On this Independence Day, JC delivers a personal and passionate message on why small business ownership is the most American thing you can do. As we fire up the grills and watch fireworks, JC challenges us to think about what we're doing with the opportunity we've been given.

He shares reflections from his time in uniform, the risk of losing legacy businesses, and how we need a new generation of owners willing to take the torch.
This isn't just a pep talk—it's a call to build.

If you’re feeling the nudge to step into ownership, this one’s for you.

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Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

In this episode of American Operator, we sit down with Jeff and Jason Driskel — brothers, quarterbacks, and now business partners. While Jeff continues his NFL career, Jason has stepped into the full-time operator role as they grow a portfolio of service-based businesses that prioritize freedom, fundamentals, and long-term value.

Their first acquisition? An accounting firm. Since then, it’s been all-in on ownership — no venture capital, no gimmicks, just consistent execution and family-driven grit.

Here’s what we break down:
- How Jeff balances entrepreneurship with pro football
- Why Jason went all-in as a full-time owner/operator
- How they chose their first business — and what they’ve learned since
- The dynamics of working with family while building legacy

Whether you're navigating a side hustle, diving into ownership, or building with family — this story will hit home.

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Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

What do mortgage rates, job security, and building houses have in common? Schuyler Williamson, founder of Mission Homes in Austin, joins JC to break down what’s really keeping people from buying — and why small business ownership might be the antidote to a shaky job market.

In this episode, they cover:

• The myth of “bad timing” when it comes to buying a home
• Why a stable job doesn’t always mean stable income
• How owning your own business gives you more control than any employer ever could
• What Schuyler’s seeing on the ground right now in the housing market

Whether you’re thinking about owning a business or buying your first home, this one’s about taking back your own certainty — instead of waiting for the economy to figure it out for you.

Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

Stop spiraling over every decision.

In this video, JC breaks down a practical 4-bucket system used in the military for fast, confident decision-making — so you can stop overthinking and start operating. Whether you're leading a team or just trying to send that one text, this framework will change how you show up.

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Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

This episode of American Operator follows the founder of Noble Joe’s, a coffee trailer born out of curiosity, hustle, and a few too many unknowns. From struggling to source espresso machines to the first time firing up the trailer, it’s a candid look at what actually happens when you build a business without experience.

Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes of Main Street businesses.

Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

What does it really take to build a business in the trenches — one plate at a time?

In this episode of American Operator, JC sits down with Robert Strong, Iraq veteran, chef and founder of Pretty Thai in Austin, TX. From late nights in a food truck to scaling a sauce brand through big name retailers, Robert breaks down the grit, risk, and resilience behind building something through his grief.

This isn't just another founder story. Robert shares the personal trials his family endured that kept them from being able to enjoy the success (at first) and how that launched his drive to create the Palmer Strong Foundation. He now focuses on making a difference for families in their most desperate times. 

You’ll hear:
 → Why “don’t do it” might be the best advice for entrepreneurs
 → What most people misunderstand about the food business
 → The difference between being a great cook and being a great operator
→ How culture, authenticity, and obsession with quality helped Pretty Thai grow

Whether you’re dreaming of your first storefront or in the thick of scaling, this episode is for the ones doing the work.

🎧 Hit play. Get inspired. Keep building.

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Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

Should you buy a business right now — or wait it out?

In this episode of American Operator, JC and Mainshares Founder, William Fry get honest about what it takes to operate during uncertain times. From interest rate pressure to market chaos, this one’s for every scrappy buyer, solo founder, or operator trying to make smart moves without burning out.

He breaks down:

• The myth of “perfect timing”
• Why some owners are quietly winning big
• How $150K turned into a $3.6M business
• What operators really need to focus on when things get weird

Whether you're buying your first business or scaling your fifth, this episode pulls no punches.

🎙️ Because Operators don’t wait for certainty — they build anyway.

Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

Escape the 9 to 5. Build a Legacy. | American Operator 🇺🇸🛠️

What drives someone to walk away from the “safe” path — the steady paycheck, the 401(k), the corporate ladder — to chase something harder… and more meaningful?

In this episode of American Operator, host Joseph Cabrera breaks down the 5 real reasons people leave traditional jobs to become small business owners. It’s not just about money.

If you’re thinking about taking the leap, this episode is for you.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

Why control matters more than comfort
The power of community and local ownership
What financial freedom actually looks like
How legacy fuels long-term purpose
Why entrepreneurship is the ultimate test of grit

📬 Join the Operator Movement

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🎙️ Listen to the American Operator podcast wherever you get your shows.

#AmericanOperator #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #EscapeThe9to5 #BusinessOwnership #BuildALegacy #FounderMindset #OperatorNetwork #MainStreetUSA #FreedomNotComfort #WhyWeOwn

Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

Ever thought about buying a small business? James Jackson Leach has bought more than a few—and learned some hard lessons along the way.

In this episode of The American Operator Podcast, James shares the unfiltered reality of owning and operating small businesses, from a neighborhood butcher shop to a downtown bar. He opens up about the challenges no one talks about—like managing unpredictable employees, dealing with government regulations, and knowing when it’s time to pull the plug on a failing business.

🔹 How he bought his first business with an SBA loan
🔹 The hardest lessons from running a meat market, brewery, and bar
🔹 What most first-time owners get wrong about leadership
🔹 Why culture and people make or break your business
🔹 How grit (and a little ruthlessness) keep you in the game

💡 If you're thinking about buying a small business, this is the real story you need to hear.

📢 Subscribe for more real stories from operators building America’s backbone.
#Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BusinessOwnership #AmericanOperator #Leadership #entrepreneur #SMB #buyabusiness #podcast #boringbusinesses #owner #owneroperator #operatorinsights #america #AmericanDream #BusinessGrowth #SideHustle #BuildYourBusiness #WealthBuilding #AcquisitionEntrepreneurship #BusinessAcquisition #BizBuySell #SearchFund #MergersAndAcquisitions #BuyingACompany #LocalBusiness #OperatorMentality #BlueCollarMillionaire #SuccessStories #Trades

Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

Buying a business is one thing—running it is another.

In this episode of The American Operator Podcast, TJ Brogan, owner of Washaroo Car Wash in Austin, Texas, shares his unexpected journey from tech sales to small business ownership. From turning around a struggling car wash, dealing with employee chaos, and learning what really matters when buying a business, TJ opens up about the realities of being an operator.

 In this episode, you’ll learn:
🔹 How TJ found and bought his first business with no industry experience
🔹 The biggest challenges of running a labor-intensive business
🔹 The surprising struggles of hiring and retaining employees
🔹 How he negotiated with a landlord to acquire the real estate
🔹 The craziest customer and employee horror stories from the field

If you’re thinking about buying a business, this episode is packed with hard-earned lessons you won’t hear in a classroom.

🔔 Subscribe for more real stories from operators building America’s backbone.

#Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #CarWashBusiness #BusinessOwnership #AmericanOperator #SMB #buyabusiness 

Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com