Read Time: 8 minutes

Welcome to Part 2 of our conversation with Jake Still, Co-Founder and CEO of Junk Rescue! In this segment, Jake shares more about the values and strategies that have driven his company’s growth, from scaling operations to leading with empathy and staying innovative in a competitive industry. If you’re looking for real-world advice from a successful entrepreneur, you’re in the right place—let’s dive in!

To kick things off, let’s explore the foundation of Junk Rescue’s success—its core values. Jake, can you tell us about the principles that guide your business and how you ensure they’re woven into everything you do?

Our core values—Always Learning, Be a Hero, Over Communicate, Be a Professional, and Good Vibes Only—are the foundation of everything we do. They aren’t just words on a wall; they guide our decisions, shape our culture, and set the standard for how we operate. These values help us build a team that aligns with our mission and creates an environment where everyone can thrive.

We ensure these values are reflected in our operations by embedding them into our hiring process and performance evaluations, following the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) framework. We design our interview questions to assess whether candidates naturally embody these values and use them as a lens for evaluating performance. For example, we ask questions to determine if someone is coachable and open to learning, whether they go the extra mile to support others, or if they can maintain a positive and professional demeanor—even in challenging situations. By hiring, firing, and recognizing team members based on these core values, we ensure they aren’t just ideals but lived principles that drive our success every day.

Can you describe a pivotal moment in your business that significantly impacted its trajectory?

The most pivotal moment in our business’s journey was the very first one: when my business partner took the initiative to create the business license. That single act of action and risk-taking set everything in motion. It’s a moment that reminds me how critical it is to take the first step, even when the path ahead isn’t fully clear. Without that decision, I’m not sure Junk Rescue would even exist today.

This moment taught me that success often comes down to action—having the courage to take risks, make decisions, and move forward despite uncertainty. It’s not about waiting for the perfect plan or the perfect time. Sometimes, it’s about taking a leap of faith and trusting that you’ll figure things out along the way. That mindset has shaped how we approach challenges and opportunities ever since.

What strategies have you implemented to scale your business successfully?

Scaling a business successfully is all about keeping things simple and focusing on what truly matters. One of the key strategies I’ve implemented is prioritizing action over perfection. It’s easy to get stuck trying to perfect every detail, but growth comes from making decisions, testing ideas, and refining as you go. Progress beats perfection every time.

Once systems and processes are in place, I focus on implementing quality control measures to ensure consistency as we scale. By managing the numbers—tracking key metrics and setting clear goals—we can identify what’s working, what needs improvement, and where to allocate resources. This approach allows us to grow efficiently while maintaining the standards that define our business. Simplicity, speed of execution, and data-driven adjustments are the foundation of our scaling strategy.

How do you stay innovative and adapt to changes in your industry?

Staying innovative and adapting to changes in the industry starts with having an open mindset. I believe that no matter how much success you’ve achieved, there’s always something new to learn or a better way to do things. Being open to change means constantly challenging the status quo and not getting too comfortable with “the way we’ve always done it.” Industries evolve, customer needs shift, and technology advances—if you’re not willing to adapt, you’ll quickly fall behind.

Absolutely, Jake. It’s inspiring to hear how staying open to change and challenging the norm keeps you ahead in such a dynamic industry. Of course, having the right team to support that vision is just as important. What qualities do you look for when building your team, and how do you foster a positive company culture?

When building our team, one of the first questions we ask is, Would I want to be stuck on a nasty 10-hour hoarding job with this person? Speaking from experience, I’ve worked tough, messy jobs with great people, and I’ve worked easy jobs with difficult people. It’s the people you’re with who make all the difference. We look for individuals who bring positivity, resilience, and a team-first mindset—people who lift others up rather than drag them down, even in challenging situations.

The next quality we prioritize is coachability. We believe that all technical skills can be taught, but the willingness to learn, adapt, and grow has to come from within. A coachable person is open to feedback, eager to improve, and ready to contribute to the team. To foster a positive company culture, we focus on building an environment where team members feel valued and supported. We encourage collaboration, celebrate wins, and make personal and professional growth a priority. By bringing in people with these qualities, we create a culture where everyone can thrive, no matter how tough the job.

Can you share your approach to leadership and how you motivate your team, especially during challenging times?

My approach to leadership is rooted in empathy and understanding what truly drives each team member. During challenging times, it’s essential to connect with people on a personal level and find their “why”—the reason they show up and put in the effort. Whether it’s supporting their family, advancing their career, or building confidence in themselves, understanding what motivates them allows me to lead in a way that resonates.

From there, I focus on coaching rather than commanding. Leadership isn’t about giving orders—it’s about guiding your team, building their confidence, and helping them navigate obstacles. I believe in showing them that I have confidence in their abilities, even when they might doubt themselves. When people feel understood, supported, and empowered, they’re far more motivated to push through tough times. Leadership, for me, is about building trust and fostering a sense of shared purpose that inspires the entire team to rise to the challenge.

How do you ensure effective communication within your team, especially in a remote or hybrid work environment?

Effective communication is essential to any successful team, and for us, it starts with one of our core values: Over-communicate. This doesn’t mean over-explaining or making things more complicated—it’s about clarity, consistency, and ensuring everyone is in the loop. In a remote or hybrid work environment, where it’s easy for details to slip through the cracks, we emphasize proactive communication to keep everyone aligned.

Over-communication means providing regular updates, asking questions up and down the chain of command, and ensuring there’s no ambiguity about expectations or progress. It’s about creating a culture where information flows freely, and no one feels left out or uncertain about their role. By prioritizing this value, we build trust, prevent misunderstandings, and ensure the team operates as a cohesive unit, no matter where we’re working from.

Your commitment to fostering clear and proactive communication is truly inspiring. It’s evident that building trust and alignment within your team is a cornerstone of your success.

Jake, it’s been an absolute pleasure hearing your insights and learning about your journey. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Stay tuned for Part 3, where we’ll dive into financial management, work-life balance, personal growth, and the profound impact of philanthropy. You won’t want to miss it!

Marc J. Bernstein JD, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®

Financial Planner and Consultant, Bestselling Author, and Creator of the Forward Focus Forums

Marc helps high performing entrepreneurs and business owners create a vision for the future, accomplish their business and personal goals, financial and otherwise, and assists them in following through on their intentions.  Marc recently co-founded March, a forward-looking company with a unique approach to wealth management.  He captured his philosophy in his #1 Amazon Bestseller, The Fiscal Therapy Solution 1.0.  Marc is also the founder of the Forward Focus Forum, a suite of resources tailored specifically to educate and connect high performing entrepreneurs, and to help them realize their vision of true financial independence. The forum includes;

• the Founders’ Forward Focus Forum: a series of articles focused on entrepreneurship
• the Founders’ Forum Radio Show and Podcast: featuring interviews with some of the area’s top founders and their experiences in business
• the Manufacturers’ Forward Focus Forum: a specialized resource group for owners/founders of manufacturing companies, including a private Facebook group; a private discussion group for high performing leaders of manufacturing companies to share resources, news, network with each other, and collaborate