I was born and raised in Minnesota. However, when I was a kid, we moved around a bit as a result of my Dad’s career. This definitely helped push me out of my shell as I literally had no other choice but to meet people if I wanted to have friends. We eventually moved back to Minnesota where my Dad started his own company, Imaging Path.
After graduating from Mahtomedi High School, I was accepted into Saint John’s University. Going to SJU was one of the best decisions I have made. I found out what it meant to be a “Johnnie,” I met my wife Megan who is a “Bennie,” and established an amazing core group of friends.
I decided to join my Dad’s business after college. Imaging Path sold IT services and printing equipment. I started grinding on the streets in sales and continued to climb the ranks where I eventually took a lead role in developing our outsourced IT services offering. From there I became the Executive VP taking on more responsibility of running the business. I took a lead role in turning the company around and helped position it for sale to a local competitor. Throughout the process, I learned the intricacies of business, finance, and what it takes to help us and others achieve financial success.
After a few months helping to make sure the acquisition went smoothly, I decided to take the skills and expertise I acquired in my career at Imaging Path and team up with Brandon at Solidity Financial. We both have a crazy passion for doing investments the right way and share very similar outlooks on life.
I continue to leverage my experiences as an entrepreneur in my Life After Business podcast. My goal is to bring you all the information and resources I wish I would have had during our exit planning experience. At Solidity, we can guide you through the exit planning process to ensure that you transition into a happy and purposeful life after business.
Finding out the hard way that your main source of revenue is no longer viable is a crushing blow for all businesses. What do you do when you need to pivot your business?...
The sales process, from deciding to sell through to post-sale integration, of a family business and the impact it has on family relationships.
Whether buying, selling or growing, you are going to deal with capital. Rand Fishkin explains what venture capital did for him, how it falls short in certain situations...
Brian Forcier talks about the ways in which you can save on capital gains through investment. With the opportunity zone investments that are available right now, if...
Jill Nelson explains the employee-centric culture that allowed her to grow Ruby Receptionists to a BHAG and $38 million PE recap exit. Learn how to drive value through...
How a shotgun clause works, when it's useful and how to moderate your relationships to protect yourself and your assets. Michael Kaplan runs us through what went wrong...
Growing your company requires capital, right? Well, where there's a will, there's a way. Find out how to make any situation work for you to scale your company the way...
Chances are you're not making tax benefits work for you or your business. Imagine getting more money for doing something you have to do anyway? Bill Smith takes us...
If you aspire to be a more charitable entrepreneur, this is a solution for you. You don't always need to give the gift of capital; sometimes, you can give other assets...
Ken Sanginario runs us through the eight key value drivers he uses to increase a company's valuation. He also talks frankly about cash flow and how the income approach...
Deal structures are complicated, wonderful things. You really can negotiate for the terms you need to make a successful business transition. Let Matt Boettner tell you...
Stephanie Breedlove talks the actual numbers from the sale of her business so you get a real example of what's possible (and what not to do!) at the negotiations table.
Growing and exiting your business require similar planning if you want to do them right. The better you grow your business, the more its worth at close and the better...
Great businesses can come from unusual places. Being able to capitalize on them and grow them is what will set you apart from other entrepeneurs if you're looking to...
Making your startup dream come true is hard work. Make sure to capitalize on it when you get to the negotiation table by implementing Alex McClafferty's hard-won advice...
Tom Heller perfectly describes how long it takes to separate yourself from your business in a healthy and productive way, and what can be gained in your valuation by...
Your reputation has a direct impact on your valuation and final sales price. How you decide to present yourself will have consequences on your business, so what are you...
Growth by acquisition is not a new concept, but have you thought about using it as your main growth strategy as an entrepreneur? Walker Deibel takes us through his...
Tom Deans tells us to 'follow the money' when it comes to transitioning your family business. If your kids aren't investing back in the business, you might need to...
Any business can have an 'as a service' model in sales. Find your recurring revenue model and increase the valuation of your business.
Knowing when a recession will happen is a gift not given to many. Get your business ready for massive market changes by 2030 so you can capitalize on what's going on...
All the data you wish you knew about the middle market, at your fingertips. The National Center for the Middle Market provides context and research about key value...
