I'm A Millionaire! So Now What?: Recent Episodes

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Host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with fellow Certified Exit Planning Advisor and Board Member of Employee Ownership Canada. Peter Walker - a proud Prince Edward Islander whose eighth-generation family farm shaped everything he believes about ownership, community, and legacy. Peter shares the story of the first business transition conversation he ever had (at 14, at the kitchen table, with his father) and how the eventual wind-down of the family farm rippled through his small community. The episode also marks a milestone for Canadian succession planning: the federal government has made the EOT capital gains exemption permanent, removing the sunset clause that had left owners and advisors uncertain. Peter and Colleen unpack why so many Canadian business owners - especially in rural and Atlantic Canada - avoid succession planning, the access-to-capital challenges outside major cities, the research behind employee ownership's financial and social benefits, and the single most important piece of internal due diligence a founder can do: knowing their own story before someone else writes it for them.

Key Takeaways:

The EOT capital gains exemption is now permanent - and it's law. After years as a temporary measure set to expire at the end of 2026, the federal government moved in its spring economic update to make the up-to-$10 million capital gains exemption on qualifying sales to an Employee Ownership Trust permanent. That change has since passed into law (Bill C-30, Royal Assent June 18, 2026), removing the previous sunset clause and giving owners and advisors long-term certainty to plan around the structure. Peter, a board member of Employee Ownership Canada, was involved in the advocacy toward this outcome.

Peter's roots run deep in St. George, PEI (population 90), on a potato and cattle farm in his family since the 1790s - he would have been the eighth or ninth generation. His father sat him and his brother down when Peter was 14 to tell them they would not be taking over the farm. His father operated another 10 years, wound it down in a way that kept the land in the family (now approaching 300 years), but the closure cost about 15 neighbours their seasonal work, local businesses a customer, and the community a piece of its tax base.

Peter frames this as his third act - after Parliament Hill and a career at one of the big five banks. His work now has two halves: helping normalize the transition conversation for business owners, and advocating to grow employee ownership in Canada.

Two structural problems he sees, especially outside major cities: first, access to capital is severely limited - in his experience, capital does not flow easily east of Montreal or into rural regions. Second, the emotional, identity-driven avoidance of succession planning. Owners who strongly identify with being an owner resist planning for a day they can no longer be one, pushing it off until a crisis (death, divorce, disability) forces a rushed outcome.

A recurring insight: many owners can build a long-term strategic roadmap for their business in their sleep, but have never been taught to build one for themselves. The internal due diligence - deciding what you actually want your outcome and legacy to be - is the work most people skip.

The research behind employee ownership (five decades in the U.S., over a decade in the U.K.) is compelling: 8-12% productivity increases, more profitable and resilient companies, loans repaid faster, fewer closures in downturns, and employees retiring with roughly twice the retirement wealth of those at comparable non-employee-owned firms.

Employee ownership is a spectrum, not one thing: worker co-ops (fully democratic, one member/one vote), management buyouts, Employee Ownership Trusts (designed specifically as a transition vehicle), and Employee Share Ownership Plans. EllisDon - one of Canada's largest construction companies - is 100% owned by the people who work there.

Peter's framework for owners: stress-test your thinking across two axes - how much you care about the money, and how much you care about legacy. Conventional wisdom says maximize money and ignore legacy, but Canadian Federation of Independent Business research shows most owners feel genuine internal conflict between the two. If you land in the "maximize value, legacy doesn't matter" quadrant, you have earned the right to sell to a third party - go for it. If legacy matters, then employee ownership, ETA, family transition, or a mix deserve real consideration.

Start early - much earlier than most people think. Peter's father was 38 when he had that kitchen-table conversation, wrestling with 200 years of legacy. Most owners wait until they have decided to sell, which Peter considers far too late; the preparation should begin three to five years prior, at minimum.

A cash-rich exit is not only about maximizing the dollar value - it is about being intentional about what happens next for you, your business, your people, and your community. For many Canadian owners, especially in rural communities, the real opportunity is to begin planning early enough to create options that preserve local jobs and legacy - and, now that the exemption is permanent, to give employee ownership a serious look. Book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Reach out on LinkedIn or email.

Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders find the show and build their path to an intentional, cash-rich exit.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Most conversations about exits focus on the seller. This one flips the lens. In this episode, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with Liz MacRae, a serial entrepreneur who has both exited and acquired multiple businesses, and who is now co-founder of Village Wellth - a tech-enabled platform helping aspiring entrepreneurs buy established businesses and helping founders exit well. Liz introduces the growing movement known as Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA): buying a profitable, established business rather than starting from scratch or buying a franchise. She explains how the model works, who it attracts, what buyers actually look for, and why acquisition entrepreneurs - people who intend to roll up their sleeves and run the business themselves - may be exactly the right buyers for owner-dependent small businesses that private equity would walk away from. With a massive wave of business transitions coming over the next decade, this episode offers founders a fresh perspective on who might buy their business, and why starting early is everything.

Key Takeaways:

Liz's path is unconventional - a fine arts degree and training in creative thinking, not accounting or law. After exploring family succession (which did not work out), she and her husband bought a franchise, then she became a business broker, moved into exit planning advisory, took over the firm she worked with, sold it after about four years, and founded Village Wellth on the buy side. She has spent nearly 10 years in business advisory and six years focused exclusively on helping buyers.

Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is the act of buying an established business, usually leveraging senior debt or outside investment, and in most cases acquiring 100% of the business so the previous owner can retire. It lets a buyer skip the startup stage by three to five years and acquire something already profitable - able to service debt and pay a living wage.

ETA attracts people later in their careers - often leaving corporate roles - with management or leadership experience and established personal finances. They typically combine personal savings with bank debt or raised capital (family and friends, angel investors, or funds) to acquire and grow businesses from retiring owners.

Village Wellth was founded six years ago as a two-sided marketplace, then substantially rebuilt about two years ago with deal-management tooling and an AI layer. It has a team of 10, including a former RBC/TD commercial banker and a strong CTO. The platform showcases anonymous buyer profiles so sellers can see there are real buyers - answering the anxious question Liz heard constantly as a broker: "Is there even anyone out there to buy my business?"

The platform equips first-time buyers with tools to analyze opportunities, assess risks, and model deal structures - cash in, cash at closing, bank financing, seller financing, free cash flow, and return on investment - so they can move toward a lender application. The goal is a start-to-finish, self-serve experience on a monthly subscription, with hands-on services available when needed.

The sweet spot: profitable companies showing at least $100,000-$150,000 in profit after paying the operating owner, typically valued between $500,000 and $5 million (under roughly $2 million EBITDA), with five to 30 employees. These fall below the threshold where investment bankers and mid-market M&A firms - and private equity - typically engage. Village Wellth is Canada-wide and expanding into the U.S.

Village Wellth is especially valuable in rural communities, which often lack access to the M&A community. The platform matches buyers and sellers on geography (buyers set travel radii), and connects rural sellers with the right sell-side advisors and a pool of buyers they could not otherwise reach.

A key differentiator: because acquisition entrepreneurs plan to operate the business themselves, owner-dependency is not necessarily a deal-breaker - unlike with private equity or strategic buyers who want a management team that stays. What matters most is a solid transition period, a previous owner willing to transfer knowledge and relationships, and a genuine match between the buyer's background and the business.

Owner-dependency still needs managing. Red flags include an owner working 80 hours a week as the bottleneck for every decision, no chain of command, no contracts, and project-based revenue. Reasonable owner hours, contracts with assignment clauses, and understandable customer pipelines make a business far more transactable. Buyers mitigate remaining risk by bringing in a salesperson, or through deal terms like higher seller financing.

A successful exit is about understanding your options early enough to protect your value, legacy, and choice. Sometimes the best path forward is not the most obvious one, and selling to an acquisition entrepreneur may be exactly the thoughtful transition you are looking for. If today's episode sparked questions about your readiness, your business value, or your personal wealth gap, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell - and tap into a whole ecosystem of professionals she'd be happy to introduce you to. Reach out on LinkedIn or email.

Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more business owners discover the show and build their path to a cash-rich exit.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Episode Summary: If you want to understand where employee ownership in Canada is going, it helps to talk to a company that has been living it for the better part of a century. In this episode, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with Chad Friesen, CEO of Friesens Corporation - a $120 million book manufacturer and publishing company based in Altona, Manitoba (population 4,500) - to trace one of the most remarkable ownership stories in the country. Founded in 1907, Friesens has moved through nearly every ownership form imaginable: sole proprietor, family business, ESOP, hybrid, and today a 100% Employee Ownership Trust. Chad shares how the founding family turned down dozens of offers to sell because they believed the business belonged to the people and community who built it, how the company "backed into" broad-based employee ownership during the 2007-2008 crisis, and how the Friesens model went on to influence Canada's actual EOT legislation. He also introduces Tall Grass Employee Owner Equity Fund, a new venture that provides patient capital and a proven playbook to help other founders exit to their employees. It is a story about print, yes - but really about legacy, community wealth, and doing succession on purpose.

Key Takeaways:

Friesens Corporation was founded in 1907 and is a roughly $120 million company based in Altona, Manitoba, a community of 4,500. It operates three book-related businesses: trade books (working with the largest and smallest publishers in the world), school yearbooks (a business defined by constant customer turnover, since students graduate every year), and Friesen Press, a self-publishing services business working with around 1,000 new authors annually. The company's mantra: helping others share their best story with the world.

Fun fact: all five leaders in the company's history have shared the last name Friesen - the first three from the founding family, the last two (including Chad) unrelated to it.

The company has been owned in nearly every form: sole proprietorship, family-owned, ESOP, hybrid ESOP/EOT, and today 100% Employee Ownership Trust. The founding family's roots in the cooperative, credit union, and mutual movements of the 1940s and 50s framed their path toward employee ownership.

The founding family had opportunities to sell dozens of times - Chad keeps a file folder of historic offers from companies and equity funds - but chose employee ownership because they believed the business served a greater purpose than enriching one family, and they wanted to preserve the company and its economic impact in the community.

Employee ownership started organically in the 1970s and 80s, with shares given in lieu of bonuses or raises. Over time, share values rose, and the ratio between new employees able to buy shares and retiring owners needing to sell became unbalanced. The first Friesens Employee Trust was created in the 1980s as a "market of last resort" to buy shares from retiring employees and redistribute them.

By 2007-2008, a "trifecta of challenge" - the U.S. economic downturn, Asian supply/distribution pressure, and the introduction of the Kindle e-reader - left employee-owners nervous, with a drying-up internal share market. The company financed the trust to buy back all employee shares over a five-year period, freezing share values, paying cash, and keeping everyone as a trust beneficiary. Friesens effectively "backed into" being a 100% EOT as a defensive move that became a lasting strength.

The Friesens model influenced Canada's federal EOT legislation. Chad's team worked with four people in the finance department building the legislation, sharing governance structures and practices as a real-world case study - evidence that broad-based employee ownership works at scale.

A major, initially unintended benefit: the EOT became a great equalizer. Over 40% of Friesens employees were not born in Canada, many immigrating with the company's support and without excess cash to buy shares. Under the trust, every employee becomes a beneficiary three months after joining - no capital required. This equal-access principle became a tenet the federal government wanted to emulate.

Distributions use two formulas baked into the legislation's guidance: roughly 70-80% based on compensation (last five years of an individual's pay relative to the pool) and the remainder on years of service. Friesens deliberately uses a dividend model rather than equity, distributing value three times a year - including a physical cheque handed to each employee-owner at a celebration, to make ownership tangible and immediate.

The community impact is profound: Friesens generates an estimated $60-80 million in annual local economic spin-off. Retailers can tell when a distribution has happened because foot traffic spikes the next day. Chad estimates the company would likely have been sold 20-30 years ago without employee ownership - and all that recurring community wealth would have left with it.

Tall Grass Employee Owner Equity Fund: Born from Friesens' search for diversification, Tall Grass is a separate entity that puts Friesens' surplus capital to work helping other founders transition to employee ownership. It targets stable, long-term, proven companies (not startups or turnarounds) whose owners are motivated to preserve legacy. Tall Grass provides patient capital - investing with little expected return in the early years to de-risk seller financing - and a proven structural playbook, taking a minority position. The goal: modest long-term diversified passive income for Friesens' stakeholders, with an enormous return on social impact. When Chad brought the idea to his employee-owner council, he braced for pushback about risking their capital; instead they embraced it, saying they would not be where they are if someone had not paid it forward to them.

Employee ownership can be more than a structure - it is a strategy for community wealth, long-term resilience, and legacy. If today sparked questions about your own exit - what you will need financially, how to protect your people and values, and what a true cash-rich transition could look like - book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Reach out on LinkedIn or email.

Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders find the show and have their best exit.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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A Note of Gratitude:

🎉 This episode marks a milestone - 350 Episodes of 'The Cash Rich Exit Podcast'! And I am genuinely humbled. What began as a microphone, an idea, and a deep belief that business owners deserve better exits has grown into a community of founders, CEOs, and dreamers I get to call the Self Made Nation. Three hundred and fifty conversations. Hundreds of guests who showed up with honesty, hard-earned scars, and the kind of wisdom you cannot find in a textbook. And thousands of you who keep listening, sharing, and building your own paths to a cash-rich exit.

Thank you. Truly. Here is to the next 350.

Colleen

Episode Summary:

For a milestone episode, a milestone story. In episode 350, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with Aaron Schroeder, founder and CEO of Bright Spot Climate, a greenhouse gas consulting and emissions strategy firm that has become one of the first companies in Canada to transition to an Employee Ownership Trust. Aaron grew up on a dairy farm in rural Saskatchewan, studied engineering, and built Bright Spot from a one-person consultancy into a 40-plus-person firm with offices in three cities. From the very beginning, he carried a conviction that the people who built the company alongside him should share in its rewards. This episode traces his "Jerry Maguire moment", the late-night letter to his team, the lightbulb realization when EOT legislation appeared on the horizon, and the real, unvarnished work of building governance, adjusting accounting systems, and letting go of control. It is a candid, refreshing look at what a values-aligned exit can look like in Canada - and why the EOT may be one of the most important succession tools founders have ever been given.

Key Takeaways:

Bright Spot Climate works with large industry, government, municipalities, and universities to quantify, report, and verify greenhouse gas emissions, and to implement technologies that reduce them. Aaron describes his team as the behind-the-scenes engineers helping Canada move toward its net-zero-by-2050 goals.

Aaron's entrepreneurial roots trace back to the family dairy farm in Saskatchewan. He started Bright Spot as a solo consultant just over 10 years ago and grew it organically; his sister Michelle, a professional agrologist, joined early and they had long shared the idea of broad ownership.

In 2022, before any mechanism existed, Aaron wrote a late-night letter to his team - his "Jerry Maguire moment" - sharing his conviction that the concentration of wealth among a few is one of the world's biggest problems, and that in their corner of the world, they could address it through employee ownership. The team received it positively, though with some understandable trepidation given there was no clear pathway yet.

The company already had a project-level profit-sharing program - a kind of de facto employee ownership - but the EOT represented a bigger commitment. The lightbulb moment came when Aaron learned the EOT mechanism would include every employee without anyone having to put money up front.

Bright Spot officially transitioned to the EOT structure on April 1, 2025, once the legislation had passed. Aaron worked with a partner at Blake's who specialized in trusts and had been following the legislation closely, and with accounting firm MNP to update accounting policies and prepare for financing.

Aaron's biggest lesson for other founders: sequence the changes. He had to establish a board, change governance, update accounting systems, and transfer ownership all at once - while still running the business during a turbulent year for the climate sector. Ideally, he would have put the board and accounting changes in place earlier so each could settle before the ownership transition.

An EOT requires governance by a board of directors. Aaron went from being the sole decision-maker (with an advisory senior leadership team) to being governed by a board while simultaneously giving his senior leadership team real decision-making authority. He recruited the board through his network and a public posting, looking for complementary skills and board experience.

The two hardest aspects of letting go were not the loss of final say - Aaron had made peace with that - but the difference in risk appetite between a sole owner and a board, and the slower speed of board decision-making. He now builds buffer time into decisions to bring board members up to speed.

The most surprising upside: a co-benefit of heightened entrepreneurship across the team. Younger employees and new grads have stepped up to help run and innovate the company with enthusiasm beyond what Aaron expected.

A senator at the employee ownership conference framed the EOT as an opportunity to build more wealth in the country - not only by creating more entrepreneurs inside companies, but by freeing founders to exit and go start something new. Succession does not have to mean retirement; it can mean liberation to build again.

If you are thinking about long-term succession, or how to build a legacy that lasts without sacrificing your team or your impact, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Reach out on LinkedIn or email.

📩 Help us celebrate 350 episodes - leave a five-star rating and review, and share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur. It is the best gift you could give the show.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Bobbie Racette started with $300 at her kitchen table. Nine years later, she became the first Indigenous woman in Canada to build, scale, and sell a tech startup. In this episode - the first time Bobbie has dug into the details of the sale on a podcast - host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with the founder of Virtual Gurus, an AI-powered inclusive talent marketplace that matched underrepresented talent with businesses including Mastercard, Telus, and BMO. Bobbie shares the full arc: bootstrapping to $1.8 million in revenue before raising a cent, hearing 170 no's before closing a seed round, scaling through three funding rounds during COVID, becoming the first Indigenous woman in Canada to close a Series A, navigating founder fatigue, stepping down as CEO before the exit, and ultimately selling to a U.S. private equity firm that rolled Virtual Gurus into North America's largest virtual assistant platform - with the AI sold separately to a Calgary company. This is a conversation about what it takes to build something from nothing, what it costs personally, and what comes next when the mission is bigger than the transaction.

Key Takeaways:

Bobbie created Virtual Gurus in 2016 after being laid off in oil and gas and unable to find a job. She is Cree Métis, queer, and covered in tattoos - and nobody would hire her. The business started as a way to create a job for herself and evolved into a platform providing remote work to marginalized talent across Canada and the U.S.

She bootstrapped to approximately $1.8 million in annual revenue before seeking external funding. The seed round took over two years and 170 investor rejections before closing at $1.25 million. The Series A, two years later, was significantly easier.

Virtual Gurus scaled past $40 million in revenue and closed three funding rounds during COVID. Total capital raised was $14-20 million.

The exit was not originally planned. For the first four years, Bobbie intended to keep the company as a legacy business. The shift came around 2022 when the scale of the operation began to outpace the original mission. The board recognized that an acquisition was likely the best path forward.

The company was simultaneously pursuing a Series B and fielding acquisition offers - a dual-track process. The data room was already built for the fundraise, which accelerated due diligence to approximately five months. The acquisition by a U.S. private equity firm closed in November 2025.

The AI platform was sold separately to a Calgary-based company - effectively a double sale. The core business was rolled into the acquirer's larger virtual assistant platform.

Bobbie had stepped down from CEO to president in May 2025, with her COO becoming successor CEO. The successor stayed with the company through and after the acquisition. Bobbie's role during due diligence was primarily support - being available for the team mentally, emotionally, and strategically, while the finance team and executive team drove the process.

Founder fatigue and decision fatigue were real and significant. Bobbie emphasizes that founders need to talk about this more openly, and that boards and investors need to be supportive during those low periods rather than adding pressure.

Retention of employees during due diligence was one of the hardest parts. Bobbie's culture at Virtual Gurus was built on honesty and transparency, and not being able to tell her leadership team about the acquisition felt deeply uncomfortable.

Post-exit, Bobbie has retired her parents (her mother was her first angel investor, contributing her last $20,000), bought a new home, and is investing time and capital into the next generation. She is now an angel investor in five businesses - all founded by people from underserved communities, including Indigenous and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.

She has launched Tapwe (Cree for "truth"), a platform to support underserved founders with financial literacy, mentorship, AI-powered matching, and startup scaling resources. A documentary is in production. Her newsletter, The Fire Report, scaled to 4,000 subscribers almost immediately. She is also doing regular paid advisory sessions each week through her website.

Bobbie's story is a reminder that a cash-rich exit can be deeply values-driven, inclusive, and barrier-breaking - and still set you up for whatever comes next. If today's episode has you thinking about your own journey, whether you are at the kitchen table, scaling fast, or quietly eyeing your exit, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell via LinkedIn or email

Please leave a five-star rating and review to help more founders find this show.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Here is a stat that should keep every small business owner up at night: approximately 80% of businesses never change hands. The owners simply close the doors, walk away, and leave decades of effort and equity on the table.

In this episode, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with Markian Pergat, an Ottawa-based entrepreneur who has lived the full arc - from student painter, to burnt-out sole operator sleeping five hours a night, to building a business that runs without him - and who is now on a mission to help service-based, trades, and Main Street business owners do the same. Markian walks through his EXITS Method, a five-part framework covering the emotional, strategic, and structural work required to build a business that is actually sellable. The conversation is a candid look at what happens when technical excellence masks business fragility, and what it takes to shift from self-employed technician to business owner with real options.

Key Takeaways:

Approximately half of Canadian businesses are still owned by baby boomers, and roughly 80% of small businesses never successfully transition to a new owner. They simply close.

Markian started with College Pro Painters at 19 (winning Rookie of the Year for Eastern Ontario), then founded Sand and Stain, a seasonal wood restoration business in Ottawa. He spent years as a one-man operation - doing all sales, production, and emails - before hitting a breaking point and trying to sell. A broker told him the business was essentially unsellable because it was entirely dependent on him.

That wake-up call launched a four-to-five-year transformation. Markian systematically removed himself from every role, built an online quoting calculator that replaced in-person estimates (going from 8-10 quotes per day to over 100), hired for sales and production, and turned the business into something that runs with minimal owner involvement. The irony: once it became sellable, he no longer wanted to sell.

The EXITS Method is a five-part framework:

E (Equanimity) - the emotional and mindset work of letting go of identity, title, and control.

X (X Factor) - differentiation plays including micro M&A, where small businesses merge or acquire to reach a size that attracts larger buyer pools.

I (Independence) - separating the owner from the business, and reducing dependency on any single employee, supplier, or customer.

T (Transferability) - building the value levers that make a business attractive to a buyer: systems, recurring revenue, documented processes, and scalable operations.

S (Strategy) - creating multiple exit pathways rather than a single plan, because life, markets, and technology can change overnight.

The most common problem Markian sees: technically brilliant tradespeople and service providers who are thinking like technicians, not like business owners - and certainly not like buyers. The shift from "How do I do this work better?" to "How do I build an asset that works without me?" is the fundamental unlock.

Markian's sweet spot is businesses in the zero to $5 million revenue range (up to $10 million), typically below the threshold where private equity would show up with a cheque. These businesses have the most room to pull levers and create value - and the most to lose if the owner does nothing.

The best deals often happen off-market. When a business is visibly well-run, systematized, and not dependent on the owner, unsolicited offers start showing up - just like the best real estate deals happen before a listing goes live.

Exit preparation is synonymous with business building. Start before you are ready. Even if you decide not to exit, going through the process of making your business sellable will make it better to own.

Be part of the 20% who exit on purpose and on their own terms. Book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Let us talk about your time frame, your value, and your vision. Reach out on LinkedIn or email.

Please leave a five-star rating and review to help more founders find the show. Thank you!

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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What happens when four moms start making labels in a Hamilton basement and, 14 years later, get a call from a global industry giant? In this episode, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with Julie Cole, one of the four co-founders of Mabel's Labels, to trace the full arc: from masking tape and permanent marker frustrations in the early 2000s, to building a fiercely loved e-commerce brand, to a reported $12 million acquisition by Avery Labels that closed in under six months. What makes Julie's story unique is the fact that she is still at Mabel's Labels a decade later, now as Senior Director of Public Relations, championing the brand she helped build. The conversation covers what buyers actually look for, why keeping your house in order is non-negotiable, how four co-founders (who were also family) navigated decisions without destroying relationships, and why selling your business does not have to mean falling out of love with it.

Key Takeaways:

Mabel's Labels was founded approximately 23 years ago by Julie Cole, her sister, and two university friends who married into the family. It started in a Hamilton basement solving a simple problem - kids were losing their gear, and there was no good labelling solution beyond masking tape and marker.

The four co-founders divided responsibilities by department (production, IT and finance, marketing, PR), which worked well early on but eventually created silos. Each founder became protective of their team's priorities, and the business reached a point where it needed one person overseeing the whole operation rather than four co-CEOs pulling in different directions.

Managing a co-founding team that is also family requires deliberate effort. The founders brought in a coach to navigate difficult growth decisions and to separate business disagreements from personal relationships - a practice Julie compares to Midday Squares' weekly "family therapy" sessions.

The acquisition by Avery Labels (a publicly traded company) happened fast - the initial call came in July, and the deal closed on New Year's Eve of the same year. Julie emphasizes this timeline is not normal and should not be expected.

Due diligence is where you can lose money. A letter of intent might come in at one number, but if the buyer finds problems, the offer shrinks. Julie's advice: keep your housekeeping in order from the start, not just when a deal appears.

The exit process is a full-time job. Having four co-founders meant one could focus on the transaction while the others kept the business running - a luxury solo founders do not have. Julie has seen entrepreneurs take their eye off operations during a sale, get left at the altar, and end up with a year of lost sales and deal fatigue.

Because Avery is publicly traded, the founders could not tell their staff about the potential acquisition. They told the team it was a tax audit - which felt terrible given their culture of transparency - but was necessary for regulatory compliance. Once the deal was announced, the founders led with reassurance: no one was losing their job, the brand was staying, and the team would be supported through the transition.

Two co-founders left immediately after the sale, one stayed as general manager for a couple of years, and Julie has remained for 10 years. She now reports to a former direct report who became GM - and is fully at peace with that dynamic. Her role is to be the brand's voice, its public face, and its connection to the community.

The brand's longevity is built on community. Julie was one of the original "mom bloggers", has attended Mom 2.0 conferences for 18 years, and has continuously followed her audience from blogs to Facebook to Instagram to Reddit. Mabel's Labels looks like a low-tech product but is a high-tech, e-commerce-driven business that has adapted to every platform shift for over two decades.

Julie is also the author of 'Like a Mother: Birthing Businesses, Babies, and a Life Beyond Labels', a bestseller covering her parenting and entrepreneurial journey.

Julie Cole's story is a reminder that a cash-rich exit does not have to be the end - sometimes it is the start of the next chapter in the same business. If her story has you thinking about your own entrepreneurial journey, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Reach out on LinkedIn or email

Could you leave a five-star rating and review please? It helps more founders find the show.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Episode Summary: What is the difference between a business that generates income and one that creates wealth? In this episode, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with husband-and-wife team Krystyn and Matt Harrison of Horizon Advisors, who bring complementary perspectives from different sides of the deal table. Krystyn is a five-time founder who learned the hard way what happens when you run your own sale process, lose competitive tension, and have a seven-figure LOI collapse in eight weeks. Matt spent his M&A career watching owners come to market for the wrong reasons - cancer diagnoses, divorces, sudden deaths - and seeing how lack of preparation cost them millions. Together, they now work with founders at a million dollars or more in EBITDA to build businesses that are more valuable, less founder-dependent, and full of options - whether that means scaling further, stepping back, or selling. The conversation covers founder psychology, the control trap, why your best seller being the owner is a red flag to buyers, and how to flip the mindset from working in your business to working on it.

Key Takeaways:

Krystyn built Prosper, a coaching platform with 30,000 users and clients including RBC and Lululemon. When a close competitor raised $150 million, she pursued a sale. Running her own process without an M&A advisor, she lost competitive tension, watched a seven-figure LOI fall apart, and ultimately exited on far less favourable terms. Lesson one: do not run your own process.

Lesson two came after the deal closed - Krystyn had no plan for what came next. An empty calendar and an identity crisis followed. The exit is not a headline. It is a phase of the business, and personal readiness is part of it.

After Prosper, Krystyn operated within a U.S. private equity roll-up in the e-commerce ecosystem, where she learned to build value through the enterprise value lens - not just revenue growth, but moving the multiple by putting systems, process, data, and assets in place.

Matt's M&A experience revealed that most owners came to market for difficult reasons - health crises, divorce, death. Very few were proactively prepared. The most common gaps were financials with small errors that eroded buyer trust, tax planning that should have started two years earlier, and founder dependency that made the business look risky.

Founder dependency is one of the biggest destroyers of enterprise value. Matt saw owners proudly declaring themselves their company's best salesperson - which is exactly what buyers do not want to hear. Buyers want a sales engine, not a sales hero. Client concentration of 85% held by the founder is pure risk in a buyer's eyes.

Profit pays your bills. Value gives you options. A profitable business with heavy founder dependency may generate strong income but will not command the valuation or optionality the owner is hoping for.

Krystyn's two litmus tests for founder dependency: First, in the last two weeks, how many of your leaders came to you with problems versus solutions? If they are bringing problems, you may have created a culture where you solve everything for them. Second, imagine you are on a desert island for four weeks with no devices - what would break? The answers reveal where the business is too dependent on you.

Horizon Advisors works with founders at a million or more in EBITDA. They start with a complimentary 90-minute value baseline assessment covering approximately 24 value drivers, then move into long-term one-on-one advisory engagements (bi-weekly two-hour sessions with the founder, quarterly strategic planning with the leadership team). All advisors are former operators and owners themselves.

They track enterprise value monthly and view everything through the lens of building optionality - not just preparing for a sale, but making the business more valuable regardless of what the founder decides to do next.

Krystyn also hosts the podcast 'Worth Owning', exploring what it means to build businesses and lives worth owning - with a focus on the emotional journey, not just the transaction.

If this episode has you wondering whether your business is building enterprise value or simply generating income, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Let us connect today's decisions with your future cash-rich exit. Reach out on LinkedIn - Colleen O'Connell-Campbell - or email

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The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Episode Summary: Canada's Employee Ownership Trust legislation is relatively new. The UK's has been in place since 2014. In this episode, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell crosses the Atlantic - virtually - to sit down with Christine Nicholson, a UK-based exit strategist who has spent her career founding, selling, and helping others exit businesses. Christine brings 12 years of firsthand perspective on what happens when EOTs work, when they fail spectacularly, and what separates the two. The conversation covers the three phases of exiting a business (the day-to-day, control, and ownership), why the EOT structure has been fastest-growing among professional services and architecture firms in the UK, a good-bad-ugly breakdown of real EOT outcomes, the psychology of letting go, and three practical steps any business owner can take in the next six to 12 months - whether they pursue an EOT or not. Christine also shares a powerful client story about a founder who was afraid his team would succeed without him, and what happened when he finally let them try.

Key Takeaways:

Christine frames every exit as three separate transitions: exiting the day-to-day operations, exiting control and decision-making, and transferring shares. Most founders fixate on the third while neglecting the first two - which are often the real barriers to a successful outcome.

The UK introduced EOT legislation in 2014, offering zero capital gains tax when a business owner sells shares to an employee trust. The owner is paid out of the future profits of the business up to the value at the time of transfer. Canada's legislation was modelled in part on the UK's structure.

In the UK, professional services firms - particularly architecture, engineering, and other talent-dependent businesses - have been the fastest-growing adopters of the EOT model, because it serves as both a succession vehicle and a powerful talent retention tool.

The good, the bad, and the ugly of UK EOTs: The bad involved an owner who completed the transaction without telling employees, threw his keys on the desk Monday morning, and said "don't muck it up". The ugly involved an owner who gave employees only two weeks' notice, disappeared on day one, never got paid, and the company went into liquidation within 14 months. The good involved two burned-out owners who built a strong team, communicated clearly, elevated their employees, and are now working part-time in a business that has become the market share leader in its sector - with employees actively driving efficiency because they understand the link between performance and their bonus pool.

The common thread in failures is not the EOT structure itself - it is the absence of preparation. An owner who disappears without building bench strength will see the business fail regardless of the ownership model. The typical timeline from owner disappearance to liquidation is about 12 months.

Christine's three practical steps for any owner considering an EOT (or any exit): First, write down every decision you make and every thought you have about the business that would not happen without you - be ruthlessly honest, like keeping a food diary. Second, get your team to do the same, and identify who the "self-levelling cement" person is - the fixer who papers over every crack and prevents others from knowing they would have failed. Third, join those two pictures together and begin empowering employees to make decisions incrementally - millimetre by millimetre, not all at once.

These three steps will increase the value of your business whether you pursue an EOT or not. Removing the owner as the sole decision-maker is the single most important thing a founder can do to make their business survivable, sellable, and scalable.

Christine shared the story of a client who built a brilliant team over 25 years but could not see a successor because none of them looked like him. The breakthrough: he did not need another version of himself. He needed someone who could take what he built and elevate it. That business is now worth many multiples of what it was, runs without him, and has a queue of potential buyers - but his wealth advisor told him to keep owning it, because no investment could match the return.

Culture eats strategy for breakfast - and Christine has watched PE buyers destroy great businesses within two years by gutting the culture and losing every employee. EOTs, by contrast, create alignment between ownership, performance, and retention.

Whether you are exploring an EOT or simply thinking about your eventual exit, the work starts the same way: building a business that does not depend entirely on you. Book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell to map the gap between what you have built and what you need personally to fund your life after the exit. Reach out on LinkedIn or email.

Please leave a five-star rating - it helps more founders find the show.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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What happens when a company that is already employee-owned realizes its ownership model is not built for the next chapter? In this episode, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with Michael (Mike) Fotheringham, CEO of Taproot, and Robert MacDougall, Board Trustee. Taproot is a 42-year-old national social enterprise with 775 employees and over $65 million in annual revenue. They unpack how and why the organization became Canada's largest Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Taproot's journey runs from its founding by a laid-off public servant in British Columbia, through a management buyout that created an ESOP with seven shareholders, to the realization that the next succession needed a cleaner, broader, and more scalable structure. Mike and Robert walk through the real story: how a LinkedIn podcast discovery sparked the conversation, why the EOT legislation provided a template that other structures could not, what governance looks like four months into the new model, and why transparency with employees started years before the transaction - not after.

Key Takeaways:

Taproot was founded 42 years ago by Bill Stelmachek, a former British Columbia public servant, and operates in two domains: children and youth services (including group homes) and direct support for adults with diverse abilities, across BC, Alberta, and Northern Ontario.

When Bill decided to exit 18 years ago, he had interest from U.S. private equity and real estate buyers, but chose to sell to employees. Seven employees purchased the company and paid him out over several years, forming an ESOP. That ownership group grew to 30 shareholders over time.

The succession challenge resurfaced as major shareholders began approaching retirement. The board explored multiple options - another management buyout, private equity, gifting share certificates to all employees, trust company arrangements, and buy-co structures - but each had significant drawbacks, particularly the administrative burden of managing shares across nearly 800 employees.

The EOT conversation began when Mike heard a podcast from Social Capital Partners about the employee ownership trust model, shared it with the board, and connected with Tiara LeTourneau at Rewrite Capital Advisors. A feasibility study confirmed Taproot was a strong fit, and the board green-lit the transaction in January 2025.

The EOT's capital gains tax exemption was not the primary driver of the transaction, but became a strong motivator during the process and contributed to 100% of shares being transferred into the trust. The more fundamental appeal was that the EOT legislation provided a clear template - parameters, structure, and guidance - that other models lacked.

Governance under the new EOT structure includes three employee trustees (staggered three-year terms, elected by employees), an independent board of directors (confirmed by the trustees), and the management team. These three groups are now more distinct than the previous model, where senior management, majority owners, and the board overlapped heavily.

Day-to-day operations have not changed dramatically. Taproot had already been practicing quarterly all-staff financial updates for two years before the transaction - a transparency habit that made the cultural transition smoother. Employees are now waiting for the first year-end to see what dividend distribution looks like.

The design and governance work began before the transaction closed, with joint sessions between trustees-to-be, the incoming board, and management to establish how the groups would work together. Four months in, the structure is still being refined - but the right mix of continuity and new perspective is in place.

Rewrite Capital Advisors guided the feasibility study, due diligence, and transaction design. Previous Cash Rich Exit Podcast episodes with Rewrite Capital and Firefly Insights cover the technical structure of EOTs in more detail.

