Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey podcast, hosts Nick James and Nick Aufenkamp engage with James Purgason, a transaction advisory expert. They explore the intricacies of business exits, the importance of early succession planning, and the value of curiosity in understanding financial narratives. James shares his journey into transaction advisory, emphasizing the need for business owners to embrace their strengths and weaknesses while building trust through transparency and accounta...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 93
Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey podcast, Nick James interviews Ben Gottfredson, also known as Big Ben, who shares his entrepreneurial journey in the moving and storage industry. Ben discusses the influence of his upbringing, the lessons learned from sports, and the importance of resilience and sacrifice in business. He reflects on the early days of his moving company, the challenges of scaling, and the significance of financial management. Ben emphasizes the value of hiring for c...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 92
Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey podcast, hosts Nick James and Nick Aufenkamp reflect on their personal and professional growth as they enter 2025. They discuss insights gained from previous guests, particularly focusing on the themes of self-sabotage, the challenges of business growth, and the importance of hiring the right talent. The conversation highlights the significance of understanding personal narratives and the realities of entrepreneurship, emphasizing that success ofte...
Jan 14, 2025•45 min•Ep. 91
Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey Podcast, host Nick James interviews Robert Mallon, an experienced entrepreneur and executive coach. Robert shares his journey from the restaurant industry to becoming a successful coach, emphasizing the importance of personal growth, leadership development, and a holistic approach to coaching. He discusses the significance of identifying one's purpose, the value of transformation over mere information, and the necessity of balancing various life as...
Dec 31, 2024•58 min•Ep. 90
Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey podcast, hosts Nick James and Nick Aufenkamp welcome David Metter, an accomplished entrepreneur and business leader. David shares his journey from a young paperboy with an entrepreneurial spirit to a successful sales manager and tech innovator in the automotive industry. He discusses the challenges he faced growing up in a single-parent household, his early experiences in sales, and the importance of self-education. David also reflects on the shift...
Dec 22, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 89
Summary In this episode, Nick James and Nick Aufenkamp discuss the critical decision of whether to buy an existing business or start a new one from scratch. They explore the pros and cons of each approach, emphasizing the importance of established systems, reputation, and relationships in buying a business. The conversation also delves into the challenges of inheriting a business culture, the dynamics of working with previous owners, and the potential pitfalls of business acquisition. Ultimately...
Nov 29, 2024•59 min•Ep. 88
Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey podcast, hosts Nick James and Nick Aufenkamp welcome Ryan Deiss, a successful entrepreneur and founder of Digital Marketer. Ryan shares his journey into entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of scaling businesses without sacrificing personal values and family time. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from an entrepreneur to a CEO, the significance of effective delegation, and the necessity of visualizing business processes for clari...
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 87
Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey podcast, hosts Nick James and Nick Aufenkamp reflect on their two-year journey of podcasting, discussing the lessons learned, the importance of building relationships, and the challenges of entrepreneurship. They explore the growth of their audience, the depth of connections made, and the clarity they've gained in understanding their target audience. The conversation also delves into the struggles of new entrepreneurs, the imposter syndrome they fa...
Nov 08, 2024•46 min•Ep. 86
Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey podcast, host Nick James and guest Chris Jansen explore the transformative journey of life coaching, particularly for high achievers and perfectionists. Chris shares her personal story of overcoming perfectionism and addiction, emphasizing the importance of community and mindset in recovery. The conversation delves into the distinctions between coaching and counseling, the significance of accountability, and the role of personal narratives in shapi...
Oct 28, 2024•59 min•Ep. 85
Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey podcast, host Nick Zalk speaks with Jordan, a former pastor turned entrepreneur and laundromat owner. Jordan shares his unique journey, including the challenges he faced in the laundromat business, the lessons learned from his early struggles, and the importance of due diligence. He discusses who should consider owning a laundromat, the role of technology in scaling the business, and the opportunities available in building new laundromats. Jordan a...
Oct 21, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 84
Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey podcast, hosts Nick James and Nick Aufenkamp interview Jason Bright and Ian Johnson of Bright Smith Advisors. The conversation covers topics such as entrepreneurship, faith, and the journeys of Jason and Ian. Jason and Ian discuss their mission to help business owners get out of advice silos and provide coordinated, proactive advice by bringing together various disciplines in financial planning. They also share their personal journeys, including th...
Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 83
Summary In this conversation, Phil Wilkins shares his journey from being a multi-unit McDonald's owner to becoming the founder of a 360-degree marketing company called BYA Everyday. He discusses the influence of his parents and the challenges they faced, which instilled in him a strong work ethic and determination. Phil also talks about the importance of having a strong support base and the sacrifices he made as an entrepreneur. He offers advice to young entrepreneurs, emphasizing the need to st...
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 82
Summary In this episode, Nick Zalk and Nick Aufenkamp interview Andrew Reichert, the owner and founder of Birgo, a private equity real estate company. Andrew shares his journey from being a rebellious teenager to a successful entrepreneur and investor. He discusses the importance of mindset shifts, such as moving from a victim mentality to taking agency over one's life. Andrew also emphasizes the significance of purpose and how it can guide decision-making and goal-setting. He shares his passion...
Oct 02, 2024•58 min•Ep. 81
Summary Harley and Adrienne Green share their journey of living a digital nomad lifestyle and building a successful real estate business. They started by investing in real estate and leveraging their savings and investments to create financial and time freedom. They transitioned from direct ownership of single-family homes to commercial investments and partnerships. Adrienne also became a real estate agent and built a team focused on serving real estate investors. They emphasize the importance o...
Sep 20, 2024•57 min•Ep. 80
Summary Peter Snell shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the influence of his grandfather and father. He emphasizes the importance of pursuing God's calling and finding joy in work. He discusses the qualities of a successful entrepreneur, including resilience, objectivity, and steadfastness. Peter challenges the misconception of passive income and highlights the need for active engagement and stewardship in all aspects of life. In this conversation, Peter Snell discusses the misconceptions ...
Sep 12, 2024•58 min•Ep. 79
Summary Whitney Sewell, owner and founder of Life Bridge Capital, shares his journey from military service to real estate syndication and his passion for helping families adopt. He emphasizes the importance of balancing work and family and making intentional decisions to prioritize what truly matters. Surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals and mentors is crucial for personal and professional growth. Whitney also highlights the significance of finding a vehicle, such as real estate, to ...
Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 78
Summary In this conversation, Nick James and Nick Aufenkamp interview John Lindsey, the Self Storage Jedi Master, about his experience in the self-storage industry. They discuss how John got involved in the business, the evolution of self-storage as an asset class, and the growth of his brokerage company. John shares insights on the long sales cycle in the industry, the importance of cash reserves, and the challenges and opportunities of expanding internationally. He emphasizes the need for comm...
Aug 22, 2024•46 min•Ep. 77
Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey podcast, host Nick Aufenkamp interviews Torrey Dawley, the founder of Sandpaper Studio, a design agency. Torrey shares his insights on the challenges that entrepreneurs face in positioning their businesses and offers advice on how to overcome them. He emphasizes the importance of understanding who your ideal client is and why your business is better or different than your competition. Torrey also discusses the high failure rate of businesses and ho...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 76
Summary In this episode, Travis Watts, Director of Investor Development at Ashcroft Capital, discusses his journey in real estate investing and the opportunities in the current market. He shares his experience transitioning from single-family homes to passive investing in multifamily syndications. Travis emphasizes the importance of education and taking action, as well as the need to stay informed and avoid getting caught up in market noise. He also discusses the value of dollar-cost averaging a...
Aug 06, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 75
Summary In this episode of the Abundant Journey podcast, host Nick Zalk interviews Ethan Foulkes, a business owner and entrepreneur. Ethan shares his journey of being drawn into other people's ventures before finally committing to his own entrepreneurial path. He and his business partner, Toby Lucich, founded Magic Button Labs, a venture studio that helps experts simplify and package their knowledge into scalable businesses. They have created a product called ScaleKits, which simplifies business...
Jul 25, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 74
Summary Ryan Garchar shares his journey of entrepreneurship and multiple business ventures, including running an epoxy floor business, managing a web development and marketing company, and working full-time in cybersecurity. He discusses the importance of taking action and making decisions, even without full understanding, and learning from failures along the way. Ryan's motivation comes from a personal experience with his mother's health issues, which has driven him to be better and help others...
Jul 19, 2024•44 min•Ep. 73
Summary Edwin Epperson III shares his journey from the military to becoming a fund manager in real estate. He emphasizes the importance of education, specifically understanding the capital stack and the different markets and asset classes within real estate. He also discusses the mindset required for success, including being comfortable with being uncomfortable and surrounding yourself with mentors and a supportive network. Edwin Epperson III shares his insights on the importance of patience and...
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 72
Summary In this conversation, Nick James and Nick Aufenkamp interview Bronson Hill, a real estate investor and author. They discuss Bronson's journey from being a youth pastor to getting into medical device sales and eventually pursuing real estate. Bronson shares his insights on achieving financial freedom and the importance of mindset, continuous learning, and surrounding yourself with the right people. He also talks about the analogy of money and Legos, where money is a tool to build the life...
Jun 26, 2024•51 min•Ep. 71
This week we sit down with Joel Andersen, President of Andersen Construction. Joel offers amazing insight into building a billion-dollar business, putting people first, and radical generosity. He shares fantastic stories about his formative childhood years and the experiences that have shaped him as a leader and entrepreneur. You can learn more about Andersen Construction and the Andersen Foundation at www.andersen-const.com
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Summary In this episode, Kristi Kandel shares her entrepreneurial journey and her new endeavor in real estate development. She discusses the importance of having clarity and getting feedback from others to refine your ideas. Kristi emphasizes that anyone can get started in real estate development, especially in smaller communities where there are fewer barriers to entry. She also highlights the advantages of being a local developer, such as having community support and building relationships wit...
Jun 03, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 70
Summary Mark Wadlington shares his journey from college to missionary work to becoming an evangelist and eventually starting his own accounting firm. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks and following your passion, even if it means leaving a secure job. Mark also discusses the 80-20 principle and the value of focusing on quality over quantity in business. His experience working in his family's restaurant taught him valuable lessons in customer service and managing people. Overall, Mark's...
May 27, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 69
Summary In this conversation, Nick and Nick interview Dave Sorensen, an entrepreneur and investor. Dave shares his journey in starting and running a construction company, as well as his experiences with other ventures. He emphasizes the importance of specializing in a specific aspect of the business to increase profitability and reduce stress. Dave also discusses the value of learning from mentors and making good business decisions. He shares his perspective on risk tolerance and the willingness...
May 23, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 68
Summary In this episode, the hosts discuss the topic of hustle culture and its impact on success. They explore the definition of hustle culture and its emphasis on grinding and sacrificing to achieve goals. They question whether success can be achieved without following the hustle culture mentality and highlight the importance of balance in life. The hosts share their own definition of success, which includes family, faith, finances, fitness, and the future. They also discuss the concept of bein...
May 11, 2024•34 min•Ep. 67
Summary Joey Patino, a young entrepreneur, shares his journey of building a vertically integrated real estate business in Portland. He discusses the various companies they have, including boutique hotels, a management and cleaning company, a furniture store, a design and staging company, a development company, and a construction side. Joey emphasizes the importance of culture in their business, where they value bluntness, open communication, and a willingness to challenge each other. He believes...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 66
Summary In this episode, the hosts discuss the concept of leverage and how it can be a powerful tool in business. They explore different forms of leverage, including financial leverage, leveraging relationships, and leveraging technology. They also touch on the debate between Dave Ramsey's approach of avoiding debt and Robert Kiyosaki's approach of leveraging debt to build wealth. The hosts emphasize the importance of leveraging resources and skills to save time and effort, and they highlight th...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 65
