How Joe Dan Reed Built a Laundromat Empire: Pickup & Delivery, Systems, and Scaling “Boring” Businesses

Host Dave interviews entrepreneur Joe Dan Reed, co-author of Splash ’Em Out Laundry, operator of nine laundromats in Kentucky, and creator of a major laundromat-focused YouTube channel. Joe Dan shares his path from early hustles to building a house-cleaning company, carpet cleaning operations, and eventually laundromats and pickup-and-delivery laundry, including a 20,000-square-foot warehouse processing about 20,000 pounds weekly and specialty work like horse blankets and boutique hotel linens. He explains scaling through SOPs, quality assurance, strong managers, automation, and leadership habits that enable the business to run without him. They discuss hiring standards, avoiding overpaying for laundromats, evaluating locations, calculated risk-taking, and why “boring” service businesses can be rewarding, community-driven, scalable, and sellable through repeatable systems and accountability.

00:00 Meet Joe Dan Reed
01:11 Early Hustles and Lessons
02:31 Broadcasting to Business
04:07 Starting a Cleaning Company
05:35 Scaling Services and Carpet Work
06:48 First Laundromat Breakthrough
08:02 Warehouse and Delivery Scale
09:26 Opportunity Mindset Recap
10:57 Hiring to Grow the Team
13:09 SOPs and Quality Control
19:26 Automation and Multi Store Systems
22:59 Risk Tolerance and Money Thinking
24:23 Evaluating and Buying Laundromats
29:18 Maintaining Brand Quality
30:53 Hiring Deal Breakers
32:30 Starting YouTube Journey
33:59 Why Boring Wins
37:16 Advice To Younger Self
38:22 Content Consistency Tips
41:18 Keep It Simple
43:44 Customer Doubt Signals
45:19 Fire Bad Customers
46:46 Accountability Always
47:37 Pricing Integrity
50:12 Where To Find Joe Dan
51:38 Pickup Delivery Future
52:45 Systems Build Freedom

Build Habits That Stick: Start Small, Stack, Schedule & Track (Locally Owned)

In this episode of Locally Owned, the host explains that motivation may start goals, but habits determine results, sharing a personal trick for getting back to the gym by giving himself permission to do just one rep. He argues the best way to build habits is to start ridiculously small, then grow consistency over time, applying the approach to business tasks like cold calling. He breaks down how habits form through cue, craving, response, and reward, and shows how awareness of what you’re really craving can help replace bad responses with better ones. Key strategies include scheduling habits on the calendar, habit stacking, redesigning your environment to change cues, pairing “need to do” tasks with “want to do” rewards, and tracking progress. He closes by linking habits to a bigger life vision using his SHARING template and offers a 12-module course with three free modules at yourgoalmind.net.

00:00 Falling Off the Gym
01:20 Habits Beat Motivation
02:56 Start Ridiculously Small
03:55 Small Habits in Business
04:44 The Habit Loop Explained
05:54 Craving the Real Reward
07:25 Schedule Your Habits
08:44 Habit Stacking Chains
09:48 Design Your Environment
10:54 Temptation Bundling
11:32 Track Progress for Motivation
12:57 Connect Habits to Vision
13:23 Sharing Template and Course
14:48 Final Wrap Up

My Email: [email protected]
yourgoalmind.net

6 Goal-Setting Myths Holding You Back (and the System That Actually Works) | Locally Owned

In this episode of Locally Owned, the host breaks down six common myths that prevent people—especially small business owners—from achieving their goals and explains that success is driven by a clear vision and a repeatable system, not personality, luck, or constant motivation. The myths addressed are: goal setting is only for high achievers; failure means you shouldn’t try; people can be successful without goals; free information is enough so a course isn’t needed; goals require extreme discipline; and motivation must come before action. Using analogies like driving to California, using a GPS instead of a compass, and climbing Mount Everest, the host argues that failure is part of learning, progress creates motivation, and consistency with boring, repeatable actions is what produces results. The episode also includes a promotion for an online goal-setting website and course the host is building based on the system used to grow, scale, and sell a company and to train employees, featuring tools, exercises, community support, weekly live Q&A, and workshop-style cohorts; the first three modules are offered free via yougoalmind.com. The episode closes by emphasizing that the goal is not just to achieve more, but to become more of who you are created to be, and encourages listeners to start taking small steps immediately.