Taproot's story shows that selling your company does not have to mean selling out your values. A thoughtful process - including governance at the board level - can create both liquidity and long-term stewardship. If today's episode sparked questions about your own transition, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Reach out on LinkedIn or email.

📩 Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders and business owners find the show.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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What happens after you sell the business that defined you? In this episode, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with Candace Sutcliffe, who spent nearly 20 years building The Chef's Paradise (CA Paradis)

• a 104-year-old Ottawa retail institution - from employee to president to co-owner, and then made the bold decision to sell to Quebec-based industry leader Doyon Després and step into a corporate executive role. This is a candid conversation about what it actually looks like to navigate a multi-generational business transition: the operational preparation, the culture clash considerations, the identity crisis that comes with letting go, and the unexpected lessons of moving from entrepreneur to executive. Candace shares why protecting her team was non-negotiable, how she learned to detach her identity from the business, and why the exit she never imagined turned out to be exactly the right move.

Key Takeaways:

Candace started as a retail manager at CA Paradis in 2005, became president in 2013 before acquiring the business, and co-owned The Chef's Paradise from 2017 until selling to Doyon Després about two years ago. She now serves as a corporate executive within the acquiring company.

The business had two distinct sides - retail (profit-driven) and food service (volume-driven) - that acted as natural checks and balances. When one side was up, the other was typically down, creating more consistent overall performance.

The decision to sell was not originally in the plan. An interested party prompted the conversation, and the ownership team set a number that made sense. When it was met, they moved forward. As Candace puts it: everything is for sale if the price is right.

Culture fit was the deciding factor in choosing a buyer. Another interested party from the GTA was considered, but the culture clash would have been too significant. The Doyon Després team shared a similar francophone heritage and family business DNA - and half the acquiring company had originally started their careers at CA Paradis.

Protecting the existing staff was a non-negotiable condition of the sale. The owners needed assurance that employees would be kept on, kept whole, and given opportunity for growth.

The transition from owner to executive required learning patience, letting go of control, and accepting that decisions are no longer yours to make. Candace describes an identity crisis that comes with selling - the realization that you are not your business, even when you have been the face of it for two decades.

Rebranding from CA Paradis to The Chef's Paradise was in itself a major strategic decision that took nearly a year, with deliberate thought given to logo, colour, and market positioning. The subsequent absorption into the Doyon Després brand has created new challenges in the Ontario market, particularly with Anglophone customers and staff.

In the current economy - trade wars, cost of living pressure, daily uncertainty - Candace believes it was the right time to sell. The business needed either a new location or significant infrastructure investment to continue growing, and the deeper pockets of the acquiring company made that possible.

The business still operates its experience kitchen in Ottawa, hosting wine tastings, themed dinners, and chef-led events - designed as a marketing and community-building tool rather than a profit centre.

Selling your business is not necessarily the end - it can be a stepping stone into a new chapter. If you are a business owner thinking about your own transition, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Let's make sure your exit is intentional and aligned with your values.

Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders find the show.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Host: Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor, RBC Dominion Securities

Guests: Sonya Shorey (CEO, Invest Ottawa), Jennifer Francis (Chair, Capital Angel Network), and Julia Elvidge - Co-founders of She Boot

Episode Summary: Only 2% of venture capital flows to women-founded companies - yet women start roughly 15% of all companies. In this episode, Colleen sits down with the three co-founders of SheBoot, a national nonprofit that is tackling this gap from both sides of the table - making women tech founders investment-ready and mobilizing women angel investors to fund them. What started in 2020 with 10 investors putting in $10,000 each has grown into a national program with a waitlist of investors, $300,000 in annual investment prizes, and $54 million catalyzed in follow-on funding. The conversation covers how SheBoot's dual mandate works, the special purpose vehicle structure that simplifies the cap table, real stories of founders who have scaled from pitch competition to million-dollar raises and beyond, and why getting more women investing is just as critical as getting more women funded.

Key Takeaways

Women receive approximately 2% of venture capital despite founding roughly 15% of companies. Women founders are far more likely to bootstrap - and research shows that is often by necessity, not by choice.

She Boot was born in 2020 when the co-founders noticed women were not showing up to pitch competitions. The program now operates nationally (incorporated as a national nonprofit in 2022) with founders from coast to coast.

The model has a dual mandate - helping women tech founders become investment ready, and activating women angel investors. Both sides are essential - founders need to see women in the room when they pitch, and investors need practical, hands-on education in how to evaluate deals.

Each year, 30 investors contribute $10,000 each for a total of $300,000 in investment prizes ($150K first, $100K second, $50K third). The investment is structured through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), so only one name appears on the founder's cap table while 30 partners share in the investment.

Investors receive practical angel investing education - including writing investment memos, conducting due diligence, and evaluating data rooms - paired with more experienced investors in a mentorship structure.

The program has catalyzed $54 million in follow-on funding across its portfolio of women-founded companies.

Notable alumni include Cinareo (customer support software, raised over $1M within six months of graduating), Ayrton Energy (hydrogen carrier technology for residential use, raised $10M), The Growcer (hydroponic shipping containers growing fresh produce in temperatures as low as minus 50°C, deployed in Indigenous and remote communities), and Flutter Care (med-tech wearable to detect early warning signs of stillbirth, beginning clinical trials at the Ottawa Hospital).

50% of SheBoot founders identify as BIPOC or LGBTQ+. The co-founders are actively working to build that same diversity into the investor group.

Capital Angel Network, one of the founding partner organizations, has grown from having two women members to roughly one-third women - with a goal of reaching 50/50.

In Canada, CRA data shows 90% of women-owned businesses file as self-employed, meaning most are not incorporated and not building a sellable asset.

Solving the 2% problem takes a multi-pronged approach - more women investing, more women-founded startups funded, and real-world impact that multiplies across our economy.

If today's conversation sparked ideas for your own growth-to-exit path, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell onLinkedIn or via email.

📩 Leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders find the show.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Revenue is vanity. Profit is sanity. Cash flow is sovereignty. In this episode, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with Melissa Houston - CPA, business finance coach, fractional CFO, and author of 'Cash Confident' - to explore why so many business owners are working hard but not building wealth. Melissa shares her mission to close the business financial literacy gap, particularly for women entrepreneurs, and explains how a few key changes in pricing, expense management, and cash flow can completely change a business's trajectory. The conversation covers the emotional side of money (including both Colleen's and Melissa's personal money stories), the alarming stats on women-owned businesses, and why understanding your numbers is the foundation for building a business that is not just profitable, but sellable. Melissa also previews Profit Buys, her AI-powered tech platform designed to put a fractional CFO in every business owner's pocket.

Key Takeaways:

Financial literacy is not optional for business owners. Your accountant, bookkeeper, and financial advisor are partners - but they do not give you permission to check out of your own numbers.

Revenue and profit are not the same thing. Melissa has seen seven- and eight-figure businesses go bankrupt because they were not managing cash well. Volume does not equal profitability.

The three changes that move the needle fastest are ensuring your pricing is profitable, managing your expenses deliberately, and understanding that cash balances and profit are two different things.

Many business owners do not know which of their products or services is most profitable - and often assume it is their best seller, which is not always the case. Promoting your most profitable offer can change the trajectory of the business.

Money mindset is a muscle, not a one-time exercise. Everyone carries a money story from childhood, and those stories show up in business decisions - from hesitating on sales to underpricing services.

The stats on women-owned businesses are sobering: of 13 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., only 1.9% generate over $1 million in revenue, roughly 68% make under $50,000 per year, less than 2% of women have a financially successful exit, and less than 2% of venture capital goes to women.

In Canada, CRA data shows 90% of women-owned businesses are filing as self-employed - meaning they are not incorporated and likely not building a sellable asset.

Whether you are a startup, scaling, or thinking about your exit, your business should be an asset that supports your long-term goals and legacy. If this episode has inspired you to rethink your exit path, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Reach out on LinkedIn or email.

📩 Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders find the show and build their path to a cash-rich exit.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Episode Summary: Forget everything you thought you knew about pension plans being just for government workers. In this episode, pension lawyer Jean-Pierre (JP) Laporte, Pension Lawyer and Founder, Integris Pension Management, joins host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell to share a series of powerful, real-life case studies showing how registered pension plans - including Individual Pension Plans (IPPs) and Personal Pension Plans - are quietly and dramatically transforming the wealth trajectories of incorporated business owners across Canada. From a 73-year-old founder who saved his family $4 million in a single phone call, to a lawyer who discovered his pension was exempt from departure tax when relocating abroad, these are stories of what happens when the right strategy meets the right advisor. JP also breaks down the seven tax deductions available through a registered pension plan, the 2020 Ontario regulatory changes that removed the biggest barriers to entry, and why the only thing standing between most business owners and better retirement outcomes is awareness.

Key Takeaways

Since December 8, 2020, Ontario eliminated provincial registration requirements for connected persons, removing mandatory contributions, locking-in rules, and provincial fees - a major change for business owners.

Registered pension plans offer up to seven corporate tax deductions, compared to the single annual RRSP contribution - including past service recognition, higher annual contributions (up to ~30% by age 64), special catch-up payments, investment management fee deductions, loan interest deductions, and terminal funding contributions for early retirement.

Family business owners can add children to the pension plan once they are employed, creating a multigenerational wealth transfer vehicle with no 21-year deemed disposition rule (unlike family trusts).

Business owners holding passive investments inside their corporation can sell capital properties to fund the pension plan, offset the capital gain with the pension deduction, and generate tax-free capital dividends - creating a "corporate TFSA" effect.

Pension assets are exempt from departure tax when a business owner becomes a non-resident of Canada, and cross-border pension income is taxed at just 15% under most tax treaties (versus 25% for RRSP withdrawals).

Upon death without a spouse, pension plan assets can be split among multiple beneficiaries (including charities), with each taxed only on what they receive - a significant income-splitting advantage over RRSPs.

Pension plan assets enjoy creditor protection in Ontario, unlike RRSPs held outside of insurance companies.

Ideal Candidates: Family business owners with multiple generations, C-suite executives earning high T4 income, and incorporated professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants, pharmacists).

If you are an incorporated business owner

• An IPP can be a tax smart retirement engine for the right incorporated owner, but it comes with rules, admin, and costs that need to be understood up front.
• You can fund with more flexibility as you age, but access is not as instant as an RRSP unless you plan for wind-up timing and implications.
• The structure can support creditor protection and estate or succession planning in ways many founders do not consider early enough.

Book a one on one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell to pressure test whether your personal plan is aligned with your exit and retirement strategy.

📩 Leave a five-star rating and review please. It helps more founders find the show and build their path to a cash-rich exit.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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In this episode of The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with Muneer Feeroze and Clark Steffy of Canadian Benefits Associates to unpack two powerful retirement tools for incorporated entrepreneurs: individual pension plans (IPPs) and retirement compensation arrangements (RCAs). Together, they walk through where these plans can outperform an RRSP, what "tax smart" really means in practice, and the operational realities founders need to understand before setting anything up.

In this conversation, they cover:

Who an IPP is for, and when it starts to beat an RRSP

Muneer explains that IPP contribution room increases with age, and outlines a crossover point where the IPP can become more compelling than the standard RRSP approach.

The income detail founders often miss

If you want to build contribution room, the plan is tied to T4 income rather than dividend income. This becomes part of the "prep phase" for incorporated owners who have flexibility in how they pay themselves.

The alphabet soup explained: why RCAs show up in the same conversation

They position an RCA as a way to fund retirement benefits beyond the IPP's cap, and discuss how these tools can work as a broader strategy for lowering tax burdens and boosting retirement outcomes.

Flexibility versus access: what you can (and cannot) do with IPP assets

They discuss the reality that IPPs can be funded with flexibility, but accessing the assets is more rigid unless you wind the plan up, which takes time and has costs.

Creditor protection as a strategic feature

They explain how an IPP is funded into a beneficiary trust structure, and why that can provide meaningful creditor protection relative to keeping assets inside the corporation.

What it costs to run an IPP

Unlike an RRSP, IPPs require actuarial and regulatory filings, including valuation reports filed periodically. Muneer shares a concrete annual fee example for 2025 and what it covers.

What happens to the IPP if you sell your business

They explain that an IPP needs a sponsoring corporation, and outline common paths business owners can take (including sponsorship through a Holdco, or winding up the plan). They also flag that wind-ups can trigger maximum transfer rules, which may force a portion to be paid out as taxable cash in the year of wind-up.

Family and succession planning use cases

They discuss how an IPP can be used in a family succession context, including why some people refer to it as a "family pension plan" and how intergenerational wealth transfer can become part of the strategy when a business remains the sponsor over time.

Key takeaways for incorporated founders

• An IPP can be a tax smart retirement engine for the right incorporated owner, but it comes with rules, admin, and costs that need to be understood up front.
• You can fund with more flexibility as you age, but access is not as instant as an RRSP unless you plan for wind-up timing and implications.
• The structure can support creditor protection and estate or succession planning in ways many founders do not consider early enough.

Book a one on one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell to pressure test whether your personal plan is aligned with your exit and retirement strategy.

Please leave a five star rating and a short review to help more founders discover The Cash Rich Exit Podcast.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell breaks down the basics of individual pension plans (IPPs) for Ontario incorporated business owners and professionals. She explains what an IPP is, who it fits best, and why it can be a powerful tool for turning corporate success into predictable personal retirement income as part of a cash rich exit strategy.

Episode overview

If you are incorporated in Ontario, this is a practical primer on how an IPP works as a defined benefit pension plan set up by your corporation. Colleen covers why IPP contribution room can outpace RRSP room after age 40, how contributions are generally tax deductible to the corporation, and how IPP planning supports personal income clarity after a sale or as part of succession planning.

What you will learn

What an IPP is, in plain english, and how an actuary sets the funding math under Canadian rules

Why IPPs can allow bigger deductible contributions as you get older, especially after age 40

How IPP contributions move value from corporation to personal income, in a structured way

The common fit profile (Ontario corporation, T4 income, age 40–71, profitable business that can fund contributions)

How IPP funding can include current service, past service, make-up contributions, and terminal funding near retirement What your options can be at retirement or if you sell (start pension income, commute value, or annuitize)

The tradeoffs: IPPs are not "cash jars," and they come with cost, complexity, and an ongoing contribution commitment

Key highlights

Why IPPs show up in exit planning

Colleen frames IPP planning as part of the "personal income clarity" that founders want after an exit, while still interacting with tax strategy and transferable business value decisions (including how you pay yourself).

Governance and guardrails

An IPP sits inside a trust structure with investment rules and periodic actuarial valuations, adding oversight designed to keep the pension on track.

Family and legacy considerations

Colleen notes you can design a multi-member IPP that includes a spouse and adult children who actually work in the business and receive t4 income, with survivorship dynamics that can support intergenerational planning.

Connect with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn. Book a one-on-one wealth gap analysis with Colleen to discuss whether an IPP fits your exit timeline and plan.

Subscribe on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@oconnellcampbellwealth and follow on your favourite podcast platform, and leave a five star rating and review to help more founders find the show.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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It's time for an annual tradition on The Cash Rich Exit Podcast: the Fun Frank Advice montage.

In this special episode, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell curates a fast-moving mashup of "wisdom, wit and wonderfully unfiltered moments" from this year's guests.

It's designed to be easy to consume when you're driving, between meetings, or out for a walk. This montage is both a recap of the year and a highlight reel of the mindset shifts, practical realities, and straight talk leaders wish more founders heard earlier.

Colleen also shares a key message that anchors the show: every business owner will exit, and the real question is whether yours will be intentional.

She frames a well-planned exit as more than a transaction. It can be a transformation for your family, wealth, and life after the sale.

What you'll get from this episode is a quick, high-signal listen that helps you:

• pressure-test how intentional your current plans really are
• pick up patterns and principles that apply across industries
• hear how experienced operators think about preparation, risk, and legacy

Also announcing a new space to watch Colleen! The Cash Rich Exit Podcast has expanded to YouTube. You'll find video versions of recent interviews, plus new conversations and content to help you plan, prepare, and profit from an intentional cash-rich exit. Please subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@oconnellcampbellwealth

As you hit play on this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and review to help the show reach more founders and CEOs.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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"Too Much Money Chasing Too Few Good Businesses" - Candid Insights from M&A Veteran Chad Morissette

This episode dives deep into what actually drives a successful business sale - from the emotional readiness of the founder, to internal due diligence, to navigating PE firms and family offices.

Key Highlights

Chad's journey from tech entrepreneur to M&A specialist

The difference between Main Street vs lower middle-market businesses

Why personal readiness is more important than business readiness

The 2-year preparation window that can make or break a deal

Why most owners underestimate due diligence by a mile

The value of net proceeds analysis - and why it prevents last-minute deal panic

The types of companies buyers are fighting over

Why too many businesses are owner-dependent and therefore discounted

The emotional roller-coaster of selling - and how to psychologically prepare

You'll walk away with a clear understanding of:

✔ How to make your business more attractive to buyers ✔ What PE firms actually look for ✔ Why having your team, not just your finances, ready matters ✔ What it really feels like to sell a company - as a human being, not just a founder

Fun Frank Advice from Chad

"It's an emotional roller coaster. It is full of surprises. Just keep your eye on the prize. Focus on the payday."

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In this episode of 'The Cash-Rich Exit Podcast', host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell welcomes back serial entrepreneur and M&A advisor Scott Duke, founder of Business Succession Group. Scott talks about his latest innovation - The Value Acceleration Calculator (VAC) - a practical, data-informed tool to assess sellability, estimate value, and identify key levers to increase enterprise value over time.

This conversation covers:

• Why 80% of businesses never sell, and why most founders never realize the enterprise value they hoped for.
• How the VAC can score your business' sellability and identify where risk lives inside your operations.
• The three levers every founder must understand: revenue, profit efficiency, and multiples - and how each affects your future exit.

Key Highlights

Most businesses aren't sellable in their current state. Scott explains that many founders assume every business can be sold at some price - when in fact, buyers will simply walk away if the future cash flow risk is too high.

Sellability comes down to risk reduction. The most critical factor? Dependence on the owner. If a founder is the primary relationship-holder, salesperson, or decision bottleneck - buyers see future cash flow uncertainty.

Future cash flow is everything. Buyers don't buy past success - they buy the probability of future earnings repeating. Historical financials are just the rearview mirror.

Three levers drive valuation:

1. Revenue
2. EBITDA efficiency ("how many pennies you keep per dollar")
3. Multiple

Scott emphasizes that many owners obsess over revenue (the "vanity number") rather than profitability and valuation mechanics.

Energy matters. A founder's personal capacity to implement change can determine whether the strategy should be: a buildup to sale, or a multi-year harvest of cash flow instead.

You can request the Value Acceleration Calculator by contacting Colleen O'Connell-Campbell directly via Linkedin

If this episode sparked your curiosity about:

• increasing enterprise value
• reducing exit risk
• preparing for a sale in 3-10 years
• or planning a personal Cash-Rich Exit

Reach out to Colleen O'Connell-Campbell for a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis.

And don't forget to follow and rate the podcast - five stars appreciated!

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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In part two of this insightful two-part conversation, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell reconnects with Elizabeth Kilvert, founder of 'The Unrefined Olive', to go deeper into how she built, grew, and ultimately exited a purpose-driven business.

Elizabeth shares her candid reflections on:

• Transitioning from founder to seller - and how she knew the timing was right.
• The emotional side of stepping away from a business built around community and values.
• How staying connected to purpose helped her navigate both growth and exit with integrity.
• What she learned about leadership, legacy, and letting go after years of being deeply hands-on.

This episode highlights the rarely discussed human side of business transitions - what happens when a mission-led founder has to hand over the reins, and how to do it in a way that preserves both value and vision.

If you've ever wondered how to make sure your exit aligns with your personal and professional purpose, this episode is a must-listen.

If you haven't heard it yet, catch Part 1 of this conversation (Episode 333) for the full origin story of 'The Unrefined Olive'.

Connect with host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn Book your complimentary Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen to understand how your business values translate to enterprise value.

If you enjoy this conversation, please ⭐ leave a 5-star review. Your feedback helps the show reach more founders preparing for their own cash-rich exit.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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In this episode, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with Elizabeth Kilvert, the founder and owner of The Unrefined Olive, an award-winning olive-oil and balsamic tasting bar in Ottawa.

Elizabeth shares how she transitioned from a career in environmental policy to running a thriving retail business rooted in quality, sustainability, and community connection. She and Colleen unpack the realities of small-business ownership - from managing risk and growth to understanding what a "cash-rich" exit looks like when your brand is deeply personal.

Key Highlights

From public service to entrepreneurship: How Elizabeth took a leap from government to business ownership and built a loyal following from scratch.

Lessons in resilience: The role of adaptability and creativity when facing economic changes, global supply-chain shifts, and market pressures.

Community over competition: Why Elizabeth believes relationships - not just revenue - define a business's long-term success.

Defining legacy as a founder: What it means to build something that reflects your values, supports local economies, and still allows you to plan for the next chapter.

Preparing for transition: Elizabeth's reflections on creating optionality - how to design a business that can run, evolve, or sell on your own terms.

🎧 Tune In To Learn

• How to apply a mission-driven lens to small-business ownership
• Why emotional connection can still align with financial value
• What founders can do early to create transferable, resilient businesses

If you're an entrepreneur who wants to grow your company with both heart and value, this episode is for you.

💬 Connect with Colleen

If you're a Canadian business owner planning your own cash rich exit, it's never too early to start.

Connect with host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn

Request a complimentary Wealth Gap Analysis to see where you stand on your exit timeline

🎧 Subscribe and Share

If you enjoy this conversation, please: ⭐ Leave a 5-star review 🔁 Share the episode with a business owner who needs to hear it 🎙 Follow The Cash Rich Exit Podcast for more insights from founders, investors, and exit experts

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💡 Episode Summary

In this episode, host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell sits down with Karl Sigerist - Managing Director at Shaughnessy Group and a seasoned corporate finance and M&A expert. Karl brings decades of experience helping mid-sized, often family-owned Canadian businesses (with revenues between $5 million and $50 million) navigate their most important transition: the sale of their company.

They explore what makes this "overlooked middle" of the market so unique, why selling isn't like selling your house, and how strategic planning years in advance can unlock both legacy and liquidity. Karl also shares behind-the-scenes insights from real client success stories and demystifies the role of private equity in today's business transitions.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why $5M-$50M companies are underserved in traditional M&A processes
• The importance of long-term planning and education before an exit
• Why you should start exit preparation 2-3 years in advance - or earlier
• How cultural fit between buyer and seller drives long-term success
• How private equity can protect rather than destroy value
• The difference between a transaction and a journey
• Why you shouldn't fall in love with your business - and how to prepare it for its next owner

💬 Fun, Frank Advice from Karl

"Don't fall in love with your business. It's a tool - not your identity. Treat it like a prized vintage car. Maintain it, polish it, and when it's time to sell, make sure it goes to someone who'll care for it as well as you did."

🔗 Connect with Karl Sigerist on LinkedIn

💬 Connect with Colleen

If you're a Canadian business owner planning your own cash rich exit, it's never too early to start.

Connect with host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn

Request a complimentary Wealth Gap Analysis to see where you stand on your exit timeline

🎧 Subscribe and Share

If you enjoy this conversation, please: ⭐ Leave a 5-star review 🔁 Share the episode with a business owner who needs to hear it 🎙 Follow The Cash Rich Exit Podcast for more insights from founders, investors, and exit experts

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O'Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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In this episode of the Cash Rich Exit Podcast, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell welcomes Joanna Track, serial entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of Good Eggs & Co.

Joanna has launched and exited multiple businesses - including Sweet Spot, eLuxe, and The Bullet - and now leads Good Eggs & Co., a consultancy focused on content and context marketing. Known for her candid, no-nonsense approach, Joanna shares what she’s learned about building brands with staying power, navigating exits, and avoiding common pitfalls that entrepreneurs face.

Key Highlights:

Redefining success in an exit: why an exit doesn’t always equal success, and how legacy plays a role.

From Sweet Spot to The Bullet: Joanna’s journey of launching and scaling digital-first businesses in Canada, often ahead of the curve.

The capital gap for women entrepreneurs: reflections on raising millions in funding and the systemic challenges women still face.

Don’t build on rented land: Joanna’s hard-won philosophy on creating assets you own (like email lists and websites) versus relying on platforms you don’t control.

Content with context: why brands need to serve before they sell, focus on the long game, and create authentic, relatable voices.

Personal brand vs. business brand: why people buy from people, and how leaders can use thought leadership to strengthen both.

Growth mindset: why Joanna shifted from saying she wanted to keep Good Eggs small, to embracing its rapid growth trajectory.

Fun, frank advice: be yourself, be authentic, and test - because the biggest risk is never putting your ideas into the world.

Whether you’re scaling, selling, or starting fresh, Joanna’s story offers lessons in resilience, ownership, and building a brand that thrives beyond you.

If Joanna’s insights sparked ideas for your own business or exit strategy, connect with host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn or to schedule your complimentary Wealth Gap Analysis.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Serial entrepreneur Ed Hansen joins host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on the Cash Rich Exit Podcast to share his decades-long journey founding, scaling, and selling multiple businesses - including Hanson Lawn and Gardens and Ext.tech. In this episode, Ed reveals how mindset, adaptability, and a focus on relationships have shaped his entrepreneurial path.

Key takeaways:

• The early entrepreneurial spark - from cutting grass to building a multi-million-dollar company.
• Buying vs. selling a business - why every transaction is unique and how to make sure both sides win
• Building for a future exit - the difference between creating a great product and creating a sellable company.
• Technology and user experience - how Ext evolved from Ed’s landscaping business and now powers companies across industries.
• The power of peer groups - how his role as a TEC Canada Chair gives entrepreneurs a safe space to learn, grow, and problem-solve.
• Monday Matters on LinkedIn - why Ed’s weekly videos resonate with entrepreneurs and how showing up consistently builds trust and reach.
• Fun frank advice - focus on the journey, surround yourself with the right people, and don’t take criticism from people you wouldn’t take advice from.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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In this episode of The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell sits down with Ashley Hopkins, President & CEO of Paradigm Commercial Group, and Sarah Vandenbelt, Broker of Record & Founder of Paradigm Commercial Real Estate. Together, they share how their unexpected journeys into real estate led to a powerful partnership under the Paradigm brand.

We discuss:

• The winding career paths that brought them into real estate.
• Why building strategic partnerships and strong networks is critical in a male-dominated industry.
• How property management is more than collecting rent - it’s finance, legal, emergency planning, and community-building rolled into one.
• The importance of due diligence and long-term planning in both investing and property ownership.
• Practical insights for business owners who want to use real estate strategically - whether as an operating base or an investment vehicle.
• How adaptability, collaboration, and leveraging trusted relationships drive success in real estate.

Their stories highlight what’s possible when business owners align passion with purpose, and when professionals join forces to provide full-service real estate solutions tailored to client needs.

Fun Frank Advice:

• Ashley: “Don’t take no for an answer. An obstacle is just an opportunity in disguise. Keep pushing, keep looking for resources, and surround yourself with the right people.”
• Sarah: “Don’t wait until you feel ready. Bet on yourself, take the leap, and trust that you’ll figure it out.”

Connect with Ashley & Sarah 🌐 paradigmcommercial.ca

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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What happens when your exit strategy is about more than just money? In this episode, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell talks to April Harbottle, a highly experienced M&A advisor and business transition specialist. April has spent years helping small and mid sized business owners unlock the value of their companies and transition successfully, whether through exits or by scaling with new partnerships.

Together, they explore how values, identity, and leadership evolution shape the founder journey - especially when it's time to let go.

🔍 Key Highlights

Start with an assessment - April stresses the importance of getting a business assessment early. It gives clarity on what drives value and highlights the risks buyers will zero in on.

Value is only half the story - Beyond valuation, founders need to understand buyer concerns: risks, gaps in operations, and financial vulnerabilities that could affect deal structure.

Sell when you don’t need to - April draws the parallel to borrowing: just like a line of credit, the best time to sell is when you’re not desperate. Selling while you’re in control leads to better outcomes.

The danger of waiting too long - April shares examples of deals where illness, poor results, or market shifts forced sales under pressure - leading to renegotiated terms and lower valuations.

Control = leverage - Sellers who plan early and prepare properly can dictate more of the terms, protect value, and secure a better legacy.

Why Listen

If you’re a business owner considering an exit now or in the future, this episode is packed with practical insights into when and how to start preparing. April’s advice can help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure you sell on your terms, not someone else’s.

Want Help Planning your Own Exit?

Colleen offers a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis to help you bridge the space between your business and your financial freedom. It’s a strategic conversation to ensure your exit supports your long-term wealth.

Book your call here: Email Colleen connect on LinkedIn

Help us Reach More Entrepreneurs

If you found this episode valuable, please leave a 5-star rating and a short review. It helps us get discovered and bring on more amazing guests.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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With over $2 trillion in business assets at stake and 91% of Canadian business owners without a succession plan, we’re facing a real crisis. In this episode, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell chats with Charlie Iscoe, whose venture - CommonShares - is flipping the script on business exits.

Charlie brings Wall Street investment experience and a mission to keep Canadian businesses local by transitioning ownership to employees. He explains how their model allows retiring owners to receive fair market value while protecting their teams and communities.

If you’re a founder who says, “I’ll deal with it eventually” - this episode is your wake-up call.

🔑 Key Highlights

The succession gap in Canada: 91% of business owners have no plan in place.

The CommonShares model: Founders get paid a fair price, and ownership transitions gradually to employees.

Why it matters: Preserves legacy, protects jobs, and keeps Canadian companies Canadian.

Types of businesses they acquire: Light manufacturing, professional services (architecture, engineering, accounting), property services, etc.

The people factor: How a bench of 100+ operators helps ensure continuity post-exit.

What founders can do now: Start documenting what matters - financial goals, legacy values, level of future involvement.

💬 Fun, Frank Advice from Charlie

“If you’re listening to this, it’s probably because you’ve built something remarkable. So don’t let your exit be an afterthought. Take time. Get it right. This isn’t just a transaction - it’s your legacy.”

Want to explore your own succession plan?

Colleen offers a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis - to bridge the gap between your business success and personal financial freedom. 👉 Connect on LinkedIn - Colleen O’Connell-Campbell - or email to book your session.

📝 Enjoying the podcast? Help us grow! Leave a 5-star rating and a short review. Every review helps more entrepreneurs find us.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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In this candid and energizing episode of ‘The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell sits down with author, educator, and tech entrepreneur Dr. Lindy Ledohowski. From academia to publishing to leading a fast-scaling SaaS platform, Lindy shares her story of transformation and what it really takes to walk away from one professional identity to build another.

Together, they dig into what motivates bold career pivots, the value of knowing your numbers (and knowing your worth), and how to preserve optionality - especially as a woman founder in Canada.

🔑 Key Highlights

Why letting go of sunk cost thinking opened up a path from tenured professor to successful startup founder

What women entrepreneurs need to know about being acquisition-ready - even if they aren’t looking to sell yet

The importance of shared values between co-founders when building something high-growth and high-impact

The role of structure, scale, and strategy in creative and academic transitions to tech

Lindy’s fun frank advice on knowing when it’s time to move on - and why you don’t need to apologize for growing beyond a role, title, or institution

Dr. Lindy Ledohowski is the co-founder and CEO of EssayJack, an edtech company acquired by Wizeprep. She’s also a published author, former professor, and fierce advocate for equity in entrepreneurship.

🔗 Connect with Dr Lindy on LinkedIn: Dr. Lindy Ledohowski

📩 Want to unlock the next chapter of your business story?

Book your complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O’Connell-Campbell to explore how to turn business success into personal financial freedom.

DM Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn or visit colleenoconnellcampbell.com

⭐️ Enjoying the podcast? Leave a quick 5-star rating and review. Your feedback helps more ambitious founders discover these powerful conversations.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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In this episode, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell chats with Peter Deitz, social entrepreneur and founder of Canada’s first-ever employee ownership trust (EOT) transition at Grantbook. Peter shares how his scenic, eight-year exit journey created space for new ventures, empowered employees, and protected the company’s B Corp values. The episode is a roadmap for any founder looking to exit with both financial return and community impact.

🔑 Key Highlights

The Long Game: Peter’s exit took 8 years - twice the time he spent actively running the business. He stayed in a governance role and planned a patient, values-aligned transition.

First in Canada: Grantbook became the first Canadian company to officially transition to an Employee Ownership Trust on Jan 1, 2025. This structure ensures lasting impact and local wealth-building.

The Emotional Return on Exit: For Peter, legacy outweighed liquidity. He prioritized a fair price while choosing a structure that would protect jobs, uphold mission, and keep culture intact.

Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned: He reflects candidly on tax structuring choices that impacted capital gains exemptions - and offers advice for others planning ahead.

New Chapter with Unwrapit: Peter is now growing a digital gifting company, Unwrapit, which aligns social impact with user choice and sustainability.

Fun, Frank Advice from Peter Deitz: “Start early. The longer the runway, the more control you have. And if you go the employee ownership route, you’ll be met by very happy employees - and a thriving community.”

☕ Curious if an Employee Ownership Trust might be your best path forward? Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O’Connell-Campbell and map out your strategy. 👉 Connect via LinkedIn or email to get started.

⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a 5-star review. Your feedback helps more founders discover how to exit on their own terms.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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In this final segment of a powerful three-part conversation, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell and Jennifer Williams explore the community-level impact of employee ownership for Canadian business owners - beyond the dollars and deal terms.

If you're a founder who wants to leave behind more than just a net worth number, this episode offers compelling reasons to consider how your exit plan could strengthen your community, not just your portfolio.

Key Highlights

💼 Employee-Owned Companies = Stability During Volatility Data shows these businesses are more likely to retain staff during tough times. That means healthier communities and more resilient local economies.

📉 Real Talk: Why Shared Ownership Drives Results From reducing turnover to solving problems like lost cutlery (literally - a $72K savings story), employee-owners think and act like stakeholders.

🏠 Keeping Businesses in the Community Selling to employees often keeps operations rooted locally, unlike third-party sales or private equity buyouts that risk relocation.

🔍 The Importance of Financial Transparency Employees who understand even basic financials make better day-to-day decisions. Jennifer breaks down why open-book thinking leads to stronger businesses.

🏛️ What Government and Economic Agencies Should Be Doing There’s a big opportunity for local development offices and boards of trade to help more founders explore employee ownership as a transition path.

📈 Canada’s First EOT Is Here - and More Are Coming With a wave of Employee Ownership Trusts launching, Colleen and Jennifer predict this model will catch fire in the next few years - just like in the UK.

🔁 The Legacy that Sticks This isn’t charity. Employee ownership allows founders to sell at value and leave a business in the hands of people who care. It’s a win-win.

🚀 Ready to Explore your Exit (whether in 2 or 10 years)?

Are you a founder without a clear succession plan? Wondering how to turn your business into a legacy?

Host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is offering a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis to help you understand your current state - and design a personal plan for your next move.

📧 Message her on LinkedIn or email to get started. Let’s make sure your exit is cash-rich, values-aligned, and future-ready.

⭐ Enjoying the podcast?

Please take 60 seconds to leave a 5-star review and short review. Your support helps more entrepreneurs find the show and plan smarter exits.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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In part two of this three-part series, Colleen welcomes back Jennifer Williams to explore the financial power behind Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). This isn't just a values-based feel-good exit. EOTs now offer significant tax advantages that can rival, and even exceed, traditional business sale routes. From how to qualify for the new $10M lifetime capital gains exemption to why Canada introduced this legislation, Jennifer breaks it all down - plus, the importance of doing it right with guidance from experts.

✨ Key Highlights and Timestamps

🕓 02:35 Why the federal government introduced EOTs in Canada

🕓 06:10 How the $10M capital gains exemption works (vs. the regular $1.25M)

🕓 10:20 What kind of business owners should explore this option now

🕓 13:45 Why most accountants and lawyers don’t yet understand EOTs

🕓 17:30 Risks: Why you shouldn’t just “DIY” this kind of exit

🕓 21:15 How EOTs help employees grow their personal wealth

🕓 25:30 The role of wealth distribution in a healthy society

🕓 28:00 Fun Frank Advice: Don’t let tax drive your decisions - just inform them

👉 Curious how an Employee Ownership Trust could benefit your financial future?

