ISI Brotherhood Podcast

"Being a guest on other people's shows–it just builds this great relationship with members of our community that then go and inspire." Listen in to some of the stop strategies for podcasting with our esteemed co-host, Alex Sanfilippo, founder of PodMatch.com and 2023 People's Choice Podcast Award for Podcasting Influencer of the Year.  Alex's insider knowledge unwraps the...

"If you're a solopreneur, and you're experiencing burnout, you are going to make a mistake–and it's going to cost you dearly." Are you thinking of selling your business? Should you? Where do you start, what happens if you do? All these questions and more are answered on today's episode.  How does the sale of your business help you accomplish your longterm vision? This...

"I’ve watched people my entire career pimp Christ for dollars, and you guys are the REAL deal.” Over $600 a month seems like a lot for a mastermind... doesn't it? WHY a brotherhood? WHY a Live Event every year? Why do guys spend money monthly to basically pay for friends, mentors, and trusted advisors?  In this episode we're doing things a little different. We're taking a journ...

"[The stepmom] deserves to be a parent to my children, just as I deserve to be a parent to her children, as long as we've got their best interest at heart.” We put mystery stepfather, Bobby, under the forge today to talk about how he came back from total devastation 3 years ago. Both Wally and Big A really get at the deepest levels of why he and his wife divorced and how he determined to...

"How do we lead if we have a wife that doesn't want to be led?” We might assume we know a lot about women, but actually we really DON'T know a lot about women.  Marriage is often filled with mystery–how much should we lead, are we supposed to "be in charge," how do we solve difficult issues?  As we peel back the layers of the husband's burden of leadership, Quentin Ha...

“I don’t want you guys chasing shiny objects.” Life is hard. Difficult circumstances come and go, we face hard decisions, we encounter business woes, marital friction, the battle against complacency, and so much more. What does it take to truly be resilient to the constant stress of this world?  Between Wally's decision to sell his multi-million dollar business and Big A's wake up call t...

"We have tremendous opportunity in the marketplace, but only if we can stay there." How do you manage your margins instead of waiting until the end of the year to go, "Oh, great, we did pretty good!" Income should never be a surprise, margins should always be watched carefully. But HOW do we do this?  Unlock the secrets to transforming your business's bottom line with Fran...

"While I have loved the creative part of what I do professionally, it has not created the freedom that I desire [with] my time." David sets off a transformation that many dream of but few dare to pursue–can he really convert his high paying job to a business? Is this the best way forward for him and his family? Many entrepreneurs wonder the same thing. We're peeling back the layers...

"I had to have everything figured out first 'cause I was fearful..." Fear can play a key role in your financial decisions that affect the rest of your life. Whether you're afraid to take a risk with your money or you're afraid to even LOOK at your bank account, it can drive our decision making more than we'd like to admit.  So how do we overcome the fear of money, of...

"I have more goals than I have bandwidth. I don't know which ones to let go of. Help me..." Jeff Miller, an entrepreneur in our community , asks a really solid question: "How do I manage all the competing goals in my life. I understand that I wear many hats, a husband, a dad, and a businessman. I have goals in every area of my life. The truth is I have more goals than I have ba...

If you're tired and anxious more than you are spent and satisfied, it is likely you are stalked by the 3-Headed Monster of Worry, Fear, and Anxiety. Depending on the type of profit you are constantly striving for–it can either fuel this monster, or be the enemy to extinguish it. Which kind of profit are you striving for?  Scott Beebe gives the ultimate challenge for men running their own busi...

"I should have done my due diligence, I should have made up contracts. It was all on a handshake..." Imagine stepping into the shoes of Paul, a Kentucky-based manufacturing company owner, who stands at such a pivotal juncture after losing his company's biggest client. On this episode of THE FORGE, we dissect Paul's current business strategy and offer him insights that could ste...

"We have freedom of choice, but we don’t have freedom of consequences.” Caught in a bind between two close friends entwined in a business quandary, the weight of secrecy presses heavily on Big A today.  As the president of Superior Rigging and Erecting Co., Patrick Lewis brings a wealth of experience to our candid discussion on the delicate balance of confidentiality in both our personal and...

"Do other men want to hang out with you if all you do is work? I enjoy different experiences, but I’m not a big fan of crazy adventures.” The craziest things we've ever done come with stories, but at what cost? Why do men feel the need for risk-taking adventures, and why do some men never get to close too true thrill?  Our dialogue meanders through the realms of adventure and experience,...

“You’re trying to position yourself to fit in so that you feel accepted, but I don’t think that’s what belonging [means].”  Have you ever felt like nobody "gets you"? You work strange hours, you have unique hobbies, you're alone at the top of the leadership food chain... how can you belong without having to try to fit in?  We pull back the curtain on our personal lives, revealing th...

"I could write a book on anxiety... I'm fighting for reconciliation within the family and the business because there's brokenness." Mystery business owner David is holding on to the threads of a 50 year legacy. Should he go with his gut or listen to the other family members about what to do with the business?  How do you build a legacy for your kids and grandkids without the ri...

"They don’t look at things as rationally as they did when they were younger. It’s a difficult conversation to have." The signs of our parents' aging may be subtle, but they're a wake-up call we unfortunately can't ignore (or at least, we shouldn't).  Big A and Wally exchange heartfelt stories about the undercurrent of concern for our parents as everyone gets older. We...

"If we never give unsolicited advice, how do they know?" Ever found yourself biting your tongue to avoid giving that piece of unsolicited advice? No one is a stranger to those moments. So do you be brutally honest, or keep quiet to keep the peace? In our vibrant exchange, we divulge personal accounts of giving advice to our peers and our children and grandchildren. Have you wondered whet...

"If you wait and procrastinate, [stress] is harder to deal with... it'll cost you more." 2023 threw a curveball of personal health challenges Big A's way, and he's been navigating this with fresh eyes on the ever-changing landscape of stress management.  We don't all react to stress in the same ways, but what gives inner peace? We have kids, our business, our wife, re...

"Where there is no risk, there is no great gain." Ready to kick your growth into overdrive and embrace the power of calculated risks? Join us, Wally Wallenbeck and Big A, as we usher in 2024 with a potent blend of stories, strategies, and lessons to fuel your personal and professional evolution.  Say goodbye to the typical New Year's resolutions and hello to a vision-driven life tha...

"You're really good at dreaming, but you're not good at dreaming for YOURSELF." Mystery Entrepreneur, Eric, takes the heat with Big A, Wally, and fellow businessman Anthony Witt on today's episode of THE FORGE.  Does Eric want to scale with a cash flow of 15% or optimize cash flow at a 50% net profit? What does he REALLY want? The guys dig their heels in to get him to answ...

"When we shed light in the darkness, the enemy flees." We made a list of what could be destroying trust within your marriage and how to build it back up after devastation. Your wife is smart, and any secrets you're keeping close to your chest won't last forever. It's time to expose and confess whatever could be destroying the trust between you and her.  Today Big A and Wal...

"One on one is not a business, it’s a high paying job because we’re trading our time for money." We're pulling back the curtain on the traditional vs. lifestyle business models, discussing our personal experiences, highlighting the benefits they offer, and the sacrifices required.  Whether you have a brick and mortar business or you're working towards a lifestyle business, ther...

"It's never too late to rebuild trust." Imagine a home where genuine trust and open communication are the foundations of every relationship. That's what we aimed for with our families, and in this enlightening episode, we share our personal stories, triumphs, and stumbles on this journey.  We take you through the complex process of fostering trust with our children and spouses,...

Buckle up as 4 entrepreneurs sharpen some iron today with a mysterious guest in the hot seat. Paul, a seasoned entrepreneur with a penchant for storytelling, sits under scrutiny to get to the bottom of his business problems... or is it more of a Paul problem?  Never shying away from the tough questions, we dig into Paul's current crossroads: to remain content with his business' dependenc...