Founder Talk with Alex Sheridan

Every founder hits a revenue ceiling. Michael Grudecki says it's rarely a market problem. It's a skill set missing inside your own company.

Alex Sheridan sits down with Michael Grudecki, co-founder of the Fractional Executive Network, on why growth stalls, why founders can't see their own blind spots, and why he vowed to never put business ahead of what actually matters.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:00

Q: What is the revenue ceiling every founder hits?

A: Michael Grudecki explains that growth stalls at $500K, $5M, or $50M when the business lacks the executive skill set needed for the next level.

00:09:50

Q: What keeps founders trapped in their own business?

A: Michael Grudecki built his first company around himself. No days off, clients who refused anyone else. He shares what to do differently from day one.

00:12:51

Q: Why do business owners stay the bottleneck of their own company?

A: Michael Grudecki says it comes down to fear. Nobody wants to hear their baby is ugly, so the flaws stay unaddressed.

00:18:54

Q: How should founders approach long-term planning and vision?

A: Michael Grudecki goes to the last chapter first. Lifestyle business, sellable asset, or family succession — every plan flows backward from that answer.

00:26:39

Q: What is the difference between a fractional executive and a consultant?

A: Michael Grudecki explains a consultant hands you a plan and walks away, while a fractional executive stays tied to your KPIs and OKRs.

Subscribe to Founder Talk and share this with a founder who needs it.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Michael Grudecki

Website: https://www.thefractionalexecutivenetwork.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgrudecki/

The Founders Brief

2,500+ founders read this newsletter every week to build businesses that run and grow even when they step away. The Founders Briefing delivers real strategies and tactics from the best Founder Talk conversations, behind the scenes access, and the insights that never made the final cut. Sign up here: https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH Founder Talk

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@FounderTalkPodcasts

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founder-talk-podcast

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@founder.talk.podcasts

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FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Founder-Talk-Podcast/61578199783458/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

Alex Sheridan sits down with Erik Davison, founder and CEO of DBV Solutions, to discuss the real cost of scaling a consulting firm. Erik shares how he tripled revenue through multi-year deals, why he delegates what he does best, and the Accenture lesson that changed how he thinks about cash flow.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:53

Q: How do you triple revenue after 20 years?

A: Erik Davison secured multi-year implementation contracts with larger clients, replicating one engagement across several more.

00:04:33

Q: Do founders still worry about payroll after 20 years?

A: Erik Davison still has sleepless nights with 35 employees. He pays employees first and maintains reserves because clients do not always pay on time.

00:07:40

Q: How long can a firm survive without new sales?

A: An Accenture managing partner told Erik Davison the answer was 90 days. That taught him to never stop business development.

00:34:49

Q: Should you delegate what you hate or what you do best?

A: Erik Davison argues delegate what you do best because quality is easy to verify. This forces growth by tackling uncomfortable tasks.

00:47:35

Q: Will AI replace service businesses?

A: Erik Davison cites a Gartner study showing AI's real risk is eroding leadership development. Middle managers never learn through mistakes if AI provides all answers.

Subscribe to Founder Talk and share this with a founder who needs it

🔗 CONNECT WITH Erik Davison

Website: https://dbvsolutions.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbvsolutions/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dbv-solutions-inc/

The Founders Brief

2,500+ founders read this newsletter every week to build businesses that run and grow even when they step away. The Founders Briefing delivers real strategies and tactics from the best Founder Talk conversations, behind the scenes access, and the insights that never made the final cut. Sign up here: https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH Founder Talk

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@FounderTalkPodcasts

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founder-talk-podcast

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@founder.talk.podcasts

IG: https://www.instagram.com/founder_talk_podcast

FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Founder-Talk-Podcast/61578199783458/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

She watched $600/hour consultants deliver terrible work for years. Then she quit corporate and built a better firm in 12 months.

Rachel Losser left corporate in July 2024 to start Losser Consulting Solutions. In under a year she scaled to six employees and 10-20 consultants, almost entirely on referrals. She replaced 150-page decks with 3-slide proposals and partnered with Chris Voss on a book called Lead With Empathy.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:16

Q: What made Rachel Losser start her own consulting firm?

A: She watched $600/hour consultants deliver terrible work and decided she could do it better

00:06:35

Q: How did replacing 150-page decks with 3 slides change her consulting business?

A: She threw out the playbook and clients loved the clarity

00:10:28

Q: What is the simplest marketing strategy for a service business?

A: Good work gets you more good work and fulfillment must be pristine

00:19:00

Q: Can AI replace consulting?

A: For AI to take her job a client would have to accurately describe what they want

00:31:35

Q: How should founders think about work-life balance?

A: Think in seasons not days with non-negotiables like dinner with your spouse every night

00:49:58

Q: What negotiation technique from Chris Voss changed everything?

A: No-based questions remove mental load and make people more comfortable agreeing

If you have ever paid too much for bad consulting or wondered whether AI is coming for your service business, this is the episode.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Rachel Losser

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachellosser/

Losser Consulting Solutions: https://losserconsultingsolutions.com/

Book: "Lead With Empathy" (co-authored chapter with Chris Voss): https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Empathy-Successbooks-Publishing/dp/B0H1KRW5KT

The Founders Brief

2,500+ founders read this newsletter every week to build businesses that run and grow even when they step away. The Founders Briefing delivers real strategies and tactics from the best Founder Talk conversations, behind the scenes access, and the insights that never made the final cut. Sign up here: https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH Founder Talk

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@FounderTalkPodcasts

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founder-talk-podcast

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@founder.talk.podcasts

IG: https://www.instagram.com/founder_talk_podcast

FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Founder-Talk-Podcast/61578199783458/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast #ConsultingBusiness #ProjectManagement #ChrisVoss

He went from $300K to $20 million in under three years. Now he works 7 hours a week on that business.

Kevin Goodwin is the co-founder of Quality Solar, Scors.ai, and The Good Collom Foundation. He started as an entrepreneur at 25, built a subprime lending company before the 2008 crash, pivoted to flipping homes on Chicago's South and West Sides, and then discovered the solar industry almost by accident. Quality Solar is now a debt-free company projecting $30 million this year with no outside investors.

In this episode, Alex and Kevin go deep on how he scaled so fast and how he built the business to run without him.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:04:05

Q: Why does Kevin Goodwin compare solar to home ownership?

A: Kevin Goodwin says we all rent energy and the smart move is to own it, just like you stopped renting your house

00:10:00

Q: How did Kevin Goodwin learn to cut out the middleman in construction?

A: Kevin Goodwin watched his GC overcharge him and underpay workers, then became the general contractor himself

00:21:05

Q: Why does Kevin Goodwin say a trained ape could sell solar?

A: Kevin Goodwin explains the value prop is so obvious in Illinois that there is literally no reason not to have it

00:22:15

Q: How did Kevin Goodwin build a $20M company to run without him?

A: Kevin Goodwin says hire the right talent and pay for it, even if your margins shrink in the short term

00:34:00

Q: What is Kevin Goodwin's framework for making big decisions?

A: Kevin Goodwin says all decisions come down to love versus fear and most founders let fear lead

00:45:05

Q: Can you run a nonprofit and a for-profit business together?

A: Kevin Goodwin explains how his foundation hires his own companies and why that is not a conflict

If you are a founder still doing everything yourself, this is your sign to start building a business that can run without you.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Kevin Goodwin

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-goodwin-ai/

Scors.ai: https://scors.ai/

The Good Collom Foundation: https://www.thegoodcollomfoundation.org/

Email: [email protected]

The Founders Brief

2,500+ founders read this newsletter every week to build businesses that run and grow even when they step away. The Founders Briefing delivers real strategies and tactics from the best Founder Talk conversations, behind the scenes access, and the insights that never made the final cut. Sign up here: https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast #SolarBusiness #ScalingBusiness

Your 401k is not going to make you rich. A wealth advisor to $50M+ families just said it on camera.

Jeremy Boynton manages ultra-high-net-worth families. He survived two 100-year market crashes back to back, pivoted to alternative investments by learning from a Chicago family office, and today runs Laureate Wealth Management and Pure Crypto, where his first crypto fund is up 6X since 2018.

In this Founder Talk episode, Alex and Jeremy go deep on how the ultra-wealthy actually invest, why most founders are playing the wrong game with their money, and which alternative vehicles generate returns most people never see.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:04:12

Q: Why are crypto and AI creating an unprecedented moment right now?

A: Jeremy Boynton says two once-in-a-generation technological revolutions are happening simultaneously

00:14:07

Q: How is a crypto project replacing AT&T right now?

A: Jeremy Boynton explains how Helium built a global telecom network with $250 hotspots

00:17:10

Q: Should founders diversify or go all in?

A: You do not become Bill Gates by diversifying. You diversify AFTER you become Bill Gates

00:30:15

Q: Why does a wealth advisor say your 401k will not make you rich?

A: Jeremy Boynton says real wealth comes from doing something you love, not saving in a 401k

00:31:43

Q: What wake-up call does every founder need about wealth and life?

A: Jeremy Boynton tells the story of a client who saved his whole life and died before his Europe trip

00:51:25

Q: How does permanent capital private equity generate 40% annual yields?

A: Buy blue collar businesses at 3.5-4x EBITDA, hold forever, eat the cash flows

If you are a founder still treating your investments as an afterthought, this is the wake-up call.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Jeremy Boynton

Website: https://www.laureate-wealth.com/

Website: https://www.pure-crypto.com/

The Founders Brief

2,500+ founders read this newsletter every week to build businesses that run and grow even when they step away. The Founders Briefing delivers real strategies and tactics from the best Founder Talk conversations, behind the scenes access, and the insights that never made the final cut. Sign up here: https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast #WealthBuilding

94% of business problems are process, not people. But most founders blame people first.

Rick Lochner has spent 18 years coaching leaders on how to get out of their own way. He is a West Point graduate who managed a $1.5 billion business unit at Sprint overseeing 640 people across 19 states. He has coached executives on six continents. He has seen firsthand why talented founders stay stuck and why businesses that should scale are not.

In this episode of Founder Talk, Alex sits down with Rick for a conversation about the mindset shifts and leadership fundamentals that separate founders who scale from those stuck in the day-to-day. Rick reveals why the number one mistake is feeling like you need all the answers, how to shift from doer to leader, and why coaching your team is an investment while jumping in is a spend.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:20

Q: Why did Salesforce regret replacing employees with AI?

A: Rick Lochner calls it "unintended consequences." Salesforce laid off 4,000 for AI and now faces trust issues

00:12:42

Q: Why is leading yourself the first step to leading others?

A: Rick Lochner says "if you can't lead you, you have no right to lead others."

00:23:11

Q: What is the number one leadership mistake founders make?

A: Feeling like you need all the answers. The shift: "I am now successful through others."

00:28:38

Q: What is the difference between investing time and spending time?

A: Jumping in yourself is spending time. Coaching your team is investing time with compounding value.

00:31:40

Q: What percentage of business problems are process versus people?

A: According to the Deming Institute, 94%. Look at the system first, not the person.

00:54:51

Q: How do you create a vision and mission that inspires your team?

A: Rick Lochner crafts a vision live and explains the triad: strategy, mission, vision.

