Independence by Design™

The business advice system is completely broken. Tax, estate, and wealth must be one plan — and you can’t trust the system to build it for you. Watch on YouTube Advisors sell products, optimize for their own fees, and stay in their silos. Taxes here. Estate there. Wealth over in another corner. Nobody owns the whole. And owners are the ones who pay the price.If you don’t take ownership of the plan, you’ll be the one left holding the bag when taxes hit, valuations disappoint, or estate plans fall apart. It’s just like the healthcare system. Specialists cut and prescribe. Nobody’s responsible for keeping you healthy. In business, nobody’s responsible for making sure your entire plan actually works together.  In this conversation with my friend Brandon Henry, who works inside the family-office world of the 0.1%, we tell the truth about how advice really works — and why middle-market owners can’t afford to buy the orchestration back. If you don’t step up as the general contractor of your own plan, you’ll drown in noise, propaganda, and bad advice.  We don’t hold back. We lay out what good looks like, how to spot misaligned incentives, and what it takes to design a plan that actually serves you.  What We Cover: –Why the business advice system is designed to serve advisors, not owners.  –The healthcare analogy: why the parallels are too obvious to ignore.  –Why there’s no such thing as “three plans” — tax, estate, and wealth are one system.  –The general contractor role every owner must play until you can buy back orchestration.  –How to filter propaganda, spot misalignment, and hold advisors accountable. –What “good” advice actually looks like — and why it’s so rare.  Who This Is For: If you’re a business owner tired of piecemeal advice and sales pitches disguised as planning — and you want to finally understand how the game really works so you can take control — this episode is for you.  Chapters:   (00:00) Introduction and the broken business advice ecosystem  (04:22) Brandon Henry joins, defining the core pain point  (09:42) General contractor role, advisor complexity, and misaligned incentives  (18:15) Income tax compliance versus strategic tax planning  (26:59) Estate planning versus estate tax planning distinctions  (40:02) Wealth management industry evolution and fee compression  (56:58) Being your own general contractor until escape velocity  (1:08:01) Business structuring and preparing for transactions proactively  (1:19:31) Transaction readiness, avoiding vultures, and maintaining optionality  (1:36:40) What the ideal family office experience looks like  Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know!  Resources: Mosaic Advisors https://mosaicadvisors.com/ IBD Newsletter on Valuations https://newsletter.ryantansom.com/  Previous Interviews with Brandon Henry:  #416: Behind the Curtain: How Ultra-Wealthy Families Manage Their Business Assets with Brandon Henry https://independence-by-design.castos.com/episodes/416-behind-the-curtain-how-ultra-wealthy-families-manage-their-business-assets-with-brandon-henry  Ep. #350 - What it Means to “Think Like an Owner” Inside the Boardroom of a Privately Held Business https://youtu.be/4WOuI9SdoWw?si=go_zQ1vr6hMST0Hm  Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/

If you’re a business owner trying to make sense of Bitcoin, this conversation is your entry point.  Watch on YouTube Over two episodes combined into one, I sat down with Kim Clark and her father Alan Beaulieu—a partner at the world-renowned forecasting firm ITR Economics, known for its 94.7% accuracy over the last 80 years. Alan has spent his career helping owners understand what’s coming in the economy. In this conversation, he turned the tables and asked me to explain Bitcoin.  Across our discussion, we unpack what Bitcoin really is, how it compares to money as we’ve known it, and why it matters for owners thinking about value, valuations, and the future. Alan came in skeptical but open, and the questions he asked are the same ones every thoughtful owner has on their mind: Is Bitcoin safe? Is it different from other cryptocurrencies? Could it actually protect my wealth in the decades ahead?  I don’t claim to have all the answers. I’m still a student on this journey. But I’ve spent thousands of hours studying economics, money, and the history of financial systems—and I’ve come to believe Bitcoin is one of the most important developments of our time. It’s sound money for a world that desperately needs it.  In this episode we cover:  What Bitcoin actually is—and how it differs from cryptocurrency in general  Why money itself is just an open ledger of time and value  How Bitcoin solves the trust problem through scarcity and decentralization  Why fixed supply, proof-of-work, and network effects make it unique  The difference between Bitcoin and “shitcoins”  How demographics, debt, and fiat debasement are shaping the future of money  Why Bitcoin could redefine valuations and serve as a store of value for owners  How to think about Bitcoin as both a hedge and a design choice for your business and life  This isn’t financial advice, and it’s not a get-rich-quick pitch. It’s a real conversation—between an economist who’s spent decades forecasting the future, and me, an owner who’s spent a decade wrestling with how money, time, and business truly work.  