The Employer's Playbook

Engineering the Exit: Logan Johnson on ETA, PE, and Financial Advising

What does it take to go from the factory floor to managing multi-million-dollar deals, and then to guiding business owners as a financial advisor? For Logan Johnson, it meant embracing change, taking calculated risks, and learning to see opportunity where others see uncertainty. In this episode, Logan shares his journey from engineer to private equity investor to financial advisor, the lessons he’s learned about leadership through acquisition, and the financial strategies that help businesses grow with purpose. Tune in for a conversation about career pivots, strategic thinking, and the mindset it takes to succeed across industries. 📚 Check out Logan's book recommendations below Traction by Gino Wickman (https://a.co/d/2HwNCQH [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXVuUlB6NUJwc3NHY3k5YWd2alF3ck40RXg4d3xBQ3Jtc0tsdlVjLWJ6SEtfQ3BjTWlQV1JRTHJlcEt4X0g1YzI2MHRKdHVaem1kcmVsQXk4TzN4Qk1YNklWN2ktWXYtUlRyMzVtYWRaRFI5N2NDUWRKTXluLW9Tc3BJcjdzUjFNUVRWSHBHMDlQQndxMjBHRU5NSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fa.co%2Fd%2F2HwNCQH&v=Ib0bJIZplhw]) Buy then Build (https://a.co/d/eRcbYUy [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnFNSXZManJPcGF2LW95OEdmZ2EtMGNkdEJpZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuekdOdW1PajUycDB6dE5MSnl5cDRSUVcyd2dicFFQM1lPVlpMNFhZVURaZncyUmg0b3NBS0xTbWs2VVkza0FBMDFYd1dhVHVnY0RUTXhSZ01wZWtDeGdCTDdjSEgweXR4Q3VhRlRjLWhPckV6ZlgzNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fa.co%2Fd%2FeRcbYUy&v=Ib0bJIZplhw]) Shoemaker by Joe Foster (https://a.co/d/hvhuYuk [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2UxN2NmSmdVd1hBRXNYcFZBaHpsdk5SaXVnQXxBQ3Jtc0ttNE85UmJWLVJmWmhna3hOY3ZPcl9ocjBia1ZieXNkc0dBaDVLZGZyZ2JmYzBiLXBHRzgtT1dZNjc0MVpHT2JPM2J0ek1taVhlbTZIaWtPcDUtNDRqVXNlWGhJNWlIazVRWVlkRWszekVDd2tMRm9rRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fa.co%2Fd%2FhvhuYuk&v=Ib0bJIZplhw]) 📩 Want to get in touch with Logan? Check him out on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ (  / loganjohnsonadvising   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTNPRWUzVU5iaU8xM3VLOTUwclg4eU5BLWVjUXxBQ3Jtc0tsZ2ptN2U5VlpRWHpDNHBWSTZ2RmxXcXNBSFE3WHk3TmM1OWwyWmxIVUNJVm5vdVdBbW9ac0VfZk85c2R3SmVJQ29feWhHaTF6amdCMXVTVXhYeTF0RmdrQ1JRNlhxck9GdkYtSnRGRDBCTGMtTUpoNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Floganjohnsonadvising&v=Ib0bJIZplhw]) or ⁠visit Abri's website (https://abri.io [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTgwTHhJX1VBOG5TaXptZTl4Qk9wYl9FRWlKQXxBQ3Jtc0ttSEtoa3A2QkdFdURDMEJ3NjVzcVh0ZnQ1NjdPb1pYekIzOXFheFhFaUFTb09XcEZvMTIzUmQxS2t6V3dlMWtJelp5STFmNUNpLXZIUDA5eUV0ZVJRMGdZNkRqazhaVk8tZXJzYk5GRTBTQTZ6dWFJYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fabri.io%2F&v=Ib0bJIZplhw])⁠. 📲 Get connected with us on social media! Facebook: facebook.com/lockabypllc Instagram: instagram.com/lockaby_pllc LinkedIn: linkedin.com/lockaby-pllc Website: https://LockabyLaw.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa291dHplODFXUk8xWGk5TkZ2eGdQUFZHb2xUQXxBQ3Jtc0tsQy02YU5VeFBwel9Lc2M3R0NNeXNqZXhwMWNqSzVWdzNBclpiSlRfa1BNV24xenFkdG1fLVk0bmFBNnhqUWtHUHk0OWJVVlhxeG5RVnhDeTFOelI5NW9GOUxhNlRxcTJPTVRKaER6b19OSzdzaGFUYw&q=https%3A%2F%2FLockabyLaw.com%2F&v=Ib0bJIZplhw] 📨 Subscribe to our newsletter! http://eepurl.com/hOJJNz [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbV94OWNBbTFtVDdIbUJGOUluOEJYcDJUaXRFQXxBQ3Jtc0ttYVBHaWNwdEZSY1d5Y1BUQ19YV1FkM0VUdWRWQWpTQ2xuY0ttTThOaTlaWjVWN3YzV1Z2X2NHWGluNk92Q1hGbmwxU2dvakcwbzRPVlBBSk9rOEgxd3R0ZERjNFhpMGlJVE9QVlg3MzlITF93REN2aw&q=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FhOJJNz&v=Ib0bJIZplhw] 📌 Episode Chapters 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw] Welcome and introductions 03:40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=220s] From Engineering to Private Equity 10:07 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=607s] Entrepreneurship through Acquisition 17:56 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=1076s] Prepping First-Time Buyers and Sellers 24:21 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=1461s] Small Business Owner Financials 28:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=1697s] Understanding Your Market 37:58 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=2278s] Business Cash Flow Cycle 42:13 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=2533s] Stepping into Management Post-Acquisition 48:53 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=2933s] Workplace Change as a Young Person 52:43 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=3163s] What's Abri? 55:44 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=3344s] Vetting for a Well-Rounded Workforce 01:01:18 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=3678s] Problems All Business Owners Face (As Seen by Abri) 01:09:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=4151s] Tips for Business Owners 01:17:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=4679s] Books Every Owner Should Read 01:26:56 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=5216s] Biggest Myths in the ETA Space (Buy and Sell Side) 01:32:54 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0bJIZplhw&t=5574s] Closing and Outro

From Building a Business to Finding a Calling: A Conversation with Jon Fox

What happens after you sell the business you spent years building? For Jon Fox, it meant stepping into a new role: helping other business owners lead with clarity. In this episode, Jon shares his journey from founder to EOS implementer, the lessons he learned from exiting his company, and how he learned to trust his gut and choose his hard. Tune in for a candid conversation about identity, transition, and the mindset shifts that fuel long-term success. 📚 Check out Jon's book recommendations from this conversation Crucial Conversations by Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Kerry Patterson [https://a.co/d/bGSKMLq] E Myth Enterprise by Michael E. Gerber [https://a.co/d/hUVXeS0] Drive by Daniel H. Pink [https://a.co/d/h5IeCBY] Traction by Gino Wickman [https://a.co/d/3MPFBJC] Profit First by Mike Michalowicz [https://a.co/d/3qD0JDh] Want to get in touch with Jon? Check him out on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonfoxeos?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BKrnpUaSzQv67YeDnsrz6mA%3D%3D] or visit his EOS website [https://www.eosworldwide.com/jon-fox]. 📲 Get connected with us on social media!Facebook: facebook.com/lockabypllc Instagram: instagram.com/lockaby_pllc LinkedIn: linkedin.com/lockaby-pllc Website: https://LockabyLaw.com📨 Subscribe to our newsletter!http://eepurl.com/hOJJNz 📌 Episode Chapters (00:00:00) Welcome and introductions (00:03:47) Jon launches his first business (00:06:33) No operating agreement, just friendship and goodwill (00:09:16) The first few years (00:13:13) You have a lot of time and no money, or a lot of money and no time (00:14:53) A 50/50 partnership and handling conflict (00:16:43) Read more books--you'll grow as a person (00:23:58) Growing with your company and making changes (00:32:36) Managing growth--hiring and cash flow (00:34:20) Growing pains (00:40:40) Not everyone should start their own business (00:44:51) Jon's exit (00:53:08) Exit logistics (00:58:07) Finding EOS (01:03:16) What is EOS? (01:07:52) What problems do every business face? (01:20:32) What's next for Jon? (01:22:42) Trusting your gut (01:30:30) Book(s) everyone should read (01:37:35) Go to productivity hack (01:38:13) Worst business advice received

The Employer's Playbook Trailer

Welcome to The Employer’s Playbook, a podcast that navigates the real-world challenges of owning and running a small or mid-sized business. Hosted by Matt Lockaby, we deep-dive the full business lifecycle, from start-up and formation to contracts to HR and personnel and employment issues, and finally M&A. Each episode features candid, unscripted conversations with experienced business owners, legal professionals, M&A professionals, and HR experts who’ve been in the trenches, offering practical insights you won’t find in a textbook.