Have you ever thought about what would happen if you surrendered everything over to God?

In this episode, Jeff and Doug discuss: 

• Setting the correct priorities in your life, starting with faith and family. 
• Coming to know Christ, not just know of Him. 
• Providing a witness of God in all that we do. 
• Creating space within your company for others to also abide with God. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Life is not bifurcated - there is not a secular and a sacred portion. God is in all aspects of our life. There is no difference between what we do and who we are. 
• God is the senior partner in our life - how do we serve Him with an attitude of praise and worship? 
• Sometimes our challenges are not for our benefit, but rather for us to be a witness of Him for others. 
• Write down what God speaks to you - spend time with Him, learn from Him, then implement what you are learning. 

"How do you know God? You only know God through experience." —  Doug Nix

About Doug Nix: Douglas Nix is the Founder and Chairman of Stillwater Capital Corporation, a leading M&A investment bank for mid-market businesses. Founded in 2002, the team of 17 professional staff is highly regarded for its integrity and ethics. Stillwater specializes in advising clients in the Transportation and Logistics, Distribution, Industrials, and Manufacturing industries.

Douglas is one of North America’s most experienced and trusted mid-market M&A advisors. He has extensive experience selling North American businesses to global buyers, and in advising clients on growth through strategic acquisition. Combining clear thinking, deep experience, and a sense of humor, he has successfully negotiated over 100 transactions. Douglas is a thought leader, frequent speaker, and writer on the topic of acquisitions. He is a CPA sought out to advise shareholders and management teams on strategy and transactional development and execution. He is married (42 years), with 3 children and 10 grandchildren, and is active in community causes.

Connect with Doug Nix:

Website: https://swmaa.com/ 

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stillwater-capital/  

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Podcast: https://generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv 

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

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Have you ever met those whose lives you’ve impacted through generosity? 

In this episode, Jeff and Judah discuss: 

• Judah’s unique childhood being raised as 1 of 50 children (at an orphanage his parents directed) in Mexico. 
• Keeping families together and giving them hope to move forward. 
• Using God-given talents for His purposes, not just your business. 
• Living intentionally with God in mind. 
• Investing in others as others had invested in you. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Serving others is great, but finding a way to help them help themselves can make a greater, lasting change in the lives of those you’re serving. 
• Seeing the impact of your donations and generosity can help you to better understand the impact that you can make in another’s lives. 
• Money is a tool to steward - don’t allow it to own you. 
• When you’re scared, take the first step - you never know when that risk will have you walking on water. 

"We’re only here once, and yet everything we do makes an eternal impact." —  Judah Mooney

About Judah Mooney, President, Diaconía:

Judah’s commitment to Christ and to alleviating poverty through sustainable development led him to found Diaconía, HOPE’s partner in Paraguay, in 2011. Today, these commitments continue to inspire his leadership of Diaconía’s team. Judah lives with his wife, Mary, and their three children in Asunción, Paraguay.

Connect with Judah Mooney:

Website: https://diaconia.com.py/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judah-mooney-19b6294

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Podcast: https://generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv 

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

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Do you believe there is more to life than just waiting for retirement? 

In this episode, Jeff and Jay discuss: 

• The top leaders' biggest challenge of retention and recruitment.
• What is most important when spending time with grandkids.
• Moving to your next phase of life.
• Finding beauty in the transitions of life and seeing God’s hand each day.

Key Takeaways: 

• Be present in your family and find balance in career and personal life - you won’t regret spending time with your kids when they’re young.
• Be intentional and driven to your next stage. We have been conditioned to prepare for retirement, but there is more to life than just retiring.
• Great things throughout history have been done by older people - it is not too late for you. We are not made to sit around and do nothing.
• The better the relationships you have in your 50s, the better health and happiness you have in the later part of your life. Nostalgia and reminiscing are extremely healthy as you age.

"What I try to do in supporting my faith is just be conscious of ‘God, who you're going to put in front of me today?’ And to show up for that, whatever that is, just be present and be available and be bold. The whole spiritual journey has been an adventure, and it's a fun one." —  Jay Gardner

About Jay Gardner: Jay Gardner (Patina Ventures LLC) is a technology industry visionary leader, board member and executive advisor, software company operator, and leadership mentor. His work experience across public companies, private equity, venture capital, management of numerous company integrations, as well as his insight into the application of technology to address business issues have equipped him well. He has passion for teaching, coaching, and serving as a mentor of people, which is applicable to a wide variety of businesses and industries.

Currently, Jay is a director for a public company, SEP Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq:SEPAC) and also serves on the Board at Halftime Institute, which serves by helping leaders get clear on their purpose and impact and supports them with tools, programs, and coaching.


He and his wife, Sally, have six adult children, all married, and eleven grandchildren. They split their time between Fort Worth, TX, and Park City, UT. 

Connect with Jay Gardner:

Website: sepacquisition.com

Halftime Institute: halftimeinstitute.org

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jgardner8

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: generousbusinessowner.com

Website: arkosglobal.com

Book: arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

Facebook: facebook.com/arkosglobal

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors

Instagram: instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors

YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Have you ever wondered at what might happen if you served in your industry with an abundance mindset? 

In this episode, Jeff and Wade discuss: 

• Wade’s journey from moving repeatedly as a child, to building his own successful moving company. 
• Growing your bootstrapped business in different marketplaces and beginning to franchise.
• Running your business with a mentality of abundance. 
• Creating a values-aligned business. 

Key Takeaways: 

• The money is always going to be there, you just need to know how to find it. 
• The moving industry is a fragmented space - many don’t understand their financial numbers, don’t understand communication, or the technology that can help to grow the business.  
• Seek out mentors and others in your industry doing what you want to be doing. 
• Spend time with people at every level, lower, higher, and right where you are at, but also don’t forget to spend time with yourself in reflection and growth. 

"It's that mindset of just being open to helping other people. I like to spend my time with 30% of people well above me, 30% of people on my level that we can push and hold each other accountable, and then 30% of people that I can help below me because you never know when they're going to be able to help you again in the future, and then 10% to yourself - it's important to reflect, keep a clear head, meditate, and enjoy your personal life." —  Wade Swikle

About Wade Swikle: Wade is a 2-time graduate from the University of Florida, with a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship (but he likes to refer to it as his Master’s Degree in Moving). Wade hosts the Grow Your Moving Company Podcast as well as Moving Titan Retreats, where he regularly learns from the best in the business on how to provide the ultimate experience for clients as well as educating other movers on how to do the same. As a former baseball player, Wade is Considered a ‘semi professional’ Wiffle-ball player, competing in tournaments around the state.

Connect with Wade Swikle:

Website: https://2collegebrothers.com/

Website: https://www.movingtitanretreats.com/

Podcast: https://www.movingtitanretreats.com/growyourmovingcompany

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wadeswikle

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

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Website: https://generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv 

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

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Have you ever wondered how to connect your heart’s purpose to your stewardship?

In this episode, Jeff and Steve discuss: 

• Finding what you are made to do. 
• Creating a stewardship plan to do good better. 
• Coming to know people, not just know of people. 
• Creating and facilitating family-giving conversations. 

Key Takeaways: 

• When a man is doing what he is called to do, God wants him to succeed and will lead the success. 
• Start giving in the areas that God has brought you through in your own personal experiences. 
• There is a difference between being friendly and being relational - you need to be relational to get to know the hearts of people that you can align what they are excited about to stewardship. 
• Stewardship and transformation takes place in the lives of those contributing - our lives are changed because we get to be part of the giving. 

"Stewardship is not about how many checks one writes, or how big the checks, it's about your heart. We know that to be biblically true. That's really what it comes down to - aligning heart to mission. When that happens in that lane of stewardship, once you know what you're trying to achieve based on your heart, then you're going to say yes to more opportunities do to achieve that objective." —  Steve Kaloper

About Steve Kaloper:

Development Services Group, Inc. Founder 

DoingGoodBetter Foundation and LLC. 

Steve partners with non-profit organizations both domestically and internationally. He also serves high-capacity families with an investment banking model for philanthropy. Steve has over 25+ years' experience in marketing, developing strategic relationships in the private, public, and non-profit sector having served nearly 950+ organization and families globally.

In 2010, Steve and Shannon started their giving-fund, The DoingGoodBetter Foundation and in 2015, authored his first book, “The Journey Into DoingGoodBetter!” 

Passionate Leader. Strong Verbal Communicator. Driver. Strategist.

As Founder and CEO of Development Services Group, Steve offers fundraising strategies for non-profits integrating various aspects of the donor-cultivation process. As Co-Founder and CEO of the Kingdom Capital Group, Steve developed the concept of Impact Philanthropy, a results-oriented approach to giving—and a key aspect of the New Wave of Philanthropy.

Born and raised in Southern California, he and his wife of over 34-years, Shannon, have four incredible adult-kids and reside in Atlanta, Georgia. Desiring is to live a life of transparency, integrity, and to equip and empower their kids to do good. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of Social Ecology at the University of California, Irvine. Steve serves on several non-profit and corporate boards. Screen Actors Guild - Member. 

