He Chose To Live, Found Purpose, And Built A Safer Way To Hire Contractors
Manage episode 523317874 series 3443716
A whispered “he’s tombstone” in a silent hospital hallway became the pivot point. John Stewart Hill chose to stay, and that decision reshaped his life—and the way homeowners find trustworthy help. What began with a weak heart and a yellow legal pad turned into The Good Contractors List, a national network that vets pros with FBI-level checks and backs every job with a $25,000 guarantee.
We walk through John’s raw origin story—three divorces, no clear career, and prayers to disappear—until a cardiologist’s screen revealed arteries nearly blocked and a life on the brink. The promise he heard in that moment, to be given purpose, led him to build something the industry lacked: true accountability. Not another review site. Not a badge you can buy. A community where good contractors earn their place, and homeowners have real protection when things go wrong.
You’ll hear how he quit his sales job to avoid divided loyalties, how DFW grew through shared advertising, and why the national model focuses on lower fees and stronger local ecosystems. John explains collective authority marketing: when roofers, painters, HVAC techs, and plumbers all point clients to the same trusted hub, they create their own organic lead engine and raise the standard together. With over five billion dollars in work backed and only $127,000 paid out, the results speak to the power of careful vetting and clear consequences.
If you’re a homeowner, you’ll learn how to use the platform to hire with confidence—or refer a contractor you’d hand your keys to and earn a reward when they qualify. If you’re a contractor with integrity, you’ll see how joining the movement can grow your business without the grind of expensive leads. Subscribe, share this story with someone planning a project, and leave a review telling us what “good” looks like to you.
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Chapters
1. Meet John Stewart Hill (00:00:00)
2. Hitting Bottom And A Crisis Of Faith (00:01:34)
3. The Hospital Night And A Choice To Live (00:03:41)
4. Life After Surgery And A New Purpose (00:07:25)
5. The Spark: A Better Way To Find Pros (00:12:30)
6. Quitting The Job And Building Trust (00:17:46)
7. Why Guarantees Beat Reviews (00:21:03)
8. The $25K Guarantee And Results (00:25:57)
9. From Dallas Roots To National Reach (00:30:25)
10. Collective Authority And Community Growth (00:34:27)
282 episodes