Franchise Info
Inspections Over Coffee inspector reflecting on how the book Extreme Ownership reshaped his mindset, improving communication with clients, team, family, and the franchise.

Week 47 – The Best Advice I Got This Year? Read This Book.

The most impactful thing I did all year wasn’t an inspection. It was reading a book.

A few months back, during one of our franchise calls, Curt said something simple: “If you haven’t read Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink, start there.”

So I did. And I haven’t looked at leadership—or my own responsibility—the same way since.

The core message? Own everything. No excuses. No passing the buck.

That means if something doesn’t go right in the field, I don’t blame the weather, the tools, or the client. If something’s confusing in the process, I didn’t explain it clearly enough. If an agent is frustrated, I missed a chance to align expectations. If the schedule’s off, the CRM was wrong, or a teammate’s slipping—it’s on me to fix it.

And it doesn’t stop at business:

I started thinking about extreme ownership with my wife. My kids. The people who matter most. How I show up after a long day. How I communicate stress. How I balance ambition with presence. It’s all connected. And it’s all mine to own.

Here’s what’s changed since I internalized it:

  • More clarity: I give better directions. Set clearer expectations. Follow up more consistently.
  • Less friction: When problems pop up, I don’t take them personally. I solve them.
  • More trust: My team, my clients, and even my family see that I’m accountable. That builds belief.

What Curt said that stuck:

“If you take ownership of the mission, you’ll never wait to be rescued. You’ll lead from the front—even on the days you’re tired.”

He was right. That book rewired my brain. Now I ask: “What could I have done better?” before I ever say, “That’s not my fault.”

What I’ll keep doing:

Leading with clarity. Listening without defensiveness. Owning results—good, bad, or messy. Because the moment I stopped blaming and started owning? Everything leveled up.

→ Next up: Week 48: The Worst Decision I Made This Year

← Need a reminder of how to grow others, not just yourself? Revisit: Week 46: Am I Ready to Add a Second Unit or License a Team Member?

If you’re building a home inspection franchise, read the book. Then live the principle. Because nothing changes your business faster than taking full ownership of everything inside it.