On today’s show I have Josh Golden on to share his story about how he started, grew, and sold his company Table XI (now TXI) to an ESOP on December 31, 2022.   My favorite part of this interview? Josh focuses most of the interview about what went into his decision-making and why he sold the company to an ESOP.    I was super excited to finally interview Josh because I have been watching his journey for over five years. It was fun to hear Josh reflect on the recent exit, especially because of how intentional he was over the last five years.    Josh starts the interview by telling the story about how we met on a chairlift and struck up a conversation about him feeling “stuck” because he didn’t know what to do next with this business: continue growing it, sell it to a strategic buyer, do an ESOP, hire a CEO, etc.    As Josh shares his journey from the origin story through the exit, he does an amazing job articulating what he was trying to accomplish at each stage, what was important to him at that point in the journey, why he made the decision he did, and how that decision played out based on what he wanted.   I hope you enjoy listening to this conversation with Josh!   // WATCH THE INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: Intentional Growth™ Podcast   What You Will Learn Why Josh was feeling “stuck” and what questions were on his mind that he needed answers to. Why Josh decided to become an entrepreneur instead of following the academic route his parents took. The origin story of Table XI, early partnership buyouts, and how Josh feels about it today. Why it’s important to listen to the market and continue to evolve the business. What client requests you should say “yes” to based on how your company infrastructure is built and where you want to take the business. Josh's story of parting ways with high-ticket clients because values were not aligned.  What “distracted visionaries” need to do when bringing people on. What it was like for Josh to take a back seat after hiring a CEO. What hiring a CFO did for the company’s performance and valuation. What led Josh to take his company the ESOP route. Why Josh didn’t convert to an ESOP when he first decided that was the exit he wanted and what he did in between that time in order to almost double the value of the business.   // USE YOUR FINANCIALS TO CLARIFY A PATH TOWARDS A MORE VALUABLE BUSINESS: Intentional Growth Financial Assessment   Bio: Josh is an entrepreneur with extensive experience helping organizations leverage technology to achieve transformative goals. He started TXI in 2002, a product innovation firm that has grown to seventy professionals over twenty years. Over the past five years, Josh transitioned out of active management of Table XI, handing the reins to an incredibly talented leadership team, and began exploring a number of new projects and investment opportunities. Josh remains involved in TXI as an owner and chair of the board. Since leaving the day to day at Table XI, Josh ran a startup in the health and wellness space that sold to a large competitor where he was engaged as a strategic advisor through mid-2021. Upon completing his three-year return to the world of startups, Josh has been spending his time strongly focused on family, health and well-being, and re-platforming his life for the next chapter which included a move to Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.     Interview Quotes: 18:11  - “It was like beating our heads while we tried to get the money. People who had the money, didn’t understand the opportunity. People who understood the opportunity, didn’t have the money. It was this misalignment of capital and intention and desire and skill.” - Josh Golden 33:31  - “We had tried to get all people with very different approaches to problem-solving to work together to build a unified teams that develop unified solutions for our clients.” - Josh Golden 36:11  - “There’s two parts to our business. One is figuring out what thing to build and the second part of our business is building the thing right.” - Josh Golden 38:07  - “You cannot be fully dogmatic about anything.” - Josh Golden 41:03 - “At one point we fired a client that made up 50 percent of our revenue.” - Josh Golden 42:32  - “We have definitely put our money where our mouth is when it comes to our value system.” - Josh Golden 43:38  - “I think that, fundamentally, there are two kinds of people who start companies. Ones who think that they should have it all and ones who want to give it all away. And neither of these are the correct answer to early stage equity.” - Josh Golden 50:08 - “I can’t sell this because it’s too weird.” - Josh Golden 51:06  - “You need to disconnect your time and your ownership. You need to figure out how to spend less time on the business while you maintain your ownership because of some possible future where you achieve this scale or you get this business tuned in such a way that it’s actually a valuable asset.” - Josh Golden 01:00:54 - “In the conventional PE, I never saw how I could’ve actually gotten the deal done.” - Josh Golden 01:09:31  - “I think if we’re all just altruistic, we have all sorts of different problems. You have to have a mixture of self-interest and collective interest in operating any sort of system.” - Josh Golden 01:18:40 - “Being socially connected, feeling trusted and supported by your colleagues is very valuable and important but having a clear role and a clear goal is actually more valuable.” - Josh Golden 1:21:05 - “[In recessions], ESOPs lay off way less people.” - Josh Golden   Links and Resources: Connect with Josh Golden! (LinkedIn) Table XI Digital Curating Your Life: Ending the Struggle for Work-Life Balance with Gail Golden How to Grow the Value of Your Business using the 5 Intentional Growth™ Principles Intentional Growth™ Online Training   Reach out to me if you have questions about the Intentional Growth™ Training or Fractional CFO services

