Building a $2.3 billion-dollar business from the ground up with Jeff Zwiefel

In this episode, Alex speaks with Jeff Zwiefel, former President & COO of Life Time, about scaling the business from $139M to $2.3B in revenue and navigating multiple private equity exits and IPOs. Jeff shares how a people-first culture and rigorous training enabled long-term, sustainable growth in a competitive industry.Jeff discusses why private equity firms often miss the mark by focusing only on KPIs and financials, instead of investing in leadership, culture, and succession. He explains Life Time’s unique "casting" approach to hiring, their internal university for training, and the importance of empowering GMs as mini-CEOs of their locations.The conversation also covers trends in the health and wellness sector, the rise of personalized longevity services, and how private equity can unlock new value in this rapidly evolving space.🕰️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Jeff Zwiefel’s background & journey at Life Time 01:53 – The biggest mistake PE firms make 03:21 – Why people, culture, and purpose drive success 06:15 – How to assess leadership in health and fitness businesses 08:13 – “Casting,” not hiring: Building the right team 09:38 – Lifetime University & Navy SEAL-style GM training 11:34 – Accountability, culture, and performance awards 13:29 – The GM certification process & promotion pipeline 17:20 – Investing in employees for long-term loyalty 19:18 – Dashboards & career growth planning 20:48 – Leadership by example: From towel folding to training 22:43 – Core traits Jeff looks for in leaders 24:09 – The 8 leadership attributes at Life Time 25:36 – How ownership mindset and equity drives behavior 28:29 – Interview strategies for soft skills and leadership potential 32:18 – Measuring success through team development and turnover 34:15 – Auditing the customer experience as a PE firm 35:14 – Lessons from COVID: Digital experience & pricing 39:07 – PE deal activity in health & fitness 41:06 – Jeff’s new venture: Miura Performance & Longevity 43:55 – Practical health advice for busy professionals 46:20 – Supplements, red light, cold plunge, and more 47:50 – Opportunity for PE in bundling wellness services 48:17 – How to contact Jeff📌 Key Takeaways:PE must look beyond financials to people and leadership.High performance culture starts with casting, training, and accountability.Wellness and longevity are emerging as investable and scalable PE categories.Personalized health solutions offer huge market potential.📨 Connect with Jeff Zwiefel: 🔗 LinkedIn 🌐 jzweifel.comRaw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/ 🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com

In this episode, Alex Rawlings is joined by Henry Ward, CEO and Co-Founder of Carta, to explore the evolving landscape of private equity and venture capital through the lens of software, operations, and professionalization. Henry shares his journey building Carta into a multi-billion-dollar software business and how it’s transforming the infrastructure of private markets.Henry dives into why private equity must evolve from its legacy of financial engineering to an operational value-add model—and how the next generation of firms is doing just that. He also unpacks Carta’s roadmap for building cloud-native tools for PE firms, including fund accounting, cap tables, waterfalls, and LP portals. Plus, he explains the two-speed mentality of balancing venture-style growth with private equity-level rigor—and what he’s learned along the way.🕰️ Timestamps: 00:03 – Welcome and introduction to Henry Ward and Carta 00:29 – Carta’s mission and Henry’s background 00:58 – The outdated mindset in legacy PE firms 01:40 – Hard lessons building a multi-S-curve business 04:02 – Scaling in small markets and fast saturation 05:22 – Innovating inside a scaled company (recommendation: Loonshots) 07:18 – What Henry would do differently (spoiler: gather more info, faster) 09:41 – Grata ad spot 10:09 – Carta’s three-layer approach in venture: cap tables, fund ops, LP portals 12:54 – Applying the same playbook to private equity and private credit 13:50 – The speed of reporting in PE is accelerating—software must follow 14:48 – Why PE and VC have lagged in professionalization 16:15 – Influence of firms like Andreessen Horowitz in redefining fund