How I Sold a Company for $16M and Bought It Back for Pennies on the Dollar w/Ryan Moran

Ryan Moran, an entrepreneur and investor known for his expertise in e-commerce and brand-building, shares the incredible story of how he sold his company for $16 million, only to buy it back later for pennies on the dollar. Moran takes listeners through his journey of building the company from the ground up, scaling it, and eventually making the decision to sell. He reflects on the highs and lows of the sale process and the unexpected challenges that came after the deal was done. Despite the success, Moran reveals how losing control of the business led him to rethink his approach to entrepreneurship and what he values most.The episode then shifts to a fascinating discussion of Moran’s decision to repurchase the company, a move that required not just financial investment, but a new mindset and a willingness to start over. Moran explains the process of buying back his company, the lessons he learned from both the success and failure of the sale, and the strategies he employed to rebuild the business stronger than before. Through his candid storytelling, Moran emphasizes the importance of resilience, the power of learning from mistakes, and how the experience has shaped his perspective on business and life. This episode provides invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial journey, showcasing the significance of persistence and the ability to pivot when faced with unforeseen circumstances.CHAPTER TITLES3:00 - The Journey Begins: Selling for $16M5:30 - Early Days: Growing the Company8:00 - The $16M Sale: What Went Right10:30 - Post-Sale Realities: A Sudden Shift13:00 - Buying It Back: The Big Decision15:00 - Rebuilding the Business from Scratch17:30 - Overcoming New Challenges19:00 - What I Learned from Losing the Company20:30 - The Power of Persistence in Entrepreneurship22:00 - Future Plans: Moving Forward After the ComebackConnect with Ryan Moran:SOCIALS - Ryan Daniel Moranhttps://www.capitalism.com/https://www.capitalism.com/playbookConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

In this episode, Greg Herlean, a renowned entrepreneur and expert in financial independence, shares his insights into building wealth through smart investments and strategic planning. Greg, known for his expertise in self-directed IRAs and real estate investing, begins by recounting his early struggles and how they shaped his relentless drive for success. He takes listeners on a journey through his unconventional strategies, highlighting the importance of taking control of one’s financial future by thinking outside the traditional investment box. As the episode unfolds, Greg dives into the key principles that have guided his success, from embracing calculated risks to cultivating a mindset of persistence and adaptability. Along the way, he addresses common misconceptions about investing and provides actionable advice for listeners looking to achieve financial freedom. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting to explore the world of personal finance, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration to help you chart your own path to success. CHAPTER TITLES 3:00 - The Surprising Start of the Journey 6:00 - Overcoming the First Hurdle 9:00 - A New Perspective Emerges 12:00 - Challenges of the Unknown 15:00 - The Turning Point 17:00 - Reflections on Progress 19:00 - Facing the Final Obstacle 21:00 - A Triumphant Resolution 23:00 - Closing Thoughts and Takeaways Connect with Greg Herlean:SOCIALS - Greg HerleanGregherlean.comGreg@horizontrustConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

In this episode, fitness entrepreneur and author Jon Goodman shares insights from his journey of professional growth and personal reinvention. He emphasizes the importance of shifting focus from constantly refining expertise to mastering marketing and entrepreneurship, encouraging listeners to recognize the value of their existing knowledge and start making an impact. Jon introduces his concept of "leapfrog learning," a 60-day process of intensive skill acquisition and teaching, which he has used to explore areas like AI, automation, and wealth-building. Jon also previews his new book, *The Obvious Choice: Timeless Lessons on Success, Profit, and Finding Your Way*, offering wisdom on aligning goals with the "game" you’re playing, whether in business or personal pursuits. He highlights the need to use tools like social media strategically, rather than letting them dictate your path, and shares lessons from rebuilding his business after facing significant personal challenges. This episode is a motivating guide for anyone aiming to build a purposeful and impactful career.CHAPTER TITLES 03:00 - The Art of Letting Go: Freedom Through Delegation05:00 - You Already Know Enough: Stop Overpreparing07:00 - The Confidence Trap: Comparing Yourself to Colleagues09:00 - Obsession Shift: From Expertise to Marketing Mastery11:00 - Leapfrog Learning: Mastering New Skills in 60 Days13:00 - Teaching to Learn: Sharing Knowledge to Solidify Growth15:00 - The Power of Philosophy: Creating a Family Wealth Strategy17:00 - Different Games, Different Rules: Knowing Your Objectives21:00 - Social Media vs. Business: Playing the Right Game23:00 - Timeless Lessons: An Introduction to The Obvious ChoiceConnect with Jon:Personal Trainer Development CentreIG & X = ItscoachgoodmanBOOK - The Obvious Choicewww.theobviouschoicebook.comConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

In this episode, we’re joined by Gino Wickman, a renowned entrepreneur, author, and creator of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Gino shares his invaluable insights into achieving entrepreneurial success while maintaining balance and avoiding burnout. Drawing from his 30 years of experience, he discusses the importance of finding a personal "magic formula" for work-life balance. Gino emphasizes the delicate equilibrium between pushing yourself hard enough to avoid boredom, but not so hard that you burn out. He highlights the concept of a "work container"—a framework for maximizing energy and output while staying within your capacity for both work and life. Throughout the conversation, Gino offers practical advice on optimizing productivity and maintaining focus, from how to structure your workday to how to adapt your formula over time. He also explores how business owners can scale effectively, noting that, like building a skyscraper, once a business is up and running, it requires less day-to-day effort to maintain. Gino also dives into the importance of systems and delegating effectively to prevent overload. He encourages entrepreneurs to constantly assess their capacity, stay aligned with their values, and make strategic adjustments when necessary, ensuring long-term growth and sustainability in both their personal and professional lives.CHAPTER TITLES03:00 - Impact & Purpose06:00 - Finding Your Formula09:00 - The Work-Life Balance Formula12:00 - Energy and Efficiency15:00 - Shifting Over Time18:00 - The Burnout vs. Boredom Balance21:00 - Work Container and Business Growth24:00 - The Role of Systems in ScalingConnect with Gino Wickman:https://the10disciplines.com/BOOK TITLE - ShineConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

This podcast episode dives into the journey of building a successful brand by mastering a single focus and delivering consistent value. The guest shares insights into finding and sticking to a niche, emphasizing that true growth happens when you become an expert in one area instead of trying to excel at everything. He recounts his admiration for Tony Robbins, whose dedication to his craft exemplifies the energy that comes from loving what you do. Highlighting his own path, he explains how focusing solely on podcasting has allowed him to build trust and engage deeply with his audience. By refining his expertise in this specific space, he's managed to stand out in an otherwise saturated market.The episode also addresses avoiding burnout by aligning your work with what brings you joy. For John, interviewing entrepreneurs is not just a job but a source of energy and inspiration. He shares advice for young entrepreneurs to embrace patience, relax, and avoid rushing through milestones, reminding them that sustainable success is a long game. John closes by encouraging listeners to focus on what they’re genuinely passionate about, as it’s this love for the work itself that will fuel them to succeed over time. The episode ends with resources for listeners interested in starting their entrepreneurial journeys with free courses and daily content.CHAPTER TITLES3:00 - Discovering Your Focus as an Entrepreneur5:00 - The Power of Personal Branding and Building Trust7:00 - Creating Consistent Content that Resonates9:00 - Knowing When You’ve Found Your Niche11:00 - Learning from Tony Robbins: Passion and Persistence13:00 - How to Stay Energized Doing What You Love15:00 - Avoiding Burnout and Embracing Your Strengths17:00 - The Value of Mastering One Thing Well19:00 - Patience and Progress: Advice for Young EntrepreneursConnect with John Lee Dumas:PODCAST - Entrepreneurs on FireYOUTUBE & IG - John Lee DumasConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

In this episode, marketing expert Ralph Burns, known for his deep expertise in Facebook advertising and successful agency leadership, breaks down the sophisticated strategies required to run high-performing ad campaigns for service-oriented businesses. Alongside the host, Ralph shares his experience managing complex ad campaigns in industries like body sculpting, where return on ad spend (ROAS) can take months to materialize. Using a recent case study, Ralph details how his team used a free Botox offer to bring clients into a body-sculpting business, ultimately turning an initial loss into substantial profit through strategic upsells.Ralph and the host explore the challenges of managing ads across multiple locations with differing CRM systems, explaining how initial ad metrics can be misleading if businesses don’t account for the full customer lifecycle. They discuss the importance of taking a long-term view, emphasizing that Facebook and digital ads today are part of a larger ecosystem rather than isolated profit generators. Ralph also shares lessons from his journey, encouraging business owners to invest in skilled teams, enhance financial literacy, and make data-informed decisions. This episode provides a candid look at the intricacies of high-stakes digital advertising, especially relevant for entrepreneurs in service-based industries.CHAPTER TITLES2:00 - The Power of CRM Systems and Facebook Ads4:00 - Understanding the Customer Journey and the 30-60-90 Day Model6:30 - Leveraging Google and Facebook Ads for Long-Term Sales9:00 - Ad Strategy: Nurturing Leads Across Platforms11:00 - Conversion Tracking and the Challenge of Cross-Platform Attribution14:18 - Using Irresistible Offers to Drive Initial Engagement16:00 - Managing Delayed Upsell Conversions and Lookback Windows18:00 - Estimating Lead Value Through Data-Driven Models20:50 - Embracing Long-Term ROI: Lifetime Value and Ecosystem Impact22:00 - Lessons in Business: Success, Mistakes, and Financial WisdomConnect with Ralph Burns:https://true11.com/Linkedin - Ralph BurnsConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

Todd Brown. A highly respected marketing expert and one of the most sought-after authorities on marketing funnels and direct response strategies. In todays episode he dives deep into "The Bullet Method" for email marketing—a strategy designed to generate consistent revenue and keep audiences engaged without overwhelming them. He highlights the importance of frequent, value-driven emails, debunking the common fear of "over-emailing" subscribers. Instead, he emphasizes that consistent communication keeps audiences engaged and leads to sustained sales, even if some subscribers eventually unsubscribe. Todd shares how repurposing old offers and running them through the Bullet Method can help businesses extend their reach, make the most of each promotion, and avoid the pitfall of letting an email list go dormant.The conversation also explores how the crowded marketplace demands more than just emotional appeals in marketing copy; there needs to be a compelling, evidence-backed argument that clearly communicates the product's superiority and benefits. Reflecting on personal successes and challenges, Todd underscores the importance of providing proof to support claims in marketing and the evolution required to keep up with more advanced markets. The episode wraps up with stories of successful campaigns, emphasizing the power of authentic storytelling and consistent engagement to build trust and drive conversions.CHAPTER TITLES02:00 - Introduction to the Bullet Method for Email Marketing04:12 - The Power of Small, Consistent Sales through Email05:45 - Overcoming the Fear of Over-Selling to Your List08:12 - Avoiding List Fatigue and Re-Engaging Subscribers10:47 - Maximizing Offer Lifetime with the Bullet Email Strategy13:32 - Why Letting Your Email List Sit is a Missed Opportunity14:45 - Success with High-Ticket Offers Despite Unsubscribes15:36 - Email Frequency: Mail More, Not Less17:22 - Why Evidence-Based Copy is Essential in Marketing20:00 - Biggest Wins and Lessons Learned in BusinessConnect with Todd Brown:Todd BrownIG - @toddbrownhttps://toddbrown.me/Connect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

This interview explores innovation in health technology, focusing on the creation of user-friendly tools that simplify nutrition tracking and health monitoring for the average person. The speaker discusses the traditional complexity of tracking nutrition and calories, noting that existing apps are generally tailored for fitness enthusiasts rather than regular users. By leveraging artificial intelligence, their new app aims to make food tracking faster and more accessible, reducing the time commitment to under ten seconds per day and providing real-time feedback. This ease of use could bridge the gap for those seeking effective health management without the tedious effort often required by current solutions.Additionally, the conversation touches on broader themes in innovation and entrepreneurship. The speaker shares insights into recognizing and adapting to shifts in consumer needs and the importance of following one’s convictions. Reflecting on the development of their prior venture, Diet Doctor, they discuss the challenges of pivoting from established models to embrace new technology. By focusing on user experience and continuous improvement, they aim to make impactful, lasting changes in the health tech space, making sophisticated tools accessible to everyone, not just niche audiences.CHAPTER TITLES02:20 - Why Simplifying Health Data Matters for the Average Person04:12 - The Power of Intuitive Technology for Health Monitoring07:45 - Transforming Nutrition Tracking Through Artificial Intelligence11:55 - Making Food Tracking Easy: From Minutes to Seconds16:23 - Reducing Complexity: How AI Simplifies Health Choices17:10 - Why the Current Apps Miss the Mark for Everyday Users19:00 - Revolutionizing Health Tech: The Shift from MyFitnessPal20:29 - Advice for Innovators: How to Rethink Your Business Approach22:51 - Reflections on Success and Challenges in Building Health ToolsConnect with Andreas:Founder - dietdoctor.comFounder - Hava.co X - Dr.E (DrEenfeldt)Connect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

Joe Pulizzi, a renowned content marketing expert and author, shares valuable insights into building a sustainable content strategy in this conversation. Known for pioneering content marketing approaches and founding Content Marketing Institute, Joe dives into what it takes to create a loyal audience and a profitable brand. He emphasizes the importance of starting with a single, focused niche and committing to consistency, cautioning against spreading too thin across platforms early on.Joe advises creators to develop a routine with consistent posting and to engage actively with others in their field by commenting on relevant content. This strategy, he explains, is crucial to gaining visibility and driving organic growth, especially for those starting out. As creators build traction, Joe encourages them to consider “paying to play,” putting ad dollars behind their best-performing content to reach broader audiences. He highlights that while content creation is essential, devoting 75% of one’s time to content promotion and community engagement will ultimately lead to greater success and, ideally, easier monetization.CHAPTER TITLES3:00 - Laying the Foundation: Picking Your Niche and Platform5:30 - Choosing Your Focus: Why Content Needs Consistency7:55 - Staying Consistent: Building Trust Through Regularity10:30 - Engaging Beyond Your Page: The Power of Commenting on Others’ Content13:45 - Leveraging Paid Promotion: How and When to Invest17:20 - Testing and Iterating: Knowing When to Adjust Your Strategy19:00 - Audience Growth Tips: Consistency and Collaboration21:10 - Content Creation vs. Promotion: The 75/25 Rule23:50 - Failure as a Learning Tool: Insights from Personal Struggles25:10 - Mindset for Success: Staying Resilient and Embracing ChangeConnect with Joe Pulizzi:Joepulizzi.comConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

Tori Dunlap, founder of *Her First $100K* and the bestselling author of *Financial Feminist*, who shares her expertise on organic growth, audience engagement, and brand building. Tori delves into her philosophy of "serve before you sell," explaining why businesses should focus on providing value before asking anything of their audience. She emphasizes that creating trust through valuable content—not simply promoting products—is the foundation of a loyal community. Tori also highlights the importance of narrowing down a brand’s message and voice to resonate deeply with a target audience, as trying to appeal to everyone often results in a diluted brand identity.As the conversation progresses, Tori explains her strategic use of automated messaging for identifying and engaging her most loyal followers, which allows her to tailor content and even upsell products based on their engagement level. She discusses the value of moving followers from social media to platforms she owns, like email lists or her podcast, so she’s not reliant on the algorithms for business stability. Tori concludes by stressing the significance of being authentic and even polarizing in her messaging, which helps attract a committed audience aligned with her values and vision. For those looking to grow a community or launch a brand, Tori’s approach provides practical insights into cultivating an engaged audience that’s built on trust and shared values.CHAPTER TITLES3:00 - Serve Before You Sell5:20 - Using Automated Messaging for Audience Engagement7:45 - Evolution of Messaging Rules and Strategy10:12 - Building Customer Support Through Custom Conversations12:30 - Targeting Ads to Highly Engaged Followers15:03 - Importance of Audience Engagement Over Conversion16:22 - Strategies for Organic Growth on Social Media17:02 - Top Lessons for Growing Your First Followers18:04 - Creating Value First: Why Trust is Key18:48 - Developing a Strong, Clear Brand Identity20:06 - Using Social Media as Top-of-Funnel Engagement21:12 - Moving Followers to Platforms You Own21:57 - Finding the Right Niche and Audience Sweet Spot22:10 - Building Stronger Connections by Being PolarizingConnect with Tori Dunlap:Herfirst100k.comIG - Herfirst100kConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter