Matt throws out one word at a time. Brian and Brad react in real time. "Banks." Brian grimaces. "Private equity." Brad winces. By the time they hit friends and family, Brian's wife had stopped asking how the business was going. Her family had money in it. This is episode three of Season 2. Every funding source comes with a person attached, and that person is you.

*YOU'LL DISCOVER* • Why banks only give you money when you don't need it (and disappear when you do) • The VC trap: why taking the first check that's offered might be the worst decision you make • What angel investors actually want (and why some will drag you to their parties) • The friends and family line that gets crossed at Thanksgiving • Why Brian and Brad had completely opposite reactions to the same funding truth

*WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Ask what else they bring: Rolodex to bigger money, board experience, law firms, HR firms • Put your own money in first, even the last $5,000 proves you believe it • Set expectations before friends and family write a check or it gets ugly fast

*WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf runs By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest and pulls out the chaos. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it.

*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "You only get money from banks when you don't need it. When you really need it? It's like pulling teeth." Are you picking the right investor or just the first one who says yes? 👇 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories, real disasters, no LinkedIn energy. ————————————

*TIMESTAMPS*

0:00 - The PE Reputation: Sell Yourself to the Devil

1:26 - Matt's Word Association Game Begins

6:07 - Banks Only Give It When You Don't Need It

8:03 - Private Equity: Bean Counters or Growth Machines

12:20 - Venture Capital: The $10M Trap

16:03 - Angel Investors: Betting on the Jockey

22:11 - Friends and Family: The Delicate Balance

28:29 - Investing in Yourself: The Last $5,000

*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches.

🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three funding philosophies. Pick the one that matches your investor.

🍸 THE JOCKEY Brian Balduf - The storyteller who's been there and sold the company Recipe: • 2 oz scotch • 0.75 oz lemon juice • 0.5 oz honey syrup • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Lemon twist • Shake with ice, strain into rocks glass The Vibe: Angel investors aren't betting on the plan. They're betting on the person holding it. This drink is confident and earns its reputation sip by sip. Be the kind of jockey worth betting on.

🍸 THE FAMILY PARTY Brad Balduf - The operator who scaled across 11 locations Recipe: • 2 oz tequila reposado • 0.75 oz lime juice • 0.5 oz agave syrup • 0.25 oz Cointreau • Tajín rim • Shake with ice, strain over ice The Vibe: Warm, festive, everyone wants in. Then someone corners you at the buffet asking when they're getting their money back. Brad's wife stopped asking how the business was going because her family had money in it. Sounds easy until the holidays.

🍸 THE POOL TABLE Matt Croke - The host keeping it honest Recipe: • 2 oz Irish whiskey • 0.75 oz sweet vermouth • 0.25 oz Benedictine • 2 dashes orange bitters • Orange peel • Stir with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: Brad loaned Brian's company money once. Brian calls it a loan. Brad calls it a loss on the pool table. Sometimes the most expensive money isn't from a VC. It's from the guy sitting across from you at Thanksgiving. Make all three. Which investor are you working with? The jockey bet? The family money? Or writing it off as a pool table loss? Tag us.

*JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros

#bestbusinesspodcast #entrepreneurship #startupfunding #investors #angelinvesting #venturecapital #smallbusiness

Brian owned the world's largest collection of bathroom photos. A tech giant stole them for a second business and said "go sue someone else." Brian had $2 million in revenue. The legal bill? Five million. So a stranger in New York agreed to pay everything for 30% of the winnings. Eight years later, Brian won the case now taught in law schools. This is episode two. When winning in court costs more than settling.

*YOU'LL DISCOVER* • Why Brian pioneered bulk copyright registration with the Copyright Office to protect hundreds of thousands of photographs • The litigation financing deal that paid $5 million in legal fees for 30% of winnings • How the tech giant challenged bulk copyright validity (precedent-setting case now taught in law schools) • Why Disney, NBC, Universal, and Comcast filed amicus briefs supporting the lawsuit • Why Brian wishes he'd forced a settlement instead of winning

*WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Protect your IP early: Register copyrights from day one, even when it seems unnecessary • Litigation financing exists: Third parties will pay legal bills for a percentage of the win • Pending protects you: "Patent pending" or "trademark pending" works while processing • Settlements beat victories: Eight years of appeals might not be worth the win *WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf runs By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest and pulls out the chaos. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it. *THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "Looking back, we probably would have done better settling. We had a law firm that could've forced them to settle for a big amount. But we chose to win this case instead." Ever fought a battle you won but shouldn't have?

👇 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories, real disasters, no LinkedIn energy. ————————————

*TIMESTAMPS* 0:00 - Brian's bathroom photo collection

2:13 - Three types of intellectual property

7:26 - The second business that stole everything

14:02 - Pioneering bulk copyright registration

16:11 - Never tested in courts before

21:44 - Litigation financing explained

25:26 - Brian wins, then 4 years of appeals

28:41 - Why settlement was smarter

*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches.

🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three players in an 8-year legal war. Pick your side.

🍸 *THE DAVID* Brian Balduf - $2M revenue taking on billions Recipe: • 2 oz Scotch • ¾ oz cherry liqueur • ½ oz lemon juice • 2 dashes chocolate bitters • Luxardo cherry garnish • Shake with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: Small but sophisticated. Scotch hits hard with less volume. Brian had $2 million facing a $5 million legal bill. This drink proves you don't need size to pack a punch.

🍸 *THE LITIGATION FUNDER* Brad Balduf - The stranger who bet $5M Brian would win Recipe: • 2 oz Cognac • 1 oz Grand Marnier • ½ oz fresh lemon juice • Orange twist • Stir with ice, strain into rocks glass The Vibe: Expensive, refined, calculated risk. A company in New York said "we'll pay everything for 30% of the win." Cognac doesn't come cheap. Neither does betting $5 million on a precedent-setting lawsuit.

🍸 *THE AMICUS BRIEF* Matt Croke - Disney, NBC, Universal watching from the sidelines Recipe: • 3 oz Champagne • 1 oz St-Germain • ½ oz lemon juice • Lemon twist • Build in flute, add champagne last The Vibe: High society watching the fight. Disney, NBC, Universal, and Comcast filed friend-of-the-court briefs because this case mattered to everyone with intellectual property. Elegant, invested in the outcome, but not getting hands dirty. Make all three. Figure out your role. Are you the underdog fighting? The funder betting big? Or the industry watching to see who wins? Tag us.

*JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros

#IntellectualProperty #CopyrightLaw #StartupLessons #Entrepreneurship #LegalBattle #bestbusinesspodcast #leadership

*Season 2 Premiere: You made it through year one. That was the easy part.*

Matt tried to replace the brothers with the Manning brothers for Season 2. Peyton and Eli never responded. Neither did the Baldwins, the Bushes, or the Harbaughs. So Brian and Brad are back, new studio and all, ready to talk about what happens when your business hits year two. Here's the thing nobody tells you: year one is survival mode. You're running so hard that you don't notice expenses creeping up or competitors watching what you're doing. Then you hit year two and suddenly you're spending $100,000 a month instead of $10,000. Competition either wakes up or shows up. The easy run is over. This is Season 2 Episode 1. What happens when you can't coast anymore.

*YOU'LL DISCOVER* • Why year two is when competition wakes up or storms in • The "throttle down plus plus" mentality Brad uses to stay aggressive • How to use year one baselines to build year two budgets • The difference between zero-based and baseline budgeting

*WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Don't assume year two repeats year one • Review every expense that snuck in • Ask customers three simple questions • Focus on your core

*WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf runs By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest and pulls out the chaos. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it.

*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "Year two, you got to relook at your expenses because a lot of things will have snuck in during that first year. You were spending $10,000 a month when you started and you're spending $100,000 now." What mistakes are sneaking into your year two? 👇 SUBSCRIBE for Season 2. New studio. New founder interviews. Same brutal honesty.

*TIMESTAMPS* 0:00 - Season 2 premiere

4:20 - Year one vs year two

6:10 - Bean Bags vs Bean Bag King

9:30 - When competition wakes up

11:45 - Throttle down plus plus

14:30 - Baseline budgeting

17:05 - Advice for both sides

19:10 - Customer surveys

21:30 - Zero-based vs baseline

24:45 - Year two validation

*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches.

🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three year-two realities. Pick the one that matches your situation.

🍸 THE BEAN BAG KING Brad Balduf - The operator who won't get complacent Recipe: • 2 oz aged rum • 1 oz coffee liqueur • 0.5 oz demerara syrup • 2 dashes chocolate bitters • Orange peel • Stir with ice, strain into rocks glass The Vibe: You owned 100% of the market until some kid opened a drive-thru and stole your customers. Now you either sell or wake up and fight back. This drink's rich, established, knows its worth. Question is: will you get lazy or protect what you built?

🍸 BEAN BAGS R US Brian Balduf - The storyteller who's seen competitors strike Recipe: • 2 oz vodka • 1 oz lime juice • 0.75 oz ginger syrup • 0.5 oz Cointreau • Fresh ginger slice • Shake hard with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: You stormed the market with a drive-thru and crushed the old guard year one. Year two? They're awake now. They copied your hours, matched your prices, installed their own drive-thru. What's your next move? This drink's sharp, aggressive, ready to pivot.

🍸 THE THROTTLE DOWN Matt Croke - The host watching both sides battle Recipe: • 2 oz Irish whiskey • 0.75 oz lemon juice • 0.5 oz honey syrup • 3 dashes Angostura bitters • Lemon wheel • Shake with ice, strain over large cube The Vibe: Brad's philosophy for year two: throttle down plus plus. No breaks. No coasting. Competition's coming whether you're the incumbent or the upstart. This drink's smooth but commits fully. Just like year two demands. Make all three. Figure out which position you're in. Defending your turf? Attacking the market? Just trying to stay aggressive? Tag us.

*JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros

#entrepreneurship #startupstrategy #yeartwo #businessgrowth

Brad runs full throttle intentionally. He knows if he operates at 100%, his leadership captures 70%. Their teams? 50%. Front line? 30%. That's why he inspects what he expects. If you don't verify, your message dies three levels down. Brian sees it differently. Rock hits a pond, ripples weaken. His brand message starts at 100%, hits 50% by sales. This is episode 50. The degradation principle.

*YOU'LL DISCOVER* • Brad's degradation theory: running at 70% means your team runs at 30% • How brand messages lose 50% power by the time they reach customers • The "inspect what you expect" principle: verify or watch it die three levels down • The visibility principle: Kalahari's CEO picks up trash so everyone else does

*WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Run at 110% knowing it degrades to 80% (set your floor impossibly high) • Foster ambassadors: most visible people must reflect your values • Be the brick not the pebble: big ripples reach the edges

*WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf runs By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest and pulls out the chaos. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it.

*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "If you let off the throttle, that's 90% captured, 85% down to 70%, down to 50%. That's not even the message we wanted out there with customers." What's degrading in your business right now?

👇 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories, real disasters, no LinkedIn energy.

*TIMESTAMPS*

1:10 - Car wash business model debate

4:06 - What degradation means when running a company

5:05 - Brad's 100-70-50-30 theory

6:27 - Brian's ripples in a pond

8:00 - Pebble vs brick

10:16 - Your floor must be impossibly high

13:25 - Death by a thousand paper cuts

16:54 - Todd Nelson picks up trash

17:29 - Being visible vs fading

18:08 - Office vs remote debate

22:15 - Foster ambassadors

*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches.

🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three leadership philosophies. Pick the one that matches your approach.

🍸 THE DEGRADATION TAX Brad Balduf - The operator who scaled across 11 locations Recipe: • 2 oz vodka • 0.75 oz lime juice • 0.5 oz simple syrup • 4 cucumber slices • Pinch of salt • Muddle cucumber, shake with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: Clean, sharp, unforgiving. Brad's math is brutal: you run at 100%, your team at 70%, their teams at 50%. Zero room for sloppiness. By the time it reaches the bottom, half your message is gone.

🍸 THE RIPPLE EFFECT Brian Balduf - The storyteller who's been there and sold the company Recipe: • 2 oz scotch • 0.5 oz honey syrup • 0.25 oz lemon juice • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Orange peel • Stir with ice, strain into rocks glass The Vibe: Rock hits the pond, ripples spread out and weaken. Brian's brand language starts at 100% with him, hits 90% with leadership, 75% with managers, 50% with sales. This drink is all about layers that unfold as you sip. Complex at first, mellows as it reaches you.

🍸 THE THOUSAND CUTS Matt Croke - The host keeping it real Recipe: • 2 oz aged rum • 1 oz pineapple juice • 0.5 oz lime juice • 0.5 oz Campari • Pineapple wedge • Shake with ice, strain over fresh ice The Vibe: Looks tropical, tastes sharp. A dollar here, $10 there, luxury hotel, first class flight. Brad's mentor taught him nothing gets taken for granted. Those small cuts add up and kill you before you realize you're bleeding. This drink's bitterness reminds you discipline matters everywhere. Make all three. Figure out which problem you're facing. Message degrading by 50%? Standards slipping at every level? Bleeding money on small stuff you ignore? Tag us.

*JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros

#Leadership #Degradation #BusinessStrategy #CEOLife #EntrepreneurMindset

Music: "Back to Black" by Rockin' For Decades (licensed through Epidemic Sound)

Brian was bringing on new customers when he ran out of money. Brad knows entrepreneurs who bought boats while their businesses were still bleeding cash. One of Brian's investors would ask him the same two questions every time they met: "How's your wife and what are you driving?" One question's about divorce. The other's about expensive cars that kill businesses before they get off the ground. Your baseline shifts without you even noticing. You start buying things and suddenly your expectations are different. Brad calls it lifestyle creep. This is episode 49. What entrepreneurs get wrong about money.

*YOU'LL DISCOVER*

• Why 3% profit margin loses to 4% money market

• When Brian ran out of money despite growing

• How lifestyle creep happens without you noticing

• "Never be an expense, be an investment"

• Degradation is imminent: employees spend looser than the CEO

*WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS*

• Build slowly, ramp fast once profitable

• One-time vs fixed expenses matter

• Set the tone - employees follow your habits

• Review financials to catch overspending

*WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf runs By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest and pulls out the chaos. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it.

*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "I've seen businesses growing like crazy that just spent themselves into oblivion. Their gross profit margins are zip." Chasing revenue while ignoring profit?

👇 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories, real disasters, no LinkedIn energy. ————————————

*TIMESTAMPS*

1:10 - Revenue makes you feel good, profit sets you free

6:19 - When they ran out of money

9:34 - The 3% vs 4% money market problem

12:33 - Every $50K hire better have impact

16:02 - Lifestyle creep: boats when business is bleeding

17:23 - The investor who asked "What are you driving?"

21:49 - One-time vs fixed expenses

24:38 - Degradation is imminent ————————————

*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches.

🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three money mistakes. Pick the one that matches your spending habits.

🍸 *THE 3% PROFIT* Brad Balduf - Why investors won't touch you Recipe: • 2 oz vodka • 1 oz dry vermouth • ¼ oz olive brine • 2 olives • Stir with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: Clean, simple, barely profitable. Brad's point about 3% profit losing to a 4% money market account. This martini's classic but there's barely any flavor margin here. Just like your business when you're chasing revenue and forgetting profit.

🍸 *THE LIFESTYLE CREEP* Brian Balduf - The boat you bought when business was bleeding Recipe: • 2 oz aged rum • 1 oz pineapple juice • ¾ oz lime juice • ½ oz orgeat • Mint sprig • Shake with ice, strain over crushed ice The Vibe: Tropical, expensive-looking, tastes like vacation. Brian's investor always asked "what are you driving?" because entrepreneurs start making money and buy fancy cars. Your baseline shifts without you knowing. One day it's beer and pizza, next it's bottles of champagne at Lowe's hotels.

🍸 *THE BARNABY'S BUDGET* Matt Croke - Beer and pizza while execs drink champagne Recipe: • 2 oz Irish whiskey • 1 oz ginger beer • ¾ oz lemon juice • ½ oz honey syrup • Lemon wheel • Build in rocks glass over ice, top with ginger beer The Vibe: Simple, affordable, gets the job done. Brian ate at Barnaby's with free parking while his execs stayed at Lowe's and valetted at the airport. Degradation is imminent - whatever standard you set as CEO, employees will spend one level looser. This drink proves you don't need expensive ingredients to win. Make all three. Figure out which mistake you're making. Generating revenue with no profit? Buying boats when cash flow's dying? Setting the tone with tight spending? Tag us.

*JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros

#Entrepreneurship #ProfitMargins #BusinessFinance #StartupLife #RevenueVsProfit

Music: "Back to Black" by Rockin' For Decades (licensed through Epidemic Sound)

Brad asks for exactly 15 minutes. At 14 minutes and 59 seconds, he stands up and leaves. Doesn't matter if they're interested or want him to stay. He asked for 15 minutes, that's what he takes. Most salespeople overstay. Brad walks out while they're still engaged. Next meeting, they already know he respects time. No bracing for a pitch that won't end. This is episode 50. How to actually close deals instead of just talking about closing.

*YOU'LL DISCOVER*

• Brad's 15-minute rule: leaving on the number gets more second meetings

• VHT Studios closed 10,000 units in Jacksonville, Orlando said "we weren't involved" •

Why dropping price proves you never conveyed value

• Where deals die after you think they're closed

*WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS*

• Ask for short time, leave exactly when promised

• Ask who signs the contract upfront

• Never drop price first (shows you don't believe in value)

• Stay urgent after verbal yes (time kills unsigned deals)

*WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf runs By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest and pulls out the chaos. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it.

*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "If you resort to price reduction early, you're showing your cards. You've left yourself nowhere to go. You didn't convey value. The deal was already lost." Ever close a deal only to watch it die in legal? Drop your approach in the comments.

👇 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories, real disasters, no LinkedIn energy. ————————————

*TIMESTAMPS*

0:43 - Every employee should take money from customers

4:05 - The three things that make closing work

10:30 - What are all the things that can go wrong?

13:00 - Dropping price is the rookie death spiral

16:02 - The Regional VP disaster (lost half the deal)

20:03 - Orlando region wasn't participating

26:40 - Brad's 15-minute rule (leave on the number)

29:11 - Time kills all deals (urgency after verbal yes)

*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches.

🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three closing strategies. Pick your move.

🍸 *THE 15-MINUTE TIMER* Brad Balduf - Leaves at 14:59 every time Recipe: • 2 oz tequila blanco • ¾ oz lime juice • ½ oz agave syrup • 2 dashes orange bitters • Lime wheel • Shake with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: Brad asks for 15 minutes and leaves on the number. No lingering, no pushing, no overstaying. This drink is clean, crisp, respectful. You asked for a cocktail, here it is, exactly as promised.

🍸 *THE REGIONAL VP* Brian Balduf - Sold 10,000 units to the wrong guy Recipe: • 2 oz dark rum • 1 oz pineapple juice • ½ oz lime juice • ¼ oz Campari • Pineapple wedge • Shake with ice, strain over fresh ice The Vibe: Looks complete, tastes good, then bitterness hits. VHT Studios negotiated for months with Jacksonville. Orlando said "we weren't involved." Only got half. This drink promises more than it delivers.

🍸 *THE RED LINE* Matt Croke - For deals that die in legal review Recipe: • 2 oz Irish whiskey • ¾ oz sweet vermouth • ½ oz Cynar • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Orange peel • Stir with ice, strain into rocks glass The Vibe: Smooth at first, then unexpected complexity. Deal's done, attorneys redline one thing, business people get involved, three weeks later there's a "major problem." This drink's got layers you didn't see coming. Make all three. Figure out your closing style. Respect time and leave early? Talk to the wrong person for months? Or think it's done before it's signed? Tag us.

*JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros

#entrepreneurship #sales #closingdeals #businessstrategy #startuplife

Music: "Back to Black" by Rockin' For Decades (licensed through Epidemic Sound)

Looking for mentorship but keep finding people who don't actually help? Brian never joined a formal program. He asked questions at lunch. David Robin had just sold Chicago's biggest real estate firm and was stuck in a non-compete. He couldn't work but could advise. Brian kept asking. Robin kept answering. Decades later, they still meet. Brad built his company by admitting "I don't know" while other CEOs fake it. His wise man was Brian, who helped him build everything (but won't accept credit.)

This is episode 46. How to find your wise man when programs and LinkedIn don't work.

*YOU'LL DISCOVER*

• How Brian never sought formal mentors but always found the right ones

• The conviction vs stubborn test that keeps you open

• How admitting "I don't know" attracts better mentors than faking it

• Why the best wise man relationships have no contract

*WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS*

• Ask questions like your business depends on it

• Never waste their time on things you could Google

• Stay open to counsel but keep conviction

*WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf runs By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest and pulls out the chaos. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it.

*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "There's a ton of shit I don't know." Most people fake expertise to look strong. The ones who admit ignorance get the real help. Ever found your wise man? Too stubborn to admit you need one?