operations 17:42 – Back-office vs strategic finance in PE firms 18:42 – Competition and differentiation are driving the need for change 19:37 – What should PE automate first? Fund accounting 20:36 – AI disruption in accounting and the end of manual debits and credits 22:03 – Cloud adoption in PE is still lagging—40% still on-prem! 22:31 – Balancing venture-style growth and PE-style discipline on Carta’s cap table 24:56 – Strategic value of PE investors when aligned with product growth 25:24 – Henry’s reading habits and framework (read the ends, skip the middle) 26:53 – Timeless business books and staying current with The Economist 27:23 – How to contact Henry📌 Key Takeaways:PE is shifting from financial engineering to operational alpha.The professionalization of private equity firms is overdue and underway.Carta is bringing fund accounting, cap tables, and LP ops into the cloud.PE must adopt tech to compete, especially as investor and platform competition heats up.Automation of accounting and reporting is the low-hanging fruit for transformation.Balancing growth and discipline requires the right capital partners—and Carta has both.📨 Connect with Henry Ward: 📧 Email: [email protected] Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/ 🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com

David Feingold, CEO of Broad Street Global, joins us on The Private Equity Podcast to share his 35+ year journey from law to leading one of the largest infrastructure-focused PE firms in the U.S. He unpacks lessons in leadership, hiring, culture, and why they’ve entered crypto mining. This episode is a masterclass in building high-performing teams and seizing unconventional opportunities.[00:00] Welcome and intro to David Feingold and Broad Street Global – infrastructure + crypto investing[00:29] David’s background – lawyer-turned-PE exec with 35+ years of experience[00:57] Early academic honors and mentorship from T. Boone Pickens[01:25] The power of people over business models – hiring philosophy[01:53] Letting people do what they’re good at drives performance[02:19] 55 partners, zero attrition – proof that culture and fit matter[02:48] No politics, shared vacations – how Broad Street fosters cohesion[03:15] Lessons from early hiring mistakes – focus on listening[03:43] Listening is undervalued – why it’s his #1 executive skill[04:40] Decentralized control – empowering division heads like CEOs[05:11] Weekly Zooms, collaborative decision-making with 20 reports[05:39] Entrepreneurship mindset among leadership breeds buy-in[06:04] Decision rights create ownership and reduce bottlenecks[06:58] Turnover test post-bonus – why Broad Street retains top talent[07:26] High comp + real input = long-term loyalty[08:16] Happiness at work impacts life – no "Yoda talk," just results[08:46] All 55 partners signed up for Navy SEAL training – by choice[09:44] Traditional infra + crypto mining – what’s the link?[10:12] Real estate + utility relationships gave them a crypto edge[11:09] Enter Dogecoin early – before Elon Musk moved the market[11:37] Built North America’s largest Dogecoin mining operation[12:06] Opportunistic scaling based on margin and fit[12:53] Infra skills + land + utility access = expansion blueprint[13:22] Mars joke, but serious point: go where profit meets capability[13:49] Trends in U.S. infrastructure – high barriers, high demand[14:14] Housing shortage drives demand – focus on Carolinas[14:43] Greenville top retirement spot – strong absorption rates[15:10] Long runway – next 2–3 generations will stay in this sector[15:39] What he reads/listens to: all business podcasts + global news[16:09] Constant learning – 45 mins daily to stay sharp[16:37] Ideas from people > articles – value of conversations[17:07] Investors wanted a brokerage – he built one[17:37] Always talking to the market – shaping services around demand[18:05] Education goal: answer any question, any time[18:33] Avoid "I don’t know" as CEO – credibility matters[19:02] Always studying: legal, financial, geopolitical trends[19:59] Website contact – happy to connect[20:27] Outro – thank you and wrap-upHow to connect with David Feingold? via BroadStreetPrivateEquity or LinkedInSubscribe for more episodes on  iTunes & SpotifyGot feedback or questions? Email Alex at [email protected]. Until next time—keep smashing it!Raw Selection part

