The Business Strategist With Adam Strong

Adam Strong
  • 4.9 (29)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

The Business Strategist is the ultimate podcast for entrepreneurs, founders and business owners looking to scale, grow, and exit their businesses successfully. Hosted by Adam Strong, an award-winning strategist with over 30 years of industry experience and three times best selling author. Each episode delivers actionable business advice, practical tools, and insights to help you build a thriving enterprise. Whether you want to master leadership, craft a winning exit strategy, or implement proven scaling techniques, this podcast has you covered. With expert interviews, real-world case studies, and a focus on achieving business freedom, the business strategist is your go-to resource for taking your business to the next level. Tune in every week for new episodes designed to inspire, educate, and empower your entrepreneurial journey. Adam's Contact details LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong Is your business ready to run without you? Take the 2-minute Exit Readiness Assessment — a fast, strategic scorecard for founders who want to scale, sell, or step back without becoming the bottleneck. Get instant insights across leadership, systems, marketing, and more. Click here to take the assessment: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com

  1. 4d ago

    How to Sell Your Business When the Brand Is You

    For years I've heard founders being told to build their personal brand, so why does my guest believe it's the worst thing you can do if you ever want to sell your business? This conversation puts my guest at odds with Daniel Priestley and half of LinkedIn, and I wanted to find out why. We talk about the difference between brand and branding, why buyers hunt for undervalued businesses the way a dealer looks for a Picasso at a car boot sale, and the one asset Stevey says nobody can replace once you've sold. If you run a professional services firm and you've ever wondered whether your name is holding up the valuation, listen before a buyer asks you that question. My guest Stevey Arroyo started on the creative side, learning his craft at a studio in Australia whose clients included Apple. He now works on the deal side, putting a number on what a brand is worth when a business is sold. He also hosts The Brand Exit podcast, where he talks to founders and buyers about what makes a business worth more. Value bombs Why your personal brand could be the biggest risk in your exitBrand versus branding, and why only one shows up in your valuationHow buyers use arbitrage to buy low and sell highThe three things a buyer checks before making an offerWhat to do if you've spent years building your own profileInterested in freeing yourself in the business? Take the exit ready diagnostics test and identify the gaps in your growth and scale model. Go here: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com/ ABOUT THE GUEST www.linkedin.com/in/steveyarroyo www.linkedin.com/company/the-brand-exit   https://www.instagram.com/stevey.arroyo/ https://www.instagram.com/the.brand.exit https://www.thebrandexit.co.uk/ ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong

    How to Sell Your Business When the Brand Is You

  2. Oct 1

    Why Culture Adds Millions to Your Business Valuation

    What if two businesses with the same revenue and the same profit went to market, and one sold for millions more than the other? I've watched it happen more times than I can count, and the reason never shows up anywhere on the balance sheet. Alex Brueckmann has been a good friend of mine for the best part of five years, and this is the third time he's joined me on the show.  This time we tackle the question most founders never think to ask until a buyer is already sitting across the table: why will an investor happily pay more for one business than another when the numbers look almost identical?  Alex sits on both sides of that table, advising founders and investing in businesses himself, so he knows exactly what makes a buyer lean in and what quietly sends them walking. Towards the end I asked him to coach me through my own exit plan, and the very first question he put to me is one I think every founder planning to sell should be able to answer before they go anywhere near a deal. Alex is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Strategy Legacy and creator of the Nine Elements of Organisational Identity framework.  Value bombs Why identical profits can sell at very different pricesThe dead body in the closet that kills dealsHow buyers read your culture in due diligenceWhy alignment is a dangerous word in your boardroomWhere to start if you plan to exit in the next 24 to 36 monthsInterested in freeing yourself in the business? Take the exit ready diagnostics test and identify the gaps in your growth and scale model. Go here: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com/ ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderbrueckmann  Website: www.AlexBrueckmann.com ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong

    Why Culture Adds Millions to Your Business Valuation

  3. Sep 24

    How To Buy An Online Business (From A $120M Broker)

