Success isn’t just surviving chaos—it’s building toward your exit.

In this episode, I talk with Philip Blackett, founder of Dream Business Makeover and LifeAfter40.com. He’s been through the fire—literally rebuilding a cemetery business during COVID while pulling double shifts at Chick-fil-A to make payroll.

We talk exit strategy, leadership, and what really works when you’ve got to grow through chaos.

🎯 You’ll Learn:

• Why most “busy” CEOs miss the point
• How to plan your exit (even if it’s years away)
• The 4 levers that grow revenue and value
• What it looks like to lead when everything’s on fire

Ready to grow your business with a future? Let’s build your exit-ready roadmap. 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources & Guest Links:

• Philip Blackett: LinkedIn, LifeAfter40.com
• Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Buying a business sounds like a shortcut—but most people never make it to the finish line. Why? Because they chase the wrong deals.

In this episode, I talk with Richard Parker, founder of Diomo Corporation, about what really works when you're looking to acquire a business that fits you—and what most people get completely wrong.

🎯 You’ll Learn:

• Richard’s “4-4-4-1-1” process for staying focused during your search
• Why experience doesn’t always translate to ownership success
• The 5 filters that’ll save you from a bad acquisition
• How to tell if a business is a spaghetti mess—or ready to scale
• The one shift you must make before even reaching out to a seller

If you’re even thinking about buying a business, start with this episode.

🔗 Guest Links:

• Richard Parker: https://richardparker.com/

Your business is growing—but is your personal wealth strategy keeping up?

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Cecchini, a wealth advisor who works with high-growth founders, to break down what it really means to build a personal capital stack.

🎧 We cover:

• Why “just invest in Vanguard” isn’t a real plan
• How to make decisions when income’s uneven
• What to do with cash that’s sitting idle
• When to stop DIY’ing and bring in a pro

If you’ve ever felt behind on your own wealth strategy, this one’s a must-listen.

Want help finding clarity, control, and momentum in your business? Let's grow beyond the plateau together. ⟶ Chat with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

• Mark Cecchini: X, LinkedIn
• Quadrant Capital

Growth doesn’t always mean profit.

In this episode, I’m joined by ProfitHive founder Kevin Bees to talk about how growing businesses leak money—and how to stop it. Kevin shares the 7 hidden areas where founders lose margin, plus a tactical framework for getting your financial house in order without becoming an accountant.

🎧 What you’ll learn:

• How to spot and fix your biggest profit leaks
• Why scaling doesn’t fix your financial blind spots
• The mental shift that separates busy founders from wealthy ones
• The simplest way to improve profit this quarter—no new clients required

Let’s make sure your growth is actually profitable. 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

• Kevin Bees: LinkedIn, Twitter
• ProfitHive

Success isn’t just about scale—it’s about control. And sometimes that means cutting through the chaos you created.

In this episode, I sit down with Mikael Dia, founder of Funnelytics, to talk about how simplifying your operations, offers, and mindset can unlock the growth you’ve been chasing. We get into the real stuff: what happens after the VC check clears, how complexity creeps in, and how to rebuild with clarity.

🎧 You’ll Learn:

• How to simplify your business at any stage
• What entrepreneurs get wrong about growth
• Why churn was killing Mikael’s momentum—and how he fought back
• The 4 pillars that keep you fulfilled while scaling
• How Funnelytics can help you fix your funnel without the guesswork

Want to scale with more control? 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

• Mikael Dia: LinkedIn, Facebook, 
• Funnelytics 

Ever feel like the business you built is running you?

In this episode, I sit down with John F. Kettley, founder of Sales Masters Guild, to talk about how entrepreneurs lose their way as their company grows—and what it really takes to regain control of your business.

We talk mindset, sales systems, burnout, and the moment most founders realize they’re not leading anymore—they’re just reacting.

🎧 Inside this episode:

• How to shift from doing the work to leading the company
• Why most founders plateau at six figures
• How to reconnect with your original business vision
• The “helicopter view” strategy for finding clarity
• Why sales + delivery alignment matters more than you think

If your business feels heavier than it should, it’s time for a reset. 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

• John F. Kettley: Website, LinkedIn
• Sales Masters Guild 

Let’s be honest—most founders are chasing traction without stopping to ask: Is this still what I want to build?

In this episode, I talk with Amit Garg, Managing Partner at Tau Ventures, about what it means to build a purpose-aligned business from the ground up. From launching a hospital in India to raising $86M for a venture fund, Amit shares what real alignment looks like.

🎧 You’ll learn:

• How to know if your business is actually venture-backable
• What founders get wrong about raising capital
• Why your pitch deck could be building a business you don’t want to run
• How to use purpose as your operating system
• Why public thinking is the new investor filter

If your business looks successful but doesn’t feel right, it’s time to reset. 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

• Amit Garg: LinkedIn, X
• Hospital For Hope
• Tau Ventures
• Data Driven

Success isn’t always what it looks like on the outside.

In this episode, I talk with Justin Breen about what it really means to lead a visionary business—with clarity, intention, and zero fluff. We unpack Kolbe scores, mindset patterns, and the four traits that set true visionaries apart from the pack.

🔥 Inside this episode:

• How to measure your life with two daily questions
• Why “more” often leads to misery—not meaning
• How Justin uses pattern recognition to build rituals that scale
• The flywheel every founder needs: Mindset → Network → Opportunity
• What most founders get dead wrong about leadership

Let’s build better, not just bigger.  👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

• Justin Breen: LinkedIn, X, Instagram
• Join BrEpic Network
• Justin’s Map of EQ and IQ
• Kolbe
• Gallup Clifton Strengthfinders
• The Enneagram
• Working Genius
• Read Epic Life by Justin Breen
• Good to Great by Jim Collins
• Built to Last by Jim Collins
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

What if everything you know about “value-driven copy” is wrong?

In this episode, I talk to Will Green, Founder of Copy Road, about what actually makes copy convert. We dive into the difference between trust and tricks, and why the best copy doesn’t need a sales funnel—it needs a promise, proof, and process.

🔥 What you’ll learn:

• Why most copywriting fails (and what to do instead)
• The dead-simple rule that drives Will’s 7-figure campaigns
• How his offshore team is helping founders scale video at 80% less cost
• Why he thinks “free value” is overrated—and what to do instead
• What founders get wrong when hiring copywriters

Want to grow with less noise and more clarity? 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

• Will Green: Website, LinkedIn, X

Success isn’t just about strategy—it’s about how you communicate it. And when the message isn’t landing, it’s probably not your offer. It’s your story.

In this episode, storytelling expert Karen Eber joins A.J. to explore how to build trust with storytelling—whether you're pitching, leading, or aligning your team. You’ll learn how to craft stories that connect, convert, and evolve with your business.

🎧 Inside this episode:

• Why origin stories can actually hold you back
• How to find your customer’s pain—and tell the story they need
• The storytelling structure that works across leadership, sales, and culture
• How to plan a full year of strategic story content
• Why systems beat charisma every time

If you're tired of messaging that doesn’t stick or storytelling that never quite clicks, let’s change that. 👉Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

• Karen Eber: Website, LinkedIn, X
• Book mentioned: The Perfect Story by Karen Eber