Aaron breaks down his experience at Printing United 2025 — one of the biggest and most diverse print expos in the world. From setting up a two-story booth in record time to realizing how much reputation and resilience matter in business, this episode is packed with lessons about preparation, presence, and persistence. He shares how SquareCoil’s first appearance at the show pushed his team to think bigger, adapt faster, and stay grounded — even when things didn’t go as planned. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The chaos and strategy behind trade show booth setup ✅ What happens when your marketing doesn’t land — and how to fix it ✅ Why every business needs to “earn its stripes” in new spaces ✅ Signs of a coming industry slowdown (and how to prepare) ✅ The power of customer relationships through tough markets 📣 Every challenge is a test of leadership — and a chance to grow stronger. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠ 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes of The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The AC Method, Aaron sits down with Steve Weist, a true industry veteran who’s spent nearly three decades shaping the print and signage world from the inside out. From learning the ropes in a family business to running large-scale operations across the U.S., Steve shares how his team built trust, maintained excellence, and adapted to the ever-changing world of 3D systems and print innovation. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The origin story behind Waste’s family-run print business. ✅ Why customer trust and service still outperform sales quotas. ✅ The evolution of UV printing and its impact on small businesses. ✅ Lessons from installing printers by hand — and learning on the fly. ✅ The future of automation, robotics, and print production efficiency. 📣 “Innovation isn’t about chasing what’s next, it’s about mastering what works and making it better every time.” 🌐 Follow Aaron on Linkedin | Instagram | Webpage 🔔 Subscribe for more no-BS business strategies on The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is "how much should I pay my team?" the question that keeps you up at night? Let’s dive into the taboo topic of pay structures, breaking down the pros and cons of salary-only, commission-only, and hybrid models. Underpaying your sales team is a fatal mistake. So to avoid creating a civil war between sales and production, and create and maintain your company culture, you should start with your compensation plan. Whether you're dealing with seasoned pros or hungry rookies, this episode will provide a practical framework for building a pay structure that attracts top talent and drives growth. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ Salary-Only vs. Commission-Only: The stability vs. motivation debate ✅ The critical mistake owners make with sales rep compensation ✅ How to incentivize EVERY role (not just sales) ✅ Gross vs. Net Profit commissions: How to avoid internal warfare ✅ The real cost of over-promising to close a deal ✅ Why your leadership style dictates your pay structure 📣 Your team is your greatest asset. Compensate them like it. 🌐 Follow Aaron on Linkedin | Instagram | Website 🔔 Subscribe for more no-BS business strategies on The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ready to grow your business by adding new services? In this episode, Aaron pulls back the curtain on his own costly mistakes and hard-won victories with vertical integration. What are the true costs of growth? Timelines and operational headaches nobody talks about. Learn how to decide when to bring a new service in-house, how to avoid crippling learning curves, and why starting small is the ultimate key to profitable expansion. 🔥 TOPICS COVERED: • What vertical integration really means (with real-world examples) • When renting beats owning. • The 5 hidden costs of adding a new service. • Why you must double your estimated learning curve timeline. • How to build internal expertise without relying on one person. • The "kiss of death" for any new vertical. 📣 Growth isn't about doing more—it's about doing it smarter. 🌐 Follow Aaron on Linkedin | Instagram | Webpage 🔔 Subscribe to The AC Method for more no-BS business strategies! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, Aaron sits down with David Goodson, CEO of Impact, to unpack how he grew his company from a garage startup into a $10M operation with 50+ people and a 70,000 sq. ft. facility. David shares his philosophy on leadership, why culture always comes before profits, and how designing efficient workflows and empowering people has shaped Impact into one of the most respected companies in the industry. From mistakes made along the way to lessons that apply to any business owner, this conversation is filled with practical insights you can use today.🔥 Topics Covered:✅ Why culture is the foundation of Impact’s success✅ Scaling revenue while keeping people first✅ Designing a 70,000 sq. ft. facility for efficiency✅ Lessons from mistakes and tough projects✅ Why investing in people beats investing in machines 📣Culture drives growth—learn how to build a company people never want to leave.  🌐Follow Aaron on ⁠Linkedin⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠  Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes of The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil.  Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, Aaron sits down with Annabel from SEGD to explore how design goes far beyond what we see—it shapes how we feel, move, and remember experiences. From the World War II Museum to Olympic exhibits and even the way airports are designed, Annabel shares how thoughtful design and signage transform ordinary spaces into immersive journeys. Together, they dive into the role of colors, themes, and branding in everything from children’s hospitals to landmark gateway signs, proving that design isn’t just decoration—it’s a powerful tool to guide, calm, and inspire. 🔥 Topics Covered:- How museum and Olympic design creates immersive experiences- Why airports are becoming experiences, not just buildings- The hidden impact of color, signage, and branding- Stories from hospitals and landmark projects- Why thoughtful design is always worth the investment 📣 Design changes everything—discover how environments shape the way we live, move, and connect. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠Linkedin⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠  🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes of The AC Method!  The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil.  Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, Aaron sits down with Dave Stewart, CEO of Design Huddle, to explore how his platform is transforming the way clients, printers, and designers work together. By embedding an intuitive design tool directly into websites, Design Huddle empowers customers to create print-ready artwork without endless back-and-forth revisions. From Shopify and WordPress integration to bridging the gap between client imagination and production-ready files, Dave shares insights on how technology is simplifying the print and signage industry while opening up new possibilities for businesses. 🔥 Topics Covered:- How Design Huddle streamlines the design-to-print process- Why user experience matters in client design tools- Integrating with Shopify, WordPress, and more- File types, templates, and client account management- The future of digital design and adaptive business models📣 Technology is changing how we work with clients—this episode shows how to adapt and thrive. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠Linkedin⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠  🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes of The AC Method!  The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil.  Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode dives into the magic of retro sign lighting—chasers, tracers, and marquee effects—and why “old-school” still grabs attention (and customers). Aaron sits down with a lighting veteran to unpack controllers, patterns, color temperature choices, and practical ways to bring kinetic motion back to your installs. From go‑kart tracks to storefronts, learn how to design lighting that sells, not just shines. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ Chaser/tracer basics and marquee aesthetics. ✅ Controllers, patterns, and timing for motion. ✅ LED options, color temps, dimming, and maintenance. ✅ Practical installs (entertainment, retail, attractions). ✅ Tips for layout, spacing, and customer hand‑holding. 📣 Retro motion sells—learn how to spec, program, and deploy it the smart way. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠Linkedin⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠ 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes of The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Aaron opens up about one of the biggest roadblocks that stops aspiring entrepreneurs: fear. Through stories from the Iron Oaks Society and his own business journey, Aaron explains why bravery alone won’t carry you forward, but discipline will. From making your bed in the morning to building consistent habits, Aaron breaks down how small steps lead to big results, and why accountability is the secret ingredient to lasting growth. Whether you’re thinking about starting a business or just want to improve your daily discipline, this episode has a roadmap you can follow. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ Why fear stops most entrepreneurs from starting. ✅ The myth of bravery and why discipline matters more. ✅ How to build discipline with small, daily actions. ✅ The importance of systems and habits in success. ✅ Why accountability accelerates growth. 📣 Discipline is the real secret to overcoming fear and building the life you want. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠Linkedin⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠ 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes of The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Aaron dives deep into the single biggest issue that can break any business: communication. Through real-life examples—from clients misunderstanding sign specs to employees missing assignments—Aaron uncovers why most leaders think they’re communicating, when in reality they’re not. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The 3 key elements of real communication ✅ Why feedback matters more than the message itself ✅ How body language reveals if people are truly listening ✅ The danger of “placating” responses from adults ✅ Simple strategies to ensure your team actually understands 📣 If you’ve ever felt like you were crystal clear but things still went sideways, this episode is a must-listen. Learn how to close the communication gap and build stronger, more effective teams. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠Linkedin⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠ 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes of The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Aaron goes deep into the hard lessons his company has learned by reviewing past estimates—the good, the bad, and the costly. From missing small details to underbidding massive projects, he breaks down the most common pitfalls that can destroy profitability.  If you’ve ever wondered why your projects take longer, cost more, or eat away at your margins, this episode will save you from repeating the same mistakes. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ Catching small oversights before they snowball .✅ The hidden cost of size and logistics in sign projects .✅ Why “unknowns” will wreck your estimates faster than anything else.  ✅ Protecting your bottom line with thorough reviews . 🔥 Learn how to protect your company, your time, and your profits by mastering the art of estimating.  The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. 🌐 Follow Aaron on Linkedin | Instagram | Web 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes of The AC Method!  Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. #leadership #companyculture #businessgrowth #teamwork #profit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a real quarterly meeting—wins, losses, awkward moments, and all. From welcoming new hires to unveiling the design for a 28,000 sq. ft. facility, Aaron shares how openness about numbers, goals, and even mistakes strengthens culture and drives alignment. You’ll hear candid lessons from a tough project loss, why profit sharing matters, and the unexpected ways transparency inspires ownership across the team. 🔥 Topics Covered: - Why full transparency builds trust and performance- Lessons from awkward (and costly) meeting moments- Hiring opportunities from industry upheaval- Inside the new 28,000 sq. ft. facility plans- How profit sharing connects employees to company success 💡 The more your team knows, the stronger they grow. 🔔 Subscribe for more real talk on leadership and growth. 🌐 Follow Aaron: LinkedIn | Website #Leadership #CompanyCulture #Transparency #BusinessGrowth #Teamwork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Aaron sits down with Clay from Thunder Laser USA — and trust us, it’s not just a conversation about machines. It’s about how one family business turned a quilting shop into a tech-driven operation with 70+ employees, a national sales footprint, and an expanding catalog of cutting-edge tools. From laser-cut acrylic to engraving Stanley cups and prepping for UV printing, Clay breaks down what’s powering the maker movement—and why his company’s customer support gets a reply time under 7 minutes. 🔥 Topics Covered:- How Thunder Laser grew out of a quilting business- What every new laser operator needs to know- Cutting vs. engraving: what works for signs- Common mistakes when using CO₂ lasers- Tips for clean cuts in wood and acrylic- Bed size, wattage, and finding the right machine- Why fitness is essential for business owners 🧠 Learn more:🌐 https://www.thunderlaserusa.com  📸 @ThunderLaserUSA on Instagram The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil.  👉 Streamline your custom business at https://www.squarecoil.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on *The AC Method*, Aaron sits down with Ryan from Striventa and Hyperdrive to unpack why most business websites fail to generate leads—and what you can do to fix it fast. Whether you’re in blue-collar services or scaling a national brand, this episode breaks down the real-world digital strategies that get results.Ryan shares what most agencies don’t tell you, how search engine indexing works in 2024, and why Google’s AI changes are reshaping how your website should be built.🔥Topics Covered:- Why most business websites don’t convert- The problem with bloated themes and off-the-shelf templates- How to build SEO structure that actually ranks- Why Google’s AI results are changing search traffic- What Hyperdrive is and how it helps you show up faster- Tips for website migration without losing your rankings- The myth of instant ROI (and what real strategy takes)Resources Mentioned:🌐 https://www.hyperdrive.com 📷 https://www.striventa.comThe AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. 👉 Learn more at https://www.squarecoil.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, Aaron opens up about what confidence really means, how it develops, and why people often mistake it for arrogance. From his own experiences in leadership and martial arts training to being misunderstood and even called intimidating, Aaron walks through the internal work required to become truly grounded — and how to help others get there too. If you’re a leader, parent, or someone building something bigger than yourself, this is an episode you’ll want to revisit. 🔥 Topics Covered: - The difference between real confidence and arrogance - How to stop letting others affect your mood - The importance of mastering your reactions - Why confident people are often misunderstood - How to give (and receive) criticism without conflict - Why your appearance and self-talk matter - Teaching confidence to others through action The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. 👉 Learn more at https://www.squarecoil.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this short but high-impact solo episode, Aaron shares how he's preparing his businesses to weather an economic correction. From rising tariffs and permit delays to inflation and material price hikes, he gives a tactical breakdown on how to defend your margins, communicate clearly with clients, and keep your team steady when times get rocky. This is the real playbook for staying profitable when the market shifts. 🔥 Topics Covered: - Why a correction is coming (and already here for some) - The first 3 places to check if your profit is vulnerable - How to handle city delays without eating the cost - The pricing clause Aaron adds to every proposal - The importance of over-communicating with current clients - Why customer service matters most when things go wrong The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. 👉 Learn more at https://www.squarecoil.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Aaron unpacks a hard truth: most of us confuse motion with progress. After meeting with a new mentor, he was forced to face the fact that he had over a dozen active “projects” pulling his focus — and that being busy doesn’t mean you’re growing. He breaks down how to identify what’s actually worth your time, how to cut low-ROI tasks, and why the real bottleneck might be your own inability to let go. 🔥 Topics Covered: - The hidden cost of taking on too many projects - Why hiring a mentor changed Aaron’s approach - The ROI test: which projects are actually worth doing? - Delegating vs. justifying “busy work” - What to track to stop lying to yourself The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. 👉 Learn more at https://www.squarecoil.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Aaron shares a powerful mindset shift around hiring, especially as he explores acquiring a local sign company. What starts as a discussion about evaluating a deal quickly becomes a deep dive into core values, people analysis, and what most leaders get wrong when hiring or restructuring their team. If you've ever said “there’s no good people out there,” this episode will challenge that — and give you a better system. Topics Covered:- Why most financial statements are misleading- How to evaluate people in an acquisition- What a "people analyzer" looks like in practice- The 3 things every employee must have to succeed- Why hiring without a checklist is setting yourself up to failThe AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Learn more at https://www.squarecoil.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special episode features Aaron Clippinger's full presentation from the ISA Sign Expo in Las Vegas: Are You the Leader Your Company Needs? In this high-impact talk, Aaron dives into the evolving role of CEOs and presidents, what leadership really looks like in the sign industry, and how culture, vision, and accountability separate startups from growth-stage companies. Whether you're running a small shop or leading a team of 50+, this talk will challenge you to rethink your leadership mindset and equip you with the tools to start leveling up your business. 🔥 Topics Covered: ●       The difference between startup chaos and true growth ●       Why vision and communication are more important than hustle ●       How to create unified culture across sales and operations ●       The real job of the CEO vs. the president ●       Empowering self-starters (without micromanaging) ●       Why teaching > correcting when training new hires ●       How reports and tools (like SquareCoil) support real leadership 🎤 Recorded live at ISA Sign Expo, Las Vegas.  The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and powered by SquareCoil.  👉 Learn more at https://www.squarecoil.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In this episode, Aaron breaks down what it actually means to build a real leadership team — not just taskmasters or title-holders. Inspired by the book Traction, he shares the importance of vision, buy-in, and defining core values that truly guide hiring, culture, and execution. From calling out weak leadership habits to sharing the questions that align your team for the long haul, this episode is a must-listen for any business owner trying to scale without losing direction. Topics Covered: What a real leadership team looks like (and what it’s not) The danger of leading without clear vision How to define core values that actually matter Why you need buy-in—not obedience—from your team How core values can simplify hiring, firing, and culture The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil.Learn more at https://www.squarecoil.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices