Jim Browning is a Colorado based executive, founder, and advisor known for turning complex situations into clear paths that teams can follow. He built his career on a mix of engineering thinking, business strategy, and a people first approach. His story begins on a small farm in Texas, where he learned to solve problems with creativity and grit. That early mindset stayed with him through his engineering degrees and his MBA from Duke University.
Jim has led major growth stories across many industries. In retail, he helped build Run Specialty Group from zero locations to more than fifty stores and more than one hundred million dollars in yearly revenue. He later launched RNK Running, a brand focused on community, coaching, and customer experience. The company now includes multiple stores, large scale events, and strong year over year growth. In another multi state partnership, he helped guide more than eight hundred percent growth and build a portfolio that generates more than fifty million dollars each year.
Jim is known for blending EOS, Lean, Six Sigma, and project management tools into simple steps that help teams move with confidence. He works with founders, CEOs, and private equity groups to align vision, structure, and execution. His focus is always the same. Build predictable systems. Strengthen communication. Help people grow.
He believes success is never a solo achievement. It is measured by the progress of others. Jim continues to support companies through fractional leadership roles and through JB Services, where he helps organizations unlock capacity, solve hard problems, and create growth that lasts.
Q&A with Jim Browning on the Meaning of Success
How has your definition of success changed over the years
It has changed a lot. When I was younger, success looked like personal achievement. I liked solving problems on the farm in Texas. I liked being the kid who found a creative answer when something broke. As I grew and studied engineering and later business, I kept that mindset. I wanted to build things that worked.
Over time, I learned that real success includes others. My saying is, “I rise by lifting others.” It came from watching teammates and staff members grow. When I see someone move into a role they never thought they could reach, that is success to me. It is not about the leader winning. It is about the whole team moving forward.
What is one moment that forced you to rethink what matters in leadership
The loss of Rylie at our RNK Parker location is something I will never forget. A car came through the store. A young girl lost her life and friends were hurt. Reporters asked about the business and whether it would recover. My answer was simple. The business did not matter at that moment. People mattered.
A year later, we held a run in her honor. Her family started Rylie’s ARK to encourage acts of kindness. That experience taught me something important. Leadership is not just about building strong companies. It is also about being present in the hardest moments and keeping people at the center of the work.
What patterns have you seen across the different companies you have scaled
The industries change, but the patterns stay the same. In retail, commercial and home services, manufacturing, education, or nonprofits, teams often hit a point where everything feels loud and out of control. There is too much information and not enough clarity. People work harder but feel less effective. Communication becomes scattered.
The turn back to growth usually comes when everyone starts seeing the same picture. Once a team agrees on the vision, we can break it into steps and roles. At Run Specialty Group, that clarity helped us grow from zero locations to more than fifty stores and over one hundred million dollars. In a construction distribution and production company, clarity and alignment helped drive more than eight hundred percent growth in four years. The steps were different, but the pattern was the same. Clear expectations turned chaos into progress.
You describe yourself as part engineer and part builder of teams. How does that show up in your work
I like to think in phases. When you build a house, you start with the final picture, then plan the steps that get you there. I use the same idea with companies. Begin with the end in mind. Break big goals into stages. Ask what is possible today? Then communicate the plan clearly to everyone involved.
I lean on tools like EOS, Lean, and project management methods to keep the work simple. Issue lists, scoreboards, and weekly rhythms help teams stay focused and projects on time. None of this is flashy. It is more like steady construction. Step by step, you replace guesswork with structure. That is how you turn impossible goals into predictable results.
What is something people misunderstand about specialty retail and success
People think specialty retail survives because of products. That is no longer true. Anyone can buy running shoes online. Years ago, in store shopping was faster than shipping. Now online shipping is so fast that convenience is not a competitive edge.
Specialty retail wins on experience. At RNK, we always ask two questions. What does this guest really want? How can we build an experience that they will talk about at home? Sometimes it is a runner who needs help returning from injury. Sometimes it is a parent who wants their child to feel included even if they cannot afford the top gear. The product matters, but the story and personal experience matter more. That fun and engaging experience is why RNK stores produce more than three times the industry average revenue per square foot.
How do you support your own growth while helping others succeed
I look at my life as four connected areas. Health, purpose, close relationships, and professional growth. When one area is off, the others get drained. I try to check in with myself often. Am I moving enough? Am I present with my family? Am I learning something new? Am I connected to something bigger than my own goals?
I read a lot. I study technology, systems, leadership ideas, and even older books that still hold lessons. And I learn a ton from people at all levels. I try to stay humble enough to see the insight that others have and that I do not.
If you had to give one piece of advice about success, what would it be
Start with clarity. Know what you want to build. Understand where you are today. Then find the first step. Do not wait for perfect timing; it will never be perfect. Just begin. Success comes from steady movement, simple systems, and people who trust each other enough to take the next steps together.