Ep 284 Freedom by Design: How to Build a Profitable Business That Serves Your Life with Michael Walsh
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Release Date: 08/26/2025
Ep 288 Your P&L Is Lying—Here’s What to Track with Laresa McIntyre
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Your P&L Is Lying—Here’s What to Track with Laresa McIntyre Stop Chasing Revenue: How Fractional CFOs Clear the Financial Fog Most business owners measure success by one thing: revenue growth. The problem? Revenue isn’t cash—and it doesn’t always translate into profit. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, I sat down with Laresa McIntyre, founder of Rockbridge CFO, to uncover the blind spots that keep owners stuck in financial fog. Laresa brings over 15 years of CFO experience and now helps service-based businesses scale smarter with fractional CFO...
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Ep 286 The Profit Pitfalls Most Business Owners Miss with Lisa Hennigar
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
The Profit Pitfalls Most Business Owners Miss with Lisa Hennigar Most business owners don’t lose profit because of one big mistake — it’s usually a thousand tiny leaks. From not knowing your why, to ignoring customer service, to failing to track the right numbers, the truth is this: profit slips away quietly while you’re busy working hard. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, I sit down with Lisa Hennigar, Vice President of Franchise Development at ERA Group and a nationally recognized franchise strategist with over 22 years in the industry. Lisa has worked with everyone...
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Ep 285 Right People, Right Seats: The Hidden Profit Killer in Your Business with Pam Meissner
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Right People, Right Seats: The Hidden Profit Killer in Your Business with Pam Meissner When profit is slipping, most businsess owners look to cut costs or push sales harder. But what if your biggest drain isn’t on the P&L at all—it’s in your people? In this episode of Profit Answer Man, Pam Meissner—COO and CFO at CathCap—pulls back the curtain on why “right people, right seats” isn’t just an HR slogan. It’s one of the most powerful levers for profit growth that most companies ignore until it’s too late. The Gap: Why Profit Leaks Hide in Your...
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Ep 284 Freedom by Design: How to Build a Profitable Business That Serves Your Life with Michael Walsh
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Freedom by Design: How to Build a Profitable Business That Serves Your Life with Michael Walsh Most entrepreneurs start their journey with the dream of freedom—yet many quickly find themselves trapped by the very businesses they built. Revenue grows, responsibilities pile up, and the joy of entrepreneurship fades into overwhelm. In this Episode of the Profit Answer Man, I sat down with Michael Walsh, founder of the Walsh Business Growth Institute and author of Freedom by Design, to unpack how business owners can create companies that support—not suffocate—their lives. Michael has...
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Ep 283 Boost Sales Without Spending a Dime with Tracy Beavers
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Boost Sales Without Spending a Dime with Tracy Beavers Why “More Sales” Isn’t Fixing Your Profit Problem (And What It’s Really Costing You) Ever wondered why your revenue is growing, but your bank account still feels empty? You’re not alone. Most business owners equate more sales with more profit, only to find themselves in the same cycle of financial stress. The truth? Sales without strategy create a dangerous illusion of success—and the hidden cost is your peace of mind, cash flow, and ultimately, your business’s survival. The pain goes deeper: Financial Cost:...
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Ep 282 Profitable But Worthless? How to Build a Business Buyers Actually Want with Justin Goodbread
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Profitable But Worthless? How to Build a Business Buyers Actually Want with Justin Goodbread Why High Profit ≠ High Value—And How That Mistake Could Cost You Millions Most business owners are chasing profit… But what if the very thing you’re chasing is keeping you trapped? Imagine this: You’re running a “successful” business with strong margins and great income. You’re paying yourself well, your spouse is on payroll, and life feels comfortable. Until the day you try to sell… and no one wants to buy. This episode of Profit Answer Man reveals...
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Ep 281 Why Most Marketing Fails—And How to Make Yours Finally Pay Off with Andrew Gregory
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Why Most Marketing Fails—And How to Make Yours Finally Pay Off with Andrew Gregory Why Most Marketing Fails to Deliver Profit—And How to Fix It Marketing agencies promise leads. But what if leads aren’t your problem? Thousands of small business owners are stuck in the same trap: they’re spending money on ads, but their bank accounts still feel tight. The real issue? Bad leads, broken follow-up systems, and a total disconnect between sales and profitability. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, marketing expert Andrew Gregory breaks down the hidden cost of poor...
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Ep 280 How to Solve the Real Problem Killing Your Profit with Doug C. Brown
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
How to Solve the Real Problem Killing Your Profit with Doug C. Brown Why Sales ≠ Profit—And the Blind Spots That Bleed Cash The Profit Gap: Why More Sales Might Be Making You Broke You’re pushing for more revenue. Your team is grinding. But your bank balance isn’t growing. In fact, you're more stressed, your margins are tighter, and your team is overwhelmed. Why? Because most businesses chase symptoms—like “bad sales teams” or “slow growth”—instead of finding and fixing the true root cause. Doug C. Brown, a $900M revenue growth expert, exposes...
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Ep 279 The Purpose of Business is to Make Money with David Schomer
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
The Purpose of Business is to Make Money with David Schomer Why Scaling an E-Commerce Brand Can Bankrupt You (Unless You Fix This First) The Hidden Cost of Growth Nobody Talks About It’s every entrepreneur’s dream: launch a brand, grow revenue, and finally fire your boss. David Schomer lived that dream—scaling a pet supply company on Amazon before going full-time in e-commerce. But what most business owners don’t realize (until it's too late) is that scaling too fast without financial structure can choke your cash flow and starve your business of profit. You can hit record sales...
