Serve Strong Finish Strong

In this episode I'd like to take you on a journey from the skies above Ohio to the solid ground of life's realities. I will share my transformative experience of static line skydiving, a leap that was never on my bucket list but became a profound metaphor for life, fear, and legacy. Through the recounting of my jump, I draw parallels between the adrenaline-fueled moments of free fall and the daily challenges and triumphs faced by business owners. This episode is not just about skydiving; it's a deep dive into facing fears, embracing the unknown, and preparing for life's inevitable landing. My story is a powerful reminder of the importance of living fully, loving deeply, and leaving a meaningful legacy. Whether you're navigating your own 4th quarter or just looking for inspiration to take your next big leap, this episode offers valuable insights into making every moment count. Join me as I explore how shared experiences can overcome fears, strengthen bonds, and encourage us to live life to its fullest.To learn more, visit:www.servingstrong.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

In this episode, we dive deep into the pivotal moments of business and life transitions with insights from retired founder Steve McKee, who recently embarked on a new chapter after selling his company of 27 years. Steve shares his enthusiasm for what lies ahead and reflects on the critical principles of navigating turns in both business and personal spheres. The discussion emphasizes the importance of preparation and recognizing the opportune moments for change, shedding light on how these principles have guided Steve through his career and into a promising future. Additionally, we explore the intertwined nature of career success, identity, and the journey towards the next decade of life, offering listeners a comprehensive view of the challenges and triumphs faced by those at the helm of their businesses.The conversation shifts to the nuanced topic of succession planning, where we delve into the psychological and practical aspects essential for a smooth transition. We discuss the significance of starting the succession planning process early, ideally 6-10 years in advance, to ensure the longevity and success of the business. By focusing on identifying and developing a successor, even without immediate plans to sell, business founders can prepare for a future where their legacy thrives beyond their direct involvement.Steve McKee is the recently-retired co-founder of McKee Wallwork, a nationally recognized marketing advisory firm. He is the author of TURNS: Where Business Is Won and Lost, a groundbreaking book on change management, When Growth Stalls: How it Happens, Why You're Stuck and What to Do About It, an award-winning business book now published in four languages, and Power Branding: Leveraging the Success of the World's Best Brands, which one New York Times bestselling author called “the definitive book on modern branding” that “should be mandatory reading in every business school in America.”Steve’s firm made the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America its first year of eligibility and has twice won the prestigious Effie Award for marketing effectiveness from the American Marketing Association. The firm has twice been recognized by Advertising Age as Southwest Small Agency of the Year and one of the nation’s Best Places to Work, and also won the publication’s National B2B Campaign of the Year award. Steve was a Businessweek.com columnist for a decade and currently writes a popular monthly column for SmartBrief on Leadership. He has been published or quoted in The New York Times, USA Today, Forbes.com, Investor's Business Daily and The Los Angeles Times, among others, and has appeared on CNBC, ESPN2, CNNfn, Bloomberg, and network television affiliates across America. Find Steve here:https://www.stevemckee.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemckee/To learn more, visit:www.servingstrong.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

In this episode I chat with Ash Atkinson about business valuation, growth strategies, and exit options. Ash discusses the importance of considering more than just revenue when valuing a business, including strategic, organizational, employee, customer, financial, and what he calls ESG factors. He emphasizes the need for documentation to support all aspects of a company's operations and values. The conversation covers how business owners can increase their options beyond just an exit by focusing on improving different value pillars over time. Ash also addresses common mistakes owners make when scaling, like failing to establish a cohesive company culture and clear key performance indicators. Overall, the discussion provides business owners with a more well-rounded perspective on increasing their company's long-term value and sustainability for potential exit or growth opportunities.Ash Atkinson is a seasoned professional with a globe-trotting career that spans from the equestrian breeding facilities of Germany to the competitive horse arenas of Mexico, and into the dynamic US real estate market. Starting his career in Germany, Ash developed a knack for sales and management, building an extensive international network. His journey took a significant turn in Mexico at La Silla, where he delved into the intricacies of competition horses and the Latin American market. Upon moving to the United States, Ash transitioned into the real estate sector in Southern California, leveraging his equestrian connections to navigate the high-end luxury lifestyle market, specializing in exclusive jet and yacht charters and sales.Now residing in Wellington, FL, Ash is a pivotal figure among ultra-high-net-worth investors, focusing on alternative asset investments and business development. His passion for helping SMEs to grow, scale, or achieve a successful liquidity exit is evident through his innovative approach to optimizing business operations, identifying efficiencies, and unlocking capital to maximize profit margins. Ash also plays a key role on the investment committee for a Real Estate Multifamily Fund and holds several key licenses in Florida, including Real Estate Sales Associate, 214 Life Including Variable Annuity, and 240 Health Insurance. With expertise in working with high-net-worth individuals, private jet and yacht sales, equestrian markets, and US-based private equity and real estate funds, Ash Atkinson is a visionary in business development, dedicated to steering businesses towards growth and success.You can reach Ash here:https://arcadvisoryco.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-atkinson/To learn more, visit:www.servingstrong.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

Do you want your business to thrive without you?Are you considering launching something new in your 4th quarter?In this episode, my guest, Paige Arnof-Fenn and I dive deep into the world of branding and how that can help you succeed professionally and personally. Our conversation highlights branding as a promise of a consistent experience, vital for making a business stand out. We discuss the significance of both personal and corporate branding, conducting a communications audit and SWOT analysis to understand brand perception and its position in the market. Personal branding is a key theme and is essential for anyone looking to differentiate themselves and establish a strong online presence.Paige Arnof-Fenn shares a bit about how she established her company name and the importance of creating a memorable business name and understanding customer psychology for branding success.Paige Arnof-Fenn is the founder and CEO of Mavens & Moguls, a global branding and digital marketing firm whose clients range from early stage start-up to Fortune 500 companies including Colgate, Virgin, Microsoft and The New York Times Company.  She was formerly VP Marketing at Zipcar and VP Marketing at Inc.com. Prior to that she held the title of SVP Marketing at Launch Media, an Internet start-up that was later sold to Yahoo. Arnof-Fenn has also worked as a special assistant to the chief marketing officer of global marketing at The Coca-Cola Company and held the position of director of the 1996 Olympic Commemorative Coin Program at the Department of Treasury.Arnof-Fenn is a founding Board member of Women Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology and she is the past Board Chair of the Alumni Board of Stanford University.  She was the Appointed Director for Harvard Business School on the Harvard Alumni Association Board, which governs all the schools across the university.  She is also the former Vice President of the Harvard Business School Global Alumni Board and the only woman Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Sports Museum at the Boston Garden, is an advisor to several early stage private companies and non profit organizations and is also a 3 time past president of the Stanford Club of New England which serves alumni in a 5 state region.  She holds an undergraduate degree in economics from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.You can connect with Paige here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigearnoffenn/https://www.mavensandmoguls.com/To learn more, visit:www.servingstrong.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

This episode is a thought-provoking conversation with Mike Provance, focusing on the challenges and strategies of managing business growth and operational performance, especially pertinent for mid-life business owners. We talk about the complexities that growth stage companies face, emphasizing the need for stability and predictability which often gets overlooked in the early stages of business development. Mike highlights the significance of adaptive planning, echoing Mike Tyson's famous words about the unpredictability of plans.We also dig into the nuances of operational debt versus surplus, with a particular focus on the importance of building absorptive capacity in a business. We explore how neglecting long-term goals for short-term gains can lead to significant challenges in business growth. Among other topics included in this rich conversation, my guest advocates for the synergy of combining the wisdom of seasoned leaders with the energy of younger ones, stressing the tragedy of losing valuable experience through mandatory retirement. Mike Provance is a dynamic leader in technology commercialization and growth-stage operations, serving as managing partner at Alpine Growth Partners. He specializes in assisting small company founders and lower middle-market firm CEOs in overcoming challenges in operations, innovation, and technology governance to achieve their business performance objectives. His expertise spans strategy, operations management, innovation, data governance, and technology commercialization. Mike's influence extends across various industries, including financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, and even within the U.S. Department of Defense, contributing to over $200 million in value creation and multiple successful exits for investors.Holding a Ph.D. in Innovation Strategy and Management from George Washington University, an MBA from Penn State, and a BS in Management Science from MIT, Mike combines impressive academic credentials with a fervent passion for community improvement through entrepreneurship. He has mentored over a thousand individuals in their entrepreneurial journeys and plays a crucial role in the governance of several private companies. Residing in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife Anne, Mike continues to leave a significant mark on the technology innovation landscape.You can connect with Mike here:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/provance/Website: https://alpinegrowthpartners.com/To learn more, visit:www.servingstrong.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

