Success is rarely a straight line—it’s more like a bowl of spaghetti! In this episode of The Real Bottom Line, I chat with Jackie Dinsmore, a lawyer-turned-serial entrepreneur and investor, about her unconventional journey. Jackie shares how she built two successful businesses, navigated high-stakes exits, and disrupted the legal industry with her innovative approach at Caravel Law.

We dive into the highs, the challenges, and the lessons learned, covering everything from cash flow struggles in retail to the art of negotiating business sales. Plus, Jackie offers invaluable advice for entrepreneurs on staying resilient, surrounding yourself with the right team, and knowing when to pivot or push through.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to grow, sell, or reinvent a business, this episode is packed with actionable insights and candid stories you won’t want to miss!

Topics Covered:

• Jackie’s entrepreneurial journey from handbags to kids’ apparel
• The challenges of retail cash flow and inventory management
• Lessons from selling businesses and working with buyers
• Disrupting the legal industry with Caravel Law
• Practical advice for entrepreneurs on navigating the messy path to success

Subscribe for more insights from entrepreneurs who’ve been there, done that, and are ready to share the real bottom line!

📌 Links Mentioned:

• Connect with Jackie Dinsmore: Caravel Law Website

Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and hitting revenue plateaus. In just 60 minutes a day, over the course of 5 days, we will provide you with the blueprint to go from bottleneck to breakthrough by reframing your relationship with time. This challenge will help you break through revenue plateaus, spend more time in your zone of genius, and build a more valuable business – even if you feel like you've tried everything and are time-starved.

Join the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge. Here's what you'll learn each day:

Day 1: Design Your Ideal Day

• Explore what your ideal day looks like as an entrepreneur and how to allocate your time based on entrepreneurial time rules

Day 2: Unlock Your Genius

• Shed tasks outside your zone of genius and focus on activities that energize and fulfill you

Day 3: Master Letting Go

• Analyze tasks and activities, determine their fit in your zone of genius, and understand the cost of holding onto them

Day 4: Leverage Your Time Blueprint

• Build a step-by-step process to shed undesired or time-consuming activities, explore delegation in a new way, and escape business jail

Day 5: Build Momentum

• Learn how to execute your ideal day by chunking down activities, overcoming forces of perfection, procrastination, fear, and ego, and amplifying growth drivers for your business.

Register at https://bottlenecktobreakthrough.com/

In this episode of The Real Bottom Line, I sit down with Talmar Anderson, founder of Boss HQ, to discuss one of the most crucial aspects of scaling any business—building the right team. Talmar shares her journey from being the "number two" in law firms to becoming a successful entrepreneur, and she breaks down the key difference between your Dream Team and your Freedom Team.

We dive into the mindset shifts business owners need to make, how to stop hiring for potential, and why building a team that works without you is essential for growing—and selling—your business. If you're an entrepreneur looking to step into the CEO role and create a business that runs smoothly without being dependent on you, this episode is for you.

Key Topics:

• Talmar’s personal journey from employee to entrepreneur
• The difference between the Dream Team and the Freedom Team
• Why hiring for potential can hold your business back
• How to build trust and delegate effectively as a boss
• The importance of creating a business that doesn’t rely on you

Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and hitting revenue plateaus. In just 60 minutes a day, over the course of 5 days, we will provide you with the blueprint to go from bottleneck to breakthrough by reframing your relationship with time. This challenge will help you break through revenue plateaus, spend more time in your zone of genius, and build a more valuable business – even if you feel like you've tried everything and are time-starved.

Join the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge. Here's what you'll learn each day:

Day 1: Design Your Ideal Day

• Explore what your ideal day looks like as an entrepreneur and how to allocate your time based on entrepreneurial time rules

Day 2: Unlock Your Genius

• Shed tasks outside your zone of genius and focus on activities that energize and fulfill you

Day 3: Master Letting Go

• Analyze tasks and activities, determine their fit in your zone of genius, and understand the cost of holding onto them

Day 4: Leverage Your Time Blueprint

• Build a step-by-step process to shed undesired or time-consuming activities, explore delegation in a new way, and escape business jail

Day 5: Build Momentum

• Learn how to execute your ideal day by chunking down activities, overcoming forces of perfection, procrastination, fear, and ego, and amplifying growth drivers for your business.

Register at https://bottlenecktobreakthrough.com/

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Real Bottom Line, I sit down with Julie Ellis, co-founder of Mabel’s Labels, to discuss her incredible journey from corporate life to building an eight-figure business and ultimately selling it. Julie shares candid insights into the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship, the importance of speed in a competitive market, and the emotional complexity of selling a business.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Transition from Corporate to Entrepreneurship
   • Julie’s shift from the corporate world to co-founding Mabel’s Labels.
   • How motherhood sparked the idea for the business.
   • The early days of Mabel’s Labels and how the four co-founders divided responsibilities.
2. Navigating Partnerships
   • The dynamics of working with multiple co-founders.
   • Importance of clear roles, communication, and having a shareholders agreement in place.
   • The informal yet structured approach to decision-making that kept them moving forward.
3. First to Market and the Need for Speed
   • How being the first children’s label brand in North America drove the need for speed and innovation.
   • Challenges of staying ahead of competitors and the fear of being overtaken by larger companies.
4. Corporate Lessons Applied to Entrepreneurship
   • What Julie learned from her corporate experience that benefited Mabel’s Labels.
   • The balance between process and agility in a growing business.
5. The Emotional and Practical Aspects of Selling a Business
   • The unsolicited offer to buy Mabel’s Labels and the decision-making process that followed.
   • The intense due diligence process and the importance of being well-prepared.
   • Julie’s personal journey post-sale and why she decided to leave the company shortly after.
6. Life After Mabel’s Labels
   • Julie’s transition to coaching and consulting after leaving Mabel’s Labels.
   • Her focus on helping leaders at inflection points in their careers and businesses.
   • The importance of intentionality and strategic decision-making in business and life.

Top Takeaways:

1. Clear Roles and Communication - Establish clear roles and maintain open communication to navigate the complexities of partnerships.
2. Move Quickly, Stay Ahead - Innovate and push forward to maintain a competitive edge, especially when you're first to market.
3. Prepare for the Emotional Impact of Selling - Selling a business is both a financial and emotional journey; be prepared for the challenges of both.

How to Connect with Julie Ellis:

• Visit Julie’s website: https://www.julieellis.ca/
• Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-ellis/

Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and hitting revenue plateaus. In just 60 minutes a day, over the course of 5 days, we will provide you with the blueprint to go from bottleneck to breakthrough by reframing your relationship with time. This challenge will help you break through revenue plateaus, spend more time in your zone of genius, and build a more valuable business – even if you feel like you've tried everything and are time-starved.

Join the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge. Here's what you'll learn each day:

Day 1: Design Your Ideal Day

• Explore what your ideal day looks like as an entrepreneur and how to allocate your time based on entrepreneurial time rules

Day 2: Unlock Your Genius

• Shed tasks outside your zone of genius and focus on activities that energize and fulfill you

Day 3: Master Letting Go

• Analyze tasks and activities, determine their fit in your zone of genius, and understand the cost of holding onto them

Day 4: Leverage Your Time Blueprint

• Build a step-by-step process to shed undesired or time-consuming activities, explore delegation in a new way, and escape business jail

Day 5: Build Momentum

• Learn how to execute your ideal day by chunking down activities, overcoming forces of perfection, procrastination, fear, and ego, and amplifying growth drivers for your business.

