Business With The Boyz

If you've ever mowed lawns to make extra cash, this episode will hit home. Today, David DeCelle sits down with Brian Clayton, founder and CEO of GreenPal — the lawn care marketplace Entrepreneur Magazine has called "the Uber for lawn care." Brian's story starts with a teenager pushing a mower for $20 a yard to buy soccer cleats… and turns into building and selling a $10M+/year landscaping company before doing it again in tech, creating a platform that connects hundreds of thousands of homeowners with tens of thousands of lawn care pros across the U.S. In this conversation, Brian breaks down what it really takes to scale a "non-sexy" service business, why sales is the real business behind every business, and how AI + data are changing the future of local services. Key Topics Covered:

• How a $20 lawn turned into an entrepreneurial obsession

• The real lessons lawn mowing teaches (scheduling, customer service, bookkeeping, marketing)

• The "video game" concept of business growth: each level has a new boss

• When Brian stopped being a "lawn guy" and realized he was in the sales business

• The inflection point: from solo operator to crews, to scaling up operations

• What it's like to sell a company (and why the exit was "chewing glass")

• The unexpected reality after a big exit: motivation, identity, and momentum

• Why Brian launched GreenPal — and how early assumptions were wrong

• Marketplace vs SaaS: why marketplace founders end up building SaaS tools anyway

• How GreenPal prevents vendors from going "off-platform" (carrot + stick + data)

• The behind-the-scenes mechanics: property measurement, tax record APIs, aerial imagery, and quote automation

• The gritty early days: door hangers, Craigslist, calling pros, hand-cranking the first 100 transactions

• Brian's feedback/triage philosophy for building products that scale

• Where AI fits: reducing cancellations, improving reliability, and "closing the gap to magic"

• The book Brian says every entrepreneur should revisit: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Where to Find Brian Clayton

Website: www.GreenPal.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-clayton-a96b33214 If you like conversations that mix entrepreneurship, real operator stories, and modern growth strategy, make sure to subscribe and share this episode with a friend who's building something. #BusinessWithTheBoys #BrianClayton #GreenPal #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Landscaping #LawnCare #HomeServices #Marketplace #StartupStory #Sales #AI #BusinessGrowth #ServiceBusiness #FounderJourney ---- Connect with David: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daviddecelle Email: [email protected] Connect with Landon: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/landon-troyer-837b822b Email: [email protected]

In this episode, host David DeCelle sits down with Daniel McCauley, founder of Ultimas Engineering—a faith-based, family-owned firm based in Texas delivering MEP, Aquatics, and Structural Engineering across the country. With two master's degrees, a professional engineering license, and over 13 years of experience, Daniel brings both technical precision and genuine people-first leadership to the conversation.

🔑 Key Takeaways

1. Turning Frustration into Opportunity

Daniel saw inefficiencies in traditional outsourced engineering models and turned that pain point into a business built on communication, speed, and reliability.

2. Building a Business Beyond the Blueprints

He shares his journey from Halliburton engineer to business owner—and how he learned that great engineering alone isn't enough. Marketing, storytelling, and human connection are essential.

3. The Power of Communication

From Toastmasters to corporate leadership, Daniel discusses how mastering communication transformed his ability to lead, sell, and connect.

4. Hiring the Right People

His rule of thumb: If he can send an engineer to a client dinner in his place and the client still wants to work with them afterward, they're hired.

5. Givers Gain: Networking Done Right

Daniel believes the best way to grow is by connecting others selflessly—because those good deeds always circle back.

6. Lessons in Leadership

Drawing from John Maxwell's "Five Levels of Leadership", Daniel reflects on creating leaders who create more leaders—a ripple effect that defines long-term impact.

What makes this episode stand out is how Daniel breaks the stereotype of the "quiet engineer." He's personable, communicative, and deeply focused on relationships—the very qualities that helped him build a thriving firm that engineers better communities.

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Connect with David:

Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daviddecelle

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Landon:

Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/landon-troyer-837b822b

Email: [email protected]

Join us as Dr. Todd Johnson shares his incredible journey from traditional medicine to a groundbreaking concierge healthcare model. Discover how he's solving patient care challenges, reducing bureaucratic barriers, and creating a more personalized medical experience.

🔑 In This Episode:

• Introduction to Dr. Todd Johnson
• Early medical career and aspirations
• Discovering the concierge medicine model
• Challenges of transitioning to a new practice model
• Patient panel size and appointment differences
• Pricing and affordability
• Business insights and recommended books

#Healthcare #ConciergeDoctor #MedicalInnovation #EntrepreneurialMedicine #PatientCare

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Connect with David:

Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daviddecelle

Email: [email protected] Connect with Landon:

Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/landon-troyer-837b822b

Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Business With The Boyz, hosts Landon Troyer and David DeCelle sit down with Garrett Vetter, co-founder of Vital Virtue, to unpack how he's helping independent physicians take back control of their practices. From growing up on a Nebraska farm to building a healthcare-focused Managed Service Organization (MSO), Garrett shares how saying "yes" to opportunity, embracing technology, and building great culture can transform both providers' lives and patient outcomes.

💡 In this episode, you'll learn: 00:02 – Introductions & how Garrett connected with the Boyz 02:19 – Garrett's background: from Nebraska farm roots to healthcare 11:34 – Building a career by raising your hand and saying "yes" 19:29 – What is an MSO? (Managed Service Organization) and why it matters 27:40 – Garrett's vision for the future of healthcare and independent medicine 37:24 – Garrett's book recommendation 39:01 – How to connect with Garrett

🔗 Connect with Garrett Vetter – Co-founder, Vital Virtue

• Website: vitalbvirtue.net

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/garrett-vetter-630b97114

• Email: [email protected]

If you're passionate about healthcare, entrepreneurship, or building organizations that actually make life better for real people, this episode will give you a ton to think about. Don't forget to like the video, subscribe to Business With The Boyz, and share this episode with someone who cares about the future of independent medicine.

#BusinessWithTheBoyz #GarrettVetter #VitalVirtue #Healthcare #IndependentMedicine #HealthTech #Entrepreneurship #HealthcareLeadership #MSO #PracticeManagement

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Connect with David:

Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daviddecelle

Email: [email protected] Connect with Landon:

Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/landon-troyer-837b822b

Email: [email protected]

Ever wonder how to actually make your business worth more — not just in revenue, but in real enterprise value?

In this episode, David DeCelle sits down with Mark Osborne, named by Ad Age Magazine as one of the Top 25 Marketing Technology Trailblazers in the world. Mark breaks down the 13 marketing and sales levers that directly impact EBITDA and valuation — insights pulled from his white paper Maximize the Multiple.

From selling out concerts in the early internet days to running AI-driven marketing systems that scale and sell companies — this conversation bridges the worlds of creativity, analytics, and exit strategy.

What You'll Learn:

💡 The difference between revenue growth and enterprise value (and why most founders confuse the two)

💡 How to use marketing systems to boost EBITDA before selling your business

💡 Why "marketing and sales" are no longer separate — they're one revenue engine

💡 The 13 levers every owner should pull before exit

💡 The wild story of how Mark built one of the fastest-growing agencies in America from scratch

💡 The surprising origin of email marketing (and how a Dave Matthews Band bootleg changed everything)

🔗 Resources Mentioned: Connect with Mark: linkedin.com/in/remarkablemark

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Connect with David: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daviddecelle Email: [email protected]

Connect with Landon: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/landon-troyer-837b822b Email: [email protected]

In this powerful episode, David and Landon sit down with Matt Warner—serial entrepreneur, culture-driven leader, and founder of Empire Netting and Fence. Matt shares his journey from humble beginnings and early business failures to leading multiple successful companies with over 150 team members. He dives deep into the principles of servant leadership, the importance of trust, and the systems that have helped him scale and empower his teams.

Key Topics Covered:

Matt's entrepreneurial journey: from bankruptcy to building a national leader in sports netting and fencing

The power of servant leadership and why "you reap what you sow"

How Monday morning meetings and "building trust" rituals drive company culture

Lessons from business setbacks and the value of extreme ownership

Overcoming personal challenges, including dyslexia, and turning them into strengths

Implementing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to scale multiple businesses

The importance of empowering your team and stepping out of the way as a leader

Practical life and leadership skills Matt teaches his team

The "Friday Report" system for financial clarity and accountability

Matt's vision for the future: a sabbatical to teach leadership and culture nationwide

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Connect with David: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daviddecelle Email: [email protected]

Connect with Landon: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/landon-troyer-837b822b Email: [email protected]

One more time for the Boyz in the back!

Today we are sitting down with Elina Panteleyeva, founder of Dude Wolf—a seven-figure e-commerce brand built for doodle dog owners. Alina shares her inspiring journey from being laid off in 2023 to launching her first product and scaling her business to seven figures in just 15 months, all without prior e-commerce experience, a team, or outside investors.

Key Highlights:

• How Elina turned a layoff into an entrepreneurial opportunity
• The power of mindset, vision boards, and daily affirmations in overcoming self-doubt
• Building an audience and community before launching a product
• Using direct customer feedback and organic social media to develop and validate products
• The importance of human connection over automation in customer engagement
• Bootstrapping, taking calculated risks, and leveraging savings to fund growth
• Launching with a small but engaged email list and scaling to 20,000+ subscribers
• Product development insights: from detangler spray to shampoo and upcoming launches
• The value of reviews, personal outreach, and building raving fans

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, Elina's story is packed with actionable advice on resilience, community-building, and authentic brand growth.

Tune in for a candid conversation about risk, reward, and the real work behind building a successful e-commerce brand from scratch!

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Connect with David: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daviddecelle Email: [email protected]

Connect with Landon: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/landon-troyer-837b822b Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Business With The Boyz, David and Landon sit down with Doug C. Brown, CEO of CEO Sales Strategies and a renowned expert in sales, revenue, and profit growth. Doug shares his journey from sweeping floors in his father's business at age three to founding or building over 35 companies and generating nearly $1 billion in sales.

Key Topics:

• Doug's entrepreneurial beginnings and lessons learned from early wins and setbacks
• The importance of a math-based, metrics-driven approach to sales and business growth
• Mindset shifts: overcoming scarcity thinking, the power of gratitude, and building resilience after failure
• The value of accountability, daily habits, and surrounding yourself with the right people
• Why Doug has started 38 businesses, and how he decides when to pivot, partner, or shut one down

Actionable Takeaways:

• Embrace a metrics-based approach for predictable business growth
• Practice daily gratitude and positive habits to shift your mindset
• Seek accountability partners to help you stay on track
• Learn from both your own and others' successes and failures

Resources & Mentions:

• Book Recommendation: Inner Voice by Russ Whitney
• Connect with Doug: [email protected] | LinkedIn: Doug C Brown 123 | CEO Sales Strategies Podcast
• Tune in for inspiring stories, practical advice, and a candid look at the ups and downs of entrepreneurship!

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Connect with David: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daviddecelle Email: [email protected]

Connect with Landon: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/landon-troyer-837b822b Email: [email protected]

This week the boyz are chopping it up with financial advisor and ESOP specialist Gerry Spitzer. Gerry shares his journey from accounting to financial planning, the importance of finding your passion, and why ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) can be a game-changer for business owners looking to exit while preserving their legacy.

We discuss:

Gerry's career path and lessons learned from major transitions

What is an ESOP? How it works, tax benefits, and why it's often overlooked

Real-world ESOP success stories, including Publix Super Markets

The complexities and ideal scenarios for ESOPs vs. private equity or strategic sales

How ESOPs can incentivize employees and ensure business continuity

Industry trends: Why construction and related fields are leading in ESOP adoption

Book recommendation: Steve Jobs biography

Gerry's new podcast: Buyouts, Business, and Bourbon

About Gerry Spitzer:

Gerry Spitzer is a nationally recognized expert in ESOPs and exit planning for business owners. As co-founder of Questar Capital Partners, he helps founders design tax-efficient exit strategies that preserve legacy, reward employees, and maximize value. With 30+ years in wealth management, Gerry works with companies generating $20M–$300M in revenue, guiding them through complex succession and liquidity events.

📞 Connect with Gerry ✉ [email protected] 📱 850-655-6500 🌐 https://www.questarcap.com/

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Connect with David: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daviddecelle Email: [email protected]

Connect with Landon: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/landon-troyer-837b822b Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Business with the Boyz, David and Landon sit down with Chris Shihadeh, president of Skylab Digital—a leading performance marketing agency specializing in lead generation for Medicare and insurance companies. Chris shares his entrepreneurial journey, from childhood ventures to building and scaling multiple companies, and the hard lessons learned along the way.

Tune in as Chris discusses:

The importance of company culture and hiring the right team

Lessons from early business failures and ego checks

How Skylab Digital automates processes and drives high revenue per employee

Best practices in performance marketing and creative testing

Navigating compliance and challenges in the insurance lead gen space

Building incentive structures that keep top talent motivated

Chris also recommends "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni as a must-read for entrepreneurs. Connect with Chris at skylabdigital.com or on LinkedIn.

Don't miss this candid conversation packed with insights for business owners, marketers, and aspiring entrepreneurs!

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Connect with David: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daviddecelle Email: [email protected]

Connect with Landon: Website: www.businesswiththeboyz.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/landon-troyer-837b822b Email: [email protected]