The Root of All Success with The Real Jason Duncan

310: He Beat Stage 4 Cancer—and Now Helps Founders Exit Tax-Free ft. Marc Adams

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Jul 10, 2025

Marc Adams, a global growth strategist and best-selling author, shares his incredible journey of overcoming stage four cancer, which transformed his approach to business and life. He discusses how catching COVID led to his remission and sparked a profound life mission. Marc outlines the staggering statistic that 9 out of 10 businesses fail to sell and unveils strategies to help founders exit tax-free. He emphasizes building businesses with intention and the importance of family over fame, shifting the focus from wealth to generational impact.

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ANECDOTE

COVID Miracle Over Cancer

Marc Adams was diagnosed with stage four cancer and given six months to live in 2020.
Contracting the original strain of COVID pushed his immune system to remission, an extraordinary turn of events.

ANECDOTE

Son's Question Sparks New Mission

Marc's 10-year-old son challenged him on why nine out of ten businesses never sell.
This sparked Marc's mission to help owners exit tax free or minimize taxes on exits.

ADVICE

Focus on People First

The first strategic lever Marc pulled to scale a company was focusing on people.
He discovered millions of units were given away free and fixed pricing and collection policies to boost cash flow.

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What if catching COVID cured your stage four cancer… and unlocked your life’s mission?

That’s exactly what happened to Marc Adams, global growth strategist and best-selling author of Secrets to 10Xing Your Business and Cashing Out Tax-Free. In this powerful episode of The Root of All Success, Marc sits down with Jason Duncan to share the unbelievable story of how a near-death experience reshaped his entire approach to business, life, and legacy.

From building billion-dollar valuations to discovering how to help business owners exit without giving half their wealth to taxes, Marc reveals the mindset, strategies, and miracles that brought him to the edge—and back. If you're building a business and thinking long-term, this episode will shift your perspective forever.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

How a battle with cancer and COVID changed Marc’s life
The moment a 10-year-old asked the question that reframed his mission
Why 9 out of 10 businesses never sell—and what to do about it
How to build a $100M+ business with intention and purpose
The tax traps most founders don’t see until it’s too late
Structuring deals for tax-free exits (yes, it’s possible—legally)
The mindset shift from private equity greed to generational impact
Why systems, people, and clear planning matter more than hype

👉 Want to learn how to build, scale, and exit your business tax-free?
📚 Get Marc’s book: Secrets to 10Xing Your Business and Cashing Out Tax-Free

Who is Marc Adams?

Marc Adams is a sought-after strategy mentor and the best-selling author of Secrets to 10xing Your Business and Cashing Out Tax-Free. In his book, he shares exactly what business owners need to focus on to multiply their company’s value and secure tax-free exits. But Marc’s story goes far beyond traditional business success.

At the height of his career, Marc had achieved remarkable milestones—taking a company from $140 million to a $1 billion valuation, building a $30 million revenue stream from scratch in Southeast Asia in 18 months with no budget, and turning around a loss-making $15 million business to exit for $140 million. Many would consider these the pinnacle of success. But for Marc, his greatest triumph came from an entirely different battle. He was diagnosed with stage four cancer and given just six months to live. Faced with this diagnosis, it was a heartfelt comment from his 10-year-old son, Thomas, that shifted his mindset and gave him the strength to fight.

Marc Adams Website Link: http://www.acquisitions4you.com/

Marc Adams Social Media Link: https://x.com/marc1adams/

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