Book a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen on LinkedIn or reach out via email to bridge the gap between business success and personal wealth 📩

⭐️ Enjoying the show? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and help more founder-led business owners find the Cash Rich Exit strategy they deserve.

RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. is a member company of RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. © RBC Dominion Securities Inc. 2024. All rights reserved

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Host: Colleen O’Connell-Campbell Guest: Jennifer Williams, Founder of Firefly Insights

In part one of a three-part series, Colleen sits down with Jennifer Williams, a passionate advocate for employee ownership and founder of Firefly Insights. This episode explores how business owners can transition their companies to employees - preserving their legacy, values, and community roots - expanding their options beyond the default of private equity or selling to competitors.

Jennifer shares why employee ownership is gaining traction in Canada, how it can stabilize businesses post-exit, and why it’s not just a succession plan - it’s a cultural shift.

✨ Highlights and Time Stamps

1:45 - Why Jennifer left nonprofit work and fell in love with people-first business 5:30 - The Canadian exit landscape: Baby boomers and the private equity squeeze 10:10 - When ownership transitions go wrong (and what to do instead) 14:05 - How employee ownership compares to family succession 20:40 - Common emotional challenges for exiting founders 26:30 - Governance isn’t anarchy: Structuring roles and responsibilities 31:10 - The two-phase process of transitioning to employee ownership 38:50 - Best-fit industries and how to start the conversation

🟡 Fun, Frank Advice from Jennifer

“Even if your transition is 10+ years away, the seeds you plant now are what will bear fruit later. Start the conversation now.”

📣 Enjoyed this episode?

Leave a 5-star rating and short review on Apple Podcasts - it helps more self-made entrepreneurs like you find the show!

💼 Thinking about your own exit?

Book a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen on LinkedIn or reach out via email to bridge the gap between business success and personal wealth 📩

We’ll map out a transition that aligns your business success with personal financial freedom.

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👋 at RBC Dominion Securities

In this episode, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor, sits down with Tiara LeTourneau, CEO of Rewrite Capital Advisors, and a pioneer in bringing Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) to Canada. Tiara explains how EOTs offer a compelling, tax-efficient option for business owners who want to protect their legacy, empower their employees, and still achieve full value in an exit - without selling to a third party or private equity.

Tiara shares how she helped champion Canada's EOT legislation, inspired by robust models in the US and UK, and outlines how Canadian business owners can now benefit from one of the most advanced ownership trust frameworks in the world.

Whether you're a legacy-driven founder or a values-focused entrepreneur, this is a must-listen episode packed with strategy, innovation, and practical advice for planning a purpose-driven business exit.

✨ Key Highlights with Timestamps

01:14 - Colleen introduces the topic of employee ownership trusts (EOTs)

02:32 - Tiara explains how she got involved in the EOT space, starting after COVID with her business partner Jennifer

07:39 - Discussion of how Canada created the best EOT legislation by learning from the US and UK models

11:43 - Tiara describes the ideal company size for EOTs (25+ employees, $2M+ EBITDA)

17:11 - Explanation of how EOT sales work as a debt structure, not a gift

25:22 - Highlight of the tax benefit: No taxes on the first $10M of the sale value

28:50 - Discussion of how tax benefits can attract business owners' interest

33:01 - Tiara's advice: Consider who you'd want to sell your business to if financing weren't a constraint

Takeaway Themes

🌍 EOTs are not just for altruists - they’re viable, strategic, and tax-efficient. 🤝 Selling to your employees can protect your business’s culture and keep it Canadian. 📈 A successful EOT still requires proper valuation, due diligence, and leadership succession planning. 🚀 With a $10M capital gains tax exemption on the table, EOTs deserve serious consideration.

Are you an entrepreneur thinking about your own cash-rich exit? Let’s make sure your strategy protects both your wealth and your legacy. Book a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with me, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn.

We’ll map out a transition that aligns your business success with personal financial freedom.

🌟 If this episode helped shift your perspective or taught you something new, please leave us a 5-star rating. Your support helps us reach more members of the Self-Made Nation ready to exit with clarity and confidence.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and stay tuned for more episodes packed with exit strategies, leadership insights, and real-world advice.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back, Self Made Nation! In this episode, I reconnect with Brock Murray, co-founder of seoplus+, to explore a topic that’s fast becoming essential to business exit strategy: how to identify, measure, and maximize the value of your digital assets.

Brock shares how seoplus+ developed a proprietary Digital Asset Valuation program designed to help business owners understand the true value of their online presence - think websites, social media, ad accounts, email lists, and more.

Why does it matter?

Because overlooking these digital touchpoints can impact your exit multiple in ways most entrepreneurs don’t anticipate.

Together, we walk through real-world M&A scenarios where missing domains, poor redirect strategy, or underappreciated traffic cost companies real dollars post-sale. Whether you’re planning an exit in 12 months or 5 years, my conversation with Brock will help you make smarter decisions - starting now.

Episode Highlights

🔍 What counts as a digital asset (and why most business owners don’t realize they’re sitting on value) 💡 How to quantify web traffic, followers, and engagement as marketing value - not just vanity metrics ⚠️ A real-world cautionary tale of M&A fallout caused by lack of website control 📊 How seoplus+ calculates digital asset worth using ad value benchmarks 📉 Why underestimating the business impact of SEO, redirects, and site integration can cost you during post-merger performance 🛠️ The “Digital Asset Valuation” tool Brock’s team developed - and how to use it 🚀 Brock’s fun, frank advice: stay grounded in the basics, but don’t be afraid to experiment with new tech

💬 If this episode sparked ideas about the hidden value in your digital footprint, share it with a fellow founder!

📈 Ready to find out what your own business is worth - beyond the balance sheet? Book your complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with me, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn or reach out via email to schedule your session. Let’s map a personalized plan for your cash-rich exit.

🌟 And don’t forget - if you enjoyed this episode, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us reach more of the Self Made Nation!

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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In this episode, I sit down with seasoned M&A expert Eric Cardinal - a true connector in Canada’s investment and business exit ecosystem. With decades of experience in investment banking, private equity, and corporate finance, Eric shares how relationships, preparation, and AI-driven intelligence are reshaping the exit journey for business owners.

We dig into the power of networks like the M&A Club, the practical benefits of using AI to prepare for due diligence, and the often-overlooked realities around professional fees, timing, and tax strategy.

Whether you’re two years away from an exit - or ten - this conversation is packed with value you can act on right now.

🔑 Key Highlights

00:03:30 - Eric’s global M&A background and the growing reach of the M&A Club 00:10:45 - Why relationships are everything in a successful deal 00:17:50 - How AI tools like Optionality are helping M&A advisors prep faster and smarter 00:28:10 - The importance of industry-agnostic experience in Canadian M&A advisory 00:36:15 - What a proper capital structure looks like in a growth-by-acquisition strategy 00:46:00 - The true cost of selling your business: professional fees and preparation timelines 00:52:40 - The critical tax move you MUST make at least two years before you sell 00:56:55 - Eric’s fun, frank advice: reward yourself and diversify your financial planning team post-exit

⭐️ Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a 5-star rating and short review on Apple Podcast. It helps others in the Self Made Nation discover this valuable content.

📈 Thinking about your own business exit? Book your complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with me, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. We’ll map out a plan to secure your financial future and make your exit as intentional as your growth.

📩 DM me on LinkedIn or email me.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Ever wonder how businesses scale successfully - or why some promising companies unexpectedly falter? In this enlightening episode of ‘The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’, host Colleen sits down with Shady Abboud, CEO of Unloop Accounting and Founder of Storyline Financial. Shady specializes in helping businesses turn complex financial data into actionable insights that drive strategic growth and profitable exits.

From identifying red flags in your cash flow to understanding the crucial difference between accounting and finance, Shady breaks down key concepts every entrepreneur needs to grasp. This conversation will equip you with essential tools to make informed decisions, ensuring your business doesn't just survive but thrives and achieves a cash-rich exit.

Key highlights from this episode:

🎯 Shady’s entrepreneurial journey and why financial expertise became his passion.

📈 Understanding the critical distinction between accounting (past-focused) and finance (future-focused).

🚩 Common financial red flags entrepreneurs often miss - and how to address them proactively.

💸 Why revenue isn't king: Understanding gross margin, profitability, and critical business ratios.

🔑 The vital role fractional CFOs play in businesses with revenues between $1.5M and $10M.

🔄 The importance of tracking customer lifetime value (CLV) and acquisition costs (CAC) in strategic decision-making.

🤝 Practical tips on forecasting cash flow to maintain business health and sustainability.

Don’t miss Shady’s fun, frank advice segment, where he offers actionable insights about networking and realistic business valuation expectations - essential tips if you're looking at exiting your business in the near future.

Enjoyed this episode?

Please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating and a short review. Your feedback greatly helps us reach more entrepreneurs like you!

Ready to plan your own cash-rich exit? Schedule your personalized 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn or send a direct email to start the conversation today.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Taxes may not be the most exciting topic, but mastering tax planning is crucial for entrepreneurs aiming for a cash-rich business exit. In this insightful episode, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell sits down with Mike Nazarov, a seasoned tax partner at KPMG Canada, to decode Canadian tax updates and share essential strategies for structuring your Canadian-controlled private corporation.

Here's what you can expect from this episode:

🔑 Practical insights into the recent capital gains inclusion rate changes in Canada.

📈 Tips for optimizing your business structure for maximum tax efficiency.

🏢 Understanding the vital role of proactive tax planning in business transitions.

💼 Why your corporate structure should evolve alongside your business goals.

📆 Guidance on how frequently you should review and update your tax strategy.

Mike shares actionable advice to help you navigate the complexities of tax planning, ensuring you're positioned for success whether your exit strategy involves selling to a third party, transitioning to family, or planning for unexpected events.

Don't miss Mike's fun, frank advice on building your business "A-Team" - the essential experts every entrepreneur needs in their corner.

🎧 If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star rating and review - it helps us continue to bring valuable insights directly to entrepreneurs like you!

Let's stay connected! Reach out to Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn for personalized guidance and to explore a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis to get you on track for your own cash-rich exit.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome, Self-Made Nation! Today on The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, we talk about a crucial but often overlooked aspect of business ownership - estate planning. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is joined by Erin Kelley, estate planning lawyer at Cooligan Yehia LLP, to discuss how business owners can secure their legacy for future generations.

🏢 Why estate planning matters for business owners – Your business is one of your biggest assets. Without a solid estate plan, succession can become complicated, costly, and emotionally taxing for your loved ones.

📜 Essential estate planning documents – Wills, powers of attorney, and shareholder agreements aren’t just legal formalities - they’re tools to protect your business and family.

💰 Probate tax and multiple wills – How using primary and secondary wills can reduce probate taxes on corporate assets in Ontario.

📊 Estate freeze strategy – Lock in the value of your business for tax efficiency while transferring future growth to the next generation.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Balancing family dynamics in succession planning – Not all heirs are suited to take over the business. How do you ensure fairness while maintaining business success?

🤝 The power of a multidisciplinary advisory team – A coordinated approach with estate lawyers, tax specialists, and financial advisors is key to a seamless transition.

🎯 Fun, Frank Advice from Erin Kelley – “The planning you put off today becomes your family’s problem tomorrow.” Take action now to protect your loved ones.

✨Whether you're planning your business exit in 5–10 years or looking to safeguard your company’s future, estate planning is key.

Want a personalized strategy? Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O’Connell-Campbell to ensure your business and personal assets are protected for the next generation.

💡 Enjoyed this episode? ✅ Subscribe for more expert insights. ⭐ Leave a 5-star rating – it helps us empower more business owners like you!

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast with me, your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell. Today, we're spending time in the world of governance and leadership with Jennifer Mondoux, Managing Partner, CEO, and Founder of MondouxRollins Partners Inc. and the visionary behind Canada's Best Private Boards (also known as The Boardies).

Jennifer has a rich background – she started in journalism and then moved into helping companies find the right leaders. She really understands how important good governance is for private companies that want to grow and succeed. Because of her experience in executive search, placing leaders, and even coming up with new governance models, she has a lot of valuable advice for business owners, especially those who are thinking about selling their company - and making a cash-rich exit.

In this episode, we discuss

The Evolution of Leadership Talent Solutions: Jennifer's journey from media and PR to becoming a trusted advisor for mid-market private enterprises.

The Importance of Governance in Private Companies: Why private companies need to embrace governance for sustainable growth and value creation.

The Birth of The Boardies: How Jennifer identified a gap in recognizing governance excellence in private companies and launched Canada’s Best Private Boards.

Building Effective Advisory and Fiduciary Boards: Tips on selecting the right board members and leveraging external perspectives for business growth.

Creating a Playbook for Governance: The importance of sharing best practices and developing playbooks to guide other leaders in setting up effective governance structures.

Fun, Frank Advice from Jennifer: "What do you have to lose by thinking about people who can help you in a different capacity? It’s an opportunity to build relationships, learn, and grow – maybe even have some fun along the way."

Listen, Learn, and Apply

If you’re a founder, CEO, or part of the Self Made Nation planning your cash-rich exit, this episode is packed with actionable insights to learn how to transform governance into a growth engine for your business!

Ready to leverage governance for growth?

Nominate yourself or your company for Canada’s Best Private Boards at boardies.ca and learn more about how governance can impact your exit strategy.

Thinking about your own cash-rich exit?

I’m offering a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis to help you bridge the gap between your business success and personal financial freedom. Let’s map out a strategic plan that maximizes your wealth while keeping your legacy safe.

Connect with me, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, on LinkedIn or reach out via email to schedule your session. Let’s get you ready for your next big move!

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a 5-star rating to support the podcast and help us continue bringing valuable insights to the Self Made Nation.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Katherine Cooligan, a distinguished family law specialist and founding partner at Cooligan Yehia, LLP. With over 30 years of experience in family law, Katherine shares critical insights on how business owners can safeguard their assets and plan for potential family law challenges - including separation, divorce, and intergenerational wealth transfers.

💡 What you’ll Learn in this Episode:

⚖️ How Family Law Intersects with Business Ownership – The legal complexities when spouses work together, own shares, or have financial ties to a business.

📑 The Role of Marriage Contracts and Cohabitation Agreements – Why every entrepreneur should consider these contracts as a form of business protection.

🏦 Protecting Intergenerational Wealth Transfers – How to ensure that business assets and family wealth remain secure across generations.

🚨 What Happens When a Business Owner Separates? Key challenges, from share divisions to employment law implications, and how to prepare in advance.

🔍 High-Level Strategies for Business Owners – The importance of structuring your company with family law in mind, and why early legal advice can save you from costly disputes later.

🎯 Fun, Frank Advice from Katherine

"Spend the money at the front end instead of spending it at the back end. Getting the right legal and financial advice early is a fraction of the cost of fixing things later through litigation."

Are you a business owner planning for a cash-rich exit but haven’t considered the legal side of things? Don’t wait until it’s too late. Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with me, where we’ll look at how to secure your business, wealth, and future.

If you found this episode insightful, leave a five-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and share it with fellow business owners who need to hear this 🎧

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. In this episode, I’m joined by Lois Graveline, founder and CEO of Harmonia Philanthropy, to explore the true value of charitable giving beyond tax savings. Lois brings over 30 years of experience in the charitable sector and is passionate about driving meaningful impact for both individuals and businesses.

🎙️ What you’ll learn in this episode:

🌟 Beyond Tax Benefits: How purposeful philanthropy can drive social change and create lasting impacts within communities while offering benefits for business owners and corporations.

🤝 The Philanthropic Matchmaker: Learn how Lois helps individuals and businesses find charitable causes that align with their values and goals to foster sustainable, long-term relationships with nonprofits.

💡 Building a Culture of Giving: We talk about the steps businesses can take to make philanthropy part of their ethos, from engaging employees to creating a budget for giving.

📊 Misconceptions in Charitable Giving: Lois debunks myths like "donations just go to salaries" and explains how nonprofit organizations operate efficiently within their limited budgets.

🏆 Inspiring Examples: Hear about impactful partnerships between businesses and charities that showcase the power of long-term commitment in making a difference.

✨ Fun, Frank Advice: Lois reminds us that giving isn’t just about writing a check, it’s about creating relationships and making philanthropy a meaningful part of your business and personal legacy.

Tune into this episode to learn how to align your charitable giving with your goals and values.

And if you’re planning your cash-rich exit, I invite you to book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with me. Together, we’ll ensure your financial plans include room for meaningful impact through philanthropy. Connect with me on LinkedIn or via email to schedule your session.

Enjoyed this episode?

Please leave us a five-star rating and share the podcast with your network.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor and your host. Today, we’re joined by a seasoned entrepreneur, Marc Gingras, whose impressive journey spans startups, venture capital, and productivity innovation. Marc is the co-founder of Bloks and, in his own words, “student of entrepreneurship”, continually evolving and applying lessons from each stage of his career.

🎙️ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🛠️ The Evolution of Entrepreneurship: Marc shares candid reflections on his early days as a founder, from the highs of innovation to the challenges of navigating downturns, including the emotional and practical lessons he learned during the dot-com bubble burst.

📊 Building Productivity Solutions: You’ll hear about Marc’s journey with Tungle, Foko Retail, and his latest venture, Bloks. Learn how he designed these tools to simplify and streamline operations, saving entrepreneurs and investors valuable time.

🤝 The Power of Mentorship: Marc emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with experienced mentors, sharing how this has been instrumental in his own professional growth and success.

📈 AI-Powered Productivity: Discover how Marc’s current venture, Bloks, uses AI to create innovative solutions for venture capitalists and private equity professionals, automating tasks like data aggregation, CRM updates, and relationship insights.

🎯 Fun, Frank Advice: Marc reminds us to view entrepreneurship as a continuous learning journey, emphasizing the importance of humility, curiosity, and collaboration in achieving long-term success.

Are you preparing for your cash-rich exit? Take the first step by understanding your financial goals and gaps. I’m offering a complimentary Wealth Gap Analysis to help you align your business success with your personal financial freedom. Connect with me on LinkedIn or email to schedule your one-on-one session.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star rating and share it with fellow entrepreneurs.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Join us on The Cash Rich Exit Podcast for a special roundup of the best "Fun, Frank Advice" shared by our incredible guests this year. I’m Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities and your host, guiding you - visionary leaders of the Self-Made Nation - through strategies for building, scaling, and planning your intentional cash-rich exit.

In this celebratory episode, we reflect on the wisdom, inspiration, and actionable insights offered by our guests throughout the year. From lessons on resilience and vulnerability to practical advice on preparing for an exit, this episode is packed with candid, transformative moments that will empower you to head into 2025 with confidence and clarity.

🎙️ What you’ll Hear in this Episode:

• Navigating Challenges: How to stay motivated through tough times and believe in your vision.
• Mindset Shifts: Why embracing vulnerability and authenticity is a leadership superpower.
• Exit Strategies: The importance of early preparation, understanding your numbers, and aligning with the right advisors.
• Lessons from Niche Markets: How focusing on smaller, underserved markets can lead to life-changing outcomes.
• Frank Perspectives on Perseverance: Why the journey matters just as much as the destination.

✨ Special Thanks to all the Self-Made Nation members and professionals who joined us on the podcast this year - your insights inspire us to dream big and act boldly.

Enjoyed this episode?

Leave us a five-star rating and share the podcast with your network! Your support fuels our mission to guide entrepreneurs like you toward cash-rich exits and lasting legacies. Stay tuned for even more transformative conversations in 2025.

Happy New Year!

TTFN - ta-ta for now!

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to ‘The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. My guest today is Brad Ezard, a seasoned M&A expert and corporate lawyer with extensive experience in private equity, business restructuring, and transaction management. As a partner at Confederation M&A in Ottawa, Brad specializes in helping traditional and service-based businesses navigate the complexities of mergers and acquisitions.

🎙️ In this insightful episode, we discuss the unique challenges and opportunities these businesses face when planning for a cash-rich exit.

📊 The Dynamics of Traditional Businesses in M&A: Brad shares how these businesses differ from SaaS and tech-driven enterprises, discussing valuation trends, market positioning, and strategies to overcome challenges.

🛠️ Preparing for a Successful Transaction: Learn why early preparation is crucial. Brad explains the importance of organizing financials, cleaning up corporate structures, and aligning your goals with the market’s expectations.

💼 Finding the Right Buyer: We highlight the process of matching businesses with buyers, emphasizing the need for strategic alignment and clear communication of goals for post-sale integration.

🎯 Integration Planning: Why a seamless integration plan is critical to post-transaction success, focusing on systems, culture, and employee engagement.

✨ Fun, Frank Advice: Brad reminds us that selling a business is a journey, not a race. He stresses the importance of preparation, patience, and aligning expectations to achieve the best outcome.

Are you preparing for your cash-rich exit?

Start planning early to maximize your results.

I’m offering a complimentary wealth gap analysis to help you align your financial strategy with your exit goals. Reach out to me on LinkedIn or via email to schedule your one-on-one session. Let’s ensure your business transition is as successful as the legacy you’ve built.

Enjoyed this episode?

Please subscribe, leave a five-star rating, and share with your fellow business owners.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, here to guide you, the Self-Made Nation, through the strategies and stories that lead to successful business exits. In this episode, I’m joined by Boris Petkovic, Director at Sampford Advisors Inc., a leading M&A advisory firm specializing in technology companies.

We chat about the dynamic world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the tech sector, with insights tailored to entrepreneurs and founders aiming for a cash-rich exit.

🎙️ What you’ll Learn in this Episode:

🌐 The State of Tech M&A: Boris shares key trends shaping the post-pandemic M&A landscape, including a significant dip in deal volumes from 2021 peaks and how quality companies are navigating the market today.

📊 Ottawa’s Thriving Tech Ecosystem: Why Ottawa remains a hub for innovation, with its rich history in telecom and the enduring impact of Nortel's legacy. Boris highlights how local resources like Wesley Clover have supported the growth of new startups in the region.

🤝 Private Equity’s Role in M&A: Learn about the key players in tech M&A, from private equity firms to strategic buyers, and how these groups approach acquisitions to expand markets or add product capabilities.

🛠️ When to Start Planning your Exit: Thoughts on the ideal time for tech founders to begin consulting M&A professionals, emphasizing how early planning helps entrepreneurs align their growth trajectory with valuation goals.

🎯 Fun, Frank Advice for Entrepreneurs: Don’t overlook niche markets! Boris explains how focusing on smaller, less competitive “micro markets” can lead to life-changing exits, even without chasing billion-dollar industries.

Are you thinking about your exit strategy? Let’s ensure you’re on the right path to a cash-rich exit. I’m offering a complimentary wealth gap analysis to help you align your financial plans with your business goals. Connect with me on LinkedIn or email to schedule your one-on-one session.

Enjoyed this episode? Please take a moment to leave a five-star rating - it helps us reach more entrepreneurs like you who are building towards their successful exit.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. In this episode, we wrap up our enlightening three-part series with leadership coach Eric Deschamps. We talk about one of the most personal aspects of an entrepreneurial exit: redefining identity and purpose beyond the business.

🌟 Rediscovering yourself After the Exit:

We discuss the psychological impact of leaving behind the role of business owner and the challenge of finding a new sense of self. Many entrepreneurs define their identity by their work, and the prospect of stepping away can feel like stepping into a void.

🧠 The Role of Vision, Mission, and Values:

We explore how understanding your core values and crafting a personal vision can give you clarity and direction for the next chapter of your life. Eric introduces a framework for uncovering or redefining these elements to align with your current stage of life.

🏆 Practical Tools for Transitioning:

From redeeming your past story to taking on reflective exercises like the 15-Day Life Vision Challenge, Eric provides actionable strategies for reconnecting with your purpose and discovering joy outside of your business.

🎯 Key Takeaways for the Self-Made Nation:

• Your Purpose Is More Than your Business: Start exploring what life beyond work looks like now, not when the sale is imminent.
• Reflect on your Core Values: Use your values as a compass to navigate the next chapter of your life.
• Take the First Step: Stop waiting for change to come to you - start creating the life you want today.

Are you ready to start planning for your cash-rich exit while preparing for a meaningful next chapter? Let’s connect. I’m offering a complimentary one-on-one wealth gap analysis to help you align your financial plans with your personal vision. Reach out to me on LinkedIn or email to schedule a conversation. Together, we’ll create a roadmap for your future.

Thank you for listening to this series with Eric Deschamps. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a five-star rating - it helps us continue bringing you actionable insights for your business journey.

Until next time, TTFN - ta-ta for now!

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to ‘The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’! I’m your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. Today, we continue our conversation with Eric Deschamps, a leadership and business coach who talks about the often-overlooked issue of loneliness in leadership. Eric brings insights on how to navigate isolation, especially for those at the top who may feel the weight of leading, without a peer group to lean on.

🌟 Redefining Leadership Loneliness: Eric opens up about the reality of isolation many leaders experience, describing it as a "silent pandemic," especially for men who may lack a support system outside of work. He emphasizes that leadership is about making hard decisions AND about finding the courage to seek connection and support.

🧠 Navigating the "Lone Wolf" Mindset: We explore the common “lone wolf” mindset often encouraged in leadership, where self-reliance becomes a double-edged sword. Eric explains the difference between standing strong in solitude when necessary and living in prolonged isolation, which can negatively impact both personal and professional growth.

💪 Strategies for Overcoming Isolation: Eric shares actionable advice on creating a network of support, finding mentors, and establishing an inner circle for meaningful connection. He stresses the importance of reaching out, sharing vulnerabilities, and moving from self-imposed isolation to a mindset of connection and openness.

💼 Key Takeaways for the Self-Made Nation:

1. Loneliness Isn’t Permanent: Recognize that isolation can be a temporary phase and that you have the power to change it.
2. Embrace Vulnerability: True connection begins when you’re willing to show your authentic self.
3. Find your People: Seek a community or mentor group to share both your challenges and triumphs.

Thank you for listening to this valuable discussion, and stay tuned for the final part of our series with Eric. As you hit play on this episode, please drop me a 5-star rating. Your support helps more entrepreneurs find this valuable content.

Starting to think about your exit from your business?

Join me for a one-on-one wealth gap analysis and let’s craft a strategy that supports both your financial goals and your journey toward a balanced, fulfilling exit. Reach out to me on LinkedIn or email to schedule a time for us to connect.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor to business owners working towards a cash rich exit. In today’s episode, we kick off part one of a three-part conversation with business and leadership coach, Eric Deschamps. Eric brings a wealth of knowledge, sharing insights into maintaining work-life balance - though, as you'll hear, he prefers the term "work-life rhythm".

🎙 The Ebb and Flow of Life and Business: Eric talks to me about the importance of understanding that life and business are not meant to be perfectly balanced, but rather harmonized in an ebb and flow. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing different seasons in life and business and how to adjust to them, rather than striving for unrealistic balance.

🛠 Tackling Burnout: Eric shares his personal experiences with burnout and highlights the common signs entrepreneurs face, including fatigue, irritability, and lack of motivation. He discusses how taking time off is only part of the solution. To truly overcome burnout, systemic changes and mindset shifts are necessary.

🧠 The Power of Leadership and Self-Care: As a coach, Eric has worked with thousands of leaders. He explains that effective leadership is about more than business strategies - it’s about personal growth, mindset shifts, and prioritizing self-care. By focusing on yourself and investing in your own well-being, you bring the best version of yourself to every role, both personally and professionally.

📈 Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs:

• Watch for Burnout: If you’re asking yourself, “Am I burnt out?” you likely are. It’s time to seek help and make changes before burnout derails you.
• Delegate Wisely: Leaders must delegate tasks effectively to focus on the highest and best use of their time, rather than getting bogged down in minor tasks.
• Recognize your Season: Understand that life and work come in seasons - sometimes your business needs more attention, and sometimes your personal life does. Adjust your priorities accordingly.

Are you feeling the weight of balancing business and life? It might be time to evaluate your current situation and your future exit strategy so you can focus on securing your financial future. Reach out to me for a complimentary one-on-one wealth gap analysis, and let's start crafting a plan that gives you the freedom to live your best life while building toward a cash-rich exit.

Thank you for tuning in, and stay with us for the next two parts of this enlightening conversation with Eric Deschamps.

Until next time, TTFN (ta-ta for now)!

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I'm your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. In today’s episode, I sit down with Lily Bond, the inspiring young entrepreneur behind Spyce Girlz, who launched her business as a teenager and turned it into a thriving brand. As an entrepreneur in her 20’s, Lily has already faced immense challenges and learned how to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape, offering valuable insights for seasoned business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.

🧑‍🍳 Building a Business from Scratch: Lily shares her entrepreneurial journey, starting Spyce Girlz in high school to solve a problem she noticed in the spice industry - too much salt and too many unhealthy ingredients. Her story is a perfect example of how passion and necessity can lead to innovation and success.

🌱 The Power of Mentorship: Lily discusses the role of mentorship and the support she received, from her mother to business accelerators like Invest Ottawa and YSpace. She explains how this guidance has helped shape her entrepreneurial education, proving that even "self-made" entrepreneurs need a strong support system.

💪 Overcoming Challenges as a Young Entrepreneur: One of the biggest hurdles Lily has faced is being underestimated as a young woman in business. She talks of her experiences with suppliers and contractors who didn’t take her seriously and how she learned to advocate for herself and demand the quality her business deserves.

🏆 Fun, Frank Advice: Lily’s key piece of advice? “Don’t be afraid to be weird.” She encourages entrepreneurs to be bold, be different, and embrace their authentic selves. It’s these traits that set successful businesses apart.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Trust your instincts and follow your passion.
• Advocate for yourself, especially when others don’t give you the respect you deserve.
• Surround yourself with a support system, but also learn to navigate the tough decisions alone.
• Being bold and different is a competitive advantage in business.

If you’re looking for inspiration from a fearless young leader who’s already making waves in the business world, this episode is a must-listen!

Want to shape your business journey in preparation for a cash-rich exit? Let’s connect! I’m offering a complimentary 1:1 wealth gap analysis to help you navigate your next steps. Reach out to me on LinkedIn or via email to schedule your one-on-one session.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, where we discuss the entrepreneurial journey from inception through to a successful exit. I’m Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, your host and Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities. Today, we're joined by Sheena Brady, the dynamic founder of tease, a company that’s redefining wellness with its unique tea and botanical-infused essentials.

🌿 From Hospitality to Health: Sheena shares her body of work from a decade-long career in hospitality to discovering the potent world of tea and functional botanicals. This pivot was a career change and a personal health revelation that inspired the foundations of tease. Sheena discusses how early challenges and a serendipitous introduction to tea sommelier training sparked her entrepreneurial spirit.

💪 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: A passionate advocate for women in business, Sheena talks about founding the Founders Fund, an initiative that supports underrepresented women entrepreneurs through funding, education, and mentorship. This effort reflects her commitment to creating opportunities for women, mirroring her own journey of overcoming the obstacles to success.

🌱 Sustainability and Impact: Tease isn’t just about tea; it’s about creating a sustainable and impactful business. Sheena delves into how Tease has integrated sustainability into every aspect of its operations, from product development to community engagement. Her approach not only enhances the brand's market appeal but also sets a new standard for ethical business practices.

🔗 Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs:

Understand Your Wealth Gap: Sheena emphasizes the importance of knowing what resources you need to maintain your lifestyle without your daily business operations.

Invest in Protection: She encourages considering safeguards to protect against unforeseen health issues that could impact personal finances and business operations.

Plan for Non-Sale Exits: Sheena’s story highlights the need for alternative exit strategies that ensure both financial security and legacy preservation.

📢 If you’re contemplating your exit strategy, or how to infuse more purpose into your entrepreneurial ventures, let’s connect. I offer a complimentary one-on-one wealth gap analysis to help you navigate your options and plan effectively. Reach out on LinkedIn or email to book your session.

Thank you for tuning in to today’s episode. If Sheena’s story has inspired you or sparked ideas for your own business journey, I’d love to hear from you. And remember, building a business is about crafting a legacy - not just for financial gain but for community impact. Until next time, keep striving towards your own cash-rich exit.

TTFN, ta-ta for now!

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Welcome (back) to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I'm Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, your host and Wealth Advisor, dedicated to guiding you, the Self Made Nation, through the pivotal transitions of your entrepreneurial journey.

Today, I’m calling your attention to a topic that is perhaps not as talked about as it should be by Canadian CEOs, founders, and business owners: preparing for a future where selling your business might not be an option. It’s a reality that 91% of business owners over 55 are facing without a formal succession plan.

In this episode I’ll give you the primer you need to start planning.

🔍 Understanding the Importance of Early Planning:

Tax Minimization: Strategies to reduce your tax liability as you transition your business.

Strategic Business Transition: How to plan effectively for handing over your business reins.

Planning for Retirement and Financial Freedom: Ensuring your post-business life is secure and fulfilling.

Wealth Transfer: How best to pass on your wealth to the next generation.

We'll explore these areas through the story of "Sally", a CEO-Founder of a consultancy firm whose business model relied heavily on her daily involvement. When a health crisis struck, the lack of a protective business framework led her business to falter, highlighting the critical need for robust planning.

🛡️ Key Takeaways you’ll Gain from this Episode:

Understand your Wealth Gap: Identify what resources you need to maintain your lifestyle without the business’s daily operations.

Consider Protection: The importance of critical illness insurance* or similar safeguards to protect against unforeseen health issues that could impact your business and personal finances.

Plan for Non-Sale Exits: Develop strategies for exiting your business that don't rely on finding an external buyer but secure your legacy and financial future.

🌟 Sally's Story as a Learning Tool: Sally's experience underscores the necessity of a wealth gap analysis and having a plan that encompasses the ideal exit and prepares for unexpected challenges.

📈 An Invitation to Action: If Sally’s situation resonates with you, or if you're starting to think about your exit strategy, whether it’s looming in the near future or further down the line, I'm here to help. I offer a complimentary one-on-one wealth gap analysis that can help you put in place a strategy to bridge financial gaps and prepare comprehensively for the future. Reach out to me via LinkedIn or email.

Disclaimer: Please note that this podcast episode references insurance.

The strategies, advice and technical content presented are provided for the general guidance and benefit of our listeners, based on information that we believe to be accurate and complete, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

This published content is not intended as nor does it constitute legal or tax advice.

Listeners should consult their own lawyer, accountant or other professional advisor when planning to implement a strategy.

This will ensure that their own circumstances have been considered properly and that action is taken on the latest available information. Interest rates, market conditions, tax rules, and other investment factors are subject to change.

Insurance products are offered through RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc.(“RBC WMFS”), a subsidiary of RBC Dominion Securities Inc.(“RBC DS”)*

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Hello, Self-Made Nation! I’m your host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. As we wind up the summer, we’re rounding out our powerful book club series, where we’ve sailed through the investment strategies of some of the great financial minds.

📘 Retrospective Insights: In this series, we set out on a literary journey with Benjamin Graham's "The Intelligent Investor," then we travelled the unpredictable paths of Burton Malkiel's "A Random Walk Down Wall Street," and finally explored the innovative ideas of Robin Wigglesworth's "Trillions". Each book offered unique insights into building a robust financial foundation, emphasizing market pricing, the futility of timing the market, and the undeniable power of diversification.

🔍 Key Strategies

In EP 298 we covered The Intelligent Investor: We revisited Graham's time-honoured principles of value investing which taught us the virtues of discipline and patience, and the importance of focussing on long-term growth rather than short-term speculation.

In EP 300 we A Random Walk Down Wall Street: Malkiel's work reinforced that market movements are unpredictable in the short term, advocating for the efficiency of broad-market index funds over the risks of individual stock picking.

In EP 301 we covered Trillions: We delved into the transformative impact of index funds and ETFs as detailed by Wigglesworth, illustrating how a systematic investment approach based on market indices can significantly enhance post-business exit wealth creation.