Connect with Steve Kaloper:

Website: https://developmentservicesgroup.com/

Website: https://doinggoodbetter.org/

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

Book: The Journey Into Doing Good Better!

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Show: https://generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv 

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

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Do you know what it means to build a faith-friendly organization?

In this episode, Jeff and Brandon discuss: 

• Lessons learned from losing it all and learning to work young.
• Understanding one another’s backgrounds and triggers.
• Building a faith-friendly organization.
• Being open and loving to all people, regardless of belief system.
• The journey of serving.

Key Takeaways: 

• Understand what drives you and learn how to harness that to succeed.
• God has a hand in our lives and in directing our lives, even when we do not see it at the time.
• Being bold and taking your faith with you to work is good in every situation. But you need to be loving of all people and open to others of all faiths.
• People want to know that your organization is giving back. You don’t need to brag about it, but invite, share, and love those you are serving and those in your organization.

"There's just no downside to inviting everyone to bring their whole person with them." —  Brandon Barnholt

About Brandon Barnholt: Mr. Barnholt served as the President & CEO of KeHE Distributors (https://www.kehe.com/)  for the past 16 years, and transitioned to Executive Chairman in April of 2023. Under his leadership, the company grew tenfold in revenue to $8B annually and is the leading Natural & Organic, Specialty, and Fresh Food distributors in North America. KeHE has more than 7,000 employees and is widely known for its Faith Friendly culture where employees are encouraged to bring their Whole Person to work.

Brandon has held various Corporate Executive positions during his 45-year career, and he brings highly developed skills in organizational development, cultural formation, strategic planning, corporate finance, and M&A. Brandon serves on several Corporate and Non-Profit boards and he enjoys helping leaders shape cultures that have long-lasting value.

Brandon is the current Chairman of the CEO Forum, which is an organization serving large company C-Suite leaders in their quest to be Spiritual Statespeople in the marketplace.   

Brandon and Donna have three adult children, seven and one-half grandchildren, and through their family Foundation they serve many organizations in the U.S. and around the globe related to providing a hand up for those less fortunate.

Connect with Brandon Barnholt:

Website: https://www.kehe.com/

KeHE Cares: https://www.kehecares.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-barnholt

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

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

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

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Have you ever wondered how you can make a bigger impact with your for-profit company in your community and in God’s Kingdom?

In this episode, Jeff and Michael discuss: 

• Getting out of survival mode and finding financial freedom.
• Contentment in Christ.
• Ministry in the marketplace.
• Understanding what you are solving for and what the purpose of your drive is.

Key Takeaways: 

• 2 out of 3 kids who come out of poverty are directly correlated to them having a positive exposure in their lives.
• The fruit of the Spirit is real and causes a transformation in your life.
• Ministry happens in the daily life and in belonging. You don’t have to be non-profit to bless the people in your community to thrive, prosper, and flourish.
• Look at what you can do to lift your team in ways more than just raising salary.

"God does not need you to be a success in business. God does not need you to go and build anything. What God requires from us is obedience." —  Michael Arrieta

About Michael Arrieta: Michael Arrieta is a private equity investor, venture capitalist, and former technology entrepreneur.

He is the Founder & CEO of Garden City Equity, a people-first holding company that buys, grows, and holds blue- and white-collar service businesses from owners seeking a retirement succession or liquidity plan

Prior he spent his time within MAV Ventures, New Story Homes, DocuSign, Wyse, and Dell.

Michael currently serves on the board of Cambia Health Solutions.

Feel free to connect: [email protected]

Connect with Michael Arrieta:

Website: https://gardencityequity.com/

Email: [email protected]

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeArrieta

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

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

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

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Have you ever wanted to increase your non-monetary generosity but didn’t know how? 

In this episode, Jeff and Randy discuss: 

• Moving through the struggles of career changes and jobs you don’t love.
• The meaningful setbacks of entrepreneurship.
• Being willing to be vulnerable and honest about your story.
• Trusting in putting out good to get good back.

Key Takeaways: 

• Thinking differently is never a bad thing. But the key is getting people to listen to what you have to say.
• You did not put yourself in the success you have. You were a steward of the success that God has given you.
• There are ways to give even when you have nothing monetary to give.
• Everyone has had struggles, whether they talk about it or not. Our struggles help us to connect and, ultimately, are part of the path to generosity and success.

