Today’s guests are Alexander McCobin (CEO of Conscious Capitalism) and Dan Golden (owner of BFO). We’re talking about “Conscious Capitalism”, a book and movement that I’ve mentioned a lot on the show. Alexander, Dan, and I talk about what got us into the movement, the fundamentals of the movement, how capitalism and “doing good” can overlap, and how to make these conscious decisions.

What you will learn:

Alexander’s background

Dan’s background

What is the “Conscious Capitalism” movement?

The four principles of conscious capitalism

How to improve the value of your company

Short-term versus long-term decisions

Tangible examples of conscious decisions by companies, which create value for people

How Conscious Capitalism helps businesses make changes

The future vision for conscious capitalism

Takeaway:

How can you do good and make money at the same time? Find out how conscious capitalism helps you with your exit strategy, avoid burnout, and find out how to grow yourself and your company in a way that fulfills you.

Links and Resources:

Conscious Capitalism, the website

Conscious Capitalism, the book

BFO

Alexander McCobin

Dan Golden

The Conscious Capitalism 2019 CEO Summit

ARKONA Boot Camp

Reach out to me if you have questions about the boot camp!

About Alexander and Dan

Alexander McCobin is CEO of Conscious Capitalism, Inc.,  dedicated to elevating humanity by improving the practice and perception of business. Capitalism is fundamentally a human endeavor, it is the way for human beings to ethically engage with and help one another. This underlying insight of Conscious Capitalism differentiates it from so many other approaches to business and economics and is needed now more than ever.

Alexander holds a BA in philosophy and economics from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MA in philosophy from Georgetown University.

Dan Golden is a veteran digita

Today’s guests are Alexander McCobin (CEO of Conscious Capitalism) and Dan Golden (owner of BFO). We’re talking about “Conscious Capitalism”, a book and movement that I’ve mentioned a lot on the show. Alexander, Dan, and I talk about what got us into the movement, the fundamentals of the movement, how capitalism and “doing good” can overlap, and how to make these conscious decisions.

What you will learn:

Alexander’s background

Dan’s background

What is the “Conscious Capitalism” movement?

The four principles of conscious capitalism

How to improve the value of your company

Short-term versus long-term decisions

Tangible examples of conscious decisions by companies, which create value for people

How Conscious Capitalism helps businesses make changes

The future vision for conscious capitalism

Takeaway:

How can you do good and make money at the same time? Find out how conscious capitalism helps you with your exit strategy, avoid burnout, and find out how to grow yourself and your company in a way that fulfills you.

Links and Resources:

Conscious Capitalism, the website

Conscious Capitalism, the book

BFO

Alexander McCobin

Dan Golden

The Conscious Capitalism 2019 CEO Summit

ARKONA Boot Camp

Reach out to me if you have questions about the boot camp!

About Alexander and Dan

Alexander McCobin is CEO of Conscious Capitalism, Inc.,  dedicated to elevating humanity by improving the practice and perception of business. Capitalism is fundamentally a human endeavor, it is the way for human beings to ethically engage with and help one another. This underlying insight of Conscious Capitalism differentiates it from so many other approaches to business and economics and is needed now more than ever.

Alexander holds a BA in philosophy and economics from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MA in philosophy from Georgetown University.

Dan Golden is a veteran digita

Today’s guests are Alexander McCobin (CEO of Conscious Capitalism) and Dan Golden (owner of BFO). We’re talking about “Conscious Capitalism”, a book and movement that I’ve mentioned a lot on the show. Alexander, Dan, and I talk about what got us into the movement, the fundamentals of the movement, how capitalism and “doing good” can overlap, and how to make these conscious decisions.

What you will learn:

Alexander’s background

Dan’s background

What is the “Conscious Capitalism” movement?

The four principles of conscious capitalism

How to improve the value of your company

Short-term versus long-term decisions

Tangible examples of conscious decisions by companies, which create value for people

How Conscious Capitalism helps businesses make changes

The future vision for conscious capitalism

Takeaway:

How can you do good and make money at the same time? Find out how conscious capitalism helps you with your exit strategy, avoid burnout, and find out how to grow yourself and your company in a way that fulfills you.

Links and Resources:

Conscious Capitalism, the website

Conscious Capitalism, the book

BFO

Alexander McCobin

Dan Golden

The Conscious Capitalism 2019 CEO Summit

ARKONA Boot Camp

Reach out to me if you have questions about the boot camp!

About Alexander and Dan

Alexander McCobin is CEO of Conscious Capitalism, Inc.,  dedicated to elevating humanity by improving the practice and perception of business. Capitalism is fundamentally a human endeavor, it is the way for human beings to ethically engage with and help one another. This underlying insight of Conscious Capitalism differentiates it from so many other approaches to business and economics and is needed now more than ever.

Alexander holds a BA in philosophy and economics from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MA in philosophy from Georgetown University.

Dan Golden is a veteran digita

Today’s guest is Hannah Paramore, the founder of Paramore Digital. We’re talking about what you can do before you hit burnout and what you can do with your business after you’ve built it. 

