Jean Moncrieff

Jean Moncrieff Small Giants CEO. Growing with Purpose host. Author of Finding Freedom (2026). Sharing lessons on intentional growth and values-driven leadership.

Most business owners never get this opportunity.This week, I sat in front of around 20 entrepreneurs during an in-person...
05/16/2026

Most business owners never get this opportunity.

This week, I sat in front of around 20 entrepreneurs during an in-person edition of the 21 Hats podcast with Loren Feldman… and opened up about the challenges in my own business.

The messy stuff.
The uncomfortable stuff.
The things you normally try to hide as a founder.

Honestly, it reminded me of those episodes of Hotel Hell where Gordon Ramsay sits owners down in front of their customers and says:

“Now listen.”

And that’s the part most business owners avoid.

Because getting feedback from the people who actually buy from you can feel brutal.

But it’s also one of the fastest ways to grow.

Not by defending.
Not by explaining.
Not by pretending everything is fine.

(And yes… I caught myself slipping into all three more than once.)

By listening.

Really listening.

What struck me most was how generous the room was.

Business owners sharing ideas.
Patterns.
Blind spots.
Encouragement.
Hard truths.

No ego.
Just people trying to help each other build better businesses.

Those conversations are rare.

And incredibly valuable.

Grateful to Loren and every business owner in that room who challenged my thinking and shared their perspective.

Sometimes the breakthrough starts the moment you stop protecting yourself from the feedback.

I walked into one of my favorite distilleries in Tennessee this week.To be honest, their output isn’t always the most co...
05/14/2026

I walked into one of my favorite distilleries in Tennessee this week.

To be honest, their output isn’t always the most consistent.

But their customer service?
Their vibe?
Absolutely unforgettable.

The second I opened the door, I was greeted by this guy behind the counter. 🐶

Big grin. Tail going. Pure excitement.

He wasn’t trying to upsell me.
He didn’t care whether I bought a bottle.
He just seemed genuinely happy that I walked in.

And honestly… that feeling matters more than most businesses realize.

People remember how you make them feel.

You can have the slickest systems, the perfect strategy, the best product in the market… but if customers feel like a transaction, they eventually drift away.

The businesses people rave about create connection.
Warmth.
Belonging.
Energy.

That’s what keeps customers coming back.

Sometimes the best lesson in customer experience comes from a golden retriever behind a counter in Tennessee.

Jean

Kicking off an incredible week in Cincinnati with Loren Feldman at the Reds game. ⚾️I’ve been reading Loren’s 21 Hats Mo...
05/13/2026

Kicking off an incredible week in Cincinnati with Loren Feldman at the Reds game. ⚾️

I’ve been reading Loren’s 21 Hats Morning Report for years and hearing the thought and intention that goes into it every single day gave me an even greater appreciation for what he’s built.

It’s one of the few emails I genuinely look forward to reading each morning.

Excited for the conversations and company visits ahead this week with an amazing group of entrepreneurs.

Kicking off an incredible week in Cincinnati with Loren Feldman at the Reds game. ⚾️This is the opening event for Loren’...
05/13/2026

Kicking off an incredible week in Cincinnati with Loren Feldman at the Reds game. ⚾️

This is the opening event for Loren’s 21 Hats gathering that brings together a group of business owners to go behind the scenes at some great companies in the city over the next few days.

And honestly, the first “behind the scenes” moment for me was chatting with Loren about his process and hearing about the level of thought, care, and intention that goes into producing the 21 Hats Morning Report every single day.

I’ve been reading it for years and it’s one of the few emails I genuinely look forward to seeing in my inbox each morning.

It’s also one of the few emails where I regularly find myself going back to search past issues for ideas, insights, and perspective.

It feels personal. Curated. Thoughtful. Like it’s written by someone who deeply respects entrepreneurs and the realities of building a business.

Loren has built a vibrant community by consistently showing up in entrepreneurs’ inboxes every day with thoughtful insights and genuine value.

Already great reconnecting with some of the regular voices from the podcast and looking forward to the conversations ahead this week.

Thanks Loren for creating something that genuinely serves entrepreneurs. Grateful 🙏



Jean

Lost in the Gorge… don’t find me. ☕️🌿Woke up this morning in Kentucky to mist hanging over the trees, birds singing ever...
05/11/2026

Lost in the Gorge… don’t find me. ☕️🌿

Woke up this morning in Kentucky to mist hanging over the trees, birds singing everywhere, and the sound of the creek behind us.

On our way to Cincinnati for the 21 Hats gathering this week, but this quiet little stop in the River Gorge feels like the perfect way to start a Monday.

Coffee. Nature. Peace.
Sometimes that’s exactly what you need before a big week ahead. 🧡

Dad and Daughter lunch at the Bush Farmhouse in Black Mountain, N.C.South African inspired restaurant serving pap and bo...
05/11/2026

Dad and Daughter lunch at the Bush Farmhouse in Black Mountain, N.C.

South African inspired restaurant serving pap and boerewors, Bobotie, and milk tart.

Great lunch, even though we missed our mothers today.

This evening in Austin, somewhere between snowballs and conversations about tipping culture, I got a reminder of what gr...
05/06/2026

This evening in Austin, somewhere between snowballs and conversations about tipping culture, I got a reminder of what great businesses feel like.

Before visiting with Mars Chapman, we ate at L’Oca d’Oro — a restaurant where, on Tuesday nights, you pay what you feel the meal was worth.

Not as a gimmick.
As a way to keep supporting local farms, paying fair wages, and staying accessible to the community.

What struck me was how much that same philosophy carries into Casey’s.

You can feel the care:
• In the training
• In the craftsmanship
• In the way people are treated
• In the pride the team takes in the work

The best businesses aren’t built around extraction.

They’re built around people, culture, and care.

And you can feel the difference.

- Jean 🧡

This evening in Austin, somewhere between syrup bottles, shaved ice, and conversations about tipping culture, I had my f...
05/06/2026

This evening in Austin, somewhere between syrup bottles, shaved ice, and conversations about tipping culture, I had my first real New Orleans snowball.

Mars Chapman from Casey's New Orleans Snowballs introduced us to the real deal.

Before heading over to Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs with Mars Chapman, we had dinner at L’Oca d’Oro.

On Tuesday nights, they do something unusual:

You decide what the meal was worth.

Not because they’re trying to be trendy.Not because they don’t value the food.

But because they want to keep paying fair wages, continue supporting local farms, and still remain a place where people can gather — even when times are tight.

One line on the card at the table stayed with me:

“We’ve always wanted to be the neighborhood spot where you can celebrate big moments and swing by on a random Tuesday when you don’t feel like cooking.”

That philosophy carried straight into what Mars is building at Casey’s.

You can feel it in the way people are trained.In the care behind the product.In the patience.In the pride the team takes in their work.

Watching Mars prepare snowballs wasn’t watching someone make dessert.

It felt more like watching a craft perfected through repetition, attention, and care.

That’s the thing about truly great businesses.

You can taste it in the product.But you can also feel it in the culture.

The best businesses aren’t obsessed with extracting more from people.

They create places where people actually want to belong.

And in a world increasingly built around efficiency and transactions, that feels rare.

- Jean 🧡

---

FYI — if you’re ever in Austin, go visit Casey's New Orleans Snowballs Great product. Even better people.

Big moment.Scott, Davin, and I launching Small Giants Press at the Summit — with Finding Freedom as our first book.But t...
05/05/2026

Big moment.

Scott, Davin, and I launching Small Giants Press at the Summit — with Finding Freedom as our first book.

But this isn’t about one book.

It’s about the untold stories of purpose-driven businesses…
And getting those stories out into the world where they can inspire others.

This is just the beginning.

Address

Charlotte, NC

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Jean Moncrieff posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Jean Moncrieff:

Shortcuts

Share

Category