If leadership feels harder than it should, this episode shows you why.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Rick Lochner

Website: https://rpcleadershipassociates.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricklochner/

The Founders Brief

2,500+ founders read this newsletter every week to build businesses that run and grow even when they step away. The Founders Briefing delivers real strategies and tactics from the best Founder Talk conversations, behind the scenes access, and the insights that never made the final cut. Sign up here: https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH Founder Talk

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@FounderTalkPodcasts

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founder-talk-podcast

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@founder.talk.podcasts

IG: https://www.instagram.com/founder_talk_podcast

FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Founder-Talk-Podcast/61578199783458/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

She had a six-pack, a thriving ER career, and did everything right on the surface. Then she was diagnosed with cancer.

The cause was not genetics.

It was the lifestyle pattern most founders follow every day.

Dr. Jennifer Ron is an ER physician turned Integrative Cancer Care specialist and cancer survivor. She breaks down which founder habits accelerate aging and the protocols that reset your health fast.

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:05

Q: What are the habits that founders have right now that are accelerating their aging?

A: Dr. Jennifer Ron shares her story of being a fit ER doctor diagnosed with cancer. The four pillars: nutrition, exercise, stress management, and sleep.

00:05:48

Q: Did your lifestyle cause the cancer?

A: Dr. Jennifer Ron says it was 100% stress and sleep deprivation, averaging four to six hours per night during shift work.

00:08:18

Q: How much of cancer is actually genetic versus lifestyle?

A: Dr. Jennifer Ron explains genetics cause only 5-10% of cancers. The other 90% are epigenetic lifestyle factors founders can control.

00:13:28

Q: What do you say to the busy founder who thinks they don't have time for health?

A: Dr. Jennifer Ron says founders are models for their team and recommends morning routines, meal prep, and hard time boundaries.

00:22:18

Q: Which is worse for you — sugar, alcohol, or processed foods?

A: Dr. Jennifer Ron says ultra-processed foods are the absolute worst and should be cut first, even before sugar and alcohol.

00:29:30

Q: How does intermittent fasting work and what does it do?

A: Dr. Jennifer Ron explains the 16:8 window, metabolic flexibility, and how fasting promotes gut health and immune function.

00:37:10

Q: Are oncologists teaching patients about nutrition and lifestyle?

A: Dr. Jennifer Ron says most oncologists lack bandwidth. Integrative care fills the gap alongside conventional treatment.

Subscribe to Founder Talk so you never miss an episode.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Dr. Jennifer Ron

Website: https://www.medlogicmd.com/team-4

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-plotkin-ron-md-facep-aboim-3766ab148/

The Founders Brief

2,500+ founders read this newsletter every week to build businesses that run and grow even when they step away. The Founders Briefing delivers real strategies and tactics from the best Founder Talk conversations, behind the scenes access, and the insights that never made the final cut. Sign up here: https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: https://impaxs.com

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

You built a business worth millions. Now you are getting married. Do you know what your spouse is legally entitled to if it does not work out? Most founders have no idea.

Chris Lunardini is a Partner at Spyros Davis LLC (Spydav Law), specializing in business law, family law, and estate planning.

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:22 Scaling a law firm to 20 employees and finding the right hires

00:05:27 Why responding after hours sets a precedent clients will expect forever

00:08:40 The delegation revelation that changed everything

00:16:09 Should a business owner get a prenup? Chris Lunardini says yes and explains why

00:19:34 How to frame a prenup as a business decision and isolate just the business

00:21:43 Why prenups fail in court: unsigned copies and last-minute timing

00:24:25 Estate planning basics: wills vs trusts and why trusts give more control

00:26:55 Bringing on an equity partner: trial periods, contracts, and exit terms

00:33:05 The most valuable skill in any profession: simplifying complex things

00:37:12 AI in law: courts sanctioning attorneys for AI-generated briefs with hallucinated citations

Subscribe to Founder Talk so you never miss an episode.

🔗 CONNECT WITH Chris Lunardini

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-lunardini-a4718a15/

Website: https://www.spydavlaw.com/attorneys/christopher-m-lunardini

The Founders Brief

2,500+ founders read this newsletter every week to build businesses that run and grow even when they step away. The Founders Briefing delivers real strategies and tactics from the best Founder Talk conversations, behind the scenes access, and the insights that never made the final cut. Sign up here: https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: https://impaxs.com

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

Most founders have no idea the financial infrastructure they depend on is about to fundamentally change. And the ones who understand why are already positioning for it.

Zach Lindquist is the Founder of Pure Crypto, a crypto hedge fund operating for over eight years. He breaks down what blockchain means for business owners, why stablecoins will eliminate processing fees, and why Bitcoin might be the purest hedge against dollar devaluation.

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:35

Q: What is crypto and blockchain at the most basic level?

A: Zach Lindquist explains that blockchain facilitates transactions between two people without a third party, and Bitcoin was the first proof of peer-to-peer digital payments.

00:06:40

Q: How does blockchain help business owners?

A: Zach Lindquist says stablecoins can eliminate 3.5% processing fees and will be integrated in bank accounts within a year or two.

00:20:20

Q: How do smart contracts work?

A: Zach Lindquist explains smart contracts are self-executing conditional transactions in code, and platforms like Ethereum and Solana function like app stores for financial applications.

00:29:21

Q: Why is Bitcoin worth anything?

A: Zach Lindquist says buying Bitcoin is a bet that the dollar will devalue over time, calling it one of the purest ways to speculate on dollar destruction.

00:37:55

Q: Where should founders start investing in crypto?

A: Zach Lindquist recommends index investing through products like the Bitwise Crypto Index and warns that buying tokens on a friend's tip is not an investment thesis.

00:48:15

Q: What are Pure Crypto's plans?

A: Zach Lindquist says the firm is raising its fourth fund and remains focused on finding the most disruptive ideas from seed-stage to liquid markets.

Subscribe to Founder Talk so you don't miss what's next.

Connect with Zach Lindquist:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-lindquist-124635b5/

Website: https://www.pure-crypto.com/

The Founders Brief

2,500+ founders read this newsletter every week to build businesses that run and grow even when they step away. The Founders Briefing delivers real strategies and tactics from the best Founder Talk conversations, behind the scenes access, and the insights that never made the final cut. Sign up here: https://podcastbuilders.activehosted.com/f/3

If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: https://impaxs.com

If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/

Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more.

Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests — all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

#FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

Most founders don't know where they're bleeding cash every month. Neither did some of the most successful business owners Hunter Scott has worked with.

Welcome to the 100th episode of Founder Talk! Hunter Scott is a CPA and Partner at Strata Cloud Accountants. In this conversation, he breaks down the top financial mistakes founders make, shares stories of hidden margin killers, and explains why your tax bill might be the best KPI you have.

Key takeaways:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:22

Q: What are the top three financial mistakes business owners make?

A: Hunter Scott says most founders barely track their numbers, make gut-based decisions without forward-looking views, and hold onto the illusion they can do it all themselves.

00:06:09

Q: What is a good profit margin for a B2B service company?

A: Hunter Scott says 60% or above, and recommends digging into utilization metrics to find where the gaps are.

00:15:05

Q: What drove the firm to nearly double in revenue last year?

A: Hunter Scott says working with a sales coach and making three to six phone calls a day to build real relationships were the biggest drivers.

00:21:36

Q: What is an example of a hidden financial problem most founders miss?

A: Hunter Scott shares how a restaurant's margin was dropping because the cost of limes went up, resulting in a 10,000-plus monthly impact once fixed.

00:28:16

Q: Should founders avoid paying more taxes?

A: Hunter Scott says the best KPI is how much you pay in taxes because it means the business is growing, and resisting growth to minimize taxes is one of the most expensive mistakes.

00:40:08

Q: How do you build a lifestyle business that still grows?

A: Hunter Scott says you have to stop being scared of the loss of money that comes with delegating, and refuse to make any decision based off fear.

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Connect with Hunter Scott:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-scott-cpa/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strata-cloud/

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