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PODCAST

Independence by Design™

Independence by Design™ is a framework to help owner-operators get out of the weeds and lead from the boardroom. I built it because I lived this trap. In 2009, I joined my dad in our $21M family business. We turned it around and sold it for eight figures in 2014 — enough to pay off debt, cover taxes, let my dad retire, and leave me with a chunk of cash at 27. But the sale gutted our team, systems, and identity. It looked like a win, but it didn’t feel like freedom. I bawled in the driveway. After

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

01:00:28

#446: Joe Brown | What Every Owner Should Know About...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/06/19

Most owners rely on gut instinct, advisors, or market trends to make decisions, but few stop to ask: What’s actually happening underneath the economy? Watch on YouTube In this episode, I’m joined by Joe Brown—creator of Heresy Financial—for a macroeconomic breakdown that actually makes sense for business owners. We unpack inflation, interest rates, debt cycles, and monetary distortion in plain English, then connect those insights directly to the decisions

en

01:10:36

#445: Mark Cleveland: You Don’t Have to Sell or...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/06/12

We’ve all heard it: “Pick one thing. Focus. Go all in.” But what if that advice doesn’t apply once you’ve built real optionality? Watch on YouTube In this episode, I’m joined by Mark Cleveland—an experienced entrepreneur, investor, and self-described parallel entrepreneur—to rethink how owners can design the next chapter of life. Instead of scaling endlessly or exiting just to feel free, Mark shows how business can be a platform to fund the life you

en

01:10:36

#445: Mark Cleveland: You Don’t Have to Sell or...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/06/12

We’ve all heard it: “Pick one thing. Focus. Go all in.” But what if that advice doesn’t apply once you’ve built real optionality? Watch on YouTube In this episode, I’m joined by Mark Cleveland—an experienced entrepreneur, investor, and self-described parallel entrepreneur—to rethink how owners can design the next chapter of life. Instead of scaling endlessly or exiting just to feel free, Mark shows how business can be a platform to fund the life you

en

01:36:06

#444: Understanding Main Street Valuations (Through...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/06/05

If you're running a mid-sized company and considering acquisitions—or you just want to understand how smaller companies get valued—this episode is for you. Watch on YouTube I sat down with Clint Fiore, a business broker who’s helped hundreds of Main Street businesses try to sell. And here’s the truth: most of them don’t get what they want. Not because their business is bad—but because it’s not built to be bought. We break down what actually happens when

en

01:36:06

#444: Understanding Main Street Valuations (Through...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/06/05

If you're running a mid-sized company and considering acquisitions—or you just want to understand how smaller companies get valued—this episode is for you. Watch on YouTube I sat down with Clint Fiore, a business broker who’s helped hundreds of Main Street businesses try to sell. And here’s the truth: most of them don’t get what they want. Not because their business is bad—but because it’s not built to be bought. We break down what actually happens when

en

01:46:35

#443: Graham & Kyle | How to Value Your Business...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/05/29

You’ve probably heard that business valuation is more art than science. But what if the art is just smoke and mirrors—and the science has been hiding in plain sight all along? Watch on YouTube In this episode, I’m joined by Graham Stephen and Kyle McCulloch, the team behind Bizval, a company that’s quietly building a tool that may completely disrupt how business owners understand valuation. What makes it so revolutionary? Instead of retrofitting a formula

en

01:46:35

#443: Graham & Kyle | How to Value Your Business...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/05/29

You’ve probably heard that business valuation is more art than science. But what if the art is just smoke and mirrors—and the science has been hiding in plain sight all along? Watch on YouTube In this episode, I’m joined by Graham Stephen and Kyle McCulloch, the team behind Bizval, a company that’s quietly building a tool that may completely disrupt how business owners understand valuation. What makes it so revolutionary? Instead of retrofitting a formula

en

01:08:27

#442: Alex McClafferty: What Happens When You Can't...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/05/22

What happens when the business you built no longer protects you from the parts of yourself you've been avoiding? Alex McClafferty co-founded and sold WP Curve to GoDaddy—but it wasn’t until after the exit that he found himself face-to-face with an identity crisis, emotional collapse, and a brutal confrontation with his shadow self. In this raw and wide-ranging conversation, we talk about what it means to lose your sense of self after a big win, why so

en

01:08:27

#442: Alex McClafferty: What Happens When You Can't...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/05/22

What happens when the business you built no longer protects you from the parts of yourself you've been avoiding? Alex McClafferty co-founded and sold WP Curve to GoDaddy—but it wasn’t until after the exit that he found himself face-to-face with an identity crisis, emotional collapse, and a brutal confrontation with his shadow self. Watch on YouTube In this raw and wide-ranging conversation, we talk about what it means to lose your sense of self after a

en

01:10:08

#441: What Happens After You Sell the Business? with...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/05/15