Fundraising in 2025 isn’t business as usual. James Varela, Partner at Rede Partners and Head of MENA, joins us to break down what it really takes to raise capital from LPs—especially in the Middle East. We talk DPI pressure, LP targeting, co-investments, how to build credibility in emerging markets, and the biggest mistake GPs still make when pitching. Whether you’re struggling or oversubscribed, this one’s for you.[00:00] Intro to James Varela and focus on capital raising in the Middle East.[00:30] James’ 15+ years in capital raising across PE, infra, credit, and real estate.[01:26] Fundraising remains tough—macroeconomics and low DPI are key issues.[02:21] LPs cautious; focus shifting to GP quality and DPI visibility.[03:13] GPs turning to NAV lending and creative liquidity tools.[04:05] 66% of LPs now cite DPI as their top investment metric.[04:31] Strong fundraises begin 12 months out—prep is everything.[05:00] Nail your equity story—what sets you apart?[05:26] Focus on LPs where your strategy fits—don’t spray and pray.[05:55] Transparency and respect matter more than past returns.[06:26] GPs often fail to systematize and name their edge.[07:25] LPs want proof—not theory—of execution and outcomes.[08:24] Plan 2–3 years out for Middle East fundraising; co-invests are key.[08:55] Content > presence—show up with something to say.[09:52] LPs want honest differentiation, not polished fluff.[10:51] Share what went wrong and what changed—credibility counts.[11:44] Most firms struggle from poor positioning, not poor product.[12:14] Systems reduce risk, especially for global firms.[13:37] Frameworks matter—manage what’s out of your control.[14:07] Even top performers can fail at storytelling.[15:02] Reframing the narrative can unlock overlooked value.[16:26] Fundraising is marketing—Rory Sutherland’s Alchemy cited.[17:22] Iteration is painful but critical—change takes work.[18:20] LPs care about the future, not just past returns.[19:09] Big firms re-entering mid and small-cap to chase alpha.[19:37] Middle East mistakes: wrong timing, same pitch, poor targeting.[20:34] Use portfolio milestones as conversation openers.[21:04] GCC LPs want both long-term trust and large co-invests.[21:59] Vision and culture alignment matter just as much.[22:29] Targeting is everything—don’t chase irrelevant LPs.[22:59] LPs prefer North America, large GPs, proven track records.[23:57] Specialization and sector depth are rising priorities.[24:55] AI and tech are hot in the UAE—substance still matters.[25:54] Growing appetite for GP stakes from Middle East LPs.[26:21] Europe gaining ground as LPs move down-market.[27:14] Top reads: Alchemy, Acquired, Diary of a CEO, Tools of Titans, Atomic Habits.[29:05] Final thoughts: fundraising is either brutal—or it’s fine. Nothing in between.Connect with James Varela on LinkedIn. Thanks for tuning in.Subscribe for more episodes on  iTunes & SpotifyGot feedback or questions? Email Alex at [email protected]. Until next time—keep smashing it!Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio com

From Big Four to 19 Acquisitions: Sequoya Borgman on Building Borgman Capital Sequoya Borgman, Founder of Borgman Capital, joins the show to discuss his leap from public accounting into private equity, building an independent sponsor model, and the real challenge behind every deal—people. He shares lessons from 19 acquisitions, why they prioritize cultural fit, and how they’re tapping into retail capital and AI to scale smarter.[00:03] From Arthur Andersen to launching Borgman Capital in 2017[01:44] Acquisition focus: <$200M revenue, <$20M EBITDA, founder-led[02:41] Why CEO transitions post-founder are the biggest execution risk[04:04] Structuring smoother founder exits and delaying heavy changes[06:01] Key takeaway from 19 deals: it's always about people[07:27] Internal MDs, external consultants, and hands-on support[08:23] Why they chose independent sponsorship over raising a fund[10:45] Flexible hold periods appeal to sellers—option to hold long-term[12:10] 450+ LPs and the launch of PassTheHat for retail investors[14:03] Proprietary deal flow through direct sourcing and partnerships[15:26] Expansion plan: adding local originators in new cities[16:26] Top reads, podcasts, and how AI will impact private equity[16:53] Using AI to review 1,500 SIMs—huge efficiency potential[17:20] Confidentiality is the barrier to broader AI use in PE[17:48] Why they can't fully adopt large AI platforms—NDA risk[18:15] Book recs: Do Hard Things + AI Made Simple[18:44] Staying ahead of AI’s rapid impact on PE and portfolio ops[19:41] Closing thoughts and thanks for tuning in How to contact Sequoya? via BorgmanCapital.com or LinkedInSubscribe for more episodes on  iTunes & SpotifyGot feedback or questions? Email Alex at [email protected]. Until next time—keep smashing it!Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive search through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.com

