Episode 1263: Build a Book Without Writing a Word with Sheila Slick

What if the book you’ve been putting off is already hidden inside the conversations you’ve recorded? In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Sheila Slick, founder of Five Milestones and creator of the PodToBook.ai platform, who shares how entrepreneurs, podcasters, and experts can become published authors without starting from a blank page. Drawing on her background as a software developer and business consultant, Sheila outlines her five-step process for transforming audio content into polished, AI-assisted books that build authority, drive ROI, and preserve legacy. With more than 80 experts already guided from raw conversations to published works, this episode reveals a faster, smarter path to turning content into a tangible business asset. Key Takeaways:→ If you record podcasts, webinars, or calls, you already have the raw material for a book. → Audio content eliminates the biggest friction point in writing: the blank page. → AI-assisted publishing works best when paired with human editing and revision.→ Repurposing content can reduce book creation from months to days. → Publishing a book can drive ROI through authority, speaking engagements, and client acquisition.  Sheila Slick, MS, is the Founder of Five Milestones and creator of PodToBook.ai, an AI-powered platform that transforms podcast episodes into professionally structured book manuscripts in 2-3 hours. Since launching, she's helped publish 80+ authors and is a two-time Amazon bestselling author, having authored "Momentum: Daily Practices to Build Your Business & Thrive" and co-authored five books. As Past Chair of SCORE Volusia Flagler County, she mentored over 1,000 small business owners. With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience and a Master's in Leadership, Sheila provides strategic business consulting and publishing services while hosting the "Milestone Moments in Business and Leadership" podcast. Connect With Sheila:Website: https://fivemilestones.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilaslick/ 

High performers are taught to push harder, but what if the real breakthrough comes from learning to regulate, recover, and reconnect? In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Owen Marcus, Founder and CEO of MELD (Men’s Emotional Leadership Development) and author of Grow Up: A Man’s Guide to Emotional Maturity. Owen unpacks why high-performing entrepreneurs often hit an invisible ceiling despite doing “everything right.” Drawing on five decades of experience working with leaders, athletes, and elite performers, Owen explains how chronic stress, emotional disconnection, and nervous system overload quietly erode performance, relationships, and fulfillment. This conversation bridges neuroscience, leadership, and personal growth to reveal how building resilience from the body up unlocks the final 30% of untapped potential. Key Takeaways:→ Entrepreneurs are often wired for survival, not fulfillment, which leads to chronic overdrive.→ Long-term stress creates allostatic load, silently shrinking resilience and emotional capacity. → High performance at work does not automatically translate into a healthy connection at home. → Neuroplasticity allows leaders to rewire stress patterns and build new capacity over time. → Somatic mindfulness helps retrain the nervous system by increasing body awareness. Owen Marcus is the Founder and CEO of MELD (Men’s Emotional Leadership Development), demonstrating the transformative potential of evidence-based peer support. A pioneer in men’s emotional health, his retreats, workshops, coaching, training, and other programs enhance relational dynamics and support men’s personal and professional growth and leadership development. For nearly three decades, MELD has been a trusted guide for men navigating the complex terrain of modern life: stress, relationships, leadership, and identity. Marcus is also the author of Grow Up: A Man’s Guide to Emotional Maturity. In it, Marcus leads readers on an enlightening path toward the authentic self, revealing how men need clarity, purpose, connection, and the support of other men to thrive. A founding member of the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP) and a member of Division 51 of the American Psychological Association, Marcus integrates neuroscience, Polyvagal Theory, and somatic mindfulness to help individuals and groups cultivate emotional intelligence and authentic leadership. Connect With Owen:Website: https://meld.community/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meld.men/X: https://x.com/meldmenFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/meldmenLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/meldmenscommunity/ 

