How Curiosity Can Save Your Company, Transform Culture & 5x Your Impact - Jon Bassford

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 nonprofit
  How 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 down subconscious habits, SOPs, and how comfort quietly kills innovation.

• 04:51 – Turning curiosity into company strategy
  The simple shift: making “improve your job” a formal part of everyone’s role.

• 06:04 – Building psychological safety for real feedback
  Why one-on-ones, genuine interest, and understanding what people love to do change everything.

Guest Links jonbassford.com
https://www.instagram.com/jon_bassford
https://www.youtube.com/@JonBassford

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