Fewer than 5 percent of businesses earn over $1 million in revenue and only 11% have 20 employees or more. For many entrepreneurs, those are magic numbers to reach so they can experience greater freedom from the business. Reaching those revenue and staff milestones means they have the resources and team to handle business while they go off on a great family vacation for a month.

Why do the majority of business owners stay stuck? The simple answer is they don’t have enough sales to build the team to handle business while they’re gone. But the real answer is deeper than that.

This episode explores the top 5 reasons businesses stay stuck.

Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. https://www.thetandembook.com/

Need to create more time to dedicate to your marriage? Download this free guide. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/boundaries

Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/lets-talk

Key Takeaways:

• You’re wearing too many hats

• You’re casting a wide net

• Your margins are too small

• You have people in the wrong seat

• You aren’t resting

Entrepreneurs have an independent streak for sure. I have it, you have it, we all have it. It’s why we can’t see ourselves in a 9 to 5 job. It’s why we’re so successful in what we do. We take the bull by the horn and make it happen.

But independence can have an ugly side to it. It can cause us to become a little arrogant, isolated, and hurt our most important relationships. Meet this week’s guest Stu Fuhlendorf and his wife Trish. Stu took three companies IPO, made tons of money and was a wall street darling.

Until ego, alcohol, and the love of success got the better of him. It almost landed him in jail. Thankfully, there is a happy ending to this that you’ll have to listen for yourself.

Website: www.redemptionhills.com

Business: www.lifeverse.com

Book: “Wall Street to Well” https://www.amazon.com/Wall-Street-Well-Transformation-Fortune/dp/1949021432

Key Takeaways:

• Stu wasn’t driven by money and things but by accomplishments

• The accomplishments were great but fleeting

• Turned to alcohol which made him angry

• Guided 3 companies through successful IPOs

• Faced a lawsuit from the S.E.C.

• Trish had to lean on her faith and prayer to stay married

• She put her happiness on the shelf

• Instead of arguing she chose silence

Questions:

• Why were you such a jerk?

• Trish, I know you got saved first and that was a big part of the reason you stuck it out with Stu, but many good Christian women would have still left, how were you able to stick it out?

• I’m sure you tried to get him to quit drinking and change the way he was living, did you just give up trying to convince him at some point?

• While not going to the extremes you did, many entrepreneurs have the same mentality you had. What would you say to them?

• Pastors can fall into much of the same trap that you did in your career, what do you say to them?

Stu serves as the Senior Pastor of Redemption Hills Church in Littleton Colorado and is the Cofounder and COO of Lifeverse. His first book, Wall Street to the Well, was released April 2019. After working in corporate business for twenty years, he earned an M.Div. from Denver Seminary and was called into full-time ministry combining his love of Jesus with 21st century technology. Stu lives in the foothills of Colorado with his wife, Trish. They have two grown children who divide their time between school, work, and fun.

Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. https://www.thetandembook.com/

Need to create more time to dedicate to your marriage? Download this free guide. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/boundaries

Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/lets-talk

Taking a vacation is a good thing. So why is it so hard for the typical entrepreneur to tear themselves away from the day to day grind of building a business to take a break with their family?

We’ve heard and used these excuses. “I’m too busy to get away.” “It’s too stressful to take time off. There will be so much work waiting for me when I get back.” “I don’t think the staff will be able to handle things while I’m gone.” “I get texts and emails all the time while I’m away. So I might as well stay home and get things done.”

If your goal in starting the business was to gain more freedom then something has to change. And forcing yourself to take more vacations will set your business up for success if you follow these rules. Take a listen to this week’s episode. Your family and staff will thank you.

Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. https://www.thetandembook.com/

Need to create more time to dedicate to your marriage? Download this free guide. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/boundaries

Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/lets-talk

Key Takeaways:

• Common excuses- I don’t have time, It’s too stressful, I can’t trust the staff to take care of business,

• Results- You’re stressed, business is stressed, family is stressed

• Vacations are good for the soul

• It is productive

• What we hear after the vacation. I got more clarity/ideas for the business, I/we needed that, The team took care of business,

• It forces you to scale and grow your business. - prepare your staff for your absence (S.O.P.)

