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Oct 2026

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October 20, 2026Episode 45029 min

How to 10x Your Business without Founder Burnout – Blake Erickson

Linear growth is the slow road to stagnation, but exponential scale is engineered through radical simplification, strategic hiring, and leveraging time. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Blake Erickson, co-founder of Scaling.com and New York Times bestselling author, to unpack how he built $10M in ARR in just eight months. Blake breaks down why traditional incremental thinking stalls growing companies and explains how shifting focus from cost reduction to enterprise value creation directly drives higher business valuation multiples. He shares his core philosophy on scaling operations, identifying critical bottlenecks that block 10x growth, and protecting culture while rapidly expanding headcount. To transition from founder-dependent operator to high-leverage leader, Blake emphasizes doing fewer things better and systematizing decision-making. Key strategies and actionable frameworks discussed in this conversation include: Setting an audacious 10x growth target and reverse-engineering the operational blueprint over a three-year timeline. Hiring upward for the future state of the business rather than staffing for current daily needs. Using time as leverage and eliminating low-impact activities to prevent founder burnout and streamline efficiency. If you are ready to stop managing linear progress and start engineering exponential enterprise value, this conversation offers the exact roadmap to scale your business with speed and clarity. Scaling.com: https://scaling.com/ Free Scaling Blueprint: https://scaling.com/free-download Blake Erickson Website: https://blakeerickson.com/ Blake Erickson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-erickson-756b54168/ About Our Guest: Blake Erickson is the founder of Scaling.com and co-author of the New York Times bestselling book The Science of Scaling. In its first eight months, Scaling.com went from zero to $10 million in revenue — built on the same playbook their company brings to the 500+ companies they advise, ranging from$500K to $10 billion in annual revenue. Over the last five years, he's recruited, led, and trained more than 1,200 people. As a highlysought after keynote speaker and advisor, he works with entrepreneurs who are serious about building something that grows fast, runs well, and lasts — on a timeline most people think isn't realistic. About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries. 🔸 Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers | A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know 🔸 Connect with Dave on LinkedIn 🔸 C

October 13, 2026Episode 44929 min

Human-First Marketing Strategies That Convert Social Media into Measurable ROI – Phil Treagus-Evans

Stop chasing vanity metrics and start building the human trust that actually drives revenue. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Phil Treagus-Evans, Founder and CEO of Giraffe Social Media and author of Human First Marketing, to solve the ultimate digital marketing challenge: turning social media activity into bottom line business value. Many brands stay trapped in a cycle of constant posting without clear ROI, but Phil exposes why surface metrics like likes and views fail to reflect enterprise growth. He breaks down the fundamental differences between B2B and B2C social dynamics, explaining how to maintain momentum across long sales cycles while measuring true commercial impact. The conversation explores how combining organic community management, employee advocacy, and targeted paid strategies turns passive followers into qualified pipeline. To stand out in an AI-dominated landscape, Phil shares actionable frameworks from his book, Human First Marketing, detailing how to turn quiet internal expertise and corporate culture into an uncopiable competitive advantage. Listeners will learn immediate operational pivots to humanize their brand, elevate executive visibility, and boost real buyer engagement: Prioritize real faces and authentic stories over generic corporate graphics to instantly raise audience trust. Measure comments, conversations, and brand sentiment over high-volume surface metrics. Align personal founder branding directly with corporate identity to build lasting brand equity. By showing the real people behind your operations, you transform traditional social channels into powerful trust engines that consistently yield measurable ROI. About Our Guest: Phil Treagus-Evans is the CEO & Co-founder of the UK social media agency Giraffe Social. They help established brands build trust on social media, using their human-first marketing philosophy. Phil is also the bestselling author of Human-First Marketing: The Art of Being Seen, Trusted and Remembered. Links Giraffe: https://www.giraffesocialmedia.co.uk/ Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Human-First-Marketing-Trusted-Remembered/dp/1068454202/ Personal: https://www.philtreagusevans.co.uk/ About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries. 🔸 Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers | A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know 🔸 Connect with Dave on LinkedIn 🔸 Connect with Dave on FaceBook 🔸 Follow Dave on Twitter 🔸 Check out www.NEWROI.com for more. 💡 Want to share your insights with the business commun

October 6, 2026Episode 44830 min

Why 80% of Businesses Never Sell – Christine Nicholson

Eighty percent of business owners fail to sell their company because they build a job instead of a transferable asset. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with award winning business mentor, author, and exit readiness expert Christine Nicholson to confront the stark realities of enterprise exits. Most founders spend decades pouring their lives into a business only to realize it cannot survive without them. Christine exposes the hidden value drains created when a company depends heavily on its owner and breaks down why realistic valuations rarely align with seller expectations. From navigating multiple shareholder conflicts to evaluating the hidden risks of earn-outs and deferred considerations, this conversation redefines what it takes to build a saleable, resilient enterprise. Drawing from her latest book, Sell It, Christine reveals how to conquer the emotional trap of identity fusion so founders can successfully transition out on their own terms. To maximize enterprise value and ensure a seamless exit, business leaders must take immediate, deliberate steps: Map every daily owner activity to identify single-point dependencies and systematically delegate operational authority. Initiate formal exit planning three to five years before going to market to build governance and clean up financial records. Obtain a professional, objective valuation and execute a competitive sale process to negotiate superior deal terms. Building a business you can leave is the ultimate test of leadership and the surest way to secure your legacy. About Our Guest: Christine is a multi award-winning Professional Business Mentor. She has authored several acclaimed business books and is a regular keynote speaker on Succession and Exit Planning. As a businesswoman who has built multi-million revenue businesses over the last 30 years, she has worked with many business owners in all sectors including taking one from bankruptcy to 8-figure exit in 18 months. She has spent a few years accidentally running a zoo! Her latest book, “How to Successfully Sell Your Business” helps business owners get their business and themselves ready for the hardest part of the entrepreneur journey, leaving their business in the hands of others. Contact: christine@christinenicholson.co.uk Phone: 0333 567 8011 Website: https:// christinenicholson.co.uk Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-nicholson/ BOOKS: https://christinenicholson.co.uk/books/ About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries. 🔸 Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers | A Valuation Toolbox for Busi

September 29, 2026Episode 44730 min

Treating People as Appreciating Assets – Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer

When companies view workforce payroll strictly as an expense rather than an appreciating financial asset, they trigger a compounding cycle of organizational drift that silently destroys enterprise value. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, executive coach, human capital strategist, and author of Human Capital Investment Strategy and Now, Near, Next. Together, they unpack how subtle misalignments between strategy and workforce execution quietly bleed cash flow through high turnover, lost productivity, and stalled mid-career talent. Cynthia explains her foundational framework, The Law of Drift, and makes a compelling business case for why short-term head-count cuts frequently undermine long-term market valuation. The conversation reframes traditional workforce planning through the lens of portfolio management, applying risk stratification, performance metrics, and validated psychometrics directly to talent allocation. Cynthia shares actionable strategies for measuring organizational culture, overcoming gendered promotion barriers, and building real succession readiness across critical executive roles. Leaders will gain a clear roadmap for running structured quarterly human capital reviews, aligning talent directly with business performance, and taking immediate action to eliminate drift across their teams. Stop managing human capital as an overhead cost and start building a high-performing workforce that compounds enterprise value over time. About Our Guest: Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer is a human capital strategist, board-certified executive coach, and international keynote speaker with over 30 years of C-suite leadership experience. Grounded in the conviction that human capital is an appreciating asset, she helps CEOs, executive teams, and boards translate talent strategy into business metrics like risk, return, and compounding value. Cynthia is the creator of The Law of Drift and The Discipline of Direction™, frameworks designed to help high-performing leaders and organizations replace passive drift with intentional alignment. She is the author of Human Capital Investment Strategy and the USA Today bestseller Now, Near, Next, as well as host of the podcast Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel. Beyond her advisory work, she serves on non-profit boards dedicated to empowering underserved communities, including Dreams to Reality and AbleLight. About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries. 🔸 Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers | A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and

September 22, 2026Episode 44628 min

The Human Edge: Harnessing Cognitive Strategy and AI in High-Stakes Decisions – Cheryl Einhorn

Data and analytics are worthless without the human judgment required to make sense of them. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Cheryl Einhorn, creator of the AREA Method and author of The Human Edge, to unpack how business leaders maintain a competitive advantage in an AI-driven marketplace. Together, they explore the hidden traps of modern decision-making, from noisy data and cognitive biases to the hasty choices driven by demands for speed. Cheryl breaks down why human intuition, critical thinking, and structured evaluation remain indispensable tools for navigating high-stakes business environments. Cheryl outlines the core mechanics of her AREA framework (Absolute, Relative, Exploration, Exploitation, Analysis), offering a clear blueprint to escape analysis paralysis. She introduces practical executive tactics, such as building AI "persona boards" to stress-test ideas, taking strategic "cheetah pauses," and spotting dangerous traps like confirmation and availability bias. Listeners gain actionable methods to audit their thinking, recognize algorithmic blind spots, and apply simple daily checks that expose critical evidence gaps. This discussion equips executives to know precisely when to deploy structured frameworks for high-uncertainty, high-cost choices. Cheryl shares a foundational habit every leader can adopt immediately: frame the core problem and outline explicit goals before ever prompting an AI tool. This single practice ensures technology serves as a powerful amplifier for human strategy rather than a replacement for it. Mastering your decision-making process is the ultimate strategic lever for leaders who want to cut through noise and build resilient organizations. About Our Guest: Cheryl Einhorn is the founder and CEO of Decisive, a decision sciences company that trains people and teams in complex problem solving and decision-making skills using the AREA Method. AREA is an acronym for an evidence-based decision-making system that uniquely controls for and counters cognitive bias to expand knowledge while improving judgment. Cheryl developed AREA during her two decades as an award-winning investigative journalist writing for publications ranging from The New York Times to Foreign Policy Magazine, Barron’s and Harvard Business Review. Cheryl is a long time educator, teaching at Columbia University and at Cornell University’s SC Johnson School of Business and Cornell Tech. She is the author of three books: Problem Solved, A Powerful System for Making Complex Decisions with Confidence and Conviction, about personal and professional decision-making, and Investing In Financial Research, A Decision-Making System for Better Results about financial and investment decisions. Her new book about Problem Solver Profiles and the psychology of decision-making, Problem Solver, Maximizing Your Strengths To Make Better Decisions, recently won book awards for best psychology book and creative nonfiction book of 2024. Cheryl is also a contributing editor to several books by Harvard Business Review. Learn more by watching her Ted talk and visiting areamethod.com. About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our

September 8, 2026Episode 44528 min

Turning Intellectual Property into Enterprise Value: The Business of Publishing – Terry Whalin

A book can be a lot more than a book. For a business owner, executive, or professional, it can turn knowledge and experience into intellectual property—and open doors to opportunities far beyond book sales. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, I talk with Terry Whalin, author of more than 60 books, publishing consultant, and Acquisitions Editor at Morgan James Publishing. We talk about the realities of the publishing business, the myths authors often believe, and what publishers are really looking for. We also discuss author platforms, why social media followers aren't the whole story, and the importance of building assets you actually own—like an email list, website, and relationships. Terry and I also get into publishing scams, due diligence, and the many ways a book can generate ROI through consulting, speaking, media exposure, and new business. Because ultimately, it's not just about writing a book. It's about what the book can do for you. About Our Guest: W. Terry Whalin understands both sides of the editorial desk - as an editor and a writer. He worked as a magazine editor and his magazine work has appeared in more than 50 publications. A former literary agent, Terry is an Acquisitions Editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 books through traditional publishers in a wide range of topics from children’s books to biographies to co-authored books. Several of Terry’s books have sold over 100,000 copies. Also Terry has an innovative online training course to help authors effectively connect with literary agents and editors called Write A Book Proposal. Terry is a popular speaker and teacher at numerous writers’ conferences and an active member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Terry’s newest book is 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed (Morgan James Publishing). You can get a physical copy of 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 including the shipping plus it comes with over $200 of free bonuses. You can get this special offer at publishingoffer.com About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries. 🔸 Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers | A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know 🔸 Connect with Dave on LinkedIn 🔸 Connect with Dave on FaceBook 🔸 Follow Dave on Twitter 🔸 Check out www.NEWROI.com for more. 💡 Want to share your insights with the business community? Message Dave to learn how you can be a guest on Behind The Numbers. https://linktr.ee/BehindTheNumbers 🔹 Check out more of Behind The Numbers on YouTube BEHIND THE NUMBERS WI

August 25, 2026Episode 44429 min

Building a Future-Fit Organization – Jay Weiser

A company's true value isn't locked in a spreadsheet; it is built or destroyed at the intersection of strategy, leadership, and execution. On this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Jay Weiser, founder of Jay Weiser Consulting, to unpack what it truly means to build a future fit organization. Together, they examine how hidden structural drag and subtle misalignments between strategy, organizational capability, and operations quietly erode enterprise worth long before the damage hits the balance sheet. Jay shares actionable insights for navigating market disruption, detailing his Five Leadership Superpowers framework: present futurist, experienced learner, accountable collaborator, prepared risk-taker, and strategic executor. He highlights why human capital must be treated as a core business driver, emphasizing the strategic alignment needed between the Board, CEO, and CHRO, while offering private equity investors tools to stress-test assumptions in a non-linear world. Listeners walk away with practical strategies to sense market signals early, make faster decisions under uncertainty, and eliminate executive friction. Jay also outlines three diagnostic questions leaders can use immediately to uncover hidden capability gaps, align team execution with long-term strategy, and safeguard enterprise value. Equip your leadership team with the vision and execution capabilities required to build an organization that thrives through disruption. About Our Guest: Jay R. Weiser is the Chief Catalyst & Navigator of Jay Weiser Consulting and a strategy and leadership advisor with more than 30 years of experience guiding and enabling boards and executive teams improve performance, navigate uncertainty and translate strategic potential into realized enterprise value. His work focuses on what lies behind business results: the capabilities and organizational conditions through which governance, leadership, culture and the external environment strengthen - or erode - adaptability, performance and long-term value. A LinkedIn Top Voice, Jay has advised organizations across multiple industries from financial services to luxury retail and life sciences ranging. They have ranged from Global Fortune 500 to PE-backed companies and midsize family-owned businesses. His articles and insights have appeared in Chief Learning Officer, Corporate Board Member, Reworked, The National CIO Review and CIGRE’s Electra. He has spoken to international business, governance, and leadership audiences through organizations including the Good Governance Academy, the Private Directors Association, and the Virtual Advisory Board as well as industry and functional conferences. Jay holds a degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Jay is the creator of the Multiplicative Value Model™ and The Five Leadership Superpowers®. His current work examines why organizations with strong strategies, talented people and substantial resources still fail to convert their potential into realized enterprise value—and what capabilities make an organization genuinely future-ready. Connect with Jay at https://linkedin.com/in/jayrweiser. Email him at jay@jayweiser.com Learn more about Jay Weiser Consulting at https://www.jayweiser.com. About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a missi

August 18, 2026Episode 44334 min

Why Culture Is a Financial Asset – Brett Hoogeveen

Company culture is not a soft HR expense - it is a high-yield strategic asset that directly drives bottom-line profitability and enterprise value. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Brett Hoogeveen, co-founder of BetterCulture and seasoned angel investor, to explore how organizational culture impacts business valuation. Together, they unpack why poor workplace environment quietly drains corporate cash flow through toxic management, quiet quitting, and high turnover. Key Takeaways & Strategies: Culture as a Value Driver: Shift the executive mindset from viewing culture as an expense (like office perks) to treating employee behaviors and attitudes as revenue-generating assets. Stars vs. Vacuums Framework: Learn how to shift your organization's performance distribution curve by protecting superstars, upskilling the middle majority, and removing energetic drains. Protecting Good Talent: Why leaders have a strict obligation to protect the right of top performers to work alongside other good employees, even when forced to confront toxic high-producers. The Accidental Manager: Bridge the decade-long gap between when employees are promoted into leadership and when they receive formal management training. Strategic Culture Planning: How to build a continuous improvement plan for culture that scales as your business expands beyond its early stages. Assuming Positive Intent: Lower internal friction and eliminate subtle innovation-killers by training teams to default to trust and curiosity. To protect your bottom line and build long-term value, stop treating people as line-item expenses and start actively managing your corporate culture as a strategic priority. About Our Guest: Brett Hoogeveen, CSP is a nationally recognized leadership expert and co-founder of BetterCulture, a leadership development and technology firm that helps companies build better leaders, stronger teams, and thriving workplace cultures. Brett helps organizations turn culture into a competitive advantage - using practical tools, proven strategies, and a contagious belief that better culture = better business. Over the past decade, Brett has trained thousands of leaders and partnered with hundreds of executive teams - from scrappy startups to Fortune 500s - on practical strategies to create winning cultures. One of fewer than 900 Certified Speaking Professionals (CSP) worldwide, Brett delivers engaging and actionable keynotes on leadership, culture, and workplace performance. He is also the host of The BetterCulture Podcast. Here is the URL to the free resource that Brett is offering listeners of this show. The resource is a complimentary AI-driven Executive Culture Strategic Plan. https://betterculture.com/behindthenumbers About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exi

August 11, 2026Episode 44235 min

Overcoming Founder Syndrome: Scaling Beyond the Bottleneck – Luke Mickelson

True operational scale requires more than expanding a business model—it demands scaling the human capital and personal leadership of the founder behind it. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, to explore how a humble garage project evolved into an international movement addressing an invisible community crisis. Luke shares the origin story of delivering his first bunk bed to a six-year-old girl named Haley—a single act of compassion that sparked a organization now spanning over 440 chapters, 130,000 volunteers, and 300,000 beds delivered to kids in need. The conversation dives into the business strategies and human capital dynamics behind managing a massive, decentralized workforce. Luke breaks down how coining the term "child bedlessness" brought clarity to a hidden problem to drive corporate support, how to maintain strict product quality across hundreds of autonomous chapters, and why high-touch assembly-line experiences turn casual sweat equity into lifelong brand loyalty. Luke also tackles the painful personal hurdles of rapid growth, pulling back the curtain on "Founder Syndrome" and identity fusion. He candidly shares how he recognized he was becoming an operational bottleneck, offering a preview of his Founder Syndrome Survival Course designed to help leaders navigate governance shifts, prevent burnout, and transition smoothly from frontline operator to strategic visionary. Listeners will gain actionable insights on evaluating success through a true valuation mindset—reframing ROI to include long-term developmental outcomes for children and deep psychological returns for volunteers. Whether you are scaling a business, leading a non-profit, or seeking to align purpose with execution, this episode delivers a masterclass on turning a simple act of service into a high-impact movement. About Our Guest: Luke Mickelson is the founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), the largest bed-building charity in the world, with a mission built on a simple but powerful truth: child bedlessness may not be a real word, but it’s a real problem. In 2012, Luke built a bunk bed in his garage for a local family in need. What happened next changed everything. That single act of service sparked a movement—one that has since grown into a nationwide and international network of volunteers who have delivered hundreds of thousands of beds to children who would otherwise be sleeping on the floor. Luke’s work has been recognized nationally, including being named a CNN Hero, and featured on Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, the Today Show, and Mike Rowe’s Returning the Favor. But for Luke, the true reward isn’t recognition—it’s the impact created when ordinary people choose to act. Today, Luke brings that same message to stages across the country. His keynote, Making Passion Purpose, challenges audiences to recognize the “tiny moments” in their own lives—the small opportunities to serve, lead, and make a difference. Because those moments, when acted upon, don’t just change someone else’s world… they can change your own. In addition to his work with SHP, Luke speaks and teaches on the realities of the founder’s journey, including the challenges of identity, growth, and letting go. His insights on Founder’s Syndrome and leadership evolution help leaders move from building something meaningful… to building something that lasts. About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business

August 4, 2026Episode 44126 min

Stop Paying CEO Rates for Admin Work – Nicole Grinnell

In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Nicole Grinnell - founder of Bosun Solutions and Mic'd Up Booking - to break down the exact financial and operational mechanics of scaling a small business. They pull back the curtain on payroll optimization, calculating the true opportunity cost of doing your own admin work, and why high-performing executive assistants are revenue multipliers, not expenses. Nicole walks through the spreadsheet arbitrage of fractional staffing, explaining how shifting from fixed W2 payroll overhead to variable fractional support insulates profit margins during market volatility (a model battle-tested during COVID-19). They dig deep into the hidden financial cost of a bad hire, the exact vetting processes needed to protect cash flow, and why Net Profit is the ultimate metric every scaling founder must track. Plus, Nicole outlines how to turn podcast guesting into a low-effort, high-ROI B2B sales engine that drastically shortens sales cycles. 🔑 Key Topics Covered Small Business Payroll Optimization: How replacing full-time W2 salary risk with flexible, fractional labor protects cash flow and profit margins. Effective Delegation & Opportunity Cost: The exact math behind why paying CEO-level rates for basic administrative tasks drains business valuation. The EA as an Operational Multiplier: Reframing administrative support from a balance-sheet expense into a revenue-generating asset. Preventing Costly Hiring Mistakes: How thorough vetting and clear performance KPIs reduce turnover and prevent bad hires. Critical Scaling Metrics: Why net profit margin matters infinitely more than vanity top-line revenue metrics. B2B Podcast Marketing & Conversion: How appearing on targeted podcasts builds host trust and acts as a high-ticket referral engine. About Our Guest: Nicole Grinnell is a two-time business owner who comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and small business owners. As the daughter of a Small Business Owner turned Corporate Executive Support- she has unique insight to the needs that the Entrepreneur & CEO face in order to scale their business. Her entire career has involved balancing family and life, from working for her family business, to getting married and having children while climbing the corporate ladder. She now has a marriage, two teenage children, and has grown her businesses to $2 million in revenue. Her goal is to help other small businesses succeed. Driven by her passion for organization and efficiency, she founded Bosun, a remote staffing firm that provides affordable solutions to help small business owners grow and scale, regardless of economic conditions. About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbe