David Befort Show

The habits that built your company may be the reason your meetings have gone quiet. Hacia Atherton has seen this from the CEO’s chair of a plumbing company, from a hospital bed after a horse crushed her, and inside businesses growing from $50 million to $500 million.She and David get practical about it. They cover three questions that show whether your team actually trusts you, how to choose board members who will push back the right way, and an unusual test for finding your real strengths. If you’re building a team, this one is worth your hour.Key TakeawaysAudit the strengths that got you here. The speed, determination, and shoot-from-the-hip instincts that built a young company can become the blind spot that holds it back once a board, governance, and a bigger team arrive.Run a three-question huddle. Ask for a win, a challenge (and what support is needed), and a goal, and let people answer personally or professionally. All-personal answers point to disengagement, all-professional answers point to low trust, and a challenge with no request for help points to distrust of teammates. Change when you answer so your team can’t just copy you.Test board candidates with reverse psychology. Pitch an expansion you don’t actually want. If they jump on it, they already have a different vision for your business.Treat silence in meetings as a cost. Quiet rooms cost you innovation, engagement, and rework. Find out what changed: a new hire, a conflict, or something going on in that person’s life.Find your strengths by what you’d defend. Criticism that would genuinely upset you points to a strength. Compliments you enjoy but wouldn’t defend point to comfort zones.Chapters00:00 - Female Leadership in a Male-Dominated Trade03:03 - Crushed by a Horse: Discovering Positive Psychology14:35 - How to Train for Resilience19:25 - Why Your Strengths Become Blind Spots27:53 - Founders, First Boards, and Founder’s Love42:17 - The Hidden Cost of Silent Meetings50:13 - Find Your Strengths by What You’d DefendResources MentionedThe Billion Dollar Blind Spot by Hacia Atherton Billion Dollar BlindspotThe Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan The Gap and the GainHacia Atherton’s website HaciaAtherton.comHacia Atherton on LinkedIn (biweekly newsletter) LinkedinDavid Befort's website DavidBefort.comGuest BioHacia Atherton is a CPA with a master’s degree in positive psychology who grew up in a fifth-generation plumbing family and was later appointed CEO of a plumbing company outside her family’s business. She is the author of The Billion Dollar Blind Spot and works with leaders of companies between $50 million and $500 million in revenue, helping founders lead through the stage when their business starts to outgrow them.If this conversation hit home, send it to a founder who needs to hear it. Hit subscribe and leave a review, because it helps other business owners find the show. For more on finance, leadership, and entrepreneurship, visit DavidBefort.com

Dr. Kristal Vance spent nearly 30 years in health and wellness, seeing 40 to 50 chiropractic patients a day — and found herself at around 300 pounds. What finally worked wasn't more willpower, and it wasn't the shortcut she tried in secret first.Kristal shares why she stopped chasing the scale, how accountability did what willpower never could, and why she sold her practice to build an online community she says has grown to nearly 80,000 members — then realized she'd built it on a platform she didn't own.What you'll learn:- Why the scale is the wrong scoreboard- The 80/20 rule that makes healthy habits stick- Why knowledge isn't the problem: accountability is- How to hold your standards without alienating your people- Why building on a platform you don't own is a business riskChapters:0:00 She treated 40 patients a day and hit 300 pounds2:07 Thirty years in health, and her own health was slipping4:07 Taking care of everyone but herself6:19 Why she stopped trusting the scale7:22 Whole food and the 80/20 rule9:16 Knowledge isn't the problem — accountability is11:14 When your old friends don't fit anymore14:02 How to filter health advice: "check the fruit"16:43 The reunion comment that changed everything21:12 Why willpower failed — and the end of all-or-nothing22:46 Outgrowing a marriage and a practice25:12 Selling the practice and going online26:52 Why so many chiropractors become entrepreneurs28:38 Walking out of the victim mindset32:55 Keeping your standards without losing your people36:23 Why "challenge" scares people off39:19 The platform risk she didn't see coming43:09 Getting your family on the same page47:48 Fifteen clients, a turnkey program, and building assets53:16 Nobody to blame but you59:23 Advice for busy business owners1:02:46 Bonus: the worst advice she ever tookConnect with Dr. Kristal Vance:Website: https://drkristalvance.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKristalVanceDCCircle of Health: Circle of HealthConnect with David Befort:Website: https://davidbefort.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/david.befort/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-a-befort-jr/X: https://x.com/DavidBefortShowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidbefortSubstack: https://substack.com/@davidbefortofficialIBC Community on Skool: https://www.skool.com/ibc-community-7282The Wealth Warehouse Podcast: https://wealthwarehousepodcast.comThis conversation is for general information and reflects the personal experience of the guest. It isn't medical advice — talk with your own healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.

Winning as an entrepreneur requires more than just grit; it demands a clear understanding of what success actually looks like.Rob Fajardo, founder of Leave Normal Behind, joins us to discuss the reality of building a business from the ground up. We break down the internal shifts needed to move past early struggles, like eviction and instability, and how to align your daily actions with your ultimate destination. This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck in the grind and needs a fresh perspective on what it takes to find real traction.Success mindset is often misunderstood as a simple positive attitude, but true growth comes from the discipline to keep moving when things are hard. We look at the specific habits Rob used to transition from sleeping on couches to working alongside high-level entrepreneurs. If you are ready to stop just surviving and start building, this breakdown will help you clarify your path forward.Drop a comment with the biggest challenge you face when defining success for your own business. Subscribe for more tactical breakdowns on the mechanics of entrepreneurship.LEAVE NORMAL BEHIND https://leavenormalbehind.com/ ROBS INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/leavenormalbehind/LEARN MORE FROM DAVID BEFORT https://www.davidbefort.com/BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW https://media.davidbefort.com/contactFOLLOW THE WEALTH WAREHOUSE PODCAST https://thewealthwarehousepodcast.com/ Chapters00:00 — Meet Rob Fajardo: Defining What Winning Looks Like07:35 — From Achievement to Impact, Integrity, and Inner Joy13:40 — Leave Normal Behind: Finding Purpose and Building a Vision19:22 — Resilience Through Setbacks: Eviction, Risk, and Resourcefulness24:21 — Solution-Oriented Thinking and Learning From Others’ Mistakes28:12 — How to Find Mentors: Ask for the Work, Not a Handout38:23 — Creating Content That Educates, Entertains, and Builds Trust48:46 — Authenticity, Consistency, and the Lighthouse Strategy55:55 — AI, Deepfakes, and the Need for Trustworthy Content63:02 — A Practical Starting Point for Business Content65:26 — The Worst Advice: Boundaries, Self-Advocacy, and Choosing Your Life73:24 — Closing Thoughts and Where to Connect With RobWhat's your biggest challenge with defining success? Drop it in the comments!Subscribe for more insights on entrepreneurship and personal growth!#Entrepreneurship #SuccessMindset #viralcontent Disclaimer https://www.davidbefort.com/financial-disclaimer

The conversation explores the journey of Trey O'Brien, an Army veteran who transitioned to civilian life, focusing on themes of personal fulfillment, the role of ego, and the integration of AI in business. Trey shares insights on managing expectations in client relationships and the importance of autonomy and self-discovery after military service. The conversation explores the importance of self-awareness, effective communication, and the role of storytelling in business. Trey O'Brien shares insights on managing client expectations, the dynamics of working with a partner, and the journey of self-discovery through service to others.TakeawaysEgo can be a toolTransitioning from military to civilian life requires self-discovery Self-awareness drives effective communicationStorytelling enhances business connectionsChapters00:00 From Military to Fatherhood09:46 Finding Fulfillment After Service19:49 Managing Expectations in Business29:55 Ego: Fuel or Enemy?34:30 Understanding Self for Better Communication36:11 Setting Expectations in Business38:56 The Investment of Client Retention40:40 Embracing Diversity of Thought43:30 Cultural Perspectives and Personal Growth44:45 Navigating Business with a Partner49:37 Discovering Personal Superpowers55:50 The Power of Storytelling in Business01:01:03 Connecting Through Authentic Stories01:10:13 Finding Fulfillment in Service

Private lending isn't just about collecting interest. It is about understanding the mechanics of commercial real estate deals.Most investors look at a property and see a price tag. David Befort looks at the same deal and sees the financial infrastructure underneath. We discuss the current landscape for investment-grade commercial real estate, specifically why office rental properties and strip malls are crossing his desk right now.This isn't theory. We break down how capital flows in these transactions and what it takes to secure your position as a lender rather than just a buyer. If you want to stop chasing retail deals and start understanding how professional lenders evaluate risk, this conversation is the baseline.What is your biggest hurdle when evaluating private lending opportunities? Drop a comment below.Chapters00:00 – David’s real estate and private lending background00:19 -- Types of deals David see's04:10 – Investing in real estate-backed businesses10:24 – Evaluating commercial real estate deals conservatively15:24 – Creating diversified, real estate-backed notes20:59 – How cash reserves protect commercial loans26:22 – The infinite banking concept and access to capital31:48 – Using policy loans to fund investments36:14 – Building financial confidence through cash reserves41:57 – Policy loan interest rates and how they workSubscribe for more breakdowns on the real mechanics of real estate investing and capital control.Read the article from  @RealEstateProsShow  https://investorfuel.com/blog/infinite-banking-real-estate-investors/Connect with David Befort:Instagram: / david.befort LinkedIn: / david-a-befort-jr Guest booking: https://media.davidbefort.com/Wealth Warehouse https://www.youtube.com/@UCh63FAFvpgdMsxdQsvFy85w Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: EFYOUXON7HFCXXRSDisclaimer https://www.davidbefort.com/financial-disclaimer