Exit Coach Radio

What steps can families take now to reduce stress, avoid probate, and prepare for difficult life transitions with confidence?

In this episode of Exit Coach Radio, Bill Black talks with Rod Hatley of Hatley Law Group about practical estate planning strategies that can help families make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary legal and emotional strain. Drawing from both professional experience and personal experience with a lengthy probate process in his own family, Rod explains why proactive planning matters and how the right documents can protect loved ones when life changes unexpectedly.

This conversation goes beyond what happens after death and looks at estate planning as a broader transition-planning tool. Rod discusses what can happen if you or a loved one becomes hospitalized or is no longer able to make financial, legal, or healthcare decisions. He explains why families should have updated documents in place, how asset protection fits into the planning process, and why a plan should be dynamic rather than something created once and forgotten.

Rod also shares practical guidance on the difference between a will and a trust, the importance of reviewing and updating your plan regularly, and why fear often keeps people from taking the steps they know they should take. His message is clear: estate planning is not about expecting the worst, but about making responsible choices that leave your family in a stronger position.

This episode is especially valuable for business owners, family leaders, and individuals who want to reduce confusion, protect assets, and prepare their families for the future with less stress and greater clarity.

Topics include:

estate planning basics

wills and trusts

probate avoidance

asset protection

planning for incapacity and transition

Listen for more conversations on leadership, growth, succession, and exit planning through Exit Coach Radio.

Join Bill Black for his weekly humor column at BlackPapers: https://Blackpapers.substack.com

#ExitCoachRadio #EstatePlanning #FamilyLegacy

What does it take to build a high-performing virtual team when people are working apart but still need to perform together?

In this episode of Exit Coach Radio, Bill Black talks with Jeremy Lurey of Chief Exec Coach and Family Legacy First about how leaders can build stronger virtual teams, improve productivity, and maintain healthy team culture in a remote work environment. Jeremy brings long-standing experience to this conversation, having started building successful virtual teams years ago when an earthquake made traditional commuting impossible for many employees.

Jeremy explains that virtual teams are still teams at their core, but they require more intentional leadership, clearer processes, and a stronger reliance on communication and technology. He shares practical strategies for helping remote teams stay aligned, productive, and engaged, while also addressing the human side of change, flexibility, and adaptation.

This conversation is especially useful for business owners, CEOs, managers, and leadership teams navigating hybrid or remote work environments. Jeremy offers perspective on how to inspire high performance from a distance, why structure matters more in virtual settings, and how leaders can create conditions where employees feel both supported and accountable.

The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding and flexibility during times of disruption. As more organizations adapt to remote and virtual work models, leaders need practical ways to strengthen communication, trust, and performance across teams that may no longer share the same physical space.

Topics include:

building high-performing virtual teams

remote leadership

productivity in virtual workplaces

team communication and structure

flexibility and team engagement

Listen for more conversations on leadership, growth, succession, and exit planning through Exit Coach Radio.

Join Bill Black for his weekly humor column at BlackPapers: https://Blackpapers.substack.com

#ExitCoachRadio #LeadershipDevelopment #Vistage

Read the 5-minute summary for this episode and many others at owl.ceo. The OWL (Owner Wisdom Library) turns insights from more than 1,200 Exit Coach Radio interviews into short, practical lessons for business owners on growth, leadership, operations, and exit planning.

How can better teamwork and stronger leadership help a company uncover new business opportunities?

In this episode of Exit Coach Radio, Bill Black talks with Mike Goodfriend, President of Goodfriend & Associates, about leadership development, team alignment, and the practical strategies that help organizations work more effectively together. As a leadership coach, teamwork engineer, and meeting facilitator, Mike helps teams strengthen collaboration, improve strategic thinking, and create better conditions for growth.

Mike shares how he works with organizations to help teams become more cohesive and better equipped to identify and pursue business opportunities. He explains the thinking behind his “Teamwork Sharks” workshops, which use a fun, competitive format to teach leaders how to present business plans more effectively, think more strategically, and engage more fully as a team.

The conversation also highlights the role of data analytics in leadership and decision-making. Mike discusses why detailed data can be a game changer when used well and how strong leadership values from the top down influence company performance. This episode is especially useful for business owners, CEOs, and leadership teams who want to improve team performance, sharpen strategy, and create a stronger culture of accountability and opportunity.

Topics include:

leadership development

teamwork and team alignment

strategic thinking

data-driven decision-making

business opportunity development

Listen for more conversations on leadership, growth, succession, and exit planning through Exit Coach Radio.

Join Bill Black for his weekly humor column at BlackPapers: https://Blackpapers.substack.com

#ExitCoachRadio #LeadershipDevelopment #Vistage

What does it really take to build a $100 million company, and why should business owners think at that level in the first place?

In this episode of Exit Coach Radio, Bill Black talks with William De Temple, Founder of Build A $100 Million Company, about the mindset, strategy, and leadership required to build a business at a much higher level than most owners initially imagine. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience in business coaching and training, William shares why aiming for $100 million can change the way an owner thinks, plans, and leads.

This conversation explores why William recommends such a large target instead of a more modest goal like $5 million or $10 million. He explains how bigger thinking can reshape strategic decision-making, create stronger growth disciplines, and push owners to build companies with greater scalability, stronger systems, and more valuable long-term potential. Rather than treating growth as a matter of incremental progress alone, William encourages owners to adopt a larger vision that forces the business to mature.

Bill and William also discuss the key ingredients required to build a company at that scale. The episode highlights the importance of leadership, focus, and the specific capabilities owners need to develop if they want to move from a small or mid-sized business into a more significant growth trajectory. This is not just about revenue goals. It is about building an organization that can support larger opportunity, attract the right people, and perform at a higher level.

This episode is especially valuable for entrepreneurs, CEOs, and growth-minded business owners who want to think more strategically, lead more intentionally, and build a company with larger-scale potential. It is also a strong fit for Vistage-style audiences focused on growth, leadership, scalability, and long-term business value.

Topics include:

scaling a business to $100 million

growth strategy for business owners

leadership and vision

business scalability

thinking bigger as an entrepreneur

Listen for more conversations on leadership, growth, succession, and exit planning through Exit Coach Radio.

Join Bill Black for his weekly humor column at BlackPapers: https://Blackpapers.substack.com

#ExitCoachRadio #BusinessGrowth #Vistage

Read the 5-minute summary for this episode and many others at owl.ceo. The OWL (Owner Wisdom Library) turns insights from more than 1,200 Exit Coach Radio interviews into short, practical lessons for business owners on growth, leadership, operations, and exit planning.

Jim Brubaker shares his ideas and tips regarding Exit Planning, including the need to know your target and the need to have a strong "Plan B".

Read the 5-minute summary for this episode and many others at owl.ceo. The OWL (Owner Wisdom Library) turns insights from more than 1,200 Exit Coach Radio interviews into short, practical lessons for business owners on growth, leadership, operations, and exit planning.

With a 10-year radio career overlapping 20 years in business consulting, marketing, and branding, Lisa Caprelli strategically uses content and message branding to grow companies. Known for inspiring business leaders to be innovative, she has helped businesses grow, including Fortune 500 companies. Her media career has included The Business Experience Show, The Free Money Hour, and other programs on stations like 97.1 FM, KFWB, KNX 1070, KFMB, and KABC, as well as real estate finance and motivational books.

Be sure and pick up a copy of her book "Color Your Message" on Amazon!

Read the 5-minute summary for this episode and many others at owl.ceo. The OWL (Owner Wisdom Library) turns insights from more than 1,200 Exit Coach Radio interviews into short, practical lessons for business owners on growth, leadership, operations, and exit planning.

What does exit planning look like through the eyes of a CFO, and how can business owners know whether they are truly ready?

In this episode of Exit Coach Radio, Bill Black talks with Jim Doty of Doty Consulting about exit planning readiness from a CFO’s perspective. Drawing on real client situations, Jim shares practical insights into the financial, operational, and leadership issues that can affect a company’s ability to prepare for a successful transition.

This conversation highlights the role a CFO can play in helping owners understand the true state of their business, identify risks, improve financial visibility, and prepare for the demands of a future sale or ownership transition. Jim discusses the kinds of readiness gaps that often appear beneath the surface and why early planning can help owners improve value, reduce surprises, and make better strategic decisions.

This episode is especially valuable for business owners, CEOs, and leadership teams who want to strengthen the financial side of their company before pursuing succession, exit planning, or a sale. It also offers useful perspective for companies that may be growing well operationally but have not yet fully aligned their financial systems, reporting, and decision-making with long-term transition goals.

Topics include:

exit planning readiness

CFO perspective on business transition

financial visibility and reporting

risk assessment

succession and sale preparation

Listen for more conversations on leadership, growth, succession, and exit planning through Exit Coach Radio.

Join Bill Black for his weekly humor column at BlackPapers: https://Blackpapers.substack.com

#ExitCoachRadio #ExitPlanning #CFOInsights

Read the 5-minute summary for this episode and many others at owl.ceo. The OWL (Owner Wisdom Library) turns insights from more than 1,200 Exit Coach Radio interviews into short, practical lessons for business owners on growth, leadership, operations, and exit planning.

Peter Mehit is the COO of Custom Business Planning and Solutions. Today, he will discuss the most important times to have a business plan.