Alex Prasad emphasizes the importance of enjoying conversations and forming relationships in business dealings. He believes that genuine interactions, like asking about someone's holiday or family, pave the way for deeper connections. Through these conversations, Alex finds numerous opportunities to help people, connect them with others, and share his opinions in an organic manner. This approach not only facilitates business discussions but also nurtures lasting professional relationships. "I st...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Chris Kurwie, driven by a profound entrepreneurial spirit, ventured from a demanding legal career to become a prominent business owner. Drawing from his own challenging journey, Chris underscores the value of resilience and long-term thinking in business. He is the operational head of a Sydney-based company and is passionate about helping entrepreneurs maximize the value of their businesses. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn and benefit from his insights on navigating business exits and creating en...
May 28, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Reid Tileston is an author, keynote speaker and expert in Entrepreneurial Business Ownership. With the release of his new book, Grit It Done, Reid shares his insights from over 15 years of successful, on-the-ground Entrepreneurial Business Ownership that led him to acquire, grow, and ultimately sell 4 different companies with successful exits. His most recent acquisition resulted in a 10x return multiple of invested capital (MOIC). Reid has exhibited sustained success from being a top performing...
May 21, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Chris Parisi began his entrepreneurial journey young, mowing lawns before diving into the worlds of accounting and private equity. Now a partner at Carl Marks Advisors, he specializes in mergers and acquisitions for family-owned businesses, blending a sharp acumen for finance with a deep respect for the legacy of family enterprises. Known for his approachable nature and effective communication, Chris thrives on educating and guiding business owners through the complexities of selling their busin...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 13
RJ Burr, 48, is a third-generation producer of American oil. Born into the industry, Mr. Burr was on his first location before he could walk and has been fascinated by the production of oil his entire life. Within 3 months of graduating high school, RJ Burr funded his first partnership and never looked back. RJ Burr is now the Senior VP of Corporate Operations at Panex. With a main focus on the Gulf Coast, Mr. Burr’s companies have raised and deployed over $300 million in upstream development an...
Apr 30, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Alan Ezeir is a serial entrepreneur with a track record of identifying unique opportunities and transforming industries, evident in his pivot from telecom to the domain registration space. His entrepreneurial journey is marked by a spectrum of investments, from the successful build-up of a 7 million strong domain registry to ventures in cryptocurrency, real estate, and private equity. As an independent sponsor, Ezeir harnesses personal connections and market knowledge to acquire and enhance busi...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 11
Ryan Sandburg is a seasoned entrepreneur with a keen insight into operational efficiency and business growth. His journey from the construction industry to tech company ownership demonstrates his adaptability and willingness to immerse himself in new sectors. With his proactive approach to problem-solving and expertise in software implementation, Ryan successfully scaled his company, Presearch Inc., to become a leading provider in background checks for employment. His story is one of leveraging ...
Apr 17, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Robert Clinkenbeard's story begins with the invaluable lessons he gained while employed by another firm, which would later become the bedrock of his journey into entrepreneurship. Embracing the natural pathway of learning, Robert is candid about the numerous mistakes he made in the initial stages of his business venture. It was a process of trial and error, a hands-on experience that taught him more than any textbook could. Together, we'll explore the critical steps a business should take 2 to 3...
Apr 09, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Jena Dunay believes in the power of ownership in one’s career, advocating for job seekers to approach their work as valuable contributors. Her expertise lies in coaching individuals, especially senior-level job changers, to hone their storytelling and confidence for career success. With a robust experience in various roles leading up to becoming a chief learning officer, she transitioned back into entrepreneurship to achieve work-life balance and create impactful businesses. Jena's journey illus...
Apr 02, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 8
John Ovrom is the embodiment of entrepreneurial spirit, channeling his vigor into a successful construction business built alongside his family. With the experience of growth, acquisition, and the rewarding challenge of diversification under his belt, he transitioned from owner to consultant, guiding others through the intricate dance of business exit strategies. His firm, Exit Consulting, manifests John's expertise and empathetic approach to mentoring business owners grappling with the emotiona...
Mar 26, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Eric Johnson, a seasoned entrepreneur with a knack for building relationships, shifted from the hospitality industry to real estate, diving into sales' human side. As the CEO of various software platforms and a principal at Modus Coaching and Consulting, he dedicates his expertise to guiding entrepreneurs toward success through genuine connections and trust. His own venture into network marketing led to the creation of Teamsy, a ground-breaking platform devised to bridge the technology gap in th...
Mar 19, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 6
When Kayla Jimenez first joined the IP and litigation sphere, she uncovered a fundamental truth that many professionals encounter: the allure of a prestigious job title isn't always what it seems. While her instincts cautioned her about the company's environment, it was this challenging position that planted the entrepreneurial seeds she would later cultivate. Kayla's transition from associate to partner and eventually to the owner of the practice illustrates a powerful narrative—prioritizing li...
Mar 11, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Pat Flynn is a resilient entrepreneur who turned a layoff from his dream job as an architect during the 2008 Great Recession into a journey of success and inspiration. Less than a year after the layoff, Pat built a 6-figure online business, helping architects pass an exam and chronicling his process on his blog, Smart Passive Income (SPI). SPI has evolved into a premier resource for entrepreneurship and online business, with the award-winning SPI Podcast amassing over 80 million downloads and be...
Mar 04, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 4
When I interviewed him four years ago, Cory talked about how working at a traditional job wasn’t for him. Sure, the money, the job security, those things were great, but he hated the work to the point where he couldn’t physically get himself to open the door to his office one day. That’s when he knew he needed a change. Cory’s a good friend and sometimes business partner who has been in the audiobook industry for over a decade. When he started, audiobooks were on cassette tapes! Here, we talk ab...
Feb 27, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Jeff Goins is a writer who's truly left an impact on my creative journey. His blog is a treasure trove of practical advice for aspiring writers, filled with wisdom from his own experiences. Goins' mantra, "You are a writer when you say you are," empowered me to own my identity as a writer. I even worked with him as a writing coach. Here, we chat about how he started with a simple blog and it opened doors for his career. Plus, how he leveraged contacts, experience, and the online course space to ...
Feb 27, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Nate and Dana talk about getting back on the podcasting horse after COVID, how Opt Out Life became Exit Plan, and lessons learned during the pandemic. They chat about how things have changed and choosing a life that meets your needs without having to throw yourself into your business. “...it was life changing because I realized I could do it all from home.” Topics discussed in this episode: Work-life balance and family commitments Private equity industry challenges and goals Podcast rebranding a...
Feb 27, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 1
I’m starting a whole new series of podcasts focusing on how entrepreneurs transitioned away from being employees to owning their time. I can’t wait to share these journeys with you. — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/ Follow Dana on Instagram: @danarobinsonofficial Subscribe to Dana’s weekly newsletter at danarobinson.com —
Feb 27, 2024•3 min
Our guest today is Merrily Orsini. Merrily founded one of the first private pay home care businesses in the United States, back in 1981, which she managed to grow successfully to more than 200 employees. She has been in the home caregiving business ever since and is now the President and CEO of CoreCubed, where she pioneered the work-from-home business model, many years before it became the norm. How did she do it? Merrily tells us about her business journey in caregiving, her efforts into incor...
Jan 14, 2021•54 min
Joe Bernstein, founder of Drop the Armor Wellness, is on a mission to help other men feel the love and freedom that he learned to cultivate when his life fell apart several years ago. Back in 2013, Joe decided to go through a series of lifestyle changes to take back control of his life. After going through a bad divorce and losing 160 lbs, he left a successful career in retail management to build a mission-focused business and help other men create the life they desire. Today, as a men’s coach a...
Jan 07, 2021•52 min
2020, a year unlike any other, is finally coming to an end. As we welcome in 2021, it's a great time to look back and reflect on this year as a whole - with all of its ups and downs. In this solo episode, Dana walks us through a fun exercise to reflect on our year and project new ideas to get ready for a more productive 2021. We wish you a happy new year and as always, stay safe and healthy out there! More at optoutlife.com/podcast/dana-solo-nye-2020/
Dec 31, 2020•28 min
Our guest today is William Stringer. Will is the co-founder & CEO of Chisos, a company that provides capital for early-stage entrepreneurs and start-ups that have a difficult time accessing it. Chisos is the creator of a revolutionary new funding source for founders: the Convertible Income Share Agreement, or CISA - designed to equalize opportunity and give access to funding without all the usual hang-ups of traditional funding options. Listen along to learn more about this win-win investmen...
Dec 24, 2020•48 min
As our listeners have already heard, the Opt Out Life podcast is all about getting the stories of entrepreneurs who have achieved the Opt Out Life their way- but is the life of entrepreneurship right for everybody? In this episode, Dana talks to his wife and Opt Out partner in crime: Heather Robinson. Heather shares the details of her entrepreneurial journey, her introspection work in the last year as a business owner, and her honest assessment that it is perfectly acceptable to find your Opt Ou...
Dec 17, 2020•41 min
Today's guests are Russ and Joey, founders of Wealth Without Wall Street and hosts of the popular podcast. Russ and Joey came from a more traditional advisory model and realized that their methods were keeping them from reaching the financial freedom they had been seeking. They decided to focus on finding an alternative approach to wealth and money, and started an advisory firm to help regular people learn how to take control of their financial future. Listen along as they share some of their st...
Dec 03, 2020•55 min
Happy Thanksgiving, Opt Outers! It's that time of the year again, and Nate & Dana are both back in the studio to talk about what they've been doing lately and give us an update on what's coming next! More at optoutlife.com/podcast/thanksgiving-2020/
Nov 26, 2020•24 min
Buying an existing business is often the fastest and least risky way to Opt Out. And if you have ever been curious about franchising, then today's episode with Lance Graulich is for you. Lance is the founder & CEO of ION Franchising, an industry-leading franchise consulting and development group, that represents over 500 franchise brands & business opportunities. Lance helps prospective entrepreneurs find their perfect franchise for free, and also assists independent business owners in c...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Today's guest is Greg Shepard. Greg is the CEO and founder of BOSS Capital Partners. He is a Serial Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, and Angel Venture Capital Investor with a legacy of building and running sustainable growth businesses. But to get to the top, he had to tackle many obstacles. His journey inspired him to start helping entrepreneurs around the world by creating the BOSS Operating Support System, a strategic playbook that teaches entrepreneurs how to scale a business through a step-by...
Nov 12, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Today's podcast guest is Grant Aldrich, the CEO and Founder of OnlineDegree.com. After graduating with honors from the University of California Irvine in Economics, and overwhelmed with debt, Grant went on a mission to make higher education more accessible and affordable for everyone - that's when OnlineDegree.com was founded. This for-profit company allows people to take courses and earn degrees from over a thousand participating universities, all for free. Grant has spent his entire career wor...
Nov 05, 2020•53 min
Our guest today is Geordie Wardman. Geordie has been an entrepreneur for 15 years and currently lives in Switzerland with his family. He helps other people build companies, builds his own software services and products, and still manages to ski 100 days a year while working on all of his businesses. In this episode, Geordie shows us a version of the Opt Out life that you may not have even thought of, and teaches us that no matter where you're at in life, you could pick up and move to Switzerland...
Oct 29, 2020•56 min
Opt Out Life listener, Erik, hit us up to discuss a situation that many people find themselves in - Erik is in his late 20s, works as a civil engineer, and is looking for opportunities to opt out. How could he best approach this? In this special episode, we invited Erik onto the mic and talked through the most effective strategies he, and other aspiring Opt Out-ers, can use to take back control of their time. More at optoutlife.com/podcast/erik-the-listener/
Oct 22, 2020•55 min
In today’s episode, we talk to Chad Peterson. Chad is an expert business broker and the founder of Peterson Acquisitions, an award-winning M&A firm. Chad is a self-made entrepreneur that has been in the trenches. He has started, built and sold 6 of his own businesses, and also wrote two books: “From Blue to White: A Working Man’s Guide to Self-Employment” and “Swinging Doors: A Guide to Selling Your Company” Learn more about his process of selling a business, how marketing strategy and onlin...
Oct 15, 2020•44 min
