In this episode of The Freedom Experience, Jean Moncrieff speaks with Bruce Eckfeldt, a seasoned entrepreneur, coach, and expert in agile development and strategic growth. Bruce shares his unconventional journey from architecture to founding a successful agile software development company and the valuable lessons he learned along the way. This conversation dives deep into the critical elements of scaling a business, preparing for an exit, and overcoming the personal challenges that often accompany these transitions.

Bruce offers actionable insights into aligning business goals with personal values, building a sellable business, and navigating life after an exit. Whether you're just beginning to think about your exit strategy or actively preparing to sell, this episode is packed with valuable lessons to help you master the journey.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Understanding Your Why:
Bruce explains why aligning personal and professional goals is the foundation of business success. Without a clear "why," scaling or exiting a business can feel meaningless and unfulfilling.

Preparing for an Exit:
Successful exits are built years in advance. Bruce highlights the importance of cleaning up financials, building a strong leadership team, and telling a compelling story to potential buyers.

Freedom Through Choice:
Freedom is about creating options. Bruce emphasizes how business owners can design their lives and careers around the choices that matter most to them.

Links and Resources:

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Freedom Experience! In part two of this special year-end review, I reflect on three powerful themes that emerged from my conversations with incredible guests over the past year. These insights are designed to help you refine your strategy and set yourself up for success in 2025.

🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube, and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE!

If you missed last week’s episode, be sure to check it out—we tackled escaping the CEO Doom Loop, aligning with your purpose, and building a strong leadership team.

This week, we’re diving into three more game-changing themes:

Key Takeaways:

Action Steps:

Links & Resources:

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with an entrepreneur who could benefit from these insights. Your support helps us bring more value to entrepreneurs like you!

In this solo episode of The Freedom Experience®, host Jean Moncrieff reflects on key insights from past conversations and shares strategies for business owners to regain momentum as the new year approaches. Jean delves into three critical areas: escaping the CEO Doom Loop, the transformative power of purpose, and building high-performing leadership teams. With actionable advice and real-world examples, this episode equips entrepreneurs to break free from stagnation and lead their businesses with clarity and intention.

🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube, and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE!

Key Topics Covered:

CEO Doom Loop:

The Power of Purpose:

Leadership for Growth:

Episode Highlights:

Action Steps:

Links & Resources:

Catherine Dahl is the former CEO of Beanworks, a fintech company specializing in accounts payable automation. Under her leadership, the company scaled from early struggles to a $100M exit. Today, she focuses on supporting early-stage fintech companies and mentoring women entrepreneurs.

🎥 Watch this conversation on YouTube, and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with your network, and leave a review. For more on building high-performing businesses, visit jeanmoncrieff.com.

In this episode of The Freedom Experience, I sit down with Eric Rieger, Founder and CEO of WEBIT Services, to discuss his inspiring journey from making t-shirts to building a purpose-driven, employee-owned tech business. Eric opens up about the challenges of entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from early failures, and his commitment to addressing systemic issues like income inequality through innovative business practices.

Watch this conversation on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE!

Key Themes:

The Entrepreneurial Journey:

Eric reflects on his unconventional path to becoming a business owner, starting with his father’s bold advice to "use your credit card and go for it." He shares how resilience, resourcefulness, and a people-first approach helped him navigate early struggles and create lasting success.

Employee Ownership and Income Inequality:

Discover how Eric’s decision to transition WEBIT Services to employee ownership aligns with his mission to tackle income inequality. He dives into the challenges of implementing an ESOP, why purpose-driven leadership is essential, and how businesses can balance profit with social impact.

The Importance of Visionary Leadership:

Eric explains the delicate balance between having big dreams and building systems that align your team around them. He shares how frameworks like EOS and open-book finance have helped him focus his visionary style while empowering his team to thrive.

Mental Health and Self-Awareness:

Vulnerability is strength. Eric shares his personal journey of transformation, including the importance of therapy in addressing trauma, maintaining self-awareness, and building a sustainable leadership style.

Quotes from the Episode:

“Freedom is being your authentic self and having the resources to take care of your basic needs. Once you have that, you can pursue love, belonging, and purpose.”

“Private equity is about making money make more money. Employee ownership is about helping people.”

“If you don’t know your values, someone will buy them. And that’s not a price I’m willing to pay.”

Links & Resources Mentioned:

Learn more about WEBIT Services: webitservices.com

Book recommendation: The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack

Learn about the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS): eosworldwide.com

More on Employee Ownership: nceo.org

Actionable Takeaways:

Reflect on your personal values and how they align with your business.

Explore frameworks like Metronomics, EOS, or Great Game of Business to enhance team alignment and transparency.

If you're a business owner or leader, consider how therapy or coaching can support your personal and professional growth.

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more insights on building a purpose-driven business, visit my website at jeanmoncrieff.com.

In this episode of The Freedom Experience, I sit down with Carl Saunders, the founder of VORUM, a pioneer in prosthetic and orthotic technology. Carl shares his journey from bootstrapping his business to scaling it into a global impact player. We discuss the lessons he learned from navigating growth plateaus, the importance of purpose-driven leadership, and how adopting systems like Metronomics transformed his business. Our conversation also touches on the decision to sell the company, the impact of distraction on business, and the necessity of building a strong sales team. Ultimately, Carl emphasizes the importance of growth and the willingness to adapt and seek coaching to achieve success.

Whether you're an entrepreneur 'riding the tiger' or seeking clarity on your next growth phase, Carl's story offers valuable insights on leveraging purpose, building empowered teams, and making the leap from chaos to intentional growth.

Key Takeaways:

Ride the Tiger Strategy: Early in his journey, Carl and his partner embraced a reactive, opportunistic strategy, which brought energy and profitability but eventually led to a plateau and burnout. Transitioning to intentional growth through structured systems was a game-changer.

The Power of Purpose: Defining VORUM’s purpose—to improve the quality of care for prosthetic and orthotic patients globally—became a rallying point for the team and a driver for their big, hairy, audacious goal (BHAG).

Scaling with Systems: Adopting Metronomics helped Carl empower his team, reduce decision-making bottlenecks, and build a culture of accountability. The introduction of daily huddles and one-on-ones enabled better alignment and faster problem-solving.

Learning from Failure: An attempted sale of the company highlighted the importance of having the right exit strategy and a leadership team capable of maintaining business momentum.

Growth Requires Growth: A key insight from Carl’s story is that companies must grow to provide opportunities for their people. Stagnation risks losing top talent and ultimately jeopardizes the business.

Quote of the Episode: "Our purpose wasn’t about revenue—it was about how often we could improve patients' lives globally. That’s what motivated us." – Carl Saunders

Links & Resources:

Connect with Us:

Richard Bryan stepped into leadership at age 28, inheriting a struggling $120M family automotive business in the UK facing $3.5M in annual losses. Through radical decision-making and cultural transformation, he turned the company around by prioritizing mentorship, transparency, and building high-performing teams. Today, as a keynote speaker and executive coach, he helps business owners master succession planning and create sustainable enterprises that thrive without their constant presence.

In our conversation, we explore the challenges of turning around a failing business, the importance of radical transparency in leadership, and the critical role of succession planning beyond just the CEO position. We discuss how removing toxic high performers can actually improve company culture, the significance of developing future leaders, and the unexpected challenges of finding purpose after a successful exit.

Watch this conversation on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE!

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

⚡ KEY MOMENTS:

00:00 Intro
00:23 Family Business Background
02:42 The Distress Call from Home
04:37 First Critical Decisions
06:54 Bringing in Expert Help
12:12 Radical Business Changes
15:07 Creating Transparency
21:23 Building A-Player Teams
26:08 Succession Planning Journey
31:10 Developing Future Leaders
34:05 Managing Family Shareholders
38:52 Leadership Lessons
42:17 Life After Exit
43:46 Defining Freedom

💡 POWERFUL QUOTES:
"The plan is we're going to make decisions every day and execute on them. As long as we get more right than we get wrong, we'll be fine."

"We're going to change people or change people - either change their mindset or they're not right."

"My superpower was actually convincing really smart people to come and work for me."

"The best thing about it is I'm pretty sure I'm the dumbest person in the room."

"Freedom means being able to stay in bed longer because my business runs fine without me."

📚 ABOUT RICHARD:

Richard J. Bryan is a speaker, executive coach, and business advisor who specializes in:

After successfully turning around and selling his family's automotive business, he now helps other business owners create sustainable enterprises and successful transition plans.

🔮 WHAT'S NEXT: Connect with Richard for speaking engagements and executive coaching opportunities

🔗 CONNECT WITH RICHARD:

📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

🎧 LISTEN ON: iTunes, Spotify

Rob Dube's entrepreneurial path revealed a powerful truth: sustainable success starts from within. After building imageOne into a Forbes Small Giant, he discovered meditation and mindfulness weren't just personal practices - they transformed his leadership. Today, through the 10 Disciplines, his books "Shine" and "donothing," and his leadership retreats, Rob helps driven entrepreneurs find that elusive balance between remarkable business results and inner peace. His approach shows how slowing down, through practices like meditation and ten-year thinking, actually accelerates meaningful success.

In our conversation, we explore the complexities of leadership, the journey to finding one's true self, and the importance of long-term thinking in entrepreneurship. We discuss the fears that leaders often face, the impact of societal expectations, and the significance of embracing the messy path of personal and professional growth.

Watch this conversation on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE!

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

⚡ KEY MOMENTS:

00:00  Navigating Leadership Fears
03:02  The Journey of Entrepreneurial Freedom
06:00  Understanding the True Self
08:54  The Impact of Societal Expectations
11:47  The Weight of Secrets in Leadership
15:06  10-Year Thinking: A Long-Term Perspective
17:47  Embracing the Messy Path
21:12  Finding Clarity in the Present Moment
24:02  Lessons from Entrepreneurial Journeys
31:18  Defining Company Values and Culture
36:04  Navigating Leadership Transitions
38:59  Shifting Perspectives on Business Ownership
42:17  The Importance of Being Still
51:16  Letting Go of Identity and Embracing Change

💡 POWERFUL QUOTES:

"We oftentimes don't want people, especially in leadership roles, to recognize that we're actually afraid right now..."

"In a ten-year cycle, you're going to have two great years, six really decent years, and two years that could literally put you out of business."

"We're all unique, but one thing we all need is to be still. We have to let our minds and our bodies settle. We have to let our souls, our true self, catch up."

📚 ABOUT ROB:

Rob Dube is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur whose company imageOne has been recognized as:

He's the author of "Do Nothing" and co-author of "Shine" with Gino Wickman, focusing on helping entrepreneurs find true freedom through inner work.

🔮 WHAT'S NEXT:

Explore Rob's 10 Disciplines program and group coaching opportunities

🔗 CONNECT WITH ROB:

📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

🎧 LISTEN ON: iTunes, Spotify

 🎙️ THE FREEDOM EXPERIENCE - Episode 29

The Hidden Truth About Purpose at Work with Zach Mercurio

In this powerful conversation with Zach Mercurio, we explore why purpose isn't just about having a mission statement - it's about creating environments where people truly feel they matter. Zach shares insights from his research and upcoming book about how leaders can build cultures of significance in their organizations.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

⚡ KEY MOMENTS:

[03:28] Zach shares the poem that changed his perspective on purpose [05:27] Why your job isn't your purpose [12:54] How embedded purpose serves as a storyline for organizations [17:03] The NASA story - how to show people their work matters [20:30] Rethinking job descriptions through a purpose lens [26:01] The two fundamental truths about employee engagement [36:08] How the Industrial Revolution disconnected us from purpose [46:09] Why purpose statements alone aren't enough

💡 POWERFUL QUOTES:

"Your purpose is not out there waiting to be found. It's right where you are waiting to be acknowledged and seen."

"It's impossible for something to matter to someone who doesn't first believe that they matter."

"When you have an embedded purpose, it serves as that storyline. But when you don't have that purpose, you get a lot of wasted energy and a lot of confusion."

📚 ABOUT ZACH: Zach Mercurio, PhD, is a researcher, author, and speaker specializing in purposeful leadership and positive organizational psychology. He works with organizations worldwide, including:

As a Research and Teaching Fellow at Colorado State University's Center for Meaning and Purpose and one of Simon Sinek's Optimist Instructors, Zach brings both academic rigor and practical application to his work.

🔮 WHAT'S NEXT: Pre-order Zach's new book "The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance" (Coming May 2025)

🔗 CONNECT WITH ZACH:

Website: https://www.zachmercurio.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmercurio/

📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

🎧 LISTEN ON: iTunes, Spotify

Art Saxby is the founder and CEO of Chief Outsiders, a company revolutionizing how mid-sized businesses access executive talent through fractional leadership. From his early days as a "born nomad" to leadership roles at Frito-Lay, Kellogg's, and Coca-Cola, Art has mastered the art of thriving in new situations. At age 50, driven by necessity during the 2009 recession, he founded Chief Outsiders, which now boasts over 130 battle-tested marketing and sales executives helping companies reignite growth.

In this dynamic episode of The Freedom Experience, Art shares his proven "Growth Gears" methodology and reveals why even the best-run companies sometimes struggle to grow. Whether you're plateauing, seeking new market opportunities, or preparing for the economic upswing predicted for 2025, this conversation offers invaluable insights for business leaders ready to accelerate growth.

Watch the Episode on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE!

Key Takeaways:

Resources and Links:

Want to prepare your business for the growth opportunities ahead? Don't miss Art's practical insights on building market-driven organizations that can quickly adapt and scale.