Great Operators Aren't Born, They're Forged in Fire Artwork

The Integrated Entrepreneur

Welcome to The Integrated Entrepreneur with Jonathan Fodera, hosted by founder, author, public speaker, investor and entrepreneur Jonathan Fodera. On this podcast you'll learn strategies on how to become a better operator, how to acquire more clients for your company, how to retain those clients, valuable lessons, and how you can avoid the mistakes that Jonathan has triumphed on his path to $500M+ in financing for business owners and entrepreneur's.

Meet the Co-Host:
Keith Gause was born in Houston, Texas and moved to Jacksonville, Florida at the age of 2. He continues to reside in Jacksonville with my wife, Deanna, and two daughters: Addison (13) and Kylee (10) and their 4 dogs, a cat, a bearded dragon, and a snake. (If it were left to the ladies to decide, they would have a zoo!)

Keith’s childhood was spent playing sports, being an only child, and watching his father become an entrepreneur by continuously failing and trying again. His father built a multimillion-dollar company allowing him to retire and live the life he always dreamed about. Watching his father’s journey taught him a lot about business.

Not ready to jump into the family business, Keith went into the military in the year 2000 at age 18. He spent 5 years assigned to the 20th Special Operations Command in Ft. Walton Beach FL and spent a majority of his military career deployed to places that needed the most attention.

Keith continued in the world of excitement and danger by going into Law Enforcement where he spent 10 years working in Northwest Jacksonville. He worked the nightshift, 6pm -6am, which allowed him to have a full day to make an impact on what he ultimately wanted to do. That goal was to create an empire and to impact as many business owners as possible.

In 2009, wanting to care for his wife and first born in the best way, he took a big risk and spent his entire savings on an inactive business name and one inflatable bounce house. Bounce Around Jax Party Rentals was Northeast Florida’s #1 party and event rental business. At least that is what he believed!

By 2012, Keith was able to make a 7-figure exit and leave Law Enforcement and began to study all things finance & investing. He focused on learning about any mistakes he had made as a business owner and became obsessed with helping others avoid the same ones. That is how Tideland Consulting came to be. Now, Tideland operates in all 50 states and has created a non-bias ecosystem for growth-oriented entrepreneurs that maximizes how each dollar impacts the business, from protecting assets and reducing taxes to succession plans and exit strategies.

In 2023, Tideland aligned with GFG Solutions as a strategic partner to serve business owners at the highest level, with a white-glove service feel from a world-class team.

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The Integrated Entrepreneur

Great Operators Aren't Born, They're Forged in Fire

November 04, 2025 • Jonathan Fodera • Episode 98

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What defines a truly exceptional business operator? Join Jonathan Fodera and Joseph Viccora on this episode as they pose this intriguing question. Jonathan and Joseph explore the essential qualities of grit and resilience, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and learning from mistakes. They shed light on the common pitfall of giving up too soon and advocate for refining efforts before venturing into new approaches. This episode serves as a powerful reminder to self-assess and align your strategies with these principles for achieving business success.

Jonathan and Joseph also delve into the realm of operational excellence and the strategies that underpin effective business management. The conversation takes a practical turn as they unpack the significance of building business credit, the necessity of separating personal and business finances, and the invaluable role of a professional bookkeeper in maintaining accuracy across ventures. They highlight the strategic importance of planning, using systems like EOS to translate quarterly goals into actionable weekly tasks. Understanding team dynamics, optimizing roles, and avoiding poor financing decisions are also explored as crucial elements for maximizing asset returns and steering clear of potential pitfalls.

Finally, this episode covers the profound impact of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the exciting role of AI in enhancing business operations. The discussion underscores the need for consistency and the safeguarding of institutional memory, while also addressing the challenges posed by nepotism. Personal anecdotes illuminate the importance of fairness and meritocracy in fostering a motivated workforce. Jonathan and Joseph hope these experiences, both challenging and enlightening, provide valuable insights to inspire and guide you on your own journey toward operational excellence.

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