In this episode my guest, Lysle Wickersham, and I dive into the pivotal role of branding in business performance. We discuss how branding, more than just a logo or slogan, is a strategic foundation that connects emotionally with audiences, significantly impacting a company's value. More value, greater options for an exit down the road.The discussion then shifts to the relationship between branding, business strategy, and market research. It underscores the necessity of aligning the business owner's vision with market expectations, and the impact of this alignment on brand perception and business outcomes. Wickersham stresses the emotional aspect of consumer behavior and the importance of expert involvement in decision-making. The episode concludes with insights from my guest, founder of Brand Think, on strategic positioning for business owners in their 40s and 50s. Wicker's expertise underscores the importance of consistency, clear positioning, and a well-defined branding strategy for long-term business success.Lysle Wickersham heads BRANDthink, a consultancy that enhances business brands for higher performance and value. With 30 years of experience in brand development, investment banking, and consulting, he has built and sold a $170M agency, worked with tech startups, and established an M&A firm. Lysle applies a unique blend of creative and analytical expertise to boost market performance and increase intangible equity value. His firm supports SMBs and investment portfolios in realizing their brand’s potential, crucial for enhancing market cap in various financial transactions.You can find Lysle here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wickersham/Website: https://brandthink.biz/To learn more, visit:www.servingstrong.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

Are you nearing your 4th quarter of life and looking to secure your business legacy or start a new venture? Understanding and protecting your intellectual property (IP) is more crucial than you might think. In this episode, I talk with Matthew Asbell about the complexities of IP in the business world, a topic that holds real significance for entrepreneurs over 50. We discuss the essence of IP, encompassing creative works and branding, and its critical role in ensuring the value and uniqueness of a business. This knowledge is vital not just to safeguard your life's work as you approach retirement, but also for embarking on new endeavors.The conversation also includes the practicalities of protecting intangible assets like expertise and knowledge. The hosts stress the importance of legally documenting intellectual property, cautioning against simplistic methods that might not hold up legally. For seasoned business owners contemplating the sale of their ventures, or those venturing into new business ideas, understanding the nuances of IP rights, especially in the context of international expansion, becomes critical. We talk about the necessity of a strategic approach to IP, aligning with business growth and planning, especially in the later stages of your career.Matthew Asbell is an attorney practicing intellectual property (IP) law. IP is the one thing that ties together everything that he is passionate about, whether media and technology, entertainment and publishing, the natural sciences, or international culture, language, and travel. He believes IP is about encouraging, protecting, and monetizing creativity, whether in the form of an artistic work, a business venture, or a technological invention. As an attorney handling U.S. and international rights, he also greatly appreciates the opportunity to work with people from all over the world, and to practice his Portuguese from time to time!Matthew is also the host of the INTANGIFY podcast about the intangible aspects of business. http://www.talkradio.nyc/shows/intangifyYou'll find Matthew here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/masbell/To learn more, visit:www.servingstrong.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

In this episode we address the complexities of aging memory, Alzheimer's, and the latest in treatment advancements. The discussion kicks off with an exploration of memory changes associated with normal aging, distinguishing these from Alzheimer's disease. We discuss the impact of lifestyle factors like alcohol, sleep, and new medications on memory preservation and Alzheimer's risk. There are subtle differences in memory loss experienced in normal aging, such as forgetfulness and word-finding difficulties, and the more severe and rapid forgetting characteristic of Alzheimer's disease due to brain damage. This segment is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the nuances of memory changes as we age.Educated at Haverford College and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Andrew Budson is Chief of Cognitive Behavioral Neurology at the VA Boston Healthcare System, Associate Director of the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Professor of Neurology at Boston University, and Lecturer in Neurology at Harvard Medical School. He has written 9 books, including his latest, Seven Steps to Managing Your Aging Memory—now in its 2nd edition—which explains how to distinguish changes in memory due to Alzheimer's versus normal aging, what medications, diets, and exercise regimes can help, and the best habits, strategies, and memory aids to keep your memory strong.Connect with Dr. Budson here:https://www.andrewbudsonmd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-budson-054a346b/To learn more, visit:www.servingstrong.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

In today's episode I hope to take you on a transformative journey exploring personal and professional growth in your 40s and 50s. Anchored by a thought-provoking quote from Antoine de Saint Exupéry, this episode emphasizes the importance of cultivating a deep desire for growth and success, beyond just following instructions. It's about igniting a passion for relentless pursuit of goals. I discuss the significance of a spirit-filled approach to strategic planning, emphasizing that without passion and drive, even the most detailed plans can become burdensome. This episode is a call to seasoned entrepreneurs and those contemplating their next chapter, offering inspiration, challenges, and insights to chase one's best self and embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation.In the latter part of the episode, I introduce the concept of the 6 hallmarks of a fantastic 4th quarter, offering you a framework to evaluate and enhance your life. These hallmarks include being Spiritually Anchored, Physically Fit, Relationally Rich, Emotionally Healthy, Vocationally Aligned, and Financially Free. This holistic approach is not just about individual improvement but about becoming the best version of yourself in every aspect of life. The episode concludes with a thought-provoking reflection on building a legacy that outlasts you, encouraging you to channel your wisdom, experiences, and passions into something meaningful. My hope is that I challenge you to reflect on your personal journey, unfinished business, and the alignment between your actions and deeper values, serving as a catalyst for meaningful change and reflection. This episode is a must-listen for those seeking to make a significant impact in their 4th quarter, both personally and professionally over the next 12 months.To learn more, visit:www.servingstrong.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

In this episode I do a dive deep with my guest, Marc Borrelli, into the critical importance of understanding a business's core customer. We explore how accurately identifying and comprehending the core customer is not just about demographics or market segmentation, but about genuinely understanding their needs, wants, and pain points. This understanding is pivotal for devising a successful business strategy and creating a unique market differentiation which contributes to a company that can thrive without you, giving you more options for your 4th quarter. The conversation further dives into the common pitfalls companies face when they fail to identify their core customer, leading to short-term tactical decisions rather than a cohesive, long-term vision.Equally helpful is for the listener who has exited their business to pursue another venture. Knowing your core customer is important to saving time so you can get up and running quicker with success.Marc Borrelli, CFA, is a recognized Strategic Advisor and Leadership Growth Coach, propelling CEOs and Executive Teams worldwide toward uncharted growth and success. With a specialized approach encompassing Gravitas’ 7 Attributes of Sustainable Growth, Marc’s coaching methodology fosters dynamic organizational transformations, driving sustainable growth and impactful leadership. Serving as an invaluable catalyst for companies with revenues ranging between $5MM and $50MM, Marc specializes in a) Crafting compelling strategies, nurturing organizational culture, and embedding mission and purpose at enterprises' core; b) Refining the Growth Platform, pinpointing its essence to unleash unprecedented growth trajectories; and c) Devising meticulous execution actions and scalable strategies to increase profitability and cash flow. Marc’s professional journey is adorned with over 30 years of unrivaled experience in strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions, with an impressive portfolio of over 100 closed transactions valued at $3 billion. His proficiency in navigating complex, cross-border, multi-party transactions across continents sets him apart in the market. Currently, Marc contributes his expertise to the boards of the US Strategic Capital Alternative Income Fund, Joe Tools, Inc., and two Technology Associations of Georgia’s Societies, amplifying strategic visions with his innovative approach.You can find Marc here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-coach-atlanta/https://marcborrelli.com/To learn more, visit:www.servingstrong.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour