Opt Out Life

Sometimes you have to step back and really look at your business the way a buyer would. Dustin Williamson brings that perspective as Managing Director of Houston for vcfo, shaped by his journey from small town West Texas to venture capital in Phoenix, and a variety of turnaround and exit experiences along the way.   Key themes included: 1. Owner fallacies and unrealistic valuation expectations 2. Importance of buyer’s perspective in exits 3. Role of fractional CFO in SMBs 4. Turnarounds: value drivers and common pitfalls 5. Company culture’s impact on business value 6. De-risking for successful business sales 7. Common deal killers and exit failures — Dustin's Website: www.vcfo.com  Dustin's Email: dwilliamson@vcfo.com  Dustin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinwilliamson/  — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsonofficial/  Subscribe to Dana’s weekly news

When Idan Spizear immigrated from Israel, he started out cleaning carpets, quickly realizing that the real value was in genuinely caring for customers going through tough situations, not just fixing the problem at hand. By always looking for ways to add value—listening, being present, and helping homeowners feel calm through emotional disasters—he built a restoration business that thrives on empathy and human connection. Today, as the founder of 911 Restoration franchise, he focuses on empowering others to grow by making service, innovation, and team accountability the heart of every customer interaction.   Key themes included: Customer service as company culture Entrepreneurial origin story and mindset Building accountability within teams Growth challenges for small businesses The role of innovation and experimentation Franchise systems and business scaling Finding fulfillment beyond financial success — Idan's Website: www.911restorationfranchi

John Martinka is all about relationships, whether he’s helping someone buy or sell a business or teaching new advisors about the industry. He believes no one wants to do business without a foundation of trust and mutual respect, and that marketing yourself is just as important as your technical skills. John’s experience—from concert promotion to years of M&A consulting in the Seattle area—taught him that creating authentic relationships, giving back through organizations like Rotary, and helping clients get ready for their “next great adventure” is what makes the work meaningful.   Key themes included: 1. Importance of relationship-building in business 2. Preparing businesses for successful exit 3. Owner dependency and management delegation 4. Value drivers for maximizing business sale 5. Financial systems and accurate reporting 6. Role of networking versus prospecting 7. Engaging advisors and consultants effectively — John's Website: https://nokomisadvisory.c

Saul Cohen, drawing from his own entrepreneurial journey and the experience of watching his father navigate building and exiting a business, now specializes in helping business owners plan for successful exits and avoid common pitfalls. His work focuses on making sure entrepreneurs consciously decide whether they’re building a lifestyle business or an asset to sell, and then guiding them through the next steps—whether that’s careful tax planning, optimizing for risk, or preparing for acquisitions.    Key themes included: Difference: Lifestyle vs. Asset/Legacy businesses Importance of early exit planning Value of execution over ideas Learning from business failures Preparing businesses for acquisition Wealth transfer and acquisition opportunities Emotional aspects of business valuation and exit — Saul's Email: saul.cohen@theexperteye.co.uk  Saul's Website: https://profitbooster.scoreapp.com/  Saul's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cohensaul/  —

Tim Smith started out as a child actor and singer in New York City, then turned to business. He got the investing bug, started building his own wealth management and advisory firms, and over time became the founder of a boutique financial services platform with around 100 advisors and billions under oversight. Along the journey, he not only helped entrepreneurs prepare for their exit and long-term financial health but also became a real advocate for financial literacy, especially for creatives and the next generation through his “Financial Dad” podcast.    Key themes included: Preparing businesses for a potential exit Understanding business valuation and market multiples Challenges and strategies in succession planning Managing wealth post-business sale Emotional aspects of selling a business Importance of tax and charitable planning Entrepreneurial mindset and risk tolerance — Tim's Email: tim@aurorapw.com  Tim's Website: https://www.aurorapw.com  Tim's YouTube: h

M.C. Laubscher is a dynamic entrepreneur, investor, and best-selling author dedicated to empowering business owners through innovative wealth strategies. As the founder of Producers Wealth, he enhances financial well-being across the U.S., while his educational platform, Cashflow Ninja, has influenced over 7 million people globally. Renowned for his acclaimed podcasts and publications, M.C. shares valuable insights on financial independence and legacy-building, earning recognition from Entrepreneur Magazine and membership in elite financial circles like the Forbes Finance Council.   Check out his webpage dedicated to Exit Plan listeners: www.producerswealth.com/optout Key themes included: Gambling vs. business strategy Importance of savings systems Cash management and banking instability Life insurance as savings vehicle Strategic borrowing against policies Market cycles and business strategy Diversification and cash flow management — MC's Email:

With over 25 years of experience in electrical engineering, physics, and sales, Mike has tapped into the unique insights of how technology and process can revolutionize sales strategy. As CEO of Patter AI, he continues to champion these revolutionary tech-driven strategies that supercharge strategic sales and has been instrumental in the extraordinary growth of several high profile companies. These methodologies are now detailed further in ‘Sales Sucks’, his newest book, co-authored by friend and colleague Gregg Murphy. Key themes included: Entrepreneurial Lessons Sales Process Development Mixed Sales Methods Patter AI Platform Scaling with Technology Sales Team Training Financial Best Practices — Mike's Email: mike@patter.io  Mike's Website: www.salessucksbook.com  Mike's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelatch/  — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinso

Liz Steblay has been a wise mentor to thousands of self-employed professionals, helping them realize their dreams of becoming solo entrepreneurs. With decades of experience building her own solopreneur career, including founding a national talent agency that made the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. twice, Liz has distilled the formula for solopreneur success down to six essential keys. As the bestselling author of Succeeding as a Solopreneur, published in partnership with Inc. Magazine in March, Liz explains how these keys are crucial for overcoming FUD—fear, uncertainty, and doubt—and paving the way for long-term success. Key themes included: Retainer Pricing and Client Trust Building Wealth Through Tax Reduction Solopreneurship to Entrepreneurship Transition Networking and Business Development Financial Management for Solopreneurs Overcoming Fear and Uncertainty Effective Pricing Strategies — Liz's Website: www.sixkeys.i

Justin Goodbread is a renowned entrepreneur, author, and business coach with over 30 years of experience in scaling and exiting successful businesses. Beginning his entrepreneurial journey at just 15, Justin learned early the transformative power of business ownership and financial independence. His impressive track record includes selling his last business for over $10 million within just 49 months, marking him as a top-tier expert in the business community.      Justin's expertise is particularly valuable for seasoned business owners, especially those in service industries with annual revenues exceeding $500,000. He excels in helping these entrepreneurs break through growth barriers and prepare for lucrative exits. His strategic guidance focuses on enhancing business value and making companies appealing to potential buyers. Justin addresses critical issues like feeling trapped in one's business and navigating transitions, offering actionable solutions for accelerated growt

With over 21 years of experience as a CEO, Adam Coffey has led three major companies under private equity sponsors, mastering turnarounds and acquisitions. He's an author of bestselling books, like The Exit Strategy Playbook, and brings his wealth of experience to his consulting practice, guiding numerous entrepreneurs towards successful exits. Beyond his professional achievements, Adam cherishes personal growth and work-life balance, offering invaluable advice on building strong company cultures and meaningful connections. "My worst payday ever in the world of private Equity was a 2x multiple of invested capital. However, my best payday ever was 11 times multiple of invested capital." Key themes included: Private Equity Practices: Buying and selling companies. Business Integration: Aggregating smaller companies. Entrepreneurial Growth: Buy-and-build model. M&A Strategy: Multiple arbitrage and due diligence. Private Equity Dynamics: Investment periods and pay

Seth Damski, the visionary behind Old City Investment Partners, curated an extraordinary event – the "Alpha on the Delta" conference. This wasn't your run-of-the-mill finance gathering; picture engaging discussions during the day and epic performances by The Rolling Stones at night. Quite a unique experience, right? "So if we're really doing our job right, you know, we've gotten to know our investors, you know, really well. Often over the course of years, if not decades." Key themes included: Effective fund manager attributes Importance of due diligence Seth Damski's career journey Old City's investment strategy Role of placement agents Investor-manager relationship building Alpha on the Delta conference — Seth's Website: www.alphaonthedelta.com  Seth's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-damski-6833b11/  Old City Investment Partners: https://www.linkedin.com/company/old-city-investment-partners/  — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/

Cindy Carrillo is a dynamic entrepreneur and coach dedicated to supporting business leaders and entrepreneurs. From founding a pivotal backup care program to helping companies create boutique benefits, Cindy's career has been marked by a blend of strategic innovation and compassionate leadership. She's passionate about guiding others through change and transitions, offering a unique immersion coaching experience on her picturesque ranch in Colorado. Her book, "Finding Your Next," delves into overcoming blockers to change and thriving personally and professionally. "...one that keeps us the most from changing, and that's our willingness to settle because we're fearful of the unknown, we're fearful of failure." Key themes included: Scaling Challenges in Consulting Firms. Transition from Personal Consultancy to Company Growth. Fear of the Unknown and Failure. Importance of Complementary Teams. Leadership and Strategic Thinking. Entrepreneurial Mindset and Business

Adam House, a serial entrepreneur with seven businesses under his belt, knows the dedication it takes to build a thriving startup, often working 100-hour weeks. He advocates for running lean, believing economic constraints steer clear of poor decisions, and emphasizes the need for solid foundations and strategic vision over merely capital. Adam's personal journey took him from a successful exit at age 32 to fulfilling a lifelong dream in semi-pro basketball, only to return to business with renewed vigor and an eye on innovation in healthcare analytics. His philosophy encompasses the power of vision, the importance of relationships, and learning through doing, ensuring that progress and action are central to any entrepreneurial endeavor. Key themes included: Importance of Action and Progress Vision Over Capital in Business Critique of "Finding Your Why" Balancing Faith and Fear Mentorship and Advisory Significance Self-Leadership and Role Understanding Testing

Surabhi Shenoy is a CEO Coach who helps ambitious tech founders scale their businesses and increase the value of their business to achieve lasting wealth. Her unique coaching approach blends personal and business transformation, drawing on her own experience as a 2x successful entrepreneur with multiple exits. Surabhi’s journey began in 2005 when she co-founded Tejora Technologies with her husband, Nitin. After his passing in 2017, she took full control of the business during a period of intense personal and professional challenges. Despite the odds, she led Tejora to growth and a successful exit in early 2022. Through her experiences, Surabhi developed the CEO Mastery framework. This system empowers founders by focusing on vision, strategy, mindset, and skillset, while also optimizing their business for growth through strategic offers, financial management, and efficient operations. Key themes included: Premium Pricing Strategy Productizing Services for Scalab

Former SBI CEO Matt Sharrers, renowned for guiding the firm to consecutive recognitions as one of America’s Most Admired Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, now focuses on empowering CEOs and advising private equity firms. After grooming his successor, he transitioned to coaching leaders through transformative phases. Matt’s latest mission centers on facilitating successful transitions for founder CEOs and accelerating scale for second CEOs, articulated in his impactful book, “The Second CEO: Accelerating Scale When Following the Founder.”   As a Second CEO who followed a founder, Matt brings unique insight, having not only witnessed these dynamics through his coaching and board work but also having lived through them firsthand. With a career spanning three decades, Matt’s expertise, honed through roles as an athlete, F500 executive, and CEO of a PE-backed company, underscores his commitment to enabling extraordinary results in a domain ripe with opportunity. Motivated by