If you haven’t listened to those episodes yet, I recommend you start there.

🌊 Charting Future Courses: As we anchor this series, the combined wisdom of these pivotal works steers us toward one clear horizon - the power of a diversified, evidence-based investment strategy. This philosophy not only aligns with our mission at The Cash Rich Exit Podcast but also paves the way for you, the visionary entrepreneur, toward sustainable financial independence and wealth preservation.

🧭 Setting Sail for New Adventures: As we chart new territories in upcoming episodes, I invite you to reflect on these teachings and integrate them into your investment strategy. Prepare to navigate the next phase of our journey together with the solid foundation of a well-crafted investment philosophy. Subscribe to our podcast and never miss an episode that could make a crucial difference in your financial and entrepreneurial journey.

Thank you, Self-Made Nation, for joining me on this summer of discovery.

Until next time, may your investments be wise, your vision clear, and your resolve unwavering on your journey to a cash-rich exit.

I am your host - Colleen O’Connell-Campbell: Connect with me on LinkedIn

📞 Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen

Planning to exit your business in 5-10 years? Evaluate and close your wealth gap. Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis session with me via LinkedIn today and start your journey towards a cash-rich exit!

As you hit play, please leave us a five-star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, I'm Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, your host and Wealth Advisor. On this podcast, we talk about the entrepreneurial journey, from the inception of a business idea through to a wealth-focused exit. Today marks our third and final episode in a ‘book club’ series focused on transformative investment philosophies, joined by Alicia Castellino, Senior Relationship Manager at Dimensional Fund Advisors.

We read "Trillions" by Robin Wigglesworth, a book that chronicles the revolutionary rise of index funds and ETFs, instruments that have reshaped the investment landscape. This narrative is a tale of financial innovation and a testament to the power of disruption and simplicity - themes resonant with every entrepreneur.

Key Insights from 'Trillions':

🚀 Innovation and Disruption: We explore the creation of index funds as a disruptive force in finance, paralleling the innovative spirit that drives your businesses. Understanding these principles can provide strategic insights into managing wealth post-exit.

🛠️ Simplifying Investment: Just as index funds have democratized investing by making it accessible and easier to manage, we discuss how entrepreneurs can simplify their wealth management strategies to ensure a smooth transition from active involvement to passive income generation.

🌟 Lessons from Wall Street Mavericks: The foresight shown by the pioneers of index funds offers valuable lessons on anticipating market needs and executing ideas that can lead to widespread impact. We draw parallels to how you can position your business and personal finances for long-term success.

🏆 Warren Buffett’s Endorsement: Reflecting on Warren Buffett's famous wager that highlighted the effectiveness of index funds over active management, we discuss the importance of choosing investment strategies that are proven to yield long-term benefits.

🔍 Evidence-Based Investment Philosophy: The episode underscores the necessity of adopting an evidence-based approach to investing, which aligns with the principles of index funds - minimizing risk while embracing the market’s overall upward trajectory.

As we wrap up our insightful book club trilogy, I hope these discussions inspire you to look at your investment strategies through a new lens - appreciating the value of simplicity, evidence, and strategic foresight in your journey toward a cash-rich exit.

Stay tuned and keep in touch with me on social as I continue to bring you more episodes filled with expert insights and practical advice tailored for entrepreneurs like you. Subscribe to our podcast and never miss an episode that could make a crucial difference in your financial and entrepreneurial journey.

And if you’ve enjoyed this series, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating. Your feedback not only supports our work but also helps us reach and help more entrepreneurs achieve their goals.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Hello, Self Made Nation, and welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. As we celebrate our 300th episode today - a true milestone - I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for joining me on this journey. Your engagement and feedback have transformed this podcast into a beacon for entrepreneurs aiming for a prosperous and intentional business exit.

A Cash Rich Exit!

For this milestone episode we continue our focus on investment philosophy. I am joined by Alicia Castellino, Senior Relationship Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors, as we read an investment classic, "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Burton Malkiel. This book it's a masterclass in understanding market behavior and harnessing it to support the wealth you've earned through your business.

📘 Investment Strategies from "A Random Walk Down Wall Street":

🔍 Understanding Market Behavior: We dissect the random walk theory which suggests that stock market prices move randomly and unpredictably—a crucial concept for demystifying market gyrations.

🧩 Debunking Stock Picking Myths: With Malkiel as our guide, we tackle the essence of market efficiency and the myths surrounding stock picking.

📊 Emphasizing Discipline: We emphasize the power of a disciplined, broad-market investment approach, integrating these principles into strategies that align with your dynamic business journey.

As we weave through the metaphorical streets of Wall Street, let’s unravel the intricate tapestry of investment strategies that transition you from active business management to passive wealth growth.

🌟 Celebrating Our Journey Together: Reaching episode 300 is not just a number but a testament to our collective quest for knowledge and empowerment. Each episode, each conversation, and each insight serves as a stepping stone towards achieving our ultimate goals of financial independence and a successful business exit.

Join me in the next episode as we continue to explore foundational investment philosophies and strategies. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. Your support through ratings and reviews helps us reach more listeners like you, empowering more entrepreneurs on their journey to a cash-rich exit.

Here's to many more episodes of learning, growth, and success.

Thank you, Self Made Nation, for walking this path with me.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, where we talk about the full spectrum of the entrepreneurial journey with a keen eye on successful, planned exits. I'm your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, here to guide you through building a thriving business designed for a prosperous future. In today’s episode, I emphasize the importance of an investment philosophy as a cornerstone of financial success and stability.

I'm joined by Alicia Castelino, Senior Relationship Manager of the Wealth Management Group at Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada. We’re kicking off our book club trilogy by studying "The Intelligent Investor - The Definitive Book on Value Investing" by Benjamin Graham.

Hit play now because here’s a glimpse into what we cover:

📘 Understanding Value Investing: We begin our discussion by exploring the timeless principles laid out by Benjamin Graham, focusing on the crucial difference between investing and speculating. Understanding this distinction is essential for developing a long-term investment strategy that withstands market volatility.

📊 Long-Term Investment Strategies: Alicia and I discuss the importance of having a long-term game plan in investing. Patience and discipline are not just virtues but necessities for anyone looking to build and preserve wealth over time.

🔍 The Merits of Diversification: Diversification is a bedrock principle of successful investing. From managing inflation impacts to wealth preservation, diversification helps mitigate risks and enhances the potential for steady returns.

💲 Exploring the Value of Value Investing: The conversation turns to the core of value investing - understanding the real worth of investments and why cost matters. This segment illuminates the strategies for identifying undervalued assets that can contribute to robust investment returns.

📈 The Role of Professional Financial Advice: Professional advice can be invaluable in navigating complex financial markets. We discuss how consulting with experts can help tailor a financial plan that considers tax consequences, estate planning, and legacy building, ensuring a comprehensive approach to wealth management.

🎯 Prioritizing Goals Over Market Gains: One of the most crucial discussions today revolves around the question, "What’s more important? Beating the market or achieving your financial plan?" This discussion helps reframe investment success as meeting personal financial goals rather than just outperforming the market.

This episode is packed with insights and actionable advice. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting your financial journey, Alicia’s expertise and our discussion on Benjamin Graham’s principles will undoubtedly offer valuable perspectives.

🌟 Your Feedback Matters: If you enjoy the show and find our conversations enriching, please consider leaving us a five-star rating on iTunes. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you, empowering the Self-Made Nation with the knowledge to achieve financial independence.

Connect with me, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn, and we can read together in my summer book club.

Are you ready to explore how to set yourself up for a Cash Rich Exit from your business? Book a Wealth Gap Analysis with me via email or LinkedIn.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, here to guide ambitious entrepreneurs through the complexities of building a business designed for a prosperous and fulfilling exit. Today marks the beginning of a special series - our summer book club!

📚 The Summer's Reading List: Join me as we dive into three seminal books on investment that are cornerstone to any entrepreneur’s financial library. Whether you are a seasoned investor or just beginning to navigate the financial waters, these books promise to enrich your understanding and sharpen your investment acumen:

📘 The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing by Benjamin Graham

📙 A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel

📗 Trillions by Robin Wigglesworth

🌟 What to Expect: This series isn’t just about reading; it’s about engaging in a meaningful dialogue about the principles these books discuss and applying them to your entrepreneurial and investment efforts. Expect insightful discussions, refreshed with our new theme focusing on navigating your journey toward a cash-rich exit.

🤓 Get Involved: I encourage you to join the conversation on LinkedIn, tag me in your posts, as you read; and let’s discuss these concepts together. It’s also a good way way to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and deepen our collective understanding of investment strategies.

🌞 Here’s to a Productive and Insightful Summer: Thanks for tuning in, and as always, I am excited to guide you through these complex nuances of entrepreneurship and investment. Let’s make this summer enjoyable and incredibly productive with new insights and strategies that pave the way to your eventual cash-rich exit.

💬 Feedback Makes Us Better: If you enjoyed today’s episode or any of our series, please leave us a 5-star rating. Your support motivates us to keep bringing valuable content to you and the entire Self-Made Nation.

Connect with Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, where I, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, guide you - ambitious CEOs, founders, and business owners - through critical entrepreneurial financial transitions. Today’s episode is especially important for those of you over the age of 40 with a significant T4 income, as we explore an exceptional tool for securing your financial future: the Individual Pension Plan (IPP).

🌟 Why Consider an IPP?

The IPP offers a suite of benefits tailored for business owners aiming to maximize their retirement savings while minimizing taxes. I cover the breakdown in the episode including:

Tax Advantages: Contributions made by your corporation are tax-deductible and grow on a tax-deferred basis, providing a potent mix of immediate and long-term tax savings.

Higher Contribution Limits: Unlike RRSPs, IPPs allow for higher contribution limits, which increase with age, making them an excellent option for those looking to catch up on their retirement savings.

Creditor Protection: Enjoy peace of mind knowing your retirement savings in an IPP are protected from creditors.

Flexible Retirement Options: IPPs provide flexibility in terms of retirement age and benefits, aligning perfectly with personal and business exit strategies.

📊 How Does an IPP Work?

Funding: Your corporation funds the IPP, ensuring sufficient assets to provide the required retirement benefits, with contributions determined by an actuary.

Investment: While IPP funds can be invested similarly to those in an RRSP, they come with certain restrictions due to pension legislation. The funds must be managed under a "prudent investor" standard, focusing on diversification and risk management.

Retirement: Upon retirement, the IPP can begin making pension payments directly to you, or the commuted value can be transferred to another retirement savings plan. These payments are eligible for pension income splitting and tax credits, optimizing your financial benefits.

Remember, planning early for your exit and retirement is about securing financial freedom and ensuring a smooth transition to a comfortable retirement. Do seek out opportunities to enhance your financial well-being with tailored, sector-specific advice.

I am your host - Colleen O’Connell-Campbell: Connect with me on LinkedIn

📞 Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen

Planning to exit your business in 5-10 years? Evaluate and close your wealth gap. Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis session with me via LinkedIn today and start your journey towards a cash-rich exit!

Thank you for tuning in to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. If you’ve found this episode enlightening, please leave us a five-star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and share your thoughts.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and today, we're visiting the agribusiness world with Lisa Courtney Lloyd, Vice President of Business Development at Market Maker Agriculture. With her extensive background in corporate strategy and marketing, Lisa offers invaluable insights into navigating the complex landscape of mergers and acquisitions within the agribusiness sector.

🌱 Our Conversation Focuses On:

🌾 Exploring the unique challenges faced by agribusiness owners, especially those in family-run operations who may lack a succession plan.

📈 Understanding the importance of preserving legacy while ensuring a business’s longevity and operational continuity post-sale.

💼 Discussing the strategic moves agribusiness owners can make today to prepare for a successful exit tomorrow.

🔑 Key Insights Include:

🤝 The role of strategic partnerships and how finding the right buyer can impact the future success of your agribusiness.

🌍 The significance of aligning a business’s operational goals with market realities to enhance its value and appeal to potential buyers.

🔄 Preparing for the complexities of the sales process and how to navigate them effectively.

📢Are you an agribusiness owner thinking about the future of your enterprise? Connect with Lisa Courtney Lloyd and the team at Market Maker Agriculture to explore how you can position your business for success in the long term.

I am your host - Colleen O’Connell-Campbell: Connect with me on LinkedIn

📞 Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen

Planning to exit your business in 5-10 years? Evaluate and close your wealth gap. Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis session with me via LinkedIn today and start your journey towards a cash-rich exit!

Thank you for tuning in to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. If you’ve found this episode enlightening, please leave us a five-star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and share your thoughts.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. In today's episode, my guest is Michael Black, a strategist and partner at Richter Consulting. Michael brings a wealth of experience in helping business owners strategically position their businesses for an optimal exit.

Michael and I discuss:

🔖 Strategic Exit Planning - Michael shares his insights on how effective exit planning is not just a transaction but a strategic element of business management.

🌐 Long-Term Vision - Aligning personal and corporate goals with your exit strategy is key to ensuring that you’re building towards a successful transition; whether it's this year or a decade from now.

🔍 The Role of Diligence - Understanding the expanded scope of due diligence in today’s market and how thorough preparation can reduce disruptions during the sales process.

👥 Navigating the Stakeholder Landscape - The critical role of stakeholders in the exit process and how to manage their expectations and involvement effectively.

Key Takeaways

🗝️ Preparation is Key - Learn why starting early with your exit strategy can significantly impact the success of your business transition.

🔄 Personal and Corporate Alignment - Insights on how aligning your personal vision with your business goals can smooth the path to a successful exit.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Understanding Stakeholders - Michael emphasizes the importance of considering the needs and impacts on various stakeholders, not just the financial aspects.

Are you contemplating how best to position your business for a future exit?

It's never too early to start planning.

Connect with Michael Black on LinkedIn.

🎯 I invite you to consider the strategic alignment of your business and personal goals. How are you planning your exit strategy to ensure a prosperous future?

Connect with me, your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn, share your insights, let’s get a conversation started on how a well-crafted exit strategy can not only enhance your business value but also secure your financial future. Book a Wealth Gap Analysis with me via email or LinkedIn.

If you’ve found this episode with Michael Black helpful, please leave us a five-star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Your support helps us reach more entrepreneurs like you, empowering more to plan their cash-rich business exits.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. I’m Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, your host and Wealth Advisor. Today, dissecting an important question: Is vulnerability in leadership a weakness or a strength?

🔍 In This Episode:

I discuss the profound impact that embracing vulnerability can have on leadership. Inspired by Susan Blain (my last guest; if you haven’t heard it, please hit play on Episode 293 first). Susan and her Dare to Be Vulnerable initiative gave me the inspiration for this episode, where I examine how showing our human side can actually be a strategic advantage in both business and personal growth.

💪 Reflections on Strength and Vulnerability:

"Sometimes our strength is expressed in being vulnerable. Sometimes we need to fall apart to regroup and stay on track," a reflection that resonates deeply as we discuss the challenges and pressures leaders face.

🌟 Key Takeaways:

Vulnerability as a Leadership Tool: Understand how showing your authentic self can lead to deeper connections with your team and foster a supportive business environment.

Mental Wellness as a Superpower: Learn why addressing mental health openly can enhance your leadership capabilities and overall business health.

From Pain to Empowerment: Hear how personal adversities can transform into lessons of resilience and empathy, providing a roadmap for others in leadership.

📖 Personal Insights:

Reflecting on the losses and challenges in my own life, from navigating early bereavement to managing a burgeoning business amidst personal trials, has underscored the importance of support systems and openness in leadership.

🎯 I invite you to reflect on your own leadership journey. How can you integrate vulnerability and mental wellness into your style?

Engage with us, connect with me, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn, share your stories, and consider how embracing these aspects can not only improve your own quality of life but also set a positive example for your teams.

Remember, vulnerability in leadership is more than showing weakness; it’s showcasing true strength in understanding and managing human emotions.

Are you ready to explore how your leadership style and personal challenges are impacting your business and how it can set you up for a Cash Rich Exit from your business when you are ready? Book a Wealth Gap Analysis with me via email or LinkedIn.

If you’ve found this episode helpful, please leave us a five-star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

It helps us find more audiences to empower in their business journey.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, where we explore the full spectrum of the entrepreneurial journey, focusing on creating planned, prosperous exits. I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, here to guide you through the nuances of building a thriving business with an eye towards a future exit.

🎙️ In This Episode:

Today, we are joined by Susan Blain, founder of the Dare to Be Vulnerable Project, which delves into the critical interplay between entrepreneurial success and mental wellbeing. In our discussion, we explore how embracing vulnerability can be a profound strength in the business world.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Vulnerability as Strength: Learn how opening up about personal challenges doesn't weaken leadership but rather fortifies the foundations of business relationships and team dynamics.

Entrepreneurial Wellbeing: Discover the tools and mindsets necessary for maintaining mental health while managing the stresses of entrepreneurship.

Building Resilient Teams: Understand the importance of creating a workplace culture that supports mental health; enhancing productivity and job satisfaction.

🎤 A Special Guest:

Susan Blain shares her personal journey through significant trials, including her battle with depression and homelessness, to her rise as a champion for mental health awareness. Her project encourages candid conversations about mental health challenges, breaking down the stigmas that often silence those in need.

📢 Join us in embracing the challenges and vulnerabilities we all face. To hear more about Susan’s inspiring journey and her insights into integrating mental health support within the entrepreneurial landscape, listen to this episode.

🤝 Connect with Us:

Stay connected through our latest episodes and join our community of entrepreneurs committed to creating cash-rich exits. A community I fondly refer to as the ‘Self-made Nation’!

Host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell: Connect on LinkedIn

Guest, Susan Blain: Connect on LinkedIn

📞 Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen

Planning to exit your business in 5-10 years? Evaluate and close your wealth gap. Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis session with Colleen O’Connell-Campbell via LinkedIn today and start your journey towards a cash-rich exit!

Thank you for tuning in to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. If you’ve found this episode enlightening, please leave us a five-star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and share your thoughts. We look forward to continuing this journey with you, one episode at a time.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to episode 292 of The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, with your host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell. Today, we dive into the intriguing intersection of art and commerce with our guest, Rémi Thériault, renowned photographer and the visionary behind the House of Common Studio.

Rémi shares his unique journey from capturing evocative moments through his lens to establishing a brand that stands out in the creative industry. His approach to building a legacy that extends beyond personal fame to a collaborative and sustainable business model offers invaluable insights for entrepreneurs looking to blend artistic passion with commercial acumen.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Building a Legacy: Rémi discusses the strategic decision to name his studio "House of Common" emphasizing the importance of creating a brand that can continue without its founder, thus facilitating future transitions and ensuring business longevity.

Art Meets Business: The challenges and opportunities at the junction of artistic expression and business operations. Rémi’s story is a masterclass in leveraging artistic talent to build a marketable and enduring brand.

Strategic Growth: Learn growth strategies that transform personal ventures into thriving businesses with dedicated teams, focused on long-term innovation and quality.

For creatives and entrepreneurs alike, this episode highlights the importance of networking, maintaining financial discipline, and integrating personal values into business practices.

📞 Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen

Planning to exit your business in 5-10 years? Evaluate and close your wealth gap. Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis session with Colleen O’Connell-Campbell via LinkedIn today and start your journey towards a cash-rich exit!

🔗 Connect with Us:

Host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell: Connect on LinkedIn

Guest, Rémi Thériault: Connect on LinkedIn

📣Stay till the end for our long-running segment: Fun, Frank Advice:

“Hard Work and Balance!”

Rémi stresses the importance of hard work, knowing when to take a break, and not sweating the small stuff - essential tips for any entrepreneur.

For more inspiring stories and actionable strategies, stay tuned to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast.

Thank you for listening to today’s episode with Rémi Thériault.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Don’t forget to rate us and provide feedback to help us grow and bring more valuable content to your entrepreneurial journey!

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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🎧 Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, where we explore the pathways to a successful and intentional business exit. I'm your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, here to guide you through the journeys of top entrepreneurs. Today, we're joined by the remarkable Caroline Gosselin, a visionary in the Ottawa food and beverage industry.

🍽 In This Episode:

You’ll discover Caroline Gosselin's journey from European adventures to pioneering Ottawa's culinary scene with establishments like Restaurant 18, Side Door, The Clarendon, and The Hyde.

You’ll learn how Caroline's passion for travel and art inspired her innovative approach to combining culinary experiences with cultural aesthetics.

And you’ll uncover the strategies that helped Caroline's empire thrive through the challenges of COVID-19 and the evolving landscape of the hospitality industry.

💡 Key Insights Inside this Episode:

🤸‍♀️ Adapting to Change: How flexibility and creativity have been essential for navigating the unpredictable hospitality sector.

🤝 Community Engagement: Caroline shares her commitment to giving back and fostering a sense of belonging, both within her team and the broader Ottawa community.

🎯 Building for the Future: The exciting prospects of expanding outdoor dining experiences and embracing environmental standards in new ventures.

Be sure you listen till the end for our Fun, Frank advice segment. I’ve been asking self-made millionaires for their advice for 5+ years!

Caroline emphasizes the importance of passion for the industry, advising future entrepreneurs that success is rooted in a love for service and creating memorable experiences for guests.

🎧 Tune in now for inspiration, lessons learned, and actionable advice for making your mark in the food and beverage industry. And remember, the journey to a cash-rich exit begins with a single step of passion and dedication.

🌟 Enjoyed the episode? Support us with a five-star rating and share your favorite takeaways in the comments!

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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🚀 Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, where we delve into the journeys of entrepreneurs who are navigating the path to a successful, cash-rich exit. I'm Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, your host, and wealth advisor focussed on helping self-made millionaires make your legacy count.

In this special episode, I sit down with Ted Fleming, the founder of Partake Brewing, a pioneer in the non-alcoholic beverage industry. Discover how Ted turned a personal health challenge into a thriving business that's changing how we think about beer and social inclusion.

🌿 In This Episode:

Ted shares the origin story of Partake Brewing, born out of his diagnosis with Crohn's disease and a desire to enjoy the social aspects of beer without alcohol.

The challenges and breakthroughs of creating a non-alcoholic craft beer that stands up to its alcoholic counterparts in taste and quality.

How Partake Brewing is contributing to a shift in social norms, offering inclusivity for those who choose not to consume alcohol for health, personal, or lifestyle reasons.

👣 From Concept to Market:

The journey of navigating the unknown in your business; and bringing a new concept to market.

Strategies for overcoming industry skepticism and building a brand that resonates with a growing segment (in this case: health-conscious consumers).

💡 Key Takeaways:

Innovation and perseverance are crucial for entrepreneurs looking to disrupt traditional markets.

The importance of aligning your business with personal values and societal shifts.

🎉 Fun Frank Advice Segment: (this segment has been running for 5 years!!!)

Don't miss out on Ted's fun, frank advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: Believe in your vision and stay true to your journey, even when faced with skepticism. (

🔗 Ready to Unlock Your Pathway to a Successful Cash Rich Business Exit?

Join us for more stories like Ted's, and discover actionable strategies for your own journey. If you're contemplating your exit, let's craft it with care. Reach out to me directly for a complimentary 1:1 narrative shaping session.

🌟 Enjoyed This Episode?

Please leave us a five-star rating. Your support helps us share valuable insights with entrepreneurs like you.

Stay tuned for more episodes that explore the intricacies of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the journey to a cash-rich exit.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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🎙️ Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, where we delve into the stories of entrepreneurs crafting innovative solutions and building legacy businesses. I'm your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and today's episode features the inspiring journey of Alexandra Sanguins, the visionary behind Sarahband, a game-changing support system for active women.

🌟 In This Episode:

🏃‍♀️ Discover the inception of Sarahband and how Alexandra turned her personal struggle into a pioneering product in the women’s activewear category.

🚀 Learn about the design process, challenges, and triumphs in bringing Sarahband to market.

💡 Alexandra shares her vision for empowering women to excel in their physical pursuits without compromise.

📈 Alexandra's story is not just about creating a product but about challenging norms and making a tangible difference in women's lives through innovation and determination.

🎧 Tune in to hear our conversation, which is chock-full of valuable advice for fellow entrepreneurs and challenges you tap into your belief in the power of own vision and innate resilience in overcoming obstacles will invariably come our way.

🌟 If you're inspired by Alexandra's journey and looking to navigate your own path to a successful, cash-rich business exit, I invite you to book a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with me. Let's explore how you can transform your business challenges into stepping stones for growth and an intentional, profitable exit.

💬 Enjoyed the episode? Please leave us a five-star rating. Your support helps us share these valuable insights with more entrepreneurs like you.

Fun fact: I author a column called “Running Reflections” on LinkedIn. (Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn here) As a long-term runner, I share my business lessons in the form of stories from my running. As a podcast host, it makes me extra pleased to bring you conversations with founders who are bringing their skills to products that overlap with my personal interests.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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🎙️ Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast with your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. In this episode, Colleen dives deep into the heart of the entrepreneurial journey, likening it to a hero's tale of adventure, risk, and ultimate triumph.

🎧Press play on this episode to:

🚀 Explore the stages of the business journey, from the initial spark to the crescendo of exiting.

🛡️ Discover how to navigate your business saga with intention, facing dragons of risk and uncertainty with courage.

🎨 Learn the importance of crafting your legacy through a thoughtful, intentional exit, transforming your narrative for future generations.

🌟 Colleen further shares insights on:

🌟 Embracing your role as the protagonist of your entrepreneurial story.

🌟 The significance of every decision in shaping the next page of your epic.

🌟 Viewing your exit not as the end, but as a pivotal plot twist leading to new adventures.

📚 Ready to plot your intentional exit with the precision of a master storyteller? Book a complimentary 1:1 narrative shaping session with Colleen. Reach out to her on LinkedIn or email. Together, you'll ensure your business story is one of enduring success and a legacy that echoes through generations.

🎧 Listen to the full episode for invaluable advice on making your exit intentional and profitable.

If you’re a return visitor to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, please leave us a five-star rating. Your support helps us reach and inspire more entrepreneurs like you.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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🎙️ Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast with your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Laura Beauparlant, brand expert and founder of Lab Creative to talk about the value of branding in a business’ journey to an eventual exit.

Inside the episode, Colleen and Laura discuss:

💼 The concept of legacy branding and its significance for entrepreneurs.

🤝 How branding can shape your business's future and prepare it for a successful exit.

We share valuable insights on:

🎨 The importance of creating a brand that resonates with your business's values and vision.

🔄 Transitioning a brand to align with future growth and exit strategies.

🧩 The role of personal branding in shaping your entrepreneurial legacy.

Join us as Laura imparts her wisdom on building a strong, enduring brand that sets the stage for a cash-rich exit.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation for in-depth insights and don't forget to leave us a five-star rating to help us reach more entrepreneurs like you.

🌟 If you're pondering your own business exit, book a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with me. Let’s strategize your pathway to a successful, planned exit. Reach out to me on LinkedIn or email me.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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🎙️ Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, with me, your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. This episode I sit down with Sarwar Qureshi, a seasoned accountant and partner at Patterson and Company. Sarwar's journey in accounting and his passion for helping small businesses are worth your time.

On the episode, we explore:

💼 Unique insights into the world of small business accounting, discussing the varied definitions and needs of 'small businesses' in the current economic landscape.

👥 The critical role of personalized client relationships in accounting and how it affects business continuity and success.

🤝 The importance of networking and building meaningful professional relationships in the accounting world.

🌐 How active involvement in the community ties into professional growth and opportunities for Sarwar.

📊 Insights into the M&A landscape in Ottawa. Why the M&A Club Ottawa may serve as a key resource for business owners contemplating their exit strategies.

🎧 Listen to Sarwar's expert advice and gain inspiration to navigate your business's financial journey with confidence.

🌟🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 Please leave us a five-star rating if you enjoy our content. Your feedback helps us reach and empower more entrepreneurs on their journey to a cash-rich exit.

🌟 Don't miss the opportunity to book a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with me. Let's strategize your successful and prosperous business exit in 3-5 years. Reach out to me on LinkedIn or email me.

Remember: every business story is unique, and with the right guidance and insights, your journey to a successful exit can be both rewarding and transformative. Let's turn your vision into reality!

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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🎉 Happy New Year, Self Made Nation! Welcome to the first episode of the year on The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. I'm your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and I'm thrilled to kick off the year with a special montage episode featuring ‘fun, frank advice’ from 12 business leaders who've graced our podcast in the past year. 🌟

🎙 In this episode, you'll hear a variety of wise words and actionable strategies that cover:

🧭 Trusting your instincts and embracing change.

👁️ The importance of keeping a keen eye on financials.

🤝 The value of community and shared experiences in entrepreneurship.

📆 Planning and preparing for your business exit, even earlier than you think.

🏗️ The significance of building a company not just for exit, but for good.

🤩 This collection of insights is a treasure trove for any business owner looking to navigate the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship and successful exit planning. These leaders share their experiences, mistakes, and victories, offering you a condensed guide to business success.

📆 Remember, The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is your go-to resource for all things related to building a successful, sustainable, and profitable exit strategy. Our guests bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that can help guide your journey.

🌟 Ready to make 2024 the most successful year yet? Don't forget to book a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with me. This personalized session could be the key to unlocking the full potential of your exit strategy.

Reach out on LinkedIn or email me.

🙏 Thank you for being a loyal listener in 2023. Your support means the world to us. If you love what you hear, please take a moment to leave us a five-star rating. It helps more listeners find and benefit from these valuable discussions.

Don’t forget to book Your 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to a new episode of The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, where host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell chats with Mark Lerohl, the visionary behind First Tracks Capital. This episode delves into the minds of investors and what they seek in companies, offering a unique viewpoint for business owners eyeing a prosperous exit.

Here are some highlights you should expect - so hit play!

🤝 We explore the crucial elements that attract investors to potential acquisitions. Mark sheds light on the key factors that make a company an appealing target, providing valuable insights for business owners looking to position their companies for a cash rich exit.

💡 The growth capital gap in Canadian market and the importance of empowering Canadian businesses in their journey from break-even to positive EBITDA; and potentially towards a lucrative exit within 3-5 years.

🌐 The challenges and strategies in finding and investing in pre-IPO companies in Canada. Often word of mouth and strong relationships play a significant role in identifying promising opportunities.

📈 The importance of investing in companies with substantial growth potential. Learn how capital can be effectively utilized to expand into new markets or scale operations and how a company's ability to grow justifies valuation increases.

🚀 Private equity investing and partnerships - prioritizing collaborative partnerships that focus on mutual growth rather than mere value extraction.

Before you press play, could you spare a moment to give us a five-star rating? 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Your support is crucial in helping us connect with more listeners who can benefit from these valuable discussions that support cash rich exits for self-made millionaires.

🌟 Ready to map out your personalized path to a cash rich exit? Reach out to Colleen on LinkedIn to book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen and start your journey towards a lasting legacy.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to another insight-packed episode of The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. Today, our host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell is joined by Robert Bezede, Director of Corporate Finance at Norton McMullen. Together, they explore essential strategies for successful business exits.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

📈 Timely Exit Strategies: Insights on exit planning for business owners, emphasizing starting early to implement a solid strategy.

👥 Lower Mid-Market Focus: Understanding the unique needs of businesses with annual profits between $1 million and $5 million.

💰 Valuation Essentials: Managing expectations around net after-tax gains and focusing beyond just the gross numbers.

🔄 Transition Risks: How transition risk impacts business valuation and strategies to minimize it.

🔍 Value Evaluation: Four key areas to evaluate business value, including owner involvement and customer relationships.

📊 Preparation Tips: Practical advice for owners to maximize their business's sale value.

🛠️ M&A Challenges: Addressing common challenges and costs in the M&A process.

This and much more in the full conversation between Colleen and Robert. Before you hit play, please take a second to leave us a five-star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Your feedback helps us reach more listeners like you.

Looking to plan your own cash-rich exit in 5-10 years? Reach out to Colleen on LinkedIn for a personalized one-on-one wealth gap analysis. Connect now and take the first step towards a successful and profitable business sale! 📧🤝

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to the latest episode of the 'The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’, where we delve into the pivotal world of business valuation, mergers, and acquisitions. In this episode, our host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, is joined by the insightful Guylaine Ure from Sunbelt Business Brokers. Guylaine brings her extensive experience as a certified business intermediary and real estate agent, offering unique perspectives for small to mid-market M&A clients.

On the episode, Colleen and Guylaine discuss:

🔍 The intricacies of business valuation and M&A from an expert's perspective.

💼 The priorities of buyers when considering small to medium-sized businesses.

🚀 Effective exit strategies and methods to increase a business's value.

📖 Real-world stories and practical advice for preparing a successful business exit.

⏳ The importance of starting exit planning at least five years in advance.

🤝 The crucial role of a business broker in facilitating successful transactions.

💹 The importance of maintaining a profitable, well-documented business with streamlined processes.

Before you dive in, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating. Thank you!

Are you a business owner thinking about your exit strategy in 3-5 years? Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn to learn more about how our expert insights can guide you through your journey. Ask how you can book a 1:1 wealth needs analysis. ****

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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On today's episode of The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, supply chain M&A expert Pete Stefanovich joins host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell for an in-depth discussion on exiting logistics businesses. 🚛 Pete's firm, Left Lane Associates, focuses exclusively on the logistics and transportation niche. They've completed 62 deals and counting since 2016.

Listen to the episode to learn more about:

📉 What it means "de-risk" your business position as a seller (which may be due to terminal illness, partnership disputes, or economic conditions forcing a sale).

❌ The crucial importance of being realistic from the start. Unrealistic expectations on business value and timeline are common pitfalls in the selling process.

👨‍🏫 Why it is key to find professionals you truly connect with in the process of selling your business. Pete talks about how to compare apples to apples when evaluating firms.

💰 Wealth preservation post-exit - the importance of planning and managing your money and legacy and putting your family first.

Let us know you listened to this episode by leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Thank you!

📣 Looking to plan your business exit in 3-5 years? Don't just listen - engage with Colleen!

Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn

Ask how you can book a 1:1 wealth needs analysis.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. I’m your host Colleen-O’Connell-Campbell. In today’s episode, I chat with Scott Duke. Scott is a serial entrepreneur who has started 11 companies, sat on 20 boards, and advised hundreds of businesses. He's here to share his tested exit strategy insights. Dive in for the scoop on how:

☀️ Running a business has exciting ups but also difficult downs. It takes time and effort to achieve over $1 million in revenue.

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Delegation and investing in your team is key to gaining freedom. It takes 3-7 years for most entrepreneurs to earn freedom through profitable delegation.

💸 Tax planning early on can significantly increase profitability and free up more time. Don't wait to exit to start planning.

💰 Focus on profitability and cash flow, not just revenue. Tools that put profit first facilitate strong exits.

🤝 Connect with strategic buyers’ mindsets when selling. Create an attractive, sellable asset with realistic valuation expectations.

This conversation is full of expert wisdom - don't miss it!

Subscribe to 'The Cash Rich Exit Podcast,' leave us a review, and share it with fellow members of the Self-Made Nation to meet and grow with the community.

📣 Looking to plan your business exit in 3-5 years? Don't just listen - engage with me!

Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn

Ask how you can book a 1:1 wealth needs analysis with me.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Selling your business can be complex, but the rewards of a lucrative exit make it well worth the effort. Jean-François Murphy has brokered over $2 billion in deals, and today he’s here to chat with host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on The Cash Rich Exit Podcast.

🚀 Jean-François shares how his firm, Filiatrault, facilitates business sales through tailored approaches for each unique scenario. Selling a business is not a one-size-fits-all process.

💡 From financial services to dental clinics, they focus on small and medium businesses. Learn how each deal involves careful preparation like valuations, networking with advisors, and finding the right buyer.

🤝 Hear Jean-François explain the step-by-step process of presenting a Letter of Intent, negotiating terms, and coordinating all parties as "wedding planner" to bring the deal to fruition.

💰 Selling a business in Quebec has extra complexity due to limits on ownership imposed by professional orders. Valuations also come at a premium cost.

📈 Even if you're not ready to exit yet, start planning now. Connect with experts like Jean-François for insights on maximizing your valuation through strategic decisions.

The time and effort required to craft your optimal exit strategy is well justified by the rewards of a lucrative and liberating payday when you sell your business on your terms. This conversation is full of expert wisdom - don't miss it!

📣 Looking to plan your business exit in 3-5 years? Don't just listen - engage with us! Subscribe to 'The Cash Rich Exit Podcast,' leave us a review, and share it with fellow members of the Self-Made Nation to meet and grow with the community.

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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🎤 Welcome to 'The Cash Rich Exit Podcast,' the next chapter of the 'I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?' podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and here we’ll be diving deeper into helping business owners like you create cash-rich exits.

💪 Doubling Down on Wealth Building We're unapologetically focused on building wealth for business owners. If you're a part of the Self-Made Nation, this is your home for actionable insights.

❓ Intentional or Unintentional Exit? Every business owner will face an exit at some point. The question is, will it be on your terms? Let's make sure it is.

💰 Net Worth Reality Check Your business likely makes up more than 90% of your net worth. Isn't it time to start planning your exit carefully?

📋 Five Key Questions for Business Owners We kick off the episode with essential questions every business owner should be able to answer. From understanding your business structure to knowing its worth, these questions are foundational.

🌪 Planning for the Unexpected Life is unpredictable. We'll discuss planning for unexpected scenarios like death, divorce, and natural disasters that could impact your exit strategy.

🛣 What's Next? Stay tuned for upcoming episodes featuring different types of businesses, M&A discussions, and guest experts to guide you through your cash-rich exit.

📣 Ready to Master Your Exit? Join Us Now!

If you're excited to transform your exit into a cash-rich, strategic move, don't just listen - engage with us! Subscribe to 'The Cash Rich Exit Podcast,' leave me a review, and share it with fellow members of the Self-Made Nation.

Let's turn your business exit into the best move you ever made! 💥

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to the podcast! I’m your host Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and in this episode, I wrap up our summer book club series on investment philosophy. In this series, featuring guest Alicia Castelino in parts, we reviewed 3 classic books on investing: The Intelligent Investor, A Random Walk Down Wall Street, and Trillions.

Tune in to refocus on investing principles to apply to your business including:

📈 Why you must view market pricing as an effective information processing system

🛑 The importance of staying away from trying to "time" the market through stock-picking

🌎 Diversifying globally to take advantage of opportunities

And so much more!

Also, Self-Made Nation, this is the final episode of "I'm a Millionaire, So Now What?" after 277 shows over 5 years! The podcast will relaunch under a new banner, in the next episode, focused on supporting entrepreneurs with successful business exits.

Thank you for staying tuned for 5 years!

I’ll see you in episode 278 as the podcast enters a new era while remaining dedicated to you. the Self-Made Nation!

🌟 Return visitor to my podcast? Please leave a 5-star rating to support me.

*I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back with the last episode of our book club trilogy on investment philosophy, here at the "I'm a Millionaire. So, Now What?" podcast. In this episode I am joined by Alicia Castelino, Senior Relationship Manager of the Wealth Management Group at Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada. We bring you insights from the book Trillions by Robin Wigglesworth

This is the TRUE story of “how a band of wall street renegades invented the index fund and forever changed finance forever” While that may sound like movie script, this books is one of the 3 foundational investing books I recommend all members of the Self-made Nation read as you define and execute your investment philosophy.

Key takeaways from this episode:

🎲 Alicia and I discuss Warren Buffett's famous bet against hedge funds, where he wagered that the S&P 500 index would outperform a basket of hedge funds over 10 years. The index won by a significant margin, showing the difficulty of stock picking.

📈 The book details the origins of index funds, which predate Vanguard's first index fund in 1976. Wells Fargo and Dimensional founders had created earlier index funds in 1971, though they didn't gain widespread traction.

📊 Index funds aim to track a market benchmark, while active funds try to outperform through stock picking. Both can utilize ETF or mutual fund structures. It's important to look "under the hood" at a fund's strategy.

🧠 Having an evidence-based investment philosophy and process is crucial - you don't want to bet investments on one person's opinion alone.

You’ll find more valuable insights and actionable tips in the episode.

🌟 Return visitor to my podcast? Please leave a 5-star rating to support me.

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Hello! I’m Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, back with another exciting episode of "I'm a Millionaire. So, Now What?" In this episode you’ll find the second installment 📚of our book club trilogy. In conversation with Alicia Castelino, Senior Relationship Manager of the Wealth Management Group at Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada, I bring you insights from "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Burton Malkiel. It’s one of the 3 foundational investing books I recommend all members of the Self-made Nation read as you define and execute your investment philosophy.

Key takeaways:

📈 The "random walk" theory says that future stock price movements cannot be predicted based on past prices. Malkiel claims day-to-day returns are essentially random.

⏰ Why trying to "time the market" or pick individual stocks is unlikely to beat broad market returns over the long term.

📊 How passive investing in index funds/ETFs can provide market returns without the need for speculation.

🎯 The importance of understanding that an investment portfolio is only one piece - you need an overall financial plan tied to your personal goals.

This episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable tips. Whether you're an experienced investor or beginning your financial path, this chat will give you much to consider.

🌟 Enjoy the show? Please be sure to leave a 5-star rating to support my commitment to bring you the topics and voices that will add to your plans for a cash rich exit from your business when you are ready.

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome to another exciting episode of "I'm a Millionaire. So, Now What?" with me, your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Here, I’m in conversation with Alicia Castelino, Senior Relationship Manager of the Wealth Management Group at Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada.

📚 Kicking off our book club trilogy, we delve into "The Intelligent Investor - The Definitive Book on Value Investing" by Benjamin Graham.

📈 We explore the difference between investing and speculating, underlining the importance of a long-term game plan for investing.

💡 The key to a successful investment strategy is diversification. From inflation to preserving wealth, we discuss how patience and discipline play a pivotal role in successful investing.

🏷️ We delve into the concept of value investing, discussing its real worth and why cost matters.

💼 Professional advice often holds immense value in navigating the financial markets, and we discuss its merits in this episode. We explore how creating a financial plan, considering tax consequences, and planning a legacy are integral components of a well-rounded financial strategy.

🎯 Finally, we ask the important question: "What’s more important? Beating the market or beating the plan?"

This episode is filled to the brim with insights and practical advice. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting your financial journey, this conversation will leave you with plenty to ponder.

🌟 And if you enjoy the show, please leave us a five-star rating on iTunes. It helps us reach more people like you, Self-Made Nation.

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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"I'm a millionaire. So, now what?" - the go-to podcast for entrepreneurs planning a cash-rich exit - is back! In this episode, I had an insightful chat with Janine Rogan. Janine is a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA), a seasoned TEDx speaker, and a renowned author. Her groundbreaking book, "Pink Tax," is a crucial exploration of the economic inequalities women face, and it is her research and insights from this book that we'll be delving into today.

Beyond these roles, Janine is also the founder and CEO of the Wealth Building Academy Inc., an organization that's dedicated to building financial literacy and wealth. Join me as we unpack Janine's research, her book, and her perspectives on empowering women in finance.

We cover:

💡📚 The importance of the right mentors and the inspiration behind Janine's book, 'The Pink Tax.'

🔄 Reframing the narrative around budgeting for women and the need to see it as a spending plan rather than a budget.

💼 How women can turn their approach towards debt from seeing it as a liability to viewing it as leverage.

🔝 The importance of confidence, and advocating for ourselves as women in the fact of societal and systemic gender stereotypes.

👩‍💼 The importance of self-care and self-reliance in closing the wealth gap for women.

Have a listen! 🎧

And stay tuned for more episodes full of advice for the Self-Made Nation! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review! 👍🎧

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend who needs to hear this today 🙌✨

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?” with me, your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Today, I am excited to bring you my guest Susan Diaz, Founder and CEO of c+p digital. A content marketer and community builder, Susan is the author of “UNboring: take your content marketing from blah to brilliant”. She is currently in the process of defining the category of ‘AI agencies’ for founder-led brands.

🔍 This episode is the 3rd in my trio of conversations on remarkable marketing moves in a recession. The first was with Glenn Schmelzle, the Chief Data Analyst at the Marketing What’s New agency (EP 269), and the second was with Brock Murray, CEO and Co-founder of seoplus+ (EP 270), to understand their unique perspectives on utilizing data and content in marketing strategies. This conversation with Susan rounds out my trio of thinking for you, Self-made Nation.

🧠 Susan’s body of work highlights the potential of AI in supercharging marketing productivity and efficiency

🔑 We discuss the power of niche marketing, the benefits of conducting a content audit, and exploring unique ways to repurpose content for greater engagement

If you’re looking for more information on using AI for your business, Susan offers 'The AI Advantage' premium program designed to help business harness the power of AI by teaching you the art of prompting - a critical skill in the modern business world 🌐https://cp.digital/the-ai-advantage/

Join me, as I bring you these diverse business minds and practical strategies, all aimed at supporting your journey to becoming the best version of yourself as a business owner.

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

Return visitor to my podcast? Don't forget to leave me a 5-star rating. Your support keeps us motivated to bring you more insightful conversations like these ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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I welcome you back to the 🎙💫I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?💫🎙podcast. I’m your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and in this episode, I’m inviting you to talk Investment Philosophy 101 📖🎓

Listen to the episode as I introduce a virtual summer book club aimed at enriching our understanding of investment management.

The Essential Reads 📘📙📗 Join me in reading the selected three books over the summer:

📘 The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book of Value Investing by Benjamin Graham

📙 A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton McHale

📗 Trillions by Robin Wigglesworth

🚀 Share your thoughts: as we embark on this intellectual journey, share your initial thoughts on the books chosen on LinkedIn and tag me. I love learning alongside the Self-Made Nation!

📚 A surprise awaits! Stay tuned to our podcast as we reconvene in August with a special guest to delve into these works and their contribution to our understanding of investment philosophy.

💎 Get involved: If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on iTunes. Your support keeps me going!

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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I welcome you back to the 🎙💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”💫🎙podcast.

In this episode, I’m in conversation with Brock Murray, COO and co-founder of seoplus+, about, you guessed it, SEO(!) - among other things.

Brock and I discuss:

💎 The value of real-life experience when starting up a business.

📲 The Three Pillars of SEO - on-page elements, off-page signals, and technical components - and how to use them to form a strong foundation for your website's visibility and searchability.

💡 Digital Marketing in a recession - tips on navigating marketing in a tight economic environment.

⭐ Fun, frank advice from Brock Murray (hint: it may involve short form video!)

Join Brock and I as we discuss the things to keep in mind while marketing in a time where business strategies are continuously shifting.

If you enjoy this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We're always thrilled to hear from you, the Self-Made Nation! 🚀

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to 🎙💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”💫🎙 This week, we delve into the world of marketing data with Glenn Schmelzle, the founder and Chief Data Analyst at the Marketing What’s New agency.

In this conversation, Glenn sheds light on:

📈 Understanding the art of marketing and creating a value exchange at scale.

💸 Discerning the intertwining relationship between marketing and sales in generating revenue.

🌐 Exploring the cost of acquiring clients and the evolution of e-commerce and subscription-based businesses in the digital age.

📊 Analyzing the power and potential misuse of data collection by major players like Facebook and Google.

🤖 Learning the role of machine learning and AI in feeding relevant data for better business outcomes.

Join us as we demystify the world of data in marketing, exploring its influence and importance in shaping businesses and consumer behavior.

If you appreciate this episode, please share it on your social media platforms and tag us. We're always thrilled to engage with the Self-Made Nation! 🚀

If this episode resonated with you 💎, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to 🎙💫 "I'm a Millionaire! So Now What?" 💫🎙 Our distinguished guest this week is Lisa Anna Palmer, founder and CEO of the Light Your Leadership Institute, and author of "Light a Fire in their Hearts: The Truth about Leadership." Lisa dives deep into the nuances of leadership, management, and the crucial role trust plays in fostering growth and success within your organization.

In my insightful conversation with Lisa, you'll discover:

🔥 The critical differences between leadership and management, and how understanding both can empower your team

🌱 The concept of vertical leadership development and its role in nurturing personal and professional growth

💡 How trust can close leadership gaps and build a stronger foundation for collaboration and innovation

🧘‍♀️ The importance of creating healthy boundaries and fostering a culture that prioritizes self-care and well-being

🌟 An inspiring story of meeting Sir Richard Branson and learning valuable lessons on listening and seeing the best in people

Tune in 🎧 to uncover how you can ignite the fire of leadership within yourself and your organization, using trust, vision, and compassionate connections.

If this episode resonated with you 💎, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (and a review if you have a few extra minutes).

Your input enables us to consistently deliver insightful content and engaging conversations. Join me in expanding the Self-Made Nation and championing the impact of trust and empathetic leadership in the entrepreneurial landscape! 🚀

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to 🎙💫 "I'm a Millionaire! So Now What?" 💫🎙 Our distinguished guest this week is Lisa Anna Palmer, founder and CEO of the Light Your Leadership Institute, and author of "Light a Fire in their Hearts: The Truth about Leadership." Lisa dives deep into the nuances of leadership, management, and the crucial role trust plays in fostering growth and success within your organization.

In my insightful conversation with Lisa, you'll discover:

🔥 The critical differences between leadership and management, and how understanding both can empower your team

🌱 The concept of vertical leadership development and its role in nurturing personal and professional growth

💡 How trust can close leadership gaps and build a stronger foundation for collaboration and innovation

🧘‍♀️ The importance of creating healthy boundaries and fostering a culture that prioritizes self-care and well-being

🌟 An inspiring story of meeting Sir Richard Branson and learning valuable lessons on listening and seeing the best in people

Tune in 🎧 to uncover how you can ignite the fire of leadership within yourself and your organization, using trust, vision, and compassionate connections.

If this episode resonated with you 💎, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (and a review if you have a few extra minutes).

Your input enables us to consistently deliver insightful content and engaging conversations. Join me in expanding the Self-Made Nation and championing the impact of trust and empathetic leadership in the entrepreneurial landscape! 🚀

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to 🎙💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”💫🎙My guest on the microphone this week is Natalie Oldfield, a renowned thought leader on trust and the author of "The Power of Trust". Natalie shares with us, Self-made Nation, her expertise and strategies to help you strengthen your relationships with your customers and colleagues.

In my conversation with Natalie, you’ll learn:

• The importance of trust, integrity, and delivering on expectations in business ✅
• What the journey to becoming a specialist in a field as deep as trust looks like 👩‍💼
• The Client Trust Index: what it is and how it's used to measure trust 📊
• A case study on a business that successfully implemented trust-building strategies, leading to increased sales 💰 and a cash-rich exit 🚀

Tune in 🎧 to learn how to enhance trust within your own business and boost your growth!

If you found value in this episode 💎, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (and review if you have 2 minutes).

Your feedback helps us continue to bring you valuable insights and inspiring guests.

Let's work together to grow the Self-Made Nation and spread the power of trust in the business world! 🌟

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion

Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do

not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should

consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor

Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to 🎙💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”💫🎙 the podcast in which we celebrate unapologetic wealth creation through business.

Today, my return guest on the podcast is Nicole Laframboise, who became an entrepreneur with her first business at 12, when she started fabricating ski hats. Since then Nicole has been a serial entrepreneur with huge wisdom to impart.

In my conversation with Nicole, you’ll learn:

• Why Nicole says: “being naive has gotten me into some very interesting situations and I've grown from all of them”
• How internet issues at her off-grid glamping business led to an investment in an internet firm, which didn’t go as she planned and what she learned from it to turn things around
• Why I often quote this Haiku to business owners: ​​”revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, and cash flow is sovereignty”
• Fun, frank advice from Nicole

You’ll find a lot more in the episode. Please have a listen! 🎧

Return visitor to my podcast? I appreciate you.

Please drop me a 5-star rating so I get to know. Thank you!

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor

Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to 🎙💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”💫🎙 

Today, my return guest on the podcast is Karla Briones, a Mexican-American immigrant to Canada, who thrives on leveraging her personal experience and empathy to support BIPOC and underrepresented entrepreneurs in the country. An entrepreneur and consultant with an undeniable passion for helping people and scaling a thriving business, Karla is a pleasure to hear from. 

In this episode we talk about the resilience of entrepreneurs:

• How COVID and the pandemic has been the equalizer for many resilient businesses, including Karla’s own
• The importance of creating alternative sources of revenue and diversifying business over time
• What the future of consulting businesses will look like
• Fun, frank advice from Karla Briones

You’ll find a lot more in the episode. Please have a listen! 🎧

Return visitor to my podcast? I appreciate you.

Please drop me a 5-star rating so I get to know. Thank you!

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Welcome back to 🎙I'm a Millionaire! So Now What?🎙

I'm your host Colleen O'Connell Campbell, and this week, I am in conversation with Angela Sutcliffe, fellow Ottawa-based advisor to small business on proven strategies to make their businesses successful by fostering a leadership mindset that's needed to navigate growth.

Angela and I chat about:

✅ The coaching environment and why entrepreneurs need to focus on mindset

✅ What are some foundational things businesses should do during a recession?

✅ Fun, frank advice from Angela

You’ll find a lot more in the episode. Please have a listen! 🎧

Return visitor to my podcast? I appreciate you.

Please drop me a 5-star rating so I get to know. Thank you!

I’m a Millionaire! So now what? is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities.

All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities.

This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional.

Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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Welcome back to 🎙I'm a Millionaire! So Now What?🎙

I'm your host Colleen O'Connell Campbell, in conversation with Karen Brownrigg, founder and CEO of iHR Advisory Services, a firm that provides customized solutions to challenging HR situations by equipping leaders with the tools necessary to create a positive work climate conducive to high performance teams. They specialize in three areas, intelligent HR and business strategies, innovative executive coaching programs, and insightful human resourcefulness. 

Karen and I chat about:

✅ How to transition from the corporate world to actually creating your own work environment - for those who have been thinking about it

✅ The importance of sharing a clear business and purpose vision with your team

✅ Why we need focus deeply on what our talent needs during a recession

✅ Fun, frank advice from Karen

You’ll find a lot more on the episode. Please have a listen! 🎧

Return visitor to my podcast? I appreciate you. Please drop me a 5-star rating so I get to know. Thank you!

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Welcome back to 🎙💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”💫🎙 

I'm your host, Colleen O'Connell, and in this episode, I’ll dive deep into how the terminology around us like ‘recession’ and ‘inflation’ relate to us as business owners, and how that ultimately affects market economics.

Listen to learn 👇

• What inflation is; and how should you prepare for it?

• What is a recession? And how do you survive and thrive through one as a business owner that plans a cash-rich exit from your business one day?

• Examples of opportunities that you can focus on, instead of the bleak headlines all around us.

Have a listen! 🎧

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?” 

I'm your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and on this podcast, you'll find inspirational stories, practical strategies, and fun, frank advice from diverse business minds! 

In this episode, I dive deep into the idea of reverse engineering your path to financial freedom as a business owner. I discuss how to plan your cash-rich exit 3-10 years ahead of when you need to.

Listen to learn how to:

📝Build and scale your business with a cash rich exit in mind

📝Take the actions that produce the results you want and focus on leading indicators instead of the lagging indicators of business success

📝Map out a clear vision for your business (and where Alice in Wonderland and the Cheshire Cat factor into that process!)

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Hello Self Made Nation!

Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?” 

If you’ve just found us, you’re joining me in the 3rd of a 3 part mini-series that brings you  fun, frank advice from self-made millionaires. Your peers - founders, co-founders, and business owners.

Stick with me, sit back, click to listen and enjoy. 

And I do hope it gives you a boost.

💫Fun fact: Bringing you fun, frank advice at the end of each year to prepare you is now officially a tradition. Each year, for the past 3 years, I recap all of the fun advice that you've heard guests share on my podcast, because let's face it, it's motivational and inspirational.

And that's part of what my show is all about. 

I hope you enjoy it. 

📌If you haven’t heard them yet, please go back and listen to 259 and 258 after you listen to this. You can listen to them in any order! Perhaps a little like “Kaleidoscope” - the show you can watch in any order - on Netflix. 

Have a listen! 🎧

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?”. 

Let’s continue to find some motivation for 2023! I bring you fun, frank advice from self-made millionaires to inspire you. 

Sit back, click to listen, and enjoy. 

And I do hope you find something life changing in here!

Here are some of the pieces to whet your appetite to listen to more:

📌 “I am someone who is Gen Z, who grew up with technology my entire childhood, and the best advice that I would give is deleting social media will help you immediately focus on yourself.”

📌 “Don't be afraid to ask for help. Don't be afraid to look for that resource. Look for that support system, or just mention to someone that you're struggling.”

📌 “Keep your business and your personal life separate.”

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

Enjoy the holiday season from whatever standpoint you celebrate it and Happy 2023 🎄🥳

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Hello Self-made Nation.

Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?”. 

In this episode you’ll find some motivation! Some fun, frank advice from self-made millionaires to inspire you all year. Sit back, click to listen, and enjoy. And I do hope it gives you a boost.

Here are some of the pieces that really stood out for our listeners over the years:

“Bookend your day with appreciation every single day.”

“Never let your business be your baby. Let it grow up… let your business become a petulant teenager, then let your business become an adult child that moves back into their parents basement, and then let it be an adult!” 

This episode will be the first of a series of 3 episodes. Stay tuned for more.

There’s so much brand new year inspiration on the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

Enjoy the holiday season from whatever standpoint you celebrate it. 🎄🍾🎉

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Hello Self Made Nation

Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?”! 

Today we're diving deep into a parable about why money isn't everything.

Is it a bit ironic that I would be saying that money is not everything… when this podcast is about the celebration of building wealth unapologetically in your business?

Stick with me, and click through to listen. You be the judge of whether or not it's ironic that I would say that money is not everything. 

📌If you need an incentive to listen, then know that in this episode I break down the parable of the Mexican fisherman and what it means for business owners in a recession. This parable challenges the core idea that a better, more content life has to be earned. A Mexican fisherman describes his life as 'full' despite only doing 'enough' for his family's immediate needs, opening many doors into consideration on what contentment means. Especially when we’re heading into a recession and the dominant narrative will become scarcity.

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

Enjoy the holiday season from whatever standpoint you celebrate it. 🎄🍾🎉

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?” I'm your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, and today I welcome Finka Jerkovic, passionate sales practitioner and author. 

A much needed skill for the Self-made Nation as we navigate a recession. 

Finka is the author of “Sell From Love” in which she presents a three-step framework built on authenticity, empathy, and purpose. A call to shift from transactional to transformational selling. 

Finka and I dive into:

📝The concept of “Brilliant Difference”

📝How to move from a place in which you are selling from fear to a place where you are selling from love and awareness 

📝 Fun, frank advice from Finka

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Hello and welcome to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?” with me, your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Today, let’s talk about what other metrics matter.

In this episode you’ll find:

📝Why ‘Revenue is vanity, Profit is sanity, and cash flow is sovereignty’

📝Why metrics matter for entrepreneurs

📝The Six Metric to start tracking in your business now to start building value

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you’re looking for more information on tax and financial planning strategies for your business, I’d love to have a chat. Please reach out to me via email or LinkedIn

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Hello and welcome to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?” with me, your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Today, let’s talk about year-end tax strategies!

In this episode you’ll find:

📝 The importance of turning obstacles (like taxes) into opportunities (like proactive tax planning).

📝 How to use an individual pension plan (IPP) in your business.

📝 The benefit of paying pending salaries before the year-end.

📝 Ways to declare bonuses and repay shareholder loans before your year-end.

📝 How to consider purchasing assets for your business for tax benefits.

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you’re looking for more information on tax planning strategies for your business, I’d love to have a chat. Please reach out to me via email or LinkedIn

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?” I'm your host, Colleen O'Connell, Campbell, and in this podcast, you'll find inspirational stories, practical strategies and fun, frank advice from diverse business minds! 

Today I have a wonderful new guest - Andrea Henry, Partner at Henry Brooks Law. She's a Cambridge educated lawyer, entrepreneur, mom of three, and cancer survivor. She supports business owners, especially service oriented businesses, in creating their corporate structures and assists in their scaling plans.

Andrea and I dive into:

📝How she knowledge translates core legal concepts using storytelling for her niche of women entrepreneurs

📝Where opportunities lie for women entrepreneurs as we enter a recession

📝The importance of contracts and the proper legal structures to scale

📝 Fun, frank advice from Andrea Henry

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?” I'm your host, Colleen O'Connell, Campbell, and in this podcast, you'll find inspirational stories, practical strategies and fun, frank advice from diverse business minds! 

Today I have a wonderful new guest - Andrea Henry, Partner at Henry Brooks Law. She's a Cambridge educated lawyer, entrepreneur, mom of three, and cancer survivor. She supports business owners, especially service oriented businesses, in creating their corporate structures and assists in their scaling plans.

Andrea and I dive into:

📝How she knowledge translates core legal concepts using storytelling for her niche of women entrepreneurs

📝Where opportunities lie for women entrepreneurs as we enter a recession

📝The importance of contracts and the proper legal structures to scale

📝 Fun, frank advice from Andrea Henry

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?”. 

Self Made Nation, we can’t avoid the elephant in the room any longer. When we look around us as business owners, all talk is about recession. Let’s acknowledge it and plan to ride the rough seas.

In this episode, I focus on a few key things to plan for as we head into a bear market.

📝 How to contend with being forced to consider where we all spend/invest in our businesses

📝 Why the real opportunity that may lie in doubling down during a recession 

📝 Key insights for small businesses and SMBs from the KPMG 2022 CEO Outlook report - to facilitate practical decision-making

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you.

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?”. 

Self Made Nation, we can’t avoid the elephant in the room any longer. When we look around us as business owners, all talk is about recession. Let’s acknowledge it and plan to ride the rough seas.

In this episode, I focus on a few key things to plan for as we head into a bear market.

📝 How to contend with being forced to consider where we all spend/invest in our businesses

📝 Why the real opportunity that may lie in doubling down during a recession 

📝 Key insights for small businesses and SMBs from the KPMG 2022 CEO Outlook report - to facilitate practical decision-making

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you.

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?”

Today we pull out the fireworks, because we celebrate 250 episodes. 🥳🎇

In this episode you’ll discover what this odd series of numbers means!

Ready?

📝 250 

📝 99 

📝 137

There’s so much more to the podcast. It brings a spirit of gratitude and joy that will leave you smiling. Have a listen! 🎧

A special request from me to you today; at 250 episodes! Please drop me a 5-star rating. Maybe a batch of reviews 250 episodes in will help me bring the show in front of even more people. Thank you!

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?”, where we are wrapping up our 10-episode masterclass on the subject of building value in your business. Over the past 3 months, in this series, we have focussed on the 8 drivers of company value using the Value Builder System as our framework.

Joining me for several episodes in this masterclass has been Louise Motuzas, Co-founder of Thrive Business Consulting, and an accredited exit planner. And between us we have focussed on the drivers; one at a time.

In this short and sweet wrap-up episode, I will refocus on the idea of making an intentional exit from your business. So as we head into another year of planning season, in a bear market, I want to encourage mindfulness and intentionality as it relates to the topic of business exits. And not just any exits but cash rich exits!

I touch on:

📝 Why it is never too early to to be thinking about your exit

📝 The 8 drivers of company value in the Value Builder System

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you haven't heard the rest of our episodes, please go back and find the series beginning at Episode 240 (and 249 being the final episode).

If you are a return visitor to my podcast, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?”, where we continue our journey into building value in your business. Over the past 2 months, we have elevated the conversations around here (pun intended!) to focus on the drivers of company value using the Value Builder System as our framework. And today we're talking about monopoly control.

Joining me for the last time on this masterclass series, is Louise Motuzas, Co-founder of Thrive Business Consulting, and an accredited exit planner.

Louise and I dig into:

📝 The definitions and effects of monopoly control in your business

📝 The need to focus on the characteristics that makes your business unique in your industry

📝 An example of how monopoly control applies in the consulting industry

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you haven't heard the rest of our episodes, please go back and find the series beginning at Episode 240. This series is worth your time if you are looking to make an intentional exit from your business in 5-10 years.

If you like what you’ve heard here, please consider leaving me a 5-star review. Thank you!

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, where we continue our journey into building value in your business. I sat down with Louise Motuzas, Co-founder of Thrive Business Consulting, and an accredited exit planner, to explore the drivers of building value in your business.

And today we want to bring you the nuances of a term you minimally known in business (outside of the financial industry): “The Switzerland Structure”.

Louise and I deconstruct the topic 📝👇

What is “The Switzerland Structure” when it comes to business?

Spoiler alert! It means creating a robust structure within your business in which you are not overly dependent on any one employee, client, or manufacturer

Louise and I further dive into the problems that can arise from dependency on owners or founders in your business

📌 And, I stress the importance of learning your business financials to ensure you are on track to a successful exit, whenever you choose.

Have a listen! 🎧

If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”. You’ve found us in the midst of our Value Builder Masterclass for entrepreneurs looking to make a cash-exit from their business in 5-10 years.

I sat down with Louise Motuzas, Co-founder of Thrive Business consulting, and an accredited exit planner to explore the drivers of building value in your business.

On the docket today is the vital topic of customer satisfaction. Louise and I chat about:

📝 The importance of asking your customer for feedback about your business and using your customers’ words

📝How customer satisfaction relates to the value of your business in the Value Builder System

📝 How to recover and handle any poor feedback that comes your way

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you haven't heard the rest of our episodes in this Masterclass, please go back and find the series beginning at Episode 240. This series is worth your time if you are looking to make an intentional exit from your business when you are ready.

Ps: If you like what you’ve heard here, please consider leaving me a 5-star review. Thank you!

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, we continue our Value Builder Masterclass for entrepreneurs looking to make a cash-exit from their business in 5-10 years. I sat down with Louise Motuzas, Co-founder of Thrive Business consulting, and an accredited exit planner to explore the drivers of building value in your business.

Today, we specifically dissect growth potential. Louise and I chat about:

📝 The unexpected benefits that COVID brought to people's businesses.

📝 If you’re selling your business, why it’s important to spend time looking for the right buyer.

📝 Why exit planning is a key strategy that is often overlooked and how to fix that using specialists in the space.

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you haven't heard the rest of our episodes, please go back and find the series beginning at Episode 240. This series is worth your time if you are looking to make an intentional exit from your business when you are ready.

Ps: If you like what you’ve heard here, please consider leaving me a 5-star review. Thank you!

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Welcome back! You’re joining us on “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?” in the middle of our masterclass series on building value in your business. Today, I sat down with Louise Motuzas, Co-founder of Thrive Business consulting, an accredited exit planner to dive into the issue of dependency between a business and its owner.

The more dependent your company is on you, as the owner, the less valuable it is to somebody else. How can you reduce dependency and increase your value and your freedom?

We have a few ideas 👇

📝 How can business owners get real clear on the right hires for your business?

📝 Why an important parallel piece to hiring is to document standard operating procedures in your business.

📝 The importance having someone you fully trust in, with great capabilities (and why neither one will do - you need both).

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you haven't heard the rest of our episodes, please go back and find the series beginning at Episode 240. This series is worth your time if you are looking to make a cash rich exit from your business in the next 5-10 years.

If you like what you’ve heard here, please consider leaving me a 5-star review. Thank you!

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?”, where we continue our journey into building value in your business. Today, let's talk about three financial drivers of a company's worth that will ultimately drive the value of your business if you want a cash-rich exit in 5-10 years.

The three financial drivers of business value are:

📝 Your financial performance

📝 The quality of your revenue

📝 And cash flow sovereignty

In this episode I deconstruct how to dive into your business financials to ensure you are on track to a successful exit, whenever you choose. Have a listen! 🎧

If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?” I bring you back with me in our masterclass series on building value in your business. I sat down with Louise Motuzas, Co-founder of Thrive Business consulting, an accredited exit planner to dive into:

📝 Why you need to know what your business is worth.

📝 Why business owners decide to sell to third parties

📝 The importance of the customers in the ‘value builder’ program.

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?”

This week we’re continuing our masterclass series on building value in your business. I sat down with Louise Motuzas, Co-founder of Thrive Business consulting, an accredited exit planner to dive into:

📝 Why all enterprises owners will eventually need exit and how planning is key

📝 The importance of creating liquidity and transferability in your business

📝 Staying committed to your business goal of freedom and avoiding building a prison for yourself as a business owner

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?”

This week we’re continuing our masterclass series on building value in your business. I sat down with Louise Motuzas, Co-founder of Thrive Business consulting, an accredited exit planner to dive into:

📝 Why all enterprises owners will eventually need exit and how planning is key

📝 The importance of creating liquidity and transferability in your business

📝 Staying committed to your business goal of freedom and avoiding building a prison for yourself as a business owner

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So, now what?” We kick off a masterclass series on building value in your business.

Every business owner will exit their business. The question is, will it be on purpose or by accident? Unless a business goes bankrupt, there's a death, a disability, or an alternate outcome that is entirely out of your control, it is necessary to put some intentionally into your business exit plan.

📝 Will you transition your business to the next generation within the family?

📝 Will you sell your business?

To help you think through your options, please listen to this episode and the next 9 in this series. I will be chatting with a fellow specialist on the subject - Louise Motuzas, who is a Certified Value Builder.

If you are looking to make a cash rich exit from your business in the next 5-10 years, please make time for this series.

And if you’re a return visitor to my podcast, please consider leaving me a five star rating. Thank you!

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, please welcome Christopher Jadhav, a business intermediary at Sunbelt Business Brokers. Christopher works with lower mid-market M&A clients and is a subject matter expert on investment in business immigration to Canada. He works extensively with domestic and international buyers.

In this episode, Christopher and I dive into:

📝 What a business broker is

📝 The secrets of selling your business

📝 Fun, frank advice from Christopher Jadhav

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you.

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, please welcome Christopher Jadhav, a business intermediary at Sunbelt Business Brokers. Christopher works with lower mid-market M&A clients and is a subject matter expert on investment in business immigration to Canada. He works extensively with domestic and international buyers.

In this episode, Christopher and I dive into:

📝 What a business broker is

📝 The secrets of selling your business

📝 Fun, frank advice from Christopher Jadhav

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you.

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Hello, listener! On this episode of “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, we’re finishing out a 5-part series that dives in-depth into “The EOS Way” (Entrepreneurial Operating System). My guest for the series has been Scott Morin, owner and lead consultant of Bytown Ventures.

In this concluding episode, you’ll find the following:

📝Additional resources for people who like to read - to support your exploration into the EOS way

📝 Why I focussed on EOS ((Entrepreneurial Operating System) and some core fundamentals to take with you 

📝 An invitation to “Elevated Conversations” in Ottawa

For the full details, please listen to the episode 🎧And, If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you

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Welcome back “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”! You’ve found us at part 4 of 5 in our mini series that covers “The EOS Way” (Entrepreneurial Operating System). 

Scott Morin, owner and lead consultant of Bytown Ventures, returns to dive into:

📝 How to solve problems effectively

📝 What is “The issue solving track”

📝 Fun, Frank advice for life and the EOS way! 

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧And, If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5 star rating. 

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, we continue our mini series that covers “The EOS Way” (Entrepreneurial Operating System). This is part 3 of the mini series, if you missed the first two, please listen to the two previous episodes first (234 and 235).

Now, say hello again to Scott Morin, owner and lead consultant of Bytown Ventures.

In this episode, Scott and I dive into:

📝 Why vulnerability is key to making better decisions

📝 The first step to bringing an EOS framework together for your business 

📝 The maturity of business needed to implement the EOS method

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧And, If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5 star rating.

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” we continue our mini series that covers “The EOS Way” (Entrepreneurial Operating System). Scott Morin, owner and lead consultant of Bytown Ventures joins me to talk about how the EOS system can benefit your business.

Scott and I dive into:

📝 Identifying key businesses pain points

📝Why organizations must not be completely reliant on the founder of the business

📝 “Evolution versus revolution” in the growth of organizations (a term from Dr Larry Greiner)

📝 Fun and Frank advice from Scott Morin

This episode is sponsored by “Elevated Conversations” with me, Colleen O'Connell Campbell, a roundtable mastermind for co-founders and business owners who want a cash rich exit in the next five to 10 years. Connect, discuss, share actionable, tactical advice with your peers, The Self made Nation. 

