The Decision by EO Nashville

Alan Young is the Founder and CEO of Armor Concepts, a leading manufacturer and distributor of entry-point security and repair solutions. He began his career as a professional football player before joining Bank of America Securities as an Investment Banker, where he executed mergers and acquisitions and capital raising transactions. After leaving Bank of America, Alan began rehabbing and flipping investment properties, but a string of repeated break-ins led him to develop door jamb products, and Armor Concepts was born. He is a three-time winner of the Nashville Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO and has been on the Nashville Power 100 list.

It’s easy to assume successful entrepreneurs have it all figured out, but this is often a facade of perfection that can crumble at the first sign of failure. In reality, entrepreneurs are at the helm of tough decisions and feel the weight of expectations bearing down, making the future unknown and often terrifying. In a relentless pursuit of success, how can you find freedom and fulfillment?

Faced with the choice of either paying his employees or paying himself, innovator Alan Young realized he couldn’t feign perfection in front of his children. He began teaching them the value of learning and growing from failure and the importance of not comparing yourself to others. As a member and leader of EO Nashville, Alan learned that the most successful entrepreneurs often struggle the most, and by feeling satisfied in your achievements, you can gain the true freedom entrepreneurs crave. 

In today’s episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson speak with Alan Young, the Founder and CEO of Armor Concepts, about how he leads through adversity. Alan shares leadership insights from his time as EO Nashville President, how EO reduces entrepreneurial loneliness, and how he learned to embrace his failures and be happy with his achievements.

Robin Davis is the Founder and CEO of Metre, a proposal development consultancy for healthcare companies. She is also the Co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Homegrown Taproom & Kitchen, a restaurant and craft beer mecca in Nashville. As a leader in the sales and proposal development industry, Robin is an APMP-certified proposal professional and association fellow, a former member of the International Board of Directors, and a top-rated speaker at industry events. Robin is also a member of EO and serves on the Nashville chapter’s board of directors.

Altering your leadership structures and business model can be scary, especially if you’re unprepared to take the leap. Yet changes like these are often necessary for growth. How did one entrepreneurial leader catalyze radical change in her business?

Multifaceted entrepreneur Robin Davis ignored the cracks in her business model until her foundation nearly crumbled. Her business partner struggled to separate friendships and professional relationships, and the two didn’t trust each other. After attending an EO forum presentation on EOS, Robin implemented the system into her business, aligning leaders with their ideal roles and driving her business partner out. Robin learned that transparency and accountability are crucial in catalyzing necessary company transformations.

Tune in to the latest episode of The Decision as Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson welcome Robin Davis, the Founder and CEO of Metre, to talk about her company’s leadership evolution. Robin explains the significance of supportive community networks, how she founded Homegrown Taproom & Kitchen, and how EO transformed her business outlook.

Philip Steen is the Owner of Nashville Sports Leagues (NSL), an organization that develops sports leagues and events throughout the greater Nashville area. The network manages seven recreational sports leagues with about 25,000 yearly players. Philip is also the Owner and Founder of Urban Flip, a property management and investment company for vacation rentals.

Building a niche business that adds value to your community can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Yet personal challenges and situations outside your control can alter your drive and passion for the business. How can you change direction and continue moving forward?

Resilient and versatile entrepreneur Philip Steen developed an organization that brought his community together through recreational sports teams. The business boomed as athletes seized the opportunity to participate in sports not previously available to them, like flag football. However, the pandemic forced Philip to lay off his entire staff, while a historical flood ruined one of his playing fields. Additionally, Philip had a heart attack just before the pandemic, prompting him to reassess his personal life and the company’s place within it. Now contemplating a business sale, Philip vows to overcome fear and uncertainty, welcoming career change and evolution as a growth opportunity.

Welcome back to The Decision, where Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson interview Philip Steen, the Owner of Nashville Sports Leagues, about his company’s evolution and reaching a crossroads in his career. Philip shares how his organization facilitates team dynamics, its impact on his community, and his experience as a new EO member.

Tim McMullen is the Founder of redpepper, a full-service strategic and creative agency. The company has been ranked on Inc. magazine’s list of fastest-growing companies for six years and has been recognized in the advertising industry with several local, regional, and national ADDY awards. Tim speaks nationally on company culture and integrated marketing and has been featured on 60 Minutes, NPR, CNN, and Fox News among other publications and networks. He was also named the 2010 Agency Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association Nashville chapter and is the former President of Nashville’s American Advertising Federation.

As the sole proprietor of a business, you often have to make decisions on your own, even while navigating personal turmoil. How can you restructure priorities to ensure your company doesn’t fall apart?

Award-winning marketer Tim McMullen built his business from the ground up, recruiting his brother to help him manage it. After battling cancer and undergoing a stressful divorce, he recognized the need to step away from the daily grind of his business, relying on his brother to take over. Yet the familial partnership no longer served the company, forcing Tim and his brother to part ways. When you’ve reached a crossroads in your business after restructuring your priorities, Tim suggests understanding every aspect of yourself to build a culture that reflects your true values.

Tune in to The Decision podcast as Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson host Tim McMullen, the Founder of redpepper, who talks about how he redefined success and found a balance between work, life, and health. Tim shares the dynamics of his business partnership with his brother, how to benefit from your EO journey, and his future vision for redpepper.

Elizabeth Moss is the Founder of Caregivers by WholeCare, a licensed, non-medical home care service provider that improves the quality of life for seniors and disabled people. She sold the business in 2020 during the caregiver shortage crisis. Elizabeth is now the Co-founder of CareCrown, which helps home care providers retain their staff through rewards and recognition. As a two-time entrepreneur, Elizabeth is a board member of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) Nashville.

No matter how solid your business plan is, there will always be setbacks in the process. Knowing how to navigate them with grace and stride is crucial for sustaining your end goal. How can you communicate these challenges to your EO forum to move forward?

Resilient entrepreneur Elizabeth Moss established an exit plan for her business from the beginning, conducting research on industry trends and dynamics to identify an ideal sale date. However, uncommitted buyers, poor leadership, and the pandemic created unexpected challenges that caused Elizabeth to doubt her plan and entrepreneurial capabilities. Additionally, she struggled to find an ideal forum to confide in, having joined and left three forums before finding a group of supportive women. Through open coaching, Elizabeth could share the emotions associated with selling her business, allowing her to work through it effectively.

In today’s episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson speak with Elizabeth Moss, the Founder of Caregivers by WholeCare and Co-founder of CareCrown, about her business sale process. Elizabeth shares the significance of EO forums in personal and professional development, the power of vulnerability in entrepreneurship, and the importance of making decisions aligned with your needs.

John Rowley is the Founder of CounterPoint Messaging, a message, media, and digital firm focused on political and advocacy campaigns at the local, state, and national levels. Since starting out in radio and television, he has worked on over 500 political advocacy campaigns for Democrats in 47 states, winning 91% of the time. John has worked with candidates, including presidents, governors, city councils, and members of Congress. He has also worked with over 100 nonprofits and has provided political analysis on media outlets, including MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, Fox News, and NPR.

Entrepreneurs are known for their resilience, but even the strongest business owners can get knocked down by setbacks in their journeys. In these situations, deciding to start fresh can catalyze unprecedented personal growth. Learn how an adaptable entrepreneur and leader transformed his business and mindset.

Political advising expert and long-time EO Nashville member John Rowley joined EO to kickstart growth for his business, but he never imagined he would end his 20-year partnership in just 30 days. Although he talked extensively about the partnership dynamics with his forum, ending the relationship so suddenly cost John his business and employees’ livelihoods. However, this experience taught him the value of self-reflection and consistent learning. John rebuilt his business on political passion and resilience and became an advocate for transparent and vulnerable EO forum cultures to build leadership and overcome challenges.

In this episode of The Decision, Eric Jackson and Robert Hartline meet with John Rowley, the Founder of CounterPoint Messaging, to discuss difficult decisions, resilience, and the power of intimate participation in EO forums. John also shares how to navigate conflicts between forum mates, how he rebuilt his business following a failed partnership, and his valuable life lessons in business.

Sameera Lowe is the Executive Director of EO Nashville, where she has worked closely with entrepreneurs for over 15 years. She is also the Principal of Loud & Clear Communications, which focuses on marketing, event planning, and association management. With over 25 years of marketing and event planning experience, Sameera served as the Marketing Director for Comcast and as a PR and marketing consultant for various locally owned private businesses.

EO Nashville didn’t become the largest EO chapter overnight. It took rigorous leadership, constant support, and engaging events to grow the chapter. How did one executive director spearhead the endeavor to transform Nashville’s entrepreneurial community?

Having been raised by self-made entrepreneurs, Sameera Lowe joined EO Nashville, intending to break into a leadership role that would allow her to fulfill her potential. After working with dejected entrepreneurs with imposter syndrome, she began implementing and adhering to core values and rules, carefully selecting topics and ideal members. Various events and programs like Nerve and her proprietary “90 is the new 60” event ensure optimal engagement and alignment with members’ unique journeys. Sameera maintains that EO Nashville members must take ownership of their experiences to maximize the benefits of the organization.