What really happens when an entrepreneur sells their business? For John Rood, it was the start of a deeply personal reckoning with identity, purpose, risk, and time. In this episode, we go beyond the typical exit story and talk about what it actually feels like to step away from the company you built—and what comes next when you’re no longer busy, no longer needed, and no longer sure what’s next.Watch on YouTube John is the author of Beyond the Exit, a

en

01:10:08

#441: What Happens After You Sell the Business? with...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/05/15

What really happens when an entrepreneur sells their business? For John Rood, it was the start of a deeply personal reckoning with identity, purpose, risk, and time. In this episode, we go beyond the typical exit story and talk about what it actually feels like to step away from the company you built—and what comes next when you’re no longer busy, no longer needed, and no longer sure what’s next.Watch on YouTube John is the author of Beyond the Exit, a

en

01:45:16

#440: Cash, Risk, and the Real Reason Most Deals Fall...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/05/08

This episode is fire. Elliott Holland is a straight shooter who has seen hundreds of deals from every angle—searcher, investor, operator, and QofE provider. In this conversation, we cut through the noise to talk about what’s really going on in the acquisition market, why most self-funded searchers fail, and how owners can actually position their business (and themselves) for the next chapter. We dig into why most companies don’t cash flow the way owners

en

01:45:16

#440: Cash, Risk, and the Real Reason Most Deals Fall...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/05/08

This episode is fire. Elliott Holland is a straight shooter who has seen hundreds of deals from every angle—searcher, investor, operator, and QofE provider. In this conversation, we cut through the noise to talk about what’s really going on in the acquisition market, why most self-funded searchers fail, and how owners can actually position their business (and themselves) for the next chapter. Watch on YouTube We dig into why most companies don’t cash

en

01:25:39

#439: How to Build a Marketing Engine That Ties to...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/05/01

Most business owners are exhausted by marketing that feels like a black box—random tactics, disconnected agencies, and no clear ROI. Kim Clark knows that pain—and she’s built the solution. As the former head of sales and marketing at ITR Economics, Kim helped transform the business from a founder-led consulting firm into a scalable company that exited at eight figures—without relying on Brian or Alan Beaulieu to drive growth. She didn’t just market a

en

01:25:39

#439: How to Build a Marketing Engine That Ties to...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/05/01

Most business owners are exhausted by marketing that feels like a black box—random tactics, disconnected agencies, and no clear ROI. Kim Clark knows that pain—and she’s built the solution. As the former head of sales and marketing at ITR Economics, Kim helped transform the business from a founder-led consulting firm into a scalable company that exited at eight figures—without relying on Brian or Alan Beaulieu to drive growth. She didn’t just market a

en

01:26:13

#438: What a Great CFO Actually Does (And Why Most...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/04/24

This episode sets the bar. Pat Hobby, my former business partner, is one of the best CFOs I’ve ever worked with. He’s not just a CPA or an operator—he brings an investor mindset and decades of experience managing financials with the purpose of building long-term value. In this conversation, we break down exactly what a business owner should expect from a high-performing CFO—and why most don’t even know what that standard looks like. We cover the

en

01:26:13

#438: What a Great CFO Actually Does (And Why Most...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/04/24

This episode sets the bar. Pat Hobby, my former business partner, is one of the best CFOs I’ve ever worked with. He’s not just a CPA or an operator—he brings an investor mindset and decades of experience managing financials with the purpose of building long-term value. In this conversation, we break down exactly what a business owner should expect from a high-performing CFO—and why most don’t even know what that standard looks like. Watch on YouTube We

en

01:14:44

#437: He Did What Most Business Owners Only Dream...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/04/17

Many owner-operators begin their journey driven by the vision of personal and financial independence, only to find themselves entrenched in the daily operations, unable to step away without fear of chaos. In this episode, I talk with Rob Dube, co-founder of ImageOne and visionary behind The 10 Disciplines for Managing and Maximizing Your Energy™, about how to break free from the owner-operator trap and achieve genuine ownership freedom. Watch on

en

01:14:44

#437: He Did What Most Business Owners Only Dream...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/04/17

Many owner-operators begin their journey driven by the vision of personal and financial independence, only to find themselves entrenched in the daily operations, unable to step away without fear of chaos. In this episode, I talk with Rob Dube, co-founder of ImageOne and visionary behind The 10 Disciplines for Managing and Maximizing Your Energy™, about how to break free from the owner-operator trap and achieve genuine ownership freedom. Watch on

en

01:12:46

#436: Integrating Strategy, Execution, and Financial...

Independence by Design™ ·

2025/04/10

Today I'm talking with Shannon Susko, a serial entrepreneur who developed the 3HAG (3-Year Highly Achievable Goal) and Metronomics frameworks. What sets Shannon's approach apart is how directly it connects your strategic plan and execution rhythms to clear, measurable financial outcomes. It's an operating system built specifically for business owners who understand their numbers but want greater clarity on how daily decisions impact long-term value. Watch

en

151 results

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