Welcome to the Christian Business Growth Podcast where faith meets entrepreneurship. Each episode, we uncover the strategies, stories, and spirit-led insights that help Christian business owners align their goals with God’s call. From practical tips to real-life testimonies, we explore what it takes to build a business that honours Christ, serves others, and impacts the Kingdom.

In this episode of the Christian Business Growth Podcast, host Lyle Leads talks with Josh Johnson, a young marketing and AI consultant whose entrepreneurial story began in his grandfather’s small family business.

Josh shares how lessons from his grandfather, the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25), and a strong work ethic guided him through seasons of transition and growth. From learning the balance of risk and reward to mastering mindset and faith in business, Josh offers a powerful reminder that God calls us to steward our gifts and take bold, faithful action.

This conversation will encourage any Christian entrepreneur learning to balance strategy and surrender — to work hard, trust God, and, as Josh says, “make the iron hot by striking.”

“God expects us to get a return on the investment He’s made in us.”

“Don’t be a passive participant in what God is doing—be an active creator in the story He’s writing through you.”

“Put so much effort into what you do that it would be unreasonable for you not to succeed.”

“Don’t wait to strike till the iron is hot; make it hot by striking.”

Lyle Leads:
Welcome to the Christian Business Growth Podcast. I’m here with Josh Johnson, a marketing and AI consultant. Josh, tell us your story — what got you into business?

Josh Johnson:
Thanks, Lyle. I’m excited to be here. My business journey really started when I was young. My grandfather, or “Pop” as we called him, owned a business, and I grew up watching how he ran it.

When I turned sixteen, he hired me to help modernize things — building websites, integrating new technology, and improving marketing systems. That experience showed me how much I loved helping businesses grow.

Later, I went to business school to study marketing and eventually moved to Dallas, Texas. After a short time at a marketing agency, I launched my own consulting business. It’s been an incredible journey of faith, growth, and strategy ever since.

Lyle Leads:
You mentioned your grandfather. What about his leadership drew you toward entrepreneurship?

Josh Johnson:
My grandfather was one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever known. His work ethic and the respect he earned from customers inspired me deeply.

He had a saying — “Do what Pop would do.” That meant work hard, be honest, and give your best no matter what. Even now, when I face challenges, I ask myself, What would Pop do?

The answer is always: work hard and give it everything you’ve got.

Lyle Leads:
What was it like transitioning from your grandfather’s company to starting your own?

Josh Johnson:
It was a unique season. I worked with him for about eight years and then started my own business — but he became one of my first clients. That connection allowed me to grow something new while still honoring where I came from.

Lyle Leads:
As a Christian entrepreneur, how does your faith influence how you run your business?

Josh Johnson:
Faith is foundational. One passage that continually shapes my approach is the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25.

In the story, three servants are each given a certain number of talents. Two invest and multiply what they’re given; one hides his talent out of fear. When the master returns, the faithful servants are rewarded, but the fearful one loses even what he had.

That story reminds me that:

God gives each of us talents to steward. He expects a return on what He’s invested in us.

Faithful effort brings growth. When we put our talents to work, God multiplies the impact.

It challenges me to keep using my gifts — to not bury them out of fear, but to invest them boldly.

Lyle Leads:
You’ve lived in several cities — Dallas, D.C., and soon Austin. How do you stay productive when life is in transition?

Josh Johnson:
It’s definitely challenging. When moving, it’s easy to get caught up in logistics and lose focus.

What’s helped me is committing to do one meaningful thing every day for my business — even during chaos.

For example, when we moved to D.C., I was adding an AI consulting division to my company. I made sure that even on moving days, I created one piece of content or spent one hour on that project.

Small, consistent actions kept me from losing momentum.

“Even on the craziest days, do one meaningful thing for your business.”

Lyle Leads:
Let’s talk about growth. What mindset advice would you give Christian entrepreneurs?

Josh Johnson:
Mindset determines everything.

We’re created in God’s image, which means we’re made to create and bring value to others. But it’s easy to settle into comfort or distraction instead of creation.

I challenge myself not to be a passive participant in what God’s doing — but an active creator in His story.

A quote from business leader Alex Hormozi really resonates with me:

“Put so much volume and effort into what you do that it would be unreasonable for you not to succeed.”

