Today, we dive into the essential topic of building a business with the end in mind.

My guest is Laurie Barkman, author of the Business Transition Handbook and a seasoned Business Transition Sherpa. Laurie shares invaluable insights and strategies on preparing for a successful business exit.

Whether you're a new entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you plan your business journey from start to finish.

Laurie begins by explaining the concept of a Business Transition Sherpa. Think of a Sherpa guiding climbers up Mount Everest. Laurie provides similar guidance, but for business owners navigating the complex terrain of succession planning and business transitions.

She emphasises that the process should start early, ideally years before the actual exit, to ensure a seamless and profitable transition.

One of the key frameworks Laurie discusses is the "three-legged stool" of business readiness. This includes personal readiness, business readiness, and financial readiness.

She highlights the importance of evaluating these areas regularly to identify any gaps or risks that could impact the business's value or the owner's ability to exit successfully.

Laurie also talks about the significance of understanding what makes a business saleable.

It's not just about having a profitable company but also about having transferable value that buyers find attractive.

This includes having solid operational systems, a reliable customer base, and minimizing risks that could deter potential buyers.

Another critical point Laurie makes is about the emotional aspect of selling a business.

For many owners, their business is like a child, making the decision to sell highly emotional.

Laurie addresses the need to balance logic and emotion in business decisions, ensuring that the head, heart, and wallet are all considered.

Key Elements Discussed

1. 1. Balancing logic and emotion in business
   • Laurie mentions, "There's an emotional component to this as well, right? That's the heart and it's hard. You know, they've built the business or they've inherited the business." (14:51)
   • She emphasises that while the financial and strategic aspects of selling are crucial, addressing the emotional side is equally important to avoid future regrets.
   1. Think like a buyer
   • "If we understand and can think like a buyer and look at our business from the outside in like a buyer, you'll be better off." (8:20)
   • Laurie advises business owners to view their business through the lens of a potential buyer to identify and mitigate risks that could lower the business's value.
   1. Understanding what makes a business saleable
   • Laurie explains, "What problem does your company solve for another company? Buyers decide the price and the private market." (7:31)
   • She stresses the importance of creating a business that is not only profitable but also has transferable value and solves significant problems for its potential buyers.
   1. What is a business transition sherpa?
   • Laurie describes her role: "It is someone who cares so much about the experience of business owners on their journey... I'm guiding my business owner clients and people all over the world how to maximize that experience so they can have an exit without regret." (00:18)
   • As a Business Transition Sherpa, Laurie helps business owners navigate the complexities of succession planning, ensuring they are well-prepared for a successful exit.

Tune in to hear Laurie Barkman's expert advice on building with the exit in mind, ensuring that your business journey is well-planned and profitable.

You can find Laurie and her resources at https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/.

In today's episode, we’re joined by Ken Rusk, a successful entrepreneur and author of "Blue Collar Cash." Ken shares his journey from (to?) ditch digger to thriving business owner, emphasizing the importance of visualisation, goal setting, and empowering employees.

Ken introduces several key methods and frameworks:

• Visualization: Ken stresses the power of visualizing your future in detail. He encourages drawing out your ideal life, from your home to your car and vacations.
• Employee Empowerment: He believes in knowing and supporting the personal goals of employees to drive organizational success.
• Trade Jobs Advantage: Highlighting the significant financial and personal benefits of pursuing trade careers over traditional college paths.

• "Empower your employees fully." - On the importance of understanding and supporting employees’ personal goals. (00:06:00)
• "The college crisis - lack of direction." - Discussing the inefficiencies and challenges within the current college system. (00:11:37)
• "Take control - visualize your future." - Ken explains the power of detailed visualization in achieving personal and professional goals. (00:19:00)
• "Trade jobs, a $400,000 advantage." - On the financial benefits of choosing trade careers over college. (00:13:18)
• "Empower your team for success." - Emphasizing the importance of empowering employees to drive business success. (00:07:08)

This is one I've made my kids listen to.

Join us for an inspiring discussion that offers practical advice on achieving success and empowering those around you. Tune in to discover how you can take control of your future and lead effectively.

Find Ken here: https://linktr.ee/kenrusk

Today, we're joined by Juliane Sterzl, the Senior Vice President of Global Sales at CoachHub. Our episode, titled "How make the right decision every time," delves into transforming workplace cultures and making effective decisions.

Juliane introduces several key models and methods for fostering a healthy, growth-oriented work environment:

• • Diversity of Thought in Decision Making: Incorporating diverse perspectives to enhance decision-making processes and outcomes.
  • Fail Fast Principle: Encouraging rapid experimentation and learning from failures to accelerate innovation.
  • Strategic Decision-Making Framework: Developing a structured approach to make informed and timely decisions.

Impactful Quotes and Timings:

• • "We're not just filling roles, we're fostering potential." Discussing the deeper purpose of HR beyond hiring. (00:15:22)
  • "If we don't take care of our people, who will?" Emphasizing the importance of a proactive approach in people management. (00:18:57)
  • "Every skill gap is an opportunity for growth, not just for individuals but for the whole organization." Highlighting the positive aspects of identifying and addressing skill gaps. (00:21:34)
  • "Making the right decision every time requires asking the right questions." On the importance of effective questioning in decision-making. (00:06:56)
  • "Diversity of thought is the true essence of leadership." Reflecting on the value of diverse perspectives in leadership. (00:22:14)

Join us as Juliane provides actionable insights on how to transform organizational culture from one of fear to one of love, trust, and productivity.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jose Ucar, an international Amazon best-selling author and expert in global influence. Known for his Latin flair, Jose is a master communicator and coach who helps leaders navigate the complexities of international leadership.

In our conversation, Jose shares practical frameworks and methods to improve international leadership and communication. Drawing from his extensive experience, Jose introduces us to his "SIMPLER" and "FOAM" frameworks, designed to enhance effective communication across different cultures.

• SIMPLER Framework:
  • S: Slow down - Focus on the person in front of you and slow down your thinking.
  • I: Intentional Influence - Communicate with intention.
  • M: Multicultural Lens - Engage openly with curiosity about different cultures.
  • P: Preconceptions - Recognize and clear preconceptions.
  • L: Language - Be mindful of the proficiency level of the other person.
  • E: Energy - Engage with contagious and compelling energy.
  • R: Reflection/Reframe - Reflect on interactions to improve.
• FOAM Framework:
  • F: Flexibility - Adapt to different realities and environments.
  • O: Ownership - Take responsibility for communication outcomes.
  • A: Adaptability - Align communication styles to build rapport.
  • M: Mind the Gap - Recognize and bridge communication gaps.

1. The Importance of Intention and Reflection:
   • Jose emphasizes the need to be intentional in every conversation. Reflecting on interactions helps leaders improve their communication skills and influence.
2. Navigating Multicultural Communication:
   • Understanding and respecting cultural differences are crucial. Leaders should engage with curiosity and adapt their communication styles to bridge gaps.
3. Building Rapport and Connecting Emotionally:
   • Effective leadership involves connecting on an emotional level. By understanding others' perspectives and showing genuine interest, leaders can create lasting influence.
4. Flexibility and Ownership in Communication:
   • Leaders must be flexible and take ownership of their communication. By adapting their approach and being responsible for the outcomes, they can improve their effectiveness.

1. 00:06:08 - "After every interaction, if we want to be more intentional and get better in our communication, we can always have a moment of reflection."
2. 00:13:49 - "If somebody doesn't understand, it's your fault. It's not that they don't understand you, it's that you haven't explained yourself clearly."
3. 00:21:40 - "Leave people better off after interacting with you."
4. 00:18:27 - "Respect and acceptance are key to connecting with people from different cultures."

Jose Ucar provides valuable insights and practical frameworks for enhancing international leadership and communication. His "SIMPLER" and "FOAM" models offer actionable steps for leaders to improve their influence across cultures. Tune in to learn how to lead and influence effectively on a global scale.

https://joseucar.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-luis-ucar/

Today, we have René Janssen, CEO and founder of Lepaya, join us. René has an impressive track record, having raised $85 million to support his innovative training platform. His journey spans from scaling startups to managing acquisitions by giants like Alibaba.

In this episode, René Janssen shares his invaluable insights on avoiding company failure through strategic people development. René’s experience facing challenges in scaling productivity and retaining talent, led him to create Lepaya.

Lepaya focuses on ensuring employees have the right skills at the right time, blending technology with human touch to enhance productivity and retention.

• Right Skills, Right Time: Ensuring employees are equipped with the necessary skills at the precise moment they need them.
• Strategic People Development: Viewing talent management and development as a core strategic function rather than a reactive, operational task.
• Blended Learning: Combining e-learning with human-led coaching to address both technical and soft skills effectively.

1. Pain Points and Motivation:
   • René’s drive to solve the pain points he experienced at Lazada, particularly around productivity and retention.
   • The importance of experiencing pain firsthand to be fully committed to solving it.
2. Challenges in E-commerce and Training:
   • Issues faced in the fast-growing e-commerce market in Southeast Asia.
   • The inadequacy of traditional learning methods and the need for innovative, scalable training solutions.
3. Importance of Soft Skills:
   • The crucial role of soft skills in driving productivity.
   • The necessity of human interaction in learning these skills, even in the age of AI.
4. Strategic Function of People Development:
   • Making talent management a strategic priority.
   • Aligning business needs with employee aspirations for mutual growth.
   • Using data to measure the effectiveness of training and making iterative improvements.
5. Role of Lepaya:
   • How Lepaya helps organizations transition from operational training to strategic people development.
   • The impact of combining technology and human facilitation to deliver effective learning solutions.

