Built Without a Net

• 5 Things That Cost You More in HR Than You Think

  Behind every thriving business is a strong HR foundation—but the hidden costs of getting it wrong can quietly drain your resources and derail your growth. In this episode of Built Without a Net, host Brad Foley takes a hard look at five overlooked areas in HR that often cost business owners far more than they realize. From the steep price of turnover and bad hires to the risks of non-compliance, poor onboarding, and unresolved employee issues, Brad breaks down where the money really goes and what leaders can do to protect their people, their culture, and their bottom line.In this episode, Brad discusses:Why turnover costs can equal 50% to 200% of an employee’s salaryHow desperation hiring leads to bad hires and long-term costsThe risks of non-compliance penalties, from I-9s to OSHA finesHow poor onboarding disguises itself as bad hiringThe hidden danger of unresolved employee issues and their impact on moraleKey Takeaways: Turnover is never a neutral event; it drains productivity, disrupts team culture, and can cost a company anywhere from 50% to 200% of an employee’s salary. The financial and cultural impact is magnified in smaller organizations.Desperate hiring almost always backfires. A poor hiring decision often ends up costing more than the turnover it was meant to solve.Years without compliance issues don’t mean you’re safe. When violations are uncovered, the penalties can be severe and long-lasting.Poor onboarding disguises great hires as bad ones. Without clear processes and thoughtful orientation, new employees are set up to fail or leave early.Unresolved employee complaints don’t fade with time; they grow. Ignoring these concerns leads to lower morale, decreased productivity, and ultimately client dissatisfaction.“HR as a function isn't just about avoiding problems, although that is a big piece of it, right? But it's really about protecting your investment in your people.” - Brad FoleyConnect with Brad Foley:Website: https://www.hrvaluepartners.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfoley/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrvaluepartners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrvaluepartners/ Email: [email protected] Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul TagamaAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

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• Don Surber: Purpose, Passion, and People in Business and Life

  Don Surber is Chairman and CEO of ATF, Inc., a global leader in specialty fasteners. A 50-year veteran of the manufacturing industry, Don began his career at Illinois Tool Works (ITW) before becoming President of ATF in 1978 and later acquiring the company in 1982. Under his leadership, ATF grew into a multi-divisional enterprise with ventures such as Rifast Systems and Asyst Technologies. In 1998, he co-founded the Global Fastener Alliance, linking family-owned companies worldwide. A past Chairman of the Industrial Fastener Institute, Don has long championed people development as the key to business success. Beyond industry, he and his family founded the Jason R. Surber Matthews Home charity, which builds housing and strengthens communities in North Chicago.In this episode, Brad and Don discuss:Don’s 50-year journey in the manufacturing industry and the founding of ATFWhy human resources and people development remain the cornerstone of business successHow recessions and economic downturns can create hidden opportunitiesThe importance of calculated risk-taking and entrepreneurial resilienceDon’s passion for community service and founding the Jason R. Surber Matthews HomeKey Takeaways: Developing people isn’t just part of business—it’s the core foundation that drives growth, culture, and long-term sustainability. Without investing in people, no strategy will truly last.Economic downturns, while often feared, can present the greatest opportunities for entrepreneurs who are willing to see beyond the challenges and take bold but calculated risks.The three Ps—passion, purpose, and people—are not optional values; they are the essential elements that fuel success both in business and in life.Resilience is about more than survival; it means adapting to change, learning from setbacks, and viewing failure as a powerful teacher for future progress.True success isn’t measured only by revenue or companies built—it’s equally about giving back, serving the community, and creating a lasting positive impact.“Wake up every morning with a purpose, wake up every morning with a passion, and have people in your life every day.” - Don SurberResources: JRS Matthew Homes: https://jrsmatthewhomes.com/ Renew Communities: https://www.renewcommunities.org/ Connect with Brad Foley:Website: https://www.hrvaluepartners.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfoley/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrvaluepartners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrvaluepartners/ Email: [email protected] Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul TagamaAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

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• Scott Sobkowiak: Falling Off the Ladder, Landing on Purpose

  Scott Sobkowiak is a former professional baseball player turned transformational leader, with a proven track record of driving multimillion-dollar growth through strategic sales, business development, and customer relationship management. He is the founder of Scale UP, a consultancy dedicated to helping early and mid-stage social impact organizations grow with purpose. Through his platform, SAS Speaks, Scott delivers keynote addresses, motivational sessions, and podcast appearances, sharing insights on leadership, resilience, and relational capital.In this episode, Brad and Scott discuss:Scott’s transition from professional baseball to business leadershipFacing identity loss after sports and battling addictionWhy building a “tree of purpose” matters more than climbing one ladderHow kindness, gratitude, and relational capital drive his workPractical ways business owners can pivot, overcome fear, and growKey Takeaways: Success built only on a narrow ladder can collapse. Creating multiple “branches” of purpose ensures stability, flexibility, and more opportunities when one path fails.Relational capital often outweighs immediate transactions. Building authentic connections creates long-term trust and unlocks doors that money alone cannot.Fear and pain may trigger change, but they don’t have to be the drivers. With intentional purpose and daily gratitude, challenges can be transformed into growth.Staying stuck is always a choice. Even small adjustments, like a pitcher altering mechanics, can lead to significant breakthroughs over time.Leading with kindness and gratitude creates ripple effects. It strengthens personal resilience while simultaneously fueling sustainable business growth and opportunity.“To get to where you want to go, you've got to understand that the fear of falling backwards is what's going to propel you forward.” - Scott SobkowiakConnect with Scott Sobkowiak:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568210662326# LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottsobkowiak/ Email: [email protected] Connect with Brad Foley:Website: https://www.hrvaluepartners.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfoley/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrvaluepartners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrvaluepartners/ Email: [email protected] Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul TagamaAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

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• John Washcovick: Payroll Innovation and Entrepreneurial Grit

  John Washcovick spent 23 years in pharmaceutical sales, marketing, and operations with companies ranging in size from 30 employees to over 12,000. He was in sales and later served as Assistant Director of Operations, but in 2010, he left the corporate safety net behind to launch a payroll services business providing payroll and HR technology to small and mid-sized companies. With two business partners, John grew the company to over 900 clients between Milwaukee and Phoenix. In 2022, they sold the business to isolved, the same platform they had used for payroll and HR technology. All 25 employees were hired by isolved, which then named John their Human Capital Management Business Consultant for Wisconsin. Since June 2022, he has been selling isolved’s People Cloud Technology.In this episode, Brad and John discuss:How John moved from 23 years in pharmaceutical sales to building a payroll companyThe financial risks and realities of leaving a stable, high-paying careerApproaches to finding and keeping the right people when resources are tightChallenges faced, from vendor failures to ongoing cash flow pressuresLessons gained from navigating 12 years of business and a successful exitKey Takeaways: Having financial resources isn’t optional—it’s essential. Planning for more than you think you’ll need can be the difference between surviving the early years and shutting down too soon.Success rarely happens alone. Surrounding yourself with supportive partners, mentors, and family provides the strength to endure risk and uncertainty.The ability to hire and keep the right people early on can completely change a company’s trajectory. Retention is often more powerful than constant recruiting.Vendors and partners won’t always deliver as expected. That’s why having backup options in place is a safeguard every entrepreneur should prioritize.Gratitude, persistence, and a positive attitude go a long way. They not only help navigate tough times but also create the mindset needed for long-term success.“It is a journey, try to enjoy it as much as you can and be grateful for all the people you meet along the way, the things you learn along the way, and just the fun things you get to do as well in the process.” - John WashcovickConnect with John Washcovick:Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwashcovick/ Email: [email protected] Connect with Brad Foley:Website: https://www.hrvaluepartners.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfoley/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrvaluepartners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrvaluepartners/ Email: [email protected] Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul TagamaAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

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• Myles Powell: From Cravings to Brand Power

  Myles Powell is a food entrepreneur who traded his career in civil engineering for a passion that truly fed his soul. After graduating from the University of Delaware with a degree in civil engineering and a business minor, he briefly appeared on the Food Network before launching his first venture, 8 Myles. While completing his MBA, he built the brand around premium, clean, frozen comfort foods—most famously mac and cheese with moxie. In 2021, Myles left engineering behind to focus fully on growing his company. Today, his dedication and vision continue to drive expansion as he pursues his bold goal of building one of the only Black-owned CPG companies valued at over $200 million.In this episode, Brad and Myles discuss:Transitioning from civil engineering to food entrepreneurshipThe Food Network experience and how it sparked his first food businessShifting from barbecue sauce to premium frozen mac & cheeseChallenges of consumer psychology, co-packers, and retail distributionLessons learned from Target shelves, Shark Tank, and building a $200M brand visionKey Takeaways: Myles realized early in his journey that true fulfillment comes from chasing passion rather than clinging to stability. His decision to leave engineering for food entrepreneurship highlights the power of aligning work with purpose.Not every retail shelf is the right fit for a product, and name recognition alone doesn’t guarantee success. Finding the right market placement can make or break a brand.In food CPG, consumer psychology is often the invisible battlefield. Entrepreneurs must anticipate behaviors and pain points better than customers can articulate.Growth doesn’t always mean getting bigger fast—sometimes the smartest move is to stay lean. Strategic spending and efficiency can protect a business when rapid scaling leads to high burn rates.Resilience, support systems, and the mindset of saying “Why not?” fuel long-term entrepreneurial success. Each setback becomes less of a failure and more of an opportunity to move forward stronger.“Remember that people will try all products, but they'll consistently buy brands.” - Myles PowellConnect with Myles Powell:Website: https://www.mylescomfortfoods.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myles-powell-5b529025/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MylesComfortFoods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mylescomfortfoods/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mylescomfortfoods Email: [email protected] Connect with Brad Foley:Website: https://www.hrvaluepartners.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfoley/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrvaluepartners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrvaluepartners/ Email: [email protected] Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul TagamaAudio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

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