Sam Penny

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Channel • 2 Shows

Self-Improvement

Self-Improvement

Updated weekly
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated weekly

23/07/2025

The Man Who Destroys People For Fun: Inside the Mind of Lazarus Lake

This Man Destroys People for Fun | Lazarus Lake on Endurance, Suffering & Why Most People Quit 📝 Episode Description / Show Notes: In this episode, Sam Penny sits down with the legendary Lazarus Lake—the mysterious mastermind behind the Barkley Marathons and the man who’s redefined human limits through races that most never finish. You’ll hear the raw and unfiltered philosophy of a man who builds races designed to break people. Laz opens up about the psychology of suffering, the myth of motivation, and why the finish line is always further than you think. We talk about: How Laz engineered events to reveal who people really areWhy most people don’t quit when it gets hard—they quit before it startsThe "ordinary people doing extraordinary things" philosophyWhy he believes "the purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater things"The real reason behind the infamous Barkley Marathons' designWhat he thinks about achievement, failure, and human potentialAnd why, despite it all, he’s never run his own racesThis episode is more than a conversation—it’s a challenge to everything you think you know about endurance, resilience, and what you’re capable of. 🎧 Listen if you’ve ever: Wondered what separates those who finish from those who falterFelt stuck at the starting lineWanted to push yourself further—but didn’t know howNeeded a wake-up call on what it means to be truly brave🔥 Quotable Moments: “People always quit because of the pain they imagine—not the pain they experience.” “The goal is not the finish. The goal is what the journey demands of you.” “Comfort is a great liar. And it always wins—unless you know how to fight it.”🔗 Resources & Mentions: Barkley Marathons DocumentaryLaz’s race calendarSam Penny’s coaching for bold achievers → sampenny.com📌 Subscribe to the podcast: Built to Sell | Built to Buy — new episodes weekly. 📱 Follow Sam: Instagram / LinkedIn / TikTok → @90dayswithsam 🎙 Podcast HQ: sampenny.com/brave

23/07/2025

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1 hr
07/07/2025

Derisk the Deal: How to Make Buyers Say Yes!

🚨 Thinking about selling your business — now or in a few years? This episode is your blueprint. 🚨 Join business coach Sam Penny as he dives deep into the real reason deals fall apart — risk. Not revenue. Not EBITDA. Not potential. But perceived risk. In this session, Sam Penny dives into how to properly de-risk your deal when preparing to sell. Making your business bulletproof involves removing yourself from daily tasks and ensuring smooth operations. By focusing on de-risking the deal, you make your business more attractive to buyers. In this powerhouse episode of the Built to Sell | Built to Buy Podcast, you’ll learn exactly how to make your business irresistible to buyers by removing the silent deal killers hiding in plain sight. 🔎 What you’ll learn in this episode: - Why buyers don’t pay top dollar for potential — they pay for certainty.- The top 7 hidden risks that scare off serious buyers.- The exact 5 Deal De-riskers™ Sam uses with his private clients to increase valuations by six figures (or more).- How to systemise, stabilise, and scale — even if you're not ready to sell yet.- A real-world case study where a business valuation jumped from $960K to $1.24M without changing profit.- Why owner dependency, messy financials, and poor handover planning are destroying your multiple.- How to flip buyer fear into buyer confidence — and command a better offer with cleaner terms. ✅ Whether you’re 12 months from selling or still building, this episode will:→ Help you identify the risks you can't see because you're too close.→ Give you a checklist to start removing deal-breakers today.→ Show you how to increase the value of your business without increasing your profit. 🎯 Want to know how buyer-ready your business really is?Grab your free Business Readiness Report at https://sampenny.com/readiness 🧭 Ready to work 1-on-1 with Sam to prepare for a high-value exit?Book your free strategy call at https://sampenny.com/strategy 💡 If you’ve ever wondered: → “How do I sell my business for more?”→ “What are buyers really looking for?”→ “How do I remove myself from daily operations?”→ “How do I increase my business valuation without burning out?” …this is the episode you cannot afford to miss. 🎧 Listen on the go:Spotify: Built to Sell | Built to BuyApple Podcasts: Built to Sell | Built to Buy 📌 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. #BuiltToSell #BuiltToBuy #SamPenny #BusinessValuation #HowToSellYourBusiness #ExitStrategy #DeRiskTheDeal #SmallBusinessAdvice #BusinessExitPlan #SellMyBusiness #BusinessBroker #BuyersDueDiligence #SystemiseYourBusiness #OwnerIndependentBusiness #IncreaseBusinessValue #RecurringRevenue #SOPs #CleanFinancials #BusinessReadiness #FreedomFromBusiness

