In this episode, Carl speaks with Jon Ostenson about franchising, business ownership, and the shift happening in today's workforce.

As AI reshapes jobs, many professionals are exploring ways to build their own income streams. Jon shares what he sees across the market and what separates successful business owners from those who struggle.

Key takeaways include: • Why following a proven system matters • The role of mindset in business success • How "non-sexy" businesses can drive strong returns • What to expect when transitioning from employee to owner

This episode gives a clear look at risk, opportunity, and long-term income strategy.

Listen now and start thinking about your next move.

Connect with Jon:

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

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JonOstenson1

Book Non-Food Franchising: https://www.amazon.com/Non-Food-Franchising-Better-Business-Ownership/dp/B0BJNDCGN4

Website https://franbridgeconsulting.com/

In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl J. Cox speaks with Dr. Tracy Gapin, founder of the Gapin Institute and a leading expert in executive health and performance.

After years of success in traditional medicine, Dr. Gapin realized that many high-performing professionals were neglecting their own health while pursuing business success.

The conversation explores how stress, poor sleep, hormones, and lifestyle habits affect leadership performance and long-term health.

Key takeaways include:

• Why many entrepreneurs wait until health problems appear • How small daily habits can improve energy and focus • The role of sleep, hormones, and stress in performance • Why leaders must align their health with their purpose

If you lead a business, team, or organization, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you measure success.

Listen now and start building a strategy for both business and health.

Connect with Tracy:

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

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/drtracygapin/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drtracygapin/

Twitter https://x.com/DrGapin

Book Male 2.0 and Codes of Longevity

Book Link https://www.amazon.com/Male-2-0-Cracking-Limitless-Vitality/dp/0578605961 , https://www.amazon.com/Codes-Longevity-Leading-Potential-Optimized/dp/1735373850

Website https://gapininstitute.com/

In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl J. Cox sits down with business strategist and performance coach Ashley Shaw.

Ashley shares how she transitioned from the fitness industry into entrepreneurship and built a thriving business focused on helping entrepreneurs scale smarter through systems, recurring revenue, and AI-driven processes.

Key insights from this episode include:

• Why entrepreneurs must deeply understand their ideal customer • How recurring revenue creates financial freedom • The role mindset plays in scaling a business • How Ashley reduced marketing costs by $384,000 using AI

Ashley also shares lessons from her entrepreneurial journey, including moving to Vietnam to start an online business and building a seven-figure company.

Listen to the full episode to learn how strategy, systems, and AI can transform the way you run your business.

Connect with Ashley:

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

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theashleyshaw

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theashleyshaw/

Website https://ashleyshaw.ca

Economic headlines move fast. Strategy requires context.

In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl J. Cox speaks with economist Dr. Bill Connerly about the trends shaping business decisions today. The conversation covers tariffs, supply chain strategy, artificial intelligence, workforce shifts, and energy markets.

Dr. Connerly explains why tariffs rarely trigger immediate recession but can reshape sourcing decisions across industries. Companies are shifting toward supply chain reliability after years of disruption.

The episode also explores the real impact of AI in business. The greatest productivity gains will come from specialized tools built for specific problems, not just general AI chat systems.

Carl and Bill also discuss energy disruption, global uncertainty, and what business leaders should watch as they plan for the next decade.

Listen to the episode and consider how economic signals shape your strategy.

Author of the book: The Flexible Stance: Thriving in a Boom/Bust Economy

Website www.conerlyconsulting.com

In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl J. Cox speaks with Steve Griggs, founder of Steve Griggs Design, one of New York City's premier luxury landscape design-build firms.

Steve shares how he built a successful company after starting in the lawn care business at age 16. With more than 30 years of experience, he explains what it takes to manage high expectations, lead construction teams, and deliver exceptional results.

Key takeaways include:

• Why successful clients value honesty and execution • How focusing on one project at a time improves outcomes • The importance of respect and leadership on job sites • Why entrepreneurs must embrace visibility and personal branding

Steve also shares lessons about hiring, leadership, and the importance of being present for family.

Listen to the episode to learn how strong leadership and consistent execution build lasting success.

Guest Assets:

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

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SteveGriggsDesign

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stevegriggsdesign/

Twitter https://twitter.com/stevegriggsdsgn

Website https://stevegriggsdesign.com/

AI is accelerating innovation—but it is not a substitute for strategy.

In this episode, Carl J. Cox speaks with Josh Carter, co-founder of Upstart Collective, about what founders must understand to build sustainable companies. Josh shares insights from working with early-stage startups, including why chasing trends weakens businesses and how defensible value is created.

The conversation covers AI misuse, founder blind spots, customer discovery, fundraising realities, and why execution still separates winners from noise. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and leaders navigating innovation pressure.

Listen now and rethink how you build for long-term value.

Josh's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcarter/

Josh's Website http://upstartcollective.org

Selling a business is not a simple transaction. It is a strategic event that often defines an owner's financial future.

In this episode, Carl J. Cox speaks with Gregory Kovsky, President and CEO of International Business Associates, about what it really takes to sell a privately held business. Gregory shares insights from more than three decades of deal experience, including why only a fraction of businesses ever sell and what separates those that do.

The discussion covers buyer demand, valuation mistakes, financing hurdles, and the risks behind earn-outs and retained equity. This episode is essential listening for owners who want to understand their options before going to market.

Listen now and start planning your exit with clarity.

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-kovsky-460aab7/

Website https://ibainc.com/

In this episode, Carl sits down with Ashish Gupta, founder of ScaleUp Exec, to discuss business turnarounds, leadership decisions, and culture resets. Ashish shares how he acquired a struggling company, realized innovation had stopped, and eventually rebuilt the team to change the company's trajectory.

Key takeaways:

• Why the business must come first

• How to identify thinking leaders during interviews

• The role of systems before people and process

• When AI tools help — and when they fail

• How founders define success differently

This episode offers practical insights for entrepreneurs and operators who want alignment between strategy and execution.

Listen now and start measuring your success.

Guest Assets:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashish-gup/

Website https://scaleupexec.com/

High-stakes initiatives fail more than 80% of the time, yet leaders still have to pursue them to grow.

In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl J. Cox talks with John Rossman, former Amazon executive and author of Big Bet Leadership, about how leaders should approach bold, risky transformation efforts in the age of AI.

John shares why leaders must stop chasing predictability, treat strategy as a set of hypotheses, and focus on one critical bet at a time. The discussion covers AI strategy, experimentation, leadership discipline, and how organizations avoid dilution of focus.

This episode is for executives, operators, and entrepreneurs responsible for leading real change.

🎧 Listen now and measure success differently.

John Rossman Links:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rossman/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rossmanpartners

Website http://rossmanpartners.com/

AI is everywhere, but most businesses are using it the wrong way.

In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl J. Cox sits down with Eli Portnoy, co-founder and CEO of BackEngine.ai, to talk about the real gap between AI hype and real-world results. Eli explains why generic AI outputs fail, why context matters more than tools, and how sales and go-to-market strategies must evolve in a crowded, low-trust environment.

They also discuss how outbound sales has changed, why easy channels stop working, and what leaders can do today to build relevance, trust, and long-term growth.

If you want a clear, practical conversation about AI, strategy, and modern business execution, this episode delivers.

Listen now and learn how to apply AI with intention.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliportnoy/

https://www.backengine.com/