Why This Business Coach is Betting On Himself by Bringing The Growth Coach to Southwest Missouri

Rob Jones, a new The Growth Coach franchisee in Springfield, Missouri, brings with him four decades of business management experience. Jones primarily worked in the manufacturing sector, including 19 years with PACCAR Corporation, followed by over 20 years helping businesses improve and have successful operations. He was recruited to work with companies like Ottawa Truck, Collins Industries, Lowe Boats, Morgan Corporation, EFCO Corporation, American Sun Control, Arning Companies, Executive Data Control and Architectural Systems.

In 2022, having saved thousands of jobs through his career and proud of what he had accomplished, Jones decided it was time to slow down, take back control of his time and apply his skillset to his own business for once. With so much history helping companies find their footing, Jones knew that business coaching was a natural next step.

Now, as The Growth Coach franchisee in Southwest Missouri, Jones is excited to help small to medium-sized companies that are facing financial stress or challenges due to rapid growth. His ideal clients have at least 10 employees and generate a minimum of $1 million in revenue. Although Jones prefers working with manufacturing companies, he is open to assisting any business that fits this description. In his personal time, which Jones says he is excited to have more control over now, he enjoys spending time with his wife of 41 years, their two sons and four grandchildren, as well as their horses and dogs on their 40-acre property. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Jones: I have 40 years of business management experience, primarily in the manufacturing sector. I spent about 19 years with the PACCAR Corporation. They build trucks and provide products to countries all over the world. I spent the last two years traveling internationally, working in Canada, Mexico and the UK to build operational excellence in our facilities. At the end of that assignment, I had an opportunity to do something new. Another truck manufacturing company, Ottawa Truck, approached me about helping them grow. They were a small, international company at the time. I went in with the goal of doubling production, which we did in just 18 months. 

From 1997 to 2022, I was recruited to work with several other companies, including Collins Industries, Lowe Boats, Morgan Corporation, EFCO Corporation, American Sun Control, Arning Companies, Executive Data Control and Architectural Systems. My role was to help them grow, reduce costs, increase profits, raise stock values, etc. I’ve saved thousands of jobs over the years. 

Last year, it came to a point where I was ready for something else. With these types of turnarounds, you put in a lot of hours. So, it was time to slow down. I looked at what I wanted to do next, and based on my history and skillset, it seemed only natural to get into business coaching. 

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Jones: We were actually considering doing something similar to The Growth Coach back in 2008, but it just didn’t make sense after the recession. Around March of 2022, I was working for another company, but I was driving three hours a day back and forth to the job. We knew we wanted more control over our life and our time. That was why it made sense to go out and do our own thing, while still relying on that infrastructure of a franchise. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Jones: We evaluated a lot of franchises in the service industry, but they just didn’t fit my skill set. The Growth Coach seemed to be the natural fit for me. They had a great product and so many programs available for clients. But the biggest factor going into a franchise was the marketing. I knew my weakness was marketing. I have the analytical skills, the financial skills, the operational skills — but I don’t know anything about marketing. That level of support was one of the main reasons we signed on with Growth Coach. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Jones: With any new start-up, you go through the highs and lows. But it is going well. It is about finding our niche in the market. My ideal client is a mid-sized company with at least 10 employees and $1 million in revenue. My preference is working with manufacturing companies, but really we just want to help clients who are either facing financial stress due to situations beyond their control, or are facing the challenges of rapid growth. I’ve been through both and I know what it takes to overcome those challenges and be successful.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Jones: Family is very important to me. I’ve been married to my wife Chris for 41 years. I have two adult sons and four grandchildren. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Jones: In general, it is all about spending the necessary time to not only learn about the franchise, but also the people behind the franchise. Especially with COVID-19 and so much being done virtually nowadays, it is really important to go visit the corporate office, meet people face-to-face and build relationships with the team. That makes a world of difference. 

About The Growth Coach:

The Growth Coach was founded in Cincinnati in 2003 and is the only pure business and sales coaching franchise aimed at driving success while balancing the lives of small business owners, managers, salespeople, self-employed professionals and executives across a wide spectrum of businesses and industries. The Growth Coach specializes in group workshops and individual coaching with the goal of helping clients gain greater focus and leverage to work less, earn more and enjoy more fulfilling lives. The Growth Coach is active in more than 100 markets in the United States and abroad and is always looking to expand domestically and internationally. For more information, visit  https://growthcoachfranchise.com/.