If you’ve ever read Profit First or The Pumpkin Plan, you know Mike Michalowicz delivers game-changing ideas for entrepreneurs. In this episode, we dive into his newest book, All In, and talk about the systems, frameworks, and mindset shifts you need to build a business that thrives—with or without you in the room.

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Mike and I tackle the biggest concerns owner-operators face:

Cash flow chaos: Why Profit First still works and how to implement it to create financial discipline.

Hiring the right people: How to find and develop A-players by focusing on potential over experience.

Feeling stuck as the operator: The key steps to embed your culture, systems, and vision so your team can execute and scale without you micromanaging.

Mike’s insights, rooted in behavioral psychology, provide a clear path to solving these challenges, showing you how small, consistent wins add up to big results. By tying these ideas into the Independence by Design™ framework, this episode will help you:

Regain control of your finances with tools like Profit First.

Build a team that thrives—so you don’t have to micromanage.

Systematize your business so you can focus on strategy and freedom.

If you’re ready to stop running on the hamster wheel and go all in on building a business that delivers cash flow, equity growth, and independence, this conversation will show you the way.

Mike Michalowicz is the creator of Profit First, Clockwork, and the author of 9 books, including his latest, All In. By age 35, he built and sold two multi-million-dollar companies, only to lose his fortune and start over. Now, Mike is devoted to helping entrepreneurs build healthy, strong companies through practical strategies. A keynote speaker and former Wall Street Journal columnist, Mike’s work has helped hundreds of thousands of businesses worldwide thrive.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro - Mike Michalowicz introduces the Dumbo model for business success

(08:51) Curiosity transforms weaknesses into strengths through education

(14:15) Innovative hiring beyond traditional resumes and interviews, Home Depot's practical assessments redefine talent evaluation criteria, events as tools to attract top talent

(20:09) Personal operating manuals for workplace dynamics, role of AI in identifying hidden talent in recruitment

(32:42) Resurgence of human connection in business practices, valuing people over profits with conscious capitalism

(41:15) Leaders that ‘care gently’ for their team’s personal issues benefits business productivity, importance of regular communication in leadership

(51:34) Overcoming entrepreneurial struggles and finding purpose, eradicating poverty, engaging with diverse audiences through speaking events

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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:

Connect with Mike Michalowicz:

Website: mikemichalowicz.com

LinkedIn: Mike Michalowicz

YouTube: Mike Michalowicz

Twitter: @MikeMichalowicz

All In by Mike Michalowicz – How to recruit, retain, and empower a high-performing team.

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz – The foundational system for managing cash flow and profitability.

The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier – Tools to lead through better questions and conversations.

PI.AI Episode #158 w Mike Michalowicz 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:

“If you want a team to go ‘all in’ on your business, you have to set them up to thrive without you.” – Mike Michalowicz

“Profit First isn’t just about money—it’s about creating clarity and control over your business.” – Ryan Tansom

“True freedom comes when you stop operating the business and start building it for the future.” – Mike Michalowicz

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