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Ep 278 How Storytelling Can Drive Your Profits with Seth Donlin
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
How Storytelling Can Drive Your Profits with Seth Donlin Why Visibility ≠ Growth—And How It’s Quietly Costing You Profits Most business owners think the next breakthrough in revenue will come from ads, funnels, or more hustle. But what if the real opportunity is getting in front of someone else’s audience—without spending a dollar on ads? In this episode of Profit Answer Man, we expose the costly visibility gap most owners don’t realize is bleeding their business. Seth Donlin shares why chasing attention isn't enough—and how strategic podcast guesting can...
info_outlineFreedom by Design: How to Build a Profitable Business That Serves Your Life with Michael Walsh
Most entrepreneurs start their journey with the dream of freedom—yet many quickly find themselves trapped by the very businesses they built. Revenue grows, responsibilities pile up, and the joy of entrepreneurship fades into overwhelm.
In this Episode of the Profit Answer Man, I sat down with Michael Walsh, founder of the Walsh Business Growth Institute and author of Freedom by Design, to unpack how business owners can create companies that support—not suffocate—their lives.
Michael has spent over 30 years guiding business owners through the predictable “danger zones” of growth. His message is clear: profit and freedom come when you design your business around your life, not the other way around.
Key Insights from Michael Walsh:
- Business Must Serve Life, Not Just Profit. Too many owners chase revenue milestones—$1M, $5M, $10M—only to find bigger problems waiting at each stage. Michael warns: if profit is your only motivator, satisfaction will always elude you. The companies that thrive long-term are those designed to support the owner’s life and impact. Reflection: Is your business structured to fuel your life’s goals—or is your life revolving around your business?
- Growth Brings Predictable “Danger Zones”. Michael outlined the common revenue milestones where owners hit walls: $1M–$1.2M → the “zone of hell” where you’re too big for DIY systems but too small to afford enterprise solutions. $5M and $10M → structures and systems must evolve or growth stalls. $12M–$20M → the toughest chasm, where people complexity and outdated processes collide. Takeaway: Each new level requires reinventing systems, structures, and leadership—not just “working harder.”
- Systems Alone Don’t Scale—People Do. Rocky and Michael both love spreadsheets, but Michael cautions: numbers tell the story, but people drive the result. A well-designed business empowers its people to excel rather than constraining them with rigid systems. Reflection: Are your processes freeing your team to use their strengths—or boxing them in like cogs in a machine?
- Freedom Comes from Teamwork, Not Control. Michael stresses that leaders must shift from command-and-control to building intelligent ecosystems. True management is about helping people think, thrive, and work together. When teams are supported—not micromanaged—2+2 can equal 6. Question: How much time do you spend training people how to work together, not just what to do?
- The Future Belongs to the Creative Business Owner. AI is transforming the business landscape, but Michael warns that owners who outsource thinking to machines lose their edge. The next era isn’t the Information Age—it’s the Age of Creativity. Those who combine human insight with AI tools will thrive. Action Step: Don’t fear AI—learn to use it as a creative partner to free you up for high-value problem solving.
Key Takeaways:
- Profit Alone Won’t Bring Fulfillment. Chasing revenue milestones without purpose leads to burnout. Businesses built around life goals—not just profit—create more satisfaction and sustainability.
- Growth Has Predictable “Danger Zones”. Each revenue milestone ($1M, $5M, $10M, $20M) comes with hidden challenges. Systems, structures, and leadership must evolve at every stage, or growth will stall.
- Systems Must Support People—Not Control Them. Processes should free your team to use their strengths, not box them in like cogs. Businesses thrive when systems empower people to excel.
- Freedom Comes Through Teams, Not Micromanagement. Leaders must shift from command-and-control to cultivating intelligent ecosystems. Strong teamwork multiplies results and creates freedom for owners.
- The Next Age is Creativity, Powered by AI. AI won’t replace entrepreneurs—but those who creatively combine human judgment with AI tools will have a massive advantage in the years ahead.
About Michael Walsh:
Michael Walsh is the founder of the Walsh Business Growth Institute and author of Freedom by Design: The Business Owner’s Guide to Grow, Make an Impact, and Find Joy Again. For over 30 years, he has helped business owners in Canada, the U.S., and Europe scale profitably by aligning their companies with their life goals.
Links:
Website: http://www.walshbusinessgrowth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-walsh/
Conclusion:
Freedom in business isn’t about hitting the next revenue milestone—it’s about designing a company that grows with you, supports your lifestyle, and empowers your team. Michael Walsh reminds us that profit follows purpose, systems must evolve with scale, and people—not spreadsheets—ultimately drive success. As the business landscape shifts into the age of creativity, those who align vision, systems, and people while leveraging tools like AI will unlock both profitability and freedom.
Your business should give you life, not take it away. The choice to design it that way is yours.
Richer Soul Ep 440 The AI Driven Leader with Geoff Woods: https://richersoul.com/?s=Geoff+Woods
#ProfitFirst #BusinessGrowth #FinancialFreedom #SmartScaling #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessStrategy #LeadershipMatters #CashFlowFix #PurposeDrivenBusiness #CreativeEntrepreneur
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Music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast
Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.
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