The Real Bottom Line - podcast cover

The Real Bottom Line

Wendy Brookhousewww.therealbottomline.ca
Welcome to The Real Bottom Line – the podcast for business owners who want to exit on their terms. I'm Wendy Brookhouse, creator of The Exit Lab and the Business Value Amplifier. In each episode, I talk with founders and experts about what really drives value in a business – and how to build a company that's ready to sell, whether that's in 2 years or 10. We unpack what makes a business more attractive to buyers. We tackle financials, recurring revenue, customer satisfaction, and systems that take the business beyond you. No fluff. Just real conversations, tools, and ideas you can use right now. If you're thinking about selling – or just want more control, more freedom, and more value – you're in the right place.
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Episodes

Episode 119 - Defining True Wealth

In this episode, we explore the true essence of wealth and the freedoms that come along with it. While staying at a dream lakeside home in Ontario, our host delves into the enriching experiences and lessons from Anthea, a successful businesswoman. Together, they demystify the concept of wealth, pondering whether it's just about money or if there's more to it. Drawing inspiration from figures like Steve Jobs and insights from Strategic Coach Dan Sullivan, they discuss the intertwined freedoms of ...

Sep 12, 20239 min

Episode 118 - Building Business Value: From Nanny Payroll to $54 Million

Welcome to the latest episode where we unpack the key drivers that make your business more valuable. We dive deep into the inspiring journey of Stephanie Breedlove, an accountant turned entrepreneur who capitalized on a gap in the U.S. nanny payroll system and grew her business to a staggering value. Through her story, we uncover the magic of monopoly control and how businesses can leverage their unique strengths to maximize their market value. But that's not all, as this episode goes beyond jus...

Aug 22, 202321 min

Episode 117: Unmasking Success: Rewiring Your Inner Game with Monica Buzhanov

**Podcast Episode Description:** In this gripping episode of "The Real Bottom Line," Wendy welcomes the inspiring Monica Buzhanov straight out of Sweden. Monica reveals her personal journey, detailing a crucial point in her life referred to as "Monica's big breakdown." Dive into Monica's transformation from burnout and depression to a realization about her energy. The discussion touches on the subconscious, patterns from our past, and how they can silently shape our present. Monica emphasizes th...

Aug 15, 202329 min

Episode 116: The Power of Women’s Stories: A Conversation with Photographer Brad Walsh

Brad Walsh is a successful photographer who laid the groundwork for his podcast in 2019 but didn’t launch it until the pandemic shut down his business. What makes this story so interesting isn’t that his podcast is in the top 3%, but that he has done so while creating a platform for women’s stories. Talk about allyship! Telling these stories is a huge passion for Brad and we discuss how this came about and The importance and responsibility we all have to tell our stories Why mentors and coaches ...

Aug 08, 202333 min

Episode 115: Overcoming Burnout and Prioritizing Self-Care in the Entrepreneurial Journey with Rebecca Bitton

So many entrepreneurs struggle with mental health – quietly, afraid to acknowledge and certainly not to discuss it. Rebecca Bitten was a successful marketing consultant before she burned out. Not looking after herself led to a months-long hospital stay -where she met other entrepreneurs who had all the outward trappings of success, but had burned out. And that is when Rebecca realized her true calling – to become a mental health coach for entrepreneurs. This episode delves into The cost of not l...

Aug 01, 202334 min

Episode 114: Scaling Success: Unlocking Growth Strategies for Business Owners

In this second episode about entrepreneurship, Lisa Hrabluk takes the interviewer's seat and we delve into some of the tactics that business owners can use to increase the value of their business and move up from micro and small to medium-sized business. To be ready in case you get an offer, to be able to scale and grow your business – without it running you into overwhelm. The tactics we discuss are for all businesses – not just those prepped for sale!

Jul 25, 202330 min

Episode 113: The Eco-System of Entrepreneurship with Lisa Hrabluk

Lisa Hrabluk is back in the two-part episode. In the first episode, we are going on a bit of deep dive into the eco-system of entrepreneurship. Why is it important overall and why your role as a business owner is critical to the overall success? We also talk about the role of government and the future of Entrepreneurship in the Atlantic region. How Entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in Immigration. How we need to think big and Why we need to move from a predominantly micro and small business ...

Jul 18, 202329 min

Episode 112 - Breaking Boundaries: Unleashing Innovation and Research with Gile Crouch

My guest on this episode of The Real Bottom Line is Giles Crouch. He is a digital anthropologist and a practical fore sighter – and our conversation covers some pretty interesting ground. Including What is innovation and why small businesses need to do more of it? What are the top innovation myths? The difference between internal and external innovation? Are surveys and focus groups still relevant? Why talking to your clients is more important than ever? What your current analytical stack may be...

Jul 11, 202340 min

Episode 111: Navigating the Succession Tsunami: Unlocking the Secrets to a Successful Business Exit

In this episode of "The Real Bottom Line" podcast, the host discusses the importance of planning for the end game of a business. While the podcast typically focuses on interviews with entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journey, this episode delves into the topic of succession planning and exit strategies. The host shares insights from a survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, which reveals that a significant number of Canadian business owners plan ...

Jul 04, 202313 min

Episode 110: Power Sharing for Profitability in Your Couple Partnership

Welcome to "Power Sharing for Profitability in Your Couple Partnership," the latest episode of the Real Bottom Line podcast. In this unique roundtable slash webinar, we delve into the experiences of Anthea Mumby and Douglas Pinnell, a dynamic couple who have successfully navigated the world of entrepreneurial coupleship for over 25 years. Douglas and Anthea share their invaluable tips and tricks on how they've managed to work together harmoniously as spouses and business partners. Join us as the...

Jun 28, 202348 min

Episode 109: The Power Of A Challenge with Matt Benvie

Matt Benvie is the owner of Evolve Fitness – a gym that focuses on group and semi-private training. The gym has grown to 4 locations and Matt is focused on total health – including good nutrition, sleep and weight training. We talked about Work/life balance is a myth Owning a business is going to be hard Finding and staying in your zone of genius How personal growth may result in a change of friends How music and travel is his self care How the 6 week challenge helped grow his business...

Jun 27, 202338 min

Episode 108: Navigating the Top Stressor in Canada - Money with Tracey Bissett & Aseel El-Baba

The 6th Annual Financial Stress Index from FP Canada has just been released and surprise, surprise Canadians are more stressed about money - it is their number one stressor yet again. In this special edition of The Real Bottom Line I am joined by financial literacy champion Tracey Bissett and Financial Therapist Aseel El-Baba. We are going beyond the numbers and discuss real actionable strategies to reduce your stress around money.

Jun 20, 202337 min

Episode 107: Transitioning from Rainmaker to Architect for Wealth Creation with Wendy Brookhouse

In this thought-provoking episode of "The Real Bottom Line", we delve deep into the critical role of a CEO and how transitioning into this role can help you amass wealth. Our discussion begins by defining wealth not just in terms of money but also time, freedom, and resources. We illuminate how your growing business becomes your primary asset and how its increasing value directly impacts your wealth. Drawing references from Michael Gerber's book "The E-Myth", we explore the different hats a busi...

Jun 13, 20238 min

Episode 106: Fueling Your Mindset with Terry Tucker

Terry Tucker is an inspiring human being. His beautiful soul shined through in this interview and it was like an aura that makes you want to be his friend. Founder of Motivational Excellence, speaker and author, Terry is currently in his 11th year of battling cancer and he has had his foot and leg amputated in the last couple of years and currently has tumors in his lungs. Terry uses this as his fuel to spread his 4 truths to the world. There is much to be learned from Terry and his journey – an...

Jun 06, 202336 min

Episode 105: The Riches are in the Niches with Mark Chyz

The Riches are in the Niches – as business owners we have probably heard this saying a number of times. My guest Mark Chyz, President of CM2 Media. He niches in a couple of ways, but one of the most interesting is by psychographic markers. He also keeps a list ranking his clients – a fascinating exercise. Some of the other roads we go down are: SEO vs SEM Why you should start with Strategy Cost of Client Acquisition Setting your marketing budget and how often How to interview for a marketing age...

May 30, 202333 min

Episode 104: Challenging your Fears with Corey Poirier

Have you ever been fearful of public speaking? Of taking the stage in front of an audience? My guest, Corey Poirer is now known as That Speaker Guy – but he had a huge fear of both of those things. We talk about how his fear of having regrets, of looking back and wishing he had done something was great than those fears. And that set the stage for some pretty interesting and philosophical topics like: Who do you have to become to achieve your milestones What if the journey is the destination The ...

May 23, 202350 min

Episode 103: From Comfort Zones to Uncharted Territories: Larry Keating's Journey in Building a Business

Building a business over 35 years and then recognizing a niche and then going for it – that is Larry Keating story. In this episode, we talk about How to stay excited about business Recognizing opportunities The importance of getting out of your comfort zone Hiring to keep people at least 2 years The importance of recognizing teachable versus non-teachable Personal blocks vs. World blocks We also got into the subject of confidence and over presenting. I really enjoyed this conversation....

May 16, 202337 min

Episode 102: Cultivating Creativity: Balancing Business and Art in the Fashion Industry with Lisa Drader-Murphy

The importance of being true to yourself and energy is what Lisa Drader Murphy is all about. Lisa is the founder of LDM Group of Companies – which encompasses her namesake fashion line, Studio, Willow Vale Estate, and coming soon a fabric enterprise. Lisa is a force of nature, extremely focused, and a true businesswoman. She has always carved her own path and is unique in the fashion world – she designs, manufactures, and retails all her own products. The pandemic resulted in a hard stop for all...

May 09, 202331 min

Episode 101: My Favorite Story: A Personal Episode with Guest Host Andre Brisson

It was time to turn the tables! In this episode, Andre Brisson is the host and I am the guest! After 100 episodes where I ask all the questions of my guests, we flipped the script so that you could learn more about me. Andre was able to get some pretty interesting stories and philosophies out of me. My favorite story is one that I haven’t spoken of in years – and it is about my mother. I lost my mother to cancer just over 17 years ago. She was and is a driving force in my life. When I was around...

May 02, 202352 min

Episode 100 - The Best Of The Past 100 Shows with 12 Past Guest

2 years and 13 days later, we are at Episode 100 of The Real Bottom Line. Along with co-host Donna Alteen, we are featuring clips from 12 previous guests: Ross Simmons Anthea Mumby Katelyn Bourgoin Diana Lidstone Shelagh Cummins Laural Carr Cynthia Mason John Swain Michael Devenney Monique Bryan Teresa Easler Paul Fitzgerald The lessons from the past 100 episodes are almost too many to list - and were certainly super hard to narrow down! The big takeaway I had after reviewing a few hundred pages...

Apr 25, 20231 hr 11 min

Episode 99: "I am too small…it won’t happen to me": Cybersecurity for Small Business Owners with Darryl Cresswell.

I am too small….it won’t happen to me. Thoughts that a lot of small business owners have when they think about Cyber Security. You aren’t. Cyber theft is big business and we cover a lot of ground in this interview. We talk about The dark web. The importance of cyber insurance and the way it works. The importance of ongoing training and awareness for all your staff What is your cyber security stack Darryl Cresswell is the founder of MYDWARE a firm that specializes in helping small businesses prep...

Apr 18, 202333 min

Episode 98: Building a Positive Workplace Culture: Navigating Values, Communication, and Boundaries with Jesse Adams

In this week's episode of The Real Bottom Line, Jesse Adams, Founder of Ember Experience, shares insights on building a positive workplace culture and how leaders can model behavior that encourages psychological safety. Here's a breakdown of the key takeaways: Acknowledgement vs Agreement: Leaders can create a culture that values open and honest communication by acknowledging without necessarily agreeing. By doing so, they can foster a safe environment where employees feel comfortable sharing th...

Apr 11, 202335 min

Episode 97: Wickedly Wise: Harnessing the Power of Disruption with Lisa Hrabuk

Lisa Hrabuk is a former award-winning writer and journalist turned business strategist and problem solver. Through her company, Wicked Ideas, Lisa helps shift power dynamics, untangle problems, and access the money and influence needed to create sustainable change that sticks. We get philosophical, yet also practical, as we discuss wicked problems, what they are, and how they can be solved. If you want to find out what FAST and SLOW mean when it comes to these wicked problems and ideas, and how ...

Apr 04, 202341 min

Episode 96: How to grow from 3 to 50 employees with Alison Taylor

Alison Taylor is the Co-founder, CEO, and Portfolio Manager of Invico Capital – a leader in the alternative investment space. She is the winner of several prestigious awards, including Female Executive of the Year in 2019 , and made the 2021 Top 100 list of Canada’s Most Powerful Women. We dig deep down into how Alison and her Co-founder started Invico, the products they have, and how they work. We also talk about how she grew the company from 3 employees to 50, and the importance of investing i...

Mar 28, 202342 min

Episode 95: Escaping the hustle and grind with Kristen De Palma

Kristen’s business was started as a side hustle that became the main act in the Pandemic. She is a true purple brain – what I call people who are equal parts of logic/math and creativity. Her husband also owns a business in the creative side of marketing and they are definitely helping each other grow. She didn’t always like math, but she has truly gained respect and appreciation. We covered a lot of ground in this interview – How to use planning to escape the hustle and grind How to schedule yo...

Mar 21, 202335 min

Episode 94: Couples In Business Masterclass - Part 2

In part two of this special episode of the Real Bottom Line we are concluding the Master Class – Mixing Love and Business. If you are part of an Entrepreneurial Couple, you are going to want to take a listen and find out about The Montebello Rule and why you need one Why intense hobbies are important Being open to renegotiation Money, risk tolerance Balancing roles at work and home Legacy

Mar 13, 202339 min

Episode 93: Couples In Business Masterclass - Part 1

We recently ran a live masterclass for Entrepreneurial Couples – Mixing Love and Business: Crafting a recipe for success. And boy did we delve into the meat and potatoes of how to be successful – and Eleanor Beaton and Neil Stephen deliver the goods. So much so that we have taken the class and made it into a special two-part episode of The Real Bottom Line. In part one, we cover decision making Having space and grace around decision making The importance of shared values and the difference these...

Mar 07, 202327 min

Episode 92: Up your Promotional Product game with Justin Lee

Have you ever gotten a key chain or some other branded product and wondered – what are they trying to tell me? Justin Lee is trying to change things. Justin’s journey to entrepreneurship was a bit winding and a big learning process for him. His focus now is on Promotional Products done differently. Some key subjects we discussed were How a repeatable process can unleash creativity How it is important to be intentional with your promotional products How promotional products can impact your brand ...

Feb 28, 202339 min

Episode 90: Valentine's Day Replay: Get Inspired with Tareq Hadhad

Valentine’s Day is all about love, friendship, and showing others that you care. Last year, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Tareq Hadhad, CEO of Peace by Chocolate, who exemplifies all these qualities and more. A native of Syria, Tareq knows all too well how important it is to share peace and hope, especially during difficult times. The messages he shared in this episode are timeless and really worth a listen. The recent earthquake in Syria and Turkey was devastating, and the afterm...

Feb 14, 202347 min

Episode 91: Your Future Life

In this episode, we are going to talk about the next most important book for your reading list and how building a vision of your future life will change everything.

Feb 08, 202310 min
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