Your ego can cost you, personally and in business. It's up to you to learn what triggers your ego so you don't take costly situations further than they need to go. In...
Due diligence can help you identify areas to improve your business. John Warrillow runs us through the eight key areas you should look at to drive your value.
Ryan Turbes, CPA, goes over the best tax strategies for business owners and what impact they have on net proceeds at time of sale. He also gives some easy-to-understand...
Valuations are a numbers game and you can increase yours if you have the right approach. Learn what the income method can do for you and get what your business deserves...
Buy-side and sell-side needs can be met through an ESOP. If continuity matters to either side (sustained profits or sustained legacy), then you need to look into what...
Crossing the M&A bridge is something both buyers and sellers have to do. Learn how to make this process easier on both sides through all three phases of the M&A process:...
David Mann takes his highly defined ability to tell a story and makes it work for your business. Strengthen your ability to resonate with customers so they're more...
Figuring out what will happen to your team once you've sold your business is one of your entrepreneurial responsibilities. Jennifer Fondrevay wants you to ask yourself...
In this podcast with GEXP Collaborative's Brandon Wood, you'll learn what a value gap is and why you need to take a good look at your lifestyle expenses so you're not...
What types of insurance best serve the interests of entrepreneurs? Learn about them here so you can protect yourself and your future.
CSSI's Jodi Nielsen and David Deshotels explain how to make use of cost segregation as a way to improve your cash flow. Listen to this podcast to discover if accelerated...
Whether you've been through a recession or not, you still get a shiver when you think about what would happen to your business if one happened tomorrow. This podcast...
Mike Rynchek from Spyder Trap details his entrepreneurial journey from start to finish. Learn his views on work-life balance and how they can positively influence you...
The emotions involved in selling a business are diverse and complicated. Don't underestimate them! This podcast with Laura Rich will help you realize you're not alone...
Private equity recapitalizations are often not well understood. Mike O'Neil shares his company's take on them and how they work for the seller. Is a private equity recap...
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Planning for the sale of your business is great, but to make it a valuable target, you may have to change course multiple times before you get acquired. Wire Image's...
Branching out from your comfort zone can be a very good thing, if you know what to look for. Jeff Smith shares his cross-industry entrepreneurial expertise and...
Public and private companies are valued differently by the types of buyers who want to acquire them. Take some lessons from Roger Sippl of Informix who went through...
Investment bankers are not well understood. This podcast talks with industry expert, Mark Jordan, about just what investment bankers do, how they're compensated and what...
Arlin Sorensen shares the wisdom he has gained from doing multiple M&A deals, including how to structure the deal to get what you want and ensuring that you have planned...
Your business is valuable to a buyer, so why rush to the exit and take the first offer thrown at you? Ryan Moran, owner of capitalism.com, shares with us why the long...
As an entrepreneur, you require professional services for every area of your business. So who do you have looking after your legal documents? This podcast will show you...
If you're in the business of making money, this podcast is for you. Cammie goes through how she and her partners built a highly profitable tax software company, how they...
In this podcast, we look at the seedy side to partner relationships. Corey Northcutt shares his experience being pushed out by his business partners and the things you...
In Part One of this two-part series, Bobby Kingsbury explained what private equity is looking for in an acquisition, and shared some industry insight into how to attract...
Private equity is an in-depth process, so here's a look at it from the ground up from one of the industry's top experts, Bobby Kingsbury. In part one, you'll learn about...
This podcast covers the topic of intention in business: running day-to-day operations, planning for contingencies (including the eventual sale) and impementing any new...
Erin Weed turned a personal tragedy into a successful business that also promotes social change. If you've ever had questions about how community outreach will impact...
Culture is an often underrated component of your business' value and sustainability. Learn how building an employee-first culture can impact your business.
Customers are the center of your business if you're in digital services. That's why following the restaurateur's mandate of 'the customer is always right' is a good idea...
Every business uses an operating system these days. Does yours do what you need it to? Mike Paton shares all the benefits the right system can have for your business and...
You're riding a company high right now in positive cash flow, so selling is the last thing on your mind. Right? Well, it shouldn't be. Sabina Teshler takes us through...
You can triple the value of your business simply by finding a source of recurring revenue. Loren Horsager gives examples of the various ways using SaaS can positively...
EY's 2018 FirePower Report has uncovered a lot of trends in the M&A sale process. Bill Casey unpacks the key points of the report in today's podcast and gives some tips...
Rob Dube outlines his entrepreneurial journey from building and selling his first company to buying that same company back - and why he did it. Hear Rob's lessons...
The new tax laws can be quite confusing to navigate. Here are some key pieces you should know about before you start making major decisions.
Principles can lead to good cash flow and a successful busines exit. Rob Walling talks about the importance of knowing what matters to you and sticking by it so you can...
Marcelo De Fuentes takes us through his various enterprises and shows how through caring for his front line and the community around him, he created successful business...
Life after business can be a daunting concept for most entrepreneurs. Geoff Green talks about the importance of planning for what happens after your exit before you...
Using his years as an FBI hostage negotiator, Chris Voss shares his insights on how to encorporate emotional intelligence into your negotiations to get the outcome you...
As an entrepreneur, you take on many roles. However, eventually your role will be to help transition your business for the exit, and you need to be prepared. Learn the...
Succession planning needs to be done well for a successful transition. Whether you're looking within your family for the next CEO or putting together a board,...
When it comes time to sell, owners have to face the reality of taxation on their enterprises. Or do you? Brian Forcier explains how to avoid paying crippling taxes on...
Not everyone is ready for the full impact of the sales process when it happens. Take a look at these key areas as defined by Bobby Martin before you enter into it so you...
This podcast with Jeff Grabow takes you through the benefits of partnering up with a venture capitalist to grow your business. Sometimes all you need is capital to take...
In this podcast with Josh Elizetxe, you'll learn how to create your own modern rags-to-riches story. Josh shares the keys to his success and how anyone with the will to...
How one small town Irish boy got into his first entrepreneurial pursuit and grew to build and sell multiple bars and even his own brand of whiskey. Kieran Folliard...
Predicting future value (and future cash flows) of a company is actually a refined formula. Ken Sanginario shares his years of knowledge and his evaluation system as a...
An IPO might be the exit plan you've been searching for. Cathy Demers talks growth strategies, the importance of a good partnership and how to handle the impending...
Troy Schuette talks exit planning and re-discovering your passion in this podcast. While most of us have a passion to start a business, many of us lose that passion...
This in-depth view of financing business deals is exactly what you need to read, whether you're thinking of buying or selling. With more than 400 deals under his belt,...
Building a business legacy is difficult. So is creating one in your personal life. How do successful entrepreneurs discover their purpose in business as well as in life?...
Timing can be critical when it comes to successfully exiting your business. What happens when you miss your window of opportunity? This podcast with Tim Hall will help...
Wayne Rivers teaches you the important lines you need to draw between being a family in business and simply being a family. Learn to manage family dynamics, solve...
In this podcast with Cody McLain, you will learn all about what it takes to manage your stress throughout the business building and sales process. Build a team
Business is not just about sales. You need to know how to talk to and engage with people. From advertising to mixers, learn what it takes to build a successful legacy...
This podcast with Bobby Kingsbury gives you an in-depth look at how to assess a private equity group before committing to the sale. Find out the whys and why nots of...
In this podcast with Thomas Smale, you will learn all about what you need to do to get your online business ready for sale, including learning what your IP address is...
Ryan Tansom's exit planning podcast wtih John Brown will run you through all the important reasons you need to have an actual plan when you go to leave your company...
Just because you're ready to exit your business doesn't mean you're a quitter. Take Bo Burlingham's advice and learn the ins-and-outs of entrepreneurship — including how...
Let Todd Ganos guide you through the proper tax considerations before you sell your business. Reduce the amount you pay in taxes by 80% at time of sale by informing...
Rather than blundering through what may be the most important deal of your life, Stuart Sorkin shares with you the ways you can have a smooth sales process at any time...
Why do the pros do business valuations three or more years before they're ready to sell? This Life After Business podcast showcases Divestopedia's co-founder, John...
This interview with Richard Wilson who founded the Family Office Club will provide you with all the information you need about family offices and their positive impact...
