The Business Strategist With Adam Strong

Have you ever noticed how your leadership style flips under pressure—sometimes you micromanage, sometimes you retreat, sometimes you charge ahead like you're putting out fires?  That reaction isn’t random. It’s driven by an invisible operating system that's been with you since birth. In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Rory Kilmartin—relationship researcher and founder of the Archetypal Relationship Academy to explore a groundbreaking framework for decoding human behaviour through four archetypes: the gorilla, the wolf, the fox, and the sheep.  Rory’s 19 years of research reveals how your dominant archetype influences your leadership, relationships, and even who you hire (or fire). If you’re serious about improving the way you lead, communicate, and understand your team—and yourself—this one’s a game-changer. Ready to exit your business but not sure where to start? Take the exit readiness diagnostics test and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: ⁠https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com⁠ Chapters 00:00 Understanding Leadership Under Pressure 05:45 Introduction to Relationship Archetypes 11:07 Exploring the Four Archetypes 22:20 The Origins of Archetypal Nature 34:17 Applying Archetypes in Leadership 36:11 Navigating Business with a Long-Term Vision 38:32 Understanding Archetypes in Business 42:17 Case Studies: Transforming Teams through Archetypal Wisdom 45:10 Dynamic Nature of Archetypes in Personal and Professional Life 48:47 The Importance of Self-Awareness and Transitioning Roles 51:26 Leveraging Archetypes for Effective Leadership 56:18 Building Trust and Understanding in Teams 01:01:03 The Heart of Business: Understanding Team Dynamics 01:02:48 Conclusion: The Power of Relationships in Success ABOUT OUR SPONSORS Ready to exit, but worried you'll regret it? Take the cash out with confidence assessment to see how close you are to your dream exit number.  Visit: https://cash-out-with-confidence.scoreapp.com Website: https://www.xentum.co.uk ABOUT THE GUEST ⁠https://www.facebook.com/rorykilmartin⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/rorykilmartin/⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/rorykilmartin⁠ ⁠https://x.com/RoryKilmartin⁠ ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The LinkedIn Top Voice badge is the most addictive distraction on the platform. The real question is how much time, energy and opportunity have you already lost chasing it? I held the LinkedIn Top Voice badge for over two years and recently lost it. My first reaction? It felt like my credibility had been stripped away overnight.  But then something unexpected happened. My business grew. Better clients, more conversations, more revenue.  So I started asking myself whether being part of the top voice programme had any real benefits at all. In this episode I pull back the curtain on the biggest myth in LinkedIn marketing and share exactly what I've been doing instead to turn organic content into real business growth. Five Takeaways Learn why the LinkedIn Top Voice badge attracts cold spammers far more than it attracts your ideal clients Discover how LinkedIn's new 360 Brew AI system actually works and how to use it to get miles ahead of the badge chasers Improve your content strategy with a proven framework covering which days to post, how often and why quality will always beat quantity Understand how staying in your lane and speaking directly to a specific pain point converts far better than broadcasting to a wide audience Learn how to split test your content using real metrics to identify exactly what is driving revenue and what to cut immediately Enjoy the show? Please subscribe/ follow the show and leave a 1 or 5 star review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-business-strategist-with-adam-strong/id1518654325 Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Badge and Credibility Myth 00:26 Adam's Experience with Losing the Top Voice Badge 00:52 Why the Badge Doesn't Boost the Algorithm 02:09 Myth: More DMs from Potential Clients 03:01 Myth: VIP Treatment for Top Voices 03:57 The Badge Is Not a Lifetime Achievement 04:53 The Small Pool of Top Voice Holders 06:14 The Distraction of the Badge and Better Prospects 07:59 The New 360 AI System on LinkedIn 09:19 Profile Optimisation Tips: Headlines and Photos 14:06 Posting Frequency and Content Quality 16:21 Using Personal Stories to Engage Audience 17:27 Staying in Your Niche and Focused Content 18:45 Experimentation and Content Testing 20:27 Creating Content that Sparks Discussion 21:48 Articulating Your Value and Contrarian Content 23:35 Final Thoughts: Quality Over Quantity 24:29 Join the Community and Final Remarks ABOUT OUR SPONSORS Ready to exit, but worried you'll regret it? Take the cash out with confidence assessment to see how close you are to your dream exit number.  Visit: https://cash-out-with-confidence.scoreapp.com Website: https://www.xentum.co.uk/ ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the reason you are not growing has nothing to do with your product and everything to do with the fact you sound like every other business in your space? In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Les Evans, who I have called the marketing disruptor for years. He has spent two decades transforming misfits, mavericks and outsiders into businesses that cannot be duplicated.  We unpack why most founders have nothing new to say, why shouting louder is not the solution, and how one small distinction can change how the market experiences you.  If you feel like the best kept secret in your industry, this conversation will challenge how you think about differentiation, positioning, and building a true category of one business. Les Evans is a former CEO of a 9 figure investment fund, strategic advisor and author of ‘Uncopyable’.  Five Reasons to Listen Discover the shift that stops you competing on better and puts you in a league of your own Hear the uncomfortable truth behind why most founders blend in, even with a great offer Learn the simple distinction that can make your business instantly more memorable Unpack the psychology that makes your audience feel seen without you trying to be controversial Steal the pitch approach that sparks tell me more and turns attention into real demand Enjoy the show? Please subscribe/ follow the show and leave a 1 or 5 star review: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-business-strategist-with-adam-strong/id1518654325 Chapters 00:00 The Unreplicatable Business Model 02:14 Les Evans: The Marketing Disruptor 02:54 Personal Evolution and Transformation 04:30 The Biggest Mistake Business Owners Make 04:47 The Importance of Originality in Business 07:41 The Challenge of Differentiation 09:56 Creating a Category of One 11:33 The Misconception of Leads Problems 12:42 Understanding Why Customers Choose You 16:38 Positioning vs. Authority in Business 21:13 Critique of the Coaching Industry 25:16 Neuroscience and Pattern Recognition 31:06 The Origin of Uncopyable Methodology 32:19 Transforming Commodities into Unique Offerings 33:40 Defining the Best: A New Perspective 35:31 Creating Your Own Landscape 36:49 Harnessing Constraints for Creativity 38:15 The Fear of Judgment in Business 39:02 Audacity in Entrepreneurship 40:57 Making Boring Businesses Memorable 48:14 Mindset Shifts for Business Growth 53:35 The Challenge of the 29-Second Pitch 56:53 Understanding Human Communication in Networking 58:16 Creating Curiosity and Humor in Introductions 01:01:31 Crafting Unique and Engaging Openers 01:05:00 The Psychology of Decision-Making in Business 01:07:23 The Importance of Playfulness in Professional Settings 01:09:48 Embracing Originality and Authenticity 01:13:50 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways ABOUT OUR SPONSORS Ready to exit, but worried you'll regret it? Talk to Xentum financial planning to get your exit number.  Visit: https://cash-out-with-confidence.scoreapp.com/ ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong ABOUT THE GUEST https://www.linkedin.com/in/les-evans-uncopyable/ https://www.facebook.com/LesEvansOfficial https://reallesevans.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are we buried in Slack messages and back-to-back Zooms but feeling lonelier than ever? Dr. Michelle K. Johnston just co-wrote a book with Marshall Goldsmith that exposes the hidden crisis destroying teams—and it starts with you. Dr. Michelle K. Johnston's back with a warning: we're going down a dark path. She just co-wrote The Seismic Shift in You with legendary executive coach Marshall Goldsmith, and they reckon most leaders are sleepwalking into disaster. This isn't about work-life balance or time management. It's about why your best people are quietly quitting, why you're knackered despite smashing targets, and why technology is making us lonelier whilst pretending to connect us. 5 Reasons to Listen The disconnection epidemic - why scrolling hits dopamine but starves you of oxytocin (and why that's making you physically ill) The "what vs who" trap - how achievement addiction leads to premature death, heart disease, and leaders who feel empty at the top The 7 necessary shifts - including the one that makes successful executives defensive because it threatens their entire identity Real cost of disconnection - the executive whose doctor said he'd die young, and why his company's about to lose him to burnout Practical tools for tomorrow - connection walks, calendar audits, and why your Friday afternoon Zoom meetings are killing creativity Enjoy the show? Please subscribe/ follow the show and leave a 1 or 5 star review Chapters 00:00 The Paradox of Connection and Disconnection 02:52 The Seismic Shift in Leadership 05:41 Understanding Loneliness and Its Impact 08:39 Generational Perspectives on Work and Leadership 11:04 The Courage to Connect 13:58 Shifting Beliefs in Leadership 16:52 The Importance of Individual Responsibility 19:55 The Shift from Achievement to Relationships 22:36 Creating a Culture of Connection 25:31 Practical Steps for Connection 28:24 The Cost of Disconnection 31:06 Final Thoughts on Connection and Leadership ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Ready to exit, but worried you'll regret it? Talk to Xentum financial planning to get your exit number.  Visit: https://cash-out-with-confidence.scoreapp.com ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ ABOUT THE GUEST Website: WWW.MICHELLEKJOHNSTON.COM Amazon: https://a.co/d/00XEIBBn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-ph-d-0264b5b/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the thing making you feel most needed in your business is actually the thing stopping it from growing? I sit down with Bill Flynn, someone who's survived IPOs, acquisitions and proper business chaos, to unpack the hero trap. If you're the one who fixes everything, closes every deal and makes every decision, this one's for you.  It feels productive. It feels like leadership. But it quietly turns you into the bottleneck.  