Chris Rozell, Managing Partner at Cresta, joins us to discuss his journey from portfolio exec to founding a PE firm, scaling businesses to billions, and investing in decarbonization-focused infrastructure. He shares pragmatic insights on ESG, early-stage infra, and building trust with management teams—plus how Cresta bridges the gap between VC and large infra players. [00:00] Chris Rizel, Managing Partner at Cresta, on infra investing, founding a PE firm, LP returns, and ESG.[00:29] Early career: banking, power, then scaling Regency to billions and launching Cresta.[01:49] Lessons from CCO role—scaling a PE-backed startup to public exit.[02:40] Real leadership is learned in the trenches, not in transactions.[04:33] Portfolio vs. PE firm: loss of customer insight, importance of trust.[06:24] Mistake: avoiding early-stage infra. Cresta tackles it head-on.[08:20] Built Cresta Fund Services to support early-stage founders.[09:18] Go all-in on early infra—don’t dabble.[10:17] Why decarbonization? Deep sector knowledge, big opportunity.[11:44] Focused on waste, ag, logistics, and industry—high emission areas.[12:43] Not impact-first. Returns come from low-cost, proven tech.[14:08] Avoid high-cost hype. Stick to scalable, pragmatic solutions.[15:35] Investing in “dirty” sectors to drive green efficiency and profit.[16:56] Strategy: build from scratch, bridge gap between VC and big infra.[18:21] Targeting the “missing middle” — commercial but small-scale tech.[19:48] De-risk, scale, exit to strategics or infra roll-ups.[21:41] Trends like RNG and biofuels are consolidating—Cresta’s in it.[23:37] Long-term contracts appeal to infra buyers—interest growing.[24:01] ESG: take a pragmatic, cost-first approach.[25:27] Climate’s real, but so are other global issues—balance the spend.[26:51] Keep climate solutions affordable to avoid wider harm.[27:18] Influences: Founders Podcast, Acquired, stoicism.[29:10] Stoic mindset: control your response, not external events.Connect with Chris Rozzell on LinkedIn. Thanks for tuning in.Subscribe for more episodes on  iTunes & SpotifyGot feedback or questions? Email Alex at [email protected]. Until next time—keep smashing it!Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive search through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/🌐 Visit Raw Selection: www.raw-selection.comThe discussion in this podcast is for informational purposes and should not be relied on as investment advice or an offer to sell or a solicitation for an offer to buy any securities. Any opinions expressed are those of the speaker and are subject to change. Any discussion of past performance is provided for informational purposes only, is not track record information and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance. Any information regarding the performance of prior companies was discussed in order to illustrate the experience of the partners of the firm and does not reflect

Sam Bendix, Partner at Chicago Pacific Founders, returns to share his framework for capital raising using motivational interviewing. He explains how it uncovers real motivations and qualifies prospects faster—without a hard sell. We cover how it applies to investor meetings, deal sourcing, hiring, and beyond. A practical framework for better conversations and better results. [00:00] Sam Bendix, Partner at Chicago Pacific Founders, shares his capital-raising framework using motivational interviewing. [00:28] Alex praises its use in candidate interviews, prospecting, and deal origination. [00:58] Framework inspired by Sam’s wife, a dietitian, helping patients change behavior. [01:53] Sam realized it draws out investor motivations instead of pushing a pitch. [02:51] Ideal for hesitant prospects or those juggling priorities. [04:13] Helps quickly qualify whether someone’s worth pursuing. [05:37] Sam uses it on intro calls with LPs at the contemplation stage. [06:33] It’s flexible — works even outside of work. [08:30] Four stages: Engage, Focus, Evoke, Plan. [10:15] Key question: "What led you to take this meeting?" [12:09] Use “change talk” to uncover real motivations. [13:59] Always leave with clear next steps. [15:50] Similar to AIDA — build rapport, qualify, find the why, plan action. [17:15] Real-life case study: reframed a real estate pitch to win infrastructure LP interest. [22:28] Even a "no" reveals future opportunities. [25:22] ORS method (Open questions, Reflective listening, Summarizing) is critical. [27:17] Reflect objections back to build clarity and trust.  [28:13] Alex draws parallels with talent assessment — most firms hire for now, not the full journey. [30:40] Exceptional execs have frameworks. If they can't articulate their playbook, you can’t scale them. [32:07] Too many firms wing it with clients while being structured with candidates — both need frameworks. [34:29] Sam praises Alex’s consultative approach to hiring — problem-finding > solution-pushing. [36:55] Knowing the why behind hiring helps tailor the search to real business needs. [39:47] Ideally, firms would hire 3 execs per hold period — one for each phase. Instead, you need one who can run the full race. [43:10] Negotiation tips: frame your goals around the LP’s goals. [45:35] Use three steps: Reflect objections, Reframe as shared objectives, Confirm buy-in. [48:27] Book recs: Negotiation Genius (Harvard), Start with No (Jim Camp), and Quit (Annie Duke).Sam’s open to connecting on LinkedIn. Subscribe for more episodes on  iTunes & SpotifyGot feedback or questions? Email Alex at [email protected]. Until next time—keep smashing it!Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive search through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/🌐 Visit Raw Selection:

In today’s episode, Jared Weisel, SVP at Revenue Analytics, joins us to break down how PE-backed manufacturing and distribution businesses can use pricing to drive serious EBITDA gains. We dive into why most firms ignore pricing, how to avoid customer churn while raising prices, and why a 3–7% increase can deliver outsized impact. Jared shares the biggest mistakes PE firms make, how to build long-term pricing strategies, and why this lever is the most underutilized tool in the value creation plan.[00:03] Jared explains his role at Revenue Analytics, focusing on pricing strategy for PE-backed manufacturing and distribution firms.[00:29] Discusses pricing as a lever for EBITDA improvement with minimal customer loss.[00:58] Pricing is often underused; Jared emphasizes using data to drive targeted decisions and compliance.[01:54] PE firms overlook pricing in VCPs, relying on cost-cutting. Jared argues for ongoing pricing strategies, not one-time actions.[03:44] Sales reps often quote inconsistently due to lack of tools. Structure and guardrails lead to better pricing outcomes.[05:02] Visibility is key—track changes, product mix shifts, and enforce compliance to prevent leakage.[06:25] Raw Selection offers salary reports via YouTube—useful for benchmarking comp in PE and portfolio roles.[06:54] Jared warns that pricing based on gut feel or fear of customer loss leads to missed value. Start with the pain.[09:47] Jared outlines pricing plays across the investment lifecycle—diligence, early wins, long-term optimization, and positioning for exit.[12:12] A 3–7% price increase typically sees no customer churn—if done surgically, not blanket increases.[14:01] Recommends Pricing Brew, Professional Pricing Society, and books like Revenue Management and Pricing: The New CEO Imperative.[16:28] CEOs hesitant on pricing should compare pricing impact vs. other ops improvements—pricing wins big.[18:21] Jared’s recommendations: Bain's Dry Powder, Adam Coffey’s Private Equity Playbook, Dan Cremons' Winning Moves.[19:39] Contact Jared at [email protected] or on LinkedIn.[20:36] Alex thanks Jared for the focused and actionable conversation on pricing.Connect with Jared Wiesel on LinkedIn. Thanks for tuning in.Subscribe for more episodes on  iTunes & SpotifyGot feedback or questions? Email Alex at [email protected]. Until next time—keep smashing it!

In today's episode we have Steve Carroll, CEO and Co-Founder of Kelso Industries, join us to share his journey from a small-town construction background to leading a 25-acquisition HVAC roll-up. We dive into his Walmart days scaling EBITDA from $15M to $250M, his views on where PE firms get it wrong, and how Kelso’s long-term partnership model is flipping the script on traditional roll-ups.[00:00] Steve Carroll joins to discuss Kelso Industries' growth from 1st to 25th acquisition [00:27] Background: Walmart experience and scaling from $15M to $250M EBITDA [00:54] Early years: rural Oregon, construction, MBA, and entrepreneurial itch [01:50] Lessons from Walmart and foundation of Kelso [02:21] Mistake PE firms make: copying each other, bidding up same assets [03:05] Advice: PE should pursue untapped markets and take first-mover risks [04:21] Kelso's differentiator: deep focus on one long-term strategy [05:49] “All in” mindset and scaling Kelso as one big platform [06:18] First acquisition story: moving to AZ, transition challenges [07:46] Struggles, COVID, and lessons learned from initial takeover [08:43] Pivot to partnership model after burnout and realization [09:42] Defining partnership: skin in the game, shared long-term vision [11:08] Case study: Pancho in Idaho becomes the blueprint for future deals [13:03] Criteria for Kelso partnerships and alignment with long-term goals [14:00] Integration learnings: then vs. now at deal #25 [14:50] Kelso now offers finance, legal, HR, recruiting, and systems support [17:44] Operational push: MEP+ and one-call solution model [18:43] Scale enabling better integration and centralized resources [19:12] Raw Selection salary reports plug [20:11] Top 3 learnings: partnership, finance investment, data center boom [23:23] Walmart story: monetizing eyeballs, retail media, Sam’s Club success [26:17] Building a $250M EBITDA business unit through creative thinking [27:42] Why HVAC: passion, mission-critical systems, smartest people on site [28:49] Key influence: Brad Jacobs and “How to Make a Few Billion Dollars”Connect with Steve Carroll on LinkedIn. Thanks for tuning in.Subscribe for more episodes on  iTunes & SpotifyGot feedback or questions? Email Alex at [email protected]. Until next time—keep smashing it!

Welcome to another episode of the Private Equity Podcast. Today, I’m joined by Scott Cook, an experienced Chief HR Officer with over 100 add-on acquisitions under his belt. We dig into what really drives successful integration—nailing culture, managing change, aligning roles, and avoiding the classic post-acquisition mistakes. If you want a no-nonsense guide to people, process, and performance in PE-backed services businesses, this episode is a must-listen.[00:00] Over 100+ add-on acquisitions and integrations, with a focus on commercial and residential services.[00:29] Private equity mistake: solving adaptive people problems with technical solutions.[01:51] Example: pay plan integration fails without addressing pride, fear, and control among legacy staff.[03:49] Change takes time, but skipping the adaptive side slows everything down.[04:45] “Intervention without diagnosis is malpractice.”[05:12] Change process: Transparency (what we know/don’t know), Humility (not always right), Authenticity (real conversations).[07:38] Run changes in parallel to prove success before full implementation.[08:33] Adaptive resistance often comes from fear of loss, not logic[09:30] Key issue isn’t just communication—it’s the resistance behind it.[10:55] Missed clarity of roles and vision derails integration.[12:22] Diligence mistake: confusing deal confirmation with actual diligence.[13:21] Integration failures often come from ignoring cultural misalignment.[14:47] Early lesson: distinguish between necessary and unnecessary endings—prune what’s dying or holding growth back.[17:08] Win trust early by changing non-critical items that don’t affect frontline staff or customers.[19:30] Founders often don’t work out post-acquisition—PE firms struggle to make them fit.[20:34] Sellers always experience some remorse—plan for it during diligence.[22:00] Ask: “What does ending well look like for you?” Define success before they exit.[24:23] CFOs and CEOs shouldn’t be in the weeds—define direction, context, and outcomes.[26:44] Great CFOs provide context, not micromanagement. Great CEOs delegate integration to focus on growth.[29:32] Former founders can still add value via advisory roles or special projects.[32:24] Pest control and HVAC still hot—residential M&A picking up, commercial lagging due to government slowdown.[35:20] Resi/commercial services sector is early in its PE wave. Tons of opportunity, but plagued by poor leadership and weak diligence.[37:37] Rise in fractional execs to bridge early-stage post-acquisition gaps.[38:39] Book recs: Why Should Anyone Be Led by You? – leadership authenticityFalling Upward – personal development and meaningNecessary Endings – pruning for growth[40:30] Scott reflects on making work meaningful in the second half of life—impact over income.[40:58] Falling Upward explores this journey.[41:28] Connect with Scott Cook on LinkedIn. Thanks for tuning in.Subscribe for more episodes on  iTunes & SpotifyGot feedback or questions? Email Alex at [email protected]. Until next time—keep smashing it!