In this conversation, Palm’s Up Leadership with Rich Plumery, Rich Plumery shares his journey from being a lost kid to becoming a successful leader. He discusses the importance of mentorship, the principles of servant leadership, and how to engage teams effectively. Rich emphasizes the need for humility in leadership and the significance of transferring wisdom to future leaders. He also highlights the role of parents in fostering servant leadership in their children, advocating for a collaborative and supportive approach in both professional and personal settings.

Rich Plumery bio: As the Senior Vice President of Project Delivery for AECOM, the world’s largest and

Rich Plumery is now the author of Palms Up Leadership: Developing Our Future

Rich’s journey included growing and selling multiple businesses, including a successful

Connect with Rich Plumery:

website: www.palmsupleader.com

Book: https://a.co/d/hsKlvMZ

Tim Staton hosts conversations on leadership, entrepreneurship, ethical decision-making, and practical wisdom leaders can apply every day.

Website: timstatingtheobvious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw

Instagram: @TimStating

TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/

SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

What does it take to move from entrepreneur to super angel investor, and what can leaders learn from that journey? In this episode, The Leadership Toolkit with Dave Berkus, Tim Staton sits down with Dave Berkus, a pioneering entrepreneur, tech innovator, and investor with more than 200 startup investments, to unpack the lessons he has learned building companies, backing founders, and advising leaders.

Dave shares how a teenage side business evolved into a public company, how he recognized opportunity during crisis, and how he built one of the earliest hospitality software systems, technology that helped shape modern hotel reservations and was adopted by Marriott International for decades.

The conversation explores the evolution of angel investing and the story behind the renowned Berkus Method, Dave’s practical framework for valuing early-stage startups before revenue. He explains what he looks for in founders, the red flags that signal trouble, why coachability matters, and why disciplined investing is often about making money before you ever exit.

Tim and Dave also dive into missed opportunities, including passing on Amazon, and why failures and near misses often become a leader’s greatest teachers. Dave offers candid insights on risk, diversification, internal rate of return, and why angel investing is not for the faint of heart.

The discussion also turns to leadership through Dave’s book, The Leader's Toolkit, where he shares practical wisdom on decision-making, crisis leadership, governance, and building the right advisory board. From startup strategy to boardroom negotiations, this episode is packed with lessons on leadership, investing, and thinking long term.

In this episode, we discuss:

If you are interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, investing, or building something that lasts, this conversation delivers wisdom earned through decades of experience.

Listen in and discover why great leadership, like great investing, often comes down to judgment, relationships, and seeing opportunity before others do.

Most veterans leave service with powerful leadership skills, but many struggle to translate those lessons into a thriving civilian life—until now.  Andrew Bice, a retired Army aviation senior and dedicated wellness coach, reveals how the core lessons of military discipline, adaptation, and communication can revolutionize your health, resilience, and daily performance. In this candid conversation, Andrew shares his journey from combat veteran to advocate for mental and physical well-being. You'll discover how simple routines—like reclaiming the power of the pause and structuring your day—can dramatically reduce stress, improve health, and increase life longevity. We break down the mental iceberg: what’s hiding beneath the "I’m fine" façade, and how to start meaningful conversations that spark real change. Expect eye-opening insights into the importance of accountability, routine, and a mindset shift from "I have to" to "I get to," empowering you to take ownership of your wellness journey. Andrew offers practical, actionable strategies for busy individuals—especially veterans—who feel overwhelmed by life’s demands. You'll learn why identifying your personal "why" is key to forging lasting change, how small daily adjustments can prevent burnout, and why the habit of pausing might be your most powerful performance tool. Whether you're navigating career transitions, health challenges, or simply seeking deeper resilience, this episode provides the clear, honest guidance you need to reclaim your vitality and purpose.This is essential listening for anyone ready to unlock their full potential—using lessons learned in service to create a stronger, healthier civilian life. If you believe in continuous growth or want to better support veterans in your circle, Andrew’s insights are a game-changer. Tap into the transformational power of leadership, routine, and honest communication—because your best life begins with one informed, intentional step.

Connect with Andrew Bice:

Books: https://andrewdbicebooks.com/

Website: https://www.pnwdsfconsulting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewdbice/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ghstrdr42

Connect With Tim

Website: timstatingtheobvious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw

Instagram: @TimStating

TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/

SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

In this insightful discussion on leadership and employee development episode, Stop Losing Your Best Employees Now, Tim Staton and Sharyn Abbott explore how growing smarter—not just working harder—drives unstoppable success for individuals, teams, and organizations. Sharyn Abbott, a seasoned speaker, author, and founder of Ultimate Business International with over 30 years of experience training entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 teams, shares proven strategies for developing executives and fostering sustainable growth.

