Your Next: A Guide to Finding Fulfillment After Your Exit Hosted by Jerome Myers

Hosted by Jerome Myers - Advisor to exiting founders

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406

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Are you a business owner, entrepreneur, or executive who's navigated a successful exit and now finds yourself wondering, “What’s next?” Hosted by Jerome Myers, Your NEXT is the ultimate podcast for those seeking not only financial success but deeper post-exit fulfillment, legacy-building, and a purpose-driven life after stepping away from their business. Each episode unpacks the emotional and psychological journey of life after a business exit, addressing the Founder’s Exit Paradox—the often-overlooked challenges that come with leaving behind the company you’ve built. From grappling with identity loss, self-doubt, and relationship impact to discovering how to turn wealth into a meaningful legacy, Your NEXT provides a blueprint for thriving beyond financial success. Through expert interviews, real-life stories, and actionable strategies, Jerome Myers dives into key topics such as entrepreneur transition, life after business, wealth with meaning, and building a legacy beyond profit. Whether you’re looking to rediscover your purpose, manage uncertainty in the next phase, or simply understand your new identity after exit, Your NEXT is your trusted guide to crafting a fulfilling and impactful next chapter. Join us every week to learn how you can: Reclaim your entrepreneurial purpose and reignite your passions Redefine your identity and self-worth beyond business success Transform financial wealth into lasting impact Navigate personal transitions and enhance relationship dynamics Build a purposeful legacy that resonates far beyond your exit If you’re ready to turn the page and start your next great adventure with confidence and clarity, tune in to Your NEXT: A Guide to Finding Fulfillment After Your Exit. Because fulfillment isn’t the end goal—it’s the journey.

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60 recent

August 18, 202646 min

Your Business Is Making Money. Why Aren’t You Getting Wealthier? with Phil Calandra

What if your business keeps growing, but your personal wealth does not?Phil Calandra built an insurance brokerage and an investment advisoryfirm with approximately $250 million under management before sellingboth companies in a single transaction to a $10 billion firm. The dealmade work optional. It also helped him see a problem that traps fartoo many founders.Most business owners have plenty of specialists: a bookkeeper, CPA,fractional CFO, financial advisor, and perhaps a business consultant.Each may be competent. But when no one coordinates the completefinancial system, the founder becomes the conductor, and the business,tax strategy, and personal wealth can begin working against oneanother.Phil calls this the coordination gap. It is how an owner can drivemore revenue, pay more taxes, assume more complexity, and still wonderwhy the wealth is not showing up outside the company.In this episode, Phil and Jerome Myers discuss the heart attack thatchanged Phil’s relationship with risk, the unsolicited offer that ledto his two exits, the emotional high after the transaction, and why hechose to build again. They also examine the revenue trap, the dangerof assuming “I’ll make it all when I sell,” and the three financialflywheels every founder must coordinate: business profitability, taxstrategy, and owner wealth.If your entire wealth plan depends on a future transaction, thisconversation will challenge you to start extracting the value of thebusiness before the exit.In This Episode:• Why an exit made Phil work optional but did not make him want to retire• How a heart attack at 51 influenced his decision to sell• Why more revenue does not necessarily mean more owner wealth• Where CPAs, CFOs, bookkeepers, and wealth managers can work at cross purposes• How the coordination gap turns the founder into the financial bottleneck• Why the business and the owner’s wealth must be planned as one system• How to coordinate profitability, tax strategy, and personal wealthbefore a saleResources:Wealth Creation Scorecard: https://wealthcreationscorecard.comExit to Excellence: https://exittoexcellence.comAll the best,Jerome Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 9, 202642 min

He Sold His Dental Practice in 81 Days. The High Lasted One Week | Dr. Michael Filosi

Dr. Michael Filosi turned a neglected two-chair dental office with possums in the walls into the largest dental practice in Adelaide. Ten years later, the company could run without him, private-equity buyers were interested, and the business appeared to be an exit-planning success story. Then the joy disappeared. Michael went from emailing his accountant to closing the sale in only 81 days. He rejected the highest offer, selected the buyer he trusted to reach settlement, and walked away without an earnout or continuing role. When the money landed in his account, he felt as though he had escaped. The feeling lasted about one week. In this conversation with Jerome Myers, Michael describes the quieter challenge that followed the transaction: waking up without a company to improve, a team to lead, or a clear measure of progress. He had studied the risks of life after exit and avoided many of the obvious mistakes. He protected the capital, invested conservatively, maintained his relationships, and resisted rushing into another company. Still, knowledge did not eliminate the uncertainty. Michael shares how the loss of business achievement pushed him toward extreme discipline, why nearly a year passed before a new direction began to emerge, and why even a self-described lone wolf needs someone or something to lean against during the transition. The episode also explores his approach to enough. Michael believes wealth is created through concentration and protected through diversification. Rather than chasing another mountain, he is now optimizing for fulfillment, simplicity, family, health, and the ability to put his head on the pillow knowing it was a good day. His experience offers a field note every founder should hear before selling: being ready to leave the company is not the same as being prepared for the life the transaction creates. Thank you, Jerome Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 7, 202650 min

After the Exit: Why the Transaction Is Not the Transformation with Allan Crockett

The sale can change your bank account in a day. It cannot tell you who to become on Monday morning. Allan Crockett joins Jerome Myers to examine the void that appears when a business, title, team, and daily structure disappear. Drawing from two painful exits of his own, Allan explains why that empty ground rarely stays empty. Without an intentional purpose, it fills with busyness, unwanted obligations, and other people’s priorities. The conversation moves from retirement fatigue and founder identity to marriage, health, and Allan’s five pillars of quality of life: time, money, purpose, relationships, and health. Allan also offers a practical test for evaluating post-exit commitments: if something consistently gives you energy, it may be a flower; if it continually drains you, it may be a weed. The central lesson is one every founder should hear before signing the papers: the transaction does not equal transformation. Selling the company may create freedom, but building a life worthy of that freedom requires a separate decision. Learn more about Allan at AllanCrockett.com. Thank you,Jerome Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 28, 202638 min

Is Your Business Acting Its Age? Tina Dao on Escaping the Dependency Trap

#FounderLife #BusinessGrowth #BusinessOwner #ScalableBusiness#BusinessSystems #BusinessStrategy #FounderJourney #Leadership#BusinessExit #ExitReadiness #BusinessMaturity #OperationalExcellence#ScaleUp #Entrepreneurship #ExitToExcellence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 26, 202646 min

The Exit Glow Only Lasted 8 Hours | Mike Brcic on Founder Burnout, Identity & Alignment

After building Sacred Rides into one of the top mountain bike adventure companies in the world, Mike Brcic exited the business he had spent 23 years creating. The celebration did not last long. In this episode, Mike shares that the emotional high from the signed purchase agreement and wire transfer lasted about eight hours before the deeper question arrived: Now what? Mike joins Jerome Myers for a powerful conversation about founder burnout, post-exit identity, and the difference between building for achievement and building from alignment. They explore why founders often lose energy when they become disconnected from the customer, the company’s purpose, and the work that actually lights them up. Mike also shares how his post-exit journey led him to create Wayfinders, a company that designs immersive experiences to help leaders reconnect with themselves, others, nature, and something larger than achievement. From the mountains of British Columbia to monasteries in Bhutan, this conversation is an invitation to rethink what success means after the exit. Because the real question is not just whether you can sell the business. The real question is: Who will you be when it is gone? Learn more about Mike and Wayfinders: https://way-finders.comTake the Exit Readiness Assessment: https://www.exittoexcellence.com/eraLearn more about Jerome Myers: https://www.exittoexcellence.com #Podcast #EntrepreneurPodcast #FounderStories #LeadershipPodcast #BusinessExit #FounderJourney #LifeAfterExit #Entrepreneurship #PersonalGrowth #BusinessOwner #PurposeDrivenLife #FounderPsychology #MeaningfulSuccess #NextChapter #ExitToExcellence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 21, 202648 min

After the Exit: Why Freedom Can Feel Like Confusion

What happens after the business is sold and the calendar goes quiet? Kevin Nolan exited his business in February 2022 after 17 years of building. Like many founders, he expected freedom, relief, and excitement. Those feelings came, but after a few months, they began to fade. In their place came confusion, uncertainty, and the question so many exited founders struggle to answer: What now? In this episode of Your NEXT, Jerome Myers talks with Kevin about the part of the transition many founders skip: the Nourish phase. Rather than rushing into another business, Kevin gave himself space. He walked the Camino, traveled solo, learned to ride a motorcycle, wrote, reflected, and began listening to the intuition that had been buried beneath years of building. Kevin’s story is a powerful look at identity after exit, the fear of being untethered, and the possibility of discovering that there is still more inside you. This episode is for founders, owners, retirees, and high achievers who have achieved the thing they were chasing, only to realize the deeper question is not “What did I build?” but “Who am I becoming now?” Kevin Nolan shares how he navigated life after selling his business, why he resisted jumping back into familiar work, how solitude helped him gain clarity, and why he now mentors others who are facing the same post-exit uncertainty. Exiting after 17 years in business The emotional shift after the sale Why founders feel lost after achieving financial freedom The danger of rushing into the next venture Solo travel, reflection, and walking the Camino Listening to intuition after years of conditioning Finding identity beyond the business Helping other exited founders navigate the “what now?” stage The logical mind often pulls you back toward what is familiar. But the next chapter may require enough quiet to hear what is true. “The exit is not the end. It is the first time many founders are quiet enough to hear the question they avoided while building.” “Financial freedom solves the money problem. It does not automatically solve the identity problem.” “The temptation after exit is to run back to what made you successful. Kevin Nolan chose to create space instead.” “The logical mind says, ‘Go build again.’ The deeper voice may be asking, ‘Who are you now?’” “Kevin’s post-exit journey was not about finding another business. It was about finding himself.” In this episode:Topics covered:Memorable idea:Quotes / Social Clips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 31, 202642 min

Life After Multiple Exits, Faith, Family, and the Power of Giving Back

What happens after the exit when success is no longer measured by the deal? In this episode of Your N.E.X.T., Jerome Myers sits down with Paul Farrell, a technology entrepreneur, investor, advisor, and repeat founder who has built, turned around, and exited companies across software, big data, and cybersecurity. Paul shares the story behind selling his cybersecurity company during COVID, the moment personal risk became too high, and why every exit carries its own lessons. But this conversation goes far beyond the transaction. Paul opens up about faith, family, generosity, culture, radical candor, and the decision he and his wife made to give away 50% of the net proceeds from major liquidity events. He also reflects on identity beyond the CEO role, learning to slow down, and why the fulfilled life is built through service, not accumulation. This episode is for founders, CEOs, advisors, and high achievers who are wondering what comes after the summit. Jerome and Paul explore: Why every exit feels different Selling a cybersecurity company during COVID The role Paul’s wife played in deciding when enough risk was enough Why generosity became central to life after liquidity Giving away 50% of net proceeds from major exits How identity gets tangled with the CEO role Why culture matters more than most founders realize Radical candor, truth-telling, and leadership Helping employees pursue their dreams Faith, surrender, and peace after achievement Why family dinners became one of Paul’s clearest pictures of success Paul Farrell is a technology entrepreneur, investor, advisor, and repeat founder with decades of experience building, turning around, and exiting companies across software, big data, and cybersecurity. His career includes leadership at AOL, the turnaround of a NASDAQ-traded company, the acquisition and sale of a London-based big data company, and the sale of a cybersecurity company during COVID. Today, Paul advises CEOs and founders, bringing together business experience, faith, culture-building, and a deep commitment to service. LinkedIn: Paul FarrellEmail: paul@paterholdings.com Your N.E.X.T. is the podcast for founders, executives, and high achievers asking what comes after success. Hosted by Jerome Myers, the show explores exits, identity, purpose, legacy, fulfillment, and the journey from achievement to alignment. Your dreams should be real. In This EpisodeGuest BioConnect with PaulAbout Your N.E.X.T. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 24, 202639 min

Why Founders Get Outmatched When Selling Their Business with Lewis Schiff

Most founders believe that because they built a successful business, they are prepared to sell it. Lewis Schiff believes that assumption can cost them millions. In this episode of Your N.E.X.T., Jerome Myers sits down with Lewis Schiff, Chairman of Birthing of Giants, to unpack why founders are entering one of the most important economic windows of our lifetime. An estimated $80 trillion in wealth is moving from older generations to younger ones, and that capital is looking for places to land. One of those places is founder-led lower middle market businesses. But there is a problem. The founder who built the company may only sell one business in their lifetime. The buyer across the table may buy ten companies a year. That imbalance creates risk. Lewis explains why private equity firms are aggressively pursuing founder-led companies, how professionalization can increase exit value, and why earn-outs often become traps for owners who were not fully prepared before going to market. Jerome and Lewis also explore one of the most important distinctions in the exit conversation: the difference between being an operator and being an owner. Operators make promises and keep promises. Owners build transferable, creditworthy assets. That shift changes how founders think about capital, leverage, decision-making, professionalization, growth, and the eventual sale of the company. This conversation is for founders, advisors, and business owners who want to avoid being outmatched during the exit process and build a company that is not only profitable, but transferable. Jerome and Lewis discuss: • Why the $80 trillion wealth transfer matters to business owners• Why private equity is targeting lower middle market companies• How professionalization can increase exit value• The hidden danger of earn-outs• Why founders often walk away with less than expected• How taxes, fees, and lost salary affect post-exit reality• Why capital does not automatically equal wisdom• The difference between operator thinking and owner thinking• How AI may help founders extend founder mode• Why selling a business requires a different skill set than building one “Operators make promises and keep promises. Owners build assets.” Learn more about Lewis Schiff and Birthing of Giants:https://birthingofgiants.com/prep Learn more about Jerome Myers and Exit to Excellence:https://exittoexcellence.com In This EpisodeKey QuoteLearn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 17, 202635 min

From Back Office Bottlenecks to Billion-Dollar Thinking with Adam Spector

Adam Spector, founder of Chore, four-time entrepreneur, and startup investor, joins Jerome Myers for a conversation about building in a world where the tools are moving faster than most people can process. From San Francisco’s AI boom to the rising bar for young professionals, Adam shares why speed, focus, and delegation have become critical advantages for founders. He explains why entrepreneurs often become the “janitor” of their own companies, handling payroll, HR, finance, compliance, and other back-office work that pulls them away from the work only they can do. Jerome and Adam also explore AI’s impact on jobs, education, startup investing, and founder behavior. Adam offers a clear challenge to business owners and ambitious professionals: stop waiting for permission, start building proof, and protect your most valuable resource: time. This episode is for founders, operators, investors, and professionals who want to understand what it takes to compete in the age of AI without losing sight of the life they are trying to build. In this episode: Why San Francisco remains the center of the AI boomHow AI is raising the bar for founders and job seekersWhy speed is now a strategic advantageWhat Adam looks for when investing in foundersWhy founders get trapped doing low-leverage workHow Chore helps entrepreneurs delegate back-office operationsWhy proof of work matters more than a polished resumeThe real cost of spending your time on the wrong thingsWhy the gatekeepers are gone Guest: Adam SpectorAdam Spector is a four-time founder, startup investor, and founder of Chore. Based in San Francisco, Adam has invested in roughly 200 startups and helps entrepreneurs protect their time by delegating the back-office work that slows them down. Connect with Adam:Website: HireChore.comLinkedIn: Adam Spector, Founder of ChoreX: @ASPEC00 Your dreams should be real. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 3, 202649 min

The Hollow Place After an Exit with Brian Roeder

What happens when the business exit is not the only exit happening? In this episode of Your NEXT, Jerome Myers sits down with Brian Roeder, founder of Bee Oak Partners and Managing Agent for Transworld Business Advisors’ Monterey office. Brian shares the story of building Barrel Oak Winery from raw land into one of Virginia’s busiest wineries, welcoming up to 1,500 guests on busy Saturdays, growing a committed team, raising more than $2 million through nonprofit events, and ultimately selling the business in 2022. But this conversation is not just about selling a winery. It is about navigating a double exit. Brian built the business with his former wife, and as the marriage came apart, the business had to be protected, investors had to be considered, and the dream they had built had to be carefully unwound. He describes the moment after the wire hit as a physical release, like a load had been lifted from his shoulders. But relief did not automatically create clarity. After the sale, Brian moved back to California for what he thought would be his next chapter in the family business. When that path did not unfold as expected, he faced another transition and another question: Who am I now? In this episode, Jerome and Brian explore: The emotional weight of selling a business Why the team is often what founders miss most How divorce, investors, employees, family, and identity can collide during an exit Why relief is real, but not the same as purpose What Brian calls “the hollow place” after success The difference between connectors and extractors Why the right advisor starts with the owner’s story, not just the numbers How Brian now uses his experience to help other owners avoid the mistakes he had to learn the hard way A successful transaction can close the deal. An excellent exit protects the person on the other side of it. Connect with Brian Roeder:https://beeoak.combrian@beeoak.com Take the Exit Readiness Assessment:https://www.exittoexcellence.com/era Schedule a conversation with Jerome:https://calendly.com/yournext/30-minute-1-on-1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices