E#61: In this special “Best Of” episode of Budget Your Business, Scott pulls together insights from past guests on leadership and better decision-making for business owners. The episode explores practical frameworks for evaluating decisions, involving the right people, creating dedicated time to work on the business, and knowing when to bring in outside expertise. Business owners also share how transparency, financial information, and a strong leadership team can lead to better decisions as a company grows.

Book Recommendation: Simon Sinek Leaders Eat Last 

Find out more about our guests: 

Scott Geller https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-geller-cfo/ 

James Long https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdlong/ 

Gus Iurillo https://www.linkedin.com/in/gusiurillo/ 

Brittany Toler https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-toler/ 

Benny Bowman https://www.linkedin.com/in/benny-bowman-06a42a11/ 

Patrick Butler https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickbbutler/  

Eric Ellington https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ellington-4658b63b/ 

Sam Anderson https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-anderson-39863153/  

Paige Cocke https://www.linkedin.com/in/realizesuccess/ 

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Fan mail or feedback on the episode? Email me at [email protected] 

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E#60: Every growing business has a constraint—whether it's people, cash, systems, processes, or leadership. In this solo episode, Scott explains how identifying and removing the biggest bottleneck is one of the most important responsibilities of a business leader. Through real client examples, he shares a practical framework for finding constraints, measuring their impact, and building a plan to eliminate them so your business can continue to scale.

Podcast Recommendation: Think Fast, Talk Smart by Matt Abrahams (Stanford University)

Find out more about Scott N Geller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-geller-cfo/

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Fan mail or feedback on the episode? Email me at [email protected] 

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E#59: Social media has become one of the most powerful—and cost-effective—ways for small businesses to grow their brand. In this episode, Scott sits down with Sam Anderson, founder of Enso Media Firm, to discuss why consistency beats perfection, how business owners can build trust through content, and why every company should think of itself as a media company first. Sam also shares lessons from building his own business, growing a personal brand that has generated millions of views, and the leadership challenges that come with scaling a company. 

Podcast Recommendations: 

Market Mondays (by Earn Your Leisure) 

Contrarian Thinking by Cody Sanchez 

School of Hard Knocks 

You Can't Afford Me

Find out more about Sam Anderson: 

Search Mr. Preneur on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram

EnsoMediaFirm on social media

EnsoMediaFirm.com  

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Fan mail or feedback on the episode? Email me at [email protected]

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E#57: From Gut Instinct to Predictable Growth with Brittany Toler

What separates companies that consistently grow from those that struggle to gain traction? In this episode, Scott Geller talks with Brittany Toler about building a business with intentional execution through EOS and the Outgrow framework. They discuss creating alignment around company priorities, building consistent sales processes, improving revenue forecasting, and helping leadership teams move from gut instinct to measurable, repeatable growth. Whether you're leading a small team or a growing organization, this conversation offers practical ideas for creating focus, accountability, and sustainable revenue growth.

Book Recommendation: 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy

Find out more about Brittany Toler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-toler/ 

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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E#57: What does it take to keep your best leaders from leaving? In this episode, Scott Geller sits down with Devon Cury of Sasta Financial Group to discuss executive benefits and long-term incentive plans for small and mid-sized businesses. Devin explains how business owners can use customized retention strategies to reward key executives, protect company value, support succession planning, and create stronger leadership continuity. The conversation explores how executive benefits work, when they make sense, the financial considerations involved, and why investing in top talent can generate significant long-term returns for both the company and its leaders. 

Podcast Recommendation: Success for the Athletic Minded Man

Find out more about Devon Cury: 

Sastafinancial.com

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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E#56: In this episode of Budget Your Business, Scott Geller welcomes Bjarte Bogsnes, one of the leading voices behind the Beyond Budgeting movement, to challenge traditional budgeting and management practices. Throw out the old corporate and welcome a refreshing new approach for large and small businesses. They discuss why annual budgets often create unintended behaviors, how separating target setting, forecasting, and resource allocation can improve decision-making, and why businesses should focus on adaptability rather than rigid plans. Bjarte shares practical examples from organizations that have embraced more dynamic planning methods and explains how small businesses can maintain the agility of a startup while still growing and scaling successfully.

Book Recommendation: 

This is Beyond Budgeting by Bjarte Bogsnes

Find out more about Bjarte Bogsnes: 

https://bogsnesadvisory.com/ 

BBRT.org 

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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E#55: In this episode of Budget Your Business, Scott Geller sits down with Katy Whitehead to break down how ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) work and why they are becoming an increasingly popular succession strategy for business owners. They discuss how ESOPs can help owners preserve company culture, reward employees, maintain independence, and create a long-term transition plan without selling to an outside buyer. Katy also explains the financial structure behind ESOPs, the role of cash flow and valuation, how employees benefit from ownership, and the key factors business owners should evaluate before considering an ESOP.

Book Recommendation: The Five Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom

Find out more about Katy Whitehead: https://esoptrustcompany.com/ 

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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E#54: In this episode, Scott sits down with Brant Lingle to unpack one of the most overlooked areas of business ownership: succession planning. They discuss why many owners delay or avoid these conversations, how early planning creates more options and better outcomes, and why communication with family, employees, and advisors is critical to getting it right. Brant shares practical ways to get started—from leveraging trusted advisors to building a long-term vision—and emphasizes that a well-executed transition creates clarity, reduces stress, and sets up both the current and next generation for success. 

Book Recommendation: Harvard Business Review

Find out more about Brant Lingle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brantlingle/ 

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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E#53: In this episode, Scott Geller wraps up the series he conducted with banking experts. He distills conversations with bankers across community, regional, CDFI, and large institutions (via a new and unique conversation style) into one clear takeaway. He breaks down how different banks serve different stages of growth, highlights why relationships with proactive bankers matter more than most owners realize, and challenges common misconceptions around lending. The episode closes with practical guidance on what actually gets deals done and helping business owners think more strategically about their banking partnerships. 

Let Scott know what you thought of the Banking Series and whether you would like to listen to other series - throw in series ideas even! You can email him at [email protected]. 

Book Recommendation: The Man Who Knew by Sebastian Mallaby

Find out more about Scott Geller: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-geller-cfo/

[email protected] 

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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E#52: In this episode, Scott sits down with Benny Bowman, a former president turned advisor who shares a real-world perspective on leadership, planning, and building a business that can outlast you. Drawing from a career that grew a company from $6M to $36M, the conversation focuses on succession planning, involving the entire organization in budgeting, and why starting with sales goals is critical to any plan. They also explore the importance of balancing financial decisions with the human element, learning from past mistakes, and building financial strength outside the business. The episode wraps with practical insights on thinking beyond the day-to-day, planning for the end from the beginning, and leading in a way that is both strategic and human. 

Book Recommendation: 

Traction: Get A Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman

Floyd Wickman (Gino’s father) sales training

Be Where Your Feet Are by Scott O'Neill 

Find out more about Benny Bowman: 

www.irongatecapital.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benny-bowman-06a42a11/

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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