Drawing from her personal journey overcoming stuttering, dyslexia, and a challenging family background marked by abuse, Sharyn learned to deeply understand human behavior. Her 20+ years in the printing industry, including sales roles with companies like Hewlett Packard and Varian, gave her a front-row seat to observe diverse management styles and their real-world impact on employee engagement.

Examples of Impersonal Leadership Styles and Their Consequences

Sharyn highlights how modern leadership has increasingly become impersonal, contrasting it with heart-centered approaches backed by Institute of HeartMath studies showing greater profitability, productivity, and employee retention. Impersonal leadership examples include a manager threatening an employee’s job over a family Thanksgiving trip or the mass layoffs during the 2008 downturn, which eroded loyalty and left workers feeling disposable—prompting many to seek more appreciative environments, such as Tesla opportunities in Texas. These impersonal leadership styles destroy trust, fuel disengagement (as seen in the Cisco example where 21 employees played Solitaire at 9:30 AM), and create high turnover.

Benefits of Flexible Talent Programs for Employee Engagement

To counter these issues, Sharyn strongly advocates for flexible talent programs that invest in people from day one. By matching employees to roles aligned with their unique personalities and learning styles—whether kinetic, visual, or auditory—companies can boost excitement, productivity, and long-term commitment. This tailored approach, far superior to rigid training manuals, significantly reduces turnover costs and builds a more engaged workforce.

Delegation and Addressing Conflict: Building and Eroding Trust

A core theme is building and eroding trust through effective delegation and addressing conflict. Ownership issues often prevent delegation, as managers claim credit for team ideas, breeding resentment and an “us vs. them” culture between departments. Sharyn recommends open-door meetings, leveraging natural team leaders, and clearly explaining the “why” behind decisions to resolve issues like mandatory overtime. Her personal philosophy—starting with 100% trust and allowing it to adjust based on actions—encourages leaders to avoid carrying past baggage into new relationships.

Evolving Leadership & Ethics with Sharyn Abbott’s “Growing into Leadership”

Sharyn introduces her book Growing into Leadership, which guides the transition from entrepreneurship to corporate roles while emphasizing evolving leadership & ethics. The focus is on instilling trust and respect without fear, helping managers bring others up through the ranks by recognizing individual strengths and avoiding authoritarian pitfalls.

Self-Care for Leaders: Essential for Sustainable Success

Finally, a critical message for busy executives is self-care for leaders. Sharyn compares it to securing your own oxygen mask first—leaders must prioritize rejuvenation through peer discussions, courses, family time, or other restorative activities to prevent burnout and maintain peak performance. For practical support, many leaders turn to the best self-care apps for busy leaders, such as Headspace or Calm for mindfulness, Forest for focused productivity, or habit trackers like Daylio and Finch to build sustainable wellness routines.

This episode delivers actionable insights on developing executives who lead with heart, ethics, and flexibility—ultimately creating loyal, high-performing teams and lasting organizational success.

Connect with Sharyn Abbott

Website: https://sharynabbott.com/press-room/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharyn-abbott-ubu/

Connect With Tim

Website: timstatingtheobvious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw

Instagram: @TimStating

TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/

SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

In this episode of Mastering Business Exit Strategies, Tim Staton sits down with Brent Eugenides to explore best software tools for business exit planning, exit planning for business owners, business exit planning services, small business exit planning, and small business exit strategy planning.

Brent shares his personal journey from working in his family's mortgage business to becoming a leading consultant specializing in exit planning for business owners and financial strategy in business. He explains how to start a family business succession plan, family business transition to second generation, family business transition plan, and even transition from family business to corporate, while integrating financial strategy for public managers, financial strategy for capital structure, and sustainable wealth creation.

Discover how to increase business valuation for a future sale, the critical role of cash flow management in business, how to improve cash flow management, cash flow management for small business, and what is cash flow management for business. Brent breaks down what is cash flow management and why strong cash flow management is essential for a successful exit.

Key topics include:

Whether you're planning a family business succession plan, preparing for a sale, or building sustainable wealth creation through better financial strategy, this conversation delivers actionable insights on business exit planning services and small business exit strategy planning.

Brent emphasizes early planning, diversifying assets, empowering employees, and using modern tools to maximize your business's worth. Don't wait until it's too late — start mastering your business exit strategies today!

If you're a business owner focused on exit planning for business owners, how to increase business valuation, or cash flow management for small business, hit play now and take control of your future.

👍 Like | 🔔 Subscribe | 💬 Comment your biggest exit planning challenge below!

Connect with Brent Eugenides

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenteugenides/

Book: https://a.co/d/03lcJv0f

Website: https://www.befinancialllc.com/

Website Connect: https://meeting.levitate.ai/#/b5840f-5w5x9g/15-minute-meeting

Connect With Tim

Website: timstatingtheobvious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw

Instagram: @TimStating

TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/

SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

In this eye-opening conversation, Cash Flow Secrets to Financial Independence, Steve Lawson of Unbroken Investing sits down to challenge how most people think about wealth. He explains that true wealth isn’t about stacking up assets or chasing a big net worth — it’s about freedom. And the real key to that freedom? Cash flow.

Steve breaks down why so many people feel stuck even when they’re earning good money. They focus on income statements and profits, but overlook the power of actual cash flow — the money that comes in reliably, month after month, whether you’re working or not. He walks through practical examples of cash flow versus traditional income, and why a negative cash flow situation can quietly derail your finances even if things look good on paper.

The discussion dives into the difference between active income (what you trade your time for) and passive income (what eventually works for you). Steve shares how building streams of passive income through smart investing — especially in real estate, stocks, and small businesses — is what creates lasting financial independence for the vast majority of millionaires.

He outlines five clear levels of financial independence and shows how most people never move past the first or second stage. Along the way, he emphasizes the importance of mindset shifts, strategic leverage, and diversification across non-correlated assets to protect and grow your wealth.

Connect either Steve Lawson

Community - https://unbrokeninvesting.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/indylawson/

Book: https://a.co/d/03Z1acQL

Connect With Tim

Website: timstatingtheobvious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw

Instagram: @TimStating

TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/

SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

This episode, From Heart Disease To Heart-Centered Leadership, of Tim Stating the Obvious features an inspiring Hannah Bauer interview on Heartnomics, where she reveals how fulfilled human potential drives profits and lasting success in business and leadership.

Hannah shares her powerful personal story of overcoming adversity—from childhood heart disease and life-threatening challenges to pioneering medical breakthroughs—demonstrating real-world overcome adversity examples and how to overcome adversity through resilience, faith, and purpose. Her journey shows how people overcome adversity with motivation rooted in love, gratitude, and intentional action, turning obstacles into fuel for growth.

Drawing from servant leadership theory and servant leadership in the Bible, Hannah embodies a servant leadership style that prioritizes serving others, aligning leadership with core values of faith, hope, and operational excellence. She introduces her BEAT framework—Believe, Engage, Act, Transform—as a practical tool to overcome adversity, navigate disruption, and create meaningful change both personally and organizationally.

Listeners will gain actionable insights on:

If you're searching for overcome adversity motivation, inspiration on how can people overcome adversity, or ways to lead with heart-driven purpose, this conversation delivers practical wisdom to help you transform challenges into opportunities and lead more effectively.

Tune in for leadership lessons that prove great results come from serving others and embracing your full human potential.

Connect With Hanna Bauer:

Website: www.HEARTnomics.com 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bauerhanna 

Instagram: @hannabauer777

Facebook: https://facebook.com/hannad.bauer

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartnomics

Connect With Tim

Website: timstatingtheobvious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw

Instagram: @TimStating

TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/

SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

The importance of early succession planning, cannot be overstated for business owners. Tim Staton and Byron McFarland emphasize that starting the process as soon as possible—ideally years in advance—makes a huge difference. Many owners procrastinate until their seventies, but building an exit strategy early helps you get paid properly and maximize the sale value of a business. Byron suggests a three-year lead time for a solid plan that ensures the owner gets compensated, while committing to seven years can secure the full value of a business. This proactive mindset lets owners envision life after the business, reducing delays and emotional hurdles when selling a business.

A common pitfall is overestimating your company's worth, often because owners enjoy a lifestyle funded by pre-tax dollars. Normalizing those expenses reveals the true financial picture and impacts how to evaluate value of a business. Key methods include looking at multiples of EBITDA, discounted cash flow, or comparable sales—far beyond just the book value of a business or simple asset tallies. Owners often hear "four times EBITDA" as a benchmark, which might be the ceiling for smaller businesses relying heavily on bank financing. Larger buyers, like private equity firms, can offer higher multiples (six to eight times EBITDA) due to their capital structure.

When considering exit options, owners typically have three paths: selling to a management team (internal buyout), to an external buyer (strategic, financial, or owner-operator), or via an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Selling to management demands heavy preparation to create "bankable buyers"—employees with an ownership mindset, strong emotional intelligence, and the ability to handle stress, personal guarantees, and risks like pledging assets. These buyers must be groomed in finance, risk management, and HR to qualify for buying a business loan, often through SBA-backed options or bank financing in phased transactions. External buyers frequently pay premium multiples because they inject more equity. ESOPs provide timing flexibility but add complexity.

Buying and selling a business involves significant risks on both sides. For owners, risks of business ownership extend into the exit phase, including financial exposure from personal guarantees and the emotional toll of letting go—founders often tie their identity so deeply to the company that they experience breakdowns or last-minute "red zone fumbles," finding excuses to back out even when the deal benefits them financially. Potential internal buyers may walk away once they fully understand these commitments.

To minimize risks and boost the sale value, engage key employees early. Share your vision for the company's future to foster loyalty and prevent talent loss (as in cases where key staff departed after a surprise sale announcement, slashing the price by 25%). Make employees "heroes" in due diligence by highlighting their expertise—this lowers buyer-perceived risk and can increase the final price. Discuss aspirations with your team to align goals and build buy-in.

The steps to selling a business generally include early valuation, cleaning up financials, assembling a deal team (brokers, advisors, attorneys), identifying buyers, negotiating terms, and handling due diligence and closing. Preparation is key—whether selling a business near me locally or to a broader market, thorough planning ensures a smoother transition.

In this episode, Byron McFarland dives deep into the nuances of business succession planning, stressing preparation, creating bankable successors, and addressing the financial and emotional challenges of when selling a business. He reminds us that people are at the heart of any organization—understanding their needs and risks is essential for a successful exit and long-term value.

Connect with Byron

Website: https://www.themcfarlandgroup.com/

LinkedIn: www.linkedIn.com/in/byronkmcfarland

Website: https://thebankablebuyer.com/

Connect With Tim

Website: timstatingtheobvious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw

Instagram: @TimStating

TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/

SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

In this episode, Unclaimed Funds: A Veteran’s Mission, he welcomes Tamara Rucker, a former military police officer and Army veteran who transitioned into entrepreneurship as the founder of Ruckwood Recovery, a veteran-owned small business. Tamara shares her journey from military service—including deployments and key leadership lessons on accountability and proper training—to overcoming PTSD after leaving the service, which shaped her path to helping others.

She established Ruckwood Recovery to specialize in asset recovery in finance, particularly guiding clients through the complex process of reclaiming unclaimed property and tax foreclosure surplus funds. Tamara explains what asset recovery involves: assisting individuals in identifying and claiming forgotten or lost financial assets, such as unclaimed funds held by states. Drawing parallels between her military background and current work, she highlights the role of thoroughness, interpersonal communication, and advocacy in navigating these claims.

The discussion also covers her efforts as a public policy advocate, pushing for legislative changes to streamline the asset recovery process and make it more accessible. As a veteran-owned small business, Ruckwood Recovery benefits from resources like SBA support, while Tamara's story inspires those interested in starting a veteran-owned business or exploring related opportunities.

This episode blends inspiring personal growth, practical insights into unclaimed property Missouri search and asset recovery services, and motivation for veterans considering veteran-owned business benefits or becoming an effective policy advocate.

Connect with Tamara:

Ruckwood Recovery's website is www.ruckwoodrecovery.com 

YouTube:  @RuckWoodRecovery

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/share/1CyoQhcLCD/

Connect with Tim:

Website: timstatingtheobvious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw

Instagram: @TimStating

TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/

SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b

In this episode,  Tired of Excuses? Take Back Your Leadership Now, Tim dives into timeless leadership principles—responsibility, authority, and accountability—and shows how they're deeply interconnected for truly effective leadership. Drawing from the classic Garden of Eden story (and its core summary), he uses Adam and Eve's experience as a powerful biblical illustration: God gave clear responsibility and authority to tend the garden, but when things went wrong, the failure to own accountability led to serious consequences.

Tim stresses a key insight—that while you can delegate responsibility (much like the single responsibility principle in software design or management, where one person or role owns a specific duty to avoid confusion and inefficiency), true accountability can't be passed on. He ties this to broader ideas like the authority and responsibility principle in management, the ethical weight of accountability, and leadership lessons from military and Army traditions, as well as examples rooted in biblical principles.

Through real-life examples, Tim highlights what happens when leaders neglect these elements—poor outcomes, broken trust, and missed opportunities—while encouraging practical steps: clearly define responsibilities, delegate thoughtfully, and hold yourself and others accountable. The result? Stronger, more effective leadership that stands the test of time.

Connect with Tim:

Website: timstatingtheobvious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timstatingtheobvious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfDcITKUdniO8R3RP0lvdw

Instagram: @TimStating

TikTok: @timstatingtheobvious

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-staton-04b41a271/

SKOOL Community: https://www.skool.com/timstatingtheobvious-9537/about?ref=de9c7e65d8ba4eeabc1a8eea413c125b