    Would you rather spend three years building a business from scratch, or buy one that's already paying out every month? There's a whole market most founders never see. Websites, SaaS tools and digital products change hands every single day, some of them for millions. I sat down with someone who's brokered over $120 million of these deals. We got into what buyers are really paying for, why two businesses making identical profit can sell for double the price, and the million dollar purchase that went to zero overnight. I'm joined by Mike Swigunski, employee number four at Empire Flippers, the world's largest marketplace for buying and selling online businesses. He helped grow it to a 100 person remote team, brokered over $120 million in acquisitions, and is a number one bestselling author and TEDx speaker.  He's now building Dividends, a platform that lets everyday investors own a share of cash flowing online businesses. Value Bombs  The five checks that stop a business collapsing overnightWhy equal profit can mean a 2x difference in priceThe £1M lesson one first time buyer learned the hard wayHow service firms can bolt on recurring revenueWhy the best offer doesn't always win the dealInterested in freeing yourself in the business? Take the exit ready diagnostics test and identify the gaps in your growth and scale model. Go here: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com/ ABOUT THE GUEST #1 Bestselling Book: https://globalcareerbook.com Dividends Raise: https://wefunder.com/dividends Dividends Website: https://dividendscapital.com TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/MQpotNI5NvQ?si=vBq41Ts_io6eIbHV Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikeswigunski LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeswigunski YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/MikeSwigunski Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swigunski ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong

    How To Buy An Online Business (From A $120M Broker)

  4. Sep 17

    The Exit Most Business Owners Never Reach

    For years I was convinced I had built a real business. So why did the whole thing fall apart the second I stepped away from it? Over 52% of business owners have no exit plan, and with the biggest wealth transfer in history already underway, that window is closing fast. In this episode, I had the privilege of appearing on James Lamb’s podcast called ‘The Ownership Journey, where I break down how to build a business that runs without you, the kind of company acquirers actually want to buy, so you can sell on your own terms and the exact blueprint to maximise valuation 2-3 years before exiting.  I share why founder dependency is the biggest drag on your valuation, how an exit plan exposes the gaps in your company, and the mindset shifts that break the revenue ceilings trapping most entrepreneurs. I also go back to my own story, from elite distance runner to McDonald's manager to advisor, and why healthy high performance beat the hustle that was burning me out. Five key takeaways Why what you own might be a job, not a businessWhy founder dependency is the biggest drag on your business valuationHow an exit plan exposes the gaps holding your company backThe mindset shifts that break through revenue ceilingsWhy rest and recovery drive high performance more than hustle Timestamps (00:00) Introduction(01:49) The Exit Planning Crisis: Why 52% of Founders Have No Plan(03:13) My Athletic Roots: Training Alongside Mo Farah(08:47) From McDonald's Manager to Business Coach(14:18) How to Build a 400+ Episode Podcast That Lasts(21:25) Founder Dependency: The Biggest Drag on Business Valuation(30:48) The LAPS Framework for Tracking Business Metrics(37:17) Hustle Culture vs Healthy High Performance(43:05) A Holistic Approach to Exit Strategy for Business Owners(46:29) Breaking Through Business Growth Ceilings at Every Revenue Level(52:22) Lead Generation, LinkedIn Strategy, and Business Acquisition(01:05:52) What a Successful Exit Really Looks Like(01:08:58) Overcoming the Fear of Being Insignificant(01:12:53) Creating Your Own Economy: Build a Business That Runs Without You Interested in freeing yourself in the business? Take the exit ready diagnostics test and identify the gaps in your growth and scale model. Go here: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com/ ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong ABOUT THE HOST James Lamb LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslambuk/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ownership-journey/id1882591694

  5. Sep 10

    The No Money Down Business Acquisition Playbook

    What if the smartest growth move you could make this year was buying the competitor that keeps stealing your clients? And what if I could do it with none of my own money? I got Jeremy Harbour back on the show and this one shifted how I think about growing my own business. We got into why buying a competitor beats trying to out market them, why most owners quietly wind their business down instead of selling, and the low key way to open that first conversation without spooking anyone.  Jeremy is a Wall Street Journal best selling author and founder of the Harbour Club, the largest M&A community of its kind. He closes one to two acquisition deals every month. Value bombs  Why 92% of small businesses never sell, and how that becomes your openingThe buyer pyramid that quietly doubles what a business is worthHow to spot a competitor worth buying in the first conversationTurning red flags into leverage for a no money down dealThe consulting to equity route into your first acquisition Interested in freeing yourself in the business? Take the exit ready diagnostics test and identify the gaps in your growth and scale model. Go here: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com/ ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyharbour/  Website: https://www.harbourclubevents.com ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong

    The No Money Down Business Acquisition Playbook

  6. Sep 3

    Business Valuation Secrets Private Equity Won't Tell You

    What if the first thing that makes your business worth millions has nothing to do with growth? When private equity buys a company they never fix growth first. They fix five things most founders have never even looked at. And here is the part that should bother you, none of them are a secret. So why do owners leave that value sitting on the table for decades? I have watched buyers walk into a room and unlock value the owner left behind for years. No clever formulas, no trick the big firms know. Just five moves most founders never make until someone is sitting across the table with a chequebook and a list of demands.  In this one I hand you the whole list so you can fix it yourself, keep the value and build a business worth buying, whether you ever sell it or not. What you will learn Why a business that depends on you sells for far lessThe two week test that exposes what breaks without youHow to tell a reputation apart from a real client acquisition engineThe one person sitting in the wrong seat quietly draining your growthThe single claim that lets you charge a premium nobody can copy Interested in freeing yourself in the business? Take the exit ready diagnostics test and identify the gaps in your growth and scale model. Go here: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com/ ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong

  7. Aug 27

    The Blind Spot Every Founder Refuses To See

    What if the one area where you feel most sure of yourself is exactly where you cannot see straight? I have always backed my gut in business, so this conversation properly challenged me. In this episode I sat down with someone who has spent her career in rooms most of us never get near, from the UN stage to Fortune 500 boardrooms. We got into why brilliant leaders get blindsided, why your gut might be quietly steering you wrong, and a simple audit that could sharpen your very next big decision. I will leave the rest for you to hear. Cornelia Choe is an international leadership expert, global keynote speaker and Thinkers50 Radar honoree. She has advised hundreds of CEOs across five continents and wrote The Panoramic Leader with Marshall Goldsmith. Interested in freeing yourself in the business? Take the exit ready diagnostics test and identify the gaps in your growth and scale model. Go here: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com/ What you will learn Why your biggest blind spot hides exactly where you feel most certainThe perspective audit that sharpens any decision in 15 minutesHow to keep your instinct without letting it trap youWhat really happens to your identity when you step away from your businessWhy the truth gets more filtered the higher you climb ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cornelia-choe/ Instagram: corneliachoe_author ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong

    The Blind Spot Every Founder Refuses To See

  8. Aug 20

    Self Discipline Is a Myth (Do This Instead)

    What if the harder you push, the more fragile you get? For years I believed the fix was self discipline. More willpower, more grind, more 5am starts. Every time I fell off I told myself the same thing: just try harder. So what actually moves human behaviour, and why might the smallest action be the one thing that finally helps you grow? I sat down with a behavioural economist who has spent 20 years studying what really changes the way we behave. She told me slow beats fast, big goals freeze us, and there's a silent burnout most founders never spot until the body forces the issue. Then she walked me through her framework live, using one of my own goals. I left questioning a belief I've carried my whole career. Dr Christiane Schroeder is a behavioural economist, TEDx speaker and bestselling author of five books. She hosts the Happy Healthy Hustle Podcast, a top 1% global show, and was named Woman in Podcasting 2025 in the education category. Her new book, Petite Practice, is out 16 August 2026. Interested in freeing yourself in the business? Take the exit ready diagnostics test and identify the gaps in your growth and scale model. Go here: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com/ Value bombs Why the harder you push, the more fragile you getThe rule of thirds, and why bad days are built inSlow beats fast, and how speed quietly costs you the winsThe silent burnout hiding behind your highest performersHer STEP framework, walked through live on my own goal ABOUT THE GUEST Website:  https://doctorchristiane.com Instagram:  https://instagram.com/doctor.christiane LinkedIn:  https://linkedin.com/in/christianeschroeter/ YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@doctor.christiane TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@doctor.christiane X:  https://x.com/Christiane_711 Challenge:  https://doctorchristiane.com/the-do-it-anyway-challenge-3/ ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Website: ⁠https://adamstrong.net⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong

    Self Discipline Is a Myth (Do This Instead)
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About

The Business Strategist is the ultimate podcast for entrepreneurs, founders and business owners looking to scale, grow, and exit their businesses successfully. Hosted by Adam Strong, an award-winning strategist with over 30 years of industry experience and three times best selling author. Each episode delivers actionable business advice, practical tools, and insights to help you build a thriving enterprise. Whether you want to master leadership, craft a winning exit strategy, or implement proven scaling techniques, this podcast has you covered. With expert interviews, real-world case studies, and a focus on achieving business freedom, the business strategist is your go-to resource for taking your business to the next level. Tune in every week for new episodes designed to inspire, educate, and empower your entrepreneurial journey. Adam's Contact details LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong Is your business ready to run without you? Take the 2-minute Exit Readiness Assessment — a fast, strategic scorecard for founders who want to scale, sell, or step back without becoming the bottleneck. Get instant insights across leadership, systems, marketing, and more. Click here to take the assessment: https://readytoexit.scoreapp.com

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