In this episode of Above the Business, Bradley shares a powerful lesson on “leaning in” to challenges, drawing from an experience of his first ski trip. Just as he had to learn to lean into the slopes, entrepreneurs are often faced with moments when their first instinct is to pull back from financial, team, or operational challenges. Bradley emphasizes the importance of confronting these issues directly and introduces practical ways to "lean in" instead of avoiding problems that only grow if left unattended. This episode offers valuable insights for business owners on how to build resilience, make thoughtful decisions, and seek support when needed.

Listen in to discover strategies for tackling tough situations head-on and learn about the mindset shifts that can help you lead your business with confidence.

Thanks to our sponsors...

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Download the FREE Rainmaker to Architect Starter Kit at https://start.blueprintos.com!

Autopilot Recruiting is a continuous recruiting service where you’ll be assigned a recruiter that has been trained to recruit on your behalf every business day. Go to www.autopilotrecruiting.com to get started.

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

TodayApp is a corporate approved app that allows you to build custom activities and track all your commissions and bonus structures, and integrates perfectly with your CRM. It can even manage your employees’ time, track production, have a leaderboard with metrics, and more. Contact Today App and for a custom demo and let them know you heard about them on The Above The Business Podcast. https://todayapppro.com/

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered.Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Don’t forget to visit club.capital and mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast!

Will your business be exit-ready when you're ready to exit, with numbers that work for you?

Today on the podcast, Darryl Bates-Brownsword helps business owners answer this critical question, emphasizing the importance of transitioning on your terms. In this insightful episode, Darryl shares the keys to preparing for a business exit that aligns with your financial goals and lifestyle aspirations.

As a leading expert at Succession Plus, Darryl offers strategic guidance through the complexities of succession and exit planning. His mission? To ensure you and your business are set up for a smooth, successful transition—whether you're planning to sell, pass the business to the next generation, or take on a new role in a different capacity.

Extracting maximum value from your business doesn't have to mean being tied to an 'earn-out' period. Darryl specializes in working with businesses generating between £2m and £50m in revenue. His focus is on helping owners, within 3-5 years of exit, plan for a future that rewards their years of dedication.

Darryl introduces the 21 Steps methodology, a comprehensive roadmap to ensure you're ahead of the game when planning your exit. This proven system enhances business value, giving owners more time and financial flexibility to focus on what truly matters during and after the transition.

For more expert insights on preparing for a business exit, listen to the full episode of the Exit Insights podcast with Darryl Bates-Brownsword.

Looking to shape your exit strategy on your terms? Contact Darryl via LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrylbates-brownsword/) or email him directly at dbatesbrownsword@successionplus.co.uk.

Thanks to our sponsors...

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Download the FREE Rainmaker to Architect Starter Kit at https://start.blueprintos.com!

Autopilot Recruiting is a continuous recruiting service where you’ll be assigned a recruiter that has been trained to recruit on your behalf every business day. Go to www.autopilotrecruiting.com to get started.

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

TodayApp is a corporate approved app that allows you to build custom activities and track all your commissions and bonus structures, and integrates perfectly with your CRM. It can even manage your employees’ time, track production, have a leaderboard with metrics, and more. Contact Today App and for a custom demo and let them know you heard about them on The Above The Business Podcast. https://todayapppro.com/

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital...

In this Thinking Time episode, Bradley dives into the rare talents of baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani and draws a parallel to the world of business recruiting. Shohei’s incredible achievement of entering the exclusive "50-50 Club"—with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases—serves as a metaphor for finding the elusive "unicorn" employee: someone who excels in both sales and customer service.

Bradley breaks down the key areas of business growth using his AAR framework: acquisition, ascension, and retention. He emphasizes the importance of recruiting specialists for each area—such as a "stone-cold killer" salesperson for acquisition and a detailed, customer-focused account manager for retention—rather than trying to find one person who can do it all. He explains why trying to recruit an all-in-one talent, like Ohtani, is as rare as finding a unicorn, and instead advises focusing on building a team with the right personalities for each role.

Tune in for actionable insights on how to approach recruiting, retain customers, and scale your business effectively.

Thanks to our sponsors...

BlueprintOS equips business owners to design and install an operating system that runs like clockwork. Through BlueprintOS, you will grow and develop your leadership, clarify your culture and business game plan, align your operations with your KPIs, develop a team of A-Players, and execute your playbooks. Download the FREE Rainmaker to Architect Starter Kit at https://start.blueprintos.com!

Autopilot Recruiting is a continuous recruiting service where you’ll be assigned a recruiter that has been trained to recruit on your behalf every business day. Go to www.autopilotrecruiting.com to get started.

Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.

TodayApp is a corporate approved app that allows you to build custom activities and track all your commissions and bonus structures, and integrates perfectly with your CRM. It can even manage your employees’ time, track production, have a leaderboard with metrics, and more. Contact Today App and for a custom demo and let them know you heard about them on The Above The Business Podcast. https://todayapppro.com/

Club Capital is the ultimate partner for financial management and marketing services, designed specifically for insurance agencies, fitness franchises, and youth soccer organizations. As the nation's largest accounting and financial advisory firm for insurance agencies, Club Capital proudly serves over 1,000 agency locations across the country—and we’re just getting started. With Club Capital, you get more than just services; you get a dedicated account manager backed by a team of specialists committed to your success. From monthly accounting and tax preparation to CFO services and innovative digital marketing, we’ve got you covered.Ready to experience the transformative power of Club Capital? Schedule your free demo today at club.capital and see the difference firsthand. Don’t forget to visit club.capital and mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast!