Omni Talk Retail From 24/7 Chaos to Successful Exit | Investor Perspectives With Brett Striker
Oct 13, 2025
Brett Striker, the former founder and CEO of Maddy and Maize popcorn, dives into the nitty-gritty of preparing a business for exit. He discusses the critical difference between structural and people problems in entrepreneurship. With insightful anecdotes, Brett reveals how the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) transformed his chaotic startup into a sellable asset. Learn why clarity, accountability, and a solid accountability chart are essential, as well as the importance of starting EOS sooner to avoid burnout.
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Founder Story: From Startup To Exit
- Brett started Maddie and May's Popcorn and grew it into 10,000+ U.S. stores while wearing every hat in the business.
- He sold the company to a larger competitor and learned the exit required fixing structural issues, not just people problems.
Problems Are Structural, Not Only Personal
- Many business problems are structural, not just 'people' problems, and show up as lack of focus and accountability.
- Without clarity on roles and metrics leaders end up firefighting instead of scaling.
Adopt EOS: Vision, Traction, Healthy
- Use EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to align leadership on vision, execution, and team health.
- Make vision clear, install disciplined traction, and build a healthy leadership team for competitive advantage.
