Summary

On this episode of Business & Brews, Matt sits down with longtime friend Josh Etress for a conversation on leadership, career growth, faith, and the power of showing up.

Josh shares his journey from ministry to software sales, from operational leadership to executive coaching, and the lessons he learned along the way. From taking bold risks early in his career to navigating major life and career transitions, this episode is full of practical insight for founders, operators, and leaders.

Matt and Josh unpack what separates high performers, why solving problems makes you invaluable, how faith can shape major decisions, and why rest is essential for sustainable leadership.

Josh also shares the story of how he broke into tech by betting on himself in a way most people would not.

If you are building, leading, or trying to figure out your next step, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• Josh’s path from ministry into business
• Why high performers focus on solving problems
• The advantage of working in a growth-stage company
• Transitioning from sales into operations
• Moving from Birmingham to Nashville
• The role of faith and patience in career decisions
• Sabbath and rest as a leadership discipline
• Breaking into tech by creating your own opportunity
• What excites Josh about coaching today
• Leading with both confidence and honesty

Key Takeaways:

• Solve problems beyond your role to create opportunity
• Effort and consistency can outpace experience early
• Growth environments accelerate careers
• Strong principles apply across any industry
• Sometimes you have to bet on yourself
• Faithfulness often comes before clarity
• Rest is critical to long-term performance
• Great leaders operate in truth, not just perception