That’s not about striving — it’s about faithful diligence. God blesses movement.

Lyle Leads:
Many entrepreneurs struggle with fear of risk. What’s helped you overcome that?

Josh Johnson:
I’ve definitely dealt with that too. I used to hesitate to take risks because I didn’t want to lose what I had — but growth requires risk.

So I started practicing small acts of courage:

Talking to strangers who might need help

Starting conversations at networking events

Trying something new every week

Each small risk built my confidence to take bigger ones. It’s about training your faith muscle daily.

Finding Balance and Growth Beyond Business

Lyle Leads:
What’s one practice that’s helped you grow personally and professionally?

Josh Johnson:
Learning new hobbies outside of business. Recently, I started playing chess.

At first, I told myself, “I’m not smart enough for chess.” Then I realized that mindset was exactly what I needed to overcome.

Now I play daily — not because it’s about winning, but because it teaches patience, strategy, and humility.

It’s amazing how growth in one area of life spills into others.

Lyle Leads:
How can people connect with you?

Josh Johnson:
You can find me at www.rev-strategy.com
My links to Instagram and LinkedIn are there as well.

Lyle Leads:
Before we wrap up, leave us with one piece of wisdom.

Josh Johnson:
Absolutely. One quote that’s been shaping me recently is from William Butler Yeats:

“Don’t wait to strike till the iron is hot; make it hot by striking.”

Don’t wait for perfect timing. Start moving — and God will meet you in the process.

Every Christian entrepreneur is entrusted with talents, ideas, and opportunities that God expects us to grow. Josh’s story reminds us that success isn’t about striving — it’s about faithful action, intentional growth, and trusting God with the outcome.

If this conversation inspired you, share it with another entrepreneur who needs a reminder that faith and business thrive best together.

👉 Subscribe to the Christian Business Growth Podcast for more faith-driven conversations that help you grow your business and your walk with God.

🌐 Website: www.rev-strategy.com

💼 LinkedIn: Rev Strategy

📸 Instagram: revstrategy

Lyle Leads:
Welcome to the Christian Business Growth Podcast. I’m your host, Lyle Leads, and today I’m here with Josh Johnson, a marketing and AI consultant. Josh, tell us your story—what got you into business?

Josh Johnson:
Thanks, Lyle. I’m excited to be here.
My business journey started pretty early. I grew up watching my grandfather—whom we called Pop—run his business. The way he worked, served people, and led with integrity really inspired me.
When I was sixteen, he hired me to help introduce technology and marketing into his company. I built their first website and started modernizing how they reached customers. That experience made me realize how much I enjoyed helping businesses grow using technology and strategy.
Later, I went to business school to get a formal education in marketing. After finishing, I moved to Dallas, Texas, and worked at a marketing agency. Eventually, I decided to start my own business as a marketing consultant—and that’s how my entrepreneurial journey began.

Lyle Leads:
You mentioned your grandfather. What about the way he ran his business really stood out to you?

Josh Johnson:
Pop was one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever known. While some people might see that as a burden, it was incredibly motivating for me.
He earned respect not by what he said, but by how he worked and served his customers. That kind of consistency made a deep impression on me.
He had this saying we still talk about: “Do what Pop would do.” Whenever I face a tough situation, I ask myself, “What would Pop do?” And the answer is usually simple—work hard, stay honest, and give it everything you’ve got.

Lyle Leads:
That’s great wisdom. So what was it like moving from working for your grandfather to running your own company?

Josh Johnson:
It was a unique transition. I worked with him for about six to eight years before starting my own business.
What’s really special is that he became one of my first clients. That allowed me to stay connected to the business that helped shape me, while also serving new clients and expanding my reach. It was the best of both worlds.

Lyle Leads:
You went to school for marketing, so let’s talk about that. How do you define marketing? A lot of people confuse marketing with advertising.

Josh Johnson:
That’s true. To me, advertising is about creating content or campaigns that promote a product—like TV commercials or Facebook ads.
Marketing, on the other hand, is the overall strategy behind it all. It’s multi-channel. It’s about how your website, branding, content, and customer experience all work together to attract and engage people.
Advertising is just one piece of the larger marketing puzzle.

Lyle Leads:
You’re a Christian entrepreneur. How does your faith influence your business decisions?