👇 SUBSCRIBE for real stories about building companies without the corporate polish.

*TIMESTAMPS*

0:00 - Dementors vs Mentors (Matt's Harry Potter joke)

2:16 - Brian never sought mentors but always asked questions

3:24 - How Brian met David Robin (the lunch that changed everything)

5:13 - The North Shore real estate legend in non-compete lockup

7:28 - Why this relationship still works decades later

8:23 - Being open to advice beats faking expertise

9:44 - Brad's "I don't know" philosophy (people think it's weakness)

28:53 - Matt learned mentoring through hosting this show

29:57 - Brad admits Brian built his business (the reluctant wiseman exposed)

*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches.

🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three wise man strategies. Pick yours.

🍸 *THE RELUCTANT WISE MAN* Brian Balduf - The storyteller who's been there and sold the company Recipe: • 2 oz Irish whiskey • 0.75 oz honey syrup • 0.5 oz lemon juice • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Lemon twist • Shake with ice, strain into rocks glass The Vibe: Brian says he won't be held accountable for mentoring but built Brad's entire company anyway. This drink's smooth and generous, like advice given without keeping score. The honey makes wisdom easy to swallow.

🍸 *THE THOUSAND QUESTIONS* Brad Balduf - The operator running 550 employees across 11 centers Recipe: • 2 oz vodka • 1 oz St-Germain • 0.75 oz grapefruit juice • 0.5 oz lime juice • Grapefruit peel • Shake hard with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: Brad asked everything. Never faked knowing what he didn't. This drink's clean and honest, no hiding behind barrel-aging or smoke. You taste exactly what's in it, just like admitting "I don't know."

🍸 *THE INFORMAL ARRANGEMENT* Matt Croke - The host keeping it real and pulling out the chaos Recipe: • 2 oz cognac • 0.5 oz Grand Marnier • 0.5 oz lemon juice • 2 dashes orange bitters • Orange peel • Stir with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: No contract. No structure. Just lunch meetings that turn into decades of wisdom. This drink's got depth that only comes from time and consistency. No flash, just substance that lasts. Make all three. Are you the reluctant wise man helping anyway? The curious one asking everything? Or building something informal that lasts? Tag us. ————————————

*JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros

#Entrepreneurship #BusinessMentorship #CEOAdvice #StartupLife #Leadership

Music: "Back to Black" by Rockin' For Decades (licensed through Epidemic Sound)

Two CEO brothers. One podcast. Zero filters.

45+ episodes of business stories, lessons, disasters and triumphs you need to hear. Mark Cuban email wars at 2am. Climbing forklifts to reach your girlfriend's window. National hotel chains spending $80K on pool diarrhea warning signs. See some of the more memorable moments when the guys discuss and debate the ups, downs and just plain craziness of business from the perspective only two brothers, each with 35+ years of running different businesses, could share. This is CEO Bros - after hours.

The year in review. The moments that made this year: Brad refusing to fall asleep before Mark Cuban did during a 3am email negotiation. Brad's forklift romance climbing to his girlfriend's second-floor window. The hotel chain with $80K fabricated steel signs warning about pool diarrhea. The house squatter who crushed every interview until Brad called references: "Don't you under any circumstance hire that freaking asshole." Between the chaos: real business wisdom. Why founders fudge commitments. Why Brian moved his office next to the exit door. Setting company culture early. Why friction creates better solutions. Zero-based budgeting. Trust in deals. The difference between selling lasagna at a seafood restaurant and solving actual customer problems.

This isn't a highlight reel. It's proof that running a business is strategy, chaos, stubbornness, and climbing forklifts when you have to.

*WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf operates By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it.

*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "I'm not going to bed first. He's going to bed first." Sometimes the stubbornness that makes you a terrible negotiator makes you a great CEO. What was your favorite moment from Season 1?

👇 SUBSCRIBE for Season 2. More chaos, more disasters, more truth.

*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches.

🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three kinds of moments. Pick the one that matches your year.

🍸 *THE HIGHLIGHT REEL* Brian Balduf - The storyteller who sold the company Recipe: • 2 oz bourbon • 0.5 oz honey syrup • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Orange peel • Stir with ice, strain into rocks glass The Vibe: Smooth, refined, looks good on camera. Brian's got the wins that make people say "wow, you built that?" This drink's for the moments you screenshot and send to your mentor. Zero-based budgeting. Moving your office next to the exit. The logo sketched on a napkin that actually worked.

🍸 *THE LOWLIGHT REEL* Brad Balduf - The operator who scaled to 550 employees Recipe: • 2 oz mezcal • 1 oz Aperol • 0.75 oz lime juice • 0.5 oz agave syrup • Salt rim • Shake hard with ice, strain The Vibe: Smoky, intense, leaves a mark. Brad's got the disasters nobody warns you about. Forklift romance. 2am Cuban standoffs. Almost hiring a house squatter. This drink's for the moments you can't believe you survived but make the best stories later.

🍸 *THE CHAOS CUT* Matt Croke - The host keeping it real Recipe: • 1.5 oz gin • 0.75 oz elderflower liqueur • 0.75 oz lemon juice • Club soda • Build in glass, top with soda, stir gently The Vibe: Matt's job is asking the questions nobody else will and watching the brothers argue about pool signs, clown college, and whether "nits and nats" is a real phrase. This drink's balanced, refreshing, keeps you honest.

For everyone who watched 45+ episodes and thought "I can't believe they said that out loud." Make all three. Figure out which kind of year you had. Highlight reel wins? Lowlight disasters? Pure chaos? Tag us.

*JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH

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#entrepreneurship #startuplife #leadership #CEOpodcast #businessstories

Music: "Back to Black" by Rockin' For Decades (licensed through Epidemic Sound)

Brad's finance team noticed something weird in the 2026 budget and called the payroll company. The payroll company had no idea what they were talking about. Turns out 2026 has 27 pay periods instead of 26 if you're running bi-weekly payroll, and this hasn't happened in over a decade. It won't reverse itself in 2027 either. If you're not budgeting for that extra paycheck right now, you're heading for a cash crisis in December. Then comes the fun part. Brad has to tell 580 employees their paychecks are getting smaller. They think he's cutting their pay. He's not, it's the same annual salary, just spread over 27 periods instead of 26. But try explaining that math without starting a revolt. This is episode 46. The compensation disasters nobody warns you about.

*YOU'LL DISCOVER*

• Why 2026 has 27 paychecks and what it costs

• Brad's $250K merit increase that tanked morale

• The competitor tax scam stealing employees

• Why premium pay requires premium pricing

*WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS*

• Budget 27 pay periods NOW for 2026

• Communicate early about smaller checks (same annual pay)

• Show full comp math including taxes and benefits

WHO THESE GUYS ARE

Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf runs By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest and pulls out the chaos. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it.

*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH*

"I spent $250,000 on merit increases during our worst year. Employees said 'that's it?' I'd rather have given zero, kept the cash, and had the same bad morale." Ever given raises that made things worse? Drop a comment.

👇 SUBSCRIBE for real business talk every Friday. No LinkedIn energy.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - The 27th paycheck bomb

2:11 - Why 2026 breaks your budget

7:22 - Brad's $250K merit disaster

16:42 - The competitor tax scam

20:25 - Top 20% pay vs reality

*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches. ————————————

🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three compensation disasters. Pick the one that matches your Friday.

🍸 *THE 27TH PAYCHECK* Brad Balduf - Found the bomb nobody else saw Recipe: • 2 oz Japanese whisky • 1 oz sweet vermouth • ¼ oz maraschino liqueur • 2 dashes orange bitters • Brandied cherry garnish • Stir with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: Smooth until the surprise hits. Brad's finance team called the payroll company about 2026. They had no clue either. 27 pay periods instead of 26. Happens once a decade. This drink looks elegant until you realize there's an extra layer you didn't budget for.

🍸 *THE MERIT MASSACRE* Brian Balduf - When good intentions wreck morale Recipe: • 2 oz añejo tequila • ¾ oz lime juice • ½ oz agave nectar • ¼ oz Cointreau • Tajín rim • Shake hard, strain over ice The Vibe: Brad gave 1.5% merit increases during the toughest year. Cost $250K the company didn't have. Employees complained anyway. "That's it?" He wishes he'd given zero, kept the cash, had the same bad morale without the black eye. Sometimes the generous move still loses.

🍸 *THE TAX TRAP* Matt Croke - For the employees who got fooled Recipe: • 2 oz silver rum • 1 oz pineapple juice • ¾ oz coconut cream • ½ oz lime juice • Pineapple wedge • Shake hard, strain over crushed ice The Vibe: Competitors promised "$10 more per hour" but didn't withhold taxes. Employees bolted. Brad pulled them into conference rooms with calculators. "You're getting paid less." Some still didn't believe it. This drink looks tropical and sweet until you realize the bill comes later.

Make all three. Figure out which disaster you're facing. The hidden paycheck? The raise that backfired? The too-good-to-be-true offer?

Tag us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION*

https://x.com/CeoBrosAH

https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/

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#Entrepreneurship #Payroll #CompensationStrategy #BusinessFinance #EmployeeManagement

Music: "Back to Black" by Rockin' For Decades (licensed through Epidemic Sound)

Brian's Monday ritual for years: write 100 letters by hand, stuff 100 envelopes, stick on 100 stamps, drop them at the post office. Every single week. Not emails. Not LinkedIn messages. Physical letters that landed on decision-makers' desks when everything else got filtered by assistants or spam folders. Most founders won't do this. It's tedious. It's analog. It feels outdated. But Brian's pipeline never ran dry because he did the work nobody else wanted to do.

Meanwhile Brad's watching restaurants with incredible food go under in six months because they perfected their menu but nobody knows they exist.

This is episode 45. How to build a sales pipeline when you're starting from zero.

*YOU'LL DISCOVER*

• Why "selling to everybody" means selling to nobody

• Brian's 100 letters every Monday (physical mail beats digital shortcuts)

• Why restaurants with perfect food fail in six months (awareness crisis)

• The pipeline reality: multiply your target number by 10 *WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS*

• Define your customer universe before building anything

• Hustle beats hoping (mail letters, knock doors, put flyers on cars)

• Turn customers into evangelists who sell for you

*WHO THESE GUYS ARE*

Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf runs By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest and pulls out the chaos. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it.

*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "So everybody in the world already has one? Then go. Get out of the office." What's your excuse for not building your pipeline?

👇 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories, real disasters, no LinkedIn energy. ————————————

*TIMESTAMPS*

0:00 - Funnel cakes vs sales funnels

1:31 - Pipeline vs funnel (same thing)

3:27 - "Everybody already has one" (then leave the office)

4:46 - Selling to everybody = selling to nobody

12:40 - Brian's 100 letters every Monday

16:22 - Restaurants dying with perfect menus

19:32 - Raising Cane's grand opening strategy

22:36 - Turn customers into evangelists

*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS*

CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches. ————————————

🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three pipeline strategies. Pick the one that matches your hustle.

🍸 *THE 100 LETTERS* Brian Balduf - The storyteller who's been there and sold the company Recipe: • 2 oz Irish whiskey • 0.75 oz lemon juice • 0.5 oz honey syrup • 2 dashes orange bitters • Lemon twist • Shake with ice, strain into rocks glass The Vibe: Every Monday, Brian mailed 100 letters to decision-makers. Physical letters that landed on desks. This drink takes effort to make right, just like stamping 100 envelopes. But it works when shortcuts don't.

🍸 *THE GRAND OPENING* Brad Balduf - The operator running 550 employees across 11 centers Recipe: • 2 oz vodka • 1 oz cranberry juice • 0.5 oz lime juice • 0.5 oz triple sec • Lime wheel garnish • Shake with ice, strain into martini glass The Vibe: Raising Cane's gives 200 people free chicken for a year. Makes the newspaper. Creates lines around the block. This drink is bold, visible, impossible to ignore. A launch that demands attention.

🍸 *THE MULTIPLY BY 10* Matt Croke - The host keeping it real and pulling out the chaos Recipe: • 2 oz aged rum • 1 oz coffee liqueur • 0.5 oz vanilla syrup • 2 dashes chocolate bitters • Orange peel • Stir with ice, strain into rocks glass The Vibe: Whatever pipeline number you think you need, multiply it by 10. Most prospects won't close. This drink looks simple, tastes richer than expected. Always assume you need more in the funnel. Make all three. Figure out your move. Mailing letters until your hand cramps? Going big on your launch? Building a pipeline 10x bigger than you think? Tag us. ————————————

*JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros

#Entrepreneurship #SalesFunnel #BusinessGrowth #StartupLife #CustomerAcquisition

Music: "Back to Black" by Rockin' For Decades (licensed through Epidemic Sound)