The nation’s top franchise coach and consultant, Adam Goldman, knows that even with well-paying jobs, there is one major problem in Corporate America: you can't pursue your own dreams while working for someone else. Franchising has allowed Adam, a father of three, to achieve his dreams. Over the past 9 years, Adam has helped hundreds of people to change their lives through franchise business ownership. He helps others find the right franchise for them and goes on to match them with the right opportunity in their area.   Key themes included: Challenges in First Business Year Importance of Franchise Model Adherence Semi-Absentee Franchise Ownership Leveraging Family in Franchising Financing and Investment Considerations Role of Franchise Coaches Service Business Opportunities — Website: https://www.franchiseadam.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgoldmanfranchise/  — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow D

Brian Parks brings decades of expertise in both financial services and SaaS as the founder and CEO of Bigfoot Capital. Prior to Bigfoot Capital, he has honed his skills in various positions across companies, most notably as the co-founder of Brandfolder. Founded on the principles of stability, support, and partnership, Brian and Bigfoot Capital strive to be a lifeline for SaaS companies, improving their operational health to empower and drive growth. As a founder himself, Brian taps into his own experiences of growth, struggle, and resiliency to guide founders on a path of autonomy in how their companies achieve success.   Key themes included: Balancing tech development and demand Pragmatic product development approach Horizontal vs. vertical market challenges Raising equity vs. debt funding Lending criteria and strategic borrowing Iterative learning and business success Persistence in driving revenue growth — Website: https://www.bigfootcap.com  N

Eric Miller understands the complex emotions tied to wealth creation and management, especially for those in service-based businesses. His empathetic approach acknowledges the guilt and shame that can hinder financial success and the importance of overcoming these barriers for growth and sustainability. By guiding business owners to make deliberate financial decisions, he helps them build and preserve their wealth effectively. Eric's strategies emphasize proper compensation, investment in growth, and avoiding burnout, ensuring business owners thrive both emotionally and financially. "There comes a point, I think, in any business where you got to make a decision, am I going to treat this thing as something that has the ability to expand in value? ... because in this universe, you are never going sideways, either going up or you're going down."     Key themes included: Guilt and Shame in Wealth Decision-Making and Financial Impact Business Growth and Expansion Burnout

Spencer Hilligoss is the CEO of Madison Investing - a real estate investment club with bespoke, curated real estate deals. Spencer founded Madison Investing with a singular mission: to help busy, successful professionals invest passively and secure their most valuable asset of all: Time.  By partnering with in-market, vetted operators, Madison Investing has $2.3B in acquisitions, with over 20,000 units. Investors now have access to cash-flowing private real estate syndications and funds, allowing them to enjoy passive returns as these businesses thrive.  Before starting Madison Investing, Spencer was what some consider a “corporate junkie”, growing operations and sales teams in 5 high growth Fintech companies, over the span of 13 years. In 2019, five months before the pandemic, Spencer broke free from the golden handcuffs to give full focus on serving his investment group and growing Madison Investing. Now, as a full-time investor and entrepreneur, he can spend more time with his fam

Ryan Duffy is a seasoned entrepreneur who effortlessly leverages his extensive background in Hollywood and tech to drive innovation. He started with a small team at Vidme, ultimately cultivating a company philosophy that prioritized careful, methodical growth. Through numerous ventures, including pioneering an early NFT platform and founding the audio course platform Knowable, Ryan has faced and overcome countless challenges. Now at Medium, he continues to draw from his rich experience to navigate the creator economy with his latest venture, Stack. "One of the hardest things I've ever had to do professionally...trying to explain what an NFT is. And if you think about it, it's like, it's digital, but, like, you own it."    Key themes included: Early NFT Platform Struggles Knowable's Audio Course Challenges Pandemic's Impact on E-learning Vidme's Monetization and Infrastructure Issues Transition to Medium Leveraging Career Skills and Experience New Venture Focused on Cre