• • List what you do

  • Circle the things only you can do

  • Identify who can do what

  • Nominate a lead(ers)

  • Start preparing three months before your next vacation

  • Develop systems

  • Document the procedures

  • Define what a true emergency is

• The team is empowered to make decisions for themselves based on the good of the company

• Resist the temptation to take back responsibilities once you return

• You get great ideas

• It refuels you for the work ahead

• Better for your health, relationship and business

Imagine the doctor telling you that your spouse has 40 minutes to live. What do you do? How do you feel? How do you cope? Tune in to this week’s episode as entrepreneurs Gary and Keely Van Vlack share their story of how close Keely came to dying and how Gary coped.

After Keely miraculously got over the hump and her health started to improve, the reality of life and running multiple businesses kicked in. Gary had to run his business and Keely’s business while learning how to roast coffee in one day. And make sure their customers liked it.

This conversation will show you what’s important, how relationships matter, and how to accomplish more in less time.

Website: Gkcapitalinc.com

Website: Renew.global

Key Takeaways:

• Purpose drives business

• Power of relationships

• Follow the graph

• Freedom of a well said “no”

• Empowering people to do what they can do

Topics:

• Stewardship of time—guarding your yes and no. leaning into God, and not getting caught up in all the good things, and leaving no time and space for the God things.

• A yes and a no in covenant- what it looks like to wait on God as a couple in life and business. How to lead in times where you are not 100% aligned. Hence, one has a yes, and the other person has a no. what to do, and how to handle that together and stay out of strife.

• How to handle tremendous growth in business. – doing more with less. Avoiding burnout and strife in marriage due to commitments and deliverables. Creating an environment and culture around you to aid in your success, and keeping accountability.

Gary and Keely, the dynamic duo behind G.K. Capital Inc., bring a unique fusion of passion, expertise, and heart to the world of business consulting & start-up’s. With a combined experience of over 30 years, they have honed their skills in fostering strategic growth and sustainable business practices. Their journey is not just about building successful businesses; it's about cultivating relationships and empowering individuals. Their approach is deeply rooted in their values of service, integrity, and commitment, ensuring that each decision and strategy aligns with these core principles.

Together, Gary and Keely embody the spirit of entrepreneurial stewardship. They are not only business owners and investors themselves, but also dedicated mentors who believe in the transformative power of disciplined stewardship. Their expertise in identifying growth opportunities and maximizing investments is matched by their dedication to their faith and community. This blend of professional acumen and personal values makes them a formidable team in the business world. As they share their knowledge and passion with others, they continue to inspire and lead with a vision that transcends the traditional boundaries of business, focusing equally on profitability and the enrichment of human lives.

Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. https://www.thetandembook.com/

Need to create more time to dedicate to your marriage? Download this free guide. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/boundaries

Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/lets-talk

If you’re like many business owners, it’s been hard to find good employees. It seems like the younger generation doesn’t want to work and are lazy. Or at least that’s what they say. But think about this, the baby boomers were also considered lazy when they were in their twenties and thirties.

They were the hippies. Love not war.

In other words, the older generation always thinks the younger generation is not as hard working as they are. So maybe it’s not that the younger generation is lazy, they have a different set of values that they want to see reflected in their job. And if you look at what they value, you may find that they align well with yours.

If you adjust how you lead the younger generation, you will find that you develop the most loyal employees and attract more of them. Listen to this episode to learn more.

Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. https://www.thetandembook.com/

Need to create more time to dedicate to your marriage? Download this free guide. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/boundaries

Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/lets-talk

Key Takeaways:

According to the Gallup Poll research on the workplace, this is what millennials want in a job:

1. Millennials don’t just work for a paycheck — they want a purpose.

2. Millennials are not pursuing job satisfaction — they are pursuing development.

3. Millennials don’t want bosses — they want coaches.

4. Millennials don’t want annual reviews — they want ongoing conversations

5. Millennials don’t want to fix their weaknesses — they want to develop their strengths.

6. It’s not just my job — it’s my life.

Gallup report https://www.gallup.com/workplace/238073/millennials-work-live.aspx

What would it be like to go from working 95 hours/week to 0 in an instant? This week’s guest Paul Hastings is here to tell us about it. The sudden change wasn’t by choice. A tragic health issue forced him to stop cold turkey. In the months of recovery he was able to reconnect with his wife, be present for his young kids, and re-evaluate what was important in life.

