Dustin sits in the guest seat as Cassie Shea takes over as host to explore the transformation of Seven Figure Leap in 2025. Unlike previous years focused on aggressive growth, this year was about building sustainable foundations—right-sizing the team, investing in systems, and embracing patience as a leadership virtue. Dustin shares the honest story of a failed summit that created a five-month revenue gap, how 17 months of sobriety has brought emotional consistency to his business decisions, and the development of his "Leadership Triangle" framework encompassing self-leadership, team leadership, and thought leadership. The conversation reveals how stepping away from one-on-one sales calls, building a world-class community experience, and landing marquee podcast appearances with Pat Flynn and Nathan Barry (generating $160K from a single episode) set the stage for sustainable growth. Rather than chasing vanity metrics, Dustin doubled down on what matters: peace, sustainability, and building a business he'd be excited to run for the next decade. As he prepares for a 50% growth goal in 2026, this episode offers a masterclass in playing the long game while maintaining personal fulfillment and business integrity.

Chapters:

1. (00:00:00) - Opening and Introduction to Year-in-Review Format
2. (00:01:28) - Reflecting on 2025: Peace and Sustainability Over Growth
3. (00:05:00) - The Power of Patience: Personal Identity Shifts
4. (00:08:58) - The Leadership Triangle Framework: Self, Team, and Thought Leadership
5. (00:10:00) - Sobriety's Impact on Business Consistency and Decision-Making
6. (00:14:00) - The Failed Summit Experiment and Five-Month Revenue Gap
7. (00:18:00) - Learning from the Summit: Relationships vs. Mass Conversion
8. (00:22:00) - Building a Sales System Without Being the Bottleneck
9. (00:26:00) - Finding Fulfillment Beyond One-on-One Sales Calls
10. (00:33:00) - Team Expansion: Fractional Support and Alumni Leadership
11. (00:39:00) - Podcast Guesting Wins: Pat Flynn and the $160K Nathan Barry Episode
12. (00:46:00) - Looking Ahead to 2026: Sustainable 50% Growth and Writing a Book
13. (00:48:00) - Defining Leadership on Your Own Terms
14. (00:51:00) - Closing Reflections on Peace, Sustainability, and Generosity

Links and Resources

1. Taking My Own 7-Figure Leap: The Good, the Bad, and the Insightful from 2024 with Cassie Shea
2. Website
3. Cassie Shea on

Regina Sweeney, a concentration coach and mother of nine, shares her unique approach to helping high achievers overcome distraction and develop deep focus. Drawing from her background in Montessori education and therapeutic music training, Regina reveals how Maria Montessori identified concentration as a fundamental human need over 100 years ago—long before smartphones and social media. She explains the science behind brain training through acoustically modified music, the difference between focus and concentration, and why the average knowledge worker switches tasks every 40 seconds. Regina also shares her journey from founding a Catholic Montessori school in Virginia to pioneering concentration coaching in Wyoming, offering practical tools including specific music playlists designed to enhance relaxation, concentration, and motivation. Listeners will discover how successful entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin credit their Montessori education for their innovative thinking, and learn actionable strategies to reclaim lost productivity and achieve deeper connection in work and life.

Chapters:

1. (00:00:00) - Welcome to the Seven Figure Leap: Meet Regina Sweeney, Concentration Coach Extraordinaire
2. (00:01:00) - Regina Sweeney's Background: Mom of Nine and Concentration Coach
3. (00:03:00) - Discovering Maria Montessori and Starting a Catholic Montessori School
4. (00:06:00) - Moving to Wyoming and Living the Montessori Philosophy
5. (00:09:00) - The Four Planes of Development and Raising Children in Wyoming
6. (00:12:00) - Applying Montessori Principles to Music and Homeschooling
7. (00:14:00) - The Power of Concentration in Montessori Education
8. (00:17:00) - Famous Montessori Alumni: Jeff Bezos and Google Founders
9. (00:19:00) - Using Therapeutic Music to Help Her Daughter Learn to Read
10. (00:22:00) - The Cost of Distraction: 40-Second Task Switching and Lost Productivity
11. (00:25:00) - Client Success Story: From YouTube Distraction to Deep Work
12. (00:28:00) - Building Neural Pathways Through Music and Brain Training
13. (00:31:00) - Focus vs. Concentration: External Discipline vs. Internal Mastery
14. (00:34:00) - The Impact of Concentration on Connection and Community
15. (00:37:00) - How Regina's Coaching Program Works: Three Key Components
16. (00:41:00) - The Science of Entrainment: How Music Affects Your Brain
17. (00:44:00) - Using Music Frequencies for Relaxation, Concentration, and Motivation
18. (00:47:00) - Free Spotify Playlists and Practical Tools for Better Concentration

Links and Resources

Dustin reveals why every coach, consultant, and agency owner needs a signature framework—and exactly how to create one. Drawing from his recent intensive workshop on group coaching, Dustin breaks down how frameworks provide clarity, establish authority, and create consistent results for clients. He shares real examples including his own 5 P's framework that built a seven-figure business, Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps that became a $300M empire, and StoryBrand's proven methodology. You'll learn the difference between linear and typology frameworks, why your first and last steps matter most, and how to use AI to make your framework memorable. Whether you're moving from one-on-one to group coaching or just want to create intellectual property you can leverage across books, keynotes, and content, this episode gives you the complete blueprint.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Why Every Coach Needs a Signature Framework
• (00:01:00) - What Makes a Framework Powerful (Clarity, Authority, Consistent Results)
• (00:03:00) - Real Framework Examples: The 5 P's That Built a 7-Figure Business
• (00:04:27) - Dave Ramsey's $300M Baby Steps Framework Breakdown
• (00:07:00) - StoryBrand's 7-Step Framework for Compelling Stories
• (00:09:00) - The First and Last Steps: Why They Matter Most
• (00:12:00) - How to Build Your Own Signature Framework (Step-by-Step)
• (00:15:00) - Testing Your Framework with One-on-One Clients First
• (00:18:00) - Using AI to Name Your Framework (Clear vs. Clever)
• (00:19:40) - The SCALE Framework: Creating a Framework in Real-Time
• (00:22:00) - Turning Your Framework into Books, Keynotes, and Programs

Links and Resources

• Dustin on LinkedIn
• 7 Figure Leap

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In this eye-opening episode, Dustin sits down with Clifford Stephan, founder of Booze Vacation, to explore a topic most successful entrepreneurs avoid: how alcohol quietly erodes health and performance. Clifford shares his personal journey from Silicon Valley consultant to men's health advocate, revealing how a simple break from drinking transformed his sleep, energy, and business performance. This isn't about alcoholism or sobriety—it's about giving high-performing men the tools to objectively assess what alcohol is really costing them. From brain chemistry and testosterone levels to sleep quality and metabolic health, Clifford breaks down the science behind why taking a "booze vacation" can be the ultimate performance hack. Whether you're curious about optimizing your health or wondering why you're always operating at 60%, this conversation offers a roadmap to reclaim your energy, clarity, and edge as an entrepreneur.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Introduction: The Men's Health Movement Disguised as a Beer Commercial
• (00:01:48) - Clifford's Silicon Valley Story: From Corporate Success to Health Crisis
• (00:05:47) - The Breaking Point: When Success Doesn't Feel Successful
• (00:08:42) - Why "Drinking Less" Doesn't Work for High Performers
• (00:12:47) - Playing Life on Hard Mode: Operating at 60% vs 100%
• (00:18:23) - Dustin's 75 Hard Journey: Three Attempts and a Breakthrough
• (00:23:34) - The Booze Vacation Framework: 3-12 Months to Reset Your Life
• (00:28:15) - The Science: Brain Chemistry, Testosterone, and Sleep Quality
• (00:33:42) - How Booze Vacation Coaching Works: Education, Support, and Results
• (00:38:25) - Take the Free Men's Health Assessment and Start Your Journey

Links and Resources:

• Website: https://boozevacation.com/
• Clifford Stephan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliffordstephan/
• Dustin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinriechmann/
• 7 Figure Leap: https://7figureleap.com/

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Justin Welsh shares the hard-earned lessons from building a seven-figure solopreneur business after burning out as a startup executive. Instead of chasing endless growth, Justin reveals why simplicity scales and how he built a sustainable lifestyle business generating millions through digital products, community, and strategic content creation. Learn why he works just 2 hours a day, his hypothesis-driven approach to business experiments, and how AI amplifies (not replaces) creativity. Justin gets candid about rejecting the "growth at all costs" mindset, choosing enjoyment over expansion, and why your personal story will become your biggest competitive advantage in the age of AI.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) Why "Growth at All Costs" Is Killing Your Business
• (00:34) Meet the $5M Solopreneur Working 2 Hours a Day
• (01:16) The Counterintuitive Truth: Simplicity Actually Scales
• (01:59) From Burned-Out Executive to Seven-Figure Solo Founder
• (04:05) How to Build a Business Around Your Life (Not the Other Way Around)
• (07:48) The Content Flywheel That Generates Millions
• (11:21) Three Different Paths to Solopreneur Success (Pick One)
• (14:59) Why You Should Master ONE Medium (Not Be Everywhere)
• (16:14) Should You Write a Book? The Honest Answer
• (18:00) Inside The Unsubscribed: A $500K Community Experiment
• (21:26) The Real Reason Recurring Revenue Matters for Solopreneurs
• (23:20) My Contrarian Take on Podcast Guesting
• (24:12) Why I'm Done Chasing Growth (And You Should Be Too)
• (27:46) AI Won't Replace You—But It Will Expose Bad Content
• (32:59) Your Personal Story Is Your Only Competitive Moat
• (35:23) Final Thoughts: Choose Enjoyment Over Expansion

Links and Resources

• Website
• Justin Welsh on LinkedIn
• Dustin on LinkedIn
• 7 Figure Leap

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Learn how to create world-class workshops that your clients love and you love to deliver with Jake Wysocki, a former Fortune 200 design thinking expert turned workshop designer. Jake shares his powerful 10-50-99 framework for building and launching group coaching programs, retreats, and workshops without wasting time on content nobody wants. Discover why you should never build your entire program before selling it, how to use the "hopes and fears" exercise to unlock what your clients really need, and why getting people to DO something beats teaching them every time. Whether you're launching your first group program or refining an existing workshop, Jake's design thinking approach will help you create transformational experiences that scale your coaching business while maintaining that human connection your clients crave.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - From Fortune 200 to Freedom: Jake's Design Thinking Journey
• (00:03:42) - Why Jake Pivoted His Business Mid-Accelerator
• (00:06:15) - What Actually Counts as a Workshop?
• (00:09:28) - The Three Ingredients of Every World-Class Workshop
• (00:12:45) - Who Jake Works With and How He Helps Them Scale
• (00:16:03) - The 10-50-99 Framework: Stop Building Before You Sell
• (00:22:17) - Hopes and Fears: The Exercise That Changes Everything
• (00:30:54) - How to Build Psychological Safety Fast
• (00:35:41) - Why Perfectionism Kills Your Group Coaching Launch
• (00:40:26) - Get People DOING, Not Just Learning
• (00:44:18) - Workshop Y: Get Your Free 45-Minute Session with Jake

Links and Resources

• Jake Wysocki on LinkedIn
• Intention Craft
• Personal Website
• Dustin on LinkedIn
• 7 Figure Leap

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Dustin sits down with Deborah Nash, a veteran leadership coach with 28 years of experience and author of "Level Up Your Leadership." Deborah shares her remarkable journey from brand management at Clorox and Disney (during the Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast era) to becoming an executive coach for Fortune 100 companies and small businesses alike. The conversation challenges a critical misconception: that leadership is only about managing others. Deborah reveals why self-leadership is the foundation that solo entrepreneurs and small business owners often overlook, and shares practical, immediately actionable strategies including treating curiosity as your superpower, remembering "it's all information" when things go wrong, and asking "what's my role?" in any given situation. She also opens up about her personal quantum leap moment at age 60, climbing a 35-foot telephone pole, and how that experience led her to write her first book despite years of saying she never would. This episode is packed with wisdom for anyone looking to level up their leadership, whether they have a team of one or one hundred.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Why Self-Awareness Is Your Hidden Growth Lever
• (00:01:00) - Meet Deborah Naish: From Disney Executive to Leadership Expert
• (00:01:48) - The Entrepreneurial DNA: Starting at Age 10
• (00:03:04) - Fortune 100 Insights: What Corporate Leadership Teaches Entrepreneurs
• (00:07:54) - The Leadership Myth Costing You Revenue and Peace
• (00:14:31) - Small Shifts, Big Impact: Your Leadership Gym Strategy
• (00:18:40) - Building a Sustainable Coaching Practice That Scales
• (00:23:19) - Creating Worthy Goals That Drive Seven-Figure Growth
• (00:23:38) - Taking the Leap: Writing Your First Book as a Business Asset
• (00:24:29) - Navigating Leadership Challenges While Scaling to Seven Figures
• (00:27:06) - Inside a High-Impact Coaching Model for Busy Entrepreneurs
• (00:33:07) - The Three Leadership Practices That Transform Your Business
• (00:40:16) - Your Next Steps: From Six to Seven Figures Through Better Leadership

Links and Resources:

• Level Up Your Leadership by Deborah Nash - https://tinyurl.com/y43ddxdz
• Deborah Nash's Website: https://www.deborahnaish.com/
• Deborah Naish on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-naish-5a860/
• Dustin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinriechmann/
• 7 Figure Leap: https://7figureleap.com/

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Dustin sits down with Renita Wolf, an exit planning advisor with over 25 years of corporate M&A experience, to discuss how founder-led businesses can maximize their value and become investment-ready. Renita shares why most small business owners miss the opportunity to exit profitably, often shutting down rather than selling due to lack of preparation. She explains the critical difference between working with a fiduciary advisor versus a commission-based broker, and reveals the three key factors that drive business value: customer concentration, owner dependence, and revenue consistency. Renita provides actionable advice on how entrepreneurs can start preparing now—even if they're 5+ years from exit—by creating SOPs, building organizational structure, protecting intellectual property, and transitioning to recurring revenue models. Whether you're planning to sell or simply want to build a more sustainable, valuable business, this conversation offers invaluable insights into thinking strategically about your company as a true asset.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Introduction and Guest Background
• (00:02:00) - Why Renita Transitioned from Corporate to Exit Planning
• (00:04:30) - The Family Story: Businesses That Never Sold
• (00:07:00) - When to Start Exit Planning (The 3-5 Year Rule)
• (00:12:00) - What Is a Fiduciary and Why It Matters
• (00:18:00) - The Real Story: When Financial Statements Weren't Investment-Ready
• (00:21:00) - Risk and Sustainability: What Buyers Actually Look For
• (00:26:00) - Recurring Revenue Is Gold
• (00:29:00) - How Service Businesses Can Create Intellectual Property Assets
• (00:33:00) - Reducing Owner Dependence: SOPs, Org Charts, and AI Tools
• (00:40:00) - Next Steps and How to Connect with Renita

Links and Resources:

• Free Exit Ready Assessment (3 minutes)
• Connect with Renita Wolf on LinkedIn
• Dustin on LinkedIn
• 7 Figure Leap

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to 7-Figure Leap? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!