Share
CASE STUDIES
Kenny Cox: Journey from Coal Mines to Millions
In this episode of Case Studies, Casey Baugh sits down with longtime friend and business leader Kenny Cox. From early entrepreneurial failures to two decades of success at Vivint, Kenny shares the lessons that shaped his career. They discuss leadership, delegation, investing, and the impact of faith and family in building a meaningful life.
This conversation is packed with insights on resilience, financial growth, and the mindset of top performers.
00:00 – 01:04 | Introduction & First Impressions
Casey introduces Kenny and reflects on his leadership qualities.
01:04 – 03:47 | 20 Years at Vivint: Hard Work or Luck?
Kenny discusses his journey and why long-term success isn’t just luck.
03:47 – 06:54 | Learning from Failure
How Kenny’s first business venture collapsed and set him on a new path.
06:54 – 11:49 | Near Bankruptcy & A Turning Point
The struggles that nearly led Kenny to work in a coal mine before finding his way to Vivint.
11:49 – 13:50 | Embracing the Process
Why failure is a stepping stone, not a roadblock.
13:50 – 21:30 | Rebuilding Confidence & Personal Sales
How mastering sales helped Kenny regain his confidence and build a career.
21:30 – 27:11 | Breaking Through Leadership Barriers
The lesson that transformed Kenny’s leadership—delegation and scaling a team.
27:11 – 31:36 | Overcoming Self-Doubt & Imposter Syndrome
How even top leaders struggle with self-limiting beliefs.
31:36 – 34:04 | The ‘Chip on the Shoulder’ Mindset
How internal drive and past struggles fuel success.
34:04 – 40:57 | Mentors That Made an Impact
Lessons from Bodhi Gardner, Todd Pedersen, and Jeff Mendez.
40:57 – 45:49 | Building High-Performing Teams
Why great leaders empower others and attract top talent.
45:49 – 49:53 | Kenny’s Investment Philosophy
Key principles for long-term financial success.
49:53 – 53:55 | The Hard Truth About Investing
Why understanding investments is more important than just finding “good deals.”
53:55 – 57:59 | The Power of Saving & Financial Discipline
How consistent saving builds wealth over time.
57:59 – 01:02:53 | Teaching Financial Wisdom to the Next Generation
Lessons on credit, money management, and investing.
01:02:53 – 01:04:52 | The Spiritual Side of Business
Why business and leadership are deeply connected to faith.
01:04:52 – 01:06:42 | Emotional Conditioning & Resilience
How top performers develop mental toughness and handle adversity.
01:06:42 – 01:08:09 | The Three Pillars of Success
1. Mastering a skillset
2. Surrounding yourself with the right people
3. Letting financial success follow naturally
01:08:09 – 01:13:11 | The Power of Habits & Consistency
Daily routines that drive long-term success.
01:13:11 – 01:16:30 | Faith, Eternal Perspective & Family
How spiritual principles keep Kenny grounded.
01:16:30 – 01:18:30 | Final Thoughts & Closing Wisdom
The importance of consistency, integrity, and long-term vision.
Key Takeaways:
• Failure is a stepping stone—embrace it and learn from it.
• Great leaders delegate, empower others, and build strong teams.
• Investing requires discipline, education, and long-term thinking.
• Your network and mentors determine your success.
• Business, leadership, and faith are deeply connected.
Don’t miss this powerful episode with Kenny Cox!
More episodes
View all episodes
137. Chris Lee: Why Hitting Rock Bottom Made Him a More Impactful Entrepreneur
01:14:05||Season 1, Ep. 137In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Chris Lee; entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Next Level Pros - for a conversation about resilience, reinvention, family, and the lessons that only come from taking big swings in life and business. Chris opens up about the early ambition that drove him into entrepreneurship, the painful collapse of his first company, filing bankruptcy, and discovering that rock bottom was not nearly as devastating as he once feared. He shares hard-earned lessons on partnerships, leadership, culture, and why belief is often the greatest competitive advantage an entrepreneur can have. Casey and Chris also dive into fatherhood, criticism, faith, personal growth, and the tension between building something meaningful and slowing down enough to enjoy life. From raising five kids to building businesses, hobby farming, and mentoring entrepreneurs, Chris reflects on the deeper purpose behind success and the responsibility leaders have to truly impact people. This episode is packed with insight for entrepreneurs, builders, and anyone learning how to navigate failure without losing belief in themselves.136. James Clarke: Highlight Episode
01:33:44||Season 1, Ep. 136In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with James Clarke - founder of Clearlink and managing partner at Clarke Capital - for an intimate look into the hard-won lessons behind a life of entrepreneurship, stewardship, and service.From his roots as a farm kid in Rexburg, Idaho to helming billion-dollar exits, James opens up about the foundational values instilled in him by family, mentors, and faith. He shares what it really means to lead with “labor and honor,” the ethos he now passes on to his children. Through raw reflections on early failures, pivotal pivots, and defining moments - including a highly publicized company controversy - James offers powerful insights on integrity, resilience, and staying the course.Casey and James explore themes of earned success, navigating public scrutiny, the difference between operators and investors, and why meaningful relationships matter more than ever in business. This is a thoughtful and inspiring episode for anyone building something that matters.136. Kip Sheppard: From Zero to 35,000 Units in Affordable Housing
01:15:23||Season 1, Ep. 136In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Kip Sheppard, a leader in affordable housing development whose career spans more than three decades and over 35,000 units built nationwide. What begins as a conversation about Kip’s early life and church mission experience in Germany quickly evolves into a masterclass on discipline, resilience, and long-term value creation.Kip shares how foundational experiences like athletics, faith, and his time as an accountant shaped his approach to business, teaching him that mastering the language of business is essential to building anything meaningful. He reflects on pivotal relationships with mentors and the defining partnership with Dell Loy Hansen, which ultimately launched a career built on innovation within the low income housing tax credit space.Casey and Kip explore lessons from navigating the 2008 financial crisis, the power of attention to detail, and why consistency, integrity, and showing up on time remain the ultimate competitive advantages. At its core, this episode is about building more than real estate; it is about building a life centered on family, purpose, and lasting impact.135. Nate Randle: Highlight Episode
01:24:22||Season 1, Ep. 135In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Nate Randle, CEO of Gabb and former executive at Nike, Vivint, Qualtrics, and the Utah Jazz, to unpack a lifetime of lessons in resilience, leadership, and personal growth. From navigating childhood adversity to steering major brands through crisis, Nate shares how his experiences shaped his leadership philosophy and deepened his commitment to supporting others.They discuss his journey from Nike Golf to running a high-growth company, the importance of authenticity in leadership, and the power of relationships in business. Nate also opens up about overcoming personal hardships, including a powerful story of forgiveness that changed his life.135. Spencer Cook: Turning Desperation Into a Multimillion Dollar VR Breakthrough
01:13:21||Season 1, Ep. 135In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Spencer Cook, co-founder of Continuum and creator of the breakout VR game UG, for a candid conversation on resilience, risk, and the long road to meaningful success in the virtual reality gaming industry.Spencer shares the six-year journey behind building UG into one of the top-performing titles on MetaQuest, unpacking the lessons learned through failed VR games, missed payroll, and the pressure of leading a startup through uncertainty. From experimenting with augmented reality and VR development to finally achieving product market fit in the gaming space, his story highlights what it really takes to build a successful VR game and scale a business in an emerging market.Together, Spencer and Casey explore entrepreneurship, leadership under pressure, and the mindset required to fail forward. They also dive into VR game design, monetization strategy, and how community-driven gameplay helped UG become a breakout success.This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, founders, and anyone interested in VR gaming, startups, and building something meaningful through persistence and smart pivots.134. Justin Juntunen: Highlight Episode
01:06:48||Season 1, Ep. 134In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Justin Juntunen - founder of Cedar and Stone Sauna - to explore why the ancient practice of sauna bathing is finding new life in the heart of modern wellness. What starts as a conversation about custom craftsmanship and cardiovascular benefits quickly unfolds into something deeper: a dialogue on slowing down, creating meaning, and pursuing a business with soul.Justin shares his journey from building saunas with his grandfather in Minnesota to leading a company that crafts world-class sauna experiences, from private homes to luxury resorts. More than just heat and steam, his mission is about reconnecting people to their bodies, their breath, and each other. Together, they unpack the science, cultural traditions, and spiritual rituals behind the sauna movement, and why it's resonating with high performers and families alike.134. Seth Jenson: From Oxford to UVU, Designing the Future of Entrepreneurship
01:21:53||Season 1, Ep. 134In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Seth Jenson, Executive Director of the Baugh Entrepreneurship Institute at UVU, to explore what it really takes to build a world-class program from the ground up. Fresh off a PhD at Oxford and a global study of elite innovation ecosystems, Seth shares how he was given a blank canvas to reimagine entrepreneurship education and why outcomes, not optics, became his north star. Together, they unpack the power of experiential learning, the importance of industry-specific pathways, and how UVU is helping students graduate not just with degrees, but with revenue-generating businesses. Seth also breaks down the mindset shift required to see entrepreneurship as a skillset, not a title, and why resourcefulness is the ultimate advantage. The conversation expands into the future of higher education, the disruptive force of AI, and what institutions must do to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. For entrepreneurs, builders, and leaders, this episode offers a compelling look at how the next generation is being equipped to create value at scale.133. Stephen M.R. Covey: Highlight Episode
01:44:04||Season 1, Ep. 133In this episode of Case Studies, Casey is joined by Stephen M.R. Covey; bestselling author of The Speed of Trust and one of today’s most respected thinkers on leadership and credibility. Together, they explore the one leadership trait that multiplies everything it touches; and the silent killer when it’s missing: trust.Stephen reveals why trust isn’t just a soft skill, but the core of every high-performing team and thriving organization. He breaks down his legendary Four Cores of Credibility; integrity, intent, capabilities, and results; and shows how this framework can diagnose and transform relationships, leadership effectiveness, and organizational culture.From elite sports to billion-dollar businesses to moments of parenting and personal growth, Stephen and Casey unpack how trust scales performance, attracts talent, and builds enduring influence. They also dive deep into stories from Stephen’s upbringing as the son of Stephen R. Covey; giving a behind-the-scenes look at the principles that shaped a global legacy.If you lead, influence, or build; this conversation will challenge and elevate how you think about the most underestimated force in leadership.133. Brigham Taylor: From No Clear Path to Shaping Some of Hollywood’s Biggest Films
01:30:01||Season 1, Ep. 133In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Brigham Taylor, longtime Disney film executive and producer behind iconic films like Pirates of the Caribbean, Tron Legacy, and The Jungle Book, for a thoughtful conversation on building a career without a clear roadmap.Brigham shares how an uncertain start at BYU, paired with a deep love for film, led him to pursue opportunities others might overlook. Through early scrappy work, curiosity, and a willingness to stay close to the action, he found himself inside Disney, learning the business from the ground up and eventually helping shape some of the most successful films of a generation.Casey and Brigham explore the role of timing, trust, and relationships in career growth, and why being prepared matters more than having a perfect plan. They also reflect on the mindset required to navigate high-stakes creative environments and evolve beyond a single chapter of success.This episode is a powerful lesson in embracing the unknown and building something meaningful over time.