Olivia Tillema: The Surprising Power of Systems Thinking in Small Business Growth

Dylan Hendrickson: Why Cash Flow, Not Profit, Is the Secret to Business Growth and Stability

Dylan Hendrickson built Staxx into a 30-person, nearly $4M fractional CFO firm without ever becoming a CPA. In this episode, he explains why most business owners are running their company off the wrong financial statement entirely. From college football to private equity playbooks, this is how cash — not profit — becomes the real decision-making tool. Dylan Hendrickson started his accounting business while playing college football and finishing his master's degree, eventually merging it with his business partner's firm to form Staxx. He shares why he still recommends an accounting degree, how Staxx's ideal client profile evolved, and why most business owners are confused about their finances because they're managing cash off a P&L instead of a 13-week cash flow forecast. - Dylan built his accounting business while playing college football, doing one small thing daily to move it forward. - Staxx formed when Dylan merged his solo practice with his business partner's firm after meeting at an industry event. - Hiring ahead of need and stepping out of service delivery early made Staxx scalable, not founder-dependent. - A P&L can't manage cash; a 13-week cash flow forecast can, and that's the real gap for most business owners. - Staxx's ideal client typically does $1M-$30M in revenue, needing more than a bookkeeper but not yet an in-house team. - A clear sign it's time for outside help: making decisions purely off the bank balance and gut feeling. 00:00 - Intro 00:37 - College football and building a business at once 03:14 - How Staxx came together 09:17 - Building for the long term over quick wins 11:24 - Why Dylan still recommends accounting 17:49 - What Staxx looks like today 20:43 - How the offer has evolved 22:28 - The ideal client profile 23:43 - CFO-ready vs. controller-ready 28:23 - Why cash flow forecasting beats the P&L 32:00 - In-house accountants vs. fractional CFOs 35:23 - How long engagements last 37:45 - The hardest part of scaling right now 43:22 - Messaging, pricing, and positioning 46:32 - Balancing marketing, sales, and ops 49:18 - Where to find Dylan and Staxx fractional CFO, cash flow forecasting, Staxx, Dylan Hendrickson, small business CFO, cash flow vs profit, scaling a service business, financial advisory, business exit planning, entrepreneurship 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/] Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ [https://www.fivefuse.com/] 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-hendrickson-113419153/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-hendrickson-113419153/] Website: https://www.startstaxx.pro/ [https://www.startstaxx.pro/] 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 [https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431] 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/]

Olivia Tillema: The Surprising Power of Systems Thinking in Small Business Growth

Olivia Tillema helped automate a workflow that saved 91,000 hours in a single year. From a remote support gig to rebuilding operations for Bungie, she now runs her own ops agency, t2i collective. This episode breaks down the systems thinking that helps small businesses scale without burning out the team. Olivia Tillema went from a remote support role to rebuilding operations inside Bungie, one of the gaming industry's biggest studios, before launching her own boutique agency, T2i Collective. In this episode, she shares her systems-based approach to operations, how tools like Asana can transform team workflows, and the surprising amount of time (and money) the right systems can save a growing business. Key Takeaways: - Systems thinking is crucial for operational success - Automation can save thousands of hours annually - Understanding team responsibilities improves project flow Chapters: 00:00 From Layoff to Opportunity: Olivia's Journey 02:03 The Evolution of Remote Work and Operations 05:08 Navigating Career Transitions and Freelancing 08:15 Landing the Bungie Project: A Game Changer 11:14 Current State of T2I Collective: Growth and Challenges 14:01 Understanding Operations: The RACI Framework 17:18 Industry Insights: Communication and Workflow Improvements 23:14 Transforming Efficiency with Automation 24:38 Setting Growth Goals and Expanding Reach 26:26 Building Connections and Networking 27:27 Passion for Work and Personal Fulfillment Keywords: operations, systems, Asana, remote work, startup growth, process improvement, freelancing, Bungie, video game industry, business scaling 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/] Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ [https://www.fivefuse.com/] 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-tillema-329599138/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-tillema-329599138/] Website: https://t2icollective.com/ [https://t2icollective.com/] 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 [https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431] 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/]

Stephanie Groschup: Navigating Wealth with Purpose and Values

A two-decade wealth management veteran on why money is a tool, not a destination. Stephanie Groschup shares how aligning investments with values changes everything. Listening first, the great wealth transfer, and building a boutique firm that stays high-touch. Stephanie Groschup, Founder and President of ArchHaven & Co. Wealth Partners, joins Chris to talk about what it means to manage wealth with purpose. Drawing on a career that started in oil and gas and spanned major market events at Merrill Lynch, Stephanie unpacks why listening is the foundation of good advice, how client expectations have shifted, and what the $70-90 trillion great wealth transfer means for families and advisors. It's a conversation about values, legacy, and seeing money as a tool for the life you actually want to build. KEY TAKEAWAYS - Listening is foundational - not just to what clients say, but to what they don't say - Clients who align their investments with their values stay engaged and avoid rash decisions - The great wealth transfer (an estimated $70-90 trillion) will reshape families, markets, and how advisors work - Roughly 70% of wealth is lost by the second generation and 90% by the third, often because families never talk about money - Including the next generation early - in both financial and emotional conversations - protects a family's legacy - A boutique firm can't be everything to everybody; clarity comes from knowing exactly who you serve - Technology matters, but the human side of wealth is what most people are missing - Your happiness, worth, and value aren't defined by how many zeros are in the account CHAPTERS 00:04 - Meet Stephanie Groschup 00:30 - What people misunderstand about big firms 01:17 - Navigating 9/11, 2008, and market volatility 03:08 - From oil and gas to wealth management 04:03 - Becoming a founder 04:53 - How ArchHaven serves clients today 05:44 - Why listening comes first 09:13 - Why people hesitate to talk to an advisor 17:02 - Addressing the great wealth transfer 22:07 - Growing a boutique firm while staying high-touch 26:46 - Where the firm feels tension 33:01 - A practical first step toward clarity 34:00 - Where to connect with Stephanie KEYWORDS wealth management, financial advisor, great wealth transfer, values-based investing, legacy planning, estate planning, behavioral finance, boutique advisory firm, women in finance, retirement planning, Merrill Lynch, generational wealth 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-groschup/ Website: https://www.archhavenwealth.com/ 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/

Saim Abbasi: Speed and Systemization for Business Success

Saim Abbasi built multiple businesses before most people finish school. His edge? Speed and systems — executed before doubt sets in. Here's what that looks like in practice. Saim Abbasi is the founder of SA Digital Media Group, a multi-venture digital media and incubation company. In this episode, he breaks down how he moved from university startups during COVID to acquiring and scaling businesses across industries — and what he learned about execution, systems, and the evolving role of generalists in an AI-driven world. Key Takeaways: - Speed to market is a competitive advantage — move ideas forward within 48 hours - Build systems early so the business runs without you - Make yourself unnecessary by day 90 — that's the goal - Generalists have a growing edge in the AI era - Exits and acquisitions are tools, not endpoints - Identify bottlenecks in planning before they become bottlenecks in execution 00:00 Introduction to Saim Abbasi's Journey 00:40 Navigating University During COVID-19 04:07 From Ideation to Execution: Launching a Business 05:54 The Acquisition Experience 08:07 Building Multiple Ventures Simultaneously 09:46 Influences from Family and Early Lessons 13:24 Overview of SA Digital Media Group 17:07 The Intersection of Technology and Business 19:06 Ideal Clients and Mentorship 21:19 The Need for Generalists in Today's Market 27:12 Becoming Unnecessary: Systems Thinking in Business 30:56 Staying Focused Amidst Multiple Projects 34:08 Identifying Bottlenecks in Planning 36:13 Building Buffers for Success 36:56 Collaborative Opportunities and Networking Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Speed to Market, Systems Building, AI, Generalists, Business Growth, Startup, Mergers, Marketing, Leadership 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/] Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ [https://www.fivefuse.com/] 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saimabbasi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/saimabbasi/] Website: https://www.samedia.io/ [https://www.samedia.io/] 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 [https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431] 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/]

Brennan Decima: Helping Executives De-Risk Career Moves and Exit Smarter

Most business owners wait too long to plan their exit — and it costs them. Brennan Decima of Decima Wealth Consulting breaks down what smart retirement planning actually looks like. If you're a business owner, this one's for you. Brennan Decima built his practice around the clients most advisors underserve — business owners navigating the emotional and financial complexity of stepping away. In this episode, he and Chris dig into the blind spots that derail exit strategies, why identity and social connection matter as much as the numbers, and the behavioral mistakes investors make when markets get rough. Key Takeaways: - Business owner retirement involves more stakeholders and emotional weight than most planning accounts for - The human side of financial planning gets sacrificed when firms chase efficiency - Social connections are critical to mental health post-retirement - Start planning your exit at least five years out - Overconfidence leads investors to carry more risk than they need - Separate your identity from your business before you exit — not after Chapters: 00:00 Navigating Business Owner Retirement Planning 03:01 The Shift to Independent Wealth Management 05:51 Identifying Retirement Blind Spots 08:41 Planning for Business Exit Strategies 11:43 Investing Behavior and Risk Management 14:44 The Challenges of Building a Personal Brand 17:30 Growth Strategies for Financial Advisors Keywords: retirement planning, business owners, wealth management, financial independence, exit strategies, investing behavior, risk management, personal branding, growth strategies, financial advice 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/] Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ [https://www.fivefuse.com/] 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brennan-decima/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brennan-decima/] Website: https://decimawealth.com/ [https://decimawealth.com/] 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 [https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431] 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/]