John sits down with Daren Strunk, COO of St. Joseph the Worker, to explore how real wraparound support—resumes, tools, transportation, soft skills, and the 90-day Workforce Villages housing program—helps people move from “a job” to “a career.” They talk budgeting and food planning under 5 dollars per meal, why soft skills drive promotions, and how employers can fill roles faster by partnering directly with community organizations. John shares how these partnerships helped PHP Commercial Painting scale from a small team to 100 employees without running ads.

Highlights:

• Workforce Villages: save 80 percent for 90 days and graduate with 5,000 dollars for housing

• Free resources that remove day-one barriers: boots, tools, gas cards, bus passes, interview clothing

• Soft skills that employers actually promote for: communication, reliability, teamwork, leadership

• A practical employer playbook: culture fit, feedback loops, and retention beyond day 22

Guest: Daren Strunk, COO, St. Joseph the Worker — theworkeraz.org

John gets real about tough personnel decisions and why “change” must be your default setting. From early-morning logistics and a single missed paint delivery that derailed a night job, to creating a true dispatch function that stops waste and saves thousands in fuel, this episode is a masterclass in operations discipline. He breaks down chain of command without ego, the value of a coachable mindset, fixing mistakes immediately, and why raises follow performance—not rent hikes. If you want to grow with a fast-moving company instead of being left behind, this one’s for you.

Key takeaways:

• Create a real dispatch role to cut crisscrossing and save time and fuel

• Communication beats chaos—align PMs, supers, and field crews daily

• Coachable, teachable, trainable beats “experienced but stubborn”

• Fix mistakes now; they cost 10x later

• Promotions and raises follow production, ownership, and initiative

• Grow with the company or the company will outgrow you

In Episode 81 of Workforce Skills with John Morris, John opens up about a hard day at the office—spotting relapse, acting on instinct, and balancing compassion with accountability. He talks candidly about the “three-year mark” where many people in recovery hit turbulence, what leaders can watch for, and how to build a culture that protects sobriety without abandoning second chances. You’ll hear a tough departure, a hopeful return, and a clear call to create support networks that help people stay on the path.

In this episode:

• The three-year crossroads: why setbacks often cluster around it

• Signs you can’t ignore—and why you should act on your gut sooner

• How to address relapse while protecting your team and business

• Second chances done right: re-entry, expectations, and growth

• Building a social support network that actually works

Takeaway: You can’t save everyone—but you can lead with clarity, care, and timely action.