The Surthrivalist Podcast with Zach Wise

Think Grey, Lead Boldly - A conversation on decision-making, hiring, and legacy with Derek Maxson | Ep. 6

What do parenting, product development, and personnel decisions all have in common? They’re shaped by how we think—and how long we’re willing to wait before acting.
Zach is joined by long-time mentor and friend Derek Maxson, co-founder of Front Porch and coach to pastors and churches. Together, they revisit the books and ideas that shaped their leadership, discussing everything from hiring practices to humility in marriage.
If you’ve ever struggled with impulsivity, burnout, or big decisions, this episode will help you slow down, zoom out, and move forward with wisdom.
Resources Mentioned:
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership – Steven Sample (https://amzn.to/475o11u)
Good to Great – Jim Collins (https://amzn.to/4otN1Fw)
The Lean Startup – Eric Ries (https://amzn.to/3Wjb5yT)
The Four Steps to the Epiphany – Steve Blank (https://amzn.to/4nnS7C6)
Halftime – Bob Buford (https://amzn.to/4oclWqA)
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey (https://amzn.to/479ZnNj)
Living Forward – Michael Hyatt & Daniel Harkavy (https://amzn.to/4hvgRqT)
Buy Back Your Time – Dan Martell (https://amzn.to/478BTrR)
The Ideal Team Player – Patrick Lencioni - (https://amzn.to/3Jnqr2f)
Atomic Habits - James Clear (https://amzn.to/3L4f001)
Resources & Links
Learn more about Derek and his pastoral coaching: https://www.revital.church/
Apply to be coached on the podcast: https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcast
Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@smallbizsurthrival
Subscribe to The Surthrivalist Podcast: https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcast
Schedule a free 15-minute chat with Zach - https://calendly.com/surthrival/chat-with-zach
Apply to be coached on The Surthrivalist Podcast - https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcast
Connect with The Surthrivalist:
Website: https://smallbizsurthrival.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallbizsurthrival
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zjwise
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smallbizsurthrival

From Remodeling to Real Estate: A coaching conversation on pivoting with purpose with Weslei Costa | Ep. 5

What if the hardest part of running your business isn’t the clients, the subs, or the cashflow—but your own conviction to keep doing what’s right, even when it costs you?
In this coaching conversation, Zach sits down with high-end contractor and interior designer Weslei Costa to unpack how to lead with agency instead of obligation and build a business that multiplies your values, not just your profits.
Zach coaches Weslei through:
Moving from “I have to” to “I choose to” – shifting from obligation to agency and leading from conviction.
Clarifying the why behind a business model shift – is he escaping difficult clients or pursuing a better spec-home model for profit and family?
Designing a path to a “10 out of 10” business – defining what it would take for the company to run without him.
Building and training a values-aligned team – finding teachable, humble people and creating a plan to grow them instead of hoping for “another me.”
Resources Mentioned:
Apply to be coached on a future episode – Share your story and request a real-time coaching session with Zach. (Link in show notes.)
Book a short clarity chat with Zach – Talk through your current season and next right step. (Link in show notes.)
Scripture referenced:
Colossians 3:23–24 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…”
Schedule a free 15-minute chat with Zach - https://calendly.com/surthrival/chat-with-zach
Apply to be coached on The Surthrivalist Podcast - https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcast
Connect with The Surthrivalist:
Website: https://smallbizsurthrival.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallbizsurthrival
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zjwise
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smallbizsurthrival

Balancing Seasons of Business: A coaching conversation on sustainable growth with Joe Brinegar | Ep. 4

What do you do when your business is overflowing with work in one season and nearly silent in another?
That’s the tension Joe Brinegar is navigating. He’s the owner of Ignite Gas Appliance Solutions, a one-man shop serving his California community with propane and gas appliance repair. Known as the go-to guy for fireplaces, water heaters, and cook stoves, Joe faces a familiar challenge: intense winter demand, slow summers, and the question of when—or whether—to hire help.
In this real-time coaching conversation, we talk through:
How to move from emergency-driven work to proactive customer care
The tension of balancing seasonal demand as a solopreneur
Why confidence in your God-given talents is not arrogance, but stewardship
How to explore growth without losing your soul—or your family in the process
If you’ve ever wrestled with seasonality, overwhelm, or the next right step in business, this episode will give you clarity, strategy, and hope rooted in God’s wisdom.
Resources:
Learn more about Joe and Ignite: http://www.ignitegas.net/Book a 15-minute coaching chat with Zach: https://calendly.com/surthrival/chat-with-zachApply to be coached on the podcast: https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcastSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@smallbizsurthrivalSubscribe to The Surthrivalist Podcast: https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcast

From Data Chaos to Clarity: A conversation on AI, sales culture, and leadership with Tony Barnes | Ep. 3

What do you do when your top sales reps are relationally gifted—but leave a mess behind in your CRM?
That’s the tension Tony Barnes is facing. As Head of Sales Operations at 5.11 Tactical, Tony’s trying to drive AI innovation and improve sales forecasting accuracy—but without direct authority over the reps whose data he relies on.
In this real-time coaching conversation, we talk through:
Why bad data is rarely a software problem—it’s a leadership one_
How to inspire behavior change when you’re not “the boss”
The right way to introduce AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT
What great sales leaders can learn from inventory managers (and vice versa)
If you’re trying to lead across silos, improve adoption, or just bring clarity to a chaotic process, this episode will help you lead with confidence and clarity—while staying rooted in what really matters.
Resource:
Learn more about 5.11 Tactical: https://www.511tactical.com/Book a free 15-minute chat with Zach: https://calendly.com/surthrival/chat-with-zachApply to be coached on the podcast: https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcastSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@smallbizsurthrivalSubscribe to the Podcast: https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcast

Stewarding the Story: A coaching conversation on branding, marketing, and calling with Dan Atkins | Ep. 2

How do you handle it when a massive publishing house releases a book with your exact title and character name—after you’ve poured four years into your story?
That’s the challenge Dan Atkins is facing. He’s a high school teacher, former pastor, and first-time author whose debut fantasy novel, The Light Seekers, just wrapped a successful Kickstarter campaign. But now he’s navigating the high-stakes world of self-publishing, branding, and book marketing—all while holding onto the conviction that this story was God-given.
In this real-time coaching conversation, we talk through:
* How to build a grassroots marketing strategy without social media savvy* What to do when your creative work overlaps with someone else’s* The power of word-of-mouth and creating fans who feel like family* How to position your product as a solution, not just a passion project
If you’re building something meaningful and facing uncertainty, this episode will give you both practical strategy and gospel-rooted encouragement.
Resources:
Pre-order Dan’s book: https://gofr.me/lightseeker-seriesApply to be coached on the podcast: https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcastSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@smallbizsurthrivalhttps://www.youtube.com/@smallbizsurthrivalSubscribe to Podcast: https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcast

Let Them Learn: A Coaching Conversation on Leading Through Mistakes with Ryan Calistro | Ep. 1

Have you ever watched someone on your team walking straight toward a mistake… and wrestled with whether to step in or let them learn the hard way?
That’s exactly where today’s guest, Ryan Calistro, finds himself—leading a 200+ person, multi-brand organization and learning how to lead without rescuing.
In this coaching conversation, Zach and Ryan dig into the tension between being a high-driving, answers-oriented leader and becoming the kind of leader who multiplies others by asking better questions. Along the way, they talk candidly about ego, fear of failure, and what it really costs to let your team experience non-fatal consequences for the sake of long-term growth.
In this real-time coaching conversation, we talk through:
How to resist the urge to rescue and instead lead your team through non-fatal failures
Using purposeful questions to create clarity, buy time, and help others discover their own solutions
Turning stressful leadership moments into growth opportunities through reflective coaching
Navigating the humility, maturity, and patience required to lead a large organization without micromanaging
 
Resources Mentioned:
Books:
Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman: https://amzn.to/4akBRPk
The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier: https://amzn.to/4rmB1I5
Schedule a free 15-minute chat with Zach - https://calendly.com/surthrival/chat-with-zach
Apply to be coached on The Surthrivalist Podcast - https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcast
 
Connect with The Surthrivalist:
Website: https://smallbizsurthrival.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallbizsurthrival
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zjwise
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smallbizsurthrival

Welcome to The Surthrivalist: Real Coaching for Real Builders

The Surthrivalist Podcast is where Christian entrepreneurs get the real, unscripted coaching they’ve been craving. Hosted by Zach Wise, this show tackles the tension between building a business that matters and becoming the man God has called you to be. Expect raw conversations, honest struggles, biblical wisdom, and practical strategy to help you move from surviving to surthriving—in business, in family, and in faith.
Resources:
Schedule a free 15-minute chat with Zach - https://calendly.com/surthrival/chat-with-zach
Apply to be coached on The Surthrivalist Podcast - https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcast
Connect with The Surthrivalist:
Website: https://smallbizsurthrival.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallbizsurthrival
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zjwise
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smallbizsurthrival