Kim Clark is a sales and marketing strategist who helped scale ITR Economics from a founder-led advisory firm to a professionally managed company that exited at eight figures. As head of sales and marketing, she built the firm’s first CRM, content strategy, and inbound engine—moving the company from personality-based selling to a system built on data, automation, and strategic execution. Today, she works with business owners to build marketing engines that align with their strategy, team, and long-term cash flow goals—so they can grow without chaos and delegate without losing visibility. Her frameworks are directly aligned with the "Maximize Growth" track inside the Build a Valuable Business module of the iBD™ Magic Model.  Alan Beaulieu is a globally recognized economist and partner at ITR Economics, a firm with 94.7% forecasting accuracy over 80 years. For more than three decades, Alan has guided executives worldwide through all economic cycles, providing clear, actionable insights on markets, strategy, and investment. A respected speaker, author, and advisor, his data-driven approach helps companies anticipate change, protect value, and maximize profitability.  Chapters:   (00:00) Bitcoin versus cryptocurrency and why most are ‘shit coins’  (09:35) Great depression forecast and Bitcoin's role in protection  (20:15) Government intervention risks and regulatory attack scenarios  (35:33) Getting started with exchanges and practical Bitcoin purchasing  (42:47) Bitcoin as technological evolution versus economic revolution debate  (53:02) Real world use cases and government surveillance concerns  (01:04:28) Wallet security and twelve word seed phrase explanation  (01:18:39) Medium of exchange timeline and practical implementation challenges  (01:26:06) Final thoughts on wealth protection and future outlook  Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know!  Resources: Kim Clark LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-clark-79634845/ Alan Beaulieu LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/alan-beaulieu-8343283 Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/  

Most advice treats all owners the same. The reality? There are two different games.Watch on YouTube For the 98% (smaller, tightly owner‑dependent companies), the job and the asset are commingled. Generic “exit planning” advice often creates noise: the math, buyers, and timelines rarely line up. For the 2% (true middle‑market owners with durable EBITDA and a management team), the game shifts to the boardroom. It’s about capital allocation—protecting value, preserving options, and making decisions across time, cash flow, and wealth. That’s the conversation in this panel debate with Mike Finger (Exit Oasis), moderated by Graham Stephen and Kyle McCulloch. Mike advocates for pragmatic guidance that helps the 98% make real progress. I argue for a clear line between the two games—and for ownership thinking when you’ve crossed into the 2%. We dig into: How the U.S. company landscape actually breaks down—and why that matters more than slogans What’s signal vs. noise for the 98% (cash flow, role/asset separation, transferable systems, realistic debt math) What’s signal for the 2% (board governance, valuation lenses, optionality, capital allocation) Where demographics, debt costs, and normalized EBITDA distort decision‑making Why many “exits” below the middle market don’t pencil—and what to optimize instead How to decide whether to design a great job (time + cash flow) or build a true asset—and what each path demands Where I think Bitcoin fits as long‑term store of time/value for owners—and where it doesn’t help Bottom line: Know which game you’re in. Filter the advice accordingly. If you’re in the 98%, focus on cash flow, dependability, and de‑risking. If you’re in the 2%, think like an allocator and run from the boardroom.Graham Stephen is a former banker and chartered accountant turned entrepreneurial strategist. After witnessing firsthand how the traditional financial system fails owner-operators, he co-founded Bizval to bring clarity, simplicity, and first-principles thinking to the messy world of valuation. His work helps owners understand their true worth—not just on paper, but in cash terms they can act on.  Kyle McCulloch brings a rare combination of global macro risk analysis, cyber strategy, and operational grit. From trading floors to turnaround jobs in small businesses, Kyle has built a toolkit that allows him to connect the dots between world events, business systems, and cash flow forecasting. He now helps Bizval clients tie strategy to risk-adjusted value so they can play the right game—and win. Mike Finger is the founder of Exit Oasis, where he helps small business owners understand what it really takes to sell a company. After successfully selling three of his own businesses, Mike now focuses on guiding owners who want to create transferable companies — businesses that can run without them and deliver value to a buyer. Through Exit Oasis, he provides education and coaching designed to help owners move beyond wishful