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...more

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Latest Episodes

#480: Kim Clark | What a CRO Does to Create Predictable Revenue

February 12, 2026

#480: Kim Clark | What a CRO Does to Create Predictable Revenue

“Most companies don’t have a revenue engine; they have a collection of tactics.” - Kim Clark Watch on YouTube This episode is about helping...

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01:05:08

#479: John Abrams | When the Business Works but the Owner Doesn’t

February 05, 2026

#479: John Abrams | When the Business Works but the Owner Doesn’t

John Abrams is a founder who didn’t set out to build an employee-owned company—he redesigned ownership after realizing the traditional model no longer matched...

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01:22:59

#478: Q1 2026 Economic & M&A Update

January 29, 2026

#478: Q1 2026 Economic & M&A Update

Part 1: The Economic Backdrop (Alan Beaulieu & Kim Clark)Watch on YouTubeAlan, Kim, and I unpack why political pressure on the Federal Reserve isn’t...

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01:52:39

#477: William “Bill” Cowan | Buying a Business Is Easy. Living With It Is Hard.

January 22, 2026

#477: William “Bill” Cowan | Buying a Business Is Easy. Living With It Is Hard.

This conversation with Bill Cowan is a full arc—from career operator to business owner to successful exit to peer group chair—and it surfaces the...

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01:14:13

#476: Tom Shipley | Why Most Owners Get Stuck at $1–$2M EBITDA (and How to Break Through)

January 15, 2026

#476: Tom Shipley | Why Most Owners Get Stuck at $1–$2M EBITDA (and How to Break Through)

This conversation with Tom Shipley goes far beyond “growth” or “M&A tactics.” It’s about understanding the real game of ownership — how value is...

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00:59:34

#475:  Matt Paulson | $50M & 20 Employees; Designing a Business You Never Want to Sell

January 08, 2026

#475: Matt Paulson | $50M & 20 Employees; Designing a Business You Never Want to Sell

Matt is the founder of MarketBeat, a financial media company he’s built quietly over 19 years into a ~$50M/year business with around 20 employees...

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01:10:01