"At the root of any struggle to truly be generous is ultimately a lack of faith, and so it is struggling to be generous. The problem isn't a question of generosity, the problem is a question of faith - that you have lost sight of the identity of your Father in Heaven." —  Randy Walton

About Randy Walton: A speaker, consultant, and leadership expert, Randy Walton has been advising leaders and executive teams for over 25 years. Randy has deep experience in developing market strategies and developing organizational culture. He has extensive experience in corporate strategic planning, operations management, marketing, technology, business consulting, and organizational leadership. Randy works and travels extensively throughout North America and Europe mentoring and advising senior leaders and executive teams.

He is the co-author of:

·       "Roadmap to Remarkable"

·       "Enhancing Your Business Value... The Climb To The Top... Smart Strategies for a Successful Expedition"

·        Coming in 2023 - “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Communications Secrets You’re Just Not Seeing”

Connect with Randy Walton:

Website: https://randy-walton.squarespace.com/

Books: https://randy-walton.squarespace.com/publications

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

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

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

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

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Have you ever wanted to create more of an impact in your community or in the Kingdom with your business?

In this episode, Jeff and Austin discuss: 

• Working in the family business from a young age. 
• How your past can influence the impact you make now or in the future. 
• Connecting with peers outside of your immediate circle. 
• Building better as a team. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Build with a higher purpose than just what your projects look like on paper. 
• Generosity is more than money. Think about how your business can be a platform for generosity in other ways.
• Leverage your platform for greater kingdom impact. There are ways to plant seeds no matter what industry you are in. 
• Open your eyes to how others are making an impact. 

"Find a peer group. There's cost associated, whether it be financial or time, but those commitments can be life changing." —  Austin Williams

Episode References: 

• Halftime: https://halftimeinstitute.org/
• Ben Rutt: Continuing a Legacy of Stewardship

About Austin Williams: Hoping to make a “dent in the universe,” Austin founded Compass with an eye for developing East Tennessee’s future. As Compass continues to grow and add to its portfolio of projects, Austin envisions more dreams becoming reality through development. He has a passion for Downtown Sevierville’s revitalization efforts and contributes to those as Chairman of the Sevierville Commons Association and developer of projects including The Appalachian and Graze Burgers.

As a homegrown Sevier County local, Austin’s passion for his hometown led to involvement with numerous civic organizations in various roles. Austin is a graduate of leadership programs Leadership Tomorrow, Leadership Sevier, and East Tennessee Region Leadership. He now serves on Sevierville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, United Way of Sevier County’s Board of Directors, and Sevier County Quarterback Club as Chairman. He previously served on Carson-Newman Alumni Board, Sevier County Republican Party Board, and co-founded Young Executives of Sevierville.

Austin graduated from Carson-Newman University with a B.S. in Business Administration, then briefly worked in finance in Knoxville before returning to Sevierville with his wife Katie. They have been blessed with twins Harper and Rhett, as well as with their newest addition Baker.

Austin leads Compass to a bright future as “Opportunity Creator,” and also leads his community to one. Austin was selected as the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce's 2022 Citizen of the Year and Knox News 40 Under 40 Class of 2022. He will continue to leave a positive impact on the people and places his success-oriented mentality reaches.

Connect with Austin Williams:

Website: https://www.compassventures.net/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/33286548/admin/

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

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

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv 

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

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

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

In this episode, Jeff, Jeff, and Pete discuss: 

• The impact of an involved, intentional mentor. 
• The importance of having 3 mentors - older, younger, and peer. 
• Trusting God and honoring His Sabbath. 
• Stewardship is more than just giving.
• Creativity in generosity.  

Key Takeaways: 

• One of the best lessons you can teach your children is generosity.  
• If you want to be successful in life, honor God, honor your wife, and love your kids.
• Your business and your faith are not separate aspects of your life. You have one life, and everything is interconnected. 
• High expectations are good for the human soul. People want to take pride in their work and in what they do. 

"We believe that the purpose of business is to create economic, social, and spiritual capitals, not just to maximize shareholder value, but it has to be a catalyst for flourishing." —  Pete Ochs

About Pete Ochs: Pete Ochs is an author, investor, entrepreneur, and chief steward of Capital III and Enterprise Stewardship: two companies dedicated to being a catalyst for flourishing. Pete’s passion in life is to educate, equip, and empower business leaders worldwide to live for something greater than themselves by using their business platform to impact the world for Christ. To further this end, Pete has written two books, High Impact LIFE and High Impact Business, providing personal and business transformation frameworks. More information can be found at www.enterprisestewardship.com.

Connect with Pete Ochs:

Website: https://www.enterprisestewardship.com/

Book: https://www.enterprisestewardship.com/high-impact-life

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@enterprisestewardship3695

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-ochs/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EStewardship3

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

Pete & Deb Ochs - Jailhouse Generosity Video: https://vimeo.com/61562068

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv 

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

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

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