Pivot with Darryl Lyons

There’s no question - retirement frees up a lot of time to spend on your family and hobbies. But after years of building a company, your business becomes part of your identity. 

Whether you realize it or not, many business owners tie their self-worth to their business. And exiting your business young can set you up for years of uncertainty, isolation… and even depression. 

Unless you plan ahead. 

Today’s guest Brian Booker built Explore USA RV into a Texas wide chain. Despite identity struggles after a sudden sale of the business, he’s thriving in retirement. 

In this episode you’ll discover how to pivot into retirement without losing your identity along the way. 

Listen now. 

Show Highlights Include:

• The old-school “envelope” system which helps you stay on top of finances (even in the 21st century) (3:00) 
• How a family trip across the US could build you a state-wide empire by retirement (5:24) 
• The recruiting secret that lets you profit in any market (whether you sell RVs or snow cones) (6:55) 
• Why business owners have an “identity crisis” after retirement (and how to prevent it happening to you) (7:51)

Working in the same profession for years grows dull. Every day feels like you’re stuck in Groundhog Day. And sometimes, that lack of passion bleeds over into your relationships. That’s when you know it’s time for a shakeup - it’s time to retire or pivot into a new career. 

And if you’re going to pivot into a new career, you may as well follow your passion! 

Today’s guest Linda was born with a passion for making connections. Though the job description never existed before, she became a professional “connector”, linking people in her network for a fee. 

In this episode, you’ll discover how following your passion can give new life to your career, so you can retire on a high note. 

Listen now!

Show Highlights Include:

• Why nasty health scares pave the way to entrepreneurial freedom (7:16) 
• The “prove it” strategy that turns your children into financially secure adults (9:37) 
• Why helping your kid invest pennies into the stock market changes how they think about money (even if they’ll never make a profit) (10:06) 
• How to boost your business’ income by talking about your weekend hobbies with strangers (17:06)

After decades in the game, your business becomes part of your identity. 

So how would you feel if your business crashed into the ground after you handed over control to someone else? It’s like losing a limb. 

And what if that “someone else” was your child? Imagine how a failing business could damage your relationship. 

That’s why it’s so important to hand over the reins early and slowly, especially if it’s your child. If you do, not only will you get more time to spend with the people you love, but your business will thrive long after you retire. 

Today’s guest Helen was in the media business for decades. Now she has successfully handed the business down to the next generation, and she’s here to show you how to do the same. 

In this episode, you’ll discover how early preparation lets you hand over control of your business without drama. You’ll keep your legacy, your business will grow and you’ll finally be able to kick back and enjoy retirement!

Listen now!

Show Highlights Include:

• How to instill a strong work ethic in your children (even if they don’t pay attention to a word you say) (3:23) 
• The “reverse reward” schedule that turns lazy, spoiled-brat kids into diligent sweethearts (3:50) 
• Two surprising character traits that let you excel in business (even if you’re not a driven person) (8:43) 
• How to land your first clients as you pivot from employment to entrepreneurship (even if you’re afraid to sell yourself because you were an employee for the last 18 years) (12:23) 
• The “risk reversal” method that attracts business and lets you retain clients for longer (13:41) 
• Why handing the reins of your business to the next generation creates freedom, a stronger business, and a lasting legacy (14:46) 
• How to transition your business to the next generation without damaging client relationships (18:40)

Your local business is more than an income stream. After decades of being a public face in the local community, your business becomes part of your identity. 

So when the time comes to exit, it can feel like a part of your identity dies when you leave the business. Even more so when your pride and joy shuts down after you sell. 

Few know the feeling more than James Kinney, one of San Antonio’s most public faces. At 43 years old, he sold the iconic Splashtown water park and pivoted into temporary retirement. 

In this episode, you’ll discover why Splashtown shut down (even though it was profitable). And through this story, you’ll gather valuable insights that will help you prepare for your own business exit. 

Listen now. 

Show Highlights Include:

• Why a sports card addiction teaches your children financial discipline (6:51)
• The “New Nintendo” principle that turns want-it-all kids into frugal adults (8:05)
• How to attract thousands of local eyeballs to your business without spending a dollar on ads (10:25)
• The “Grind” method that lets your well-deserving family members enter executive levels at your business (without accusals of “special treatment”) (11:15)
• How to sell your business for an above-market price (even if your EBITDA doesn’t justify it) (14:42) 

Whether you’re working or retired, few things feel better than impacting your community in a positive way. If you can put a smile on the faces of those around you, you’ll feel fulfilled and happy. 

And you can do the same, no matter what your career is now or when you plan to retire. And in this episode, you’ll hear from Barbara Fitzsimon. After working in service of her community, she retired and still volunteers to help others out. 

Want to hear how to serve your community even after you’re retired? Listen now! 

Show highlights include: 

• How you could buy a ranch for retirement with nothing but patience and bonds. (5:27)
• Why helping people in your community makes you even happier than them (11:42)
• The simple way to know exactly when it’s time to retire (15:08)
• How to touch many people’s lives (even if you live in a tiny town) (20:41)

If you’ve ever been to Texas, you’ve probably seen a lot of oil wells. That’s because Texas has some of the most oil-rich land in America—and has produced some of the wealthiest Americans in history. 

And it’s not just the oil itself: Many surrounding industries have built incredible careers and gave Texans prosperous lives. 

In this episode, Texas energy veteran Lee Nivikoff stops by to share the ins and outs of working with oil and gas fields in Texas. 

Not sure if you want to get involved? Listen now! 

Show highlights include: 

• Why the media gets fracking wrong (and how fracking really works) (12:43)
• Why Texas is the best place in America to get into the energy industry (15:44)
• How the economic climate impacts the oil market (and why prices might go up soon) (19:10)
• The counter-intuitive way a higher oil price can foster innovation and research. (21:14)

In the school days, most of us snored through history class. 

But as we get older, we realize the importance of our past. If you ignore history, you miss out on valuable connections… and you risk investing in assets that plummet to zero. 

Today’s guest is Ken Wise, a justice on the 14th Court of Appeals. In 2015, he started Wise About Texas, a Texas history podcast. Today, he’s here to show you how you can apply Texas history to improve your quality of life and leave a lasting legacy. 

In this episode, you’ll discover how a little Texas history knowledge helps you build a valuable network, get through difficult times, and even become a better investor. 

Listen now

Show Highlights Include: 

• The “when I get around to it” method that lets you build a legacy on the side (even if you’re swamped with work in your day job) (5:37) 
• Why learning about the early settlements of Texas helps you perform better at your job (6:55)
• How a little “irrelevant” history knowledge lets you make meaningful friendships that reward you for decades (9:57) 
• Why 19th Century investment advice lets you avoid Bitcoin bubbles (10:36)
• Two gifts that set your children up for a life of wealth (even though they cost almost nothing) (12:39)

Many people want to retire early so they can travel, spend time with their family, and knock things off their bucket list. But most people just stay home and watch TV.

Why is that?

When you try to do everything yourself—like growing your finances—you commit mistakes that devour your nest egg. 

Don’t worry, there’s a simple solution: 

Today's guest, Karen Overall, didn't have  financial freedom  while she was in the Navy. But when she wanted to travel in her later years, she realized she needed a financial advisor. And so do you!

In this episode, you'll discover how you can fill your gap between retirement and retiring early. So you can travel, hang out with your family, and start crossing things off your bucket list!

Listen now!

Show Highlights Include:

• How joining the military teaches you investment strategies to grow your portfolio (5:27)
• Why having a Survivor Benefit Plan maximizes your pension (6:56)
• The insane federal pension plan that lets you cash out 5-10 years earlier than your neighbour (8:10)
• How a financial advisor lets you retire earlier than you expect (11:28)

Owning a family business gives you the privilege to retire early. However, many folks find it difficult to navigate passing the business on to their kids.

It’s normal. Understanding a new generation and their perspective on business can be challenging. But doing so, not only sets you up for a peaceful retirement but also makes you a better entrepreneur.

Today’s guest is a single-mom turned entrepreneur, Cheri Armstrong. She’s here to show you how you can manage a thriving family business, set yourself up for an abundant retirement and build bridges between generations. 

Listen now to discover how to understand our children’s generation better while building a family business that lets you retire at 58. 

Show Highlights Include: 

• Why sending your kids to work turns them into successful adults (even if you’ve got more than enough money to support them) (3:52)
• The Single Mom’s Guide to thriving in business (even in the midst of a Pandemic) (9:33)
• How understanding your kid’s generation makes you a better entrepreneur (and how to bridge the gap in 6 weeks) (10:46)
• How this simple advice could eliminate 80% of your child’s financial worries and lets you retire early (16:40)

Many Americans dream of retiring before 65. After all, imagine the time you'll have for your family, church and hobbies! 

But financial strain, lower social security benefits, and lack of Medicare turn early retirement into a minefield. 

Despite the complications of retiring young, today’s guest JK Leonard has pulled it off. After a challenging career as an attorney, he’s stepped back from law and is enjoying more free time. Now he’s here to show you how to prepare for your own early retirement. 

In this episode, you’ll discover how to pivot into retirement before age 65. You’ll enjoy more time with your family, church and community - without penny-pinching in retirement. 

Listen now!

Show Highlights Include:

• Why tithing throughout a financial emergency sets you up for financial freedom (even if it hurts to let go of your money) (7:28) 
• How Michael Jordan can help you end your career on a high note (10:08) 
• How to dip your toes into the retired lifestyle without sacrificing all of your income (13:38) 
• The “sweat” method that guards against career burnout (16:04)