Josh Johnson:
Faith plays a huge role in how I lead and think about growth.
One story that’s always shaped my approach is the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25.
In that story, a master gives three servants different amounts of money—or “talents”—to steward while he’s away. Two of the servants invest and multiply what they’ve been given. The third hides his talent out of fear and gains nothing.
When the master returns, he rewards the ones who grew what they had and rebukes the one who didn’t.
That story reminds me of two things:
1. God has given each of us specific talents, gifts, and opportunities. He expects us to use them and produce a return for His Kingdom.
2. When we use those gifts faithfully, God multiplies our efforts.
That mindset drives everything I do in business.

Lyle Leads:
That’s powerful. You’ve moved from Dallas to D.C. and are heading to Austin soon—lots of transitions. How do you stay organized and focused during all that change?

Josh Johnson:
It’s definitely a challenge.
When you’re in transition, it’s easy to get caught up in logistics—packing, moving, setting up new routines—and lose focus on your bigger goals.
So I made a commitment to do one meaningful thing for my business every single day, even during chaos.
That might be creating one piece of content, spending an hour refining a new service, or reaching out to a client.
Consistency, not perfection, keeps momentum alive. Even in the middle of moving boxes, I made sure I was building something that moved the business forward.

Lyle Leads:
Let’s talk about business growth. What are some tips for Christian entrepreneurs who want to grow but still keep their faith and mindset aligned?

Josh Johnson:
For me, growth always starts with mindset.
On a long drive once, I realized I had internal barriers holding me back—not skill issues, but mindset issues.
We’re created in God’s image, which means we’re designed to create and bring value to the world. But sometimes we settle into comfort zones or distractions that keep us from walking in that purpose.
I challenge myself not to be a passive participant in what God’s doing but an active creator in His story.
And practically, I live by a quote from entrepreneur Alex Hormozi: “Put so much volume and effort into what you do that it would be unreasonable for you not to succeed.”
That doesn’t mean hustle without rest—it means be consistent and intentional. When you put in faithful effort, God blesses it.

Lyle Leads:
That’s a great point. Let’s talk about fear and risk. Every entrepreneur faces them. How do you handle risk aversion?

Josh Johnson:
That’s a big one. I’ve definitely battled risk aversion—mainly fear of discomfort or fear of loss.
But growth and comfort rarely coexist.
So I started doing small daily acts of courage to train myself. Things like:
– Talking to someone new at a networking event.
– Helping a stranger even if it feels awkward.
– Saying “yes” to small challenges I’d normally avoid.
Those small risks build confidence for the bigger ones.
The truth is, you can’t grow your business—or your faith—without stepping out of your comfort zone.

Lyle Leads:
That’s so true. How do you find the balance between taking risks and staying grounded?

Josh Johnson:
It’s about practice. The more you take small, intentional risks, the more you learn where your balance point is—between overextending and playing it too safe.
One thing that’s helped me is picking up hobbies that push me outside my comfort zone.
Recently, I started learning chess. For years I told myself I wasn’t “smart enough” for it. Then I realized that mindset was exactly the barrier I needed to break.
I downloaded a chess app and committed to playing one game a day. The first few games were terrible, but within a week, I understood the basics.
Now, I’m even looking to join a chess club, which is intimidating because most players are better than me—but that’s how I grow.
Whether it’s chess, learning a new skill, or starting a new business idea, taking those small risks builds courage and sharpens your strategy.

Lyle Leads:
That’s a great way to look at it. As we wrap up, how can people connect with you and your work?

Josh Johnson:
The best place is my website: www.rev-strategy.com.
You’ll find links to my Instagram and LinkedIn there. I’m working on posting more content to connect with entrepreneurs and share practical tools for marketing and strategy.

Lyle Leads:
Before we close, what’s one last piece of wisdom you’d leave with our listeners?

Josh Johnson:
There’s a quote by William Butler Yeats that’s been challenging me lately:
“Don’t wait to strike till the iron is hot; make it hot by striking.”
Don’t wait for perfect timing. Start taking action and trust that God will bring the heat as you move forward in obedience.

Lyle Leads:
That’s a great word, Josh. Thank you for joining us on the Christian Business Growth Podcast.

Josh Johnson:
Thanks for having me, Lyle. It’s been a blessing.