What If Everything You Know About Lead Generation Is Wrong? | Wes Towers

The $10 Trillion Wealth Transfer Nobody's Preparing For | Jeff Glick

Most founders obsess over sales and product while the thing that determines their exit price sits ignored: their financial infrastructure. In this episode, Matthew sits down with Jeff Glick — seasoned CPA, fractional CFO, and Head of US Operations at OCFO — to unpack why 6 million businesses worth $10 trillion will change hands in the next decade, and why most owners aren't ready. Jeff shares his journey from Salomon Brothers to losing everything in 2008 to building his own outsourced CFO practice, then breaks down franchise value, sell-side due diligence, valuation benchmarks, recurring revenue, merger pitfalls, and how AI is already valuing companies. If you own a business or sit anywhere near the C-suite, this is your 12-18 month head start. Key Takeaways * $10 trillion in businesses will be sold over the next 10 years as boomers age out — buyers will have options, so you need to be bankable. * Franchise value matters: if your business can't run without you, you could lose 2-3x on your valuation. * Do sell-side due diligence on yourself 12-18 months before a deal. Finding your own gaps first shows buyers you're proactive, not reactive. * Know your margins per engagement, not just overall. "About 50%" isn't an answer an investor will accept. * Recurring revenue is what's worth money. Buyers care about the lifespan of your revenue, not just new sales. * A board of the owner's friends is worthless. Real governance asks the hard questions at the right time. * You're not an accountant, you're a CFO — there's a difference. Be a strategic partner to sales, marketing, and operations, not a number cruncher. About the Guest Jeff Glick is a seasoned CPA and fractional CFO with over 20 years of experience helping founders scale and raise capital. His career spans Merrill Lynch, Salomon Brothers, and 16 years at Phibro Energy before founding Start You Up, an outsourced CFO and compliance firm serving hedge funds, private equity, VCs, family offices, and SPACs. He is currently Head of US Operations at OCFO, where he helps small and mid-sized businesses grow from the inside out. Connect * LinkedIn: Jeffrey Glick * Email: jeffrey@ocfo.com

The Franchise Coach: How $125K Gets Your Family Living In America In 60 Days | Adam Goldman

Most people think starting a business means building from scratch — and taking on all the risk that comes with it. In this episode, Matthew sits down with Adam Goldman, founder of Franchisecoach.net and one of the nation's leading franchise consultants, to break down how buying the right franchise can be a faster, safer path to business ownership. They cover what franchises actually cost ($125K to seven figures), how Adam matches candidates with brands across 75 industries, the trends he's betting on for the next decade, and a little-known E2 visa strategy that can move a family to America in 30–60 days. If you're corporate-curious, entrepreneurial, or just exploring your options, this one will change how you think about owning a business. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Franchises hand you a proven brand and system, so success rates run far higher than starting solo. * Go deep on three well-matched brands instead of shallow on hundreds — that's how good decisions get made. * Validation is everything: talk to underperforming, average, and overperforming franchisees before you commit. * The most predictive skill for success is sales and business development — the ability to open doors. * A ~$125K franchise investment can unlock an E2 visa in 30–60 days, a fraction of the cost and wait of the alternatives. ABOUT THE GUEST Adam Goldman is the founder of Franchisecoach.net and one of the nation's leading franchise consultants. After skipping corporate America to build his career in 1990s Europe — where he founded and sold an IT business in Poland — he went on to own an office-cleaning master franchise in Houston before dedicating himself to helping others navigate franchise ownership. He matches candidates with pre-screened brands across 75 industries, runs a separate practice helping families immigrate to the U.S. via the E2 visa, and has been a member of Entrepreneurs' Organization for over a decade. CONNECT * Website: https://franchisecoach.net/ [https://franchisecoach.net/]

How a Shy Introvert Became World Champion of Public Speaking | Darren LaCroix

(This video was originally uploaded on the Speak Arizona YouTube channel. Go check them out at speakarizona.com) What makes a speech connect, land, and win? In this special Speak Arizona episode, Matt Malan steps into the host seat for a live workshop with Darren LaCroix, the 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking. Darren gives real-time feedback on Matt's Division contest speech and breaks down practical ways to make a message more memorable. They explore how to use dialogue instead of narration, create vivid scenes, build emotional moments, speak directly to the audience, and stay coachable on the path to stronger communication. Perfect for Toastmasters, speakers, leaders, and presenters who want to turn a good speech into one that truly connects. Key takeaways * Use dialogue to create a scene instead of simply narrating what happened. * Make the audience feel like you are speaking to them one by one. * Build speeches around emotional moments, not just events. * Add sensory detail to help listeners see, hear, feel, and remember the story. * Stay coachable because the right feedback can completely change a speech. Chapters 00:00 - Intro and why this episode matters for speakers 01:52 - Matt welcomes Darren LaCroix to Speak Arizona 02:25 - The International Speech Contest journey 04:25 - Darren's first speech and learning to be coachable 08:04 - Why clarity matters more than cleverness 13:43 - What Darren notices first in Matt's speech 18:55 - How to step in and out of a scene 19:30 - Use "you" language to connect with one listener at a time 21:45 - Turn narration into dialogue and emotional moments 26:55 - Introduce characters with vivid detail 30:00 - Use sensory details to build a memorable scene 34:04 - Stage Time University and the value of stronger feedback 39:05 - Darren's final advice: decide to be world class Watch Matt's full 2nd Place Contest Winning Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWtvZWwhblI About the guest Darren LaCroix is the 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking. After a rough first comedy club set, he committed to mastering the craft of speaking and eventually became a world champion. Today, Darren helps presenters, executives, professional speakers, and trainers become more unforgettable on stage through his coaching, keynote work, books, and Stage Time University. Contact • Websites: https://darrenlacroix.com/ https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/ • Book: 17 Minutes To Your Dream: How To Get The Breakthroughs You Need - https://amzn.to/4egHy2q As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

A Billion-Dollar Company Stole My Invention Overnight | Amanda Sima

Building a company is hard. Watching a billion-dollar corporation copy it overnight is harder. In this episode, Matthew sits down with Amanda Sima — a serial entrepreneur who scaled a collegiate apparel brand to tens of thousands of SKUs, exited after 12 years, then invented a spill-proof kids' cup lid she believed was a billion-dollar idea. Then it got into the wrong hands. Within months, a major corporation had a near-identical product and marketing in market, locked it down with a utility patent, and Amanda lost her investor overnight. Three years into the legal fight, she's turned the experience into a mission: defending small creators against corporate theft. Along the way, she breaks down the real difference between design and utility patents, why brand equity is your best protection, how to scale on a shoestring, and why she's grateful for every painful setback. If you're building something worth protecting, this one's a must-watch. KEY TAKEAWAYS * A design patent protects how a product looks; a utility patent protects how it works. The second is the one that actually shields you. * Your strongest protection isn't a patent — it's brand equity built through quality, customer service, and a real following. * Embrace the shoestring budget. Being under-capitalized early forces discipline, endurance, and creative thinking. * Know your phases. The founder who starts a company isn't always the right person to scale it — hiring a CEO earlier can be the smartest move. * Don't fear failure. Setbacks are where you grow, and there's almost always something better on the other side. ABOUT THE GUEST Amanda Sima is a serial entrepreneur and creator. After graduating from The Ohio State University, she built and scaled a licensed collegiate apparel company over 12 years before exiting, then invented and patented a spill-proof disposable kids' cup lid. She's now an outspoken advocate for small creators and patent reform, the host of her own platform Brain on Loan, and the founder of a film and television production company drawing on her experiences as a female entrepreneur. CONNECT * Website: brainonloan.com [https://brainonloan.com]

From Mute for Two Years to Winning on Stage | Matthew Malan

(This video was originally posted on the "Speak Arizona" YouTube channel. Go check them out at speakarizona.com [https://speakarizona.com]) What changes when public speaking stops being about applause, trophies, or proving yourself? In this episode of Speak Arizona, host Rupesh Parbhoo talks with Don Ratliff and Matthew Malan about mentorship, belief, and learning to speak from the heart. Matthew shares how bullying, stuttering, and years of speech therapy shaped his relationship with his voice, while Don reflects on what it means to see potential in someone before they can see it in themselves. Together, they explore how coaching, encouragement, and service can transform a speaker from performer to messenger. Perfect for speakers, mentors, coaches, and leaders who want to communicate with more courage, connection, and purpose. Key Takeaways * Mentorship can help someone rebuild belief when their own confidence feels fragile. * A speaker grows faster when coaching includes both honest feedback and heart-centered encouragement. * Public speaking becomes more powerful when the goal shifts from performing to serving. * Speaking from the heart helps create real connection with an audience. * The best mentors do more than improve speeches. They help people see what is already inside them. Chapters * 00:00 - Cold open: The neck brace story and the power of eye contact * 00:19 - Speak Arizona intro * 00:56 - Host intro and episode setup * 01:14 - Matthew's voice, bullying, stuttering, and rebuilding trust * 02:02 - Why this story is also about mentorship * 02:49 - Don and Matthew join the conversation * 05:47 - Why mentorship and service matter in this story * 09:01 - What Don saw in Matthew * 10:14 - Don shares why he wanted to pass mentorship forward * 11:21 - Generational service and mentorship * 23:08 - Moving from performance to service * 23:15 - Speaking from the heart, not just the head * 43:53 - Advice for new public speakers Connect LinkedIn: Don Ratliff About the Guest Matthew Malan is a data-driven marketer and Marketing Manager at Vemo Smart Energy. He focuses on growth, experimentation, and performance, with experience leading digital acquisition across paid social, email, and content. His work combines analytics, campaign execution, and marketing systems to generate measurable business results. Connect Website: https://matthewmalan.com [https://matthewmalan.com]