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.

Paul Spiegelman is the co-founder of the Small Giants community, a peer group of purpose-driven business leaders. As the former chief culture officer of Stericycle and co-founder/former CEO of Beryl Health, Paul has pioneered approaches to building culture-first organizations. His journey from founding a medical alert business in the mid-1980s to selling Beryl Health for 22x EBITDA demonstrates how purpose-driven leadership can create exceptional business value while prioritizing people.

In this episode of The Freedom Experience, Paul and I explore the connection between purpose, culture, and business success. We discuss how putting employees first creates sustainable growth, the challenges of maintaining culture through transitions, and the personal journey of finding purpose after a successful exit. If you're interested in building a business that makes a difference while delivering exceptional results, this conversation is for you.

Watch the Episode on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE!

Key Takeaways:

Resources and Links:

Would you like me to make any adjustments to better match your style or add any additional elements?

Mike Jones is the founder of Better Happy, an award-winning consultancy that helps businesses thrive by focusing on happiness and high performance. Drawing from his diverse background—including five years of military service, time spent in monasteries in Nepal and Thailand, and building his own businesses—Mike brings a unique perspective on what it takes to create sustainable success. He is also the author of The Happy Business Revolution, now available, which offers a fresh take on building businesses aligned with well-being and fulfillment.

In this episode of The Freedom Experience, Mike and I discuss how fulfillment, not just profit, drives long-term success. We explore the dangers of toxic productivity, the importance of employee engagement, and his Core 4 Model for balancing the needs of owners, employees, customers, and the business. If you’ve ever wondered how to grow a business without burning out, this conversation is for you.

Watch the Episode on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE!

In this episode of The Freedom Experience® Podcast, I sit down with Ryan Tansom, founder of Independence by Design, to explore his journey of turning around his family business and creating his ownership framework. Ryan opens up about the gut-wrenching experience of "eating glass" during the five years he spent turning around a $21 million business, navigating the emotional toll of payroll struggles, and managing cash flow. He also discusses the pivotal moment when they sold the company to a competitor and how that '10-year therapy session' reshaped his understanding of business and life.

Through his experiences, Ryan created the Independence by Design framework to help other business owners avoid the same pitfalls. His mission is to teach business owners how to shift from a CEO mindset to an owner mindset, regain control over their time, and build a business that serves their personal and financial goals.

Watch this conversation on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE!

00:00 – Introduction and Background
03:00 – The Shift from CEO to Owner
06:35 – Balancing Cash Flow and Equity
09:24 – Managing Payroll and Cash Flow
19:28 – Feeling Trapped in the Family Business
28:03 – The Challenges of Financing
38:39 – Selling the Business
41:24 – Post-Exit Reflections and Lessons Learned
44:41 – Ryan’s Mission to Help Business Owners
49:45 – The Game of Ownership
52:16 – Choosing the Right Game for Your Business
56:10 – Finding Joy and Purpose After the Exit

Howard Blake is a serial entrepreneur who’s built over 20 companies across four continents. Starting from humble beginnings—selling shirts out of the trunk of his car—he went on to scale businesses in diverse industries, from call centers to digital finance. Blake’s journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of bootstrapping, offering valuable insights into entrepreneurial growth without a safety net.

In this episode of The Freedom Experience® Podcast, I sit down with renowned entrepreneur and author Shannon Byrne Susko. Shannon, the creator of the Metronomics framework and author of several best-selling books, has revolutionized how businesses execute their growth strategies. Widely recognized for her leadership and innovation, she has earned accolades, including being named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women multiple times. In our conversation, we explore her journey from being a desperate CEO to achieving multiple life-changing exits and how those experiences inspired the creation of Metronomics and the 3HAG (Three-Year Highly Achievable Goal). A system that unites teams and drives business success.

Watch this conversation on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE!

The Power of Focus
Shannon highlights how staying focused on what you want—both personally and professionally—is crucial for success. It’s this focus that guided her and her team through periods of desperation and toward strategic growth.

Coaching as a Game Changer
Shannon attributes much of her success to the coaches who guided her throughout her career. She emphasizes the importance of being coachable and having a support network to remove blind spots and push you to grow.

3HAG Brings Strategy to Life
Shannon introduces the concept of the Three-Year Highly Achievable Goal (3HAG), explaining how this framework makes long-term goals tangible and keeps teams focused on actionable steps. It turns abstract ideas into realistic milestones that drive growth.

The Human Side of Strategy
Beyond strategy and execution, Shannon talks about how leadership and culture must align with the company's vision. A cohesive team that learns together wins together. This human element is what makes the 3HAG so effective.

Cash System & Financial Clarity
Shannon underscores the importance of a clear cash system within Metronomics, helping businesses understand how to generate the necessary cash flow through strategic decisions and forecasting.