QUARTERLY ECONOMIC AND M&A MARKET UPDATE   Making real-time decisions–while staying on track toward long-term goals–is much more difficult today compared to only a few years ago. There are no shortages of headwinds to deal with: inflation, interest rates, labor issues, supply chain disruptions, returning to the office, and on and on.   Sure, things are harder, but we entrepreneurs and leaders don’t have the luxury to stop and take a break to collect our thoughts and make peaceful decisions in a vacuum. We have to make crucial decisions–fast. This puts enormous pressure on our long-term plan and our real-time data.    Our goal with this Quarterly Economic and M&A update is to provide you with relevant information (that is often much harder to find than it should be) so you can use it to enhance your decision-making and stay on track toward your future equity valuation targets.   ITR Economics // Brian Beaulieu    In the first segment, our sponsor and CEO of ITR Economics, Brian Beaulieu, brings us his thoughts about the macroeconomic picture. Brian and I talk about the potential for a 2023/2024 recession (and what’s causing it), what’s going on in the labor market, interest rates, inflation, and which industries will have no problem getting through the next two years.    My favorite part of the interview is toward the end when I asked Brian what data to pay attention to. He nails the answer. Since this interview, I picked up their book How to Make Your Move again and it is SUCH a breath of fresh air. It makes all the sense in the world why their forecasting accuracy is 94.9 percent. Since 1948, ITR Economics has provided business leaders with economic information, insight, analysis, and strategy. ITR Economics is the oldest privately held, continuously operating economic research and consulting firm in the United States.   ButcherJoseph // Jeff Buettner    In the second segment, I have Jeff Buettner on from ButcherJoseph, an M&A advisory firm, to discuss what is going on in the deal space. Jeff and his firm are in the weeds every day doing deals, whether that is selling a company to a third party, converting a business to an ESOP, raising debt, or helping facilitate an internal buyout. With this experience, Jeff gives us his update on how the current environment–and all the challenges with it–are impacting valuations, deal structures, deal volume, and perspective of different buyers. I loved my conversation with Jeff. He had practical and actionable insights that give us a view into the privately held deal market that is hard to come by.    The National Center for the Middle Market // Doug Farren    In our last segment, Doug Farren, director of The Center for the Middle Markets, comes on the show to share the results of their semi-annual Middle Market Indicator (MMI) where they surveyed 1,000 middle-market companies. I loved this addition because we got to hear how 1,000 people who are running companies feel about the future.    Doug reviews the results of the MMI–specifically five main categories they question the participants on. He also talks about why the middle market is still doing really well as we approach a recession and what the middle market thinks about the next 12 months in key areas like labor, investment, and geopolitics. Doug explains why middle market companies can continue to thrive–and even typically outperform–even in the midst of a recession.   // WATCH THE INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: Intentional Growth™ Podcast   What You Will Learn   ITR Economics: What’s going on in the labor market, interest rates, and inflation. How ITR Economics’ forecasting compares to the Federal Reserve's forecast ;-)   Which industries will have no problem getting through the next two years.  Brian’s thoughts on the approaching 2023/2024 recession everyone is talking about. How the generational birth rate over time is affecting economies worldwide. Brian’s thoughts on the baby boomer transition with the upcoming economic trends.   ButcherJoseph: How inflation and interest rates are impacting the M&A market How deal structures and business valuations are being impacted by our environment The current state of activity in the M&A space How strategic buyers and private equity are approaching the new landscape Why buyers are more likely to use an earnout. What industries buyers are looking to invest in How supply chain issues are affecting the M&A market. How the labor shortages are affecting the M&A market.   The Center for the Middle Market The current state of the Middle Market Indicator (MMI) after surveying 1000 owners. The current state of the middle market in the five key areas. Manufacturing trends in the United States and how they impact inflation. What problems middle market companies should prepare for with the generational wealth transfer.   // USE YOUR FINANCIALS TO CLARIFY A PATH TOWARDS A MORE VALUABLE BUSINESS: Intentional Growth Financial Assessment   Interview Quotes: 13:35 - “50% of the time when the federal reserve talks, their lying. The other 50%, they don’t know if their lying or not.” - Brian Beaulieu 19:44  - “Every industrialized nation on this planet is confronted with this negative [population] demographic except for the United States because we’ve got these Millenials, which have essentially set this country up to be the innovative leader–the economic leader–for the next fifty years or more.” - Brian Beaulieu 23:08  - “The system is working. People are living better.” - Brian Beaulieu 23:56 - “If you get somebody afraid, they’ll give up some power of their own, and they’ll give some of that to you because they want you to fix it or to protect them. And that’s primarily a politician’s job.” - Brian Beaulieu 36:45 - “Stop reading headlines.” - Brian Beaulieu 42:54  - “Yeah, money’s no longer free. It was free for a long, long time but now it actually costs something.” - Jeff Buettner 44:48  - “We’re seeing less activity out of the private equity buyers.” - Jeff Buettner 53:32  - “The last 10 - 15 years there has been a proliferation of this non-banking market.” - Jeff Buettner 01:01:16 - “We’re seeing an increase in usage of earnouts in these deals and that’s one creative way of bridging value gaps.” -  Jeff Buettner 01:15:32 - “People are always bragging about what multiples of earning they sold their company for and that gross number and that’s great but… How much did you keep?” -  Jeff Buettner 01:22:00 - “Middle market continues to chug along and month over month growth.”  - Doug Farren 01:32:15 - “52% of companies said, in the last year, they’ve started bringing manufacturing back to the US internally. And another 42% said they’re bringing it back to domestic suppliers or contractors.” - Doug Farren   Links and Resources: ITR economics Sign up for the 2030 depression webinar with Brian and Alan Beaulieu Butcher Joseph & Co. National Center for the Middle Market   Intentional Growth™ Vision Board Intentional Growth™ Online Training   Reach out to me if you have questions about the Intentional Growth™ Training or Fractional CFO services  

Ep.#2 [THEME EIGHT]   The question “what is my purpose?” is searched over 5,000 times on Google globally each month.   It seems like every media source has done a piece on “how important it is to find your purpose” in the past couple of years. I don’t think anyone argues how important it is, however, the bigger issue is HOW to find your purpose, and more importantly, how to do it in a way that makes sense without feeling guilty or anxious that you are not there yet.   I find it super interesting how “having a purpose now” is almost becoming a fad similar to “being authentic.” However, I find the act of “trying to be authentic” an oxymoron. How do you try to be authentic? I think it’s similar to finding your purpose. It doesn’t just land in your lap, and the more you try, sometimes the further away you get.   But that still leaves us all with the big question, “how do we find our purpose?”   On today’s show I have entrepreneur and author Kevin W. McCarthy (not the speaker of the house ;-) who is the founder of consulting company On-Purpose and the author of The On-Purpose Person, The On-Purpose Business Person, Chief Executive Leadership Officer, and his new book Tough Shift. Kevin has been on the journey of helping entrepreneurs, owners, and leaders find their purpose since the late 1980s. I think he was a bit ahead of his time!    If you find your purpose–your true purpose–you will feel a sense of alignment with the world, yourself, and the immediate environment around you. It feels like the things you are working on matter, you are progressing toward something bigger than yourself, and your skills are being used in a way that bring value to the world while you get rewarded for it.    In this episode Kevin shares what the definition of purpose really is and his thoughts on the importance of the process of finding your purpose vs. getting to it as fast as possible and the iterating over time. Because of how long Kevin has been at this, he has very practical ways to think about what it means to “find your purpose” and “live your purpose.”   This is a very practical and actionable conversation that should hopefully leave you encouraged that it is possible for everyone to find their purpose, but more importantly, why it shouldn't be overengineered and how to approach the journey in a way that gives you grace and not anxiety that you are “missing something important in life” but have no playbook on how to fill the gap.   This conversation is an attempt to bring this topic–that most people agree is super important–down to earth so you can start making progress toward the purpose you have and how you can integrate it into your life and business.   // WATCH THE INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: Intentional Growth™ Podcast   What You Will Learn Why a purposeless leader impacts every part of a company and the future success of the business. Why you should have a mission statement for your life–and what happens when that falls short. A practical and actionable definition of what the word “purpose” means to entrepreneurs. How to find your purpose using the “on-purpose principle” and the two-word purpose tool. Why aligning your purpose with your goals has a ripple effect with your employees (and makes leadership way easier). What corporate America is missing the mark on when it comes to mission statements. The clarity behind a tough shift once you are aligned with your vision. If you know what you want and why you will be happy no matter what job or situation you are in. The humility behind realizing everyone is replaceable when it comes to figuring out your purpose.   // USE YOUR FINANCIALS TO CLARIFY A PATH TOWARDS A MORE VALUABLE BUSINESS: Intentional Growth Financial Assessment   Bio: Kevin W. McCarthy is the author of The On-Purpose Person and The On-Purpose Business Person (previous edition titled The On-Purpose Business). He is one of the world's leading authorities on the meaningful integration of life and work. Kevin has pioneered the message, concepts, and language of being on-purpose since the late 1980s. As the chief leadership officer of On-Purpose Partners, he's a highly respected business advisor for small and middle market organizations as well as an executive advisor and coach to CEOs, executive directors, and company presidents. His work on deep strategy, alignment, and practical execution has turned around many companies as well as helped healthy companies experience remarkable and sustainable growth. More than just an author, Kevin is a natural leader in business and civic endeavors. He is a professional member of the National Speakers Association. Kevin's goal with audiences is to stir their hearts, advance their thinking, and inspire them to action. Authentic, inspiring, entrepreneurial, intelligent and creative are the qualities most often attributed to this thought leader by his peers, clients, and audiences. Kevin has traveled from Hungary to Hawaii since 1992 inspiring audiences as he carries the message of being on-purpose into the hearts, minds, and lives of people.   Interview Quotes: 09:42 - “It’s amazing how financially illiterate a number of business owners are, and they’re very financially successful.” - Kevin McCarthy  09:54 - “When your emotional stability is tied to–seemingly–a random activity, it’s a dangerous place to be.” - Kevin McCarthy 15:28 - “How do I get a better understanding of my own life and who I am?” - Kevin McCarthy  20:00 - “I think that’s what’s holding boomers back from selling their business - because they don’t know what’s next.” - Kevin McCarthy 28:12 - “That's because we hired a body, not a soul.” - Kevin McCarthy 37:04  - “Between ‘purpose and performance’ or ‘purpose and profits,’ the only thing in between is people.” - Kevin McCarthy 48:32 - “All the sh*t becomes nothing more than a tough shift.” - Kevin McCarthy 50:42 - “We support them that way because I want people to know their purpose, vision, mission, and values.” - Kevin McCarthy 54:04  - “Your purpose has a different expression, that’s all it is.” - Kevin McCarthy 57:09  - “Nobody will be able to do it as good as I do it. And no one will be able to do it on purpose as well. That’s okay, they’ll be able to do it better because they’ll be able to build on what I’ve done.” - Kevin McCarthy   Links and Resources: Onpurpose.com Onpurpose.me Intentional Growth™ Vision Board Intentional Growth™ Online Training   Reach out to me if you have questions about the Intentional Growth™ Training or Fractional CFO services

Ep.#1 [THEME EIGHT]   “Money can’t buy a calm mind, a fit body, a house full of love” - The Naval Podcast.    In the episode where I heard this quote, Naval points out how Bezos, one of the wealthiest people on the planet, can’t use any of his money to buy these things. Does this resonate with you? It hit me like a ton of bricks. It made me think of all the people who have been on this podcast after selling their companies, have a huge portfolio of assets, and are still not happy because they have endless amounts of time and no purpose.    Are you confident you are spending your time, energy, and capital each day in areas that will get you closer to where you want to be? In order to confidently answer yes, you need to peel back the onion and first figure out where you are today and then clarify your ideal vision for the future.   I have found this to be a tough question for people to answer when I ask them “why” five times. Typically, when asking a business owner or entrepreneur what their goal is, I get an answer like revenue, net income, units, subscribers, employee count, or some other metric that–to me–is more of a vanity metric than an indicator of what that person truly values in life.    On today’s show, I interviewed Spencer Hilligoss, the CEO of Madison Investing, a real estate investment club that has completed $2.3 billion in acquisitions with over 20,000 units. Spencer founded Madison Investing after sitting down with his wife–and now business partner –after hitting a breaking point while grinding away in their W2 jobs. They sat down and created a 15-year vision that included the annual income they needed to decouple their income from their labor, how they wanted to spend their time each day, and how they were going to achieve it. Spencer and Jennifer accomplished their 15-year plan within half the time and are now rethinking again what they want their life experiences and purpose to be.   