thinking and toward realistic transition strategies.Chapters:  (00:00) Ryan and Mike's productive debate background, setting up round two discussion (03:41) Panel introductions: Graham Stephen, Mike Finger, Kyle McCulloch, and Ryan Tansom  (06:32) Demographics breakdown: 27 million private entities, employment data, and market landscape  (13:08) Mike's 98% small business focus versus Ryan's 2% middle market approach (22:22) The no man's land problem: companies with $500K-$2M EBITDA and limited options  (47:00) Mike's practical approach: Carl's success story from $170K to $350K earnings  (1:14:20) Universal business truths: desirable results, repeatability, and proper documentation  (1:30:15) Coaching models and economic challenges of serving different market segments  (1:45:30) Final thoughts on gratitude, hard work, and understanding your business goals Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know! Resources:Graham Stephen LinkedInKyle McCulloch LinkedInBizValMike Finger LinkedInExit OasisRyan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/

If your goal is to run your company from the boardroom, the real work isn’t just stepping out of day-to-day operations. It’s making sure the business—and your wealth—are protected no matter what happens. In this conversation with attorney and deal advisor Jim Carlisle. Jim has guided hundreds of owners through sales, ESOPs, continuity crises, and legacy planning—and he’s seen what works, what destroys value, and what keeps owners up at night. We unpack how to think like a capital allocator while protecting your operating asset.  Watch on YouTubeThat means three things: 1. Estate readiness – ensuring your ownership transfers the way you want without value lost to taxes, infighting, or missed planning windows. 2. Business operations continuity – having a contingent operational plan so the company runs at full value if you’re suddenly out of the picture. 3. Market readiness – knowing your valuation through multiple lenses so you can seize a premium-price moment in the market without scrambling.  Jim shares real-world stories of owners who preserved 100% of their company’s value in a crisis—and others who watched it evaporate in weeks. We get into why continuity planning is different from estate planning, how to stress test your org chart, the role of fiduciary or advisory boards, and how to balance legacy, culture, and net proceeds when offers come in. If you want to keep control, protect what you’ve built, and be ready to move when your goals change or the market says “now,” this episode is your blueprint.  Jim Carlisle is a corporate attorney and entrepreneur with 34+ years of experience helping business owners achieve growth, succession, and exit goals. Chair of Dinsmore’s National Growth & Exit Planning and ESOP Transactional Services groups, he guides owners through M&A, ESOPs, estate planning, and business continuity. Drawing on his own ownership experience, he blends legal expertise with practical insight to protect value and preserve legacy.   Chapters:   (00:00) Newsletter launch, three lenses of business valuations overview, reconnecting with Jim Carlisle after shared consulting partnership  (04:34) Jim's practice focus on growth, exit planning and ESOP work  (08:25) Boardroom leadership versus selling and preparing for unexpected events  (13:50) Estate planning versus business continuity planning key differences  (18:15) Stress testing organizational structure and identifying critical leadership gaps  (25:00) Capital allocation mindset and three valuation lenses framework  (34:00) Real world story of engineering firm succession disaster  (42:06) Advisory boards versus fiduciary boards for succession readiness  (50:52) ESOP transactions and tax advantages for business owners  (1:00:28) Advisory fee inflation and serving mid market companies  (1:06:32) Deal structure gotchas and representation and warranty insurance  (1:13:26) Listening to clients versus telling them what you know  Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know!  Resources: Three Valuation Lenses Articles – https://newsletter.ryantansom.com/p/part-1-why-business-valuations-matter-even-if-you-re-not-selling  Six Components of Deal Structure – https://independence-by-design.castos.com/episodes/427-navigating-deal-structures-the-hidden-factors-that-impact-your-net-proceeds-with-dave-diehl  The Owner’s Playbook – https://ryantansom.com/  ESOP Podcast Mini-Series – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrYrzn97zAwmBULKHjv8DnqOtI42Od6eg&si=8OBisc9zk-8_dfPl  Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/

If you want to design a business that works for your life — not the other way around — you need to understand the actual game you’re playing. Watch on YouTube In this episode, I sit down with Candice Bradley, a business owner, investor, former banker, and strategic advisor who’s lived through nearly every ownership structure in the capitalist playbook: banking, investment banking, private equity, public markets, venture capital, and now private business ownership.  Candice doesn’t just know the rules of finance and business ownership — she’s played in every field. And in this conversation, she unpacks what most owners miss: the game isn’t just about money. It’s about the structure you choose, the bets you make, and whether those bets are actually worth your time.  We go deep into:  Why understanding valuation, risk, and cash flow is foundational to making good decisions as an owner  How different forms of ownership — from PE to VC to private — come with built-in expectations that shape your life  What happens when you finally see the system for what it is… and choose to design your own rules  And toward the end, we cut through the jargon and speak plain English: the fiat system is broken. Time is scarce. And if we’re not choosing our game and constraints consciously, they’ll be chosen for us.  This is a conversation for owners who are ready to lead with clarity — and design a business that gives them options, not just obligations.  Key Themes:  The connection between valuation and decision clarity  Why private owners must define their own timelines and targets  Tradeoffs between financial engineering and operational cash flow  Escaping fiat-based illusions and designing a game that actually works for your life    Who This Is For:  If you're an owner-operator who:  Is tired of gut-based decisions and wants a clear strategy  Feels the weight of every tradeoff between time, cash, and equity  Wants to understand how different financial models and ownership structures actually affect your freedom  ...this episode is for you.  Candice’s journey will help you see the full landscape — and start placing your bets with intention.  Candice Bradley is a 3x founder and seasoned operator with 20+ years across investment banking, private equity, venture, and entrepreneurship. She’s built and scaled businesses from both sides of the table — as investor and owner — and now helps founders navigate the tradeoffs of growth, cash flow, and exit. Her current focus: acquiring and operating a $15M+ company with intention and impact.   Chapters:   (00:00) Introduction and Ryan's excitement about the conversation level  (02:11) Candace's background journey from banking to private equity operations  (05:21) Why finance over accounting and the puzzle-solving nature  (12:00) The difference between accounting's engineered reality and finance  (18:27) Private equity versus venture capital ownership structure differences  (25:51) The 2008 reckoning and switching from financial engineering  (42:01) Venture capital experience at Opendoor and hypergrowth challenges  (52:01) Personal North Stars and the trade-offs of time  (56:16) Starting the healthcare staffing business from zero to 10  (1:09:14) Current market realities and the acquisition entrepreneur challenges  (1:24:31) The Bitcoin thesis and modern financial engineering breakdown  Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know!  Resources: Candice Bradley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicedbradley/  Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/

If you’re trying to grow your business without creating a mess of misaligned incentives, resentment, or comp plans that backfire—this episode is for you. I brought Jennifer Davis back on because she built one of the most intentional compensation systems I’ve ever seen. We walk through how she tied her company’s mission and KPIs directly to each person’s comp—and connected it all the way down to their personal goals. We talk about cleaning up old promises, removing politics, and building a system that creates momentum instead of confusion. It’s tactical, practical, and deeply aligned with what we talk about in Independence by Design™—because comp is strategy. And when you get it right, everything gets easier. Watch on YouTube Jennifer Davis is the co-founder and former CEO of Davisware, a bootstrapped ERP platform scaled to over $20M in revenue and sold to private equity. She’s a tech entrepreneur, mom of 10, and author of two books including Living Exponentially. Now through her new venture BExponential, she helps growth-minded women lead with clarity and purpose. Her story blends grit, systems thinking, and a deep commitment to impact. Chapters:   (00:00) Introduction- guest Jennifer Davis  (04:19) The three assets that matter: brand, culture, customers  (26:31) The gap between expectations and reality  (30:24) Using a fake sale to rethink structure  (32:31) From firefighting to structure  (39:27) The pyramid: from brand to bonus  (53:47) The 80/20 bonus plan  (1:06:24) The timeline: clarity in two years  (1:26:48) Tying comp to life goals  (1:30:17) 100% KPI transparency  Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know!    Resources: Jennifer's site: jenniferleedavis.com (consulting/retreats/book).  BExponential: bexponential.com (women's leadership).  Davisware: davisware.com (former ERP company).  Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/

What if the success you're chasing isn't the final destination, but the beginning of something more? Watch on YouTube Most business owners I talk to know AI matters—but many are still stuck thinking it’s just for writing emails or something their IT team should handle. That’s not the game we’re playing.   In this episode, I sat down with Geoff Woods to talk about what it really means to become an AI-driven leader. We’re not talking about automation—we’re talking about thinking. Geoff and I break down how AI becomes your most powerful thought partner once you’re clear on your goals, your constraints, and your role as the owner. If you’ve been wondering how to actually integrate AI into your business at a strategic level, this conversation is for you.  We covered everything from the CRIT prompting framework to building executive-level AI boards, why most people struggle to think clearly, and how the education system trained creativity out of us. I also share how I’m using AI with my clients to build strategic plans, model out deals, and clarify ownership goals faster than ever before.  This episode is for the owner who wants to stay ahead—who’s ready to think bigger, make better decisions, and design a business that works without them.  Geoff Woods is the author of The AI-Driven Leader and the founder of AI Leadership. He previously co-founded the company behind The ONE Thing and served as Chief Growth Officer at Jindal Steel, where he helped grow its market cap from $750M to over $12B. Geoff teaches CEOs how to use AI as a strategic thought partner—not a task robot—so they can lead more effectively, make smarter decisions, and build companies that thrive in an AI-driven future. His frameworks, including CRIT and the AI Empowerment Curve, are helping leaders around the world operationalize AI from the boardroom to the frontlines.   Chapters:   (00:00) Geoff's career journey from CEO advice to AI leadership  (03:53) The One Thing company partnership and strategic questioning expertise  (06:50) December 2022 ChatGPT discovery and initial limiting beliefs  (08:35) CRIT framework development context role interview task methodology  (13:50) Strategic thinking as competitive advantage versus tactical approaches  (24:39) Industrial revolution education system and modern workforce implications  (34:47) Growth mindset versus fixed mindset in AI adoption  (38:39) Custom AI board creation for strategic business decisions  (44:41) Enterprise value focus versus tactical AI use cases  (54:34) AI-assisted book writing process and content creation  (1:06:02) Data privacy security and enterprise AI implementation  (1:13:26) Future of work and maintaining humanity in technology  (1:17:12) Zero to one implementation daily AI usage habits  Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know!    Resources: The AI-Driven Leader by Geoff Woods  AILeadership.com  Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/

What if the success you're chasing isn't the final destination, but the beginning of something more? Watch on YouTube This episode is the natural continuation of last week's conversation with Jean Moncrieff, the new leader of the Small Giants Community. But today, we go back to the source to get the full origin story of the Small Giants Community. I sit down with Paul Spiegelman, co-founder of Small Giants Community, to trace the full arc of a founder's journey: from building and selling BerylHealth to scaling a culture-first company within a public firm, to co-creating the Small Giants movement that has helped thousands of values-driven leaders build something that lasts.  What ties all of Paul's chapters together, from Beryl to Small Giants to Kintsugi Village, is a deep commitment to clarity, purpose, and process.  This isn't just a conversation about business, it's about designing a life that means something.  We talk about how values in a company often show up before we have the words for them, how the discipline of reflection creates repeatability, and how purpose, when acted on over time, turns into legacy.  Paul Spiegelman is the co-founder of Kintsugi Village and the Small Giants Community, and the former founder and CEO of BerylHealth. He also served as Chief Culture Officer at Stericycle, where he brought his people-first approach to a publicly traded company.  Paul is a New York Times best-selling author, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and a recognized voice on leadership, corporate culture, and values-driven business. His insights have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Inc. Magazine. What sets Paul apart is his ability to live out what most leaders only talk about—building companies that align with values, operationalize culture, and last beyond the founder. Today, through Small Giants and Kintsugi Village, he helps steward a new generation of entrepreneurs who want to build with purpose—and chase something more than just growth. Chapters:   (00:00) Paul's path from law to entrepreneurship  (00:06) Building BerylHealth with brothers, bootstrapping without capital or business experience  (00:14) Meeting Bo Burlingham and discovering Small Giants philosophy  (00:26) Chasing purpose and the transition from BerylHealth to community building  (00:33) Selling to Stericycle and becoming Chief Culture Officer  (00:42) Defining culture as discipline, not fuzzy feelings  (00:52) Values-driven decision making and the circle of growth  (01:03) Transitioning leadership and passing the torch to next generation  (01:16) Kintsugi Village nonprofit and early childhood education mission  (01:25) Legacy, impact and what comes next in Detroit  Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know!  Resources: Small Giants Community https://www.smallgiants.org Small Giants by Bo Burlingham https://www.amazon.com/Small-Giants-Companies-Instead-10th-Anniversary/dp/014310960X www.paulspiegelman.com 

What does it actually mean to build a company that lasts? Watch on YouTube Not just one that grows. Not just one that sells. But one that thrives beyond the founder—because it was built with values at the core.  In this episode, I’m joined by Jean Moncrieff, an entrepreneur, coach, and the new leader of the Small Giants Community, for a conversation about identity, legacy, and the tension every owner eventually faces: when and how to let go.  We unpack the deeper reason Small Giants exists: to support leaders who want to build purpose-driven companies where people thrive, cultures endure, and success isn’t just measured by size. We also talk about what it means to scale values, not just revenue—and why Jean is uniquely positioned to carry this movement forward.  Whether you’re in the thick of operations or starting to imagine your next chapter, this episode will help you re-anchor to what matters most—and show you that you’re not alone in the process.  Jean Moncrieff is an entrepreneur, coach, and the current leader of the Small Giants Community—a global network of values-driven founders committed to building purpose-first businesses that prioritize people, culture, and long-term impact. Jean’s own journey includes founding, scaling, and exiting multiple 7- and 8-figure companies across Europe and South Africa. But what defines his work today is helping leaders clarify their vision, let go with intention, and grow companies that outlast them—not just operationally, but culturally and philosophically. Based in Zurich, Jean splits his time between Europe, the U.S., and South Africa, where he continues to coach CEOs, foster authentic community, and guide the next chapter of Small Giants with the same values that made it what it is.   Chapters:   (00:00) Introduction and Jean's journey from business owner to Small Giants leader  (01:14) What is Small Giants and the rebellious philosophy behind it  (07:25) The vulnerability and mojo that defines the Small Giants community  (14:20) The founder's dilemma: letting go without losing identity  (25:50) Scaling culture with intention and putting people first  (32:36) Why employee ownership correlates strongly with Small Giants values  (41:15) Why Jean stepped into the leadership role at Small Giants  (52:30) What it really means to build a company that lasts  (58:58) The future of Small Giants: global expansion and leadership development  (01:07:38) How to engage with Small Giants and join the community  Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know!  Resources: Small Giants Community https://www.smallgiants.org/ Small Giants by Bo Burlingham https://www.amazon.com/Small-Giants-Companies-Instead-10th-Anniversary/dp/014310960X Jean Moncrieff on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanmoncrieff/ Ryan Tansom Website: https://ryantansom.com/   Sound Bites  “At some point, every founder faces this question: how do I let go without losing what made this special?”  “The heart of a Small Giant isn’t the founder—it’s the values that shape the culture long after they’re gone.”  “We’re not trying to be big for the sake of it. We’re trying to be great, so the company—and the people in it—can thrive without us.” 

This episode is different. No guest. No business mechanics. Just me, reading from my journal and unpacking the questions that have been driving my work, my life, and everything behind Independence by Design™. Watch on YouTube A few questions have been front and center for me since my first memories. Why are we here? What’s the point of all this work? And how do money, time, biology, and spirituality all fit together? If you’ve ever wondered why I care so much about alignment, ownership, and how we spend our time, this is the foundation. This is the throughline behind the Playbook, the coaching, the podcast… all of it. I talk about:  Why constraints make life meaningful How dopamine, purpose, and sacrifice tie into love, fear, and fulfillment What sin actually means (and why it’s about missing the highest aim) Why money is just stored time—and how corrupt money corrupts life And how the ultimate game is to turn chaos into clarity, and help the most people we can, for the longest time we can If you’re on your own journey of trying to make your life and business make sense, this episode is for you. It’s not doctrine. It’s not advice. It’s a flashlight into the questions I’ve been living through.  Chapters:   (00:00) Why this episode exists and intention behind journal reading   (05:30) The game of life: constraints, relativity, and physical world   (13:15) Love, fear, and the aim of life   (22:00) The role of sacrifice and work in creating meaning  (29:00) What money really represents and inflation's spiritual impact   (36:45) Designing a life that works and final reflections  Rate, comment, and share with the owner/operators you know!    Resources:  Ryan Tansom Website: https://ryantansom.com/