In this episode of The Intentional Owner, co-hosts Sam Rosati and Kaustubh Deo welcome their first guest, Chase Murdock, CEO of the Decada Group. Chase reflects on his transition from high-growth, venture-backed startups to building a durable, decentralized holding company rooted in Salt Lake City. He shares how his early career in venture capital led to burnout and the realization that long-term fulfillment comes from building intentionally, not chasing exits.

The conversation dives into the formation of Decada, the value of partnerships, and how Chase and his partner, Adam, have shaped their portfolio by focusing on sustainability, operator autonomy, and local impact. Chase also details how Decada structures its companies, the evolution of their operating model, and what it truly means to be a steward of enduring businesses.

They discuss:

* Why Chase and Adam rejected the “arrival fallacy” in favor of a sustainable, long-term ownership model

* How their first business, Tailor Cooperative, became the foundation for a broader holding company vision

* The importance of partnerships and how complementary mindsets—not just skillsets—can strengthen resilience

* Why Decada decentralizes operations and empowers CEOs with budgetary and strategic autonomy

* How Chase is redefining success by aligning work, life, and family within his operating model

This episode is a must-listen for anyone building a portfolio with long-term vision and intentional design.

 

Links:

Chase on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasemurdock/

Decada Group - https://www.decada-group.com/

Kaustubh on Substack - https://bigdealsmallbusiness.substack.com/p/read-me-first

Sam on X - https://x.com/Sam_Rosati

Follow along with the guys' fitness tracker! - https://bit.ly/3T4EpHw

 

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:54) - Introducing Chase Murdock

(00:03:27) - The intention of Decada

(00:10:38) - Getting off the arrival fallacy treadmill

(00:17:41) - Building a great partnership

(00:23:56) - Personal missions

(00:29:59) - Strengths and weaknesses between partners

(00:33:39) - Building a “figure it out” attitude

(00:36:01) - The current state of Decada

(00:39:50) - Placing CEOs into businesses

(00:42:54) - Capitalization structures

(00:46:54) - Operating cadences

(00:53:13) - Arriving at the arrival fallacy point