Many owner-operators begin their journey driven by the vision of personal and financial independence, only to find themselves entrenched in the daily operations, unable to step away without fear of chaos. In this episode, I talk with Rob Dube, co-founder of ImageOne and visionary behind The 10 Disciplines for Managing and Maximizing Your Energy™, about how to break free from the owner-operator trap and achieve genuine ownership freedom. 

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Rob did what most business owners only dream about—he built a business that runs without him and stepped into a life of total operational freedom. We dig into how he structured his team, managed the emotional transition, and aligned his business with his personal goals. We also unpack what it really means to live out the promise of ownership independence, and how that journey led to his next act: partnering with Gino Wickman. 

This conversation resonates strongly with me because Rob's story is the real-life embodiment of what the Independence by Design™ framework is all about. For anyone stuck in the grind, wondering if it's truly possible to step back and still build something meaningful—this episode proves it is. 

Rob Dube is the co-founder of ImageOne, recognized as a Forbes Small Giant and a leader in building owner-independent businesses. He’s also the creator of The 10 Disciplines™, a proven method helping entrepreneurs gain control over their energy and attention to maximize business and personal success. Rob’s practical strategies empower business owners to structure their organizations in ways that allow them to step back, build sustainable wealth, and create lasting legacies. 
 
Chapters:  

Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals. 

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast.  

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around. 

Resources: 
Website: www.imageoneway.com 
LinkedIn: Rob Dube 
Shed and Shine Podcast: https://www.the10disciplines.com/podcast 
Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop  
Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching 
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/ 
Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/ 
Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom 
Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom 
Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8