Poised for Exit

Technology and IT Services: Sell the Golden Egg but keep the Goose #PoisedforExit had the privilege of speaking today with an M&A leader and adviser with True North M & A who specializes in transactions for the Technology and IT Services industries. Ed Gehres , a senior adviser, joined us from his office in Las Vegas, NV today to talk about the nuances relating to these industries in merge...

Stress Free in 2023! As a business owner, you know how your stress level will go up or down depending on what you're dealing with, because you can feel it, but how do you deal with reducing it?  We've heard that meditation, going for a walk and doing yoga are all helpful and viable ways to manage stress, but what if your work day doesn't allow for that?  Even ' good stress &apo...

Planning and Future Dollars: Every Owner's Needs are Unique I had the privilege of interviewing a favorite adviser of mine today with Edward Jones, Jesse Abercrombie.  Jesse is a CEPA like me, and we know each other through the Exit Planning Institute. We refer clients to each other and enjoy our collaborative work , because our values and client centric philosophies align well. Jesse got his...

Julie Keyes Recaps 2022 and Looks ahead to 2023! In this #PoisedforExit episode, Julie is interviewed by her producer, Bob Sansevere. Let's start by highlighting the hefty discount on the BRT course for Small Business Week! You get the complete course for only $199 ! That is a 60% savings over the regular price using promo code SMALLBIZ2022 . So don't delay, this deal expires Saturday, D...

Introducing NV Brands! Today's episode featured Nicki Vincent , Founder and CEO of NV Brands. Nicki's vast professional network and reputation for being a master connector prompted her to leave her long standing corporate position as Executive Director of ACG MN and expand her reach by starting up her own venture.  NV Brands brings the best of what Nicki has built and practiced for many...

How to Build a Diverse Network and Why it's Good for Business This #PoisedforExit episode featured an interview with Cathy Paper and Matt Tell , who each have their own entrepreneurial interests, but have come together to collaborate on a podcast they produce called " The Allstar Networking Show ", which they record from the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. Global Market featur...

When is Enough Really Enough? 5 Strategies to Create a Transition Plan Our guest today on #PoisedforExit featured Sharon Olson , Founder and President of Olson Wealth Group . Sharon got her start as an entrepreneur at the ripe old age of 9 years old, when she started a paper route. As a child on a farm in a small town, her opportunities growing up were few, so she ran her paper route all through c...

Growing up in an Entrepreneurial Family: Julie and her sisters tell their story Today's show is an extra special edition of #PoisedforExit! I invited my sisters, Connie and Wendy to talk about being raised in an entrepreneurial home and how it impacted our lives as entrepreneurs.  The lessons shared were many, but one that stood out for all three of us was how self motivation and belief playe...

Passing the Leadership Torch, but Still Driving the Vision Business owners don't always want to completely sunset their time in the business they grew from nothing.  If that's you, then listen to this episode.  This week on #PoisedforExit Mary Nutting , CEO of CorTalent shared with us her strategy for developing leaders in her own company, as she reduces her time in the business day to d...

Building a People Focused Enterprise with Culture at the Top Today on #PoisedforExit we talked with Kyla Hansen and Andy Knutson , partners at JAK CPA's. They've done some impressive work in creating and sustaining a strong culture within their organization. Accounting isn't the most likely of industries to excel in this category, but JAK has it figured out.  They shared some intere...

Your Most Trusted Adviser is not Who you Think Our #PoisedforExit episode today featured Brian Adamek , Founder and wealth adviser for E Wealth Partners . E Wealth Partners works with business owners, especially when exit planning is in the mix.  Brian has a long history of helping owners achieve financial security through his advice and expertise. His background includes acquiring his exit planni...

Business Transition Planning: Are you Ready? MNCEO's online course! Today on #PoisedforExit we talked with Sue Crockett , Executive Director of the MNCEO , which is a non profit organization working to help business owners navigate employee ownership options through education and free resources. They recently launched a new program for owners that teaches them the basics of what transition pl...

How your CPA  is Your Most Trusted Adviser Today's episode of #PoisedforExit featured an interview with Andrew Knutson , partner and 4th generation successor of JA Knutson CPA's in Falcon Heights MN. JAK is a firm that specializes in working with owners of privately held companies and has done so for many years.  Andrew says that JAK has been a strategic partner for clients in numerous w...

Systematize Your Revenue Streams Through Digital Automation! In this episode of #Poised for Exit I had the honor of interviewing Dr. Theresa Ashby , Founder of Kaleidoscope Media Services . On top of running a successful firm, "Dr. T" is also an author, professional speaker, and podcast host. We talked today about how businesses today should strongly consider adding digital products and...

Pre Due Diligence Leads to the Best M & A Outcomes! This #PoisedforExit episode features a conversation today with KG Graminschi , Senior Associate with True North M & A .  We talked about how the work I do as an Exit Planner impacts an owner's exit outcome and how being prepared well in advance ensures that the owners will have more options and sell for a higher multiple !  KG says t...

Making Sense of Value Creation for Business Owners This #PoisedforExit episode featured Mariano Jurich , Product and Project Manager with Making Sense LLC .  Making Sense takes the ideas of founders and business executives of middle market companies and works to bring them to life. Through software programs, apps, digital optimization and other forms of technology , Making Sense is all about incre...

Minimizing the Payment to Uncle Sam when You Sell your Company Today's episode of #PoisedforExit featured Lance Madson , CPA and Tax Partner with Boulay. Lance got his start in tax and stayed there. Imagine his level of  expertise when working with business owners!  We started out talking about one of the basic quandary's owners face when selling their companies; should it be a stock sal...

Choosing and Preparing Your Successor This week's guest featured Heather Parbst, Director of Owner Transition Services with CliftonLarsonAllen. Heather has worked with family businesses in transition for several years and prior to that work was an entrepreneur with her own set of ownership issues. She's also educated in counseling and psychology, becoming an adviser and consultant that p...

Women-Owned Start-Up's Have a New Advocate! In today's #PoisedforExit show we featured Lucas Root, a Wallstreet M&A adviser turned entrepreneur. Lucas spends his time speaking, teaching and mentoring women entrepreneurs of startups and established businesses. His access to various types of capital and connections in the M&A world have been integral in getting this endeavor off th...

Lessons and Strategies from a Serial Entrepreneur Today on #PoisedforExit we featured Brian Slipka , CEO, founder and acquirer of numerous companies in various industries, with a common foundational thread: "help people and success will follow".  Brian's business philosophy, which permeates his entire life, was born out of watching his dad run his manufacturing company. Brian referr...

Making Sense of Long Term Care for Business Owners In #PoisedforExit today's episode we interviewed Stephanie Searle , industry expert in Long Term Care solutions . Stephanie has been in the financial services industry for many years, having started as a financial adviser and stock broker for Prudential and working there for a number of years, before going into Long Term Care.  She said the a...

Our #PoisedforExit show today featured Tim Olson , Business Development professional at Honour Capital . Tim's background in equipment sales uniquely positioned him as a great fit for the typical client at Honour Capital, a firm getting its start just after the pandemic hit, but whose growth has seen quite a trajectory!  Honour Capital's motto is " purpose driven capital ". Par...

Our guest today featured Henry DeVries, Publisher and Owner of Indie Books International. Henry's firm published my book "Poised for Exit" two years ago already.  Henry founded Indie Books after helping 50 people write their own book , finding it as a calling to continue the work. Fast forward, he's published 150 authors and helps each one "write the right book" .  Wr...

In today's episode we interviewed Scott Plum, Founder and President of MN Sales Institute . Scott is a two-time author, podcaster and sales training expert. He shared some really great advice today. According to Scott, sales people are assumptive people. They assume that the prospect has a problem, but what if they don't? Prospects want to maintain control , so trying to blast them with...

Our guest for this episode featured Nike Anani, Founder of African Family Firms , which is a non-profit community of family business owners of African descent from around the globe. Nike' got her start as a member of her own family's construction firm when she lived in Nigeria . Born there, but raised and educated in the UK , she went back to work in the family business with her father i...