72. Starting Owl & Key, with Krista and Phil Franks (part two)

72. Starting Owl & Key, with Krista and Phil Franks (part two)

Building a business with your spouse sounds romantic in theory. In practice, it requires something harder: self-awareness, shared agreements, and the willingness to keep asking whether the life you're building still looks like the one you wanted. In part two of our conversation with Krista and Phil Franks, co-founders of Owl & Key, we get into the mechanics of what it actually takes to grow something deeply personal (your business) without losing what made it worth building in the first place. And building something of your own, while rarely easy, has a way of giving back more than it takes. Together, we discuss: * How they defined roles based on personality strengths * The structures they put in place to handle conflict without letting it derail the business or the marriage * The hardest operational decision they've made so far and what it cost them * How they built a certification program that scales without sacrificing quality * What it means when the answer to "If we died tomorrow … " starts to drift back toward no * How energy compounds just like money does — and how prioritizing the things that give you life can change everything If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to keep recalibrating as life changes without starting over completely, this conversation may be the answer you’re looking for. Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.getprovide.com/start/the-path-to-owning-it%20to%20pre-qualify] to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

71. Starting Owl & Key, with Krista and Phil Franks (part one)

For some entrepreneurs, the business doesn't start with a pitch deck or a market opportunity. It starts with a question they’re brave enough to answer honestly: If I were to die tomorrow, would I be proud of the way I live today? In this episode, we sit down with Krista and Phil Franks, the husband and wife co-founding team behind Owl & Key, a platform built around intentional living and lifestyle design. What began as a quiet tension between the life they were living and the life they actually wanted evolved into a business born from the inside out — built first as a framework for their own family, and eventually shared with the world. And building something of your own, while never easy, has a way of giving back more than it takes. Together, we discuss: * The moment they asked themselves if they would be proud of the way they lived today — and what it meant when the answer was no * How shared values and honest conversation gave them the foundation to take the leap * The failed restaurant venture that taught them more about entrepreneurship than they expected * Why they believe action teaches more than planning * How an internal planning framework they built for their own family became the foundation for Owl & Key If you’ve ever suspected that the life you’re living and the life you actually want don’t look the same, this conversation invites you to take the leap to build your dream life. Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.getprovide.com/start/the-path-to-owning-it%20to%20pre-qualify] to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

70. Acquiring MP Copiers with Sean McIlroy

For some entrepreneurs, the idea of ownership doesn't come from a lifelong dream. It comes from a conversation, a transition, and a willingness to bet on yourself when the road ahead isn't clear. In this episode, we sit down with Sean McIlroy, West Point graduate, former U.S. Army Green Beret, and owner of MP Copiers in Northern Virginia, who discovered entrepreneurship through acquisition after a decade of military service. What started as a passing suggestion from a friend evolved into an 18-month search, a disciplined acquisition process, a business that checked every box, and a deal that closed in March 2026. Together, we discuss: * What ten years of military service really teaches you about risk, chaos, and leading people * How he discovered entrepreneurship through acquisition and why it felt like the right fit * What 18 months of searching actually looks like and how he stayed the course * The criteria he used to evaluate businesses and why he looked past the "trendy" options * The financial trade-offs of the search and what made it survivable * The leadership adjustment every new owner has to make about the people already on their team If you've ever stood at a transition point and wondered whether ownership could be your next chapter, Sean's story offers an honest and grounded look at what it really takes. Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠ [https://www.getprovide.com/start/the-path-to-owning-it%20to%20pre-qualify] to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

69. Building and scaling Healthy Pet Veterinary Clinic with Dr. Kate McGowan, DVM

For some entrepreneurs, building a business isn't just about what they're creating — it's about who they're becoming in the process. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kate McGowan, DVM, owner of The Healthy Pet Veterinary Clinics in the Atlanta area, who built a boutique veterinary hospital from the ground up while raising a family and carrying six figures of student loan debt. What began as a late-night conversation on the couch evolved into two thriving locations, a debt-free life, and a business designed intentionally around the people she loves most. Together, we discuss: * What it really feels like to leave a safe job for something uncertain * The honest conversations she had at home before taking the leap * The shift in family dynamics that made the business possible * Designing a schedule, culture, and team around family — not in spite of it * The Profit First method and the financial habits that fueled long-term stability * Learning to let go, hire slowly, and trust the people around you If you've ever wondered whether you can build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process, Dr. Kate's story offers a candid look at what it really takes. Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠getprovide.com⁠ [https://www.getprovide.com/start/the-path-to-owning-it%20to%20pre-qualify] to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

68. Starting REATA Commercial Realty with Bob and Jan Gibbons

For some entrepreneurs, starting a business isn’t just a leap of faith — it’s a leap taken together. In this episode, we sit down with husband and wife Bob and Jan Gibbons,  who built their commercial real estate business over time — first as a solo venture, and eventually as a shared commitment. What began as a response to a layoff evolved into a long-term partnership rooted in trust, specialization, and a willingness to grow together. But working together didn’t come with a blueprint. Together, we discuss: * What it feels like to build a business after unexpected job loss * The leap from “helping out” to fully committing as co-owners * The tension of giving each other responsibility and authority * Learning to define roles, stay in your lane, and let go of control * How outside mentorship helped them align around a shared vision If you’ve ever wondered whether you could build something meaningful with your spouse — without sacrificing the relationship in the process — this conversation offers an honest look at what it really takes. Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit getprovide.com [https://www.getprovide.com/start/the-path-to-owning-it%20to%20pre-qualify] to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.