Episode 1220: Pricing, Margins, and Cash in a Chaotic Economy with Karl Maier

If your revenue has stalled despite strong demand, this playbook shows how numbers, systems, and leadership, not bigger ad spend, restart explosive growth. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Karl Maier, Founder of Abunden, an experienced CEO and business advisor who has played a key role in doubling sales at 5 companies in just 2 years. In this conversation, Maier explains how installing a 13-week cash forecast, building repeatable operating systems, and developing leaders unlock capacity so growth sticks. He also shares his Abundant Framework, insights from his book Surfing Economic Chaos, and what actually changes when you scale from $10M to $100M. Key Takeaways: → Why growth stalls after early success, and how shifting from heroics to repeatable systems and delegation restarts momentum. → The 13-week cash flow cadence: a simple weekly forecast that prevents surprises and fuels confident decisions. → When marketing isn’t the first lever: fix finance, ops capacity, and delivery so sales gains don’t break the machine. → “Every time you double, everything breaks”—what to upgrade (process, tools, roles) before pressing the gas. → The hardest part of $100M isn’t spreadsheets, it’s people, alignment, and leadership bench strength. Karl Maier is the founder of Abunden, where he helps CEOs transition from survival mode to achieving predictable, profitable growth. Specializing in energy-related companies, Karl turns financial blind spots into powerful growth engines, guiding both organic and acquisition-led expansion. He has extensive experience in private equity, family office roles, and capital raises, including supporting a $10M fracking water cleaning project and raising debt and equity for a $192 million EV private equity acquisition. Karl's expertise spans mergers and acquisitions (M&A), including buy-side support for international expansions and a $45 million B2B distribution company. He has also been instrumental in turnaround situations, such as guiding a healthcare services company to 40% growth and helping a coffee company pivot to hand sanitizer during COVID, generating $400K in just five months. With global CFO experience, Karl has led teams across Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and Asia. Connect With Karl Maier: Website: https://abunden.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlkmaier/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your sales team woke up on Monday to a calendar already full of qualified discovery calls? In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Gabe Lullo, CEO of Alleyoop, who has helped companies from startups to giants like Microsoft, Peloton, and ZoomInfo transform their sales pipelines. Under his leadership, Alleyoop.io has pioneered a two-step model that separates prospecting from closing—backed by 11 million cold calls a year and a focus on authenticity in outreach. In this episode, Gabe shares the systems, stories, and strategies that have fueled Alleyoop.io’s rapid growth and its role in scaling billion-dollar brands. Key Takeaways: → The two-step approach that separates prospecting from closing. → How Alleyoop.io serves both startups and global enterprises. → The “hot lead vs. warm lead” model—and why timing matters. → What really causes sales teams to stall (hint: it’s not always leads). → Why most “lead gen companies” aren’t actually prospecting. Gabe Lullo’s expertise in sales, marketing, recruiting, and management began when he started his own business after graduation from the Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford. He owned and operated his own sales, training, and marketing firm for more than a decade. He excelled in training sales and marketing professionals, and additionally, Gabe has had a successful career in executive recruiting. He has been instrumental in expanding the company’s search and placement for IT, Software Development, Sales, Customer Success, Marketing, and Executive leaders. Gabe's most recent success has been with us here at Alleyoop. For many years he has been working to build and grow the company by focusing on our culture, environment, customer success, and sales. Connect With Gabe Lullo: Website: https://alleyoop.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alleyoop-io/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if just 12 minutes a day could completely rewire your subconscious and transform your success? In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews John Mitchell, Entrepreneur and Professor at the University of Texas, who turned a lifetime of “average” results into extraordinary success by unlocking what Napoleon Hill left unsaid. Through his 12-minute-a-day method, John multiplied his income 25x, attracted his dream relationship, and now teaches his framework at the University of Texas and to top coaches and entrepreneurs. In this episode, he shares the full secret, the science behind it, and why only the most driven 2% are willing to apply it. Key Takeaways: → How rereading Think and Grow Rich 20 times revealed the missing half of the secret. → The role of the subconscious in controlling 95% of daily actions. → Why most people falsely believe they consciously control their choices. → The full secret: envisioning in detail with emotion every day. → The three stages of transformation: control, confidence, and automatic right actions. At 50, John Mitchell realized he wasn’t as successful as he had hoped, prompting him to turn to Think & Grow Rich, the world’s most renowned success book, read by over 150 million people. While the book reveals a secret to success, John uncovered the full secret and developed a groundbreaking 12-minute daily technique to apply it. As a result, his income skyrocketed 25x, surpassing the $200K he had earned annually for the previous 20 years. John's methodology, rooted in neuroscience and powered by an AI-driven algorithm, personalizes the success formula for each individual. He teaches this system at the University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business and serves as the mental coach for UT’s 18 head athletic coaches. John shares his powerful system in his book, The Missing Secret of the Legendary Book Think & Grow Rich, offering insights on working smarter, not harder, and rewiring the autopilot that governs 95% of our thoughts and actions. Connect With John: Website: https://thinkitbeit.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinkitbeitcompany/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-it-be-it-llc/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really take to scale a home services business from a shoestring budget to seven figures and then do it five times over? In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Teddy Slack Jr., Founder of BizScore.ai, who has built and scaled five different service-based businesses from scratch to seven figures. He’s a serial entrepreneur who transformed an $8,000 startup into a company generating 43% EBITDA—before selling it at a five-times multiple. In this episode, Teddy shares his journey, his lessons on marketing, pricing, and leadership, and why he’s now documenting his newest venture in real time for contractors everywhere. Key Takeaways: → Why flat-rate pricing revolutionized his industry and boosted closing rates. → The importance of tracking marketing ROI instead of “throwing spaghetti at the wall. → Why getting out of day-to-day operations is the key to scale and freedom. → The mindset shift every contractor must make to turn a job into a business. → The challenges and opportunities of entering a brand-new industry from scratch. Teddy Slack Jr. helps blue-collar business owners turn chaos into clarity and profit. Over the last 20 years, he has successfully built five service-based businesses from scratch to seven figures, all within their first 12 months. Most recently, he scaled and exited his home service business for a 5x multiple, growing it to $1.6 million in annual profit with zero owner involvement. Today, Teddy partners with select owner-operators as a strategic growth operator, bringing the systems, financial discipline, marketing power, and leadership infrastructure necessary to scale businesses without burnout or guesswork. Unlike traditional coaching, Teddy works hands-on in the trenches with business owners to turn their operations into streamlined, profitable machines that can run and eventually sell without them. Teddy is also the creator of BizScore, an AI-powered financial health tool that helps service businesses assess their financial situation and take action to plug profit leaks and grow with confidence. Connect With Teddy: Website: https://www.bizscore.ai/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@teddyslack LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddyslack/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover how a simple daily ritual can transform your energy, focus, and overall well-being. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Aisha Chottani, Founder and CEO of Moment, a mood-boosting botanical beverage brand, who shares her journey from high-pressure management consulting to creating a product that supports mind-body health. With a focus on functional ingredients, mindfulness, and ritual-building, Aisha has grown Moment into a movement with thousands of daily users across the country. In this episode, she reveals how thoughtful design, intentional habits, and innovative wellness solutions can help anyone reset, recharge, and thrive. Key Takeaways: → How Moment transforms a beverage into a full mind-body experience. → Why meditation and functional ingredients became central to her brand. → The role of ritual and routine in managing stress and energy. → How packaging and design influence consumer wellness experiences. → Insights on creating a brand that changes culture, not just habits. Aisha Chottani is the founder and CEO of Moment, a pioneering brand at the intersection of wellness, adaptogens, and mindful living. A true global citizen, she grew up in Saudi Arabia and has lived across Pakistan, South Africa, Denmark, and the U.S., gaining a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and holistic traditions. Grounded in South Asian wellness principles, Aisha’s lifelong curiosity about natural ingredients like Tulsi, Turmeric, and Chaga fuels her mission to enhance mind-body health through nature. A graduate of Harvard Business School, where she studied leadership and entrepreneurship, Aisha launched multiple ventures and collaborated with international brands before joining McKinsey & Company, where she led global consumer projects. Today, she’s recognized as a keynote speaker across e-commerce, food, and adaptogen conferences. Outside of business, Aisha is an avid swimmer, boxing enthusiast, and proud New Yorker who lives life with balance and purpose. Connect With Aisha: Website: https://drinkmoment.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkmoment/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drinkmoment X: https://x.com/drinkmoment Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkyourmeditation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the biggest thing holding you back in business isn’t the market, your offer, or your skills, it’s the illusion you’re living in?.