1. 00:06:37 - "If we don't do something, who will? If not us, then who? If not now, then when?"
2. 00:10:37 - "Soft skills are best learned from soft people. You need to learn how to deal with other people from other people."
3. 00:19:13 - "Collecting data on training effectiveness is crucial. Measure and be honest about the impact."
4. 00:24:26 - "What happens if you train people and they leave? Worse is if you don’t train them and they stay."

Find Rene and Lepaya here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/renejanssen/

https://www.lepaya.com/

Today, we're joined by Everett O’Keefe, best-selling author, speaker and the founder of Ignite Press.

Everett shared his expertise on how to leverage the power of publishing to enhance your business and personal brand.

Everett introduced a practical model to simplify the book writing process:

• FAQ & SAQ Model: This involves identifying Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Should Ask Questions (SAQs) related to your expertise.
• This content forms the basis of your book, helping establish authority and demonstrate expertise.

• "That's why I call a book the great force multiplier." Discussing the extensive impact a book can have on one's professional influence. (00:03:51)
• "You don't have to sequester yourself on Walden Pond to write a book." Debunking the myth that writing a book requires complete isolation. (00:06:09)
• "A book doesn't just communicate your authority, it screams it." On how publishing a book can significantly boost your perceived expertise. (00:08:35)
• "Every FAQ is a chapter waiting to be written." Emphasizing the ease of generating book content from frequently asked questions. (00:09:14)
• "Books outlive their authors, carrying your legacy forward." Highlighting the enduring nature of a published book. (00:15:32)

In this episode, Everett provides invaluable insights into using book writing as a strategic tool for business growth and leadership enhancement.

Tune in to learn how to start your authorship journey effectively and use your publication to carve out a niche of authority in your field.

Get your copy of Everett's book "The Power of Published" here: https://mypodcastperk.com/

Book a time to discuss your book with Everett here! : https://meetings.ignitepress.us/everett

In today's episode, "How to Shift Your Organisation from Fear to Love," we're joined by Malti Bhojwani, a seasoned executive coach and author, who shares her expert insights on transforming workplace environments.

Malti introduces us to impactful frameworks for fostering a shift from fear-based to love-based organizational culture.

She emphasizes the importance of leaders beginning this transformation by introspecting and shifting their own mindsets.

Key steps include:

• Creating Vision and Tension: Identifying a 'promised land' or a 'burning platform' to motivate change.
• Evaluating Current Practices: Assessing current behaviors and practices against desired outcomes.
• Adopting Love-Based Practices: Encouraging behaviors rooted in trust, transparency, and accountability.

• "Organizations don't transform. People do." Highlighting the focus on individual change within organizational transformation. (00:02:28)
• "From fear, including micromanagement and control, to love, which includes accountability and trust." Discussing the shift from restrictive to expansive organizational practices. (00:05:04)
• "Behaviors are driven by mindset." Underscoring the need to change underlying beliefs to alter behaviors. (00:03:45)

This episode is a must-listen for leaders looking to cultivate a more dynamic and supportive workplace atmosphere.

Join us as we explore how to navigate this crucial shift in organizational culture.

Find Malti here:

• https://maltibhojwani.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/MaltiBhojwaniProfessionalLifeCoach
• https://x.com/MaltiBhojwani
• https://www.youtube.com/maltibhojwani
• https://in.pinterest.com/maltibhojwani
• https://www.instagram.com/maltibhojwani/

In this enlightening episode we're diving deep with author and coach Nancy Ho into: "How to Fill the Void in Your Life."

Nancy, a seasoned life strategist and coach, brings her profound insights into addressing the often-unspoken gaps experienced by successful professionals.

During our conversation, Nancy outlined several key models and methods:

• Exploring Childhood Roots: Investigating how unresolved childhood experiences can influence present feelings and behaviors.
• Addressing Pain Points: Recognizing and acknowledging personal and professional challenges rather than masking them.
• The Facts Approach: Focusing on the undeniable facts of one's situation to guide actions and emotions.

• "It's not about the present problem... it's about the childhood." Exploring how past experiences shape current feelings. (00:06:49)
• "We manage... and then we manage better." On learning and evolving through life's challenges. (00:07:16)
• "Living a life with no regrets." Nancy's life philosophy in her own words. (00:01:37)
• "Despite professional success, I feel this void. I wake up with it." Nancy addresses the deep-seated feelings of emptiness that can persist despite outward achievements. (00:14:56)
• "All our feelings come from thoughts created in the moment." She explains how our immediate thoughts shape our emotions, underscoring the connection between mind and mood. (00:21:29)
• "Thoughts have no power until we give them attention." Nancy highlights the control we have over our mental engagement and the power of our focus. (00:22:33)

Nancy mentions the classic short book from James Allen published in 1903 and now in the public domain: "As a man thinketh" available here: https://practical-leadership.academy/as-a-man-thinketh-james-allen/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ho-exec-coach/
• nancyho.net