More revenue, more employees, and more complexity can actually pull you deeper into the day-to-day grind—unless your business is structured the right way.

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In this episode, I sit down with Nick Bradley, a business growth strategist and private equity veteran who has worked on billion-dollar deals and now helps business owners scale with purpose. We dive into the hidden traps of scaling, why private equity firms are changing their approach, and how to transition from being stuck in the business to running it like an investor.

We also get into the critical distinction between cash flow and strategic valuation, why most exit planning advice is broken, and how owners can create optionality—whether they want to sell or simply step back from the daily grind. If you’re wondering how to build a business that truly works for you, this episode is a must-listen.

Nick Bradley is a business growth strategist, entrepreneur, and private equity veteran who has built, bought, and sold over 100 businesses. With a background in high-stakes M&A and multi-billion-dollar exits, he now helps business owners scale with purpose—focusing on sustainable value creation, strategic exits, and operational independence. As the host of the Scale Up with Nick Bradley podcast and a sought-after advisor, Nick specializes in transforming businesses into scalable, sellable assets while helping owners reclaim their time and financial freedom.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction of Nick Bradley, his background in private equity

(03:42) Discussion on exit planning and its meaning for owner-operators

(08:06) Investment bankers vs. private equity operating partners

(14:33) Nick's focus on service-based businesses and scaling strategy

(18:52) Two business types: lifestyle vs. growth-focused companies

(26:42) Addiction to goal achievement, clear personal vision before business goals

(31:29) Understanding the constraints of time, cashflow, and wealth

(40:11) The value of short-term actions and three-year planning horizons

(54:31) Lifestyle businesses, income realities for business owners in the messy middle

(01:14:45) Private equity evolution and adaptation to higher interest rates

(01:27:08) The power of niching down in service-based businesses

(01:40:45) Building a sustainable business model for uncertain times

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Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals.

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast.

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around.

Resources:

Website: https://highvalueexit.com/

Nick Bradley LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/realnickbradley/

Scale Up with Nick Bradley – Nick’s Podcast https://highvalueexit.com/podcast/

Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop

Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching

Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/

Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/

Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom

Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom

Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8

Sound Bites

"Most business owners think the answer to growth is more—more people, more products, more complexity. The reality is, the best businesses scale by simplifying." – Nick Bradley

"If your business isn’t structured to run without you, it’s not really a business—it’s just a high-paying job." – Ryan Tansom

"Private equity is evolving—strong cash-flowing businesses will be in high demand, while speculative growth bets will fade." – Nick Bradley

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