Every busy entrepreneur needs to listen to this episode. We never think things like this can happen to us but sometimes our body says something different. Hear how Paul has re-defined success and the steps he’s taken to make sure his business doesn’t consume his life.

Podcast: https://compelledpodcast.com/

More info: https://paulhastings.me/

Key Takeaways

• Worked 95 hours/week and was always willing to take on another client

• Arm stopped working and caused severe pain

• Forced to stop working and bringing in income

• Had daily conversations with his wife during recovery

• He realized he had tunnel vision and lack of boundaries

• Re-defined success and set boundaries to make sure he could be present for his wife and kids

• Makes less money but has more time

• Don’t let business dictate your life

Bio

Paul Hastings is an award-winning podcaster, filmmaker, speaker, and entrepreneur. He is the host of "Compelled", a podcast sharing unique stories about God transforming Christians around the world. His work has been featured by Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, World Magazine, American Family Association, The Christian Post, and more.

Paul, his wife, and their four children live near Austin, Texas and attend Redemption Hill Church.

Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. https://www.thetandembook.com/

Need to create more time to dedicate to your marriage? Download this free guide. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/boundaries

Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/lets-talk

According to the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau, a little more than 10% of businesses are run by husband and wife teams. And that number is continuing to grow as more and more couples are realizing they can make more money working together than in separate jobs or businesses.

However, working with your spouse is not as romantic as some may think it is. Neither is it the beginning of a disaster for the relationship like others may feel. Should all couples work together and why do so many fail? Tune into this week’s episode to find out. But what I can tell you is once couples learn how to work together, they make the best team possible. Working with the person you trust the most, who wants you to win as much as you do, and have complementary skills, will take your business to the next level.

Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. https://www.thetandembook.com/

Need to create more time to dedicate to your marriage? Download this free guide. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/boundaries

Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/lets-talk

Key Takeaways

Work together because

• • It’s romantic

  • Cheaper than hiring an employee

  • One persuades the other to do it

• Some learn to make it work. Others are “been there, done that, never again.”

• Why do they fail? Conflict.

• Don’t take things personal

• Lack of agreement stunts business growth

• Most arguments are a zero sum game

• Me Vs Her

• The word, “US,” was a game changer

• Boundaries between work and home

When you start with nothing to starting, building, and selling off multiple businesses to Fortune 500 companies, you’ve got it made, right? That’s not what this week’s guest, Aaron Walker experienced. Before he reached the age of 30 he had already sold his first company to a Fortune 500 competitor. Even though he had no intention of selling, they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Then tragedy struck. This changed everything for Aaron and sent him on the journey of moving from success to significance.

He is now a living example of how you can prioritize the relationships that matter most and still succeed in business. And he’s helping other men do the same thing through his mastermind groups and retreats. Tune in to this week’s episode as we explore how to make those hard choices so you can prioritize your marriage and family. - You only have one pass in life to do it well.

Sound Bites

"We never learned through success. We only learned through failure and we only learn in the valley."

"The reason I'm such a proponent now for leaving it all on the field. Squeeze every drop out, do everything you can, make every moment intentional, live your life proactive, not reactive, to maximize this awesome thing that we get to do every day."

Check out his mastermind groups and retreats https://www.viewfromthetop.com/isi-mastermind

Key Takeaways:

• Sold first business to a Fortune 500 company at 27

• Tragedy struck that changed everything

• Entrepreneurs think there is a moment when “I’ve arrived.” But it’s only temporary

• Happiness is a choice

• His purpose is to turn ordinary men to extraordinary people

• Develop a support team before you need it. Then you’ll never be alone

• Place guardrails around your life so business doesn’t take over

Bio

For over 45 years, Aaron, has been a small business owner, committed husband, devoted father, and community leader. He got his first taste of real accountability in a business Mastermind group where he developed genuine friendships and grew alongside Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller, Ken Abraham, and others. He currently serves as founder and CEO of View from the Top where Iron Sharpens Iron Masterminds, business coaching, and events all coordinate to achieve the mission.

Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. https://www.thetandembook.com/

Need to create more time to dedicate to your marriage? Download this free guide. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/boundaries

Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/lets-talk