associations, the National Association of Home Builders, and PHCC’s Educational Foundation. Quinones describes PHCC’s 140-year history and emphasizes apprenticeship training, scholarships, and PHCC’s Online Academy, plus continued business and leadership education for contractors. He discusses membership challenges from an aging contractor base and private equity consolidation, and the need to re-energize younger, tech-savvy members. Quinones frames “building the middle of the road” as offering debt-free, earn-while-you-learn alternatives to college debt, urges strong licensure standards against untrained contractors and fraudulent schools, views AI as a helpful business resource, and shares his “yellow pad” advice: never quit.

00:00 Blue Collar Roots

03:36 Path to PHCC Leadership

06:33 PHCC History and Change

08:49 Trades vs College Debt

12:22 Building the Middle Road

17:43 Business Skills for Growth

19:36 Succession and Private Equity

22:40 AI as a Tool

26:18 Licensing and Training Standards

30:00 Avoiding Fly By Night Schools

34:52 How to Start with PHCC

39:56 Yellow Pad Advice

42:33 Future of the Trades

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

About Daniel

Daniel Quinonez is the incoming CEO of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC), bringing more than 20 years of experience in association leadership, advocacy, and workforce development. Raised in a blue-collar New Jersey community, Quinonez credits working in his father’s Newark tavern from a young age with instilling the work ethic that has shaped his career. Before joining PHCC, he held leadership roles with organizations including the Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Professional Electrical Apparatus Reconditioning League, worked with the National Association of Home Builders, and served 12 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. Since joining the PHCC Educational Foundation in 2023, Quinonez has helped expand apprenticeship education, scholarships, industry partnerships, and the PHCC Academy, while also serving as PHCC’s Chief Operating Officer. He was selected in May 2026 to succeed Cindy Sheridan as CEO, assuming the position November 1, 2026.

Links

PHCC Educational Foundation https://www.phccfoundation.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-quinonez-690ba68/

Show Sponsors

iWallet https://www.iwallet.com/

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Visit iWallet at https://www.iwallet.com/

Building Trades Businesses That Run Without You with Dr. Sam McGough

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Host Hugh Hornsby interviews Dr. Sam McGough, a former chiropractor who built a multi-provider medical clinic enterprise, stopped treating patients about a decade ago, and focused on systems, SOPs, and masterminds to create a business that can run without him. McGough explains his motivation came from his truck-driver father’s death, when a lack of systems forced his mother to sell the business assets cheaply, shaping his goal of building transferable companies. He shares how his Aestus mastermind emphasized transparent peer learning without vendor selling, and argues trades businesses often struggle to sell because owners remain the rainmaker and lack cash flow and documentation. McGough describes entering HVAC via a successful plumber patient, launching an HVAC business in January, adding electrical, pursuing plumbing, and prioritizing customer service, relationships, and building a home-services platform targeting $20–$50M revenue with strong margins and optionality.

00:00 Welcome to Blue Collar Smart

01:07 Sam’s Clinic Journey

05:18 Building Aestus Mastermind

15:18 Systems and Hiring Fast

18:25 Aging Owners and Selling

24:50 Acquisition Rollup Strategy

29:41 Hunt for Success Podcast

31:37 Money Skills for Trades

36:55 Real Mastermind Culture

39:09 Yellow Pad Takeaway

42:47 Freedom Through Systems

44:45 How to Contact Sam

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

About Sam

Dr. Sam McGough is an entrepreneur, healthcare executive, systems-builder, and host of The Hunt for Success. As Founder and CEO of Discovery Medical Center, a leader in national clinic platforms, and creator of Aestus Mastermind, Sam helps entrepreneurs and executives build successful businesses that create greater freedom, purpose, and adventure. An avid outdoorsman, he applies lessons from hunting, fishing, and the backcountry to leadership, discipline, resilience, and decision-making. Through candid conversations with successful founders, investors, and executives, Sam explores the strategies, failures, and habits behind building wealth without sacrificing the life you want to live.

Links

Website https://thehuntforsuccess.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/huntforsuccesspodcast

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/huntforsuccesspodcast/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-mcgough-674675135/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUJBYLwqq-xy-CBEslkvmzw

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@huntforsuccesspodcast

Thank you to our sponsors

iWallet https://www.iwallet.com/

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Learn more about Distro at distro.app

Gary S. Michel on Clarity, Purpose, and Asking Better Questions

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Hugh Hornsby introduces his new podcast, Blue Collar Smart, explaining it reflects how people think rather than how they dress and sharing how childhood epilepsy and a learning disability shaped his perspective. He interviews Gary S. Michel, a Virginia Tech engineer and author of Decomplify and The Founder’s Mindset, who has led companies including JELD-WEN, Honeywell, Club Car, Trane, and Ingersoll Rand. They discuss Bud Foster’s “Lunch Pail Defense” and the idea that purpose and clarity outperform raw talent. Michel explains how leaders “complify” work with extra reports and meetings, why focusing on the critical few customer problems wins, and how asking frontline employees questions can prevent unnecessary capital spending. They cover building great companies people want to buy from, work for, and invest in, talent-destination cultures, mentorship, and Michel’s “yellow pad” lesson: be fully present and focus on what matters most.

00:00 Launch Story

01:17 Meet Gary Michel

02:39 Lunch Pail Leadership

04:27 From Engineer to Leader

06:36 Decomplify and Clarity

08:46 Focus on the Critical Few

12:30 Ask the People Doing Work

15:07 What Makes a Great Company

20:50 Culture and Talent Magnet

23:07 Ask Better Questions

25:48 Yellow Pad Moment

29:06 Mentors and Advisors

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

Guest Bio

Gary S. Michel is a transformation expert and seasoned executive who believes that the most powerful tool a leader possesses isn’t a spreadsheet—it’s a mindset. With nearly forty years of experience leading iconic brands like JELD-WEN, Honeywell, Club Car, Trane, and Ingersoll Rand, Gary has spent his career at the inter- section of high-stakes strategy and human-centric leadership. While his tenure as a board chair and CEO earned him acco- lades like “Most Admired CEO” by the Charlotte Business Journal, Gary is most often sought after for his role as a mentor and advi- sor. He has cultivated a loyal following of leaders and team mem- bers who rely on his unique ability to strip away corporate noise and restore a founder’s sense of ownership and purpose to estab- lished organizations. Whether he is delivering a keynote to hundreds, serving on boards, or advising a single executive, Gary’s guidance is rooted in the belief that clarity is a gift you give your team. A Vistage resource speaker and Forbes featured author, he is a dedicated advocate for the next generation of leaders through his board work with the American Heart Association and his deep roots in the Charlotte, North Carolina, community.

Links

Website: www.garysmichel.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garymichel1/

Thank you to our sponsors

iWallet https://www.iwallet.com/

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Learn more about Distro at distro.app

Relationships Are Your Competitive Advantage with Ed Wallace

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT

On Blue Collar Smart, Hugh Hornsby welcomes author and business relationship expert Ed Wallace for a practical conversation about building relational capital in sales, leadership, and the trades. Wallace explains how a family emergency led him to leave a successful corporate sales career and create a training company built around credibility, integrity, and authenticity. He shares his three-part learning model of stories, tools, and process while introducing relational GPS, the Fab Five, and the relationship ladder. Hugh and Ed examine why transactional thinking limits sales teams, how private equity-backed companies risk losing valuable relationships during acquisitions, and why active listening helps tradespeople stand apart from their competitors. Wallace also explains how leaders can use AI without losing their voice and shows how understanding another person’s goals, passions, and struggles creates stronger, lasting business relationships.

