What do you get when you mix UPS-level safety protocols, jungle animals, and teenagers learning to drive? A franchise that’s saving lives and building a business around it.

Zach Butler joins me to share the story of Jungle Driving—a radically better, more effective, and wildly memorable driver’s ed franchise. Backed by 20+ years of data and a mission-focused mindset, this brand is making the roads safer for all of us.

In this episode:
✔ Zach’s early failures and mindset reboot
✔ The power of accountability and vision
✔ Jungle Driving’s fun but effective approach to training
✔ Why the market is wide open for this model
✔ The referral system that turns teens into marketers

Whether you're a parent, entrepreneur, or franchise seeker—this is a ride you don’t want to miss.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros and business owners and leaders who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals. He's the Publisher of CloseTheDeal.com and author of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Want more time, profit, and peace of mind in your business? Start with systems.

On this episode of Close The Deal, Ewell Smith chats with Adi Klevit - founder of Business Success Consulting Group—about how entrepreneurs can document their way to freedom.

You’ll learn:

• How to identify the first process to document
• The 90-minute framework that changes everything
• How SOPs reduce training time and increase business valuation
• The secret to franchising with confidence

If you're serious about growth, don't miss this one.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros and business owners and leaders who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals. He's the Publisher of CloseTheDeal.com and author of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Is your business unintentionally taking a political stance? In this episode of Close The Deal, Ewell Smith sits down with Chris Peterson, author of Red and Blue Customers, to explore how political identity subtly (and sometimes explosively) affects consumer behavior.

Chris shares fascinating insights about liberal vs. conservative buyers, real-life brand case studies, and why most businesses are completely unaware of the worldview signals they send. If you’re a franchise leader, small business owner, or marketer—this is essential listening.

🎯 You’ll Learn:

• Why knowing your market’s political lean is a strategic advantage
• The marketing blind spot hurting brands today
• How to avoid alienating customers through misaligned messaging
• Real-life examples of political brand wins—and losses

💡 Featuring: Chris Peterson, author and founder of LifeMind.ai

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros and business owners and leaders who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals. He's the Publisher of CloseTheDeal.com and author of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

In this episode, Shayne Brown, founder of Diesel Barbershops, shares 10 success mindset quotes every franchise owner should know.

From overcoming setbacks to leading creative teams, Shane has built a standout brand by doing things differently—and staying focused on what actually matters.

You’ll Hear:

• Why following the system is non-negotiable
• How to lead artists (not just employees)
• What it takes to succeed in a creative, edgy franchise model
• Why Shane doesn’t want to be the biggest—he wants to be the best

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros and business owners and leaders who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals. He's the Publisher of CloseTheDeal.com and author of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

What if your stress isn’t just a feeling—it’s a signal from your nervous system? And what if there’s a daily practice that could help rewire it?

In this episode, Ewell Smith interviews Rachel Wixey, founder of the Wixey Center for Wellness and creator of workplace meditation programs. Rachel shares how she left her business career to pursue mindfulness full-time, the science behind why it works, and how anyone—yes, even you—can start a simple daily habit that improves mental and physical health.

She even walks listeners through a short guided meditation you can try right away.

👉 Learn more at RachelWixey.com
👉 Workplace wellness: MyWorkWellCommunity.com

This episode is for anyone feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or stuck—and ready for real change.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros and business owners and leaders who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals. He's the Publisher of CloseTheDeal.com and author of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Tony Holbert is the CEO of Horsepower Brands—one of the fastest-growing home service franchise groups in the U.S.

With over 400 franchise territories and nine brands under their umbrella (like Mighty Dog Roofing and Varsity Zone HVAC), Tony shares what makes franchisees succeed, why “going all in” matters, and how AI is changing how sales teams operate.

💡 We talk franchise stacking, recurring revenue, market resilience, and how you can build real wealth through home services.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros and business owners and leaders who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals. He's the Publisher of CloseTheDeal.com and author of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

In this episode of the Close The Deal podcast, host Ewell Smith sits down with sales strategist Sean Lyden, founder of Systematic Selling. Sean breaks down why traditional high-pressure tactics are broken — and what to do instead.

From boosting proposal conversion rates to smart upselling and increasing volume through networking and referrals, Sean shares practical, no-fluff strategies that work. Whether you're a founder, franchisee, or home services pro, this is your playbook for sales without the sleaze.

🔹 How to sell without pressure
🔹 The 3 Levers of Growth
🔹 Why culture eats strategy in sales
🔹 How to prospect with purpose — and without spam

🔗 Learn more about Sean: SystematicSelling.co

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros and business owners and leaders who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals. He's the Publisher of CloseTheDeal.com and author of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Chris Widener joins the Close The Deal podcast to share his powerful journey from personal adversity to international speaker, bestselling author, and faith-based mentor. With mentorship from icons like Zig Ziglar and Jim Rohn, Chris explores how belief, mentorship, and faith fuel success.

We dive into how his early experiences—from working with the Seattle Supersonics to selling 20,000 flower pots at 14—shaped his purpose-driven approach to life and business. Chris also unpacks the heart behind his new book, The Coming American Revival, and his mission to mentor entrepreneurs with faith at the core.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros and business owners and leaders who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals. He's the Publisher of CloseTheDeal.com and author of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

##

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros and business owners and leaders who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals. He's the Publisher of CloseTheDeal.com and author of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Thinking about investing in a franchise? Join Ewell Smith, author of Your First Franchise Roadmap and founder of CloseTheDeal.com, as he sits down with Newell Normand on WWL Radio. In this episode, Ewell shares expert insights on how franchising provides a proven playbook for success, career independence, and wealth-building. Learn why franchising isn’t just about fast food, how veterans and corporate professionals are leveraging franchise systems, and the biggest mindset shifts needed to succeed. Don’t let fear hold you back—get the clarity you need to take the next step.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

Ewell Smith is talking with sales and marketing pros and business owners and leaders who help professionals and business owners drive more leads and close more deals. He's the Publisher of CloseTheDeal.com and author of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Close The Deal Podcast Supported by Your First Franchise

We have gift for you for listening - grab a copy of Your First Franchise Roadmap.

Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.