Solving the Hard Problems: Consulting and Leadership with Jon Ruiz

In this episode of Climbing the Ladder, the Safety Bros sit down with Jon Ruiz, a seasoned consultant with over 20 years of experience building businesses, advising executives, and solving complex problems across a wide range of industries. 

Jon shares his real-world journey into consulting, breaking down what it actually takes to succeed beyond theory, covering leadership under pressure, relationship management, problem-solving, and why being “comfortable being uncomfortable” is a requirement, not a slogan. This conversation dives deep into consulting as a viable career path and highlights lessons learned from working with startups, small businesses, and large corporations.

Here are key takeaways for anyone considering the leap into consulting or looking to level up their game:

🔹 Consulting is about relationships, not reports. Trust, clarity, and follow-through matter more than frameworks.

🔹 If you’re not comfortable being uncomfortable, consulting for innovation isn’t for you. The ambiguity never goes away.

🔹 Great consultants solve problems, they don’t just point them out. Execution beats theory every time.

🔹 Safety and construction consulting mirror executive consulting: risk management, leadership, and decision-making under pressure.

🔹 Compensation models matter. Hourly, project-based, retainers, each fits different clients and stages.

🔹 New consultants should prioritize experience over rates. Early projects are investments in long-term credibility.

🔹 Executives value clarity. Summarize decisions, define next steps, and never leave meetings misaligned.

🔹 Listening is a leadership skill. Effective consultants meet people where they are, not where they think they should be.

🔹 Long-term clients are built, not sold. Trust compounds over years, not invoices.

Segments:

00:00 Started 1st business in college, started a furniture and cabinetry business, managed projects and teams.

04:40 People can achieve amazing things when they trust and support each other.

08:40 Solutions emerge from combining unconventional ideas.

10:01 Corporate dynamics often overshadow individual efforts, leading to projects being abandoned despite significant personal investment.

15:25 I advise founders and executives on strategic decisions like launching, pivoting, or rebuilding brands.

16:04 Effective project collaboration requires understanding leaders' urgency, pressures, and clear communication, especially summarizing action points concisely.

20:49 Focus on the goal, clarify the endpoint vision, then work backward to create a strategy.

25:28 Set a minimum workload, manage outsourcing efficiently, and account for additional costs.

27:40 Small businesses often lack the capital to fund consistent, full-time consulting efforts, leading to slower, part-time progress.

31:38 Experience is invaluable; invest to gain it.

34:42 Winning bids is tough; early lessons come from losing, and transparent client relationships help navigate rates effectively.

36:59 Shoutout to BuildBetter Earth and Aquatic Futures—innovative efforts in sustainable materials and dive training inspire my consulting work.

40:10 Embrace challenges and mistakes; excitement fuels success.

42:44 Safety Bros focuses on innovation, AI, and collaboration, valuing experts and newcomers to improve together.

DM me or reach out at info@thesafetybros.com or @safety.bros, we love sharing ideas that move the industry forward!