Episode Overview
Business coach Jonathan Ghiloni joins Jet Bunditwong to explain why many small businesses stall and how owners can build systems that support growth. Jonathan shares lessons on delegation, tracking the right numbers, reducing owner dependence, avoiding burnout, and preparing a company to scale or sell.
Jonathan draws on approximately 20 years of building and selling a granite and tile construction business. He explains how tracking performance, defining roles and implementing systems helped his team grow from six employees to 22 and add locations.
Guest Bio
Jonathan Ghiloni is a business coach and former construction-business owner. He brings firsthand experience with payroll, staffing, financial tracking, multiple locations and a business exit to his work with entrepreneurs.
Key Takeaways
Track leads, conversion rates, sales, average transaction value and profit.
Build systems before growth creates chaos.
Hire around clearly defined roles and needs.
Invest in repeat customers and referrals.
Measure profitability rather than busyness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What numbers should a small business track?
Jonathan recommends leads, conversions, sales, average transaction value and profit to understand where growth is working.
How can a business operate without its owner?
Document repeatable processes, define responsibilities and delegate to a team that can deliver consistent results.
When should a company create formal systems?
Start early. Jonathan says he would implement systems and track numbers from day one rather than wait for growth to expose gaps.
Related Resources
Read Jonathan’s guest story and recap · Business Plan Template
Connect with Jonathan
Jonathan Ghiloni on LinkedIn · Coach Jonathan Ghiloni on Instagram
Edited Transcript Highlights
These condensed, edited highlights cover selected parts of the conversation; they are not a full verbatim transcript. Speakers are Jet Bunditwong and Jonathan Ghiloni.
Jet Bunditwong: Welcome to The Personal Side of Business.
Jet Bunditwong: Hi, and welcome to The Personal Side of Business where every business has a story. I'm your host, Jet Bunditwong, and today my guest is Jonathan Ghiloni. We're going to talk about good business habits, scaling, and becoming a leader in your business space. Welcome to the podcast, Jonathan.
Jonathan Ghiloni: Thank you, Jet. It's great to be here.
Jet Bunditwong: Thank you for coming. So, tell me, how did you get here?
Jonathan Ghiloni: I’ve always loved business and knew I wanted to work for myself. I went to business school at Point Loma Nazarene here in San Diego. After graduating, I started a business in the construction space—granite countertops, fabrication, installation, and tile work. I ran that business for about 20 years before selling it.
Jonathan Ghiloni: Recently, I moved into coaching because I love helping business owners. I’ve lived through payroll, staffing issues, customer problems—real business experiences—and now I bring that to help others grow.
Jet Bunditwong: Did what you learned in business school apply when you started?
Jonathan Ghiloni: Some of it helped, but real business changes constantly. What worked years ago isn’t always relevant today. Now, business owners need to prove expertise in real-time—through content, conversations, and presence.
Jet Bunditwong: Did you have mentorship early on?
Jonathan Ghiloni: Not much early on, but about 10 years in, I met a business coach who changed everything. We implemented systems, tracked numbers, and built a team. We grew from 6 people to 22, added locations, and eventually sold the business.
Jet Bunditwong: If you could go back, what would you change?
Jonathan Ghiloni: I would set up systems and track numbers from day one. Many skilled professionals start businesses but forget they’re now running a business—not just doing the work. A business should operate without you.
Jet Bunditwong: That’s something I see a lot—people are great at their craft but struggle with running the business side.
Jonathan Ghiloni: Exactly. And even great people need systems. Look at fast food chains—systems allow consistency and scalability.
Jet Bunditwong: What happens once systems are in place?
Jonathan Ghiloni: Freedom. Time freedom, flexibility, and the ability to focus on what matters. One client’s goal was just to be home for dinner every night—that’s a huge win.
Jet Bunditwong: Do you see a lot of business owners stuck in hustle mode?
Jonathan Ghiloni: All the time. Hustle culture is overrated. You don’t need to grind nonstop. You need a plan—daily, weekly, quarterly—and execute with purpose.
Jet Bunditwong: What’s the biggest hurdle for business owners?
Jonathan Ghiloni: Working in the business instead of on it. Busyness isn’t success—profitability is.
Jet Bunditwong: Let’s talk systems. Where should someone start?
Jonathan Ghiloni: Track your numbers. Leads, conversions, sales, average transaction, and profit. Without that, you’re flying blind.
Jet Bunditwong: And existing customers?
Jonathan Ghiloni: They’re your biggest opportunity. Stay in touch, offer more value, and turn them into raving fans. Referrals and repeat business are key.
Jet Bunditwong: That’s something I always tell people—new customers are expensive, but existing ones are gold.
Jonathan Ghiloni: Exactly. Build relationships and keep delivering value.
Jet Bunditwong: What about hiring challenges?
Jonathan Ghiloni: Hire based on structure and need, not convenience. Define roles clearly, build systems, and align personalities. Culture matters.
Jet Bunditwong: Sounds like all of this builds leadership too.
Jonathan Ghiloni: Absolutely. These skills translate everywhere—business, family, community. And once you build and scale one business, you can do it again.
Jet Bunditwong: Where can people find you?
Jonathan Ghiloni: You can reach me at 619-679-7709, on Instagram @coachjonathanghiloni, or LinkedIn. We also offer Growth Club, a 90-day planning session to help business owners stay on track.
Jet Bunditwong: Thank you so much for being on the podcast.
Jonathan Ghiloni: Thank you, Jet. I appreciate it.
Jet Bunditwong: The Personal Side of Business.