Register at https://bottlenecktobreakthrough.com/

Insights from Selling a 35-Year Business: A Conversation with Donna Alteen

In this episode of 'The Real Bottom Line,' host Wendy welcomes her guest Donna Alteen, a seasoned entrepreneur who shares her extensive experience in running and eventually selling her business after 35 years. Donna emphasizes the importance of early planning, setting up a leadership team, and engaging financial advisors and other professionals well in advance of the sale. She candidly discusses the emotional and procedural aspects of the transition, including the due diligence process and maintaining company culture post-sale. The episode provides valuable insights for entrepreneurs contemplating the sale of their own businesses.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:14 Starting to Think About Selling

02:13 Preparing the Business for Sale

04:13 Engaging the Leadership Team

06:31 Finding the Right Buyer

14:43 Due Diligence Process

18:40 Post-Sale Reflections and Advice

33:29 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Find Donna on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-alteen-icd-d-6209483/

Websites

• timespacemedia.com (Company)
• facebook.com/TimeSpaceMediaLtd (Time + Space Media Facebook)

Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and hitting revenue plateaus. In just 60 minutes a day, over the course of 5 days, we will provide you with the blueprint to go from bottleneck to breakthrough by reframing your relationship with time. This challenge will help you break through revenue plateaus, spend more time in your zone of genius, and build a more valuable business – even if you feel like you've tried everything and are time-starved.

Join the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge. Here's what you'll learn each day:

Day 1: Design Your Ideal Day

• Explore what your ideal day looks like as an entrepreneur and how to allocate your time based on entrepreneurial time rules

Day 2: Unlock Your Genius

• Shed tasks outside your zone of genius and focus on activities that energize and fulfill you

Day 3: Master Letting Go

• Analyze tasks and activities, determine their fit in your zone of genius, and understand the cost of holding onto them

Day 4: Leverage Your Time Blueprint

• Build a step-by-step process to shed undesired or time-consuming activities, explore delegation in a new way, and escape business jail

Day 5: Build Momentum

• Learn how to execute your ideal day by chunking down activities, overcoming forces of perfection, procrastination, fear, and ego, and amplifying growth drivers for your business.

Register at https://bottlenecktobreakthrough.com/

John Keel's Entrepreneurial Journey and Mastering LinkedIn

In this episode of The Real Bottom Line, host Wendy interviews John Keel about his diverse entrepreneurial journey and the valuable lessons he has learned along the way. At 77, John shares his experiences from his three vastly different careers, including the launch and sale of a successful water treatment business. He discusses his transition into the internet business and becoming a pioneer in online marketing before turning his expertise to LinkedIn. John delves into the importance of a well-structured LinkedIn profile, consistent engagement, and the significance of relationship-building over selling. He offers practical tips for small business owners and entrepreneurs to leverage LinkedIn effectively, highlighting the need for patience, consistency, and providing value.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:18 John Keel's Entrepreneurial Journey

02:03 Transition to Online Marketing

03:20 Building a Successful Online Business

04:14 Impact of the Pandemic and Pivot to LinkedIn

05:07 Deep Dive into LinkedIn Strategies

09:54 Personal Reflections and Lessons Learned

17:18 Optimizing LinkedIn Profiles

20:43 Effective LinkedIn Engagement

24:09 Consistency and ROI on LinkedIn

31:04 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and hitting revenue plateaus. In just 60 minutes a day, over the course of 5 days, we will provide you with the blueprint to go from bottleneck to breakthrough by reframing your relationship with time. This challenge will help you break through revenue plateaus, spend more time in your zone of genius, and build a more valuable business – even if you feel like you've tried everything and are time-starved.

Join the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge. Here's what you'll learn each day:

Day 1: Design Your Ideal Day

• Explore what your ideal day looks like as an entrepreneur and how to allocate your time based on entrepreneurial time rules

Day 2: Unlock Your Genius

• Shed tasks outside your zone of genius and focus on activities that energize and fulfill you

Day 3: Master Letting Go

• Analyze tasks and activities, determine their fit in your zone of genius, and understand the cost of holding onto them

Day 4: Leverage Your Time Blueprint

• Build a step-by-step process to shed undesired or time-consuming activities, explore delegation in a new way, and escape business jail

Day 5: Build Momentum

• Learn how to execute your ideal day by chunking down activities, overcoming forces of perfection, procrastination, fear, and ego, and amplifying growth drivers for your business.

Register at https://bottlenecktobreakthrough.com/

In this episode of The Real Bottom Line, Wendy Brookhouse sits down with Darryl Cresswell, a cybersecurity expert and founder of MyDWare. They discuss the critical issues of data privacy and cybersecurity in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Darryl shares valuable insights into why small and medium-sized businesses are targets for cybercriminals, the misconceptions about AI and data security, and practical steps business owners can take to protect their sensitive information. Tune in to learn about the importance of hardware, software, and continuous monitoring in safeguarding your business.

Key Takeaways:

• Misconceptions about the vulnerability of small businesses to cyber-attacks.
• The role of hardware and software in data protection.
• The risks of using public AI models for sensitive business data.
• Practical advice on choosing secure AI tools.
• The importance of having a company-wide cybersecurity policy.

Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and hitting revenue plateaus. In just 60 minutes a day, over the course of 5 days, we will provide you with the blueprint to go from bottleneck to breakthrough by reframing your relationship with time. This challenge will help you break through revenue plateaus, spend more time in your zone of genius, and build a more valuable business – even if you feel like you've tried everything and are time-starved.

Join the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge. Here's what you'll learn each day:

Day 1: Design Your Ideal Day

• Explore what your ideal day looks like as an entrepreneur and how to allocate your time based on entrepreneurial time rules

Day 2: Unlock Your Genius

• Shed tasks outside your zone of genius and focus on activities that energize and fulfill you

Day 3: Master Letting Go

• Analyze tasks and activities, determine their fit in your zone of genius, and understand the cost of holding onto them

Day 4: Leverage Your Time Blueprint

• Build a step-by-step process to shed undesired or time-consuming activities, explore delegation in a new way, and escape business jail

Day 5: Build Momentum

• Learn how to execute your ideal day by chunking down activities, overcoming forces of perfection, procrastination, fear, and ego, and amplifying growth drivers for your business.

Register at https://bottlenecktobreakthrough.com/

In this episode of The Real Bottom Line, I chat with Alexis, the founder of Dovetail Summit and Two Roads Team Building. We dive into her journey from a babysitting empire inspired by The Babysitters Club to becoming a teacher, consultant, and ultimately a multi-entrepreneur. We explore how personal experiences and life events shaped her path, the importance of building community, and why psychological safety is crucial for team success. Plus, we discuss the challenges and rewards of working with a spouse in business and the importance of answering the call of our lives. Join us for an insightful conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and finding purpose beyond the numbers.

Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and hitting revenue plateaus. In just 60 minutes a day, over the course of 5 days, we will provide you with the blueprint to go from bottleneck to breakthrough by reframing your relationship with time. This challenge will help you break through revenue plateaus, spend more time in your zone of genius, and build a more valuable business – even if you feel like you've tried everything and are time-starved.

Join the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge. Here's what you'll learn each day:

Day 1: Design Your Ideal Day

• Explore what your ideal day looks like as an entrepreneur and how to allocate your time based on entrepreneurial time rules

Day 2: Unlock Your Genius

• Shed tasks outside your zone of genius and focus on activities that energize and fulfill you

Day 3: Master Letting Go

• Analyze tasks and activities, determine their fit in your zone of genius, and understand the cost of holding onto them

Day 4: Leverage Your Time Blueprint

• Build a step-by-step process to shed undesired or time-consuming activities, explore delegation in a new way, and escape business jail

Day 5: Build Momentum

• Learn how to execute your ideal day by chunking down activities, overcoming forces of perfection, procrastination, fear, and ego, and amplifying growth drivers for your business.

Register at https://bottlenecktobreakthrough.com/