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Anders Hansen, internationally recognized Illusionist, speaker, and 7-figure CEO of Real Magic LLC, who shares how he went from being a broke burnout with failing health and debt to building a multimillion-dollar business that’s helped over 10,000 people. Anders explains the five core “illusions” that keep entrepreneurs stuck (like hustle, fear, and limitation), and how to dissolve them so you can create quantum leaps in income, freedom, and identity. He also talks about continuing Bob Proctor’s legacy, building transformation-driven live experiences, and why your job is not to “figure out how,” but to align with who you’re becoming.   Key Takeaways: → How you can rebuild your entire life and business by changing your mindset. → How entrepreneurs can “rewire reality” through Real Magic Live and ongoing programs rooted in mindset, identity, and universal laws. → Why most entrepreneurs are trapped in mental illusions they mistake for reality. → What the five dominant illusions are and how most people are stuck in at least one.  → Success doesn't come from working harder, but from alignment and belief.   Anders Hansen is an internationally recognized Illusionist, speaker, and 7-figure CEO of Real Magic LLC —an immersive personal development experience that blends transformational coaching with the art of illusion in the award-winning Real Magic LIVE experience. With over 20 years of study in quantum physics, spirituality, and mindset, Anders has worked alongside some of the greatest thought leaders of our time, including his close friend and mentor, the legendary Bob Proctor. That relationship was sparked in 2016—an event Anders considers a real-world example of intentional manifestation. Through his groundbreaking programs and Real Magic LIVE events, Anders has helped over 10,000 people, incl. countless entrepreneurs and leaders break through mental limitations, expand their vision, and create extraordinary results. His unique approach fuses powerful mindset training with live illusions that make abstract concepts tangible and unforgettable. Anders’ mission is to awaken individuals to their true potential by helping them lead and live happier, healthier and wealthier lives. With a global community and a rapidly growing brand, he continues to lead a movement that proves transformation doesn’t have to be dry—it can be real, engaging, and even magical.     Connect With Anders: Website: https://www.andershansen.com/en/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.anders.hansen/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAndersHansen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theandershansen/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn how Cardiff has become America's favorite small business lender by leveraging technology to deliver quick approvals and funding for entrepreneurs in need.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Dean Lyulkin, Co-CEO of Cardiff, who shares the journey of Cardiff from its humble beginnings to becoming one of America’s most prominent small business lenders. He discusses the challenges and opportunities small business owners face when securing financing and how Cardiff’s use of technology and digital marketing has enabled them to offer quick, easy access to capital. Dean also explains how Cardiff differentiates itself by providing both working capital and equipment financing solutions tailored to the unique needs of small businesses.   Key Takeaways: → The main mistake small business owners make is relying on outdated advice and not understanding that banks no longer serve their needs. → Small businesses should be cautious of unsolicited offers via text messages, as they are often red flags indicating a scam. → Despite the challenges posed by the 2008 financial crisis, Cardiff found success by focusing on small business needs and staying agile. → Small businesses often turn to banks for financing, but the banking industry’s exit from small business lending created a void that Cardiff has filled. → Cardiff’s goal is to provide funding decisions within minutes and deliver the money the same day to help small businesses solve immediate problems.   Dean Lyulkin is the Co-CEO of Cardiff and a recognized leader in alternative finance and investment strategy, known for delivering rapid, reliable capital to small businesses underserved by traditional banks. With a background in lending strategy, nearly a decade of experience at Fisher Investments, and a sharp understanding of macroeconomic forces, Dean plays a central role in shaping Cardiff’s growth, innovation, and human-first approach to funding. He is a trusted voice on the impact of economic policy, interest rates, and financial markets on small businesses, and investing, frequently offering commentary and insights. Dean is also the creator of The Dean’s List, a registered investment advisor, educational platform, and community that aims to bring transparency, clarity, and community to the investing world empowering high net worth individuals to make confident, informed investment decisions by cutting through industry complexity and elevating the next generation of investors. By combining operational expertise with a personal commitment to equity and access, Dean has helped lead Cardiff deploy over $10 billion in funding, empowering thousands of business owners across industries like healthcare, construction, logistics, and retail. Connect With Dean: Website: https://www.thedeanslist.co/https://www.thedeanslist.co/ https://cardiff.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jointhedeanslist/ X: https://twitter.com/DeanLyulkin LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-lyulkin-167b41 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deanlyulkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover how to accelerate your startup’s growth, without all the typical corporate roadblocks, by focusing on strategy and execution.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Andy Culligan, Fractional CMO, CRO, and Marketing Advisor, who shares insights on scaling SaaS startups smarter and faster. He reveals the importance of strong execution and alignment between marketing and sales, offering real-world examples from his own experience helping companies overcome growth challenges. Andy emphasizes the power of being agile and staying ahead in a competitive market by building the right team and using AI to streamline processes.   Key Takeaways: → Successful marketing for SaaS requires a focus on both volume and high-ticket clients, depending on your product offering. → Marketing teams often face roadblocks, and it’s critical to provide them with the tools and processes to stay on track and reach goals. → Many SaaS companies struggle with hiring skilled professionals quickly — Andy’s team helps plug that gap with experienced marketers. → The typical challenge for SaaS startups is executing their go-to-market strategy, and Andy’s team helps implement plans that drive immediate results. → Andy’s company, Purple Path, focuses on delivering scalable marketing solutions by combining experienced strategy with agile execution.   As a Fractional CMO, CRO, and Marketing Advisor, Andy Culligan helps your sales and marketing teams focus on commercial success. His approach is a pure account-based marketing play. Providing your organization with a bullshit-free approach to Account Based Marketing (ABM), motivating and exciting your teams and delivering better outcomes, i.e. revenue.   Connect With Andy: Website: https://andyculligan.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-culligan/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you sitting on a mountain of credit card points but not sure how to turn them into luxury travel? In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Julia Menez, founder of Geobreeze Travel, who helps people unlock the full potential of their credit card points and turn them into amazing travel experiences. In this episode, Julia reveals the common mistakes people make with their points, how to maximize their value, and the secret to securing luxury vacations. Whether you're a business owner or frequent traveler, Julia offers practical strategies to help you travel smarter and stretch your points further. Key Takeaways: → Many people waste their credit card points without understanding their true value. → Credit card companies and airlines often make it easy to spend points in ways that don't maximize their potential. → Transferring points between credit card partners and airline partners can unlock much better value. → Understanding the difference between points from different cards is key to maximizing rewards. → Learning how to pair the right credit cards with business and personal expenses increases your points earning potential. Julia Menez is the founder of Geobreeze Travel, a business born out of her passion for points and miles. A first-generation Filipina, ENTJ, and Las Vegas resident, Julia spent nine years as a pricing actuary, where she used mathematical modeling to assess the financial risks and uncertainties in the insurance sector. What started as a passion project to access business credit cards and bring fellow points and miles enthusiasts together during the isolation of the pandemic has since blossomed into a growing platform. Through Geobreeze Travel, Julia offers expert strategies on Instagram and YouTube, and helps clients maximize their travel rewards. Her interactive community continues to expand, reflecting her dedication to teaching others how to make the most of their travel opportunities using points and miles. Connect With Julia Menez: Website: https://geobreezetravel.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/geobreezetravel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you could move to a new house, keep your current one, and still unlock the equity in it?   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Kyle Kamrooz, CEO and Founder of Bonus Homes, who is revolutionizing the way homeowners can access their equity without having to sell. In this episode, Kyle shares how his company helps homeowners unlock the equity in their properties while turning them into passive investments. This new model, called a Home Appreciation Partnership, allows homeowners to benefit from their home's future appreciation without the typical headaches of selling.   Key Takeaways: → Bonus Homes provides an alternative to selling your home. → Homeowners can unlock equity without the stress of moving or listing the property. → The Home Appreciation Partnership allows homeowners to retain ownership of their home. → Bonus Homes manages the property as a rental, handling all maintenance and tenant management. → Homeowners can still buy a new property while keeping their current home as a passive investment.   Kyle Kamrooz is the founder and CEO of Bonus Homes, a groundbreaking platform redefining how Americans build generational wealth through homeownership. Before founding Bonus Homes, Kyle spent nearly two decades in the real estate ecosystem. By age 25, Kyle had already built one of California's largest direct-to-consumer mortgage lending companies. By 27, he had built a 50-state national lender that processed over $7 billion in loans annually and employed more than 800 people across all 50 states.   Connect With Kyle: Website: https://www.bonushomes.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonus.homes/X: https://x.com/bonushomesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonushomesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bonushomes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices