Real Business Owners

Hosted by Trevor Cowley and Rick Trimmer

Business

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383

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Trevor Cowley and Rick Trimmer are on a mission to help business owners at any level develop personally and professionally by sharing his past experience building several successful business ventures. It's his goal to convey effective techniques and strategies that any business owner can implement TODAY. Want to get into contact with Rick? Email him at Rick@realbusinessowners.com

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60 recent

November 10, 2026Episode 3891 hr 2 min

From Near Bankruptcy to Eight Figures with Tom Driscoll | Episode 389

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comLosing everything can either end your entrepreneurial journey or force you to build something better.In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Rick Trimmer sits down with entrepreneur Tom Driscoll, who went from nearly losing his home and business during the recession to building an eight-figure commercial playground installation company.Tom shares the setbacks, financial mistakes, leadership lessons, and critical business decisions that shaped his journey. Together, they discuss surviving economic downturns, managing cash flow, rebuilding after failure, retaining quality employees, and recognizing when it's time to change the way you operate.The conversation also dives into the importance of personal development, surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs, and being willing to put new ideas into action. Because rebuilding a business isn't just about recovering what you lost—it's about learning from the mistakes that got you there and becoming a better leader along the way.Key Takeaways:- How to rebuild a business after losing nearly everything- Why cash reserves and financial discipline matter when the economy turns- The leadership mistakes that can cost you your best employees- Why personal development is essential to becoming a better business owner- How relationships with other entrepreneurs can create unexpected opportunities- Why taking action matters more than endlessly consuming informationSometimes the biggest turning points in business come from the moments that force you to start over.

November 3, 2026Episode 38858 min

Revenue, Recruiting, And The Cost of Bad Decisions with Doug Mitchell | Episode 388

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comBuilding a successful business doesn't mean much if you don't know how to manage the money, build the right team, or create something that can operate without you.In this episode of **The Real Business Owners Podcast**, Rick Trimmer sits down with entrepreneur and business consultant Doug Mitchell to discuss building businesses from the ground up, developing scalable systems, recruiting quality employees, and using AI to create more efficient operations.Doug shares how he built a sales company that generated $35 million over 13 years, transitioned into consulting, and eventually launched a new business focused on solving one of the biggest challenges business owners face: finding good people.But the conversation goes beyond business growth. Doug opens up about the financial mistakes that cost him millions in potential wealth, why generating revenue doesn't automatically mean you're building personal wealth, and what he learned from years of having his priorities out of order.**In This Episode, You'll Learn:**- How to build systems and leadership teams that allow a business to scale beyond the owner- Why recruiting quality employees is one of the biggest challenges facing business owners- How AI can improve recruiting, operations, and employee productivity- How to structure consulting agreements around business growth and performance- Why generating millions in revenue doesn't mean you're building wealth- The financial mistakes that can keep successful entrepreneurs broke- How losing everything can change your perspective on business, money, and familyBuilding a business that generates revenue is one thing. Building one that creates lasting wealth, gives you freedom, and allows you to prioritize what matters most is a completely different challenge.

October 27, 2026Episode 38720 min

Ask Me Anything | Episode 387

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.com Starting a business is one thing. Building one that actually makes money, survives hard times, and eventually runs without you is a completely different game. In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Rick Trimmer answers real questions from entrepreneurs about hiring, sales, managing finances, and the critical decisions that determine whether a business succeeds or fails. Drawing from his own experiences of losing everything during the recession and rebuilding his companies, Rick shares the lessons he's learned about overcoming setbacks, making smarter business decisions, and creating long-term financial freedom. From knowing when to hire your first employee to understanding when it's time to walk away from a failing idea, this episode gets into the practical side of entrepreneurship that every business owner needs to understand. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The biggest mistakes new business owners make When to hire your first employee and start building a team Why sales should be your number one priority How to pay yourself without sacrificing business growth The financial numbers every business owner needs to track When to keep pushing and when to walk away from a failing idea How to grow a business with limited capital Why finding the right mentor can save you years of mistakes Building a successful business takes more than hard work. It takes smart decisions, financial discipline, and the ability to adapt when things don't go according to plan.

October 20, 2026Episode 38628 min

Stop Playing The Victim | Episode 386

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.com Most people don't fail because they lack ability. They fail because they aren't willing to do what success requires. In this solo episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Trevor Cowley breaks down why so many people fall short of their potential, challenging the victim mentality and exposing the excuses that keep people stuck. He explains why one of the hardest parts of building a successful business isn't solving the problems around you—it's confronting the person responsible for them. From tolerating poor employee performance to abandoning personal commitments when things get uncomfortable, the problems you complain about may be the very problems you're allowing to continue. If you want better results, you need to stop negotiating with yourself, raise your standards, and prove your commitment through action. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why your business problems often reflect your own leadership and standards How to recognize when you're making excuses to avoid discomfort Why discipline is built when things get hard, not when things are easy How facing discomfort builds resilience and changes your identity Why tracking streaks creates undeniable evidence of consistency How to stop playing the victim and take responsibility for your results Why your daily decisions must align with the goals you claim to want Stop complaining about the results you're getting and start taking responsibility for the decisions that create them.

October 13, 2026Episode 3851 hr 15 min

Grace, Accountability, and Becoming a Better Man with Ryan Michler | Episode 385

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.comPersonal growth starts when you're willing to confront the parts of yourself you'd rather hide.In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Rick Trimmer sits down with Ryan Michler for a raw conversation about personal failure, accountability, leadership, and what it actually takes to become a better man.Ryan opens up about the struggles that forced him to reevaluate his life, including alcohol abuse and divorce, and explains why being honest about your failures can have a greater impact than pretending you have everything figured out. Together, they discuss showing grace without abandoning accountability, learning from other people's mistakes, and building the kind of character that holds up when life gets difficult.The conversation also explores consistency, financial discipline, identity beyond business, and why real growth often comes from surrounding yourself with the right people and taking action instead of endlessly consuming information.In This Episode, They Cover:Why sharing your failures can help others more than presenting a perfect imageHow humility changes the way you lead, coach, and handle conflictThe balance between showing grace and holding people accountableWhy consistency and the boring basics produce lasting resultsHow lifestyle inflation and spending to impress others can hold you backWhy your identity should be built around your values, not just your job titleHow live events, meaningful friendships, and the right community can change your lifeWhy listening to advice isn't enough if you're unwilling to take actionReal growth requires more than knowing what to do. It requires the humility to admit where you're falling short and the discipline to do something about it.

October 6, 2026Episode 3841 hr 13 min

The Loneliness Between Levels with AJ Cappuccitti | Episode 384

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.com What happens when the excitement of entrepreneurship wears off and all that's left is the grind? In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast , Trevor Cowley, Rick Trimmer, and AJ Cappuccitti get into what it actually takes to move a business forward when things get difficult. AJ came to Utah from Canada to surround himself with people further ahead, and the conversation quickly expands into a deeper discussion about entrepreneurship, loneliness, scaling, team building, and the importance of changing your environment when you've outgrown it. They break down: Why getting around people ahead of you can completely change your perspective What to do when business starts feeling like an uphill battle How successful entrepreneurs can become the go-to person for everyone else's problems The difference between being lonely because you're starting out and being selective because you've grown How to scale a remodeling business without letting overhead crush you Why you might be playing in the wrong "field" without realizing it How to build a company that can operate without the owner Creating a clear path for employees to earn more responsibility, profit sharing, and equity Why finding good people isn't the hardest part of building a team Knowing when to stop consuming information and start putting what you've learned into action The bigger takeaway: You don't need to know everyone. You need to become the kind of person worth knowing.

September 29, 2026Episode 38338 min

Ask Me Anything with Rick Trimmer | Episode 383

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.com What would you do if you had to start over tomorrow? In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Rick Trimmer answers questions submitted directly by business owners in the Real Business Owners community. He covers everything from getting started in real estate and finding the right business to buy, to rebuilding after losing everything, understanding the numbers that actually matter, choosing business partners, and the advice he would give his 25-year-old self. Rick gets into the practical decisions behind building wealth, recovering from failure, and creating businesses that give you more freedom. He also shares lessons from his own mistakes in real estate, partnerships, and business—and why ultimately, nobody is coming to save you. In This Episode: How to get started in real estate and Airbnb What to look for when buying your first rental property How to find the right business when you don't know what to pursue Why you don't need to be passionate about your business to build wealth What Rick would do if he lost everything tomorrow How cutting expenses and increasing income can accelerate a comeback How much luck actually matters in business The three numbers every business owner should know The biggest mistakes Rick has made in real estate How to identify the right business partner Why Rick uses a "dating period" before entering partnerships The advice Rick would give his 25-year-old self Why taking responsibility for your situation is the first step toward changing it

September 22, 2026Episode 3821 hr 4 min

From Rock Bottom to MTN OPS with Trevor Farnes | Episode 382

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.com In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Rick Trimmer sits down with Trevor Farnes to talk about what happens when everything falls apart—and what it takes to rebuild from nothing. Trevor shares the story of losing nearly everything during the 2008 crash, starting over, building Mountain Ops from the ground up, eventually selling part of the company, and learning when to step away from something he had spent years building. The conversation goes beyond business, diving into failure, faith, marriage, mentorship, delegation, and the responsibility that comes with finding success after going through hard times. Trevor explains how some of his biggest lessons came from the moments when he had the least control and why rebuilding isn't just about creating another successful business—it's about becoming the person capable of sustaining it. Key Takeaways: What losing nearly everything in 2008 taught Trevor about resilience How to keep moving when the original plan completely falls apart Why the people around you can make or break your ability to rebuild How to build a company around a mission instead of just a product Knowing when it's time to give up control and hand over the reins Why delegation is necessary if you actually want freedom How personal hardship can become an opportunity to serve others The role faith, family, and mentorship played throughout Trevor's journey What rebuilding from failure can teach you about business, leadership, and life

September 15, 2026Episode 38142 min

The Importance of Surrendering to the Process | Episode 381

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.com Most people want the result, but they don't want to live the process required to earn it. In this episode, Trevor Cowley breaks down what it actually means to get lost in the process, why focusing too heavily on the end goal can become a distraction, and how comfort and complacency can quietly pull you away from the life you're trying to build. Using examples from elite athletes and his own experiences, Trevor explains why the people who consistently perform at the highest level are obsessed with honoring the day, keeping their commitments, and constantly putting new challenges in front of themselves. The goal isn't to become obsessed with the finish line. It's to become obsessed with doing what the day requires. Key Takeaways Why wanting a result means nothing if your daily actions don't align with it. The difference between chasing an outcome and becoming obsessed with the process. Why every day has a scoreboard—you either made the deposit or you didn't. How comfort and complacency can destroy momentum after you've already achieved success. Why elite results require eliminating distractions and unnecessary options. How to stop negotiating with yourself when things get difficult. Why constantly setting new challenges can keep you from falling back into old habits. The importance of surrendering to whatever the process requires. Why your behaviors today—not your intentions—ultimately determine what your life looks like.

September 8, 2026Episode 38029 min

How I Built 18 Companies Through Acquisitions, Partnerships, and Deals | Episode 380

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.com Most entrepreneurs think growth means starting something new. Sometimes, the fastest way to grow is to buy what's already working. In this solo episode, Rick Trimmer breaks down the 19 businesses he has started, bought, acquired, merged, or invested in throughout his career—and the lessons each one taught him about building wealth, scaling companies, and finding new opportunities. From starting his first service business at 25 to building a portfolio of companies operated by multiple CEOs, Rick explains why he increasingly turned to acquisitions to gain customers, equipment, inventory, capabilities, and—most importantly—great people. Rick also shares what he learned from losing everything at 31, why business owners choose to sell, how acquisitions can create win-win outcomes for buyers and sellers, and the importance of structuring partnerships correctly from the beginning. If you're interested in acquiring businesses or building a portfolio that doesn't require you to run every operation yourself, this episode is packed with lessons worth paying attention to. In This Episode You'll Learn: Why buying an existing business can be smarter than starting from scratch. The lessons Rick learned from losing everything at 31. How acquisitions can help you enter new markets and accelerate growth. Why the people you acquire can be more valuable than the business itself. How to identify struggling businesses that could become growth opportunities. Why business owners may sell because they want support—not because they want to walk away. The importance of clearly defined agreements when entering partnerships. How to structure businesses so you aren't trapped running the day-to-day operations. Why due diligence and accurate valuation can make or break an acquisition. How to build a portfolio of businesses without becoming the bottleneck in every company.