In this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, Galen Hair sits down with Jon Buehler, founder of Buehler Business Brokers, to break down the realities of valuation, risk, transferability, and how to plan for a successful exit, whether or not you want to sell in 3 years or 30.

Jon has worked on deals ranging from small home-service companies to $100M+ transactions.

Highlights

• Why most owners wildly overestimate or underestimate their business
• How buyers actually evaluate value
• The hidden risks that kill deals (owner dependency, customer concentration, bad financials)
• When you should start exit planning
• How to know if now is the right time to sell
• Why your identity might be the biggest obstacle to exiting
• How to fix your business so it's worth more, even if you're not ready to sell

Episode Resources

• Connect with Jon Buehler
• https://www.buehlerbusinessbrokers.com/
• Connect with Galen M. Hair
• https://insuranceclaimhq.com
• [email protected]
• https://levelupclaim.com/

In this powerful episode, host Galen Hair sits down with leadership strategist Nell 3D, whose Me–We–World framework is reshaping how high achievers lead, live, and sustain performance. Nell's story is anything but ordinary: from student debt, burnout, missing her father's funeral, divorce, and even a near-fatal head-on collision all forced a reckoning that transformed both her life and her leadership philosophy. What emerged is a radical concept: The Missing 1%—the idea that real success comes not from adding more, but from subtracting strategically.

Highlights

• Nell3D's academic background and journey to leadership.

• Why many leaders feel successful on paper but empty in reality.

• The gap between theory and practice in high-level organizations.

• A divorce, missing her father's funeral, and a near-fatal crash.

• The shift from one-dimensional "world impact" to 3-dimensional leadership.

• Turning personal collapse into a leadership framework.

• Integrating personal well-being, relationships, and world impact.

• Identifying outdated habits and inherited "shoulds.

• Power with instead of power over in collaboration.

• Negative thought spirals and realistic energy management.

• Real-world, data-driven self-awareness.

• Why horses detect inauthenticity better than humans.

• Nell3D's definition of leveling up.

Episode Resources

• Connect with Nell3D

• https://www.nell3d.com/

• Connect with Galen M. Hair

• https://insuranceclaimhq.com

• [email protected]

• https://levelupclaim.com/

In this episode, host Galen Hair sits down with international business advisor Diane Helbig to explore modern leadership. Helbig challenges outdated practices, advocating for empathy, presence, and collaboration over control. Her insights offer a playbook for leaders seeking to empower teams and drive innovation. Tune in to learn actionable strategies to foster a supportive and productive business environment. Great for anyone interested in transforming their leadership approach.

Highlights

• Diane Helbig's background and career transition.

• Problems with traditional leadership structures.

• The global work environment shifts post-Covid.

• Shift from ego to empathy and control to curiosity.

• Challenges with an employee not meeting deadlines.

• The importance of having safe conversations to address disconnects.

• Presence over performance in leadership.

• Trust and its challenges in remote/hybrid teams.

• Power with instead of power over in collaboration.

• Encouraging leaders to communicate change transparently.

• Steps to foster psychological safety in a team.

• Measuring success in collaborative leadership.

• Diane Helbig's definition of leveling up.

Episode Resources

• Connect with Galen M. Hair

• https://insuranceclaimhq.com

• [email protected]

• https://levelupclaim.com/

Catch the latest Level Up Claims podcast episode, where Galen Hair chats with Lee Miller, host of the Conquer Contractor Chaos podcast. Lee shares his journey from construction to building multi-million dollar businesses. Discover how crafting the right culture can turn chaos into long- term success. Whether you're a contractor or business owner, learn why culture trumps strategy and how to build a powerhouse team that wins every time. Don't miss Lee's insights on leveraging intrinsic values to create a thriving work environment. Tune in!

Highlights

• Culture always eats strategy for breakfast.

• Contractors lose people due to culture, not pay.

• Transition from construction to hospitality.

• Learning through managerial curiosity.

• Culture needs to be intentional.

• Intrinsic vs. extrinsic values.

• Building intrinsic values in the workplace.

• Maslow's hierarchy of needs applied.

• The love and belonging phase elevates teams.

• Cultivate a positive and intentional culture.

• Competency vs. commitment in employees.

• Blueprint for intentional culture building.

• Communicate culture goals effectively.

Episode Resources

• Connect with Galen M. Hair

• https://insuranceclaimhq.com

• [email protected]

• https://levelupclaim.com/

In this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, Galen Hair talks with Darrick O'Day, a seasoned public adjuster and appraiser, about the underestimated impact of non-large loss insurance claims. Discover how even "small" claims can critically affect families and businesses, and learn strategies to navigate the challenges posed by insurers. Darrick's insights shed light on the appraisal process and highlight the importance of community support and equitable advocacy in the claims landscape. A must-listen for anyone involved in insurance or interested in advocacy for fair treatment.

Highlights

• Impact of overlooked claims on families.

• Challenges of representing smaller claims.

• Tactics insurers use on smaller claims.

• Independent appraisal challenges.

• Changes in the appraisal process.

• How fees affect smaller claims viability.

• Balancing advocacy and independence in appraisal.

• Leveling up: moving forward, keeping still.

Episode Resources

• Connect with Galen M. Hair

• https://insuranceclaimhq.com

• [email protected]

• https://levelupclaim.com/

In this episode of "Level Up Claims Podcast" guest Michael King, a seasoned leadership coach, breaks down how most leaders get stuck in endless to-do lists and why their strategies fail. Learn how his "To-Be List" approach, rooted in identity and vision, offers a game-changing perspective that aligns strategy with genuine identity. King provides insights on effective team communication, using assessment tools, and moving from task-focused to vision-driven leadership. If you're a leader looking to truly propel your organization forward, this episode is a must-listen!

Highlights

• Anchoring strategy in identity and vision.

• Michael King's transition from executive pastor to coach.

• Understanding church leadership complexity.

• Temperament of fast-paced leaders and their vision.

• Importance of motivation-based assessments.

• Enneagram's impact on understanding team dynamics.

• "I'm the executive coach that elevates, not eliminates."

• Understanding your team for realistic expectations.

• The concept of a "to-be" list over a "to-do" list.

• Avoiding "borrowed identity" in leadership.

• Balancing personal passions and professional pursuits.

• Karaoke leadership vs. authentic leadership.

• Leveling up by being honest with yourself.

Episode Resources

• Connect with Galen M. Hair

• https://insuranceclaimhq.com

• [email protected]

• https://levelupclaim.com/

In this Level Up Claims Podcast episode, host Galen Hair chats with Kidane Jones, a former NFL player turned top bodybuilder and performance coach. They explore why men often give up on their goals, battling old identities, and the impact of unmet expectations. Kidane shares insights on understanding behaviors, navigating mental health, and the power of pursuing true potential. With his personal experiences and coaching wisdom, this conversation offers valuable lessons on embracing change and chasing who we want to become. It's a must-listen for anyone ready to transform their life.

Highlights

• Kidane's unexpected athletic journey.

• The influence of an athletic family.

• Transition from braces to bodybuilding.

• The role of identity in action.

• The habit loop: cue, behavior, reward.

• Emotional challenges and male identity.

• Societal pressure on men to appear strong.

• Men's reluctance to share emotional struggles.

• Communication differences between men and women.

Episode Resources

• Connect with Galen M. Hair

• https://insuranceclaimhq.com

• [email protected]

• https://levelupclaim.com/

In this episode of the "Level Up Claims" podcast, Galen Hair explores the complexities of fire-related insurance claims with Jonathan Bowers, Executive Director of Clean Environmental Solutions. Bowers shares insights on how proper testing and understanding of building science can mitigate risks and enhance safety for property owners after fire events like wildfires. Discover why staying updated on the latest scientific advancements in fire remediation could be a game-changer for your claims strategy. A must-listen for claims professionals seeking growth opportunities!

Highlights

• Importance of understanding fire claims.

• Growth opportunity in property claims.

• Toxicity of microparticles in fires.

• Distinction between urban and wildfire claims.

• Effective contamination testing methods.

• Balancing cost and thoroughness in testing.

• Impact of HVAC systems on fire claims.

• Knowledge gaps in public adjusters.

• Testing standards and building science integration.

• Challenges with content claims in insurance.

Episode Resources

• Connect with Galen M. Hair

• https://insuranceclaimhq.com

• [email protected]

• https://levelupclaim.com/

• Industry Resources:

  • AIHA: https://www.aiha.org/

  • IICRC Standards: https://webstore.ansi.org/sdo/iicrc

  Relevant Articles:

  • Article 1: Research Paper

  • Article 2: Fastest Growing and Most Destructive Fires

In this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, host Galen Hair discusses with Ari Meisel, a productivity expert who has collaborated with giants like Tony Robbins and NASA, about optimizing your life. Ari shares his journey from a Crohn's diagnosis to pioneering efficiency through "Less Doing" with insights on automation and productivity tools. Tune in to learn strategies for freeing up your time, reducing stress, and achieving more by doing less. This episode might just give you back your life!

Highlights

• Automate repetitive tasks.

• Doing less as a solution.

• Ari Meisel's journey to productivity.

• Overcoming Crohn's with productivity framework.

• The impact of time restrictions on innovation.

• Challenging the "busy" mindset.

• Asynchronous communication benefits.

• Automation's role in error reduction.

• Utilization of Kanban boards for task management.

• Diet and stress management in biohacking.

• Impact of sugar and emotional eating.

Episode Resources

• Connect with Galen M. Hair

• https://insuranceclaimhq.com

• [email protected]

• https://levelupclaim.com/

In this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, Galen Hair hosts Keld Jensen, a global negotiation expert and author of "The Smart Negotiator." They discuss AI's transformative role in modern deal-making, blending intuition with data, and unlocking the untapped potential in negotiations. Essential listening for anyone in business wanting to sharpen their negotiation skills and leverage AI effectively.

Highlights

• Negotiation game analogy.

• Jensen's career-changing moment.

• AI's role in modern negotiations.

• AI-enhanced negotiation simulations.

• Asymmetric value in negotiations.

• Discussing the negotiation process.

• Negotiation strategy's importance.

• Caution: AI is not a shortcut.

• Using AI during live negotiations.

• Checking AI-generated information.

• Importance of listening in negotiations.

Episode Resources

• Connect with Galen M. Hair

• https://insuranceclaimhq.com

• [email protected]

• https://levelupclaim.com/