We talk about why leaders default back to control mode when pressure hits, why most leadership advice doesn't work in the real world, and what it looks like when your team stops waiting for permission and starts running things without you. Bill is the the Author of the best selling book 'Further, Faster' and is part of the Marshall Goldsmith's 100 coaches community. Five Reasons to Listen Learn how to spot when you've become the answer to everything and what that costs your team Improve decision making so people can move fast without needing you in every conversation Break the firefighting cycle and stop being the centre of every problem and approval Build simple structure that makes your business feel calmer, sharper and easier to scale Get your time back by cutting the work that drains you using a simple love and loathe filter Want to exit your business but unsure where to start? Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: ⁠https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com⁠ Chapters 00:00 The Hero Trap: Understanding Leadership Challenges 09:36 The Shift from Controller to Builder 18:42 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership 27:53 Breaking the Cycle of Hero Addiction 33:41 Transitioning into Marketing Leadership 35:04 Creating Structures for Effective Leadership 38:49 The Importance of Meeting Protocols 39:53 Influential Voices in Leadership 42:22 Defining True Leadership 43:03 Coaching Session: Shifting Mindsets 45:39 Crafting a Compelling Vision 49:36 The Art of Storytelling in Vision 55:17 Energy Management for Leaders 59:11 Preview of Upcoming Book ABOUT OUR SPONSORWorried if your exit number is enough to fund your lifestyle after exiting your business? Take the cash out with confidence assessment and identify the gaps in your wealth plan. Go to:  https://cash-out-with-confidence.scoreapp.com ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billflynnpublic/ Full CBA assessment for facilitators and leaders - https://catalystgrowthadvisors.com/cba-assessment-download-enter-email-here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most founders are wasting a fortune on tools promising to shift the needle but instead it is quietly killing their growth. This episode exposes why personality testing, competency models, and culture fit interviews often fail and what to replace them with if you want a team that actually delivers. In this episode, I sit down with Barry Wolfe, an HR veteran with 30 years in the trenches helping founders and CEOs solve the people problems that stall growth. We go beyond generic HR and get into why businesses keep hiring great people who still do not perform, why teams break at certain revenue ceilings, and how leaders accidentally become the bottleneck. Barry shares his value centric leadership approach, showing how to define roles by outcomes, improve hiring interviews, and align performance to the results that drive business growth. If you want to build a high performing team, improve employee retention, and scale without everything running through you, this conversation will challenge how you think about talent management. Five takeaways: why you should listen Why great CVs and strong interviews still fail and the real reason good people do not work out after 6 to 8 months The most expensive hiring mistake founders and CEOs make and why smart leaders keep repeating it The one thing to define before the interview starts: the 3 to 5 value added deliverables you need in the first 12 months How to shift from managing actions to rewarding outcomes so roles are defined by what people deliver and performance becomes measurable The first document to create if you are the bottleneck: define your key value drivers and business results so the whole team aligns and execution stops running through you. Let’s be real — if you’re drowning in day-to-day crap, you’ll never scale or exit. Learn how to stop being your own bottleneck and start leading like a boss. Download this playbook for free, no email required and no BS. Grab it now: https://adamstrong.notion.site/The-Exit-Playbook-Shift-from-Operator-to-Visionary-Leader-220f5f71e63b80bc91a0d7e0ca050c82?source=copy_link ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Ready to exit, but worried you'll regret it? Talk to our financial planners to get your exit number.  Visit: https://www.xentum.co.uk ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ ABOUT THE GUEST https://www.linkedin.com/in/barryrwolfe/ www.argoshr.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s be real for a second: Law school, the accounting bodies, the professional exams they never actually taught you how to run a business. They taught you how to be a technician. Now, you’re stuck in the trading time for money trap, thinking that being hardworking and professional gives you an edge over the competition. It doesn't. That’s just the baseline.  In 2026, relying on those standards is the quickest way to get left behind. I joined Dan Warburton to talk about the shift from being a late-stage service provider to an early-stage strategic partner. We’re moving past the ego and getting into why your clients really buy from you—and it’s probably not what you think. In this chat, we cover: The Holiday Test: Why your inability to let go is capping your revenue and killing your culture. Standards vs. USPs: Why telling people you're "punctual" is a waste of breath (and what to say instead). The Ferrari Specialist: How to stop being a "generalist garage" and become the only logical choice for your ideal client. Dinner, Drinks, and Real Data: My simple way to get your best clients to hand you your unfair advantage on a silver platter before the weekend hits. AI vs. The Clock: Why billing by the hour is a losing game when tech can do your 8-hour task in 20 minutes. If you’re tired of staying stuck, this is for you. Want to exit your business but unsure where to start? Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: ⁠https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com⁠ ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Ready to exit, but worried you'll regret it? Talk to our financial planners to get your exit number.  Visit: https://www.xentum.co.uk ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/investordanwarburton Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2430923 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fine is the most expensive word in your business. When your team tells you they’re fine, they aren’t being polite. They’re checking out.  We’re in a Relationship Recession, and it’s the silent tax stripping productivity, slowing decisions, and shaving value off your company from the inside. In this episode, I sit down with Morag Barrett, leadership expert, member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, and the person CEOs call when trust is breaking and performance is slipping.  Morag explains why transactional leadership fuels burnout, how digital noise has replaced real connection, and what to do about it if you want a high trust culture that scales. If your engagement is dipping or your business is being impacted by quiet quitting, this is the episode for you. We discuss: How to spot the “I’m fine” trap before turnover hits How to identify allies, rivals, and hidden adversaries inside the Relationship Ecosystem How to use a 60 second pulse check to measure trust fast How to schedule spontaneity so remote teams feel like a community How to shift from transactional to transformational leadership without more meetings Want to exit your business but unsure where to start? Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: ⁠https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com⁠ ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Ready to exit, but worried you'll regret it? Visit: https://www.xentum.co.uk ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moragbarrett/ Website: https://skyeteam.com Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cultivate-Winning-Relationships-Morag-Barrett-dp-1936487292/dp/1936487292/ref=dp_ob_title_bk ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I spent years chasing the myth that the harder you work the bigger the rewards. I was obsessed with growing my company to find freedom but it was a failed experiment. My business was scaling while my body was screaming a question I could not answer: how long can you actually sustain this for? I was winning on paper but my biology was being liquidated behind the scenes. Can you relate? I used to treat my health like a cost centre I could manage after the next milestone.  In this episode I sit down with triple board certified physician Dr Amy Loden Tiffany to look at the metabolic crisis I was heading toward. We discuss the biological data points I was ignoring and why my desk was more dangerous than a smoking habit. This is a raw look at the hidden tax on success and why your current lifestyle is secretly draining your cognitive edge. If you have ever woken at 3am with your brain on overload this is an episode you cannot afford to skip. Five reasons to listen The Sitting Death Trap Discover why prolonged sitting is more lethal than smoking and the specific protocol to reverse the damage in weeks. Hidden Mortality Markers The laboratory metrics most doctors ignore that predict early mortality and how insurance companies use them against CEOs. The IQ Connection How metabolic health directly dictates decision making ability and why a compromised state leads to million pound mistakes. Peak Energy ROI The three high impact micro habits that deliver maximum energy for founders working 12 hour days with zero gym time. Biological Burnout Why burnout and metabolic disease share the exact same root causes and how fixing one automatically solves the other. Want to exit your business but unsure where to start? Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: ⁠https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com⁠ ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Ready to exit, but worried you'll regret it? Visit: https://www.xentum.co.uk ABOUT THE GUEST Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-loden/ YouTube: @dramytiffany Instagram: @dramytiffany TikTok: @dramytiffany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vitalitymwc ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stop planning for 2026. If you are still preparing for the future, you have already been overtaken by those of us who are already living in it. Most people are waiting for a signal to move, but I am already executing the plays that will define the next twelve months. I am not here to give you a forecast; I am here to give you the exact moves I am using to dominate while everyone else is still waking up. The gap between the leaders and the crowd is widening, and the old rules of growth are officially dead. While the majority are distracted by vanity metrics and outdated hacks, I am betting everything on five specific shifts that are currently transforming my business. In this episode, I reveal the internal roadmap I am using to scale intimacy through AI, why I am ignoring 90% of social media to build deeper trust, and the acquisition strategy I am using to bypass years of slow growth. This is a raw look at my private playbook for 2026. Whether you are hearing this today or three weeks from now, the window to act is closing. This is how you win. 5 reasons to listen I reveal how I use AI agents to scale genuine outreach and support without losing my human edge. I explain my strategy for building a focussed personal brand that generates deep trust on a single platform. I show you how I multiply my authority by turning depth content into a machine that attracts high value buyers. I break down the specific community signals I track to ensure real growth instead of chasing empty impressions. I share my blueprint for buying boring businesses to leapfrog traditional growth and create a massive exit. Let’s be real — if you’re drowning in day-to-day crap, you’ll never scale or exit. The Exit Playbook is your ticket out of the chaos. Learn how to stop being your own bottleneck and start leading like a boss. It’s free, no email required and no BS. Grab it now: https://adamstrong.notion.site/The-Exit-Playbook-Shift-from-Operator-to-Visionary-Leader-220f5f71e63b80bc91a0d7e0ca050c82?source=copy_link Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurial Success in 2026 06:41 Leveraging AI for Business Efficiency 12:06 The Power of Personal Branding 15:14 Shifts in Content Consumption 18:18 Community Over Vanity Metrics 21:07 Exploring Business Acquisitions for Growth ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Ready to exit, but worried you'll regret it? Visit: https://www.xentum.co.uk ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The deal closes. The champagne goes flat. And suddenly you're staring in the mirror wondering who the hell you are anymore. Your company's gone. Your title means nothing. The identity you wore for a decade has been stripped away. Did you just make the biggest mistake of your life? I sat down with Jennifer Fondrevay, the M&A Whisperer who's lived through three multi-billion-pound acquisitions and consulted with over 60 CEOs on the hidden psychology of business exits.  As a best-selling author and TEDx speaker featured across global media, Jennifer has become the go-to expert on what nobody talks about in M&A: the identity crisis that follows the deal.  We explored the brutal truth about losing your business identity, why even the most successful founders feel like they're going crazy during transitions, and the battle-tested framework she developed from the trenches of corporate acquisitions.  This conversation revealed the exact emotional stages you’ll face post-exit and gave you the strategic playbook to rebuild your identity before a crisis hits. If your planning an exit in the next 2-5 years, this is a must listen. Five reasons to listen How to master the five stages of business grief - Jennifer reveals the proven framework she's used with Fortune 500 executives to transform anger and denial into acceptance and opportunity The legacy question that changes everything - Discover the single most powerful question that forces clarity on who you are beyond your business title and protects what you've built How the top 1% prepare for their final chapter - Learn the 6-month countdown strategy Jennifer developed after witnessing countless botched exits and seven-figure transitions gone right Why your biggest advocates are hiding in plain sight - Uncover Jennifer's counterintuitive method for identifying team champions who'll accelerate change and shield you from emotional burnout The breakthrough exercise CEOs didn't see coming - How Jennifer's unconventional music-based technique unlocks vulnerability in the boardroom and builds the trust required for seamless transitions Let’s be real — if you’re drowning in day-to-day crap, you’ll never scale or exit. The Exit Playbook is your ticket out of the chaos. Learn how to stop being your own bottleneck and start leading like a boss. It’s free, no email required and no BS. Grab it now: https://adamstrong.notion.site/The-Exit-Playbook-Shift-from-Operator-to-Visionary-Leader-220f5f71e63b80bc91a0d7e0ca050c82?source=copy_link Chapters 00:00 The Identity Crisis Post-Exit 02:37 Navigating Mergers and Acquisitions 05:44 The Emotional Landscape of Exiting 08:05 Understanding Grief in Business Transitions 11:08 Building Trust During Change 13:56 The Role of Leadership in M&A 16:42 Acceptance and Moving Forward 19:29 Legacy and Impact After Exit 22:10 Preparing for the Future 25:10 Creating a New Narrative Post-Exit 31:41 Transitioning from Founder to CEO 35:30 Preparing for the Emotional Exit 37:21 Rebuilding Identity Post-Exit 41:52 Understanding Integration Debt 46:08 Navigating Grief in Leadership 59:31 Future Research Directions ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Ready to exit, but worried you'll regret it? Visit: https://www.xentum.co.uk ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-fondrevay Instagram: @jenniferj.fondrevay Freebie: https://jenniferjfondrevay.com/resources ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you could eliminate your biggest competitor without spending a penny upfront? While most business owners throw money at marketing and AI tools, there's a silent weapon hiding in plain sight: buying the competition that's stealing your clients. In this episode, I’m joined by Jeremy Harbour, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and founder of The Harbour Club. We get practical about growing through acquisitions by buying your competitor.  We talk about why so many owner run businesses never sell, what makes today such a strong time to buy, and how to approach a competitor without turning it into an awkward sales pitch.  Jeremy shares what he looks for, what to avoid, and how to protect yourself so you are not left with a mess after the deal. 5 reasons to listen Stop competing, start acquiring. Discover why buying your competitor is more effective than spending another pound on advertising or the latest AI automation. The zero money down blueprint. Learn the exact structure Jeremy uses monthly to acquire businesses without borrowing from banks, signing guarantees or hiring expensive lawyers. Baby boomer goldmine. Understand why 80% of businesses owned by retiring baby boomers are essentially free for the taking if you know how to structure the conversation. Red flags become opportunities. Jeremy explains how client concentration, employee risk and owner dependency actually make deals easier, not harder. Real-time acquisition coaching. Watch Jeremy coach me through structuring my first competitor acquisition, including the consulting to equity approach that eliminates upfront costs. Learn how to stop being your own bottleneck and start leading like a boss. It’s free, no email required and no BS. Grab it now: https://adamstrong.notion.site/The-Exit-Playbook-Shift-from-Operator-to-Visionary-Leader-220f5f71e63b80bc91a0d7e0ca050c82?source=copy_link Chapters 00:00 The Strategy of Acquiring Competitors 02:46 Current Market Dynamics and Opportunities 05:36 Understanding Business Valuation and Acquisition Risks 08:25 Navigating the Acquisition Process 11:04 Building Rapport with Competitors 13:48 Personal Experiences in M&A 16:41 Identifying Sweet Spots for Acquisition 19:25 The Power of Group Strategies in M&A 22:09 Overcoming Mindset Barriers in M&A 25:04 Initiating Conversations with Competitors 29:19 End of Year Reflections and Motivations 30:03 Identifying Red Flags in Acquisitions 31:08 Leveraging Red Flags for Better Deals 33:18 Creating Asymmetric Risk in Transactions 36:34 Evaluating Business Concentration Risks 38:37 Recognizing Green Flags in Negotiations 39:21 De-risking Post-Acquisition Integration 41:07 Common Mistakes in the First 90 Days 44:47 Acquisition Strategies for Consulting Businesses 51:13 Navigating the Complexity of Acquisitions 55:23 Understanding Technology Business Valuations 57:20 Final Thoughts on Entrepreneurship and Acquisitions ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Helping you take the complexity out of exiting your business.  Go to ⁠https://www.adambenedict.co.uk⁠ ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyharbour/ Website: https://www.harbourclubevents.com ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ Email: hello@adamstrong.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stop feeding the content monster. LinkedIn doesn’t reward volume; it rewards positioning. If you are a founder with decades of experience but your posts are being ignored, the problem isn’t the algorithm. It is your structure. You don’t need 100,000 followers to dominate your niche; you need a framework that turns your specific life experience into a strategic asset. In this episode, I am handing you the blueprint to my personal content strategy. This isn't theory; it is the exact methodology I use to generate consistent 10–15% engagement on every post with a modest following.  I break down the STRONG framework—a simple, repeatable system to transform your insights into posts that resonate with your ideal client profile, position you as an authority, and start real commercial conversations. Here is why you need to listen: The STRONG Framework Revealed: Master the 5-step formula to write high-converting content in under 15 minutes. The Personal Proof Hook: Learn why starting with 'lived experience' beats theory every single time and stops the scroll. Tension Through Contrast: Discover how to articulate the painful cost of staying stuck so your prospects feel compelled to act. Reframing the Problem: How to flip the script on common industry issues to position yourself as the strategic solution. Engagement Over Ego: Why I ignore vanity metrics to focus on the specific engagement rates that actually drive revenue. Listen now to stop posting into the void and start building genuine authority. Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: ⁠https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com⁠ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Helping you take the complexity out of exiting your business.  Go to ⁠https://www.adambenedict.co.uk⁠ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the STRONG Framework 02:39 Breaking Down the STRONG Framework 05:44 The Importance of Personal Experience 08:18 Reframing Problems and Offering Solutions 11:03 Engagement and Call to Action ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the fastest way to scale this year is to stop selling your time and let other people sell your method for you? If your calendar is full, your revenue is capped and you think another course or mastermind is the answer, this episode will flip that thinking on its head. In this episode I sit down with licensing specialist April Beach to unpack how to scale by letting other companies pay to use your intellectual property. We break down what licensing really is, when you are ready for it and why it is the step after courses, masterminds and memberships. April walks through simple licensing models you can plug into your existing business and even coaches me live on how to licence my own exit framework, so you can apply the same thinking to your offers. Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: ⁠https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com⁠ Value bombs 1. Discover a proven path to scale beyond 1-to-1 work Learn how to license your expertise to companies and create scalable B2B revenue streams without trading time for money. 2. Get the blueprint for identifying your most licensable content Learn how to pinpoint which of your programs or courses have the highest potential for corporate licensing deals. 3. Position yourself as an expert in your industry Elevate your authority and credibility when companies license your content, opening doors to premium opportunities. 4. Create a certification program that scales your impact Train and certify others to deliver your frameworks, expanding your reach while generating additional revenue streams. 5. Access simple, actionable steps you can implement immediately Get clear, practical strategies and concrete next steps to start licensing conversations with companies today. ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Helping you take the complexity out of exiting your business.  Go to ⁠https://www.adambenedict.co.uk⁠ ABOUT THE GUESTInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilbeachlicensing/?hl=en  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aprilbeach  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilbeach/  Free Resource: https://www.sweetlifeco.com/licensing101ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the real competitive advantage for founders of small and medium sized businesses right now, smarter AI or leaders who know how to be deeply human. In this episode, I sit down with executive coach and former COO Chris March to explore the human edge in an AI world and why treating AI as a shortcut instead of a multiplier is quietly damaging trust, culture and credibility in smaller businesses.  If you are a founder or owner of an SME leaning into AI but worried about losing the soul of your business, this conversation is for you. Here is what we cover Why blaming layoffs on AI is backfiring and how that story destroys trust even faster inside small teams How generic AI generated content weakens your authority as a founder and what to do instead if you want real connection with prospects The human edge for SMEs, using judgement, experience, emotional intelligence and real stories as a moat that big companies cannot copy Practical ways to use AI as a force multiplier rather than a crutch so you can step out of low value tasks and back into leading the business Three key principles for SME founders who want to use AI while protecting trust through education, transparency and simple governance Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: ⁠https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com⁠ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Helping you take the complexity out of exiting your business.  Go to ⁠https://www.adambenedict.co.uk⁠ ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherrmarch Website: https://chrismarchcoaching.com/ Sign up for my free bi-weekly newsletter: Subscribe | The Leading Edge: https://leadingedge.beehiiv.com/subscribe ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the economy is not the problem? What if your strategy is? I sit down with Dr Rebecca Homkes to blow up the doom narrative and show founders how to grow when everyone else is stuck. We unpack why uncertainty favours the bold, how to swap rigid plans for belief driven preparation, and the simple loops and huddles that create aligned speed.  If you want to steady the ship and pull away from the pack, this one is the episode to listen to. 5 takeaways How to turn fear into an edge by avoiding delusion, paralysis and frenzy. How to replace rigid plans with belief driven preparation you can test fast. Improve your shock response with the four Cs: cash, cost, customer, communication. Learn to build a right to win by clarifying what you have, what you can do and the moats you will dig. How to create aligned speed with weekly huddles that ask what we did and what we learned. Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: ⁠https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com⁠ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Helping you take the complexity out of exiting your business.  Go to ⁠https://www.adambenedict.co.uk⁠ Chapters 00:00 Navigating Economic Uncertainty 11:23 Understanding Growth Mindset in Business 22:46 Strategies for Thriving Amidst Challenges 28:36 Navigating Business Challenges with the Four C's 32:35 Transitioning from Survive to Thrive 37:31 Harnessing Uncertainty for Growth 42:04 Identifying Opportunities in a Changing Market 46:50 Strategic Reflections for Future Success ABOUT THE GUESThttps://www.rebeccahomkes.com/ https://www.surviveresetthrive.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-homkes/ Survive Reset Thrive: Leading breakthrough growth strategy through volatile times: https://www.amazon.com/Survive-Reset-Thrive-Implementing-High-Growth/dp/139860786X ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ Email: hello@adamstrong.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You are not leading. You are firefighting. And it is costing you growth. In this episode I talk about the trap founders fall into when the business starts running them. If you are answering every email, fixing every mistake and your team will not move without you, this is for you. I break down why we slip into reactive leadership, what it does to your energy and momentum, and how to shift into a role where you lead, think and build. It is practical, honest and based on what I had to change myself. Why listen You will spot the signs that you have become the bottleneck. You will hear how reactive leadership leads straight to burnout. You will get simple moves to create space for strategy again. You will learn how to get your team to decide without you. You will see how this makes your business scalable and exit ready. Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: ⁠https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com⁠ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Helping you take the complexity out of exiting your business.  Go to ⁠https://www.adambenedict.co.uk⁠ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ Email: hello@adamstrong.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Culture doesn’t sit on your balance sheet — but it’s the reason some businesses sell for millions more than yours. In this episode I sit down (for the third time!) with WSJ bestselling author Alex Brueckmann to unpack something most founders completely miss in their exit plan: buyers don’t just buy your numbers — they buy your culture. We break down his 9 Elements of Organisational Identity, talk about why two companies with identical P&Ls sell for totally different prices, and how to show culture in due diligence so you can justify a premium. If you’re planning to scale and exit in the next 24–36 months, this is the lens you need. 5 reasons to listen You’ll finally understand the “valuation gap” — why some firms with the same revenue and profit command higher multiples. You get Alex’s 9-element framework that links culture, strategy and leadership — in plain English, not academic fluff. You’ll hear how investors actually think and what they look for beyond client lists and P&Ls when deciding to overpay. You’ll learn how to evidence culture in a way buyers can see, not just read as nice words on a website. • 5. You’ll spot the founder-dependency red flags that kill deals — and what to fix now if you want to exit in 24–36 months. Want to exit your business but unsure where to start? Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: ⁠https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com⁠ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Helping you take the complexity out of exiting your business.  Go to ⁠https://www.adambenedict.co.uk⁠ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderbrueckmann Website: www.AlexBrueckmann.comABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ Email: hello@adamstrong.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The next hire you’re avoiding is costing you millions—and your peace of mind. In this episode, I sit down with Talent Maximizer Roberta Matuson to unpack the real reason founders stall: people. We get honest about 3 a.m. recruitment anxiety, the fear of hiring someone better than you, and the scarcity mindset that keeps teams mediocre.  Roberta dismantles hire slow, fire fast principle, shows me how to attract A-players without the massive salaries, and explains why small firms have a hidden edge right now.  We cover when AI helps (and when it hurts), how magnetic leadership pulls talent to you, and practical ways to rewrite roles, filter candidates fast, and build a team that scales—and sells. Want to exit your business but unsure where to start? Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com 🙏 HOW TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESS STRATEGIST 🎙️ If this is the first time you’re listening congrats, if you like today’s episode please subscribe, listen and leave a review on 👉 Apple, Spotify ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Helping you take the complexity out of exiting your business.  Go to https://www.adambenedict.co.uk ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberta-matuson/ 28-Minute Power Session (10 Slots Only) What: A laser-focused, 28-minute coaching call to solve your biggest leadership or career challenge. Why: Quick, affordable, and results-driven. Perfect for today’s fast-paced world. Bonus: Free Kindle copy of one of my books—your choice. Investment: $199 (normally $495) For further info email: roberta@matusonconsulting.com ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: https://adamstrong.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stop launching to crickets. What if the secret to a 7-figure launch isn't your product, but a hidden emotional driver you've completely missed? I'm sharing the 5-step framework that creates the demand and not the desperation. What if you knew precisely what makes your ideal client buy... before you even built the product? It all comes down to their hidden fears, their biggest frustrations, and their secret aspirations. Most entrepreneurs sell the solution; the smartest ones sell a way out of the pain. In this episode, I reveal the 5-step launch process that a $1B razor company and the world's most famous electric car brand used to create demand from thin air. This is the difference between guessing what works and launching with absolute certainty. How to find your customer's 'buy button': Learn to uncover the real psychological drivers (the fears and frustrations) that control your customer's wallet. The $1B razor secret: Discover how one company disrupted an entire industry by identifying a single, universal frustration their competitors ignored. The pre-launch playbook: I'll explain how an iconic CEO pre-sold hundreds of thousands of products before the factory was even built, creating a 3-year waitlist. The perceived value pricing trick: Stop trading time for money. Learn the 4-part pricing strategy that lets you charge more while making customers feel like they got a bargain. How to build an 'unbeatable offer: Find out how strategic partnerships can instantly elevate your product's status and make it the only logical choice in your market. Want to exit your business but unsure where to start? Take the ‘Exit readiness assessment’ and find out the gaps of what you need to do to plan your exit strategy confidently. Click on the link here: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com Chapters 00:00 Transforming Your Business with New Offers 00:57 Understanding Your Audience Through Research 03:43 Crafting a Unique Value Proposition 06:01 Testing Demand and Validating Your Offer 07:54 Strategic Pricing for Success 11:22 Enhancing Customer Experience Through Collaboration 🙏 HOW TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESS STRATEGIST 🎙️ If this is the first time you’re listening congrats, if you like today’s episode please subscribe, listen and leave a review on 👉 Apple, Spotify ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Helping you take the complexity out of exiting your business.  Go to https://www.adambenedict.co.uk ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices