Real Business Owners

Hosted by Trevor Cowley and Rick Trimmer

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381

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Oct 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

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.

September 1, 2026Episode 3791 hr 7 min

Fail To Plan, Plan To Fail | Episode 379

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.com Most people have an idea of the life they want, but very few actually build a plan that gets them there. In this episode, Trevor Cowley and Rick Trimmer break down what real planning looks like and why saying you want something means nothing if your daily actions aren't aligned with it. They discuss how to design your life around long-term goals, turn massive ambitions into measurable daily actions, make sacrifices in the present for a better future, and create non-negotiable standards that eliminate the need to constantly make decisions. They also dive into the mindset behind Trevor's pursuit of a world record and why pushing yourself beyond what's comfortable can reveal what you're actually capable of. From business and finances to fitness and personal growth, this conversation is about creating a life by design instead of leaving your future to chance. In This Episode You'll Learn: Why success has to happen by design, not by accident. How to turn massive goals into specific daily actions and measurable benchmarks. Why "want" shows up in conversation, but commitment shows up in action. How small expenses, habits, and compromises can quietly destroy long-term progress. Why extraordinary results require doing more than what is ordinary. How non-negotiable standards can eliminate decision fatigue and keep you on track. Why humility, mentorship, and proximity to the right people can accelerate your growth. How to recognize when your current habits aren't producing the life you say you want. Why every season of life eventually requires a new goal and a new challenge. How to build a business that serves the life you want instead of simply building a bigger business. The question isn't whether you want more. The question is what you're willing to change to get it.

August 25, 2026Episode 37827 min

Right People, Right Seats, Better Business | Episode 378

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.com The people you surround yourself with can either accelerate your growth or hold your business hostage. In this solo episode, Rick Trimmer breaks down one of the biggest challenges business owners face: building the right team. He explains why keeping the wrong people can cost you far more than money, how to identify the right employees, and why sometimes the best decision you can make is moving someone into a different seat—or helping them find a different bus entirely. Rick also shares how he has built teams capable of operating without him, why giving employees a path toward ownership can help you retain your best people, and why building a great team requires thinking far beyond the next 90 days. In This Episode You'll Learn: Why keeping the wrong employee can be more expensive than replacing them. How to qualify potential employees faster and identify the right people. The difference between having the right person and having them in the right seat. Why great employees need opportunities to grow. How to identify the people who belong on your personal bus. Why your team should be built around where you want to be 10 years from now. The four questions every business owner should ask about their team. How ownership can help you attract and retain high-level employees. Why building your team is an ongoing process, not a one-time decision. When it's time to make difficult changes to protect the future of your business. Your business is only as strong as the people helping you move it forward. Get the right people on the bus, put them in the right seats, and stop being afraid to make changes when something isn't working.

August 18, 2026Episode 3771 hr 12 min

8 Kids And The Courage To Step Into Opportunities | Episode 377

If you are ready to level up personally and professionally, go to joinrbo.com Most opportunities don't come when you're ready. They come when you're willing to become ready. In this episode of The Real Business Owners Podcast, Rick Trimmer sits down with Kayla Brown, the newly appointed CEO of Real Business Owners. After spending more than four years helping build RBO behind the scenes, organizing events, supporting members, and strengthening the community, Kayla is stepping into a much bigger role and taking ownership of the organization's future. This conversation goes beyond business leadership. Rick and Kayla discuss what it takes to step into an opportunity before you feel fully qualified, overcome self-doubt, delegate effectively, and balance ambitious goals with family and personal responsibilities. They also explore why relationships and community can become some of the most valuable assets you build along the way. In This Episode You'll Learn: Why the biggest opportunities often come before you feel ready. How Kayla went from working behind the scenes to leading Real Business Owners. The importance of recognizing the value you bring to the table. Why delegation and trusting your team are essential to effective leadership. How to balance motherhood, marriage, and building something meaningful. Why relationships and community are critical to long-term success. How to overcome fear and self-doubt when stepping into a bigger role. Why growth often requires saying yes before you have everything figured out. How taking ownership can change the trajectory of your career and life. Why becoming the next version of yourself starts with taking action before you feel ready. Whether you're building a company, leading a team, raising a family, or preparing for your next big opportunity, this episode is a reminder that you don't have to feel ready to take the next step. You just have to be willing to take it.