Episode
How Curiosity Can Save Your Company, Transform Culture & 5x Your Impact - Jon Bassford
- Published
- Mar 18, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1413
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Summary
What if the question you’re not asking is costing your company millions? In this episode of Hacks and Hobbies, Junaid sits down with Jon Bassford – an operational change agent and former COO who helped lead a $7M nonprofit out of a downward spiral, 20% revenue growth, and 500% programming growth… all starting from one simple question: “Where is this written?” Jon reveals how curiosity is not a soft skill – it’s an operational strategy. From uncovering broken systems buried in conference manuals to turning every team member into a daily “auditor” of their own work, Jon shows how leaders can build cultures where people don’t just do their jobs… they improve them. If you’re a founder, operator, or leader who wants sustainable growth, deeper engagement, and a culture that actually thinks – this episode is your roadmap. 5 Big Takeaways Curiosity is an operational weapon – Jon shows how a single curious question unlocked 20% revenue growth and 500% more programming. 95% of your day is on autopilot – and why that’s dangerous for strategy, innovation, and culture if left unchecked. Make improvement part of the job description – how to turn every employee into a micro-innovator, not just a task executor. Culture starts with how you treat people, not what you write in manuals – why knowing what your team loves to do leads to fewer errors, higher engagement, and longer retention. Small reflections create big transformations – the 5–10 minute habit Jon recommends to compound efficiency and impact over time. Timestamps 00:00 – The question that changed a $7M nonprofitHow Jon’s discomfort with “this isn’t written anywhere” exposed a buried process and transformed an entire organization. 02:42 – Why 95% of your thoughts are on autopilot (and what that does to your business)Jon breaks…