I really enjoyed the conversation with Spencer because of how clearly he describes the evolution to his approach and views on life, business, money, and time. He explains why he protects what he values and how he wants to spend the time he has each week, and why, regardless of the level of “success” he achieves.    Do you want to be confident you are spending your time, money, and energy on the right things?     The best way to answer this question is to think about what you want beyond just the vanity metrics. Regardless of how much money you make–or how big your company is–you will still be stuck with yourself, your mind, your body, and the people around you.    On today’s show you will learn how to start thinking about your future goals in a new way.   // WATCH THE INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: Intentional Growth™ Podcast   What You Will Learn Why identifying the amount of annual income you need that is not tied to your labor–and how you will achieve it–is a crucial step to allow you to dream about what you want to do with your time. How to create a business that serves you and what you want out of life. Why you can’t have a half-hearted “why.” The importance of setting goals following a very specific time horizon. The difference between creating a job and an asset is building an organization that reflects your multidimensional long-term vision.  How Spencer created his financial road map based on a simple vision board example. Why Spencer doesn’t make money and then move on to the next thing–all based on his vision. How daily time management habits can help you achieve your goals. How Spencer keeps grounded, protects what he values, and designs his days and weeks based on how he wants to spend his time. // USE YOUR FINANCIALS TO CLARIFY A PATH TOWARDS A MORE VALUABLE BUSINESS: Intentional Growth Financial Assessment   Bio: Spencer Hilligoss is a passive real estate investor, co-sponsor, and former technology leader. His company, Madison Investing, has co-sponsored deals totaling more than 5,000 units for more than $600 million. Spencer invests in syndications as an LP and actively leads Madison Investing alongside his co-founder/wife, Jennifer Morimoto. As a technology leader, Spencer built a 13-year track record of growing high-performing teams across five companies, three of them "unicorns," valued at more than $1 billion. In November 2019, Spencer “retired” from his lucrative technology career, leaving behind the $4 billion loan origination teams he built at LendingHome, funding 600 fix/flip transactions per month. Now he is focused on spending time with loved ones and growing Madison Investing by helping passive investors achieve their goals. Spencer graduated from the University of Colorado and lived in Denver for many years before relocating back to his home state of California. Spencer now lives on the beautiful island of Alameda, California with his wife Jennifer and their two sons.   Interview Quotes: 11:36  - “At the time (the draw) was honestly trying to find meaning in the work while also connecting, and helping, and growing people.” - Spencer Hilligoss 16:58  - “I love companies that encourage the office side hustle. The encourage the innovation entrepreneurship, as long as people take care of their core responsibilities.” - Spencer Hilligoss 20:24  - “The journey is absolutely worth taking but if the ‘why’ is too soft, or not formed enough, or not authentic enough to one’s self, it’s not going to sustain someone all the way.” - Spencer Hilligoss 25:34  - “You can’t assume you’re always going to be capable of delivering an active income to a household, that you’re going to be a provider.” - Spencer Hilligoss 26:18 - “Let’s play financial offense.” - Spencer Hilligoss 30:11 - “Are you creating an asset? Are you building something you can exit? Or are you building a job? It’s fine if you are, just know it.” - Spencer Hilligoss 31:26  - “Whereever you go, there you are.” - Spencer Hilligoss 31:43  - “Assume all your financial needs are met. What reason do you have to step out the door every day and do stuff?” - Spencer Hilligoss 32:54  - “I want to be able to provide something of value to the world.” - Spencer Hilligoss 35:33  - “Money is a tool, and it’s simple. And I wouldn’t overthink it beyond that.” - Spencer Hilligoss 40:05  - “Take care of one’s self. You can’t serve others if you can’t take care of yourself.” - Spencer Hilligoss 41:21 - “You have to bottom out a few times.” - Spencer Hilligoss 41:52  - “Experience is the best teacher and it’s not a forgiving one sometimes.” - Spencer Hilligoss 51:41 - “Family first, business second.” - Spencer Hilligoss 52:28  - “[Don’t scale], purely to scale. Because everyone gets bitten by the vanity metric.” - Spencer Hilligoss   Links and Resources: Madisoninvesting.com Spencer Hilligoss on Linkedin Intentional Growth™ Vision Board Intentional Growth™ Online Training   Reach out to me if you have questions about the Intentional Growth™ Training or Fractional CFO services  

Do you ever get frustrated because you feel like the vision you have for the future is perfectly clear - almost obvious -  and all you have to do is connect the dots, wait, and get other people on board?    Wouldn’t it be nice if it was that easy?   I have always been passionate about this topic of a “Visionary” and what it truly means. Does it really mean something special, or is it just a term used to self diagnose a passionate entrepreneur who doesn't know how to explain why they see the world the way they do while conveniently explaining away our weaknesses?   I tend to find that I (and many visionaries I know) have the gift of foresight, but it comes with pitfalls if not managed correctly - going too fast, leaving projects unfinished, getting distracted, hiring or partnering with the wrong people, or whatever else you can think of!   The worst punishment of all? Not reaching your vision.   This is why I really enjoyed today’s interview with Justin Breen. Justin is an entrepreneur and best selling author of “Epic Business” and “Epic Life.” Justin spent 20 years in the media business before starting BrEpic Communications, a premium PR firm specifically for Visionary entrepreneurs.   I wanted to have Justin on the show because of his unique ability to completely understand Visionaries (strengths and weaknesses alike) and how to leverage the world changing ideas Visionaries come up with by putting them into action.    Whether you are a Visionary - or work with one - this episode is worth the listen. Hopefully, you learn a few insights about yourself or the people you work with!   // WATCH THE INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: Intentional Growth™ Podcast   What You Will Learn Justin's definition of entrepreneurs vs. business owners vs. humans. The four common characteristics successful entrepreneurs share. What the KOLBE assessment is and how it is used to identify Visionaries, Integrators, and more. Why the KOLBE assessment is different than other assessments like Myers-Briggs or the DiSC assessment. Why most Visionaries are “quick starts”. What the best complimentary profile is for a Visionary and why. How to figure out which type of visionary you are so you can hire the right people to keep you focused. The types of people Visionaries need to avoid. The correlation between an entrepreneur's high IQ and happiness.  // USE YOUR FINANCIALS TO CLARIFY A PATH TOWARDS A MORE VALUABLE BUSINESS: Intentional Growth Financial Assessment   Bio: BrEpic Communications LLC is guided by Justin Breen, who has 20+ years in the media business, has won dozens of editing and writing awards, and is an author of countless viral stories. BrEpic will write clicky stories that highlight you or your business, and find the right pitch for multiple media outlets. Let BrEpic build your brand with creative content and successful pitches to mainstream media today.   Interview Quotes: 08:57 - “People like us are aliens within our own families and communities.” - Justin Breen 16:26  - “So Kolbe, as background, is not the cheese. It’s K-O-L-B-E. It’s not your personality, it’s how your brain takes action.” - Justin Breen 17:38 - “A true visionary is a 8,9, or 10 quick start.” - Justin Breen 21:46  - “So folks start out as entrepreneurs–true creators–and then they get trapped into being business owners cause that’s what society says is important. They’re not business owners. They just want to create.” - Justin Breen 22:47 - “Avoid boring people.” - Justin Breen 23:35  - “Time vampires, those are the worst. People that just suck time out of you.” - Justin Breen 34:30 - “The most damaged people have the best coping skills.” - Justin Breen 39:13  - “Just realizing that I’d never been more miserable in my life after I was making more money than I thought possible. That was a really good rock bottom.” - Justin Breen 39:37  - “You have to go down first to get up.” - Justin Breen 52:40 - “So the greatest joy and the greatest value of entrepreneurship is it allows me to fulfill the fundamental purpose in life while also seeking a higher purpose.” - Justin Breen 54:28- “His coaches used to tell him, ‘If you have a problem, look in the mirror, not through the window.’” - Justin Breen   Links and Resources: Epic Life Book Epic Business Book Connect with Justin on Linkedin! Intentional Growth™ Vision Board Intentional Growth™ Online Training   Reach out to me if you have questions about the Intentional Growth™ Training or Fractional CFO services  

Jon Thielen, an A-player, discusses his journey of being hired, scaling, and selling a software company for 11x EBITDA. He emphasizes the importance of core values in attracting A-players, recruiting and building teams, and tying marketing KPIs to sales KPIs. Jon also shares the story of how he executed the plan to sell the company for 11x EBITDA. Learn how A-players think and approach businesses from Jon's experience.

Mike Frommelt, executive recruiter, discusses how executive recruiting firms find key executives, the challenges and anxieties entrepreneurs face when hiring, the importance of intrinsic motivation, demystifying the recruiting process, observing behaviors during interviews, contingency search vs. retained search, defining intentionality and success in entrepreneurship, and hiring and onboarding key executives for business growth.

Craig Rutledge, Managing Director of VisionLink, explains the different types of executive compensation plans, including traditional wages, cash bonuses, and long-term value growth plans. He discusses the importance of designing the plan correctly to align ownership and executive goals. If designed right, the plan should not only pay for itself but also magnify value growth strategies by tying it to the business model, target customers, good profit, and company culture. The chapter also highlights the benefits of creating an ownership mindset and including value sharing in executive compensation plans.

Ep.#1 [THEME SEVEN]   Do you feel burned out in your leadership role (job) because you’re working too much or because you can’t find anyone who can do what you can do? If you’re thinking what I’ve heard dozens of times, it’s something similar to: “I’ll never find someone who can replace me.”    In today’s episode, I interviewed Dr. Sabrina Starling, and our goal is to give you hope that it is possible. We break down why it is possible to find A-players, what entrepreneurs are doing who have “figured it out,” and how an owner can afford A-players if cash is tight.    Dr. Sabrina, The Business Psychologist and author of the How To Hire The Best series and The 4 Week Vacation®, is the founder of Tap the Potential. Dr. Sabrina became a coach because she realized that most of the entrepreneurs she was working with did not have the high quality of life they set out to have due to the lack of talent next to them at the top.    She made it her mission to help business owners find, assess, and choose the right A-players because it was core to her purpose of helping entrepreneurs design their best life and “make it all worth it.”   The takeaway—build a repeatable process for finding, assessing, and keeping  A-players in order to get your life back and build a more valuable business…at the same time!   Today you will learn the secret to attracting A-players (and why it’s not Indeed), how to build a company culture where A-players want to work, and how to build a high quality of life through A-players and leveraging your financial roadmap.   // WATCH THE INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: Intentional Growth™ Podcast   What You Will Learn The difference between A players and quiet quitters. How to bring out an A players intrinsic motivation that will help you reach your small business goals How to find A players (only 10% of the population are classified as A players Why your network is the best channel to find A players The secret ninja tactic you can use with you A players to create a vision more A players will buy into Why allowing your employees to have headspace will increase productivity How to afford A players using the 80/20 rule with your clients Why it’s important to hire with the lower level people so you can learn how to hire the right people Why Dr. Sabrina believes in giving out salary ranges with a job ad How to manage A players   // USE YOUR FINANCIALS TO CLARIFY A PATH TOWARDS A MORE VALUABLE BUSINESS: Intentional Growth Financial Assessment   Bio: Sabrina Starling, PhD, PCC, BCC, The Business Psychologist, is the bestselling author of The How to Hire the Best Series and The 4 Week Vacation™, as well as the founder of Tap the Potential LLC and host of the Profit by Design podcast. She and her team at www.tapthepotential.com are on a mission to support entrepreneurs in taking their lives back from their businesses. We are changing the story of entrepreneurship from one of long hours, grinding it out, to one of sustainably profitable businesses that support and enhance life. We believe work supports life, not the other way around. Clients in Tap the Potential’s Better Business, Better Life coaching program have more time for what matters most and more money in their bank account than they’ve ever had. Dr. Sabrina’s How to Hire the Best series grew from her desire to solve the toughest hiring challenges interfering with her clients’ growth and profitability. What sprang from her experience working with entrepreneurs in rural areas catapulted her into becoming the world’s leading expert in attracting top talent in small businesses—no matter what hiring challenges those businesses are facing—and earned Tap the Potential’s reputation as the go-to resource for entrepreneurs committed to creating Great Places to Work with thriving coaching cultures and highly engaged team members working from strengths.   Interview Quotes: 12:49 - “Whenever theres patterns and themes, there’s a system.” - Dr. Sabrina Starling 13:52 - “What I really wanted to do is help business owners take their lives back from their businesses.” - Dr. Sabrina Starling 14:33 - “Because, if you don’t know how to hire great team members, you’re always going to be at a place where you can’t  trust your team, you’re overworked, and you’re underpaid.” - Dr. Sabrina Starling 16:16 - “An A player is a highly motivated go-getter.” - Dr. Sabrina Starling 18:24 - “An A player will be 900% - 1200% more productive than a warm body team member.” - Dr. Sabrina Starling 18:42 - “You need to hire [A players] into a role where there is a clearly defined result that is measurable. And that result needs to align with their strengths.” - Dr. Sabrina Starling 20:25 - “Only about 10% of the population are A players” - Dr. Sabrina Starling 27:09 - “[A players] typically hang out with each other” - Dr. Sabrina Starling 30:43  - “Ask your A players to describe a great place to work.” - Dr. Sabrina Starling 42:16 - “Anything that’s a win or a success, you want to repeat it. You potentially want to do more of what’s working.” - Dr. Sabrina Starling 44:00 - “Another key system a system for ensuring that every member of your team exhibits high enthusiasm for their role.” - Dr. Sabrina Starling 58:51 - “When you bring on an A player, you’re going to need to buckle your seatbelt because they’re going to go fast.” - Dr. Sabrina Starling   Links and Resources: Tap the Potential (website) The 4 Week Vacation (Book) Better Business, Better Life Assessment How to make your time worth 10,000/ hr (assessment) How to hire the best (Book) Arkona Website The 5 Intentional Growth™ Principles (5 Videos to Help Clarify Your Vision) Intentional Growth™ Financial Assessment Fractional CFO Services   You can also reach out to me via email at rtansom@arkona.io, or on my LinkedIn.

