Independence by Design™
Ryan Tansom
Get out of the day-to-day without blowing up your business, your cash flow, or your life — and finally build something that lasts without you, and because of you.
Hey there, I’m Ryan Tansom. I created the Independence by Design™ Framework to help owner-operators like you get unstuck, think like an owner, and build a business that works for you — not the other way around.
I know the trap firsthand. In 2009, I joined my family’s $21M company when it was losing nearly $1M a year. We turned it around and sold it for eight figures. But I gutted the business in the process, and paid over 50% in taxes. That exit left me asking: What was the point of all that stress if I didn’t have a real plan for my time, wealth, or future?
That question launched a decade of deep work. I’ve coached thousands of owners through the same inflection point, helping them gain clarity, scale with purpose, and build businesses they don’t need to escape from.
On this podcast, I’ll show you how to use the Independence by Design™ Framework to make better decisions, reclaim your time, and grow true equity value — whether you want to stay, scale, or eventually step away.
I’ll bring in some of the sharpest minds I know — like Gino Wickman, Chris Voss, Jack Stack, and Bo Burlingham — to challenge your thinking and fuel your strategy.
If you’re tired of being the bottleneck, buried in the weeds, or unsure how your decisions affect the bigger picture… this is your playbook.
This is the show I wish I had when I have our company.You can find earlier episodes (from the Intentional Growth™ archive) on my Ryan Tansom YouTube channel
Hey there, I’m Ryan Tansom. I created the Independence by Design™ Framework to help owner-operators like you get unstuck, think like an owner, and build a business that works for you — not the other way around.
I know the trap firsthand. In 2009, I joined my family’s $21M company when it was losing nearly $1M a year. We turned it around and sold it for eight figures. But I gutted the business in the process, and paid over 50% in taxes. That exit left me asking: What was the point of all that stress if I didn’t have a real plan for my time, wealth, or future?
That question launched a decade of deep work. I’ve coached thousands of owners through the same inflection point, helping them gain clarity, scale with purpose, and build businesses they don’t need to escape from.
On this podcast, I’ll show you how to use the Independence by Design™ Framework to make better decisions, reclaim your time, and grow true equity value — whether you want to stay, scale, or eventually step away.
I’ll bring in some of the sharpest minds I know — like Gino Wickman, Chris Voss, Jack Stack, and Bo Burlingham — to challenge your thinking and fuel your strategy.
If you’re tired of being the bottleneck, buried in the weeds, or unsure how your decisions affect the bigger picture… this is your playbook.
This is the show I wish I had when I have our company.You can find earlier episodes (from the Intentional Growth™ archive) on my Ryan Tansom YouTube channel
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 29, 2024 • 1h 3min
#401: Discovering the Truth About Economics & Money: Joe Brown on Inflation, Investments, and Independence
In this inaugural episode of the Independence by Design™ podcast, Ryan Tansom sits down with Joe Brown, founder of Heresy Financial, to dive deep into the intricacies of the economy and financial systems. Driven by personal experiences and a relentless curiosity, Joe explores the mainstream financial narratives and advocates for a deeper understanding of economic fundamentals. He underscores the importance of aligning financial decisions with personal values and addressing root causes of economic issues, rather than merely treating symptoms.
Watch on YouTubeThe discussion spans critical topics like the effects of money printing, the escalating costs of education and healthcare, and the quest for financial freedom. Joe and Ryan also dissect the evolution of money as a debt system, the value of time, and strategies for managing wealth amid inflation and taxes. They provide practical insights into business ownership, portfolio diversification, and the challenges posed by government bond refinancing and its impact on regional banks. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives on mastering your financial future and understanding the system that shapes it.
Key Takeaways:
Aligning one's values with their financial decisions is crucial for personal fulfillment and moral integrity.
Understanding the root causes of economic problems is more important than focusing on symptoms.
Education and individual decision-making play a significant role in improving one's financial situation.
Money printing, rising costs of education and healthcare, and the erosion of financial freedom are key issues in the current economic landscape. Money has evolved over time from a debt system primarily.
Time is the most valuable resource for individuals, but it is also the most replaceable thing to others.
Starting a business allows individuals to provide value that is not denominated in their time and can lead to escaping the limitations of trading time for money.
