Real Business Owners

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comLosing everything can either end your entrepreneurial journey or force you to build something better.In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Rick Trimmer sits down with entrepreneur Tom Driscoll, who went from nearly losing his home and business during the recession to building an eight-figure commercial playground installation company.Tom shares the setbacks, financial mistakes, leadership lessons, and critical business decisions that shaped his journey. Together, they discuss surviving economic downturns, managing cash flow, rebuilding after failure, retaining quality employees, and recognizing when it's time to change the way you operate.The conversation also dives into the importance of personal development, surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs, and being willing to put new ideas into action. Because rebuilding a business isn't just about recovering what you lost—it's about learning from the mistakes that got you there and becoming a better leader along the way.Key Takeaways:- How to rebuild a business after losing nearly everything- Why cash reserves and financial discipline matter when the economy turns- The leadership mistakes that can cost you your best employees- Why personal development is essential to becoming a better business owner- How relationships with other entrepreneurs can create unexpected opportunities- Why taking action matters more than endlessly consuming informationSometimes the biggest turning points in business come from the moments that force you to start over.

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comBuilding a successful business doesn't mean much if you don't know how to manage the money, build the right team, or create something that can operate without you.In this episode of **The Real Business Owners Podcast**, Rick Trimmer sits down with entrepreneur and business consultant Doug Mitchell to discuss building businesses from the ground up, developing scalable systems, recruiting quality employees, and using AI to create more efficient operations.Doug shares how he built a sales company that generated $35 million over 13 years, transitioned into consulting, and eventually launched a new business focused on solving one of the biggest challenges business owners face: finding good people.But the conversation goes beyond business growth. Doug opens up about the financial mistakes that cost him millions in potential wealth, why generating revenue doesn't automatically mean you're building personal wealth, and what he learned from years of having his priorities out of order.**In This Episode, You'll Learn:**- How to build systems and leadership teams that allow a business to scale beyond the owner- Why recruiting quality employees is one of the biggest challenges facing business owners- How AI can improve recruiting, operations, and employee productivity- How to structure consulting agreements around business growth and performance- Why generating millions in revenue doesn't mean you're building wealth- The financial mistakes that can keep successful entrepreneurs broke- How losing everything can change your perspective on business, money, and familyBuilding a business that generates revenue is one thing. Building one that creates lasting wealth, gives you freedom, and allows you to prioritize what matters most is a completely different challenge.

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comStarting a business is one thing. Building one that actually makes money, survives hard times, and eventually runs without you is a completely different game.In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Rick Trimmer answers real questions from entrepreneurs about hiring, sales, managing finances, and the critical decisions that determine whether a business succeeds or fails.Drawing from his own experiences of losing everything during the recession and rebuilding his companies, Rick shares the lessons he's learned about overcoming setbacks, making smarter business decisions, and creating long-term financial freedom.From knowing when to hire your first employee to understanding when it's time to walk away from a failing idea, this episode gets into the practical side of entrepreneurship that every business owner needs to understand.In This Episode, You'll Learn:The biggest mistakes new business owners makeWhen to hire your first employee and start building a teamWhy sales should be your number one priorityHow to pay yourself without sacrificing business growthThe financial numbers every business owner needs to trackWhen to keep pushing and when to walk away from a failing ideaHow to grow a business with limited capitalWhy finding the right mentor can save you years of mistakesBuilding a successful business takes more than hard work. It takes smart decisions, financial discipline, and the ability to adapt when things don't go according to plan.

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comMost people don't fail because they lack ability. They fail because they aren't willing to do what success requires.In this solo episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Trevor Cowley breaks down why so many people fall short of their potential, challenging the victim mentality and exposing the excuses that keep people stuck. He explains why one of the hardest parts of building a successful business isn't solving the problems around you—it's confronting the person responsible for them.From tolerating poor employee performance to abandoning personal commitments when things get uncomfortable, the problems you complain about may be the very problems you're allowing to continue.If you want better results, you need to stop negotiating with yourself, raise your standards, and prove your commitment through action.In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why your business problems often reflect your own leadership and standardsHow to recognize when you're making excuses to avoid discomfortWhy discipline is built when things get hard, not when things are easyHow facing discomfort builds resilience and changes your identityWhy tracking streaks creates undeniable evidence of consistencyHow to stop playing the victim and take responsibility for your resultsWhy your daily decisions must align with the goals you claim to wantStop complaining about the results you're getting and start taking responsibility for the decisions that create them.

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comPersonal growth starts when you're willing to confront the parts of yourself you'd rather hide.In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Rick Trimmer sits down with Ryan Michler for a raw conversation about personal failure, accountability, leadership, and what it actually takes to become a better man.Ryan opens up about the struggles that forced him to reevaluate his life, including alcohol abuse and divorce, and explains why being honest about your failures can have a greater impact than pretending you have everything figured out. Together, they discuss showing grace without abandoning accountability, learning from other people's mistakes, and building the kind of character that holds up when life gets difficult.The conversation also explores consistency, financial discipline, identity beyond business, and why real growth often comes from surrounding yourself with the right people and taking action instead of endlessly consuming information.In This Episode, They Cover:Why sharing your failures can help others more than presenting a perfect imageHow humility changes the way you lead, coach, and handle conflictThe balance between showing grace and holding people accountableWhy consistency and the boring basics produce lasting resultsHow lifestyle inflation and spending to impress others can hold you backWhy your identity should be built around your values, not just your job titleHow live events, meaningful friendships, and the right community can change your lifeWhy listening to advice isn't enough if you're unwilling to take actionReal growth requires more than knowing what to do. It requires the humility to admit where you're falling short and the discipline to do something about it.

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comWhat happens when the excitement of entrepreneurship wears off and all that's left is the grind?In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Trevor Cowley, Rick Trimmer, and AJ Cappuccitti get into what it actually takes to move a business forward when things get difficult.AJ came to Utah from Canada to surround himself with people further ahead, and the conversation quickly expands into a deeper discussion about entrepreneurship, loneliness, scaling, team building, and the importance of changing your environment when you've outgrown it.They break down:Why getting around people ahead of you can completely change your perspectiveWhat to do when business starts feeling like an uphill battleHow successful entrepreneurs can become the go-to person for everyone else's problemsThe difference between being lonely because you're starting out and being selective because you've grownHow to scale a remodeling business without letting overhead crush youWhy you might be playing in the wrong "field" without realizing itHow to build a company that can operate without the ownerCreating a clear path for employees to earn more responsibility, profit sharing, and equityWhy finding good people isn't the hardest part of building a teamKnowing when to stop consuming information and start putting what you've learned into actionThe bigger takeaway: You don't need to know everyone. You need to become the kind of person worth knowing.

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comWhat would you do if you had to start over tomorrow?In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Rick Trimmer answers questions submitted directly by business owners in the Real Business Owners community. He covers everything from getting started in real estate and finding the right business to buy, to rebuilding after losing everything, understanding the numbers that actually matter, choosing business partners, and the advice he would give his 25-year-old self.Rick gets into the practical decisions behind building wealth, recovering from failure, and creating businesses that give you more freedom. He also shares lessons from his own mistakes in real estate, partnerships, and business—and why ultimately, nobody is coming to save you.In This Episode:How to get started in real estate and AirbnbWhat to look for when buying your first rental propertyHow to find the right business when you don't know what to pursueWhy you don't need to be passionate about your business to build wealthWhat Rick would do if he lost everything tomorrowHow cutting expenses and increasing income can accelerate a comebackHow much luck actually matters in businessThe three numbers every business owner should knowThe biggest mistakes Rick has made in real estateHow to identify the right business partnerWhy Rick uses a "dating period" before entering partnershipsThe advice Rick would give his 25-year-old selfWhy taking responsibility for your situation is the first step toward changing it

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comIn this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Rick Trimmer sits down with Trevor Farnes to talk about what happens when everything falls apart—and what it takes to rebuild from nothing.Trevor shares the story of losing nearly everything during the 2008 crash, starting over, building Mountain Ops from the ground up, eventually selling part of the company, and learning when to step away from something he had spent years building.The conversation goes beyond business, diving into failure, faith, marriage, mentorship, delegation, and the responsibility that comes with finding success after going through hard times. Trevor explains how some of his biggest lessons came from the moments when he had the least control and why rebuilding isn't just about creating another successful business—it's about becoming the person capable of sustaining it.Key Takeaways:What losing nearly everything in 2008 taught Trevor about resilienceHow to keep moving when the original plan completely falls apartWhy the people around you can make or break your ability to rebuildHow to build a company around a mission instead of just a productKnowing when it's time to give up control and hand over the reinsWhy delegation is necessary if you actually want freedomHow personal hardship can become an opportunity to serve othersThe role faith, family, and mentorship played throughout Trevor's journeyWhat rebuilding from failure can teach you about business, leadership, and life

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comMost people want the result, but they don't want to live the process required to earn it.In this episode, Trevor Cowley breaks down what it actually means to get lost in the process, why focusing too heavily on the end goal can become a distraction, and how comfort and complacency can quietly pull you away from the life you're trying to build.Using examples from elite athletes and his own experiences, Trevor explains why the people who consistently perform at the highest level are obsessed with honoring the day, keeping their commitments, and constantly putting new challenges in front of themselves.The goal isn't to become obsessed with the finish line. It's to become obsessed with doing what the day requires.Key TakeawaysWhy wanting a result means nothing if your daily actions don't align with it.The difference between chasing an outcome and becoming obsessed with the process.Why every day has a scoreboard—you either made the deposit or you didn't.How comfort and complacency can destroy momentum after you've already achieved success.Why elite results require eliminating distractions and unnecessary options.How to stop negotiating with yourself when things get difficult.Why constantly setting new challenges can keep you from falling back into old habits.The importance of surrendering to whatever the process requires.Why your behaviors today—not your intentions—ultimately determine what your life looks like.

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comMost entrepreneurs think growth means starting something new. Sometimes, the fastest way to grow is to buy what's already working.In this solo episode, Rick Trimmer breaks down the 19 businesses he has started, bought, acquired, merged, or invested in throughout his career—and the lessons each one taught him about building wealth, scaling companies, and finding new opportunities.From starting his first service business at 25 to building a portfolio of companies operated by multiple CEOs, Rick explains why he increasingly turned to acquisitions to gain customers, equipment, inventory, capabilities, and—most importantly—great people.Rick also shares what he learned from losing everything at 31, why business owners choose to sell, how acquisitions can create win-win outcomes for buyers and sellers, and the importance of structuring partnerships correctly from the beginning. If you're interested in acquiring businesses or building a portfolio that doesn't require you to run every operation yourself, this episode is packed with lessons worth paying attention to.In This Episode You'll Learn:Why buying an existing business can be smarter than starting from scratch.The lessons Rick learned from losing everything at 31.How acquisitions can help you enter new markets and accelerate growth.Why the people you acquire can be more valuable than the business itself.How to identify struggling businesses that could become growth opportunities.Why business owners may sell because they want support—not because they want to walk away.The importance of clearly defined agreements when entering partnerships.How to structure businesses so you aren't trapped running the day-to-day operations.Why due diligence and accurate valuation can make or break an acquisition.How to build a portfolio of businesses without becoming the bottleneck in every company.