07/07/2025

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54 min
21/07/2025

The Secret to Selling Your Business? (It’s not what you’d think)

🎧 Episode Summary: Think your business will sell because it's profitable? Think again. In this powerhouse episode, business coach and advisor Sam Penny reveals the real reason businesses sell—and why the ones that should sell often don't. Spoiler: It's not EBITDA. It's not your P&L. It’s not even your systems. It’s alignment. Buyers don’t just want a business that makes money—they want one that feels like home. One that reflects their values, their leadership style, their vision for the future. And when they see themselves in your business? They move faster. They pay more. And they need less convincing. This episode unpacks how to position your business for a premium exit by focusing on what really drives buyer decisions. 🧠 What You’ll Learn: Why buyers walk away from profitable businessesThe 4 Pillars of Magnetic Positioning™How to attract not just any buyer—but the right oneThe surprising type of buyer who’ll pay the most (and it’s not who you think)How to build values into your IM, pitch deck, and brandA real-world case study where values-based positioning added over $500k to a dealTools you can use today: Business Readiness Report, Brand Mastery Course, Exit Strategy Roadmap🔑 Key Takeaway: Buyers don’t fall in love with businesses. They fall in love with the future they see in them.💥 Bonus: Sam walks through his step-by-step framework to turn your business into something buyers believe in, not just buy into. 🔗 Resources Mentioned: 📊 Business Readiness Report – Assess your sale readiness across 8 value drivers🧭 Brand Mastery Course – Turn your values into a strategic asset📌 Exit Strategy Roadmap – Your plan to increase valuation and reduce risk All available at sampenny.com🎯 Want to Position Your Business for Premium Buyers? Book a free strategy session with Sam at 👉 sampenny.com/strategy 🔜 Next Episode Teaser: "Build a Sale Process That Doesn’t Blow the Deal" Learn how to control the deal narrative, pace the process, and build trust while keeping your power. Don’t miss it. 📱 Subscribe & Review: Follow Built to Sell | Built to Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform. And if this episode hit home—leave a review. It helps more founders find the insights they need to exit right.

21/07/2025

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27 min
17/09/2025

Climbing the Impossible: Andrew Lock's Tales of the Himalayas

At 8,000 metres, every breath burns. The wind cuts like knives, avalanches thunder past, and climbers face life-or-death decisions: push for the summit or stop to save a life. Most of us will never stand on Everest, let alone all 14 of the world’s highest peaks without oxygen or Sherpa support. But today’s guest has done exactly that. Andrew Lock is the only Australian to summit all fourteen 8,000-metre mountains. His story is one of resilience, risk, and relentless pursuit of the impossible. In this episode of Why Do You Think You Could Do That?, Andrew shares: How a slideshow in a country pub turned a young policeman into one of the world’s elite mountaineers.The near-death moments on Everest, K2, Annapurna and beyond – and the choices that meant saving lives over summiting.Why he rejected oxygen bottles and Sherpa support to climb “pure.”The psychological turning point where fear nearly made him retreat – and the mindset shift that defined his climbing career.The flatness that followed completing all 14 summits, and how he found new challenges in ocean sailing, Arctic expeditions, and beyond.Practical lessons on courage, risk, and stepping outside your comfort zone – no matter what mountain you’re climbing in life.“Bravery isn’t about being fearless. It’s about what we do when fear shows up.” – Andrew LockIf you’ve ever looked at a goal that seemed far out of reach, this conversation will show you that the next step is always possible. Connect with Andrew Lock 🌍 Andrew’s Website Connect with Sam Penny 🎙️ More episodes: sampenny.com/brave👤 Mentoring with Sam: sampenny.com/action

