Episode 8 - Tim Jester - Financial Entrepreneur

Episode 8 - Tim Jester - Financial Entrepreneur

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2573596/fan_mail/new] The Long Burn – "Burning the Ships" Guest: Tim Jester, CFP and Founder of ITA Wealth Partners In this debut guest episode, hosts Joel Malin and Dr. Jonathan Wade (aka "Dirty Dr. Wade") sit down with Nashville-based financial advisor Tim Jester. The conversation moves quickly from playful banter to a deep dive into the "grind culture" of financial services, the psychological toll of entrepreneurship, and the importance of choosing people over products. Key Takeaways * The "Burn the Ships" Mentality: Tim shares the story of Cortez burning his fleet to ensure his men had no choice but to succeed. He applies this to business: Plan A can only succeed when you eliminate the safety net of Plan B. * Culture vs. Commission: Tim left the "insurance-centric" world to escape the pressure of selling products that weren't always in the client’s best interest. He argues that a truly independent practice allows an advisor to prioritize the client's goals over a sales quota. * Rejecting "Grind Culture": The industry often rewards the "first in, last out" mentality, which Tim identifies as a recipe for broken marriages and estranged children. He built ITA Wealth Partners to prove you can have a high-performing business while still being present for school recitals and date nights. * The 10-3-1 Equation: Tim critiques the traditional sales funnel (10 referrals lead to 3 meetings, which lead to 1 client). While mathematically sound, he finds it "icky" and disingenuous, opting instead for organic community involvement and a "long game" approach to relationships. * Individual over Modality: Joel draws a parallel to therapy, noting that the best professionals fit the solution to the human being, rather than trying to force the human into a pre-packaged "product" or treatment model. Memorable Quotes > "Your nervous system will 100% of the time take the hell it understands over the peace it doesn't." — Tim Jester"Plan A can’t succeed as long as you're constantly constructing a fallback plan... the moment you have a safe out or an easy pass back into comfort, we’re human beings—we’re going to take it." — Joel Malin"I’ve come to a place in my life where I am grateful for all the mistakes that I’ve made because they brought me to where I am." — Tim Jester The Firing Line: Question #1 The Question: What’s a failure that cost you more than money, and what did it change about how you operate today? Tim’s Answer: Tim reflects on his 20s, where unresolved childhood pain and anger led him to "run through" personal and professional relationships. He lost clients and burned bridges with people he loved. This failure taught him the value of therapy and self-awareness, ultimately shifting his focus toward empathy and making people feel "heard and valued" rather than just being a number in a spreadsheet. The Verdict Who should listen? Entrepreneurs feeling the "head in hands" weight of starting out, or any professional feeling trapped in a toxic "grind" environment who needs a reminder that success doesn't have to come at the cost of your family. Tim Jester’s journey from a high-pressure insurance firm to a values-based independent practice is a roadmap for anyone looking to "burn their ships" and build something authentic. To get in touch with Tim Jester for financial advising, please visit https://itawealthpartners.com/ or you can reach Tim via email at tim@itawealthpartners.com

