"The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world and never forget the drops of oil on the spoon." - From The Alchemist

For entrepreneurs: The secret of success is to see all the marvels of your vivid vision while never forgetting the practical realities of running your business.

In this special episode, Bradley shares his powerful presentation from the 2025 Two-Day MBA event on "The Oil and Spoon Mindset." Drawing from Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, Bradley explores how successful entrepreneurs must balance big vision with practical execution - carrying both the "oil" (operational focus) and appreciating the "palace" (grand vision) simultaneously.

The Vision Foundation:

Everything is downhill from your vision - Every business decision flows from the clarity of your vision.
Essential components: Dream outcome, 3-year vision, 1-year objectives, 90-day priorities.
Most entrepreneurs struggle with the "vision paradox" - carrying big dreams while facing daily frustrations.

Before you can master the oil and spoon mindset, you need to know where your business currently stands. Are you carrying too much oil and missing the palace? Or dreaming big without operational focus?

Take the Business Architect Scorecard and discover exactly which areas of your business need attention to achieve sustainable growth.

Get your free assessment at: scale.blueprintos.com

This comprehensive scorecard will help you:

Identify gaps between your vision and execution.
Understand which operational areas need strengthening.
Create a clear roadmap for balanced growth.
Build the foundation for carrying both oil and palace effectively.

Don't let the vision paradox hold your business back. Take the scorecard today and start building a business that scales with both clarity and operational excellence.

Thanks to our sponsors...

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Register to join us at an upcoming WebClass when you visit www.blueprintos.com!

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered. Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Make sure you mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast to get 50% off your one time onboarding fee!

Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions.

More money & more freedom: that’s what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast.

Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here’s an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They’ll assess your website, social media, SEO, content, and paid advertising, then provide actionable recommendations. Plus, when you choose to partner with them, they’ll waive all setup fees.

E68: Taking Risks

Rock n' Roll English

Recollections of Talent Contests

The AI-powered Podcast Player