Diversifying investments across savings, business, and income-producing assets can help protect wealth and provide stability.
Understanding how the financial system works and taking control of one's wealth is crucial in navigating the challenges and uncertainties of the future.
In This Episode:
(00:00) Introduction and Background - Joe Brown of Heresy Financial
(04:45) Joe's Journey into Understanding the Economy
(10:00) The Curiosity to Understand the Economic Cycle
(13:13) Stepping Stones to Understanding the Economic Cycle
(18:00) Aligning Work with Your Values
(23:00) Questioning the Narrative and Seeking Understanding
(26:00) Starting the Conversation about the Economy, Silent QE by Commercial Banks
(29:30) The Historical Perspective on Money and Trust, What happened in 1971?
(33:15) Analyzing Economic Narratives and Policies
(42:00) The Value of Time and Escaping the Time-for-Money Trap
(44:55) Starting a Business, Owner/Operators and Cash Evaluation
(47:56) Case Studies, Diversifying Investments, Protecting and Growing Wealth
(59:00) Looking Forward, Navigating Challenges and Uncertainties
Share, like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!
About Ryan Tansom/Independence by Design:
Ryan Tansom, host of the Independence by Design™ podcast, is dedicated to empowering business owner-operators to achieve true independence. After transforming his family's $21 million business and selling it for eight figures in 2014, Ryan embarked on a decade-long journey to refine business ownership strategies. His experiences led him to create the Independence by Design™ Framework, designed to help owners build sustainable cash flow, increase equity value, and escape daily operational grind. Through the podcast, speaking engagements, and coaching program, Ryan shares his expertise to help others thrive in their business ventures.
Resources:
Book: Changing Fortunes
Book: Debt - The First 5,000 Years
Book: Creature from Jekyll Island
Book: Principles for Navigating Big Debt Crises
Book: Economics in One Lesson
Jordan Peterson on YT https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL22J3VaeABQD_IZs7y60I3lUrrFTzkpat
Heresy Financial on YT https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4fg8o6oUkkZDLaC6eAZKwQ
Heresy Financial https://www.heresy.financial/
Heresy Financial IG https://www.instagram.com/heresyfinancial/
Heresy Financial Twitter/X https://twitter.com/heresyfinancial?lang=en
Heresy Financial University https://heresyfinancial.teachable.com/
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/
Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tansom-4a440710/
Aug 29, 2024 • 1h 1min
#400: Introduction to Independence by Design™
In this first episode of the newly rebranded Independence by Design™ podcast, host Ryan Tansom introduces a groundbreaking ownership framework designed specifically for growth-oriented business owner-operators who seek true independence. Drawing from his personal experience of turning around and selling his family business, Ryan explains how traditional business operating systems focus on working in the business but fail to address how to work on the business to achieve the ultimate goal: independence.Watch on YouTube
Ryan details the Independence by Design™ Ownership Framework, which empowers business owners to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and free themselves from the day-to-day grind. This framework is built around three essential steps:
1.) Understand the Game – Shift your mindset from operator to owner and master the art of business valuations.
2.) Choose Your Game – Clarify your ownership goals and leverage a powerful ownership advisory team.
3.) Play the Game – Master the business ownership game by creating a strategic financial roadmap that links operational performance to your personal and financial goals.
Ryan emphasizes that this framework is not just about exiting your business but about designing a life of independence where your business serves your personal aspirations, allowing you to do more of what you love. This episode is a must-listen for any owner-operator who feels stuck in the day-to-day operations and wants to take control of their time, wealth, and future.
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction and Background
(01:20) Ryan’s Journey: From Family Business to Creating the Ownership Framework
(06:00) What is Independence by Design™ and Why It Matters
(10:45) Shifting from Operator to Owner: The Key to True Independence
(15:30) Step 1: Understand the Game – Shifting Mindsets
(21:15) Step 2: Choose Your Game – Clarifying Ownership Goals
(25:50) Step 3: Play the Game – Creating a Strategic Financial Roadmap
(31:00) Aligning Operations with Ownership Goals
(36:10) Preparing for Future Episodes: Deep Dives into the Framework
(41:30) Final Thoughts and Call to Action
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:
Book: "Finish Big" by Bo Burlingham
Book: "The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber
Independence by Design™ Owner’s 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
