Sell Anything

Before 2026 begins, the most important business decision you can make isn’t what you buy, it’s getting clear on what you actually want. In this episode of Sell Anything, JL talks about how defining what you actually want impacts the businesses you buy, the careers you choose, and the responsibility you take on as an owner. This conversation shows how drifting into opportunities without intention leads to regret, while clear ownership of your direction creates better decisions, stronger businesses, and long-term alignment. If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain, or pulled into paths you didn’t consciously choose, this episode offers a practical reset for thinking like an owner instead of reacting like an employee.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(01:12) The Cost of Focusing on What You Don’t Want

(02:43) How Attention Drives Outcomes

(04:53) Body, Being, Balance, Business Framework

(07:13) Applying Clarity to Business Decisions

(09:18) Why Drift Happens Without Intent

(11:07) Defining What You Want Going Forward

(12:25) Final Challenge and Takeaway

As you look ahead to 2026, what is one thing you actually want that you have never clearly defined before?

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Most people don’t fail at buying a business because of price or revenue. They fail because the business can’t survive without the owner. In this episode of Sell Anything, JL Van Zyverden sits down with Amy Walker, founder of The Exit School, to talk about how salespeople can step into business ownership without accidentally buying themselves another full-time job. Together, they discuss what actually matters in business acquisition, including cash flow, due diligence, and how to spot businesses that are built to scale beyond the founder. If you’re a salesperson considering buying a small business or exploring acquisition as a path to ownership, this episode offers a clearer, more realistic framework for making that transition with confidence.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(02:14) Amy’s Story of Entrepreneurship

(05:26) Why Amy’s Business Fell Apart

(10:40) Starting Exit School

(20:42) Franchise vs Mom and Pop

(26:02) Dealing With Bad Acquisitions

(35:14) The Three Rules Amy Will Never Break Again

(41:54) Many Paths to Acquisitions

(46:02) The Only Thing You Actually Need to Start

What would you look for first to make sure a business doesn’t fall apart without the owner? Leave your answer in the comments.

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Connect With JL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sellanythingpodcast

Salespeople underestimate how close they already are to becoming business owners. In this episode, JL discusses why persuasion, organization, leadership, and pipeline management are the exact same skills used to acquire and grow a profitable small business. With millions of baby boomer–owned companies operating on outdated systems and looking for successors, salespeople are uniquely positioned to step in, modernize operations, and take over businesses that are already generating revenue. If you’ve felt the pull toward ownership but doubted whether you were ready, this episode shows you why the transition is more attainable than you think, your future might be one acquisition away.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(00:12) Skill 1: Persuasion

(00:39) Skill 2: Organization

(01:51) Skill 3: Leadership

(02:37) Why Sales Drives Every Business

(03:14) Story of Successful Ownership

Connect With JL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sellanythingpodcast

Every entrepreneur loves the idea of “building something from scratch,” but it is the hardest, riskiest, least predictable path to ownership. In this episode, I break down the truth most people never tell you. Buying a business is smarter, safer, and faster than starting one. I will show you exactly how I bought Lot Cop with no millions in the bank by using seller financing and the same sales skills you already have. From day one cash flow to avoiding the chaos of guessing your way through a startup, I explain why high performers win faster when they acquire something proven instead of trying to build on bare dirt. If you’re serious about stepping into ownership, this is the clearest roadmap you’ll hear all year.

Chapters

(00:00) introduction

(00:23) Why Starting a Business Is the Hardest Path

(01:18) How JL Bought Lot Cop with No Money

(02:12) The Power of Seller Financing Explained

(03:17) Why Buying Is Better Than Building

(04:34) The Skills You Already Have to Buy a Business

(05:35) How to Choose the Right Business to Buy

What type of business would you actually want to own if the right opportunity came along? Let me know in the comments below.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Sell Anything with JL Van Zyverden.

Connect With JL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sellanythingpodcast

Millions of baby boomer–owned businesses are reaching the end of their lifecycle, yet almost 60 percent have no succession plan. In this episode, I break down exactly how the Silver Tsunami works, why it’s already been happening for five years, and how you can step into ownership by finding off-market deals inside your own network. From furniture stores to HVAC companies, these businesses are profitable, trusted, and simply need someone with integrity to continue the legacy. If you’ve ever felt the pull to build something of your own, this is the simplest and safest path to get there, and I’ll show you how to start before this once-in-a-generation opportunity passes you by.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(01:09) The Common Thread Among Salespeople

(01:38) What Is the Silver Tsunami?

(02:26) How to Find Deals Inside Your Network

(04:08) Pit to Peak

What skill are you sharpening right now that could turn you into an owner? Let me hear your answer in the comments below.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Sell Anything with JL Van Zyverden.

Connect With JL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sellanythingpodcast

You are standing in front of the biggest wealth transfer of your lifetime. The silver tsunami is millions of baby boomer owners retiring and putting 5 to 10 trillion dollars of real, profitable businesses on the table. In this episode, I show you why that matters for your career, how the natural progression from top salesperson to owner really works, and why buying a proven legacy business usually beats launching another risky startup. By the end, you will see how to stop thinking like an employee, start thinking like a successor, and position yourself to ride the silver tsunami as an acquisition entrepreneur.

Chapters

(00:00) What Is The Silver Tsunami?

(02:38) The Path From Salesperson to Owner

(03:50) Why Buying a Business Beats Starting One

(05:33) What's In It for You?

What skill are you sharpening right now that could turn you into an owner? Let me hear your answer in the comments below.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Sell Anything with JL Van Zyverden.

Connect With JL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sellanythingpodcast

If you can close deals, you are standing in front of the biggest wealth transfer of your lifetime. The silver tsunami is millions of baby boomer owners retiring and putting 5 to 10 trillion dollars of real, profitable businesses on the table because their kids do not want them. In this episode, I show you why that matters for your career, how the natural progression from top salesperson to owner really works, and why buying a proven legacy business usually beats launching another risky startup. I walk through my own path into ownership, stories of former reps who became owner operators, and simple ways to plug in basic tech and leadership to grow what already works. By the end, you will see how to stop thinking like an employee, start thinking like a successor, and position yourself to ride the silver tsunami as an acquisition entrepreneur.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(01:18) The Path From Salesperson to Owner

(02:36) Why Buying a Business Beats Starting One

(03:48) The Real Mission Behind Sell Anything

(05:05) Why the Next Decade Will Make More Owners Than Ever

(06:05) How to Prepare Yourself for Acquisition Entrepreneurship

What skill are you sharpening right now that could turn you into an owner? Let me hear your answer in the comments below.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Sell Anything with JL Van Zyverden.

Connect With JL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sellanythingpodcast

Many people chase success without realizing they’re missing the foundation that makes it last. In this episode, I’m breaking down two frameworks that have shaped my life and business. The first is about learning to tell the truth, own your reality, and take full control of your results. The second is about building strength across every area that matters, your body, faith, family, and business, so you stop living one-dimensional and start creating real balance. These are the systems I use every day to stay consistent and keep growing when life gets hard. If you’re ready to live with clarity and purpose in every part of your life, this episode gives you the framework.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(01:16) Framework 1 The Code

(04:36) Framework 2 The Core Four

(08:15) The Importance Of Family

(11:02) Putting It All Together

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Sell Anything with JL Van Zyverden.

Connect With JL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sellanythingpodcast

If you’re new here, I’m JL Van Zyverden.

I believe life is a pitch, and the first person you have to sell is yourself. I’ve sold in call centers, on doorsteps, and inside my own businesses, and I built Sell Anything to show what belief, integrity, and consistent effort can really build.

How I got here…

Mission years: First learned quotas and goal-setting while serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Realized I loved communicating, competing, and inspiring people.

Early career: Worked as a personal trainer and discovered selling outcomes mattered more than

counting reps.

Banking: Helped small-business clients at a bank; seeing $100 k checks hit their accounts made me want to own something myself.

First business: Bought a shaved-ice dealership with my aunt, built systems, and sold it three years later for about 40 percent more than I paid.

Second venture: Partnered as a dealer in an online-marketing business; recurring revenue grew fast until I over-sold a website we couldn’t deliver and the company failed, but the relationships lasted because of honesty.

Turning point: Went back to the bank, earned a $1,300 paycheck after two weeks, and realized I was in the wrong game.

Door-to-door: Joined Vivint in 2014; from then through 2020 I never made under six figures. Learned that commission income is freedom, you control what you earn.

Lot Cop: In 2020 started selling inside a parent company; from February to December we did just shy of $1 million in sales, then doubled and tripled in the next few years.

Sell Anything is about the mindset and mechanics that built this journey, how to sell yourself before you sell your product, build trust that outlasts failure, and turn hard lessons into momentum. If you’re ready to build a belief that pays dividends in business and in life, you’ll fit right in.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(03:17) Fitness Trainer to Entrepreneur

(05:07) My First Business

(09:45) Selling Door to Door

(11:04) Incredible opportunity with LVT

Connect With JL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sellanythingpodcast

What happens when your dream dies, but your confidence doesn’t? In this episode of the Sell Anything Podcast, Quinn Fabrizio shares how he turned career-ending injuries and a D1 football dream into a thriving career in high-ticket fitness sales. A former Utah safety, Vivint rep, and Supra Human closer, Quinn reveals how his background in elite athletics and relentless work ethic built the foundation for his success in sales and business.

JL and Quinn dive into what it really takes to rebuild identity after failure, from being stuck in Utah’s brutal “Pit” to learning the one-call close that changed his life. They break down why pain is the most powerful motivator in sales, how to master discovery calls that convert, and the discipline behind staying consistent when deals fall through. You’ll also learn why fitness is the ultimate training ground for confidence, conviction, and sales performance. Whether you’re a rep, an athlete , or an entrepreneur, this episode delivers a framework for mental toughness, emotional intelligence, and true self-belief.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(01:06) Pick One Thing & Be Great (D1 Offers Begin)

(05:55) ACL Tear Before Senior Year: Identity Check

(07:11) Mission to Minnesota & Recommitment

(11:09) Back at Utah, Living in “The Pit”

(14:19) Walking Away After 3 Seasons: Hard Call

(17:54) From Locker Room to Doors: Vivint → Solar (Vegas/Austin)

(29:33) Scottsdale Move & High-Ticket Fitness Sales

(37:35) One-Call Close: Sell the Pain, Then the Plan

What's the first step out of your personal “pit” you need to face right now? Let me know in the comments.

Connect with Quinn on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinnfabrizio?igsh=ZXVzM3hybzJydGxi&utm_source=qr

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Sell Anything with JL Van Zyverden.

Connect With JL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sellanythingpodcast