Ep.#6 [THEME SIX]   In order to turn your business into a machine that has sustainable, predictable, and transferable cash flow, you have to get your business out of your brain. I know–easier said than done.    Most business owners don’t want to do the same thing twice, let alone sit down for long periods of time documenting their SOPs or writing out step-by-step how-to’s. That’s the problem today’s guest set out to fix.    For the last episode of our equity growth miniseries, I speak with Chris Rozio, the founder and CEO of Trainual. Trainual is The Business Playbook–it helps you organize your chaos by systematizing onboarding, training, and knowledge transfer in a way that people will actually like and continue to use.    Chris created Trainual to allow business owners to quickly take time out of their day to create, update, or share the playbook that runs their company. The best part–Chris and his team built a training system that wants you to spend less time…training.    Chris started Trainual after successfully scaling and exiting his video production company. The idea behind Trainual started because Chris attributed a lot of the success behind his exit to the playbook he had for his business, which most people would argue couldn’t be scaled or sold–a video production company. His playbook allowed any new hire to come in and quickly carry out a successful client assignment, and he was able to show any potential buyer exactly how his company worked.    The goal of a business playbook is to help you build a company that gives you the flexibility to reduce your hours, replace your leadership role, or exit the business when and how you please.   // WATCH THE INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: Intentional Growth™ Podcast   What You Will Learn What helps business owners turn the repeatable day-to-day tasks of their business into a how-to playbook.  How Trainual can help business owners transform their business into a financial asset. How creating processes and procedures will help you exit your role OR ownership. The four sections a company is divided into when it comes to making a playbook. The first steps to creating your business’s playbook. Why you don’t need to know everything about your business when you start with processes–and how you can create the cadence of documenting everything. How to balance taking the time to design the systems versus executing them. How Chris creates his goals and puts them into action. Real-life stories of business owners that sold their businesses for more because they had a playbook.   // USE YOUR FINANCIALS TO CLARIFY A PATH TOWARDS A MORE VALUABLE BUSINESS: Intentional Growth Financial Assessment   Bio: Chris Ronzio is the founder and CEO of Trainual, a leading SaaS platform that transforms the way small businesses onboard, train and scale their teams. Chris is the host of the “Organize Chaos” podcast and the author of the best-selling book “The Business Playbook: How to Document and Delegate What You Do So Your Company Can Grow Beyond You”   Interview Quotes: 13:26  - “I love creating systems and I hate following systems.” - Chris Ronzio 13:57 - “You design the system and then you bring in other people to follow the system.” - Chris Ronzio 14:21 - “Get your business out of your brain.” - Chris Ronzio 18:46  - “Even if you don’t have processes documented for any of the explicit how-to’s, if you at least know who to go to, for what, you’re halfway there.” - Chris Ronzio 21:24 - “Don’t write the way, until there is a right way.” - Chris Ronzio 26:24  - “These are things that we’re doing reactively now, that we used to do proactively when we used to start a company.” - Chris Ronzio 26:41 - “How do we predict cash flow.” - Chris Ronzio 31:07 - “Understand what the business needs from you.” - Chris Ronzio 32:27  - “I think it really comes down to roles and responsibilities.” - Chris Ronzio 33:00  - “I always do goalsetting on an annual and quarterly basis (and I’m talking about personal goals here).” - Chris Ronzio 36:16 - “Trainual isn’t for your to-do’s it’s for your how to’s.” - Chris Ronzio 41:40 - “Anyone who wants to sell a business or wants the optionality to sell a business needs to be investing this stuff, because if you’re not doing it now, you’re going to have to do it later when you stumble through it.” - Chris Ronzio   Links and Resources: Trainual ChrisRonzio.com Linkedin Instagram Arkona Website The 5 Intentional Growth™ Principles (5 Videos to Help Clarify Your Vision) Intentional Growth™ Financial Assessment Fractional CFO Services   You can also reach out to me via email at rtansom@arkona.io, or on my LinkedIn.