Exceptional Companies Podcast

Forrest Jackson, CEO of Jackson Pottery, joins Chris Seegers to explore the people, systems and family relationships behind a lasting business. They discuss returning to a family company, inviting disagreement, hiring for character and teamwork, improving the client experience, and focusing on a few priorities that matter.

Forrest describes a self-operating business as an aspiration and shares what he is asking his leadership team to change. Chris contributes his own experiences with growth expectations and simpler client processes.

Connect with Forrest:

Jackson Pottery: https://jacksonpottery.com/

Jackson Cast Stone: https://www.jacksoncaststone.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/forrest-jackson-8a59751a

His podcast, Seeing the Forrest, is shared through his LinkedIn profile.

Resources discussed:

Essentialism by Greg McKeown: https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/

The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt: https://northriverpress.com/the-goal-a-process-of-ongoing-improvement/

Vistage: https://vistage.com/

00:00 Hiring, family business and what matters

00:32 Exceptional Companies Podcast

00:51 Meet Forrest Jackson

01:55 How Jackson Pottery began

03:59 Growing up in a seasonal family business

07:44 Diversification and the family business

10:10 Returning to work with his father

12:50 Culture, Vistage and permission to disagree

15:01 Hiring for character and teamwork

18:47 Customer empathy and fixing systems

20:22 Growth mindset and the client experience

24:01 Growth expectations and individual strengths

26:43 Seeing the Forrest and the people behind businesses

31:36 Travel, perspective and entrepreneurship

35:08 Books and priorities that matter

36:46 Closing thoughts and connecting with Forrest

37:28 More Exceptional Companies conversations

More episodes: https://excoadvisors.com/podcast/

If the business depends on everything you know, how do you help other people deliver the same value?
Chris Seegers and Collier Buttgen, founder of Facility Coach, discuss documenting expertise, simplifying offers and building systems around the life you want.
Drawing on baseball and softball training businesses, Collier explains his core-offer approach, recurring-revenue benchmark and daily win map. Chris shares why he learns a framework before asking AI to apply it, and how following through on a book recommendation can open a mentoring relationship.
In this conversation:
- Document expertise so capable people can carry the vision.
- Give customers one clear entry point and evaluate the fit.
- Build recurring revenue around a strong core offer.
- Choose daily actions for health, relationships, growth and business.
- Learn a framework, apply it with AI and audit the result.
- Show a potential mentor that you follow through.
Guest: Collier Buttgen, founder of Facility Coach
Host: Chris Seegers
Exceptional Companies Podcast, Episode 75
CONNECT WITH COLLIER BUTTGEN
Facility Coach: https://facility-coach.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/facilitycoach/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FacilityCoach

RESOURCES MENTIONED
$100M Leads by Alex Hormozi: https://www.acquisition.com/books
Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

WATCH AND LISTEN
Episode page: https://excoadvisors.com/podcast/build-a-business-that-doesnt-depend-on-you-collier-buttgen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d11Bc00yl2M
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/385ZH5HeEVswJl1J90yTUz
More episodes: https://excoadvisors.com/podcast/
Chapters
00:00 From coaching athletes to equipping coaches
00:28 Exceptional Companies Podcast intro
00:47 Meet Collier Buttgen and Facility Coach
04:20 The reach of downstream mentorship
06:53 Define a well-lived life
15:08 Fill the core-offer bullseye first
17:06 Document the expertise in your head
26:22 Give customers one clear door
33:35 Put the daily win map into practice
41:47 Four ways to reach customers
42:19 Learn the framework before using AI
49:05 Earn a mentor's time through follow-through
51:14 Plan your business exit before you need it
#BusinessSystems #Leadership #ExceptionalCompaniesPodcast

A business owner sold for $55 million in August and started asking about the $15 million tax bill in December. Ed Lyon, Chief Tax Strategist at Excel Empire, says that is the expensive version of the plan. If the end of the business is a sale, the tax work starts while the company is still running.

In Episode 74, Chris Seegers and Ed Lyon talk through what changes when the goal is to pay less, not just to find out what you owe. They cover planning before a sale, why a favorite tax idea can lock up money the business still needs, how a late plan compares with an early one, and why getting rich and staying rich are different skills.

The $55 million sale and the $15 million tax bill are Ed's account of one client. They are not a standard rate and they are not a promise for another owner.

MORE FROM EXCEPTIONAL COMPANIES PODCAST

Watch or listen to more episodes:

https://excoadvisors.com/podcast/

Subscribe on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@ExceptionalCompaniesPodcast

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/exceptional-companies-podcast/

ABOUT ED LYON

Ed Lyon is Chief Tax Strategist at Excel Empire. He is an attorney who has worked in tax planning for most of the last 30 years, including founding Tax Coach in 2005 and joining Excel Empire with Matt Pearson in late 2022.

Excel Empire:

https://excelempire.com/

Ed Lyon:

https://excelempire.com/leadership/edward-lyon

CHAPTERS

0:00 Plan before the sale

0:37 Exceptional Companies Podcast intro

0:56 Meet Ed Lyon

1:46 From Capitol Hill to tax

2:50 Tax Coach, then the sale

3:27 How Excel Empire is different

5:07 A guaranteed dollar amount

7:32 Where it hurts

8:42 A pension plan can lock the money

9:48 Three lines of defense

12:35 Plan the tax before the sale

14:57 A list of strategies is not the plan

17:25 The $55 million business sale

19:26 Life comes at you fast

23:06 Three plus three, or three times three

26:56 Creating your own buyer

28:07 Silver bullets on social media

32:46 A transition, not a transaction

33:53 Getting rich and staying rich

38:24 You can just do things

46:27 My accountant takes care of my taxes

47:07 Where to find Ed

50:07 Exceptional Companies Podcast outro

DISCLAIMER

This conversation is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not tax, legal, financial, investment, or business advice. Sale prices, tax bills, and planning results vary. The figures in this episode are Ed Lyon's account of client situations, not a forecast for another business.

HASHTAGS

#TaxPlanning #ExitPlanning #ExceptionalCompaniesPodcast

A good recipe is not a business plan. Austin Johnson, founder of The Springs Bagel Company, built the company in Colorado Springs, sold it, and says the pro forma is what tells an owner whether they are getting into the right thing.

In Episode 73, Chris Seegers and Austin talk through the lessons after the sale. They cover gatekeeping the work only the owner still does, why a wholesale-only model became a trap, what it takes to let go of a business you built, and why the market sets the number. They also get into personal leadership, building with less than $40,000 of debt, and the books Austin listened to while he handled every bagel.

MORE FROM EXCEPTIONAL COMPANIES PODCAST

Watch or listen to more episodes:

https://excoadvisors.com/podcast/

Subscribe on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@ExceptionalCompaniesPodcast

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/exceptional-companies-podcast/

ABOUT AUSTIN JOHNSON

Austin Johnson is the founder of The Springs Bagel Company in Colorado Springs. He started the company in 2022, built it, and later sold it. Chris and his team were part of that sale.

The Springs Bagel Company:

https://www.thespringsbagel.com/about

CHAPTERS

0:00 Do the pro forma first

0:29 Exceptional Companies Podcast intro

0:48 Meet Austin Johnson

1:59 How The Springs Bagel Company started

4:01 Stop gatekeeping the work

6:51 When the owner is the business

7:20 Sequence the work

9:23 Wholesale only was a bad idea

10:33 Personal goals, business goals, and wealth

11:59 Stories from the bagel company

13:08 Take care of the person in front of you

16:30 Ask why before you fire

18:12 Enterprise value and the long plan

19:01 Built with less than $40,000 of debt

19:51 The storefront decision

21:46 Your identity is more than the company

24:09 Letting go after the sale

26:54 A valuation is not a feeling

28:36 The market sets the number

29:57 Questions for a founder

31:00 Do the pro forma before you spend

33:21 Books that shaped the journey

35:06 Where to find Austin

35:30 Exceptional Companies Podcast outro

DISCLAIMER

This conversation is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not financial, investment, legal, tax, or business advice. Debt levels, valuations, and sale outcomes vary. The figures in this episode are Austin's account of his own company, not a forecast for another business.

HASHTAGS

#BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship #ExceptionalCompaniesPodcast

AI can make business faster. Ryan Jahnke argues that it should also make us more human by creating more time for real conversations, thoughtful follow-up, and long-term client relationships.In Episode 72, Chris Seegers and Ryan explore the difference between transactional service and relationship-driven business. They also cover Ryan's path from competitive figure skating to coaching and mortgage lending, creative financing for self-employed borrowers, money habits, real estate investing, Home Buyer Coach, and the role of AI in a business built on contact, care, and community.MORE FROM EXCEPTIONAL COMPANIES PODCASTWatch or listen to more episodes:https://excoadvisors.com/podcast/Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ExceptionalCompaniesPodcastFollow the podcast on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/exceptional-companies-podcast/ABOUT RYAN JAHNKERyan Jahnke is a Mortgage Loan Originator with 719 Lending. NMLS #2011733.Ryan's 719 Lending profile:https://www.719lending.com/staff-member/ryan-jahnke/719 Lending:https://www.719lending.com/CHAPTERS0:00 Transactional or relational?0:28 Exceptional Companies Podcast intro0:46 Meet Ryan Jahnke1:17 From figure skating to coaching3:13 Getting started in real estate4:01 Learning money principles early6:13 Why Ryan entered mortgage lending7:29 Creative financing for business owners9:40 People first, profit follows10:12 Keeping business human with AI12:51 Personal touches clients remember14:37 Mortgage options for self-employed borrowers17:55 The changing residential lending landscape19:28 DSCR loans for real estate investors22:00 Money habits that build ownership25:44 Defer gratification and own assets26:46 The marketplace rewards value29:10 Launching Home Buyer Coach31:15 Real estate and retirement longevity33:19 Modern reverse mortgage planning35:04 Books for building wealth36:33 Competing on value, not price39:09 Use AI, then make it human41:00 Bad financial advice42:00 Start small with your first property43:15 The refinance payment trap44:24 Encouragement for first-time buyers46:27 Closing thoughts47:06 Exceptional Companies Podcast outroThis conversation is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not mortgage, financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Loan programs, grants, rates, eligibility, repayment obligations, and refinance options can change and vary by borrower and location. Verify current terms with a qualified lender and consult appropriate professionals regarding your situation.#BusinessLeadership #ClientRelationships #ExceptionalCompaniesPodcast

What separates exceptional entrepreneurs from everyone else? Clay Worthington shares the elite-performance principles he learned coaching Olympians and now applies in business: act, learn, adjust, stay in the game, and face failure honestly.In Episode 71, Chris Seegers and Clay explore mental toughness, the American Dream, A-player culture, mentorship, and why the fundamentals beat overcomplication.Thinking about selling your business now or in the next few years? Book a conversation with Exceptional Business Advisors:https://excoadvisors.com/booking/ABOUT CLAY WORTHINGTONClay Worthington, CFP®, CEPA®, is a financial advisor with Edward Jones and a former elite cycling coach whose athletes reached the Olympics, won medals, and set world records.Clay's website:https://clayworthington.com/Clay's Edward Jones profile:https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/clay-worthingtonMORE FROM EXCEPTIONAL COMPANIES PODCASTWatch or listen to more episodes:https://excoadvisors.com/podcast/Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ExceptionalCompaniesPodcastFollow the podcast on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/exceptional-companies-podcast/Chapters0:00 Failure Is Expensive0:45 Exceptional Companies Podcast intro1:04 Meet Clay Worthington2:12 From rural Missouri to elite cycling5:41 Coaching Olympians and world-record athletes6:56 What separates elite performers9:59 The third attack that wins12:35 Success is simple, but hard17:52 Stay in the game longer20:36 The American Dream is not dead25:13 Compromise, effort, and opportunity30:04 Remove excuses from decisions32:57 Act, Learn, Adjust37:14 A players, B players, and company culture40:04 Failure as a teacher45:30 Face hard emotions and learn47:57 Advice for getting back in the game50:31 Recommended resources52:22 Mentorship requires action54:17 No one can pedal the bike for you54:52 The captain's final lesson57:00 Connect with Clay Worthington57:30 Plan your business transitionDisclaimerThis conversation is for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be considered financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Edward Jones and its financial advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Consult qualified professionals regarding your situation.#Entrepreneurship #BusinessLeadership #ExceptionalCompaniesPodcast

Can you enjoy life today without ending up “old, sick, and broke” tomorrow?John and JJ Checki of Checki Financial join Chris Seegers to discuss what happens when faith, family, business, and financial planning stop competing, and start working together.They explore how to build a financial plan around the life you actually want, why your income must support your lifestyle, and when it may be time to “calm down with your consumption.”In this episode:• Building wealth without postponing your entire life• Aligning your income, spending, and long-term goals• Integrating faith into business and financial decisions• Planning intentionally for family, experiences, and generosity• Having honest conversations about lifestyle and consumption• Avoiding the trap of becoming old, sick, and brokeLearn more about John, JJ, and Checki Financial:https://checkifinancial.comSubscribe to the Exceptional Companies Podcast for conversations about building an exceptional business, and an exceptional life.#FinancialPlanning #FaithAndBusiness #ExceptionalCompaniesPodcast

What does it take to build a company that lasts for decades instead of just a few years?

In this episode of The Exceptional Business Podcast, Chris Seegers sits down with Dean Mathews, CEO of On The Clock, to discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, company culture, and the mindset shifts required to build something bigger than yourself. From coding software at his kitchen table to serving more than 16,000 customers, Dean shares the lessons that helped him transform a lifestyle business into a scalable company with a thriving team.

What if youth sports were about more than scholarships and championships?

In this episode of The Exceptional Business Podcast, Chris Seegers sits down with sports attorney, professor, former professional baseball player, and NIL expert Bobby Bramhall to explore how athletics can become a launching pad for leadership, entrepreneurship, and long-term wealth creation. From lessons learned on the baseball field to the future of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), this conversation offers a fresh perspective for parents, athletes, and business owners alike.

Is business a sprint or a marathon?

According to Chris Seegers, it’s neither. In this short episode of The Exceptional Business Podcast, Chris challenges two of the most common ideas in entrepreneurship and offers a simpler, more sustainable path to success. If you're tired of chasing shiny objects and looking for a framework that actually compounds over time, this conversation is for you.