00:00 — Authenticity and Relational Capital

01:55 — Meet Ed Wallace

06:35 — From CPA to Founder

11:50 — Practical Relationship Training

18:35 — Build Your Fab Five

23:20 — Transactional Sales Problem

27:05 — Relationships Between the Boxes

31:40 — Active Listening Wins Business

38:15 — AI Without Losing Humanity

49:45 — The Relational GPS

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

Guest Links

AchieveNEXT: https://achievenext.com

LInkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/edwallace

Thank you to our sponsors

iWallet https://www.iwallet.com/

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Visit iWallet at https://www.iwallet.com/

Build a People-First AI Strategy with Jason Sullivan

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Blue Collar Smart, Hugh Hornsby welcomes Jason Sullivan, founder of Distro, to explore how artificial intelligence can help trade distributors transform their businesses without losing their people-first culture. Jason shares how his background in cognitive science, computer science, finance, and AI led him into the distribution industry. The conversation covers preserving knowledge as experienced employees retire, helping teams embrace new technology, protecting company data, navigating private equity and succession, and using AI as a force multiplier rather than a replacement for people. Jason also shares practical leadership lessons from building Distro and explains why strong founders must remain students of their employees, customers, and industry.

00:00 — Why AI is really business transformation

02:50 — Combining cognitive science with artificial intelligence

07:00 — Preserving expertise as the workforce ages

11:31 — Introducing AI into a people-first business

18:42 — Protecting your data when adopting AI

24:39 — Why founders need the right support system

31:40 — Private equity, succession, and competitive leverage

40:09 — Jason’s “yellow pad” leadership lesson

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

Guest Bio

Jason Sullivan is the founder and CEO of Distro, the Agentic AI Sales Platform purpose-built for wholesale distributors and manufacturers' reps. He holds a master's in computer science with a focus on artificial intelligence from Stanford and an undergraduate degree in cognitive science from Yale. This rare pairing gives him both deep technical mastery and a sharp understanding of how people actually adopt and use technology.

Links

Website: distro.app

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncsullivan/

Visit iWallet at https://www.iwallet.com/

Integrity Is Your Greatest Asset with Sir Darren Jacklin

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Blue Collar Smart, Hugh Hornsby welcomes entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, and global business leader Sir Darren Jacklin to discuss how adversity can become the foundation for resilience, leadership, and lasting impact. Sir Darren shares how he moved beyond learning disabilities, mental health struggles, homelessness, and financial ruin to help grow eXp Realty into a multibillion-dollar company. He also explains why relationships, controlled discomfort, clear goals, thoughtful succession planning, and personal integrity are essential to building businesses that serve people and create a meaningful legacy.

00:00 — The vision behind Blue Collar Smart

02:00 — Overcoming early labels and a mental health crisis

07:30 — Why entrepreneurs often feel misunderstood

11:40 — Building success through service and relationships

18:45 — The network that led Sir Darren to eXp Realty

25:45 — Acquiring businesses to fund global philanthropy

28:25 — Preparing a business for succession and retirement

33:45 — From homelessness and financial ruin to millionaire

39:05 — Acting despite fear, doubt, and discomfort

42:05 — Why integrity gives your words power

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

Thank you to our sponsors

iWallet https://www.iwallet.com/

Distro distro.app

Learn more about Distro at distro.app

People First - Technology Second with Randy Chaffee

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Randy Chaffee joins Hugh Hornsby for a conversation about leadership, adaptability, and why relationships remain the greatest competitive advantage in today's rapidly changing trades industry. With more than four decades of experience in building materials, manufacturing, sales, and industry leadership, Chaffee shares how growing up on a Michigan farm shaped his work ethic, why serving people always outperforms chasing transactions, and how personal branding has become just as important as product knowledge.

Together they discuss the evolution of sales after COVID, the role of digital communication and AI, the importance of hybrid relationship-building, and why technology should amplify—not replace—human connection. The conversation also explores recruiting the next generation into the trades, supporting women and underrepresented groups in the industry, financial education, private equity, leadership culture, and the mindset required to continually adapt as the business landscape evolves. Chaffee closes by encouraging leaders to embrace change while remaining grounded in their core values, reminding listeners that their greatest asset will always be their willingness to learn, grow, and serve others.

00:00 Adaptability Is Your Greatest Advantage

01:15 Welcome to Blue Collar Smart

02:15 Randy Chaffee's Journey into the Trades

04:35 Lessons Learned on the Family Farm

06:25 Why You Must Love What You Do

08:05 Relationships Over Transactions

10:25 Playing the Long Game in Sales

11:25 Becoming Part of the Industry

13:30 Building Trust That Lasts

14:30 Advice for Young Sales Professionals

15:10 You Are Your Brand

17:20 Selling Yourself Before Your Product

19:25 Private Equity and Industry Change

20:45 The Power of Hybrid Selling

23:40 AI as a Force Multiplier

24:20 Why the Trades Need More Women

26:35 Building Careers Through the Trades

28:20 Teaching Financial Intelligence

31:25 Mindset Creates Financial Success

33:30 People Are the Greatest Asset

35:45 Systems and Street Smarts

38:35 Randy's Yellow Pad Moment

40:40 Becoming an Adapter

42:00 You're Capable of More Than You Think

43:40 Final Thoughts on Leadership

About Guest

Randy L. Chaffee is the #1 Amazon Best Selling Author of Asphalt and Algorithms, with his newest book, The Closers Part 7, coming soon. Known as #HybridRoadWarriorRandy, he has spent more than four decades helping businesses grow through relationships, reputation, and practical sales strategies. As a speaker, author, and host of BuildingWins.LIVE, Randy combines old-school relationship selling with today’s digital tools to help professionals succeed in a changing marketplace.

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

Thank you to our sponsors

iWallet https://www.iwallet.com/

Distro distro.app

Learn more about Distro at distro.app

Building the Future of Contractor Commerce with Jim Kolchin

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Jim Kolchin, founder and CEO of iWallet, joins Hugh Hornsby to explore how financial technology is reshaping the HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and broader trades industries. Drawing from his experience as an HVAC contractor and serial entrepreneur, Kolchin shares his journey from immigrating to the United States with just $200 to building multiple successful companies dedicated to helping contractors operate more efficiently. He explains how iWallet simplifies payment processing, eliminates friction between contractors and distributors, and creates a better digital buying experience.

The conversation examines the industry's shift toward B2B2C commerce, where contractors can build complete equipment bundles online and homeowners can seamlessly approve estimates, finance projects, and make payments. Kolchin discusses the growing importance of digital adoption, the challenges distributors face with outdated ordering systems, and why improving user experience is critical for the future of the trades. They also explore private equity's influence, faster payment models, bundled solutions, and the entrepreneurial mindset required to identify opportunities others overlook. Throughout the discussion, both emphasize gratitude, innovation, and serving contractors through better technology.

00:00 Digital Commerce Is Changing the Trades

01:00 Welcome and Meet Jim Kolchin

02:10 From Soviet Union to HVAC Entrepreneur

04:10 Understanding Financial Technology

05:10 Solving Contractor Payment Problems

07:10 How iWallet Started

08:10 Processing Over One Billion Dollars

09:20 The Evolution of Distributor Technology

11:00 Digital Ordering Is the Future

13:05 Understanding the B2B2C Model

14:35 Why User Experience Matters

16:10 Bridging Contractors and Distributors

17:00 Building an Amazon-Style Buying Experience

18:30 Closing the Digital Adoption Gap

20:25 Creating Equipment Bundles That Work

22:50 Private Equity and Industry Growth

25:45 How Distributors Can Get Started

27:20 Splitting Payments Seamlessly

29:10 Eliminating Net-30 and Net-60 Delays

30:15 Staying Ahead of Industry Trends

31:15 Entrepreneurship and Opportunity

32:30 The Power of Gratitude

33:45 Final Leadership Advice

34:50 How to Connect with iWallet

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

About Guest

Jim Kolchin is a serial entrepreneur and inventor who has built companies in IoT, robotics, fintech, and now AI. His ventures have been featured by TechCrunch and Forbes, and today he leads iWallet, a profitable fintech platform processing hundreds of millions of dollars annually while building AI infrastructure for the home service industry.

Links

iWallet https://www.iwallet.com/

Thank you to our sponsors

iWallet https://www.iwallet.com/

Distro distro.app

Visit iWallet at https://www.iwallet.com/

Integrity and Relationship Building with Mark Hunter

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Hugh Hornsby hosts Mark Hunter, author of five books including "Integrity First Selling," on a trades-focused podcast about sales as relationship-based service. Hunter recounts entering sales only to get a company car after too many speeding tickets, being fired twice, and then learning from a leader to listen, ask questions, and build authentic trust. They discuss prospecting as an obligation to help, alignment of values with customers, and walking away from misaligned deals. The conversation covers private equity’s growing role, AI as an efficiency tool that supports rather than replaces people, and challenges from an aging workforce and lost institutional knowledge. They emphasize recurring revenue models, digital transactions growth, and investing in training and culture to retain talent. Hunter argues nothing is a commodity because sellers bundle outcomes and reliability, shares a disciplined morning routine, and says salespeople will remain essential; he can be reached at thesaleshunter.com.

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast

01:22 Why Integrity Matters

03:21 Mark’s Sales Origin Story

04:45 Getting Fired and Getting Real

05:19 The Mentor Who Changed Everything

08:12 Sales Is Listening

09:18 Prospecting as Service

11:25 Client Alignment and Values

13:37 Private Equity in the Trades

15:41 AI Tools for Efficiency

19:09 Aging Workforce and Opportunity

20:40 Recurring Revenue Matters

21:28 Seasonal Profit Lessons

22:20 Digital HVAC Shift

24:18 Investing in People

27:39 Founder Trap Burnout

29:19 Rollups Efficiency Gains

30:26 Techs vs Sales Roles

31:51 Stop Selling Commodities

34:10 Bundling Value Add

36:54 Yellow Pad Routine

37:53 Future of Sales AI

38:54 Where to Find Mark

39:35 Closing Appreciation

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

About Guest:

Mark Hunter is a globally sought after keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant on sales leadership. His mission is to motivate sales teams to rethink their prospecting process.With more than 15+ years in the corporate market working for Fortune 200 companies in senior positions leading hundreds of salespeople combined with his 20+ years experience as a sales consultant, speaker, and coach, Mark has been able to develop a methodology that salespeople and companies around the world use and have success with.

Links:

Website: https://thesaleshunter.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSalesHunter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesaleshunter/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkHunterTheSalesHunter

LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesaleshunter/

Thank you to our sponsors

iWallet https://www.iwallet.com/

Distro distro.app

Visit iWallet at https://www.iwallet.com/

From Turmoil to Triumph with Dave Sanderson

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Host Hugh Hornsby introduces the Blue Collar Smart podcast and interviews Dave Sanderson, a Miracle on the Hudson survivor and former sales leader. Sanderson recounts starting in factories and restaurants, learning humility and responsibility from a Christmas Eve shift where Bill Marriott helped run the kitchen, and developing resilience through door-to-door copier sales and handling rejection. He describes a key sales lesson at ADP about earning the right to be in influential rooms, later formalized as his A-to-I (access to influence to affinity) framework, and how strong client relationships showed up after the crash. Sanderson retells the 2009 ditching in the Hudson, his decision to help others, and how a manager’s response at Oracle pushed him toward speaking, books, and advising organizations via resilience frameworks, including VCR and ASSESS, emphasizing caring for people over numbers and managing state of mind.

00:00 Miracle on the Hudson

01:40 Dave’s Background

04:27 Starting at the Bottom

06:12 Marriott Leadership Lesson

10:05 Door to Door Sales

12:24 Mentor in the Restaurant

16:05 Depression Era Innovation

18:55 Enterprise Sales Mindset

22:20 Reputation on the Line

24:03 Access to Influence

26:42 Affinity in Action

30:17 Miracle on the Hudson

34:43 Back at Work Reality

36:03 People Over Numbers

38:04 Resilience Frameworks

40:56 Yellow Pad Mindset

42:20 Triggers and Growth

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

About Guest:

Dave Sanderson is a nationally recognized leadership speaker, author, and resilience expert best known as the last passenger off US Airways Flight 1549, the “Miracle on the Hudson.” Drawing on that defining experience, his years as a top sales leader at Oracle, and his work with Tony Robbins, Dave works with leaders and organizations to turn disruption into a competitive advantage. He has spoken to more than 1,700 audiences worldwide, sharing practical strategies on resilience, leadership, gratitude, and performing under pressure.

Links

Website https://resiliencepartnersgroup.com

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredavesanderson/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@DaveSandersonKeynoteSpeaker

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dave.sanderson.73

Thank you to our sponsors

iWallet https://www.iwallet.com/

Distro distro.app

Learn more about Distro at distro.app

Building a People First Business Culture with Eric Himes

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In this Blue Collar Smart Podcast episode, host Hugh interviews Eric Himes, creator of the Inspirational/Inspired Operating System and founder of The Inspired Culture, about leadership that multiplies and empowers people. Eric shares his career path from Home Depot to 19 years in medical devices, then burnout and losing his first marriage after prioritizing performance and travel over family, plus a faith-driven transformation that reshaped his view of worth and leadership. They discuss helping founders avoid carrying everything alone, trusting God, and building inclusive cultures without forcing beliefs. Eric outlines the Inspired OS framework to measure growth mindset weekly—personal why, vision alignment, habits, goals, wins, challenges to build strategic thinking, and frequent two-way feedback—plus organizational mindset scoring. He shares self-care practices, his website/contact, and the Inspired Culture Summit (Nov 16–17, Naperville, IL, with livestream).

00:00 Multiply Through People

00:51 Podcast Welcome Guest Intro

01:51 Eric Background Journey

03:59 Performance Burnout Wakeup

07:17 Faith Pivot Healing

09:39 Advice For Founders

12:09 Leading Across Beliefs

13:38 Inspired Culture At Work

17:09 Service Why Purpose

19:42 Self Care Alignment

22:41 Inspired OS Framework

26:09 Weekly Wins Challenges

29:50 Feedback Multiplies Leaders

31:48 Mindset Score Dashboards

32:51 Connect Summit Closing

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

CONNECT with Hugh Hornsby & Blue Collar Smart

Join the Community:

www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

Follow Hugh Hornsby:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

Guest Bio:Eric Himes is the Founder of The Inspired Culture™, author of the forthcoming book The Empty Chair, and a thought leader in holistic leadership development. He's a member of Thought Leaders 100, and his frameworks have driven a 46% reduction in turnover, 92% OKR completion, and $490K+ in annualized value. He is the creator of the Growth Mindset Framework & Measurement System, the Inspired Culture Framework, and the 50 Masks of Leadership. He is also Founder and Host of Inspired Culture TV and creator of The Rising 99™ and The Inspired OS™. Outside of work, he is a husband, father of five, and marathon runner who has completed 8 marathons.

Links:

Website: www.yourpathinspired.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-himes/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheInspiredCulture

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Rooted in Resolve with Marlon Mueller

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:54:00 GMT

In this inaugural episode of Blue Collar Smart, Hugh Hornsby welcomes financial strategist and fourth-generation farmer Marlon Mueller to discuss the mindset behind lasting wealth, resilience, and leadership. Drawing from his experiences navigating the farm crisis, preserving his family's legacy, and mastering financial systems, Marlon shares practical lessons on money, mentorship, long-term thinking, and building wealth that lasts for generations. The conversation also explores why investing in people, continuous learning, and strong values creates success both in business and in life.

00:00 — Why mentorship changes your future

01:10 — The vision behind Blue Collar Smart

03:00 — Saving the family farm and learning money

10:50 — Why wealth begins with mindset

17:45 — Advice for the next generation entering the trades

30:15 — The Four Fs for building a meaningful life

Have a great day.

Hugh Hornsby

"People build businesses. Invest in your people, and they'll invest in your future."

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www.thebluecollarsmart.com and www.hughhornsby.com

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-hornsby-51986b10/

About the Guest

Marlon Mueller is a financial educator, investor, and fourth-generation farmer who helps individuals and business owners build lasting wealth through financial education, mindset, and long-term planning. His work focuses on helping people create financial freedom while leaving a meaningful legacy for future generations.

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