Episode 7 - You Don't Have a Time Problem, You Have a Priority Problem

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2573596/fan_mail/new] Episode Overview: "You Don't Have a Time Problem, You Have a Priority Problem" The core message of this episode is that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day; the difference in outcomes lies in how those hours are prioritized. The hosts argue that "finding time" is a myth—you must make or take time for what matters. Key Takeaways * The Difference Between "Making" and "Taking" Time: * Making Time: Deferring low-risk tasks (like laundry) to a later date to create space now. * Taking Time: Consciously choosing not to finish a task today because health or family is more important, even if it feels like "lowering standards." * The Ceiling of a "Do-It-Yourself" Mentality: Dr. Wade shares a story about scrubbing toilets at his clinic. While it shows humility, the hosts discuss how this isn't a productive use of a CEO’s time. To grow a business, you must delegate tasks that others can do 80% as well as you. * Busy vs. Productive: Being "busy" (doing tasks) is not the same as being "productive" (moving the needle on goals). * The "One Thing" Strategy: Referencing Gary Keller’s book, they suggest picking the single most important task each week that creates a "domino effect" for everything else. Personal Wins & Losses The hosts start with a "Vulnerability Minute" regarding their personal lives: Host | Wins | Losses/ChallengesDr. Jonathan Wade | Orchard Health is "knocking it out of the park" with a new nurse practitioner and improved marketing. | Short-term rental bookings are down; dealing with critical four-star reviews. Joel Malin | His newborn son, Gideon, smiled for the first time, providing much-needed feedback during the "sleep-deprived" phase. | Financial stress of trying to afford a nanny, as he and his wife aren't ready for daycare yet. Notable Quotes > "You can gut an animal, but you can't change a diaper? Be the man—figure it out." — Joel Malin"You're not going to find time. You're going to make it. It's not living out there." — Dr. Jonathan Wade"They started saying the house was really 'busy' this weekend instead of 'messy.' It was a way to be kinder to themselves." — Joel Malin Actionable Advice from the Hosts 1. Modify, Don't Lower, Standards: Reshape your expectations of a "pristine home" or "perfect schedule" to adapt to new life phases (like having kids). 2. Focus Blocks: Use dedicated chunks of time to work on specific topics rather than trying to multi-task throughout the day. 3. The "Lived-In" Perspective: Accept that a busy home or a slightly disorganized office is a sign of life and growth, not failure.

Episode 6 - The Family is the First Team

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2573596/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Long Burn, counselor Joel Malin and Dr. Jonathan Wade explore the concept of "the family as the first team," emphasizing that personal and professional success depends on domestic alignment. The hosts open with personal "wins and losses," ranging from Joel’s successful fishing trip and frustrations with insurance hiking to Jonathan’s family visit to his son’s college, which included a humorous mishap involving a black eye during a game of wiffle golf. Transitioning to the core topic, Jonathan reflects on the eight-year journey of his medical practice, Orchard Health, detailing how he secured his wife Candace’s "buy-in" by framing the business as a way to prioritize family time over grueling hospital shifts. They discuss the necessity of "counting the cost" and establishing a family operating agreement—setting firm boundaries, such as "no-business" zones after 6:30 PM and monthly retreat nights, to ensure that the drive for professional sustainability doesn't come at the expense of household harmony. Key Takeaways from "The Family as the First Team" * The Power of Buy-In: Success in a new endeavor requires more than just permission; it requires a shared vision. Jonathan noted that involving his wife directly in the business allowed their complementary skills—his "big ideas" and her "boots-on-the-ground" integration—to flourish. * Defining the "Operating Agreement": To prevent burnout and resentment, families should set explicit boundaries. This includes "work-free" hours and identifying which roles each member will play to support the collective goal. * Managing the "Nasty Nelson" of Risk: Just like the surprise point in pickleball (the "Nasty Nelson"), business risks are inevitable. The hosts suggest viewing these not as deterrents, but as opportunities for growth and learning. * Intentional Disconnection: Joel and Jonathan highlight that work is never truly "done." Building the skill of living in that tension—choosing to stop working to be present with family—is vital for long-term health.

Episode 5 - The Cancer of Self Doubt

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2573596/fan_mail/new] This episode of The Long Burn marks a major milestone as Joel Malin returns from a brief hiatus following the birth of his son, Gideon Joseph Malin. The hosts use this life-altering event to pivot into a deep discussion on the "cancer of self-doubt" and imposter syndrome. Joel shares the raw reality of new fatherhood—from the "win" of a healthy nine-pound baby to the "loss" of navigating emergency C-section complications, preeclampsia, and the unpredictable learning curve of diaper changes. Meanwhile, Jonathan reflects on the "flywheel" effect of his growing medical practice but admits to the struggle of "stretching himself too thin." Together, they explore how self-doubt often surfaces right when someone is stepping into something bigger, emphasizing that confidence is built through action, not through waiting for 100% certainty. Key Concepts: Overcoming the Mental Hurdles of Growth * The Fallacy of Preparedness: Joel highlights that waiting for 100% confidence is actually waiting for "success" itself. Growth requires starting before you are ready—much like his story of installing 15 house windows with zero prior experience. * Plato’s Cave & Reality: Using the , Joel explains how we often react to the "shadows" of our fears rather than the reality of our capabilities. By changing our perspective, we can see that our "historic data" usually proves we are capable of succeeding. * The "Waffle" vs. "Spaghetti" Brain: The hosts humorously discuss cognitive styles: * Waffle Brain: Often attributed to men, where topics are compartmentalized into separate "squares" (focusing on one thing at a time). * Spaghetti Brain: Often attributed to women, where every thought and responsibility is interconnected, leading to high-speed multitasking. * Surrender vs. Giving Up: They redefine "surrender" as acting in alignment with current reality (like a pivot in business or birth plans) rather than fighting against an outcome that the circumstances no longer support. * The "One Thing" Strategy: To combat the "cookie jar" effect of grabbing too many opportunities at once, Jonathan advocates for focusing on one primary task in each life domain to build true momentum. How do you personally distinguish between a "practical" fear and one that is just a "shadow" of imposter syndrome?

Episode 4 - Navigating Seasons in Life

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2573596/fan_mail/new] This episode of The Long Burn finds Joel Malin in a state of high-alert "baby watch," with his wife’s due date just hours away. Meanwhile, Jonathan Wade reflects on the shifting seasons at his medical practice, Orchard Health. Using Joel's transition into fatherhood as a backdrop, the two dive into a deep conversation about the "chapters of life" and the mental resilience required to navigate major pivots—whether personal or professional. The Anatomy of a Pivot The hosts emphasize that a "loss" is often just a matter of perspective. Jonathan shares a recent real estate deal that fell through; rather than viewing the lost time as a failure, he framed it as a win for avoiding a "money pit." This leads to a discussion on the "Two-Way Door" rule: * One-Way Doors: Rare, irreversible decisions. * Two-Way Doors: The majority of business and life decisions. If it’s not working, you can turn around and walk back out. Key Life Transitions & Hardships Joel and Jonathan reflect on the defining chapters that shaped them: * Identity Shifts: Joel discusses the "geriatric pregnancy" label (despite his wife being only 38) and his journey from a music degree to the Army, and eventually to clinical counseling. * The Reintegration Struggle: Joel highlights the difficulty of transitioning from military to civilian life, noting that growth doesn't happen in "peaceful times" but during the challenge. * Personal Rebuilding: Both hosts touch on the emotional toll of divorce and the profound realization that "finding yourself" is actually an active process of making yourself through daily choices. Entrepreneurial Pillars of Success Jonathan breaks down the three pillars that allowed him to scale Orchard Health: 1. Learning to Say No: Protecting your time to ensure your actions align with future goals. 2. The 5-10 Year Plan: Having a North Star so you aren't just reacting to "tomorrow." 3. The 80/20 Rule of Delegation: Understanding that someone else doing a task 80% as well as you is "100% awesome" because it frees you to be a visionary. > "We don’t grow in the easy times. Those times are for rest. We grow during the challenge." — Joel Malin The "Game" of Resilience Joel shares a powerful story from Army basic training where he refused to break eye contact with a drill sergeant during a "smoke session" (punishment exercises). He explains that looking a problem in the face and refusing to be broken is the same mentality required to survive the "head-in-hands" moments of entrepreneurship, like struggling to make payroll or navigating bureaucratic friction. Given the "Two-Way Door" analogy, is there a decision you’re currently facing that feels like a One-Way Door, but might actually be reversible?