Serial entrepreneur and investor Peter Horan delivers unconventional insights on building and scaling successful businesses. Discover his "four-act play" framework for venture pitches, why founder-led sales eventually kills growth, and how to position yourself for the economic "apocalypse" he sees coming.Peter shares contrarian wisdom on everything from business books (he doesn't read them) to work-life balance (it's a myth) and the critical mistake that keeps entrepreneurs from exiting at the right time. Whether you're an early-stage founder or looking to scale, this conversation provides practical pieces of advice from someone who's built, sold, and invested in multiple successful ventures across media and technology.Connect with Peter:https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterhoran/https://horanmediatech.com/🔗 Save hours with top business hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribeTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:02 - Board Membership and Strategic Guidance03:06 - The Art of Venture Pitching05:18 - Navigating Customer Feedback and Business Viability07:53 - The Evolution from Operator to CEO10:14 - Unconventional Habits for Success11:54 - Scaling SMBs: Founder-Led Sales14:23 - Building a Business with Limited Resources15:40 - Managing Time Constraints with Side Hustles17:34 - The Myth of Work-Life Balance20:04 - Coaching and Mentoring in Business20:54 - Marketing Strategies on a Budget23:09 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome24:29 - Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape26:31 - Navigating a Constipated Financial Market27:30 - Investment Strategies: Betting on the Jockey29:30 - Identifying Key Signals for Business Growth30:58 - Timing the Market: When to Sell vs. Grow35:14 Opportunities in an Apocalyptic Market38:40 - Harnessing AI for Business Solutions42:15 - Cultural Insights: Lessons from Japan and China#business #entrepreneurship #startups #leadership #investing #venturecapital #scaling #businesstips #marketing #sales #ceo #founders #smallbusiness #ai #innovation