Send us Fan Mail

A family restaurant can feed a town, but it also ends up raising it. We’re joined by Carrie West, third-generation owner of The Spare Rib BBQ in Farmington, New Mexico, for a candid talk about what it takes to protect a legacy while stepping fully into modern small business ownership in the Four Corners. From the early days of the shop to taking over “for real” with payroll, taxes, and nonstop responsibility, Carrie explains how the job changes when the risk has your name on it.

We get into the practical side of running a successful barbecue restaurant: ordering and inventory, equipment upgrades that reduce stress in the kitchen, and why staying consistent matters more than chasing constant change. Carrie also shares the mindset that keeps her steady when the cooler breaks or the day goes sideways, plus the leadership lesson many owners learn late: your mood sets the tone, and your tone becomes the culture.

Along the way, we talk customer service and community support, watching families grow up as regulars, and the “country wisdom” that keeps the team grounded in roots and gratitude. Carrie also hints at future plans, including the possibility of a pickup window, while staying committed to the same clean dining room, friendly service, and quality food people remember when they come back home.

If you care about family-owned restaurants, restaurant management, and what makes local businesses last, hit play, share this with a friend who loves BBQ, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Be sure to follow or subscribe! And, if you're a local business owner who'd like to be featured - or know someone whose story should be told - get in touch at Ken@StrategicHorizonsConsulting.com

This show is brought to you by Strategic Horizons Consulting (a division of Ken Collins Marketing).

Support the show

Send a text

Opportunity doesn’t always announce itself; sometimes it looks like a rent hike that forces you to choose who you really are. We sat down with Clay Jaqua, owner of 505 Motorsports in Farmington, to unpack how a near-crisis became the catalyst for a smarter move, stronger numbers, and a clearer lane. Clay’s story runs from a 20-year-old dad asked to leave college, to fourteen formative years in a Ford store, to a Dairy Queen detour that sharpened his love for the car business. Along the way he built a community-first dealership with a showroom of classics and performance gems, and a lot tuned to a $15–20K sweet spot that actually matches how locals buy.

We dig into what most people get wrong about selling cars: it’s not the metal, it’s the options, the financing, the trust, and the follow-through. Clay lays out why small, nimble operations can adapt faster than big lots, how to pivot without losing your brand, and how to use consignment and bank relationships to make deals frictionless. He shares the mindset shift from “get rich quick” to “build slow, protect the downside,” plus the unsexy habits that create staying power: own your building when you can, avoid overextension, and let small margins add up. In a small town, reputation is oxygen—fix what you can, don’t duck hard conversations, and put people over the policy when it really counts.

We also talk creative marketing that actually works. Clay’s viral social videos aren’t slick; they’re genuine, funny, and unmistakably local—proof that a clear voice beats a big budget. For owners chasing discoverability, we cover local SEO, Google Business Profile basics, and why consistent YouTube walkarounds plus TikTok and Instagram Reels can lift brand search for terms like “505 Motorsports,” “Farmington used cars,” and “classic cars Farmington.” Finally, Clay opens up about freedom, family, and a new bourbon venture—Burnt Tavern—as the next chapter in staying curious without overreaching. If you’re building a resilient business in a volatile market, this conversation is a field guide: stay open to opportunity, make risk survivable, take care of your people, and keep your sense of humor.

Enjoy the episode? Follow, share with a friend who’s building something, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

Be sure to follow or subscribe! And, if you're a local business owner who'd like to be featured - or know someone whose story should be told - get in touch at Ken@StrategicHorizonsConsulting.com

This show is brought to you by Strategic Horizons Consulting (a division of Ken Collins Marketing).

Support the show

Send a text

What does it look like to build a business after the kids leave home—and turn it into the heartbeat of a local running community? We sit down with Jeri Hogue, owner of Southwest Runners, for a candid conversation about risk, resilience, and the long game of showing up when no one else does. Jerry shares how a seventh-grade PE nudge became a lifelong passion, why her husband’s steady support mattered when the tears came, and how a small decision—hosting a twice-weekly trail run—grew from a family jog into a 45+ person crew.

We dive into the realities most small business owners recognize: wearing every hat from buyer to bookkeeper, learning the unique tastes of a town like Farmington, and competing with the ease of online shopping. Jeri walks through practical lessons on fitting shoes to prevent injury, keeping runners on the trails safely, and creating an experience the internet can’t match. She also opens up about identity and confidence—how entrepreneurship turned an introvert into a coach who guides first marathons and cheers big life changes, from weight loss to new PRs.

There’s momentum ahead, too. Jeri and Southwest Runners are partnering with Tonique Racing to support Hood Mesa trail events with 5, 9, and 15-mile options, plus brand partners like Brooks, Saucony, and Mizuno stepping in to elevate race day. The bigger takeaway: success has shifted from chasing profit to building trust, health, and community—mile by mile. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to start, or how to anchor a brick-and-mortar shop in a digital world, this story will meet you right where you are.

If this resonates, follow the show, share with a friend who needs a push, and leave a quick review—what risk will you take this week?

Be sure to follow or subscribe! And, if you're a local business owner who'd like to be featured - or know someone whose story should be told - get in touch at Ken@StrategicHorizonsConsulting.com

This show is brought to you by Strategic Horizons Consulting (a division of Ken Collins Marketing).

Support the show