What you will learn:

Hannah’s professional background

What it was like as she started her first company

Where Hannah was when she realized her relationship with business changed

What to do when you lose your energy?

What are the signs that you’re jaded with your company?

Hannah’s exit process

The emotional impact of the integration process after closing

Phantom anxiety and indignities

Rebuilding identities after closing

Finding the sense of accomplishment outside of business

Hannah’s advice for entrepreneurs before burnout

Takeaway:

If you’re the CEO, losing confidence about the business can make it difficult to come in every Monday. How do you separate yourself emotionally from your business so you can see it as an asset? What should you do with what you’ve built?

Links and Resources:

Hannah Paramore, website

Hannah Paramore, LinkedIn

Hannah Paramore, Instagram

Hannah Paramore, Twitter

Hannah Paramore, Facebook

ARKONA Boot Camp

Reach out to me if you have questions about the boot camp!

 About Hannah:

Hannah was raised in a church, by a housewife mother and a preacher father. She worked her way up through administration and middle management in various companies. After four layoffs in two years (after the dotcom bubble burst), she decided to take on her own contract job. A few years later, she realized that she had built a great client list, hired employees, and had started a company on her own.

Today’s guest is Hannah Paramore, the founder of Paramore Digital. We’re talking about what you can do before you hit burnout and what you can do with your business after you’ve built it. 

What you will learn:

Hannah’s professional background

What it was like as she started her first company

Where Hannah was when she realized her relationship with business changed

What to do when you lose your energy?

What are the signs that you’re jaded with your company?

Hannah’s exit process

The emotional impact of the integration process after closing

Phantom anxiety and indignities

Rebuilding identities after closing

Finding the sense of accomplishment outside of business

Hannah’s advice for entrepreneurs before burnout

Takeaway:

If you’re the CEO, losing confidence about the business can make it difficult to come in every Monday. How do you separate yourself emotionally from your business so you can see it as an asset? What should you do with what you’ve built?

Links and Resources:

Hannah Paramore, website

Hannah Paramore, LinkedIn

Hannah Paramore, Instagram

Hannah Paramore, Twitter

Hannah Paramore, Facebook

ARKONA Boot Camp

Reach out to me if you have questions about the boot camp!

 About Hannah:

Hannah was raised in a church, by a housewife mother and a preacher father. She worked her way up through administration and middle management in various companies. After four layoffs in two years (after the dotcom bubble burst), she decided to take on her own contract job. A few years later, she realized that she had built a great client list, hired employees, and had started a company on her own.

Today’s guest is Hannah Paramore, the founder of Paramore Digital. We’re talking about what you can do before you hit burnout and what you can do with your business after you’ve built it. 

What you will learn:

Hannah’s professional background

What it was like as she started her first company

Where Hannah was when she realized her relationship with business changed

What to do when you lose your energy?

What are the signs that you’re jaded with your company?

Hannah’s exit process

The emotional impact of the integration process after closing

Phantom anxiety and indignities

Rebuilding identities after closing

Finding the sense of accomplishment outside of business

Hannah’s advice for entrepreneurs before burnout

Takeaway:

If you’re the CEO, losing confidence about the business can make it difficult to come in every Monday. How do you separate yourself emotionally from your business so you can see it as an asset? What should you do with what you’ve built?

Links and Resources:

Hannah Paramore, website

Hannah Paramore, LinkedIn

Hannah Paramore, Instagram

Hannah Paramore, Twitter

Hannah Paramore, Facebook

ARKONA Boot Camp

Reach out to me if you have questions about the boot camp!

 About Hannah:

Hannah was raised in a church, by a housewife mother and a preacher father. She worked her way up through administration and middle management in various companies. After four layoffs in two years (after the dotcom bubble burst), she decided to take on her own contract job. A few years later, she realized that she had built a great client list, hired employees, and had started a company on her own.

Today I’m talking with Mike Sowers about his emotional journey as an entrepreneur. From starting, building, systematizing, and selling his first company, to reinventing himself, Mike shares his story in an authentic and real way. Hear about the whole process without the rose-colored glasses.

What you will learn:

Mike’s full journey as an entrepreneur

How Mike systematized, grew, and sold his first company

The importance of knowing what your strengths are (in leadership/business)

The investment, timeframe, and the process of building a systemization

Business and parenting (and lessons Mike learned from his mother)

How Mike reinvented himself and how he found his calling in life

How introspection and business work together

Getting from “Someday I will…” to following your passion while working with your business

The real emotional toll of possibly selling your business

The reason behind creating a platform like the CREative Commercial Real Estate Show

The importance of doing good by people

Why Mike is going to the ARKONA Boot Camp

Takeaway:

Understand what you’re dealing with so you can learn how to process these different things financially and emotionally before you sell your company. 

Links and Resources:

Mike Sowers: [email protected]

Commercial Investors Group Facebook Page 

CREative Commercial Real Estate Show

The Commercial Investors Group

Simon Sinek’s “The Infinite Game”

Northstar Real Estate Conference

ARKONA Boot Camp 

About Mike:

Mike believes he was called to humbly and gratefully find pathways to creatively unlock potential in people, places, and ideas. He is the Managing Partner and CEO of Commercial Investors Grou

Today I’m talking with Mike Sowers about his emotional journey as an entrepreneur. From starting, building, systematizing, and selling his first company, to reinventing himself, Mike shares his story in an authentic and real way. Hear about the whole process without the rose-colored glasses.

What you will learn:

Mike’s full journey as an entrepreneur

How Mike systematized, grew, and sold his first company

The importance of knowing what your strengths are (in leadership/business)

The investment, timeframe, and the process of building a systemization

Business and parenting (and lessons Mike learned from his mother)

How Mike reinvented himself and how he found his calling in life

How introspection and business work together

Getting from “Someday I will…” to following your passion while working with your business

The real emotional toll of possibly selling your business

The reason behind creating a platform like the CREative Commercial Real Estate Show

The importance of doing good by people

Why Mike is going to the ARKONA Boot Camp

Takeaway:

Understand what you’re dealing with so you can learn how to process these different things financially and emotionally before you sell your company. 

Links and Resources:

Mike Sowers: [email protected]

Commercial Investors Group Facebook Page 

CREative Commercial Real Estate Show

The Commercial Investors Group

Simon Sinek’s “The Infinite Game”

Northstar Real Estate Conference

ARKONA Boot Camp 

About Mike:

Mike believes he was called to humbly and gratefully find pathways to creatively unlock potential in people, places, and ideas. He is the Managing Partner and CEO of Commercial Investors Grou

Today I’m talking with Mike Sowers about his emotional journey as an entrepreneur. From starting, building, systematizing, and selling his first company, to reinventing himself, Mike shares his story in an authentic and real way. Hear about the whole process without the rose-colored glasses.

What you will learn:

Mike’s full journey as an entrepreneur

How Mike systematized, grew, and sold his first company

The importance of knowing what your strengths are (in leadership/business)

The investment, timeframe, and the process of building a systemization

Business and parenting (and lessons Mike learned from his mother)

How Mike reinvented himself and how he found his calling in life

How introspection and business work together

Getting from “Someday I will…” to following your passion while working with your business

The real emotional toll of possibly selling your business

The reason behind creating a platform like the CREative Commercial Real Estate Show

The importance of doing good by people

Why Mike is going to the ARKONA Boot Camp

Takeaway:

Understand what you’re dealing with so you can learn how to process these different things financially and emotionally before you sell your company. 

Links and Resources:

Mike Sowers: [email protected]

Commercial Investors Group Facebook Page 

CREative Commercial Real Estate Show

The Commercial Investors Group

Simon Sinek’s “The Infinite Game”

Northstar Real Estate Conference

ARKONA Boot Camp 

About Mike:

Mike believes he was called to humbly and gratefully find pathways to creatively unlock potential in people, places, and ideas. He is the Managing Partner and CEO of Commercial Investors Grou

Today I’m talking about ESOPs (or Employee Stock Ownership Plans) with Dave Diehl, CFA. Dave is the CEO of Prairie Capital Advisors (one of the leading ESOP specialists in the country), based out of Chicago. Prairie Captial is unique because of their range of expertise, which covers both ESOPs as well as selling to a private equity firm. They really have the best interest of the client in mind. Dave talks about the basics of ESOPs in layman’s terms so everyone can understand the benefits of this type of exit process.

What you will learn:

Dave’s background

A brief history of ESOPs

How is an ESOP an exit process?

What does the process of an ESOP entail?

How an ESOP gets valued

What your roles and responsibilities are when working with a trustee

How you get your money (percentage upfront vs. what percentage comes over time)

All the tax benefits which come with the ESOP process

How ESOPs impact the culture of your business

What are the pros of an ESOP?

What are the cons of an ESOP?

Takeaway:

Are you a viable candidate for an ESOP? There are a lot of pros that come with selling to your employees.

Links and Resources:

Prairie Capital Advisors

David Diehl, CFA 

ARKONA Boot Camp 

About Dave:

Dave Diehl is the Chief Executive Officer of Prairie Capital Advisors. Dave provides closely-held businesses with a complete understanding of the best available options for their ownership transition needs. He expertly executes projects for mergers and acquisitions (M&A), management buyouts (MBO), Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), estate planning and other corporate finance purposes. Dave serves as a trusted advisor to a diverse range of clients nationwide delivering highly strategic consultation.

With extensive end-to-end management experience and a focus on his clients’ success, Dave helps ensure an exceptional ownership transition experience. Dave is a CFA Charterholder and is on the board of directors of two companies – a manufacturer of plastic parts and a financial consulting firm. He is also a frequent speaker in forums around the country on topics including ownership transition, valuation, capital management, and business sale. He is also a past chair of the Advisory Committee on Valuation with the ESOP Association.