If your team is frustrated, your culture is drifting, and change feels exhausting, this conversation will reset your leadership. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Scott Burgmeyer, Founder and CEO of BecomeMore Group, who shares how he helps 300–500-employee organizations grow through leadership development, strategy, and change management. He’s the author of Chief Optimization Officer (2020) and Think: The Road Less Traveled (May 2025), and he co-hosts the Leadership Line podcast, released weekly. Scott explains how authentic leadership, truth-telling, and doing improvement with people (not to them) can reduce turnover, strengthen culture, and create measurable business impact. Key Takeaways:→ Regulatory disruption can be ignored, resisted, or accepted, but the winners redesign the org and equip leaders for the new reality. → Scaling works best when repeatable systems are built without neglecting the human side that drives adoption and retention. → Authentic leadership is relational, not social. → Leaders often “know” the issues but need an outside voice to cut through the sugarcoating and call out what’s really happening. → You can’t lead today’s workforce with yesterday’s assumptions. Frustration often stems from resisting reality rather than adapting your leadership approach.  Scott Burgmeyer is the Founder and CEO of BecomeMore Group, a company that reflects his journey of growth and transformation. His early career followed a traditional path, with successful roles in corporate environments. However, after achieving a significant corporate opportunity, Scott realized his comfort zone had shrunk, while the organization seemed content with his performance. Seeking more, he founded Creative Solutions Group in 2010, driven by relentless curiosity and a desire for growth.In 2018, Scott focused his efforts full-time on Creative Solutions Group and shortly thereafter co-authored his first of four books. The company continued to expand, culminating in a corporate acquisition with his partner Tammy in 2021 and the release of their fifth book. In 2023, Scott and Tammy formalized their merger, rebranding as BecomeMore Group to reflect their commitment to continuous personal and professional growth. Connect With Scott:Website: https://www.becomemoregp.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becomemoregp/X: https://x.com/BecomeMoreGrouphttps://x.com/scottburgmeyerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576980455975LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/becomemoregp/https://www.linkedin.com/company/becomemoregp/ 

In an AI-driven world, SEO is evolving, but is traditional SEO still effective? Discover how Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is changing the digital landscape. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Damon Burton, Founder and President of SEO National, who discusses the future of SEO in an AI-dominated world. As AI tools like ChatGPT take over search queries, Damon explains how businesses can leverage these tools while staying true to the tried-and-true SEO strategies that have worked for decades. From the basics of SEO to advanced Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Damon offers expert insights into how businesses can thrive in this new digital era. Key Takeaways:→ AI is reshaping SEO, but it’s still vital to focus on the same core elements. → Despite the rise of AI, foundational SEO, like website structure and content strategy, remains essential. → Google’s dominance in search engines is still substantial, and businesses should not panic. → Understanding the intent behind search queries is vital for both traditional SEO and AI-powered platforms. → AI offers small businesses a unique opportunity to compete against larger players with the right SEO strategy and content.  Damon Burton is the founder of SEO National, a search engine marketing agency he launched in 2007 after famously outranking a billion-dollar company on Google. Since then, he has built an international team that’s helped clients like Tony Robbins, Russell Brunson, NBA teams, and Inc. 5000 and Shark Tank–featured companies make more in a month than they used to in a year. A best-selling author, Damon literally wrote the book on SEO—Outrank, a practical guide that shows businesses how to dominate Google without paying for ads. Featured in Entrepreneur, Forbes, BuzzFeed, and USA Weekly, he’s known for making complex SEO strategies easy to understand and implement. A husband and father of three, Damon also speaks on leading remote teams and building a family-first culture while scaling a high-performance digital business. Connect With Damon:Website: http://damonburton.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurdamon/X: https://x.com/EntrepreneurDBFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/damon.burtonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonburton/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@damon-burton 

Most business owners don’t realize they’re building an exit they can’t afford. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Marc Adams, Strategy Mentor & Business Exit Planner at Acquisitions4You, who shares how his work has helped provide $22B in funding support and why he now focuses on helping founders double business value in 12 months or less. After a stage-four cancer diagnosis during the pandemic and a life-changing conversation with his son, Marc pivoted his mission toward helping the “nine out of ten” owners who never get the outcome they need. He explains the Double and Keep It framework, designed to grow value fast while protecting owners from the usual traps of dilution, debt burdens, and painful exit costs. Key Takeaways:→ Most business owners don’t get the value they expect when it’s time to sell.→ Exit-math can be brutal, especially in states with high taxes. → Traditional private equity doesn’t solve the real problem. → The “double and keep it” framework aims to achieve value growth without dilution or debt service.  → This framework is meant to create a real retirement-grade exit.  Marc Adams is a strategy mentor and business-exit planner who helps founder-led companies double enterprise value in 12–24 months and structure tax-efficient exits without heavy dilution or personal guarantees. He’s helped take a company from roughly $140M to a $1B valuation and led a loss-making $18M-revenue business to a $140M exit. A bestselling author with Times Square features, Marc works closely with family offices and private capital, providing founders with a practical, buyer-aligned playbook for value creation, clean diligence, and better after-tax outcomes. Connect With Marc:Website: https://acquisitions4you.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/1marcadams/ 

Your benefits plan may be getting more expensive for reasons unrelated to better care. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Chris Hamilton, Partner at Hotchkiss Insurance and a healthcare industry expert, who explains why employer health costs keep skyrocketing. He breaks down how misaligned incentives in traditional plans drive inflation and why mid-market employers often have far more control than they realize. You’ll hear practical, modern strategies such as self-funding, direct agreements, and transparency tools that can improve coverage while reducing total costs for both companies and employees. Key Takeaways:→ Traditional compensation structures can incentivize higher premiums rather than better outcomes for employers and employees.→ When insurers own PBMs and other components, pricing can become a circular profit engine that justifies ongoing rate hikes. → If you reduce the underlying cost of care, the premium required to fund the plan naturally drops.→ The same procedure can vary dramatically in price across facilities, with no reliable correlation to quality. → Employers can contract directly with hospitals and concierge physicians to simplify access, improve care, and reduce both company and employee financial burdens.  Chris Hamilton is a Partner at Hotchkiss Insurance in Texas, where he leads the employee benefits consulting practice. He specializes in managing healthcare and insurance costs to improve benefits coverage, reduce expenses, and enhance employee health outcomes. With over a decade of experience in corporate finance, Chris has advised clients across various industries, including private equity and oil & gas. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, working out, attending live music events, and spending time with family. Connect With Chris:Website: https://hotchkissinsurance.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chrishamiltonbenefitsinsiderLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chamilton/ 

If your business only works when you’re working, it’s time to redesign how it runs. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Lady Jen Du Plessis, DC, The Scaling Architect, who shares how she went from knowing nothing about mortgages to becoming a top-producing leader who helped fund more than a billion dollars in loans. A celebrated Amazon best-selling author, podcaster, and TV host, she’s helped more than 8,000 entrepreneurs transition from practitioner mode to scalable companies that don’t require daily intervention. She breaks down the mindset shift, systems, and leadership habits that drive real harmony and long-term growth. Key Takeaways:→ Teams can’t execute consistently without documented, repeatable processes.→ People struggle when they aren’t empowered with clear workflows and expectations. → Scaling a business requires clarity about vision, values, and voice. → AI is useful, but it can’t replace the human touch. → Know when to hire using lead indicators and KPIs, not out of desperation.  Affectionately known as The Scaling Architect, Lady Jen Du Plessis is the Leading Expert in helping powerhouse business owners create a company that runs smoothly without them - achieving massive revenue growth while gaining more freedom and fulfillment in life with grace and ease. Who would have ever thought that little "Jenny Who Ain't Got a Penny," now Dame Lady Jen, a member of the Royal House of Cappadocia and the Royal Order of Constantine the Great and Saint Helen, would have become a numerous #1 Amazon best-selling author, host of 3 top ranking podcasts, and producer and host of her TV show Business on the Vine. Connect With Jen:Website: https://www.ladyjenduplessis.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenduplessis/X: https://x.com/JenDuPlessisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenDuPlessis22LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenduplessis/ 

Are you a high-income earner looking to build long-term wealth without spending more time on active investing? Learn the secrets of passive real estate investing and why it’s the key to financial freedom. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Whitney Elkins-Hutten, Director of Investor Education at PassiveInvesting.com, Founder of Ashwealth.com, and Author of the #1 Bestseller Money for Tomorrow: How to Build and Protect Generational Wealth, who shares her journey from accidental real estate investor to expert in passive investing. With a wealth of experience, including a bestselling book Money for Tomorrow, Whitney explains how high-income earners can transform active income into passive income while capitalizing on cash flow and equity growth. If you’re looking for ways to achieve financial independence, Whitney's insights on real estate investments and market strategies are invaluable. Key Takeaways:→ Passive investing enables high-income earners to focus on their jobs while building wealth through real estate.→ Diversification across asset classes is crucial for long-term financial success, especially as capital stacks grow. → Market dynamics, such as job and income growth, are critical factors in evaluating investment opportunities. → Deals should have clear paths to capital preservation, cash flow, and equity growth, with tax benefits as a bonus. → The current economic climate requires patience as investors must navigate volatility and identify genuine opportunities.  Whitney Elkins-Hutten is the Director of Investor Education at PassiveInvesting.com, founder of Ashwealth.com, and author of the award-winning #1 bestseller Money for Tomorrow: How to Build and Protect Generational Wealth. Through her proven wealth-building framework, Whitney empowers high-earning professionals and business owners to create secure, passive income streams that support a legacy of financial freedom for generations. With over $800MM in assets—including 6,500+ residential units, 15 express car washes, and 2,200+ self-storage units—Whitney guides clients to invest strategically, helping them confidently turn a single $100,000 investment into hundreds of thousands within a few years or millions over decades. Connect With Whitney:Website: https://www.passiveinvesting.com/welcome-whitney/https://ashwealth.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyelkinshutten/

Looking to raise capital and elevate your business? Discover how proximity, trust, and AI can be game changers in the world of family offices. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Richard Wilson, Founder & CEO of Family Office Club, who shares expert insights on navigating the world of family offices, capital raising, and building trust with investors. With 18 years of experience and a reach of 18 million across his social platforms, Richard discusses the power of proximity to highly successful entrepreneurs and how leveraging AI tools can give you an edge in investor relations. Tune in as he unveils the mental models and strategies that have helped him build a thriving community of capital-raisers and investors. Key Takeaways:→ Surrounding yourself with highly successful entrepreneurs and investors elevates your thinking and expands your opportunities. → The most important aspect of pitching is building trust before presenting. → Pitching without adding value or establishing trust is a common mistake among capital raisers. → Leveraging AI tools can significantly enhance decision-making, messaging, and client engagement for capital raisers. → Live events where investors and capital-raisers can meet face-to-face increase the chances of success by 16 times. Richard C. Wilson is the founder of the Family Office Club, a global investor community with millions of members and dozens of live events each year, serving professionals in the family office and private wealth sectors. He has built the leading media platform in this niche, including the most-visited website, the top-ranked podcast, and the most-watched YouTube channel dedicated to family offices.Richard is also the creator of Investor Super Intelligence, an AI platform that models how investment deals are sourced, evaluated, and closed, based on thousands of investor conversations and real-world deal workflows. He is the author of 13 books, has spoken on over 1,000 stages and podcasts across 20 countries, and runs Billionaires.com, a leading resource on the mental models and strategies of ultra-high-net-worth families. Connect With Richard:Website: https://familyoffices.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/familyofficeclub/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/familyofficeclubLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/familyoffices/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyOfficeClub 

If you’re looking to scale your business without breaking the bank on full-time hires, fractional staffing could be the game-changer you need. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Nicole Grinnell, 2x Business Founder of Bosun Solutions and Mic'd Up Booking, who shares her entrepreneurial journey from executive assistant to building a staffing solutions business that helps small businesses thrive. With over nine years of experience, Nicole discusses the benefits of fractional staffing and virtual assistants, offering affordable and flexible solutions for growing companies. Tune in to learn how fractional teams can help you scale your business efficiently, avoid hiring mistakes, and create a well-balanced work-life environment. Key Takeaways:→ There is a growing need for fractional staffing solutions among small businesses. → Fractional teams provide the flexibility to scale without the overhead of full-time employees. → The difference between traditional staffing and fractional work, and how they complement each other. → The role of personality assessments in ensuring a successful candidate-client match. → Common hiring mistakes small businesses make and how to avoid them.  Nicole Grinnell comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and small business owners. She is a 2x business owner and launched her first business, Bosun Solutions, in 2017. As the daughter of a small business owner turned corporate executive support, she has unique insight into the needs entrepreneurs and CEOs face when scaling their businesses. Her entire career has been defined by finding a work-life balance, from working for her family business to getting married, having children, and climbing the corporate ladder. She is now married and has two teenage children, and her businesses have grown to $2 million in revenue. Her goal is to help other small businesses succeed. Connect With Nicole:Website: https://www.bosunsolutions.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bosunsolutions/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bosunsolutions/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bosunsolutions/