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” we kick off a mini series that covers “The EOS Way” (Entrepreneurial Operating System) and I invite you to join me and my guest, Scott Morin, owner and lead consultant of Bytown Ventures. We will share with you a few conversations around the EOS system and how it can benefit your business.

Also in today’s episode, I invite you behind the scenes as we bring back “Elevated Conversations” with me, Colleen O'Connell Campbell, a roundtable mastermind for co-founders and business owners who want a cash rich exit in the next five to 10 years. Connect, discuss, share actionable, tactical advice with your peers, The Self made Nation. 

Much more within the episode 🛠 Have a listen! 🎧

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, say hello to Jennifer McGahan, the mastermind behind WIREInvestment. A leading business woman and finalist of the Business Woman of the Year award in 2018, Jennifer's mandate has always been to work and collaborate with women. It was during her time in her interior design business that she noticed a lack of female representation in the real estate investment world, as well as underrepresentation in construction, property development, and private lending. Jennifer founded WIREInvestment Corp. in 2019, with the intent to create wealth and opportunity for female investors.

In this episode, Jennifer and I dive into:

📝The importance of diversity in investment to build ongoing personal wealth

📝Women in the real estate industry and the opportunity that lies within

📝When real estate accounts for 76% of the country's overall wealth, why do women possess less than 20% of the titles?

📝 Fun, frank advice from Jennifer McGahan

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you.

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Today on ‘I'm a Millionaire! So Now What?”, say hello to Sergio Navarretta, an internationally recognized, award-winning director who is fiercely passionate about bringing meaningful content to the screen. He draws inspiration from Italian neorealism and considers his work an exploration of the human condition.

Navarretta made his directorial debut with “Looking for Angelina”, a true crime feature that tells the story of one of the most sensational murder cases in North American history.

Sergio and I dive into:

📝 Signing up for the creative process

📝 Putting business foundations into place for creative businesses

📝 How each film became its own corporation

📝 The passion of podcasting

📝 Frank advice from Sergio Navarretta

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

If you like what you’re hearing, please drop me a 5-star rating. Thank you.

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” Say hello to Rebecca Herr, the mastermind behind LeFace, a brand-community firm. They are an entertainment marketing agency that creates meaningful connections with fans through creativity and popular culture. They monetize through sponsorship, partnership strategy and activation, experiential delivery, earned social media, creative content, and influencer marketing. Rebecca has over 20 years of marketing and communications experience in the film and television industry including 15 years as a Marketing Executive at Shaftesbury. Fun fact: she has done some stand up comedy and hosted a show!

Rebecca and I dive into:

📝 The anatomy of a family business 

📝 Distinguishing from other marketing agencies in a crowded market

📝 Breaking down the factors of success in an agency space

📝 Frank advice from Rebecca Herr

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Today on I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, say hello to Elisabeth Burrow, the mastermind and Chief Nut Roaster behind Jewels Under the Kilt, an agri-distribution business. They grow and roast nuts on a farm outside Fergus, Ontario, and distribute their product across Canada. It all started in 2010 when she and her partner bought a 90 acre farm in Fergus. And within a few years, they started to roast nuts, grow more nuts, and package it up and put it on your table. 

Elisabeth and I dive into:

📝 How she and her partner started their nut business by chance

📝 How people who started with 5 trees on a farm became a distributor all over Canada

📝 The rippling DNA of an inclusive business

📝 Frank advice from Elisabeth Burrow

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, say hello to Melissa Silber, a CPA who spent 15 years in corporate finance before leaving that corporate world to start her own CPA firm. She's passionate about educating entrepreneurs about business finance and taxes. 

Melissa and I dive into:

📝 How a strong hashtag led to a finance program name for her business

📝 What brought her to Tik Tok, and what she learns and shares there to increase her network

📝 HowTik Tok led to a whole new service-oriented business

📝 The grey area of tax “write-offs” for many business owners

📝 Fun, frank advice from Melissa Silber 

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, say hello to Andrew Bailes. He is a fractional CPA and founder of Hertford Advisors, and has been a CFO since 2006. He has extensive experience in telecoms, logistics, manufacturing, among others, managing finance, legal, and HR operations.

Andrew and I dive into:

📝 What commonly stops business from growing?

📝 The value of bookkeeping in business

📝 Why business owners need to work on becoming unafraid of numbers

📝 Fun, frank advice from Andrew Bailes, fractional CFO

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Back in November, I spoke to Kris McCarthy, Co-Founder/COO of FanSaves, whom you heard from again the past couple of weeks. And I wanted to expand that conversation.

This week on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” I talk to the brain power behind the sports-focused mobile couponing app.

This is Shannon Ferguson, FanSaves’ Co-Founder & CEO. Also a (former) competitive hockey player. With her partner, Kris McCarthy, she paired her love of hockey (and sports in general) as well as her passion for sponsorship sales and digital marketing and helped launch the sports-focused mobile couponing platform, offering discounts and deals from sponsors. Her public speaking skills have allowed her to pitch their startup to important investors on stages across the world.

Colleen and Shannon dig into:

💥 The parallels between sport and business.
💥 Overcoming overwhelming obstacles, personal and professional.
💥 The entrepreneurial resilience reservoir.
💥 And the power of having a vivid vision for the future – even before officially launching.

Women are the backbone of small business in Canada. Let’s celebrate that.

Have a listen and enjoy!

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Last week, I brought you the segment “Where are they now” with Shannon Ferguson and Kris McCarthy. I encouraged you to listen to the original interview with each, Shannon and Kris. Upon reflection, I decided that maybe I can do one better! So I’ve curated parts of the conversation for you here 👇

In this episode you’ll discover:

💫 how a professional hockey player became a startup founder! 🏒🏒🏒

✅Why I love LinkedIn for meeting new members of the Self Made Nation.

✅ Building teams from the ground up.

✅ How an impressive advisory board can help a startup.

✅ Diving in - not worrying about getting big funding first.

✅ And lessons learned from less than perfect growth experiences.

Because one thing is certain when you’re building a company - there are bound to be hiccups along the way!

Have a listen!

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We're back with one of my favourite segments, “Where are they now?” Today, I'm checking in on Shannon Ferguson, Co-Founder/COO of FanSaves, And Kris McCarthy, Co-Founder and COO of FanSaves, a sports-focused mobile couponing platform, offering discounts and deals from sponsors. 🏈⚽️🏀

I originally had Shannon and Kris here on the podcast as separate interviews during the pandemic and if you haven’t heard those, I ask you to go back and listen to episodes 149 and 159 first.

In this updated episode, we talk about:

✅ Taking time to smell the roses

✅ Then vs now - FanSaves growth path

💥 Barriers women founders need to overcome

✅ Building teams from the ground up.

💥 How an impressive advisory board can help a startup.

✅ Diving in - not worrying about getting big funding first.

💥 And lessons learned from less than perfect growth experiences.

Women are the backbone of small business in Canada. Let’s celebrate that. 🎉🎉🎉

Enjoy this episode!

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Welcome to the 4th and final installment of our deep dive into building value in your business, if you plan to sell in 5-10 years. 

Todd Perry, Vice-President at Kehoe Marine Construction, joins us in this masterclass episode series to highlight the importance of a cash-rich exit and how that links to financial freedom for business owners. Specifically in this episode, we’ll discuss how to translate company values into personal values. Todd and I highlight different ways to optimize business buyouts.

The key takeaway of the episode is to put together strategies to fully support your family goals and objectives before a business exit. 

Todd and I dig into 👇

💫 Identifying family interests for the future 

💫 The benefits of Tax Planning 

💫 The need for an Advisory Board for advanced planning 

There's much more to this conversation on the podcast.

Listen now! 🎧

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I present to you the next installment of our deep dive into building value in your business, if you plan to sell in 5-10 years.

In this masterclass episode series with Todd Perry, Vice-President at Kehoe Marine Construction, we, on the 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” podcast, highlight the importance of a cash-rich exit and how that links to financial freedom for business owners. Specifically in this episode, we’ll discuss exit strategies to sell a business successfully.

Todd and I will also talk about some of the lifestyle changes to expect when you are no longer a decision-maker in your business. We also run through how to create opportunities to help other businesses grow, even without decision-making as part of the package.

One key takeaway we ask you to focus on in this episode is how third-party consultants help prepare crucial exit strategies for a successful business buyout.

Todd and I dig into 👇

💫 Different Ways to Operate and Grow a Business

💫 Lifestyle Changes as a Non-Decision-Maker in Business

💫 Cash Rich Exit Strategies for Business Shareholders

There's much more to this conversation on the podcast. Listen now! 🎧

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Welcome to the next installment of our deep dive into building value in your business, if you plan to sell in 5-10 years. In this masterclass episode series with Todd Perry, Vice-President at Kehoe Marine Construction, we on the 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” podcast highlight the importance of a cash-rich exit and how that links to financial freedom for business owners. 

We also talk about how you can get a “Value Builder Pre-Score”, an assessment for business owners to determine if their business is ready for sale. 

The key takeaway of the episode is that businesses should be designed in a way that allows them to go up for sale at any time. 

Todd and I dig into 👇

💫 Cash Rich Exit Ideas for Business Owners 

💫 The Importance of a Disciplined Business 

💫 Pre Sale Business Assessment for Co-Owners 

There's much more to this conversation on the podcast. Listen now! 🎧

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Today we continue a power-packed short masterclass series of episodes with Todd Perry on building value in your business. Todd is Vice-President at Kehoe Marine Construction, an engineer, shareholder, and ex-President at McIntosh Perry, an engineering firm that builds roads and bridges. 

In this episode of 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, we will share examples from Todd covering the 8 drivers of company value. The primary highlights of this conversation are monopoly control, and the hub and spoke model. 

These are 2 essential business value drivers. 

The key takeaway in this episode is to identify the opportunities that live behind responsibilities. 

Todd and I dig into 👇

💫 Introduction to the 8 Company Value Drivers

💫 Monopoly Control - the importance of competitive advantage

💫 Hub and Spoke - the importance of systems and processes to reduce dependence on the business owner or founder.  

There's much more to this conversation on the podcast. Listen now! 🎧

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Glad to welcome Todd Perry on today's episode of 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”. Todd is a Vice-President at Kehoe Marine Construction, an engineer, and ex-President at McIntosh Perry, an engineering firm that builds roads and bridges.

This episode emphasizes the highs and lows, difficult decisions that lead to opportunities, benefits of consultancy from advisors, and future preparations for when you need to change your business plans.

The key takeaway in this episode is to be ready for all kinds of changes associated with professional and personal life.

Todd and I dig into 👇

💫 The opportunity to do a little bit of everything

💫 The importance of highlighting the opportunities behind uncomfortable conversations

💫 How to develop a nature that allows you make mistakes, admit them, and fix them

💫 The importance of quick plans to adapt rapidly

💫 Fun, frank advice from Todd Perry

There's much more to this conversation on the podcast. Listen now! 🎧

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Excited to welcome Geoff Eisfeld on today's episode of 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”. Geoff is the founder of THE GRID, a digitally advanced, mentally stimulating and physically engaging entertainment venue. THE GRID is a venue with rooms with neon lights, music and energy. It is a great place to connect, with digitally stimulating mental and physical experiences for both kids and adults. 

Geoff and I dig into 👇

💫 The importance of having fun at work 

💫 The state of physically and mentally stimulating immersive digital experience 

💫 The foundational importance of being healthy, fit, and active 

💫 The Future of THE GRID 

💫 Fun, frank advice from Geoff Eisfeld

There’s so much more to our conversation on the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Today on 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫 I’d like you to say hello to Fotini Iconomopoulos. She is the author of “Say Less. Get More.” - Unconventional Negotiation Techniques to Get What You Want.

We dive deep into 👇

💫 Why enjoyment is the key distinction in getting what you want out of work

💫 Her first tip as a negotiator - spoiler alert: get your head in the game

💫 Fotini’s suggestions for things to remember when doubt creeps in during negotiations

💫 Her advice for when you’re working with someone that appears to have more power and leverage than you 

💫 Fun, frank advice from Fotini Iconomopoulos  

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Today on 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫 off the heels last week’s International Women's Day excitement, I bring you a pair of women co - founders and award-winning food entrepreneurs, Jess Mantell & Fumi Tsukamoto.

We dive deep into 👇

Philosophies of starting new things - why your result is limited by your amount of actions. And action is limited by your thoughts and imagination. And your thoughts are limited by the information you're getting. 

Why you should listen and read a lot - what your knowledge is super important but also just being open to those networking opportunities is super valuable, so you can soak up as much as you can.

There’s so much more to the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Today on 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫  I mark International Women's Day with some reflections and resources around the idea of renewal and self-care.

I dig into 👇

💫 The importance of self-care in the follow up to a deeply personal mental health story I shared with you a month ago

💫 My gratitude to ‘notifications’ that help us keep in touch with the people who spark new ways to think about things

💫 A story of a profound introduction to meditation in the mountains of Costa Rica

💫 How to diffuse some of the feelings of intimidation you might have around meditation if it interests you 

💫 A few good resources if you want to try short meditation sessions 

There’s so much more ton the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Today on 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫 I welcome Shelagh Cummins - CEO and founder of The Road to Seven ™ a coaching, training, and financing company that guides women entrepreneurs in building a profitable and fulfilling business. Shelagh has successfully helped struggling solopreneurs to transform into flourishing CEOs. Shelgah’s firm works to change the capital access rules for women.

Shelagh and I dig into 👇

💫 The importance of staying open to opportunities till you find your dream work 

💫 The state of funding for women entrepreneurs 

💫 The genesis of a financing component in a coaching business

💫 The Future of Micro Lending 

💫 Fun, frank advice from Shelagh Cummins

There’s so much more to our conversation on the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Today on 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫 I present another episode of “Where are they now?

I welcome back Andrea Chase, the founder and CEO of the taxi app: ProCabby LTD. 🚕🚕🚕 a technology startup. A free mobile app aiming to modernize and rebuild the taxi industry.

We discuss

🚕 What a journey of persistence, regrouping, and re-evaluation over a pandemic year looks like

🚕 Catering to the needs of an industry that is deeply affected by Covid-19 protocols

🚕 Shaping technology as a ‘non-tech’ founder

🚕 Managing the entrepreneurial mind

🚕 Setbacks, failing forward, regrouping and moving ahead

🚕 How to keep the big vision intact

🚕 Updated fun, frank advice from Andrea

There’s so much more to our conversation on the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Today on 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫 I present an episode of “Where are they now?

I welcome back Alberto Aguilar, the co-founder of Plantaform, a biotech startup that created a soil-free indoor home gardening system using pioneering fogponics technology. It allows you to grow up to 15 vegetables in three weeks in a designer container in your kitchen – one that’s about as big as a mini fridge.

Find out:

🌱 What an example of a team that has grown substantially looks like

🌱 How Rejuvenate works and how it’s moved from concept to product due for delivery this year

🌱 The journey of attracting investors

🌱 What taking orders on a website looks like in the garden industry

🌱 The value of unchanging vision

🌱 Updated fun, frank advice from Alberto

There’s much more to our conversation on the podcast. Have a listen! 🎧

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Conducting ourselves, as adult human beings, on an average day can be a challenge in itself! 

Behind every business, is a CEO, Founder, Business Owner - a human being who faces uncertainty and risk. 

I see you. 

I AM YOU.

This week on the podcast, I change things up a little to discuss deeply personal mental health:

• Why I didn’t acknowledge 📞 🇨🇦 ‘let’s talk day’ for mental health despite being a strong champion for mental health
• My relationship with the day ‘February 9’
• And why I put the whole human experience at the center of all my programming

I’ll say nothing further! Listen to the episode! And if you enjoy it, please leave me a 5 star rating. It'll take just a second and will give me the boost I need to keep showing up for you

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Meet Ryan Lazanis, founder of Xen Accounting, a 100% cloud-based accounting firm since 2013. It was acquired in 2018, and following the acquisition, Ryan started Future Firm, which provides content, community, and coaching to help accountants quickly grow a scalable, systematic firm of their own. Ryan currently educates over 5,000 firm leaders globally via his free weekly newsletter and he coaches hundreds of successful accounting firms through his Future Firm Accelerate online coaching membership.

Ryan and I discuss:

• How timely ideas can take you far
• Learning from family history
• How to find your clients when starting from scratch
• How to process information when the opportunity to sell your business comes around
• The importance of being intentional about an exit
• Fun, frank advice from Ryan

If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave me a 5 star rating. It'll take just a second and will give me the boost I need to keep showing up for you.

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Meet Louise Motuzas, President and founder of Thrive Business Consulting. A brilliant example of a business entrepreneur who has built a business from scratch by digging deep into some of the foundational pillars of entrepreneurship. She will trigger your mind to think. So, let’s get started:

Louise and I discuss:

• The role of chance and choices in shaping a career
• Dividing work by expertise when working with partners
• The importance of foundation
• The exponential value of remote management
• The importance of attitude in talent
• The true value of creating a business, not a job
• Fun, frank advice from Louise

If you’re a return visitor, please drop my podcast a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Meet James James Chalmers, Partner & Chief Strategist at Cortex Design. Named Inc. & Forbes' - Fastest Growing Companies twice as a President & CEO, James is an accredited investor, and an entrepreneur with several successful exits.

James invests, advises, and mentors ventures and their founders from early-stage development through to commercialization. One of the reasons I wanted to bring him on the show is the fact that he's exited a number of businesses in which he’s not the founder. He’s focussed on medical devices and consumer health technology as the best way to democratize and provide universal access to health and wellness.

We discuss:

• Differentiation as a long-term value proposition
• Becoming interested in the process of scaling up business
• Starting where the stakes are low
• Turning mistakes along the way into inclusive culture
• The relationship between risk and confidence
• Starting to have true equity positions
• Fun, frank advice from James Chalmers

If you’re a return visitor, please drop my podcast a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Samantha Mathews is CEO and CTO of LOCI, a neurologically proven training system that is evolving safety and spurring the adoption of verifiable credentials as an alternative to raw data collection. Her innovative approaches to data privacy and decentralized web systems has led to speaking engagements at Stanford University,Google, South by Southwest and more. An experienced software and systems designer, she has a proven track record of technical innovation in areas of impact such as crowd modeling, live streaming events, web based virtual reality, offline networking, and so many more privacy immersive learning safety systems design. Starting from a small community, on an island, to living as a DJ across the world, to CEO and CTO of a leading tech organization is a fascinating journey.

We discuss:

• A pivot from live streaming into having an innovation lab for Web 3.0
• The convergence of an a-ha moment
• How do you describe something deeply technical to your parents?
• ​​Creating a company around a risk
• Changing context in the pandemic
• How Samantha funde an innovation lab
• Fun, frank advice from Samantha Mathews

If you’re a return visitor, please drop my podcast a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Meet Patrick Stark. He is the co-founder of Endurance Tap - digesting gel for athletes.

A purpose-driven entrepreneur, born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Before taking the leap into full-time entrepreneurship, Patrick was in industrial design, specializing in architectural lighting; he was VP of engineering and product strategy for an architectural lighting manufacturer in Toronto.

Very different from sports nutrition!

Using his background in product side, and complemented by his co-founder's background in marketing, they went all in on entrepreneurship.

We discuss:

• What is endurance nutrition?
• What turned an industrial designer into a nutritional product creator?
• Purpose and profit - a fresher business ethos
• The importance of investing time and energy into creating strong systems and processes to scale
• To bootstrap or not to bootstrap?
• Fun, frank advice from Patrick Stark

If you’re a return visitor, please drop my podcast a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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In this episode of ‘I’m a Millionaire. So, Now What?’, we rewind back to the past 12 months to take a moment and pay homage to the guests who have come on the show. We focus on fun, frank advice from 26 of them. This is a question I ask at the end of each episode and people always have a fantastic answer.

Here are some that stood out for me:

“Your desire to achieve should be greater than your desire for everyone to see your vision.”

“It is never too late to reinvent yourself”

“It’s not how well you play the game, its deciding what game you want to play”

“Invest in building your network early and often”

“You haven’t failed until you’ve stopped trying:”

“Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment”

Here are timestamps to some of the topics discussed:

[01:22] A year in review

[01:45] Be better and be who you are

[04:00] Desire to achieve

[07:55] Committed to the vision

[08:34] Positive learning experiences

[10:11] Starting a business with no plan B

[11:10] Never stop pushing

[12:49] Build your network

[14:10] Never give up

[15:19] Be open to things

[17:19] Don’t be scared and take the risk

[19:41] Don’t be afraid to ask for help

[20:29] Leading through values

[23:08] The power of creating opportunities for staff

[24:23] Outro

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For a lot of business owners, the Christmas giving season is a major time of year to create sales. For me, and many of my business owner clients, it’s a bit more about pausing and reflecting.

My big hairy audacious goal is to double the number of Self-Made Millionaires in Canada, building a more self-reliant Canada.

I want to normalize the notion that growing wealth through your business is a good thing.

I am thrilled that at the ‘I’m a millionaire. So, now what?’ podcast, we have over 40,000 unique downloads.

And over 200 episodes!

As we go into 2022, here’s what you should you expect from this podcast.

1. 'Where are they now?’ (Update stories on pre-revenue and early stage businesses I’ve previously interviewed)

2. Guest panels on my podcast – two or three guests - ie. M&A professionals, accounting professionals, philanthropic giving foundations or professionals – coming together to chat holistic business growth and exit.

3. Wealth management strategies

4. How to optimize your wealth

5. More concepts for you to think about as you consider a cash-rich exit from your business
6. The eight drivers of company value. I've introduced to you these drivers that make your company more valuable upon exit. They make your company more interesting and appealing in the eyes of an acquirer. I will dig into those a little bit more, bringing some case studies.

Here are timestamps to some of the topics covered:

[01:58] Time of year of gift giving, thank you

[03:14] Celebrate the wealth you have created

[04:46] Ideas for 2022

[06:10] Panels

[07:24] Wealth management strategies

[09:14] Interview guest suggestions

[10:55] Outro

If you’re a return visitor, please drop my podcast a 5-star rating. Thank you!

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Creating wealth through your business is not just something that should be normalized but also celebrated. For this episode of, I’m a Millionaire So Now What, we do just that. I tell the story of Tobias Lutke, co-founder of Shopify and tech tycoon, who takes a $1 salary and is met with backlash and disdain rather than celebrating the achievements of the e-commerce platform. What began as a simple online store grew into one of the most notable names in the online space, elevating Canada’s spot in the tech world.

They had humble beginnings. I remember picking up a business card years ago at an Ottawa tradeshow. I've kept that card all this time and I’m thinking of making it into an NFT!

“I believe that accumulating wealth to be self-reliant, to have financial freedom, is good. I believe that growing wealth through your business is just and worthy.”

Here are timestamps to some of the topics we discussed:

[01:10] Financial post article; Tech Tycoon who takes $1 in Salary
[05:24] Cheery Pier tradeshow
[09:01] Building a more self-reliant Canada
[10:08] Celebrating achievements of a self-made nation
[13:45] Building wealth with a solid base of professionals
[15:58] Reaching out

You can email me at: Collen.Campbell@RBC.com

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Tyler LeBlanc is Director and Co-founder of Apollo Green, one of Canada’s first cannabis businesses to be granted licensing for cultivation and processing. Located out of Ottawa, Apollo Green’s mission is to uphold a high standard of seeds and plants to distribute to medicinal consumers. For this episode of I’m a Millionaire So Now What, Tyler discloses the hurdles he had to jump to get Apollo Green federally licensed and shares the most significant challenge he faced once receiving his license.

“The cannabis plant has a unique way of connecting people. It seems like if you share the plant with someone, then you sort of have this connection and bond instantly.” – Tyler LeBlanc

Here are timestamps to some of the topics we discussed:

[00:55] Introduction to Tyler LeBlanc

[05:08] The genesis of Apollo Green

[09:01] Meeting Ed Rosenthal

[15:05] State of Apollo Green as of Sept 2020

[18:49] Future of Apollo Green

[20:27] Biggest challenge

[22:17] Most rewarding part of the journey

[23:31] Self-made advice

[24:46] Outro

Find out more about Apollo Green here

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Two years after cannabis became legal for adult recreational use, how are organizations navigating its use in the workplace? As leaders and owners of businesses with teams, are we making progress in terms of policies and procedures as it relates to weed in the workplace?

I’m continuing to rewind the clock and editorializing a number of episodes where I have had entrepreneurs, business owners and other professionals who have background expertise in the cannabis industry that is still very new, and yet growing like weed. (Yes the episode is rife with terrible parent puns!)

Meet Hilda Gan again, Chief People Officer and owner of People Bright Consulting. She has a specialty in HR for cannabis.

Hilda says cannabis in the workplace is something that a lot of companies have not yet pondered. At a high level, companies need to think about what they're doing and put in place policies.

A few of Hilda’s points

1. Start with research and a policy.
2. Think about the brand of your company, both from the talend and client point of view.
3. Train to educate and remove bias.

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

If you are a return listener, drop us a 5 star review please?

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In this throwback conversation from the fall of 2018 we bring back lessons from a period of time when c@nnabis was being launched into Canada as a legal, heavily-regulated substance for adult recreational use.

We summarize my conversation with Dr. Terry Lake, a recurring guest and speaker with our podcast and virtual events - who never fails to offer incredible, logical wisdom.

Dr Lake has rich experience. He started in broadcasting, was a veterinarian, went into lecturing, moved on to be in politics (Minister of Health), and then Corporate Responsibility in an emerging field - ie: Cannabis (Hexo). 

He talks to Colleen about the deep and villainized history of c@nnabis and how Canada’s legalization of it is miles ahead of its time and something that's worth being excited about.

This is a knowledge translation of science and opinion from a truly expert source, on a controversial topic.

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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Less than 100 Canadian entrepreneurs have seen their company valued at a billion dollars or more. Two live in Ottawa and their success comes from cannabis. Adam Miron founded HEXO Corporation, a Canadian medical cannabis producer with his brother-in-law, Sébastien St-Louis. On “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, the serial entrepreneur, investor, and author of ‘Billion Dollar Startup’ talks about his journey to success, how taking risks and putting everything on the line defines entrepreneurship, and the lessons he’s learned from his experience.

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”, where Nita Tandon joins me to talk about leaving pharmaceutical science to become a mom, and how she became an entrepreneur, almost by accident. We chat about:

• How she started a company just so manufacturers would take her seriously
• The marriage of dreams and design
• Creating an external team by outsourcing
• To exit or not to exit?
• Her fun, frank advice

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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An exciting update on a cash-rich exit for some of our recent guests on the podcast! They are the next generation of the self-made nation - two special guests who are actually my cousins - Jacqueline Marquis and Nicholas Marquis; the former owners of the Almonte Ice Cream Shop. They recently sold their store to the Dewey family.

These bright, enterprising young entrepreneurs bought and managed a local ice cream shop in Almonte, Ontario, while still in high school.

Jacqueline and Nicolas pooled together their college funds to buy the Almonte Ice Cream Shop and now they have successfully sold it. What a joy!

There's nothing more satisfying than seeing the next generation take the leap, take the risks, and test the waters.

As an investment for them, this venture not only got them a return in the form of an ROI on their money, but also a massive return in experience from a foray into the world of entrepreneurship.

In this special episode, you can listen to their back story and draw inspiration.

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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This entrepreneur founded four businesses on the idea that people skills are what makes a business successful. Hilda Gan joins “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” to share the story of co-founding iTrans Consulting with her husband and what led to their successful acquisition. She’s applied their learnings to her HR consulting business, which trains executives, managers, and aspiring leaders to develop positive workplace cultures and increase staff engagement. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• A successful exit from iTrans (and how values played a key role)
• The reason why employees leave – and how to retain them
• A mission to create better workplaces where employees can thrive
• Her fun, frank advice

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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This successful investor, entrepreneur and advisor helps CEOs, Boards of Directors, and venture capital and private equity firms to generate growth and exit successfully. I’m excited to have Alex Rink on the show to tell us about his entrepreneurial journey, his three strategic acquires and how he contributes to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The three companies he successfully exited
• Maximizing positive impact
• Unlocking growth
• His fun, frank advice

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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Meet Tuan Nguyen, an entrepreneur who joins 💫 “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫 to share the importance of values and vision. This motivational speaker, mentor and ed-tech entrepreneur suffers from multiple passion syndrome – to the benefit of all! He shares the story of how volunteering inspired him to give back, his journey of personal development and raising seven kids, and how his value-driven approach is what motivated him to found 5 businesses (and counting).

Some of what we talk about includes:

• The importance of self-care
• Adopting the acquirer’s mindset
• Shared values and vision in partnerships
• The streamlined work approach
• And even more fun, frank advice

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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Imagine your entire industry turned upside down? Enter two entrepreneurs who combined forces to embrace digital transformation, instead of going under. Mireille Faucon and Nichol Turner founded EventFluent, and together, they’re going from strength to strength.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Upskilling and managing risk
• The siloed environment of being an entrepreneur
• The fractional, outsourced approach
• Their fun, frank advice

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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Are you stuck in the owner’s trap? Where you went into business to have freedom, but your business slows down if you take a vacation? Or maybe your company’s growth is so dependent on you that it plateaus – because there’s only so many hours in the day and you can’t keep up. 

In this episode of 💫 “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫 I talk about:

• Freedom – and whether business owners really have it
• The eight drivers of value in your business – and why working on these can see your company grow in value (making it more attractive for a strategic acquire)
• The value builder assessment and why you need it (for everything, especially if you are thinking of attending Double to Sell)

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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Wouldn't it be a great investment of your time if you could grow your greatest asset? 

In this episode of 💫 “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫 I talk about:

• Reinvesting in your business and growing your net worth vs. investing in a stock portfolio and getting taxed on it.
• The Warren Buffet approach to investment and how you can emulate it within your own company
• The drivers of value in your business – and why focusing on these can help you attract a strategic acquisition.

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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Welcome back to 💫 “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫, where I’m sharing more information on why you, as CEO, founder, business owner and member of the self-made nation, should take two mornings off to attend Double to Sell on November 4th and 5th. Here’s two great reasons:

• You’ll walk away with an action plan
• You’ll dramatically increase the likelihood of a cash-rich exit.

I discuss the eight drivers of business value – and the value builder score. You’ll learn how to upping your score could increase the value of your business by a staggering 71%. 

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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It’s short and sweet but intriguing on 💫 “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫. I share what you can expect from the next chapter of Double to Sell, Canada’s premier invitation-only workshop for business owners. Whether you’re considering a cash-rich exit or not, thinking about your business from the perspective of an acquire is the smart thing to do. 

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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On 💫 “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫, I talk to Rand Fishkin, an author, founder, and tech innovator whose latest startup, SparkToro, helps companies find out what their audience likes and talks about online. He shares:

• His story and lessons from the trenches
• How the SparkToro model is different from the “billion dollar or bust” venture capitalist one
• Why he uses agencies and consultants for just about everything.

🎧 Have a listen! 🎧

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Don’t stick your head in the sand when it comes to preparing for a cash-rich exit strategy. In this episode, you’ll find out 5 fundamental questions every business owner needs to answer to have a cash-rich exit: 

1. How is your business set up?
2. What is it worth?
3. What happens if there is an unexpected tragedy?
4. What does your exit actually look like?
5. What happens after you exit?

Tune in for more!

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My special guest and friend on “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” is women’s sexual health disrupter Dr. Jordin Wiggins, a naturopathic doctor, entrepreneur and author on a mission to reverse the sexual dysfunction that affects 50% of women globally. 

She tells us about her journey from traditional to naturopathic medicine and how she merges her learnings from both to revolutionize the way we deliver, educate, and talk about women’s sexual health, wellness and pleasure. 

Find out how she 10x’d her revenue by creating educational programs for women looking for more joy and fulfilment in their life, work, and relationships. 

Enjoy!

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Joining me on “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” is the next generation of the self-made nation, two special guests who are actually my cousins. These entrepreneurs bought and managed a local ice cream shop in Almonte, Ontario, while still in high school – and one hasn’t even graduated yet. Jacqueline and Nicolas Marquis pooled together their college funds to start Almonte Ice Cream Shop and I can’t think of a better way to launch yourself into the self-made nation. Can you?

I hope you enjoy their story!

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Welcome to another edition of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” where I host two business and life partners who wear many fun hats. Some are even scary! It’s the husband-and-wife team from Ottawa’s very own Saunders Farm, Mark Saunders and Angela Grant Saunders. This duo has been taking Saunders Farm into new entrepreneurial directions and I can’t wait to see how their legacy evolves:

We talk about:

💥 Providing unexpected delight

💥 Pushing boundaries – and taking risks

💥 And refiring the team’s imagination with a new business direction 

I hope you enjoy their story.

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Fashion AND function? Iver Fashion does both. Travis Iverson started Iver Fashion to help mobility-impaired and able-bodied people look and feel good. After suffering a spinal cord injury, Travis partnered with ex-schoolmate Tyler LeBlanc to create a brand that really puts the purpose before profit. 

Listen up to discover their visionary products, including the Never Give Up hat – and get involved.  

Enjoy!

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Ever dreamt of being a craft brewer? Paul Meek’s story of how he founded Ottawa-based microbrewery Kichesippi Beer with his late wife Kelly could be the inspiration you need. Creator of the fantastically named Warrior Woman, Cheshire Cat Pilsner and Dandelion Pale Ale, Paul became the purveyor of all things local as he diversified the company’s business plan to adapt to the current climate. Paul’s Kichesippi Beer is a fantastic example of innovation, adaptability, and customer service in challenging times.  

Enjoy!

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Prepare to be intrigued, immersed, and enthralled as cryptocurrency tax experts John Oakey and Myles Bilodeaujoin us on 🎙I'm a Millionaire! So Now What?🎙. You’ll discover how the very first bitcoins bought what would now be the world’s most expensive pizza, why crypto is here to stay (with 2 trillion dollars in the market) and that cryptocurrency is no longer an invisible asset – and your trading is not as anonymous as you think! 

Listen up as John and Myles help Canadian crypto investors or wannabe investors learn and understand their responsibilities as taxpayers.   

Enjoy!

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Hear from blockchain consultants and crypto experts Mrugakshee Palwe and Keegan Francis on 🎙I'm a Millionaire! So Now What?🎙. Mrugakshee and Keegan founded Atlantic Blockchain Company and Go Full Crypto to help individuals and businesses understand and adopt cryptocurrencies.

We chat about:

• What blockchain and Bitcoin are – using simple analogies to make these concepts easier to understand
• Some of the main benefits and advantages of Bitcoin
• Debunking the myths around Bitcoin
• Their vision to educate and empower the next billion people to use Bitcoin

Enjoy!

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On 🎙I'm a Millionaire! So Now What?🎙 – meet entrepreneur and CEO Founder Erin Bury. Together with her husband Kevin, she Co-Founded Willful, an online Will platform that allows Canadians to draft a Will in under 20 minutes.

We chat about:

✅ How technology can help planning for or dealing with death a little easier

✅ How Willful fills the gap for DIY consumers and digital natives

✅ Their mission to make sure every Canadian has a Will – and how this led to real social impact

After facing their own challenges with investors, Erin and Kevin are planning to start an investment fund to help other under-represented and non-traditional founders.

Enjoy!

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It’s nearly the end of June, mid 2021 and most of us have started languishing. Feeling the funk of being stuck in this Groundhog Day🐿.

It’s more important than ever before to look after your most valuable assets: Your mental health, your mindset, your intellect. In this solo episode I share:

• A snippet from an interview I did with venture catalyst Jason Daley, where he talks about languishing and how change brings an opportunity for discovery and self-care
• How the restrictions on celebrations or grief have negatively affected us – but we’re not alone
• A word to the wise🦉: Nurture your health. Nurture your brain. Practise being positive even in the face of adversity because the obstacle is the opportunity.

Enjoy!

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How does an entrepreneur end up becoming a bottleneck in his/her company? How do we harness the benefits of collaborative teams, and figure out what to do ourselves and what to outsource?

You’re going to find out as I chat to Susan Diaz and Will Lamont on 🎙“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”🎙

The team from C+P Digital and my outsourced marketing company, they are the back-end support for this production. They interviewed me about the value of fractional marketing and the importance of teams and systems.

On this episode you’ll learn about:

• Focus, flow, and frankness
• How perfectionism blocks progress
• The Kolbe System and teamwork
• Working in your zone of genius and outsourcing the rest
• How your stage of life or business can affect the ‘hiring-out’ decision
• The importance of access and control on your properties

Enjoy!

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” where I introduce you to a venture catalyst, portfolio investor and entrepreneur with a unique talent for the art of the start-up, Jason Daley. He's honed his skills over 20 years of professional experience in high growth industries ranging from media and entertainment, web technologies and real estate.

A fellow Carleton Graduate like myself (he also attended high school with one or more of my siblings), Jason is a sought-after advisor, community builder, angel investor and speaker in the start-up community who acts as the catalyst for his clients to achieve their business goals.

Jason is the epitome of the man who wears many hats. At any time, he has up to four ‘hot plate’ projects on the go, just like a stove. There’s always “two hot and two in the wings.” He’s the CEO of MeasuredRisk, an AI company founded by Tom Albert, which helps leaders of private and public sector organizations triangulate risk through Advanced Data Science. He’s also an investor in Greenre, a creative, environmentally-responsible consumer packaged goods company.

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It’s been a year since I interviewed Canadian entrepreneur and chiropractor, Dr. Hestor Potts on 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”💫.

Who would have thought then that we’d still be experiencing major restrictions in how we run our businesses and live our lives? The lessons and experiences she shared are still so relevant as we discuss the eight drivers of business success in the podcast and how to make yourself redundant – the topic of our Elevated Conversations Roundtable on 17th June 2021.

In this episode, we reflect on Hestor’s journey to:

• Creating the procedures and systems that made her redundant (in a good way).
• Adapting her services to meet the needs of remote workers
• Becoming financially savvy with an emergency saving fund

Have a listen!

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Our guest on 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫 is Jonnel Sloane, founder of Farm to Fork, an order-as-you-go meat delivery service that provides local and Canadian-sourced meat and seafood with sustainability, integrity, and transparency as their guiding principles. Combining his knowledge of e-commerce with a desire to provide a values-based food service, Jonnel’s Farm to Fork is meeting his consumer’s growing need to know where their food comes from – while earning greater ROI.

Discover:

🍴The intriguing story behind Farm to Fork

🍴 How Covid-19 transformed the e-commerce landscape (and how Jonnel was ready to capitalize on this)

🍴 The role of automation + personality

🍴 Why you shouldn’t be the smartest guy in the room

Have a listen! 🎧

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Welcome back to 🎙💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”💫🎙, where my guest is Dan Dore, a successful real estate investor with over two decades of experience. He’s a 10Xer, the founder of Dore Property Management and Dore Capital Group. But he was holding the brakes on his company’s growth until he invested in his team, removed himself from the centre of operations – and worked in his zone of genius.

In this episode, we delve into the eighth driver of value, the hub and spoke. We discuss:

• The difference between an asset and a liability
• Why having your feet on the brakes could be the result of a limiting belief
• The importance of systems, processes, and teams
• A journey to founding Dore Capital Group and why you should never stop pushing

Have a listen! 🎧

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It’s time for 🎙“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”🎙 – where I’ll be discussing eight drivers of value in business. A system by John Warrillow, developed from the study of 50,000 businesses like yours.

The goal? To help you:

💰 Look at your company through the eyes of a potential buyer,

💰 identify and focus on the areas that could have a negative impact on your cash flow, a potential premium offer, your growth, and your time,

💰 find opportunities to make improvements, 

💰 create a plan for your exit, long-term growth, and personal satisfaction.

🎧 Have a listen to learn about the Value Builder System and hear of my thoughts on how you can do this! 🎧

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Today on 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫I talk to the founder of not one, but three startups, entrepreneur Alberto Aguilar, about leaving a positive legacy through sustainable initiatives. Alberto is the co-founder of Plantaform, a biotech startup that created a soil-free indoor home gardening system using pioneering fogponics technology. It allows you to grow up to 15 vegetables in three weeks in a designer container in your kitchen – one that’s about as big as a mini fridge.

Together with ex-schoolmate, industrial designer and co-founder Kiwa Lang, Alberto Aguilar saw the need for a sustainable solution tailored to busy urbanites who don’t have the time or space to grow their own food. One that might contribute towards a positive impact in the world.

Find out:

🌱 What makes Alberto tick

🌱 How Rejuvenate works (and why failure made this team stronger)

🌱 The reasoning behind the soft launch and investment drive

🌱 Why not having a plan B can be the key to success

Have a listen! 🎧

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Welcome back to 🎤“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”🎤 and today I’m connecting the dots between strategy and self-care. This episode is the last in my solo ♟Queen’s Gambit-inspired♟ insights and reflections ahead of our virtual roundtable on April 29th, Elevated Conversations.  

I discuss why:

⭐ You need your own North Star to focus on 

⭐ Incorporating self-care is crucial

⭐ Reflection, meditation or prayer can help you feel grounded 

Have a listen!

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In this week’s 🎤“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”🎤 I’m back on my ace, sharing more insights and analogies on how People, Players and Pawns relate to the theme of Elevated Conversations, our virtual roundtable on April 29th, ♟The Queen’s Gambit♟.

Just like the game of chess, in business:

• Every person, player or pawn is part of your strategy
• The row of pawns is your first line of offence or defence
• A business team is much larger than just your paid staff
• Every pawn can become a queen 👑 (so don’t underestimate your people)

Have a listen!

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In this week’s 🎤“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”🎤 I’m flying solo, sharing a bit more about my theme for Elevated Conversations ♟ The Queen’s Gambit ♟ and how it relates to tactics and strategy.

You’ll find out why my roundtable for CEOs, business founders and entrepreneurs looking for a cash-rich exit strategy is based on chess, and why, without strategy, you might be getting results, but not the result you want.

You’ll learn that: 

• strategy without tactics is a dream 🦄🌈
• any road will take you somewhere
• more leaders are turning to their peers for advice being able to pivot on the fly is an important part of strategy and tactics
• you need to stop second-guessing yourself and go with your gut

Have a listen!

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In this episode of “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” we have a podcast takeover of sorts💥. I've invited my fractional CMO and founder of c+p digital, Susan Diaz as my guest.

But, in a first 🥇 on my podcast, she interviews me, taking you behind the scenes of my roundtable for business owners looking for a cash rich exit strategy in 3-10 years, Elevated Conversations.

Find out why the upcoming theme of Elevated Conversations is inspired by the Queen’s Gambit! You'll learn:

♟ the need for more entertaining references and metaphors, especially if your content is serious

♟♟ to find the metaphors that best suit the material at hand, your voice, and current newsworthy references

♟♟♟how to dig deep into metaphors across your communication experience

♟♟♟♟the importance of fun 'homework' to help people prepare for roundtables

♟♟♟♟♟And how business strategy is like chess.

Have a listen!

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On this episode of “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” I recall a message from Cameron Herold (aka the “CEO Whisperer) that really resonated on the Double to Sell 💰💰 workshop. 

It’s all about asking the right questions ❓❓❓

When the sh!t goes down – instead of looking for someone to blame – a leader needs to find out what systems are missing that allowed that problem to happen.

It’s based on Michael Gerber’s idea that people don’t fail. Systems fail.

In this short and punchy episode, you’ll learn to ask the right questions. The hard questions sometimes. And how a missing letter B in a Star ucks sign led to better leadership.

Have a listen. I guarantee you’ll learn something 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️.

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Hello again, Self-Made Nation!

Today I want to ask you something: Do you have the tendency to take the weight of the world on your shoulders🏋️?

It’s your idea, your business. It can be a hefty weight to think about how to pull it all together, especially in these COVID-19 times.

On this episode of “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” I reflect on being a lonely leader and an interview I held towards the end of 2019 with leadership and success coach Heather Petherick . We discussed the 6 reasons that leaders can feel lonely and isolated. See how many apply to you…

• In my quest to be authentic, I avoid getting too close to competitors or potential colleagues 😩
• I intentionally isolate to protect my ideas from competitors and critics
• I want to shield others from my problems or concerns
• I need to be strong 💪 – I am a leader and can’t show my own insecurities
• I’m too tired🥱 and busy to find a mentor or support
• I’ll get support when I (earn xxx), if I (meet this target), sometime soon (someday, not now)

Can you relate to any of these? Have a listen 👂👂 to find out if you’re unintentionally choosing the lonely leadership path.

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Hey there, Self-Made Nation, I hope you’re all getting ready for a fantastic St Patrick’s Day (Covid-style, of course!).

On this episode of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?”, I started thinking about the “Luck of the Irish🍀🤞🍀”.

Are we just lucky, or is this a belief that has become a reality for some? Can we create our own luck?

On this soliloquy of mine, I ask you to ponder:

What do you do with the luck you have, good or bad?

Have you leveraged your good luck and fortune, or wallowed in the bad luck?

Did you learn a lesson from bad luck, or pivot in the face of it?

Find out why luck itself is not a strategy.

🧨And how facing your luck can become your strategy 🧨.

Enjoy and Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone! 🍾🎉🎈

Today is about control and luck. And not how to control your luck, but more about how to take control and create your own luck🍀.

Last episode,I shared some cool concepts around ‘who not how’ and ‘who then what’, ideas about connecting, trusting and working with people to achieve limitless possibilities.

Let's face it. So much in life is out of our control. Last weekI talked about how we can control our thoughts, which = our beliefs, which turn into actions and create results👏.

On the eve of St Patrick's Day, I thought about the concept of luck. And how to get a return on that luck 🤞🍀🤞.

My heritage is Irish Catholic Ottawa Valley. You’ve all heard the saying: “the luck of the Irish”. This got me thinking about the role of luck in business. Some of our guests have spoken about how lucky they’ve been, or their lucky breaks. If you see yourself as lucky and say that to yourself regularly do you think this can impact your actions, and results?

So yes, luck of the Irish. For me, my luck comes from hard work 💪.

But what if we take a different angle on this? I mean, we're familiar with return on equity and return on investment. What if we reframe luck and think about it as a return on equity or investment? A return on luck.

Think about COVID-19:

Bad luck. COVID-19, shut down the storefront.

Good luck, COVID-19, quick pivot, new online market and expanded reach.

Luck itself is not a strategy.

How you face that luck and what you do with it, is strategy.

Successful American Football coach and motivational speaker Lou Hotlz has a great quote: “life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.”

So, what have you done with the luck that you've had? What's been your strategy? Have you leveraged your good luck and fortune? Or have you wallowed in the bad luck that you’ve faced? Did you learn any lesson from bad luck? Did you make a change or pivot in the face of bad luck? I certainly don't have all the answers. But I invite you to have a little think on this.

As an ode to my Irish heritage, I want to leave you with a traditional Irish blessing:

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you:

May you see your children’s children.

May you be poor in misfortune,

rich in blessings.

May you know nothing but happiness

From this day forward.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home,

And may the land of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,

May blue be the skies above you,

May pure be the joys that surround you,

May true be the hearts that love you.

Be it good luck or bad luck.

It's yours to decide how to turn this into a strategy to get a positive return 💰💰💰.

Do have a quick break and listen to this short and sweet episode . I hope it brings you luck of every kind.

Are you an entrepreneur looking to exit, or at the helm of a thriving business or startup? I would love to talk with you about your stories! You can drop me a line here.

And if you’d like to attend my next Elevated Conversations event, you can apply here.

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Wow 😲! Can you believe it’s been almost a year since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown? On this episode of “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” – we pay homage to the 1-year anniversary of the Covid-19 lockdown.

So much has happened: obstacles, adversity (personally and professionally), but also opportunities and advantages.

Instead of talking about how many businesses have closed, we took a moment to be pay our respects. To be quiet for 60 seconds 🤫.

And to celebrate the businesses that pivoted successfully.

You know my story and how I pivoted to LinkedIn and the journey of how this led to Elevated Conversation roundtables 👏

But there's so much about COVID-19 that is out of our control. So, what can we control?

I'm reminded that the really the only thing that's within our control is our thoughts and yes, in this episode you’ll get more of how thoughts = action = results.

I hope you’ll be inspired when you learn how using the Serenity Prayer can help, no matter what your religious or spiritual beliefs.

And from my reflections on what this pandemic has taught me. Plus (BONUS!), I’ll leave you with a little poem that came to me when I was running and reflecting, for when the going gets tough.

Enjoy!

My family will tell you that I’m a bit of a control freak. And yes, a control freak who knows the value of self-reliance is how I’d describe myself. But this is a double-edged sword isn’t it? We need to connect, to trust, to work with people.

Which is why I’m drawn to the idea of “Who Not How and the “Who Then What” concepts. The former comes from the same-titled book written by Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan. In summary, “Who Not How” suggests:

“That instead of asking, “How can I do this?” ask: “Who can do this for me?”. Don’t limit your potential based on what you can do on your own, rather focus on the connections between yourself and others around you – and the limitless possibilities available through those connections.”

The latter concept was championed by Jim Collins and his “Good to Great” series.

Here’s an excerpt:

“The executives who ignited the transformations from good to great did not first figure out where to drive the bus and then get people to take it there. No, they first got the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and then figured out where to drive it. They said, in essence, “Look, I don’t really know where we should take this bus. But I know this much: If we get the right people on the bus, the right people in the right seats, and the wrong people off the bus, then we’ll figure out how to take it someplace great.””

Cameron Herold offers so much additional wisdom on building teams (and I talk about him a lot). He’s one of the many business owners and entrepreneurs I've introduced you to – whether millionaires and members of the self-made nation already, or those at the infancy of their journey. They joined me here on “I'm a millionaire! So Now What?” to tell their stories, or in a group for elevated conversation roundtables.

We spoke about grabbing the bull by the horns in the bear market and how to grow when it’s low. How obstacles can be opportunities and an ode to gathering .

Asking questions like legacy or freedom? Freedom or legacy?

Are you building your business to sell? Are you building it to last?

And most recently, drafting your dream team and how chaos can turn into control.

And all these conversations link back to this theme of control.

With Covid-19, I realised the only thing we can control is our thoughts, our thoughts beget our beliefs, which turn into our actions. And our actions are, in turn, what creates our results.

So, step back, take inventory, and think about what you do have control over.

This one is for everyone, whether you’re religious or spiritual or anything in between.

And I leave you with a little poem that came to me when I was running and reflecting 😊

where you focus what you believe

that is what you will see

how you will achieve the things greater than you.

I hope you can take a quick break and have a listen!

Are you an entrepreneur looking to exit, or at the helm of a thriving business or startup? I would love to talk with you about your stories! You can drop me a line here.

And if you’d like to attend my next Elevated Conversations event, you can apply here

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It’s time for “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” – and today we talk climate change and electric vehicles. 🚗🚗🚗

If you own a cell phone you’ve probably had battery-life issues.🔋

Kostya Khomutov and his partners did – and tinkering in a basement resulted in the launch of an innovative new company! 👏💫👏

The aerospace engineer is CEO of Ottawa-based GBatteries - tech to help lithium-ion batteries charge as fast as it takes to fill-up a tank of gas.⛽️

Kostya’s goal is to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles - in turn reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 🤢

Our planet is in trouble. 🌎🌎🌎

Have a listen to what Kostya Khomutov – and GBatteries – is doing to help change that.

Today’s science lesson is on greenhouse gasses. And the news is not good. Measured in 'carbon dioxide-equivalents' (CO2e), today, we collectively emit around 50 billion tonnes of greenhouse gasses each year - more than 40 percent higher than emissions in 1990, which were around 35 billion tonnes. The transport sector is a big player in upping these numbers, and yes, folks, driving to work and back each day – us small players are also contributing a great deal to this growing problem. In fact, in Britain and the United States, the transport sector emits more greenhouse gasses than electricity production and agriculture.

While electric and hybrid vehicles are becoming more common, they are costly, and they require battery charges – and charging stations are not always easy to come by. According to a report by BC Hydro, 70 percent of British Columbians said “…concern over the range limitations of electric vehicles was the main reason why they wouldn’t consider purchasing one.” And charging those batteries takes time. Sometimes up to four hours. While fast charge stations are available, of the 11,553 electric vehicle chargers open in Canada, only 1,850 of them were quick chargers (an hour).

One Ottawa company is setting out to change that. Ottawa-based GBatteries has one goal – to accelerate the mass adoption of electric vehicles by enabling them to charge as fast as it takes to fill up a tank of gas. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused by internal combustion engines, CEO Kostya Khomutov and his partners hope to deliver the planet to future generations in a better state than it is in now. A serial-entrepreneur, his companies all have an aspect of “environmental protection” to them. A graduate of Carleton University, Kostya adds, “We wanted to apply this technology to problems we are facing today and add meaningful value. We noticed that battery charging time is still a significant hurdle to wider EV adoption…If we could combine the ability to charge batteries faster while extending battery life, we could charge electrical vehicles as fast as it takes to fill up a tank of gas and start to have an impact.”

Our planet is in trouble. Kostya Khomutov – and GBatteries – is hoping to change that.

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Today on 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫I want to talk about being charitable.

They say that “charity begins at home.” And for the most part, that’s true.

But 👀look around you 👀and I’ll bet you’ll see people in need. 💞

Here’s the rub: Charitable donations are nose-diving. In fact, predictions show 💸contributions will fall 💸by 30% by 2028. 🥺

Kelly Emery, my guest this week, is working to change that. She founded Troop, a needs marketplace, to help neighbours and businesses discover needs in their community.

Kelly wanted tech used for good, and Troop is now ranked in the top 100 of 2020 Canadian recovery projects. 👏🏆👏

Charities simply can’t “do it all.”

Have a listen! 🎧

Kelly Emery is driven to ensure technology is used for good. After a year of pandemic-driven economic anxiety for many MANY people, her company, Troop, is helping to fill the gaps that traditional charitable organizations simply don’t have the resources to fill. As a successful entrepreneur and experienced executive within the financial services industry, her mission is to help neighbours and businesses create meaningful local impact and create real “social good.”

A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University’s business program, Kelly has been at the helm of a few tech companies prior to launching Troop. Through partnerships with charities and non-profits, Troop’s goal is to match local communities’ drive for purpose, as well as their capacity for generosity, starting with the fulfillment of local, everyday needs. Neighbours helping neighbours.

An avid traveller, Kelly jokes that she had to go all the way to Auckland, New Zealand (on one of two co-op exchange programs) to meet a guy from Burlington, Ontario. She describes herself thusly, “I'm a founder, I'm a mother of two amazing children. I'm a partner, sister, a daughter…a learner? And I'd say right now I'm very much on that journey of trying to answer that question, ‘who am I’?”

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How does a 🇨🇦Canadian 🇨🇦kid end up in the British Army Foundation, return home, pivot to a Business Management course, start selling real estate, and end up hosting a podcast eerily similar to mine? 🎙🤔🎙

You’re going to find out on today’s 🗣“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 🗣

Max Spence hosts the Max Spence Business Podcast, where he interviews folks from all walks of business life. 👨‍🍳👩‍🏫👨‍💼

He started his podcast when he realized how effective it was for networking. A year later, his show has taken off! 🚀🚀🚀

Refreshingly candid about both business successes – and failures – Max is definitely one to watch in the up-and-coming Self Made Nation. 🤩

Enjoy!

Has podcasting become the new “can we meet for a coffee” networking ploy? Max Spence thinks it has. An up-and-comer in the podcasting space, he realized after leaving college that trying to chat with people for career advice – the good old fashioned “can I pick your brain over coffee” call-out – was becoming harder and harder to nail down.

But, when he created the Max Spence Business Podcast – there were no shortage of takers to fill the slots of his three episodes per week format.

Crafty!

Fast forward a year, and he’s recorded hours upon hours of practical, informational interviews about what it takes to run a business, be an owner or startup founder, or even, like himself, to be a budding entrepreneur still in the throes of just trying to figure the whole thing out! He’s particularly interested in people whose path to success has been anything BUT a straight line.

This might be a generational thing (the kids are alright!), but I especially loved how open Max was in retelling some of his major fails when it comes to figuring out which direction his path should be taking. It’s refreshing to hear someone be so bold and blunt: “Yup. Totally wasted about $15 grand with that venture!” (I’m paraphrasing, but not by much!), because it’s my opinion that people need to hear the bad, along with the good, when it comes to being an entrepreneur. We all start out somewhere – and that somewhere is usually small. Lessons learned are what lead us to our eventual successes. Or, as I like to call it, that “the real-life, boots-on-the-ground, MBA!”

A graduate of Algonquin College’s Business Management Entrepreneur course, prior to that Max spent a few years as a teen in Britain, and was a member of the British Army Foundation, a program that “…plays a vital role in providing basic military training and developing future leadership. It offers a mix of military training, personal development, and education for under 19s that provides them skills to succeed in the Armed Forces, and their lives beyond the military.”

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It’s time for another edition of 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫

With Valentine’s Day approaching, who better to introduce you to than the founder, CEO and creative director of Paisley & Heart! (👈see what I did there! 💘😂💘)

Ottawa-based Kim Dixon went from being a global technology-marketing executive, to doing what she truly loved – creating! 🎨

Paisley and Heart offers unique, high end, luxury scarves and bespoke accessories in silk, cashmere, wool, and silver.

We talk:

🧶 New York Fashion Week.

🧶 The business process of launching a new company.

🧶 And, rare in our throw away world, creating timeless products meant to be heirlooms.

Have a listen!

A senior executive consultant, brand strategist and marketing and media programs developer, Kim Dixon’s career has taken her around the world, as a speaker and lead on mergers and acquisitions teams. Her background in helping organizations build brand awareness, as well as increase their media footprint and competitive advantage in their industries made her the perfect partner when she and her sister, Sue Sadlier, paired up to launch Paisley & Heart. The company, as she says, was “…founded on a lifelong love of scarves and jewelry and inspired by natural beauty and design integrity.”

How does a global technology-marketing executive end up at the helm of a company selling scarves and jewelry handcrafted by luxury goods professionals, using only the finest silk, cashmere, wool and silver? By following her heart (wink) and doing what she loves. Kim’s always been an avid vintage jewelry and scarf collector and has been known to have the odd fashion magazine (or 20!) stacked around her office.

Kim studied apparel retailing, graphic design and anthropology Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology (Graphics Arts) and Carleton University (BA in Sociology and Anthropology) and acquired a leadership certificate from the Telfer School of Management Leadership Forum.

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Back in November, I spoke to Kris McCarthy, Co-Founder/COO of FanSaves, and I wanted to expand that conversation.

This week on 💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫 – I talk to the female brain power behind the sports-focused mobile couponing app. 🏈⚽️🏀

Meet Shannon Ferguson, FanSaves’ Co-Founder & CEO. Also a (former) competitive hockey player, we talk about:

💥 The parallels between sport and business.

💥 Overcoming overwhelming obstacles, personal and professional.

💥 The entrepreneurial resilience reservoir.

💥 And the power of having a vivid vision for the future – even before officially launching.

Women are the backbone of small business in Canada. Let’s celebrate that. 🎉🎉🎉

Enjoy!

Shannon Ferguson Co-Founder & CEO of FanSaves, is a former competitive hockey player and current entrepreneur. With her partner, Kris McCarthy, she married her love of hockey (and sports in general) as well as her passion for sponsorship sales and digital marketing and helped launch the sports-focused mobile couponing platform, offering discounts and deals from sponsors. Her public speaking skills have allowed her to pitch their startup to important investors on stages across the world.

FanSaves’ accolades include Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) 2020 Fellow, Top 100 Finalist Startup of the Year 2018 & 2019, RC100 2019 Winner, 1st Place Get in the Ring Ottawa 2019, Crowd Favourite- AccelerateOTT 2020, and 2nd Place SaaS North 2018.

Shannon has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in communication studies from Wilfrid Laurier University and a post grad diploma in broadcast journalism from Loyalist College.

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In today’s episode of 🎙“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?”🎙 I talk with an entrepreneur using technology to disrupt what some might see as a “traditional” industry.

Andrea Chase is the founder and CEO of the taxi app: ProCabby LTD. 🚕🚕🚕

The app connects drivers with passengers, and, as she puts it, “…gives them an opportunity to properly compete in the digital age.”

Her goal is to help old-school taxi drivers recover from the huge financial impact driving services like Lyft and Uber has had on them. 💸💸💸

Her inspiration? A family member experiencing exactly that. 👆👆👆

We talk about the grind of “hustle culture,” VCs and funding, and the struggle of being a relatively fresh start up.

Have a listen!

Andrea Chase is an Ottawa-based entrepreneur with a keen ear for finding a problem and setting out to fix it. As the Founder and CEO of taxi app ProCabby LTD., she helps connect licensed, professional taxi drivers with clientele, worldwide, with the goal of reviving the taxi industry with technology. Andrea wants to help taxi drivers rebuild their businesses and lost livelihoods by earning supplemental income through the app, and ensure passengers have a safe, secure taxi option whether at home or travelling. The company went live in Spring 2018, and is currently seeking round two of funding.

She holds a degree a psychology from Concordia University, as well as a diploma in small and medium enterprise management from Algonquin College, and is Co-founder of BAITS Global Inc., a federal IT and Business Consulting organization based out of Ottawa, Canada, offering professional IT infrastructure, server setup and migration services, as well as security solutions for a range of enterprises.

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Welcome to another edition of “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 🎉

This week, I’m giving airtime to a member of 💥the next generation💥 of the Self Made Nation.

My goal? To also share the stories of interesting, innovative startups just beginning to crack the market. 👏💫👏

And Brennan Davis ticks all those boxes.

An entrepreneur on a mission to bring the trucking industry into the 21st Century, he’s the founder and CEO of MyTruckr, an online marketplace that connects shippers and owner-operators directly. 🚚

Like most successful founders, he saw gaps in his industry and set out to fill them. I love his story, and I think you will too.

Keep an eye on Generation Zed, folks, because they are here!

Brendan Davis is a startup entrepreneur with a mission to empower the trucking industry through user-friendly technologies. In his time working in logistics in the distribution industry, he noticed some pain points. One of them in particular was a major money-waster: that drivers spend a significant amount of time driving empty. And MyTruckr was born. Essentially an online marketplace connecting shippers and owner-operators directly, MyTruckr helps make shipping faster and more efficient, and brings the benefits of a national freight network to your fingertips - without the expense and limitations.

A graduate of Algonquin College’s Applied Arts and Technology, specializing in advertising and marketing communications, Brennan grew up surrounded by the transportation/trucking industry in some way, shape or form. His experience working in the field, plus his skills in advertising, business model innovation, market research, and sales presentations, makes him uniquely positioned to be a force of change in an industry still somewhat stuck in the “good ol’ days” of doing business.

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On this week’s episode of 🎙💫“I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” 💫🎙you’ll get to know real estate investor (and admitted spreadsheet lover!), Nick Legault.

An engineer by trade, his shift to real estate began in 2008, when he bought and rented a small condo.

He did double duty for years, working full-time as an engineer and growing his company, Building Investments. 😬💪😬

And grow it did, 17-fold in just a few short years! 🔥🔥🔥

Nick and I talk zones of genius, team building, and the importance of accepting that, no, actually, you CAN’T do it all. 🛑

Coincidentally, that’s also the subject of my next Elevated Conversations event, Feb. 8! 🎊

DM me for deets and watch this space for more info.

Most successful entrepreneurs have a finely curated and complimentary team of people behind them. These businesspeople have realized that in order to make money – you have to spend money. You already know what your zone of genius is – and isn’t. Fill those genius gaps with the right people and let them get to work building your empire. That’s what Nick Legault did. It was a few years before he “quit the day job” to focus full time on Building Investments, his real estate investment company. And as soon as he could, he made a point to hire people who could fill in his own gaps – allowing him to focus on what he does best: acquisition. He has since grown his real estate business 17-fold in just a few short years and is expected to double in size every two years or so. Drafting the right people works – it sounds so simple, so “Well, d’uh!” but so many organizations continue to fail at it. Running a business is the most intense self-development program you’ll ever take. Because without the right team in place, you’ll quickly discover just how many things you’re…not so great at! LOL But that’s OK. I can’t do everything. And neither can you.

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Today on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” I celebrate episode 155! (Yes. I did forget to celebrate when it turned 150. Sigh. 😆🙄😆)

Ah well, what with the holidays looming, we were all a bit busy, weren’t we!

We’re a week into this new year – 2021. How’s it going so far? 🤣😬🤣

In honour of this bright new year, I wanted to share a roundup of some of the best fun, frank advice our fabulous guests have shared over 155 episodes. 🌟🎉🌟

There’s lots in there, so have a listen.

My own advice? Look after your mental health, get outside and walk, socialize a little, 💥be bold💥meeting new people.

And don’t let limiting beliefs of what you can accomplish hold you back. 🏆🏆🏆

Here’s to a great year! 🔥💫🔥

Don't ever lose sight of your mission. What you were trying to accomplish when you became an entrepreneur. Understand you're going to have to weather the highs and the lows, and sometimes they will be extreme (hello, Covid-19). But you'll get there. And just when you think the worst thing has happened, and you're not going to recover from it, guess what? You will.

Think about all the things currently in your metaphoric rear-view mirror, times when you thought you’d never recover. Or would never dig yourself out of X hole. But here you are. Members of the Self Made Nation always get past a problem! It’s part of the joy of running a business, right? Ok. Maybe “joy” is a stretch, but you know what I mean. It’s the nature of this beast that is entrepreneurship. Keep going, persevere. And you will get there. This is a bright, bold, new year full of possibility. Let’s do this.

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Well, we did it! We got through what for many of us has been the worst year in living memory.

Vaccines are in arms (a true medical miracle), and 2021 is on the horizon. 💉🗓💉

Today – we begin to look forward, not backward (ok, a little bit backward, but just the positive stuff!). 😆

On this episode of “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” I’m revisiting Double to Sell.

This is the year we regroup, review, and start planning our vivid visions for the future!

It’s like doing a puzzle:

🧩 Get the pieces organized.

🧩 Start with the four corners.

🧩 Use your Vivid Vision for the future to map out the framework.

🧩 Build out the sides.

🧩 Fill in the centre.

Boom. Success. 💣

Enjoy, and Happy New Year everyone!! 🎉🥂🍾🎉

My BHAG (big, hairy, audacious goal!) is to double the number of self-made millionaires in Canada. I want to help build a more self-reliant Canada, and support and grow my unapologetically wealthy Self Made Nation. Unapologetic wealth is impactful and full of integrity. We, as business owners are building the wealth and the foundation for our country. Founding companies, the owners, the CEOs, the operators - all are producing vital goods and services for this country.

After the “year of Covid-19” and the huge impact crater it left on our economy, nothing could be more important than to stop, regroup, review, and create your vivid vision for 2021 and beyond. Aim to wring as much value out of your years of hard work as you possibly can. Fix whatever ended up broken after this difficult 12 months. And start planning for that cash-rich exit strategy TODAY. Three, five, 10 years down the road feels like a long time, doesn’t it? Well, as this year has shown us – it’s not. Shake yourselves out and rebuild. But do it strategically and with a clear vision for what you want your future to be.

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On today’s “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” – Bah Humbug to 2020!

Ebenezer Scrooge would be right at home during Covid-19. Making money off the backs of lowly clerks. Evicting people. Turning tragedy into his triumph!! 🎉🦠💰

But 🎩 Scrooge 🎩 was a caricature. One I think has a hand in how people view members of today’s Self Made Nation. 💫⭐️💫

Business owners drive our economy. Are we thankful for our successes? Yes.

Unapologetic? That too. 😆😆😆 But definitely thankful.

I read A Christmas Carol recently, and realized, like Scrooge we ALL have a story - a past, present, and a future.

And wanting to work to make the future richer, in every way, is not a bad thing. 🥰

Happy Holidays everyone! 🥂🍾🥂

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On today’s episode of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” I’m flying solo, and maybe sharing too much. 😂😬😂

There’s an old adage, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” 🥋🥋🥋

And teachers can come in many forms – a song, a book, art, even interactions with strangers.

The key is to listen. Start listening to your own selves. Your gut. Your instinct.

Are you planning your vivid vision for the next 3️⃣ years? Because I’m about to do mine. And I would like us to do it together! 🎉💫👀

I’m unleashing my sassy, folks. But in order to do that, I’m also untethering for a bit.

Cottage. Yoga. No internet.

Just me, some snacks, 💃 🎶 and Chaka Khan! 🎶 💃

Have a listen - and look out 2021!

This episode is inspired by Chaka Khan's 1978 anthem “I'm Every Woman.” As Chaka belts out, it's all in me! And really, it truly is. No, this isn’t a feminist Manifesto (though it could be) and this is not the first time you've heard me speak of music as an influence. Heck, I channelled Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” a few episodes ago! But today, I want you to find yourself, not lose yourself. While I was planning a show about the things I learned, hosting my first major online event program – Double to Sell – AND wave buh-bye to this truly horrid year, I decided to go deep and vulnerable, and share sides of myself that usually only my closest inner circle is privy to.

As we head into 2021 with an arbitrary flip of the calendar, Self Made Nation, what is your promise to yourself? What is your vivid vision for 2023? What is your big hairy, audacious goal? Remember, my big hairy audacious goal is to double the number of self-made millionaires in Canada. So together, let's take steps every day to activate your vivid vision as I activate my vivid vision. And if you don't have a vivid vision, then what the H – E - Double Hockey Sticks are you waiting for? Let’s do this.

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On this week’s episode of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” I want to introduce you to Carley Schelck.

Carly’s the epitome of everything I love and admire in the Self Made Nation. 💫💫💫

She’s owner and CEO of The Urban Element, an Ottawa-based culinary studio and event management company. 🎉

Gives back to her community via Cultivating Cooks, a hands-on, classroom-based, gardening and cooking program for students. 🥬🍅👩‍🌾

She’s a teacher and a mentor. And believes everyone should have access to quality ingredients – from the garden to the table, so to speak. 👏👏👏

And like so many other foodies, she had to do the “big pivot” when 🦠 Covid 🦠 hit!

Check out her story.

Carley Schelck has always been inspired by the creativity and challenges the hospitality and food industry presents. Carly is the owner and CEO of The Urban Element, an Ottawa-based culinary studio and event management company that, with her passionate team of food professionals, delivers exceptional, one of a kind, culinary experiences. Known in both culinary and community circles, beyond her involvement in elevating the food experience, she is committed to ensuring everyone has access to quality ingredients. That led her to develop Cultivating Cooks, a hands-on classroom-based gardening and cooking program that connects students with local chefs, community gardeners, and other local food producers.

Carley teaches in the Business Management and Entrepreneurship Program at Algonquin College, and mentors graduates transitioning into the business world. She operates and manages a “garden to cafeteria” program at Saint Paul University which helps bring from scratch seasonal products into a campus setting, and she’s a member of The Ottawa School Food Network, a coalition of like-minded individuals founded to motivate change and create impact on various school food initiatives.

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In this week’s 💫“I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” 💫 we talk the green stuff.

No, not money. 💰💰💰Marijuana! 😆😉😆

More specifically, the global B2B cannabis market! 🔥🔥🔥

Who would have ever thought, eh?

Well, Tyler LeBlanc, Director & Co-Founder of apollogreen, did!

Back in 2013, he saw the shifts in social mores around cannabis and got started.

After a multi-year, multi-step process, he’s now a 🇨🇦Health Canada 🇨🇦licensed producer, with a focus on genetics, innovation and the development of proprietary high-yield cultivation methodology.

He’s built a state-of-the-art facility east of downtown Ottawa and has a great story about his foray into the world of weed. 🎋

Enjoy!

Tyler F. R. LeBlanc is the Director, Co-Founder and visionary behind the B2B cannabis provider, apollogreen. The only legal way to grow, sell and export cannabis in Canada is to become a Health Canada licensed producer, a multi-year, multi-step application and approval process. apollogreen was among the first wave of Canadian businesses to submit an application to Health Canada, and Tyler led the rigorous application process, steering the company toward a focus on genetics, innovation and the development of proprietary high-yield cultivation methodology.

Not surprisingly, Tyler has built relationships with an extensive network of cannabis experts from around the world. Today, apollogreen has a genetic bank of more than 600+ world-class cannabis strains, all graded AAAA (quad or quadruple A), and like the finest wines all over the world, each strain has its own unique flavour profile, terpene blend, flowering time, colour, height, yield, degree of disease resistance, and medicinal properties.

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This week on 💫“I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” 💫 - how a professional hockey player became a startup founder! 🏒🏒🏒

I love LinkedIn for meeting new members of the Self Made Nation.

That’s where I connected with Kris McCarthy, Co-Founder and COO of FanSaves, a sports-focused mobile couponing platform, offering discounts and deals from sponsors. 🏈⚽️🏀

We talk:

✅ Building teams from the ground up.

✅ How an impressive advisory board can help a startup.

✅ Diving in - not worrying about getting big funding first.

✅ And lessons learned from less than perfect growth experiences.

Because one thing is certain when you’re building a company - there are bound to be hiccups along the way!

Have a listen!

Prince Edward Island born, Ottawa raised Kris McCarthy is the Co-Founder and COO of FanSaves, a digital platform that gives users discounts and deals from the sponsors and affiliated brands of their favourite sports teams, organizations, eSports teams, schools, Chambers of Commerce, events, influencers, media and more. A true athlete and team player, Kris played pro hockey until an injury forced him to pivot. His passion for sports paired with a business degree from SUNY Potsdam led him into the world of Sports Marketing.

While selling sponsorship for two minor professional hockey teams he and his co-founder were managing in 2017, they quickly realized there was a “hole” in the sports marketing/sponsorship world – and set out to fill it! Business owners wanted to be able to reach their target market digitally while being able to measure their return on investment with data. And voila! The concept of FanSaves was born.

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Welcome back to another episode of 🎙“I’m a Millionaire''. So Now What?”🎙

I always strive to introduce you to members of the Self Made Nation with super interesting stories. 💥This week’s a doozy!💥

Glenn Cowan is a retired Squadron Commander, 🇨🇦 Canadian Special Operations Forces. 🇨🇦

He’s also a venture capitalist moving the needle on investing, using principles of Special Ops planning and risk mitigation. 👏👏👏

As he puts it, “A special forces organization is probably the best incubator and accelerator for identifying, validating and proving new technologies.”

His company, ONE9 Investments, is named after his radio call sign when he was with Special Ops. 📻📻📻

Which is pretty cool, if you ask me.

Enjoy!

Glenn Cowan founded ONE9 Investments while serving as an Assaulter Officer in Canadian Special Operations Forces. As a Squadron Commander, Glenn specialized in leadership command, and strategic planning, and successfully brought those skills to a venture capital fund that uses the principles of special operations planning and risk mitigation.

A graduate of McGill University, The Army Operations Course, The Special Operations Assaulter Course, Canadian Securities Course, and Ivey's Executive Leadership programme, his education, along with extensive military experience, affords Glenn an unconventional perspective and application to the investment battlefield.

He is also an active mentor in Operation Entrepreneur’s mentoring program. Operation Entrepreneur is a program of Prince's Trust Canada that provides veterans and transitioning members of the military community with the tools they need to start and grow successful businesses.

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It’s “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” time again! 🎙🎉🎙

Double to Sell is over, and yes, I’m a tad emotionally hungover! 😭

But I’m also thrilled to get back to our “regularly scheduled programming” – introducing you to fascinating members of the Self Made Nation! 💥🔥💥

Meet Eleanor Beaton.

She’s an award-winning journalist, speaker, executive coach and host of the Power, Presence, and Position podcast.

She calls herself an “accidental entrepreneur” and shares her story of reinvention - how finding her niche and having the courage to stay hyper-focused – drove her eventual success. 💵💰💵

Three cheers for a vivid vision! 👏👏👏

There’s lots to chew on in this episode. Have a listen.

Eleanor Beaton is an award-winning entrepreneur, podcast host, keynote speaker and women's leadership development mentor. Through her world-renowned leadership training, elite-level mentorship, international keynotes, and live events, Eleanor helps ambitious professional women and business owners develop the confidence, presence, political savvy and influence they need to smash the glass ceiling and take their seats at the tables where the big deals and big decisions are made.

In 2017, she won the prestigious Profiles in Diversity "Women Worth Watching" Award for her work promoting diversity and inclusion. Eleanor joins previous recipients of this award including General Motors' CEO Mary Barra, Xerox CEO Ursula Burns, advocate Geena Davis and other women from diverse industries driving meaningful change in parity and gender equality. An international keynote speaker, Eleanor has presented at conferences whose rosters include such notables as former US Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton, Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson and 23andMe Inc. co-founder Anne Wojcicki.

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“Curiouser and curiouser!” cried Alice. 👧

Here we are with another episode of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” But why am I quoting Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland?

Because, as the Cheshire Cat said, if you don’t know where you’re heading, any path will take you there. 😺😺😺

And that just won’t do! Know where you’re heading – and get the path to your cash rich exit mapped out for you at my virtual event, Double to Sell, Nov 4 & 5.

I can’t believe it’s finally here – I am SO EXCITED! You, me, Cameron Herold and a roundtable of your peers. 💫🎉💫

“It wasn’t very civil of you to sit down without being invited,” said the March Hare. 🐰🎩🐰

Consider yourselves invited!! 🤩

Hope to see you there.

This whole idea of creating clarity, developing a vision. It's both creative, practical, and pragmatic. The thing is, if you haven't built out the creative part, and thought expansively, and gained the clarity of what that picture looks like - really visualizing what you want - then the pragmatic and practical side, the “How” is actually more difficult. Cameron Herold speaks about vivid vision. The big picture. And then what are the critical things that need to happen in order to get you there? Three years from now, two years from now, one year from now, six months from now, three months from now, one month from now, one week from now, what needs to happen tomorrow to get you to your three-year vision (or five year, or 10 year)? There is so much power in intention. Talk to any Olympic athlete, having a strong belief in your ability to accomplish your vivid vision is huge.

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It’s me again, on my lonesome, hosting another episode of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” 🎙😂🎙

Why have I been “guestless” lately? Because I’m saving all the goodness for Double to Sell, my workshop for business owners wanting a cash-rich exit! 💰💰💰

Join us virtually on Nov 4 & 5. Learn from business growth guru Cameron Herold and a roundtable of your peers. 🎉🌟🎉

Still building? That’s ok, you’ll fit right in, and walk away with a vivid vision of your future, to ensure you hit your own cash-rich exit when you’re ready! 🎯💵🎯

Hard core strategic planning, an implementation plan, follow up debrief, and more.

You built a company worth millions. We'll help you exit for 10X that!

Hope to see you there!

Back when Double to Sell was originally conceived, pre-Covid-19, we were naturally all going to hang out in person. But it’s safe to say that nearly ALL businesses have pivoted to digital and virtual events this year, and so has Double to Sell.

Ask yourself: what do you want for yourself and your business? Is it about a legacy? Is it about financial freedom? Is it about freedom in general, freedom and flexibility? Or is it all of the above? Is it legacy and freedom? Is it both? Well, I say, giddy up, you can have either or you can have both financial freedom and legacy with impact. It's whatever you put your mind to.

You should aim to wring as much value out of your years of hard work as you possibly can. And that means, you should start planning for that cash-rich exit strategy TODAY.

Again, I can’t emphasize enough that this event isn’t ONLY for people ready to pull the trigger on their cash-rich exit. It’s for ALL entrepreneurs and business owners, even those still in “build mode,” who want to get their business “puzzle pieces” in place AND craft a vivid vision for an eventual cash rich exit, even if that’s ten years down the road.

Money isn’t everything. Granted. But if you’re selling eventually, set your mind to doubling your revenue and profits.

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Welcome back to “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?”

I’m flying solo again, as I prep for Double to Sell, my upcoming workshop for business owners wanting a cash-rich exit. 💰💰💰

I mean, who wouldn’t want that? Right?

Shockingly, according to BDC data, quite a few of you! 🤯😳🤯

🌟 71% of you planning on selling are not willing to take on risk to improve your business.

🌟 And 52% of you won’t explore expansion.

Leaving potential exit-money on the table…? Come on now. I simply can’t support that! 😂😂😂

Money isn’t everything. Granted. But if you’re selling eventually, set your mind to doubling your revenue and profits.

Join me and Cameron Herold in November, and plan to double to sell, or better! 🎉🎉🎉

Legacy or freedom? Freedom or legacy? Build to last? Or build to sell? Whichever way you have mapped out your exit plan, one thing is for certain – you should aim to wring as much value out of your years of hard work as you possibly can. Start planning for that cash-rich exit strategy TODAY. Three, five, 10 years down the road feels like a long time, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not. As I understand it, based on recent data from the BDC, nearly half of you are considering an exit in the next five years, and three quarters are considering an exit in the next 10 years.

What shocked me, was the other info nestled in the above data: the majority of you are averse to taking any risks in the next few years in order to improve your business, and half said they had little appetite for expansion. That, frankly, is leaving money on the table. When the time comes, when someone makes you an offer to sell – will you be ready? Will your company be in the best shape it can possibly be? It will be if you reset your thinking. From today onward, set your mind to doubling your revenue and profits. Grab hold of a vivid vision that will allow you to Double to Sell. Or better!

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Hey there, Self Made Nation, hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving (Covid-style, of course!). 🦃🍁🦃

“I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” is back, and I’m here on my lonesome with FIVE key questions you should ask yourself if and when you start planning a cash-rich exit:

❶ Are you clear about how your business is set up?

❷ What is its worth?

❸ What happens if an unexpected tragedy occurs?

❹ Do you already have an Exit Plan?

❺ What about next steps, post-sale? Who are you outside of CEO of XYZ?

Cast a critical eye, friends. Don’t have the answers to the above questions? Then please join me (and Cameron Herold!) in November for Double to Sell! 🌟💰🌟

Hope to see you there!

For anyone looking into the future and planning to sell off - or pass on - their business, the goal should be to get the emotion out of the equation and look at the facts. Is your business – that you’ve spent years of hard work building – really worth what you think it is? Or is it worth more? Do you have a complicated corporate structure with co-founders, family members and investors? Have you fully (and honestly) mapped out what would happen to your company should you fall ill, or worse? Have you protected what or who needs to be protected in case of an unexpected tragedy? And if you already have an exit plan (perhaps you even “built to sell”) the mindset behind that exit is as important as the technical, practical steps required secure the sale. Maybe “retire” is a dirty word in your books. I'm okay with that. But what are you going to do with your time? How are you going to find purpose?

Are all the corners and borders of your particular business jigsaw puzzle lined up and ready to be filled in? If not, do yourself a huge favour, and join me and the CEO Whisperer, Cameron Herold (virtually!) in November for Double to Sell - Canada's premier workshop for business owners looking to ensure they have a cash-rich exit strategy fully mapped out before they sell. You’ll receive insights and guidance from one of the most successful entrepreneurs going, PLUS hear lessons from the trenches during a roundtable session with your peers who’ve already made the jump! Whether selling or handing off to the second generation, make sure you have all your ducks in a row to ensure a smooth and financially sound transition.

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I’m SO excited for October this year, because we’re now less than a month away from Double to Sell, Canada's premier workshop for business owners (Nov 4 and 5)! 🌟🍾🌟

You’ll learn from the CEO Whisperer Cameron Herold, and from peers who’ve already grabbed a cash-rich exit! 💵 💵 💵

Today on “I’m a Millionaire. So now what?” meet one of them - Eric Haggar, President of Axxel Inc.

A born entrepreneur he watched his Dad launch and sell multiple businesses!

He bought Dad’s last business and grew it into one that helps entrepreneurs in all areas of their business. But, he also sold off bits and pieces of it. Which is never easy. 😭

There are good lessons here. Enjoy.

And see you in November! 💰🎉🤯💰

Eric’s a text-book example of what it means to be a member of the Self-Made Nation. While he studied engineering, and built a successful career with Bell Canada, he always knew his endgame would be to shift gears eventually and become an entrepreneur. And he’s not afraid to get personal. Running a business is tough. And running a family business is tougher – especially when a personal loss occurs. Eric talks about how much his dad’s passing impacted him when he was selling part of the business. And the steps he took to remain in a neutral place and keep emotions at bay during negotiations.

As he says, “I've seen so many cases where entrepreneurs believe they can save a couple of bucks by not hiring an advisor, or try to sell their businesses themselves, and are studies…that show emotions eat up a lot of the value you could have gotten. So, I stayed totally impartial - I stayed out of it. I let somebody else negotiate. I drew the big lines of the musts and the non- negotiable items, and I let them run with it. And you know what? Usually a transaction takes anywhere between six to eight months, [but] we finished in (almost) less than three months. So, it was really a profitable decision I made at the time.”

There’s a lot of takeaway in this episode. I hope you like it.

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Time is flying by, isn’t it? 📆📆📆

Hard to believe it’s already time for a new episode of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” – but here we are!

I’m continuing the theme of “Me being super excited for my upcoming virtual event!” 😂

Double to Sell, Canada's premier workshop for business owners, is right around the corner!

It includes Cameron Herold, AND “tales from the trenches” sessions with folks who’ve already grabbed their cash-rich exit! 💰💵💰

This week, I chat with serial entrepreneur Chris Stanton. Chris built, scaled and sold two tech consulting companies but in no way has he slowed down! 💥🔥💥

Like many of you, entrepreneurship is in his blood. He shares great stories, and lessons learned. Enjoy!

Serial entrepreneur Chris Stanton has founded, built, scaled and sold two technology consulting companies. He has over 23 years of experience in sales and marketing operations, executive leadership building and managing strategic alliances, and program management of large-scale software implementations. But he didn’t start there. None of us do. What Chris had was an eye for watching how technology was changing early on, and then being able to extrapolate that into a vision for the future – the eventual evolution of technology. While completing a Bachelor of Business degree at St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, he loaded up his last few years on IT courses. It was 1996, and this “internet thing” was just starting to really come to life to the layperson.

Being a coder was never his goal. Instead, he brought his business acumen and a deep understanding of the inherent business value that IT and digital technology would be bringing to the table: digital transformation and the opportunities for businesses. He used those skills to successfully translate the business value of doing high tech projects, and the value of using software to transform your business, back when the enterprise and the C-Suite were, let’s say, a little more hesitant than they are today. Today, Chris pays it forward by helping young entrepreneurs and start up launchers succeed. As he says, there are fewer headaches that way.

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I am so excited to bring you today's “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” guest! 🎉🎉🎉

Why?

Because Double to Sell, Canada's premier workshop for business owners, is coming up fast!

And it includes a “tales from the trenches” session with folks who’ve already grabbed their cash-rich exit! 💰💵💰

Paul Vallée is one of them!

Paul’s the CEO of Tehama, a SaaS platform that delivers cloud-based virtual rooms and desktops for the enterprise.

(Yes, he’s still a CEO – find out more about his exit – and entrance – in the podcast!)

We talk:

✅ Spin-offs.

✅ The future of work.

✅ And how turducken relates to business. 🦃🦆🐓

You have to hear it to believe it! 😆😆😆

He’s got a great story, and many lessons to share. Enjoy!

Not all business owners are looking to exit EXIT their business. They’re not always ready for a “traditional” retirement. And sometimes the exiting of one business, is about putting a focus on a second business, or acquiring the proper funding for a spin off. That’s the story of Tehama CEO Paul Vallée. Tehama is a SaaS platform that delivers uber-secure, cloud-based virtual rooms and desktops for the enterprise. Basically a “virtual office as a service,” making it easy for companies to connect remote workers, teams, and freelancers with mission-critical and data-sensitive systems with the speed, agility, unparalleled security, and comprehensive audit trail needed to maintain critical enterprise security. Paul envisioned a future that allows anyone to work from anywhere. Perceiving an opportunity for the Internet and related technologies to unlock human potential, he set out to apply and invent technology that could securely connect global workforces to enterprise IT systems. He was a pioneer in remote connectivity technology, and lays claim to the first application of IPSEC VPN technology, co-founding Pythian in 1997.

Paul founded Pythian as a data-centric services business with a focus on remote work, and under his leadership, the company developed ground-breaking tools that enable teams to work and interact seamlessly and securely even when dispersed across multiple continents. It is at Pythian that Tehama was born, then launched to the public in 2018, and now spun out to develop its opportunity to help global enterprises seeking to secure their services supply chain.

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Hello, Self Made Nation, and welcome to another edition of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?”

Are you making the most out of LinkedIn in these crazy Covid-19 times? I am. 💫💫💫

And I’ve met incredible entrepreneurs and business owners on the platform, people with fascinating stories to tell. 🗣🗣🗣

The best part? I get to share those stories with you! 🎉🎉🎉

Meet Fayez Thawer:

➡️ Originally dreamed of a life in biomedical engineering.

➡️ Landed a great gig at the Department of National Defence in nuclear radiation safety.

➡️ And is now a second-generation hotelier.

Wait. What?? Yup – he took a 50% pay cut to work for his father. For a “short while.” 😂

Families. They sure can suck you in. 💞😉💞

Have a listen!

Fayez Thawer bounced between Canada and Tanzania as a baby, before moving to Canada at the age of four when his family finally immigrated. As is often the case, his father left behind a successful life, in transport and milling, and essentially started over again upon landing in Toronto (and eventually settling in Ottawa). As Fayez says, “I finally got to the age when I could internalise that, it really led to a lot of just sheer respect for this risk that my parents have taken. You know, today we’re sitting here having a conversation about entrepreneurial endeavours and what’s next in life, but I think fundamentally family and making the right decisions for your family lead you down a road that doesn't necessarily have to take away from business pursuits or entrepreneurial pursuits.”

Fayez dreamed of a life in biomedical engineering, and eventually worked for the Department of National Defence in nuclear radiation safety. But family – and yes, risk – brought him back to the family business. Today, he’s the Managing Director for Tasico Hospitality, a family-owned hotel ownership and management company established in 1982. As a second-generation hotelier, he oversees the acquisition, development and management of hotel and convention properties in Canada and the United States. In addition, he is the Chairman and co-founder of Lyte Resources and Chief Executive Officer of Epic Inc., companies within the medical and wellness industries. Prior to joining the family business, he worked in the field of Nuclear and Radiation Safety at the Department of National Defence. In 2017 he was recognized as one of Canada’s Top Entrepreneurs by the Globe & Mail, TD Canada Trust and KPMG, and in 2016, he was named as one of Ottawa’s Top 40 Under 40.

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Welcome to another edition of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?”

AND welcome to September! 🍁🍂🍁

LinkedIn has been my ‘go to’ lately, to connect with business leaders and entrepreneurs.

And one of the first people I met there was Emile Salem!

With 40 years of business acumen under his belt, he now runs Ottawa’s Collab Space - a coworking space focused on networking and mentorship.

We talk:

💥 The highs and lows of serial entrepreneurship.

💥 Lessons learned from wins AND failures.

💥 And the power that comes from partnering with like-minded people.

We spoke in July, and while the news cycle spins like a top these days, the fundamentals of entrepreneurship don’t change.

I hope you enjoy his story.

Emile Salem’s family immigrated to Canada with four kids in tow. Emile and his twin sister were born and here, and all the children had a strong drive to succeed. As he jokingly says, he’s been self-employed since the age of four, when he was subcontracted to help his brother on his paper route. His earnings? Ten cents and a bag of chips every Friday.

By age seven, Emile wised up to the fact his brother was bringing in the big bucks in this deal. So, in true entrepreneurial spirit, he staged a coup, took over the paper route, and has been a serial-entrepreneur ever since.

Passionate about the art of doing business, of taking an idea and growing it into a sustainable revenue generating company, he soon realized the “after” – the running of a perfectly healthy business year after year - bored him to tears.

Over the next 40 years (and 40-plus businesses!) he turned revenue streams and profit development into an art form across a variety of industries, and developed a cross section of successful business platforms and sales strategies for numerous business leaders.

Helping small to mid-sized businesses and start-ups succeed drove him to launch the Collaborative Business Community in the west end of Ottawa called Collab Space. As he says “Collab Space engenders the philosophy that we are all stronger together. Members appreciate the exceptional level of education and structured collaboration…and benefit from the strength in numbers by sharing ideas, resources and solutions.”

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Welcome to another edition of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?”! 🎙💫🎙

This week, I have two amazing guests. 🌟🌟🌟

Susan Diaz, the CEO and founder of marketing firm c+p digital, and Cynthia Mason, a trademark lawyer who developed Canada’s first trademark registration software!

Why do I have these two experts on? Pull up a chair. 😬

I’m going to share a recent podcast “glitch.” Ok, glitch is putting it mildly.

Think:

➡️ Transition podcast production to new team.

➡️ Thinking it was seamless.

➡️ Then suddenly discovering poof we didn’t exist on iTunes!!

Yes. That happened. Heart attack city. 😳😱😳

Everything’s resolved.

But lessons learned? There were many.

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Welcome to another episode of 🎙“I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?”🎙

Some weeks, I switch things up. And this is one of those weeks!

I really value the power of new connections and telling the stories of the boots-on-the-ground entrepreneurs. The brick-and-mortar folks.

I connected with Ian Boyd on Linked-In. He and his brother own Ottawa-based Compact Music, one of only a handful of indie music stores left! 🎧🎶🎧

We talk:

✅ The changing music marketplace over the years.

✅ How they rode that wave and stayed in business.

✅ The benefits of being an independent.

✅ And much more!

Over 42 years in the ever-changing music biz, Ian’s had to pivot more times than you can count! His is a true success story.

Imagine it. From record albums to 8-tracks to cassette tapes to CDs to iPods to streaming services. Imagine being in the music business, as an independent retailer, for 42 years – and managing to survive though this many changes to your product. Not only survive but thrive.

That’s just what Ian Boyd and his brother James did, as owner operators of Compact Music.

They managed to pivot and twist and shift gears over the years by listening to their customers, keeping a close eye on competitors and the overall music marketplace, and understanding and following trends in their industry. And when vinyl came surging back – as everything “old” is wont to do – they were ready – where other chain music stores floundered.

From a seven year old clamouring for the latest Petula Clark track, to a young record store employee who quickly realized – as all good entrepreneurs do – that working for someone else wasn’t really his bag, to co-proprietor of one of the longest-running independent records stores in Ottawa’s history – Ian Boyd has stories to tell that span the decades. You’ll want to have a listen.

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On this week’s “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” I revisit an episode from February.

Remember February? Pre-Covid-19 February? 🦠😭💸

I was all set to launch Double to Sell, a workshop for business owners wanting a cash rich exit strategy.

Cameron Herold, AKA the CEO Whisperer, was booked as featured speaker and workshop leader.

Then 💥BOOM💥that all went out the window. But it’s BACK! Virtually, of course, on Nov 4 & 5 (info here).

With the event nearing, I thought he deserved an anticipatory Millionaire rerun!

Cameron Herold has a HUGE business brain, shakes the status quo, and shares a dirty little secret: business can actually be quite simple.

Enjoy the episode, hope to see you at the event!

Cameron Herold had 14 different little businesses by the age of 18. A born entrepreneur, he knew he loved money and loved business. By 20 years old, he owned a franchise business painting houses and had twelve employees. He spent his twenties and early 30’s heading up 3 large businesses and coaching over 120 entrepreneurs. One of whom was Kimball Musk, Elon Musk’s brother. In fact, Herold was a reference for their first round of funding in 1995. When he landed at 1-800-Got Junk? at the age of 35, he was their 14th employee. In six years as COO, the company grew from $2 million to $106 million, was operating in four countries and 330 cities, and earned second spot on the Canadian “best place to work” list. Something Herold, a firm believer in the power of company culture, considers one of his greatest accomplishments.

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Welcome back to another episode of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” 🎙🎙🎙 the podcast for self-made millionaires, busy entrepreneurs and creative startup owners!

I’m really excited to introduce you to today’s guest: Kyla Cullain. 🎉🎉🎉

In a classic example of our kind of innovation, she took her current specialty (in her case, nursing) and spun that off, in an entirely new direction.

As co-founder of BuildAble, Kyla and her teams specialize in accessible renovations for people with mobility issues. 🛠🛠🛠

She’s a multiple award-winning entrepreneur with a passion for social justice, human rights and the advancement of accessibility as a health care issue.

Trust me, you’ll enjoy getting to know her.

As co-founder of Canada’s only nurse-managed construction company, Kyla Cullain is the perfect example of what being part of the Self Made Nation is all about. BuildAble is an innovative merger of health care professionals and renovations experts, who specialize in accessible renovations and accessibility consulting for individuals with physical disabilities, those with mobility-limiting illnesses or injuries, and for seniors that want to safely age in place.

Kyla is a multiple award-winning entrepreneur, including being honoured with Businesswoman of the Year, Alumni of Distinction in Health Sciences, WOBOT Business Excellence Award’s Company to Watch and the City of Ottawa’s Accessibility Award, and her passion for social justice, human rights and the advancement of accessibility as a health care issue, have been an integral part of bringing BuildAble to life.

As a busy entrepreneur, she still manages to give back through teaching, as a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa, and as a clinical instructor and faculty advisor at Algonquin College in the Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BScN) program.

She’s an avid traveller, scuba diver, a new mom, and has regularly been voted 'most likely to be hit by a car crossing the street trying to pet all the dogs'.

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Ottawa-based Roderick Costain is the founder and CEO of RoCo Industries. With a background in chemistry, project management, and construction he’s providing a new option for net-zero homes. He grew up working for his father’s construction company, helping build homes and attending every event that showcased the latest technologies in homebuilding. After a 25-year career in chemistry, he was able to bring his interest in environmentally friendly, net-zero homes to fruition. 

His integrated solar siding is both an insulated siding product that saves on your heating bill and a solar tile that generates electricity to save on your electricity bill. His initial goal when developing his product was to create a highly scalable technology that could also be used in a range of other products. As he says, in classic Self Made Nation style, “I've always kind of had this idea of becoming an entrepreneur and starting up my own business and with all the trends toward net zero, I saw an opportunity to solve a problem.”

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It’s time for another episode of “I'm a Millionaire. So now what?” 🎉🎉🎉

I started this podcast to provide advice, critical insights and the strategies you need to manage your life, your money, and your business.

I never imagined I’d be adding a global pandemic into that mix, but here we are. 😬😆😬

This is the final show in my 🦠COVID-19🦠 update miniseries, where I chat with past guests about how they’ve been coping these chaotic last few months.

Today, you’ll meet Serge & Mireille Bellavance, a brother/sister team helping to move an established family business into the 21st century.

We chat inspiration, motivation, and mindset, opportunities to double down in their business, and much more.

Enjoy!

The brother-sister duo, Mireille and Serge Bellavance, are the next-generation business leaders and co-owners of Urban Quarry, a family-operated company that specializes in customizing, fabricating, and installing Cambria Quartz Surfaces. As Vice President of Operations, Mireille oversees the company’s efficiency and is responsible for ensuring that the right technology and products are in place, in addition to handling a team of managers and leaders. Serge is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing and manages a team of eight people and ensures quality products and customer service. He is also responsible for overseeing inside sales reps and cultivating new business. Together, the Bellavance siblings introduced modern business operations to Urban Quarry, and continue to drive growth and expansion into the 21st century.

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Hello, Self Made Nation, it’s time for another episode of 🎙🎙🎙 “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” 🎙🎙🎙

This week, we return to our regularly scheduled programming, and I reconnect with some of my favourite past guests.

We talk business life during the 🦠 Covid-19 chaos 🦠 - because let’s face it – this has been tough.

But you know me – the eternal optimist! I believe obstacles are a way forward, and I always want to share stories of reinvention, fortitude, and positivity.

This week, I chat with Victoria Sopik, CEO at Kids and Company, about:

🌟 Mindset change.

🌟 Looking at business through a new lens.

🌟 And how to double down in the face of uncertainty.

Enjoy!

Victoria Sopik is a firecracker. A serial entrepreneur with well over 35 years of experience in the childcare industry, Victoria started her first business at age 17. She eventually studied business administration at the University of Western Ontario and started a family – a large family! A mother of eight, she juggled work-life balance (before work-life balance was even a thing!) with being an active and devoted parent, while building her child-care centred company, which was ultimately featured as a Harvard Business School case study. Like many of us in the Self Made Nation, she spends a lot of time volunteering and giving back to the community.

The Kids & Company’s mission is to innovate the lives of working families through high quality, flexible childcare; innovative early learning programs; and the development of a sense of community and support for families. Providing high-quality childcare, thus taking the stress off the shoulders of working parents, especially during a global pandemic, has never been more important. Find out how Victoria and her teams have evolved and adapted during Covid-19, and where she sees the future of childcare (hint: childcare really is an essential service), as our lives shift and settle into this “new normal.”

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Today, on “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” you get me and only me!

It’s a solo effort this week, because I want to talk about the art of gathering.

Over the years, whether for business or pleasure, get-togethers were controlled, ritualized events. You set the time, place, guest list. And voila! 🎉🍷🍽

Until, that is, Covid-19 came along and disrupted our notion of gathering.

There’s still an art to good gathering though, whether virtual or in real life.

You need to consider three things while planning a flawless online gathering:

🎞 Purpose

🎞 Uniqueness

🎞 And planning for disputes

In this episode, I walk you through this new normal of bringing people together, and more.

Hope you enjoy!

COVID-19 has been incredibly disruptive to our lives. It threatened our health - physical, emotional, and mental health, and pushed our economy into a coma. One of the biggest disruptions has been to how we gather, how we connect.

Recently, my dinner party - Elevated Conversations - connected another small group of business owners and members of the Self Made Nation virtually. Called “An Ode to Gathering,” we explored this new normal of virtual networking, attending conferences, even just, as I was doing, hosting a dinner party! We decided that fundamentally, the basics haven’t changed. Whether five or 1,500 people are logging into their favourite video platform to connect with you, your gathering requires the same amount of preparation and thought as it would if it was being held face-to-face.

As the economy begins to reawaken, we’re on pins and needles to see how quickly it will improve or recover. Or if there will be another flare up, resulting in another Covid-induced coma, stagnating our personal and business lives, and tamping down on economic growth. Either way, and what will NEVER change, is that people coming together to share ideas, inspire action, and/or protest is a powerful force.

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Welcome back to the Covid-19, “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?” mini-series! 🦠🎙🦠

I bring back some of my favourite guests to find out how they are, and what they're doing to keep their companies afloat and the economy moving.

This week, I caught up with Pete Dillon, President of BigTime Productions. An actor AND entrepreneur, he literally mixes “Show” and Biz.” 🎬 🎞 🍿

He’s entertained hundreds of thousands of people all over the world with Murder Mystery productions, and took the business virtual, to Zoom, when Covid-19 hit.

And guess what? It worked! 🌟🌟🌟

That’s the type of ingenuity and creative thinking needed while running a business during a pandemic.

Have a listen!

These times are strange to say the least and passion, purpose, grit and determination is what will help the Self Made Nation, us entrepreneurs, leaders and business owners, get through the “what’s next” of Covid-19.

Many companies that are succeeding are doing so because they embraced a new way of doing business. And one of the biggest has been the shift from Bricks and Mortar, to Clicks and Mortar!

Taking your business digital, whether with e-commerce, staff meetings and lead generation done via WebEx, or, as in the case of Pete Dillon, transforming your entire way of doing business through the use of the Zoom platform, has been helping many companies stay afloat these past months.

Pete tells us about going from heading up an “in real life” murder mystery powerhouse that’s entertained hundreds of thousands of people (and employed over fifty actors, writers and technicians) to the HUGE change he made when Covid-19 struck. By taking the murder mystery genre online, his story today is how a global pandemic ended up taking his company from a fairly regional scope to a worldwide scope – all because he was willing to step out of his comfort zone and take a few risks!

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It’s another edition of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?”

And happy summer! 🌞🌞🌞 I hope you enjoy the ‘love of life’ that comes with warm weather and sunshine. ⛱ 😎 ⛱

To keep the positivity flowing, I spoke with my favourite past guests, to see how they’re keeping their companies afloat and the economy moving.

Today, I caught up with Elizabeth Kilvert, a certified Oleologist (a sommelier for olive oil) and owner of "The Unrefined Olive."

We talk:

✅ Mindset, pre-lockdown, and now?

✅ Inspiration and motivation.

✅ How she’s doubling down?

✅ And what’s being doubled down on in her business.

A passion for the environment, food, and travel led to her success.

Do what you know and love. Have a listen!

We get in depth about emotional fatigue, how to handle the mountainous level of change that has happened since Covid-19 shut down our worlds, and how business owners and entrepreneurs can make SURE they don’t hit the metaphorical wall when tap-dancing around the unknown and uncertainty that comes with running a business during a pandemic.

Her work ethic, core values, and her passion for the environment, food, and travel, have made her Elizabeth Kilvert the success she is today. She has worked on four continents and in numerous countries; her roles have included community development officer, director of education and community outreach, researcher, scuba diver, organic farm certification officer, microbiologist, public analyst, science outreach advisor, volunteer coordinator, citizen science coordinator, entrepreneur, business owner, and sole proprietor.

The culmination of her passion has directed her education, life experience, and work history, and resulted in her bursting the federal bubble of her civil service career and the launch of her first business: The Unrefined Olive, in Ottawa in 2012.

It has since grown into two storefront locations in The Glebe and Kanata. She has created a wonderful clientele of home cooks, chefs, people who love to eat, individuals seeking nutritional information, and anyone who ventures into the two stores.

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Hello friends, it’s time for another episode of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What?”

With a wobbling economy (thanks COVID-19), I wanted to catch-up with some of my favourite earlier guests, to hear what they're doing to keep their companies afloat and the economy moving.

This week, Scott McLaren, the President of Festival Promotions in Ottawa, and co-founder of the Official Ottawa monopoly game, returns.

And today is question time:

🦠 Has your mindset changed since we first went into lockdown to now?

🦠 What's inspiring and motivating you right now?

🦠 How are you doubling down?

🦠 What are you doubling down on in your business?

P.S. Scott brought along a very special guest!

Tune in to find out who!

A recipient of the 40 under 40 Award in 2018, Scott McLaren is a local business owner, and a huge fan of giving back to his community. The proceeds from Ottawa monopoly went to Ottawa Big Brothers Big Sisters, Do it for Darren at the Royal Ottawa Foundation, and some other youth-oriented causes. These past few months he’s been juggling self-isolation and working from home, along with supporting his wife (who’s a medical resident) and running his business as well as possible when your business is literally promotions and festivals. Which have definitely taken a huge hit due to the pandemic. How is he doing? Have a listen and find out.

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When did you last leave a networking event or online forum feeling enlightened, inspired, motivated, and reassured?

If you’re an introvert, do these kinds of gatherings usually leave you exhausted?

What if you could leave an online roundtable of your peers, business owners, founders and CEOs, feeling energized?

If you’re in, you’re going to want to listen to my next episode of “I’m a Millionaire. So Now What? ”

I’m back with another edition of Elevated Conversations, my virtual dinner parties that leave you feeling ALL of the above.

The way we live and do business is evolving. And we talk about it all!

When I say we talk about it all – I mean business – our last event opened with a quote by Marcus Aurelius (!!) “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

Many of you in the Self Made Nation have experienced periods of upheaval, and yet you’re still here. Because you changed direction in order to achieve success – you used an impediment to force positive action.

BOOM. Chaos became control.

In the podcast we explore three distinct steps or disciplines that help you get back into the habit of turning chaos into control:

• Perception: discipline of the mind
• Action: discipline of the body
• Will: discipline of the heart & soul

The mindset behind looking at obstacles as the gas that drives your success is a very powerful weapon that can help you and your organization get through what’s happening now – as well as what’s hiding around the corner. Because there definitely will be another obstacle down the road (hopefully nothing like Covid, of course).

The next roundtable is coming up on July 6th – I hope you’ll join me!

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