00:00 6 Goal-Setting Myths That Keep You Stuck (Intro)
00:58 Myth #1: Goal Setting Isn’t Just for “High Achievers”
02:10 Myth #2: “What If I Fail?” — Why Failure Is Part of the Process
03:30 Myth #3: Success Without Goals Can Cost You Everything
05:12 Myth #4: Free Info Isn’t Enough — You Need a System (and a Guide)
06:02 Course + Community: YourGoalMind.com (Quick Break)
08:35 Back to the Myths: Myth #5 Discipline vs. Boring Consistency
09:20 Myth #6: Motivation Is Unreliable—Action Creates Motivation
10:25 The Real Truth: Clarity + Systems + Small Steps (Wrap-Up)
11:45 Final Thanks & Sign-Off

The Hidden Power of Likability in Business Success: Build Trust & Loyalty

In this episode of 'Locally Owned,' we explore the concept of likability in business, emphasizing its role in building trust and customer loyalty. Through personal anecdotes and practical examples, we illustrate how being easy to work with, trustworthy, and communicative can enhance customer relationships and increase long-term business value. Discover actionable tips on creating rapport, being reliable, and making your business easy to engage with, ultimately driving repeat business and referrals. Learn why likability, though not on your balance sheet, might be your business's most valuable asset.

00:00 Introduction: The Power of Likability in Business
00:49 A Lesson in Likability: The Dripping Equipment Story
03:36 Building Rapport: The Key to Business Success
06:42 The Formula for Building Trust and Likability
08:52 Practical Tips for Enhancing Customer Experience
15:49 The Importance of Integrity in Business
16:51 Conclusion: Creating Long-Term Business Value

How Austin Kirby Built a Successful Dryer Vent Cleaning Business From Scratch | Unveil Your True Purpose

Welcome to another episode of Locally Owned! Today, we dive into the inspirational journey of Austin Kirby, a hands-on entrepreneur who built a successful dryer vent cleaning business from scratch. Discover how a scripture from Jeremiah and a rejection of the nine-to-five hamster wheel propelled Austin towards his entrepreneurial dream. Follow Austin’s story from his early struggles and failed attempts to find a fit, to his eventual success with Kirby Dryer Vent Cleaning. Learn how his faith, attention to detail, and quality customer service turned a bucket and a snake brush into a thriving business. Timestamp your way through pivotal moments and entrepreneurial insights that any aspiring business owner can learn from. 
Time Stamps: 
  00:00 - Introduction of Austin Kirby
  02:15 - Early Life and Rejecting the Hamster Wheel
  04:30 - The Significance of Jeremiah 1:5
  08:25 - Realization at Safe Flight and Anthony’s Car Wash
  15:50 - Low Point at Steel City Pops
  19:34 - Finding Success and Purpose
  28:45 - Launching Kirby Dryer Vent Cleaning
  35:53 - First Client and Initial Success
  42:14 - Ongoing Business Growth
  52:30 - Quality and Customer Service
  01:03:50 - Future Plans and Business Philosophy
  01:10:55 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Don't miss this inspiring episode about entrepreneurship, faith, and finding your true purpose!

00:00 Introduction to Austin Kirby
00:26 Early Life and Inspiration
04:08 Struggles and Realizations
07:14 Turning Points and Small Wins
14:57 The Birth of an Entrepreneur
21:22 Building the Business
22:48 The Importance of Faith and Integrity
23:20 Attention to Detail and Client Care
26:30 Overcoming Challenges and Building Success
27:50 Future Plans and Business Growth
29:38 Balancing Growth and Quality of Life
36:24 The Power of Customer Service
40:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Ever wondered how a private equity firm works. This is a real life story of a family owned business that that grew to become a nationally recognized brand, was bought by a private equity firm and collapsed over night! 

In this episode of 'Locally Owned,' we explore the inspiring story of Dominic (Nick) and Jon Paella, who started Jon-Don, a revolutionary janitorial supply company, from their suburban Chicago garage in 1978. Discover how they built a national brand based on treating customers like family and stood by small contractors for decades. Learn how private equity firm Incline Equity Partners acquired Jon-Don in 2021, employing risky financial strategies that ultimately led to the company's bankruptcy by 2025. This narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the impact of high-risk financial maneuvers and the stark differences between customer-driven values and profit-driven imperatives.

00:00 The Dream Begins: Founding Jon-Don
00:58 Building a Legacy: Nick and Jon's Journey
01:53 A Customer's Perspective: The Jon-Don Experience
08:36 The Private Equity Takeover
10:13 The Downfall: Financial Missteps and Bankruptcy
15:07 Lessons Learned: The Impact of Private Equity
17:06 Conclusion: Preserving the Legacy

How AI Is Revolutionizing Main Street: Zeb Dawson on Sales, Marketing & Small Business GrowthWhat if your small business had an inside sales rep who never missed a call, booked jobs 24/7, followed up with every lead, and talked to customers exactly the way you would? In this episode of Locally Owned, I sit down with Zeb Dawson, founder of Happy Path Marketing, to explore how AI technology is transforming Main Street businesses.Zeb shares his journey from working at Tesla, Uber, and Motional to launching AI-powered tools that help local businesses grow, automate, and thrive. We discuss:
 ✅ How AI can answer calls, book appointments, and qualify leads
 ✅ Why follow-up automation is the key to more sales
 ✅ The danger of DIY thinking in small business marketing
 ✅ Building “trust bridges” with customers using technology
 ✅ Lessons from big tech that every small business owner can useIf you’re a local business owner looking to scale, systematize, and grow with AI, this episode is packed with insights and practical takeaways.
00:00 – AI Sales Rep That Never Sleeps – Zeb’s vision for Main Street businesses using AI to handle calls, bookings, and follow-ups.
02:00 – Early Entrepreneurial Journey – From rock tumblers to PC repair: how Zeb’s curiosity shaped his career.
12:30 – Lessons from Tesla & Uber – What big tech taught him about scaling, leadership, and customer service.
28:30 – Building Trust Bridges – Why relationships + AI are the future of small business growth.
46:00 – Happy Path Marketing & AI CRM – How Zeb helps small business owners automate follow-ups and never miss a lead.

In this video, we delve deep into the concept of branding, explaining why it's more than just a logo or color palette. The essence of a brand is the story consumers tell themselves about your product and reputation. Using a detailed example of Joe's journey with his salsa business, we explore the three stages of branding: Stage 1 where the owner is the brand, Stage 2 where the product becomes the brand, and Stage 3 where reputation is key. Discover the psychological factors behind each stage and actionable strategies to build, nurture, and protect your brand trust as your business scales. Watch to learn how Joe transitioned from local farmer's markets to national shelves and how you can apply these principles to your own branding efforts.00:00 Introduction to Branding00:38 Defining Branding: Beyond Logos and Colors02:05 The Three Stages of Branding03:00 Stage One: The Owner as the Brand08:46 Stage Two: The Product as the Brand13:38 Stage Three: Reputation and Trust20:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
FREE Online Business Readiness Assessment Link: https://yourgoalmind.com/meet-dave-pastor

My Calendar:  My calendar link: https://calendly.com/dpastor-streetsm...

How to Make Your Personality Your Brand

In this episode of 'Locally Owned,' host Dave interviews Johnny Juan Ortiz, a dynamic speaker, community leader, and founder of Fun Life Coaching. With decades of experience in mortgage lending, real estate coaching, and community leadership, Johnny shares how his charisma and faith-driven approach to business have fueled his success. From his early days working in a restaurant to launching coaching communities and becoming a certified Ziglar Legacy coach, Johnny provides valuable insights on turning personality into a powerful brand. Tune in to hear Johnny's journey, his strategies for sales success, and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

00:00 Introduction to Johnny Juan Ortiz
01:51 Johnny's Early Life and Career Beginnings
03:46 From Serving Tables to Sales Success
05:53 Transition to Timeshare and Commission Sales
08:45 Mastering the Art of Likability in Sales
16:53 Journey into Real Estate and Mortgage Lending
23:23 The Value of Coaching and Mentorship
32:00 Overcoming the Fear of Charging for Services
32:37 Building Confidence Through Success
36:56 The Importance of Self-Belief and Leadership
39:44 Connecting with Your Future Self
49:12 The Role of Faith in Achieving Success
54:02 The Value of Coaching and Certification
01:03:38 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

The 5 Mindset Shifts to More Profit, Freedom and Value

In this episode, the host returns after a two-month hiatus to discuss the significant shifts needed to make a small business more profitable, easier to manage, and ultimately more valuable for a future sale. After sharing personal experiences related to moving and converting a townhome into a rental property, the host dives into the five crucial mindset shifts every business owner should adopt. These include transitioning from an owner-dependent to an owner-optional business model, creating documented systems instead of relying on verbal instructions, gaining financial clarity rather than relying on gut feelings, fostering an empowered team instead of just having employees, and focusing on generating recurring revenue to lower business risk. These shifts not only prepare a business for a lucrative sale but also make it more profitable and functional in the now. The episode is packed with actionable insights and concludes with an offer for a free business assessment to help owners identify their most significant gaps and create a 12-month action plan.

00:00 Welcome Back and Personal Updates
01:02 New Business Focus: Helping Small Business Owners
02:43 Mindset Shift #1: From Owner-Dependent to Owner-Optional
10:46 Mindset Shift #2: From Verbal Instructions to Documented Systems
17:44 Mindset Shift #3: From Gut Feel to Financial Clarity
22:59 Mindset Shift #4: From Employees to an Empowered Team
28:24 Mindset Shift #5: From Risky to Recurring Revenue
32:34 Conclusion and Free Assessment Offer