In the latest episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson talk with Sameera Lowe, the Executive Director of EO Nashville, about how she nurtures entrepreneurs in the organization. Sameera shares her insight on creating transformative events, effectively vetting new members, and pioneering programs like Catalyst and Bridge that prepare entrepreneurs for EO membership.

Liza Graves is the Founder and co-CEO of Blueprint.Inc, a multi-platform marketing company, and the Co-founder of StyleBlueprint, a Southern lifestyle digital magazine. As a serial entrepreneur, she launched a lunch cafe when she was 24 before opening a retail business out of her home. In 2015, Liza was named one of the 75 Most Stylish People in the South and has been named a Woman of Influence and the Most Admired CEO by Nashville Business Journal.

Jay Graves is the co-CEO of Blueprint.Inc, where he leads operations and technology for the StyleBlueprint platform. With over 25 years of experience in data-driven businesses, he co-founded and sold SmartDM and SSB, which focused on data warehousing, digital marketing, and technology operations. With these companies, Jay generated value for clients, including the NBA, the NFL, and NASCAR.

Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, so having someone along for the ride may make the daily obstacles less stressful. Yet business partnerships have unique struggles, especially when the relationship is also a marriage. How did an entrepreneurial power couple navigate individual and shared adversities?

While Jay Graves was scaling success in data operations, Liza Graves was struggling with an incompatible business partnership. After joining EO, she recognized her issue with holding others accountable. With the help of Jay and her EO forum, Liza leveraged the pandemic to restructure her business model and developed a culture of accountability and transparency. Now business partners, Jay and Liza credit EO’s Global Speaker’s Academy for improving their communication styles and recommend that entrepreneurial spouses establish boundaries with each other to balance work and life effectively.

Join Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson in this week’s episode of EO Nashville’s The Decision as they invite Jay and Liza Graves of Blueprint.Inc to talk about their intertwined entrepreneurial journey. Together, they discuss practicing what you preach to your team, how they divide company roles and expectations equally, and how strategic coaching helped restructure the business.

Tom Turner is the Managing Director of STS Capital Partners, an international boutique mergers and acquisitions firm. As a CEO, entrepreneur, board member, and philanthropist, he has over 20 years of experience across the legal services, electronic discovery, computer forensics, and technology industries. Tom was also the Founding Partner of DSi, Inc., a legal services firm providing electronic discovery and digital forensics services.

It’s common for entrepreneurs to feel stuck in their journeys when they’re battling against growth plateaus and cultural dysfunctions. How can you transform your business to catalyze exponential growth?

After reaching $3 million in revenue, Tom Turner thought he was too good for the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. He joined reluctantly and discovered that his leadership and cultural structures were fractured. By investing in a business coach, Tom built a robust culture and a sustainable business model where he transitioned from the president to the executive chairman. This allowed him to scale and eventually sell his business at $180 million. Tom credits peer support in his EO forum and recommends embracing the forum experience with an open mind.

Tune in to this episode of The Decision as Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson chat with Tom Turner, the Managing Director of STS Capital Partners, about how he navigated his business’ growth and exit. Tom talks about how EO transformed his business and life, the process of transitioning business ownership, and how he built a thriving culture.

Marty Reed is the Chief Product Officer at Level Data, a software platform helping school districts organize their data. He is also the CEO of RANDA Solutions, which was acquired by Level Data, and the former President of EO Nashville. Marty specializes in facilitating data ownership and sharing through cryptographically verifiable systems.

Entrepreneurship is often synonymous with adversity, but no one is prepared to face a $120 million lawsuit against them. Could you make the pivotal decisions to keep your business afloat? How can you navigate the pressure and come out on top?

Data-driven entrepreneur Marty Reed was on the verge of winning a multimillion-dollar business deal before a lawsuit of equal value thwarted his financial success. After fighting in court and mediating the lawsuit, Marty grew his business to new heights and launched a sister venture from his initial business. However, the rapid growth proved unsustainable, leading Marty to fire the company’s president, lay off 16 employees, and eventually sell the business. He credits his EO forum with helping him overcome fear and uncertainty and embrace new opportunities for growth. His hands-on involvement in the organization allowed him to become president, during which he learned from his adversity and developed resilience.

Welcome back to EO Nashville’s The Decision with Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson who interview Marty Reed, the Chief Product Officer at Level Data, about his experiences overcoming adversity in entrepreneurship. Marty talks about the importance of a positive mindset in decision-making, how he leveraged his adversities as learning opportunities, and the role of EO in his personal and professional success.