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

Brought to you by

Latest Episodes

#450: Jean Moncrieff | Letting Go, Leading with Values, and Building a Company That Lasts

July 17, 2025

#450: Jean Moncrieff | Letting Go, Leading with Values, and Building a Company That Lasts

What does it actually mean to build a company that lasts? Watch on YouTube Not just one that grows. Not just one that sells....

Play

01:13:39

#449: Ryan Tansom | Understanding the Meaning of Life, God, and Money

July 10, 2025

#449: Ryan Tansom | Understanding the Meaning of Life, God, and Money

This episode is different. No guest. No business mechanics. Just me, reading from my journal and unpacking the questions that have been driving my...

Play

00:33:28

#448: Jennifer Davis | Bootstrapping Davisware to $20M+, Selling to PE, Raising 10 Kids, & Living Exponentially

July 03, 2025

#448: Jennifer Davis | Bootstrapping Davisware to $20M+, Selling to PE, Raising 10 Kids, & Living Exponentially

Jennifer Davis is the co-founder and former CEO of Davisware, a vertical ERP platform she and her husband started at 17. Over two decades,...

Play

01:28:42

#447: Jeff Buettner | Q2 2025 M&A Update: What Buyers Want, What’s Holding Deals Back, and How Founders Can Prepare

June 26, 2025

#447: Jeff Buettner | Q2 2025 M&A Update: What Buyers Want, What’s Holding Deals Back, and How Founders Can Prepare

What’s happening in the M&A market right now? Who’s buying, who’s selling, and how should owners think about timing, value, and optionality? Watch on...

Play

00:45:15

#446: Joe Brown | What Every Owner Should Know About Inflation, Debt, and the Real Economy

June 19, 2025

#446: Joe Brown | What Every Owner Should Know About Inflation, Debt, and the Real Economy

Most owners rely on gut instinct, advisors, or market trends to make decisions, but few stop to ask: What’s actually happening underneath the economy? ...

Play

01:00:28

#445: Mark Cleveland | You Don’t Have to Sell or Scale—There’s a Third Option

June 12, 2025

#445: Mark Cleveland | You Don’t Have to Sell or Scale—There’s a Third Option

We’ve all heard it: “Pick one thing. Focus. Go all in.” But what if that advice doesn’t apply once you’ve built real optionality?  Watch...

Play

01:10:36