17/09/2025

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1h 4m
28/07/2025

The Fit Factor: How to Avoid Buying the Wrong Business

Too many investors get seduced by EBITDA and end up buying the wrong business. In this episode, Sam Penny dives deep into what really matters when you're buying: fit. Because even a profitable business will eat you alive if the values, leadership style, or vision don’t align with you. Drawing from 25 years of real-world experience buying, building, and selling businesses, Sam introduces the Buyer Fit Framework—a simple but powerful tool to evaluate whether a business truly suits who you are and how you lead. This episode is for anyone who's ever looked at a P&L and thought, “This looks good,” but forgot to ask, “Does it feel right?” What You’ll Learn: Why buyers regret poor fit, not high prices.The 4 dimensions of Buyer Fit: Values, Leadership, Skill, and Vision.How to spot cultural misalignments before they derail your deal.The “soft signals” that tell you if a business is truly right for you.The red flags that even seasoned buyers miss (and how to catch them early).Practical tools to evaluate alignment and de-risk your acquisition.Free Resources Mentioned: 🔍 Business Valuation Report🧭 Leadership Alignment Tool🛠️ Business Buying Roadmap🎯 Strategy Session with Sam: sampenny.com/strategyWho This Episode Is For: Acquisition entrepreneurs looking to avoid post-deal regretInvestors moving from theory to real-world ownershipOperators wanting more than just ROI—they want meaning, mission, and momentumFinal Thought: When the fit is right, the numbers follow. But when it’s not, the deal becomes a burden. Don’t buy a misfit. Buy a business that fits you.

28/07/2025

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19 min
03/08/2025

Courage or Comfort: Which One’s Leading You?

In today’s Bravery Digest, Sam Penny throws down the gauntlet: Are you leading your life from courage, or coasting in your comfort zone? This isn’t just another motivational pep talk. Sam introduces the Bravery Audit; a 5-question pulse check designed to help you spot the subtle ways comfort creeps in and quietly takes over. If you’ve ever found yourself playing small, avoiding discomfort, or hesitating when it’s time to leap, this episode is your call to arms. Sam doesn’t just talk theory. He offers a practical tool you can use right now to re-align with your braver self. Whether you’re at a crossroads in business or life, this is your wake-up call to lead deliberately. 🛠️ In This Episode: Why bravery isn’t a fixed trait, but a daily decisionHow comfort sneaks in and sabotages growthThe 5-Question Bravery Audit you can take in under 2 minutesWhat your score really says about your leadershipA bold challenge to act before the day ends💥 Bonus: Get ready for Thursday’s full-length episode with Brianna Thompson, a powerhouse of next-gen courage who’s redefining what it means to carry a legacy forward. 🗣 Quote of the Episode: “Bravery isn’t something you just have; it’s something you practice or abandon every single day.”📩 Your Turn: Which Bravery Audit question hit you hardest? Send Sam a DM or drop a comment. He wants to hear from you.

03/08/2025

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4 min
18/08/2025

Exit Ready or Just Tired?

Too many business owners confuse burnout with readiness. Feeling exhausted after a tough year doesn’t mean your business is ready to sell—and waiting too long for the “perfect moment” can be just as costly. In this episode, Sam Penny breaks down how to know whether you’re truly exit ready or just tired, and the steps you can take to avoid one of the most expensive mistakes an owner can make. Sam draws on his own experience building and selling seven-figure businesses, plus his work alongside brokers and buyers, to give you a clear, no-nonsense framework for exit success. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The difference between burnout and readiness—and why mistaking one for the other can cost you millions.The two layers of readiness: emotional and structural—and why both must align.The five core drivers of exit readiness every buyer looks for:Three-year financial stabilityOwner independenceDocumented systems and processesA clear growth storyStrong market positioningSigns you’re just tired (not ready to sell): no succession plan, dependence on your role, rapid growth still underway.The hidden costs of selling too early—lower multiples, seller’s remorse, and leaving growth for the buyer.The dangers of waiting too long—declining performance, market shifts, and negative buyer perception.The self-check framework: 4 brutally honest questions to assess if your business could survive without you and appeal to buyers.How to prepare your deal room, leadership team, and transition plan before going to market.Sam’s Exit Readiness Action Plan—a step-by-step approach to maximise valuation and sell on your terms.Links & Resources Want my to be in your corner? I have a small number of coaching spots available: sampenny.com/actionListen to more episodes of Built to Sell | Built to Buy: sampenny.com/podcastDownload your free Business Sale Readiness Report: sampenny.com/readiness

18/08/2025

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21 min
01/10/2025

Behaviour Drives Money: Hugh Massie on DNA Insights, Leadership, and Building Exponential Businesses

What if the way you’re wired is silently driving every financial and business decision you make? In this episode of Built to Sell | Built to Buy, host Sam Penny sits down with Hugh Massie, founder of DNA Behavior International, to explore how our natural behavioural wiring influences money, decision-making, leadership, and ultimately the value of a business. Hugh’s journey from chartered accountant to global entrepreneur reveals why behaviour is the denominator of success. He shares how losing his father at a young age shaped his passion for mentoring boys without fathers, why understanding behaviour is critical in scaling businesses, and how leaders can adopt an exponential mindset to unlock massive growth. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, team leader, or someone simply looking to make smarter financial choices, this conversation will give you practical steps to align behaviour with money, reduce risk, and open the door to exponential growth. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How behaviour drives money — and why financial outcomes start with self-awarenessThe story of how Hugh built DNA Behavior into a global platform impacting millionsWhy stress reveals your true wiring and how that impacts decision-making under pressureThe role of culture and behavioural alignment in maximising business valuationWhat it means to adopt an exponential mindset vs. incremental growthLessons from Hugh’s initiative Boys Without Fathers, and how mentoring shapes leadershipHow AI and technology are reshaping behavioural insights in businessThree practical steps you can take today to align your behaviour and moneyAbout Hugh Massie Hugh Massie is the Founder and Executive Chairman of DNA Behavior International, a global leader in behavioural profiling and money insights. His tools have been used by thousands of companies and advisors to improve decision-making, leadership, and financial outcomes. Hugh is also passionate about youth mentoring, particularly helping boys who grow up without fathers, and advocates for leaders to integrate purpose and values into business. 👉 Learn more at dnabehavior.com 👉 Contact Hugh: dnacare@dnabehavior.com Resources & Links Explore DNA Behavior insights: dnabehavior.com Connect with Hugh: dnacare@dnabehavior.com Follow Sam Penny and discover more episodes: sampenny.com

01/10/2025

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1h 8m
02/10/2025

Action: One Small Step Inspired by Lachie Smart

All week we’ve been exploring the story of Lachie Smart, who at just 18 became the youngest person to fly solo around the world. We heard the spark at his kitchen table, the struggles of sponsorship setbacks and near disaster, and the breakthrough that carried him 45,000 km across the globe. But today isn’t about Lachie’s story — it’s about yours. In this Action Friday episode, Sam Penny guides you to take the final step in the Spark → Struggle → Breakthrough → Action arc. You’ll: Reflect on Lachie’s lessons of bravery and persistenceComplete the final sentence: “One thing I will do this week to make a difference is…”Choose one small, practical action that moves you closer to your own impossible goalLearn why accountability matters and how to make your action real by sharing it with someone you trustYour spark, your struggle, your breakthrough — they all lead here. One action. This week. Because bravery isn’t about being fearless. It’s about doing the thing even with fear right beside you. 👉 Explore Lachie’s full guest hub: sampenny.com/lachie-smart If this episode sparked something in you, share it with a friend who needs the same nudge — and don’t forget to subscribe to Why’d You Think You Could Do That? so you never miss your next spark. #ActionFriday #LachieSmart #Bravery #WhyDidYouThinkYouCouldDoThat

02/10/2025

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4 min
15/09/2025

From Rock Bottom to Exit: John Williamson’s Journey with Construct Health

What does it take to build a company, nearly lose it twice, and still walk away with a successful exit? In this episode, Sam Penny sits down with John Williamson, founder of Construct Health. John grew his physiotherapy business to 40 staff, faced near-bankruptcy during the mining downturn, and ultimately rebuilt, restructured, and sold his company to a national group. Along the way, he discovered that resilience isn’t just about spreadsheets and strategy — it’s about daily habits, tough conversations, and choosing to keep turning up when everything inside you wants to quit. Whether you’re an owner thinking about your exit, or a buyer wanting to understand what it really takes behind the numbers, this conversation is packed with lessons you won’t want to miss. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why cash flow discipline matters more than revenue in high-growth businesses.How acquisitions can quickly turn toxic — and what to watch out for in due diligence.The mental and physical habits John used to survive the darkest entrepreneurial moments.How he restructured his business, repaid debts, and rebuilt trust with staff and stakeholders.What it really feels like to walk away after 17 years when you finally sell your company.Quotes from John “I didn’t know if I could do it or not, but I knew I was going to keep turning up.”“Even when you’re growing fast, cash flow is an issue. I learned that the hard way.”“Sometimes survival isn’t about brilliance — it’s about refusing to walk away.”Resources & Links Connect with John Williamson on LinkedIn Learn more about his new venture: Unventured.life (coming soon)Like What You Hear? This episode was originally recorded for Sam’s other podcast, Why’d You Think You Could Do That? — a show about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. If you want more stories of bravery and resilience, follow it wherever you get your podcasts. And don’t forget to subscribe to Built to Sell | Built to Buy so you never miss an episode on maximising value, preparing for exit, and buying businesses the smart way.

15/09/2025

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1h 10m

Welcome to the official podcast channel of Sam Penny; business coach, endurance athlete, keynote speaker, and host of Australia’s most courageous conversations. This is where bold thinkers come to challenge what’s possible in life and business. Across multiple shows, Sam brings you unfiltered insights, raw courage, and world-class strategies to push your limits, scale your business, and lead with impact. 🎙️ What You’ll Hear on This Channel: 📌 Why’d You Think You Could Do That? Real conversations with people who’ve done extraordinary things. Athletes, entrepreneurs, adventurers, and creators who dared to try the impossible, and lived to tell the tale. It’s not just inspiration, it’s instruction for the brave. 📌 Built to Sell | Built to Buy Hard-hitting insights for business owners preparing to exit, and investors looking to buy smart. Learn the strategies behind valuation growth, due diligence, deal structuring, and post-sale freedom. A must-listen for founders, acquirers, and brokers. 🧠 Who Is Sam Penny? Sam is a business coach for founders and executives who want to scale smarter, sell higher, and live freer. With 25+ years of firsthand experience buying, building, and exiting businesses, Sam helps owners get their companies investor-ready while reclaiming time, control, and confidence. But Sam’s not just about business. He’s also an endurance adventurer; swimming the English Channel in winter, completing ice miles, and pushing the boundaries of human grit. This rare blend of commercial acumen and courageous living is what sets Sam apart, and it’s what fuels every episode. 🔥 Sam’s Areas of Expertise: Business exit planning & valuation maximisation Buying businesses & investor readiness High-performance leadership & personal growth Strategic sales, marketing & operations Endurance mindset & courageous living Keynote speaking on resilience, ownership & growth 🎤 Book Sam as a Speaker or Coach Whether you're running a boardroom, buying your first business, or chasing your next big move, Sam will help you go further, faster. Want to work together or book Sam to speak at your next event? 👉 Visit sampenny.com 👉 Connect on LinkedIn 👉 Book a discovery chat: sampenny.com/chat

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