The Decision by EO Nashville

EO Nashville
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

This is The Decision by Nashville EO. On this podcast, you will hear the rest of the story after tough decisions were made by Entrepreneurs who faced adversity and lived to tell about it.

  1. 2d ago

    David Frederiksen - When To Pivot, Delegate, and Let Go as a Business Leader

    David Frederiksen is the Founder and CEO of Tobias Advisors, a firm that helps healthcare leaders and organizations scale through clarity, alignment, and disciplined execution. A seasoned entrepreneur and former CEO of PatientFocus, David brings more than 25 years of experience building companies across healthcare, finance, and technology. He focuses on aligning leadership teams, strengthening execution, and building scalable systems. David is also a Certified Executive Teams Coach and fractional CxO. In this episode… Entrepreneurship rarely follows a clean, predictable path. From testing ideas and managing growth to knowing when to change direction, business leaders are constantly making decisions with incomplete information. How do you recognize when it's time to keep pushing — and when a different approach is the better move? Healthcare entrepreneur and executive coach David Frederiksen built his career by learning that lesson firsthand. From teaching English overseas to navigating healthcare finance, launching a patient billing company, and eventually stepping away from the business he built, his journey reflects years of solving problems as circumstances changed. Along the way, David learned to separate genuine market demand from perceived need, lean on trusted peers during difficult decisions, and build a team capable of succeeding without him. His advice for entrepreneurs is to test what the market supports, seek outside perspectives, and not assume working harder is always the answer. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline sits down with David Frederiksen, Founder and CEO of Tobias Advisors, to discuss entrepreneurial decision-making and leadership. David explains the difference between need and demand, the value of peer support during tough decisions, and his choice to step away from his company. He also shares how those experiences shaped his move into executive coaching.

  2. Sep 11

    Eric Schell - How Customer Pain Points Can Reveal Your Next Big Opportunity

    Eric Schell is the Co-founder and CEO of OneTap, a technology company that streamlines maintenance and repair requests for restaurants and other businesses. With more than a decade of experience in construction, real estate, and hands-on fieldwork, he focuses on making service faster, simpler, and more cost-effective for owners and technicians. Eric previously owned Nashville Maintenance Pros and The Nashville Flipper, a home flipping and maintenance company. In this episode… Some of the strongest business ideas begin with repeatedly seeing the same problem from the front lines. When an inefficient process becomes so familiar that everyone accepts it as normal, what does it take to recognize the opportunity hiding inside it? Construction and maintenance entrepreneur Eric Schell spent more than a decade working in the trades, renovating properties, and building a service business before noticing how difficult commercial maintenance had become for customers. What started with firsthand experience fixing problems grew into a deeper understanding of the delays, communication gaps, and unnecessary friction businesses faced when requesting repairs. Along the way, Eric learned to build confidence, hire when capacity became a constraint, and use peer feedback to make bigger decisions. He advises entrepreneurs to understand the problem firsthand, listen closely to customers, and commit once the opportunity has been validated. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline sits down with Eric Schell, Co-founder and CEO of OneTap, to discuss turning firsthand industry problems into a scalable business. Eric talks about identifying gaps in commercial maintenance, how Catalyst influenced a major business decision, and using customer data and technology to improve adoption.

  3. Sep 4

    Jonathan Merkh - How To Use a Book To Build Authority and Grow Your Business

    Jonathan Merkh is the Co-Founder, President, and CEO at Forefront Books, a hybrid publisher that helps thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts turn compelling ideas into professionally published books. With more than 30 years in publishing, he guides authors through strategy, editorial development, production, distribution, and market positioning. Jonathan previously held leadership roles at Thomas Nelson and Simon & Schuster. Across his career, he has helped publish nearly 100 New York Times bestsellers and serves on the board of the Independent Book Publishers Association. In this episode… Publishing a book can do more for an entrepreneur than generate book sales. The right book can strengthen credibility, establish expertise, attract clients, and open doors that might otherwise remain closed. So how can entrepreneurs use a book as a strategic tool for building authority and growing their business? Publishing veteran Jonathan Merkh explains that the real ROI of a business book often comes from the opportunities it creates, not the number of copies sold. Becoming an author can position entrepreneurs as trusted authorities and help prospective clients view their expertise from a new perspective. Jonathan also emphasizes the value of professional publishing, strong storytelling, and choosing the right support throughout the process. The goal is to create a high-quality book that builds credibility, extends your reach, and continues working for your business long after publication. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline talks with Jonathan Merkh, Co-founder, President, and CEO of Forefront Books, about using books to build authority and business opportunities. Jonathan shares why book sales aren't the only measure of ROI, how hybrid publishing works, and what it takes to turn an idea into a professional book. He also touches on entrepreneurship, navigating difficult partnerships, and the value of community through EO.

  4. Aug 7

    Bill McCleskey - The Future of Entrepreneurship and Business Leadership in Nashville

    Bill McCleskey is the Founder and CEO of Mitech Partners, a Nashville-based technology brokerage that connects businesses with telecom and technology solutions. He also serves as the President of EO Nashville, where he advances member engagement, community partnerships, digital visibility, and growth across Middle Tennessee's entrepreneurial ecosystem. An author, speaker, and business coach, Bill draws on more than 15 years of experience to help entrepreneurs and sales leaders turn discipline, accountability, and relationship-building into measurable revenue. In this episode… Entrepreneurship may begin with an individual decision, but sustainable growth doesn't happen alone. Strong peer relationships create accountability, perspective, and a trusted place to navigate challenges that can't always be shared with employees or family. What changes when entrepreneurs stop treating growth as an individual pursuit and start building it through community? The answer, according to entrepreneur and leadership expert Bill McCleskey, is greater resilience, stronger decision-making, and a higher personal standard. He maintains that growth comes from surrounding yourself with people who challenge your thinking, sharing experiences rather than prescribing solutions, and treating every member as an ambassador for the community. Bill also encourages entrepreneurs to strengthen local relationships, improve digital visibility, and create clearer pathways for business owners at different stages. These practices turn a professional organization like EO Nashville into a meaningful support system for entrepreneurs and the wider city. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline chats with Bill McCleskey, Founder and CEO of Mitech Partners and President of EO Nashville, about building a stronger entrepreneurial community through EO Nashville. Bill shares why leadership raises personal standards, how peer groups create accountability, and what EO Nashville can do to expand its local influence. He also touches on digital outreach, university partnerships, and honest stories of adversity.

  5. Jul 24

    Ann Johnson - How a $250,000 Employee Theft Changed One Business Forever

    Ann Johnson is the Founder and Owner of Waste Tech Services, a nationwide trash consulting and brokerage firm that negotiates waste contracts and reduces disposal costs for businesses. Since its founding, Waste Tech Services has negotiated thousands of contracts for clients and has saved millions of dollars for the companies it represents. With decades of experience in waste management, Ann built the company by forming buying co-ops, reviewing invoices, resolving service issues, and securing optimal contract terms. In this episode… Trust is essential in business, but it can also expose an owner to risks that are difficult to see from the outside. When a longtime employee quietly steals from the company, how does a leader respond without letting the betrayal define everything that follows? Waste-industry expert Ann Johnson built her career by understanding contracts, pricing, service structures, and the hidden costs clients often overlook. That attention to detail became critical when her company uncovered that a trusted bookkeeper had created false businesses, opened unauthorized accounts, and stolen $250,000 over the course of a year and a half. Ann helped build the case, strengthened internal controls, and eventually confronted the toll the experience took on her health. Her experience is a reminder for business owners to strengthen safeguards, share responsibility, and make space for their well-being when the weight of running a business becomes personal. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline sits down with Ann Johnson, Founder and Owner of Waste Tech Services, to discuss how she rebuilt trust and leadership after a major employee theft. Ann explores how the $250,000 scheme was uncovered, the safeguards she put in place afterward, and why the experience led her to prioritize her health and hand daily operations to a trusted CEO.

  6. Jul 17

    Phillip Simpson - How Entrepreneurs Can Balance Ambition, Focus, and Purpose

    Phillip Simpson is the CEO of SFM Services, a family of companies that helps schools, churches, and other mission-driven organizations clean, maintain, and secure their facilities. He leads the company's growth, culture, and operations while developing teams that deliver dependable, high-quality work. A West Point graduate, former Army infantry officer, and an elite wrestler who trained for the Olympics, Phillip has experience in leadership, discipline, talent development, and building organizations around clear values. In this episode… Building a meaningful career often requires choosing between competing definitions of success. Strong leadership also depends on knowing when to pursue an opportunity, when to step back, and how to protect the values that matter most. How can entrepreneurs grow with ambition without losing focus, authenticity, or balance? Leadership and operations expert Phillip Simpson answers that question through disciplined priorities and intentional decision-making. He recommends choosing environments where trusted people will invest in your potential, recognizing that different employees require different forms of motivation, and resisting opportunities that distract from core strengths. Phillip also emphasizes identifying where you can excel rather than trying to master everything, creating conditions for people to perform meaningful work, and treating vulnerability as a tool for growth. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline talks with Phillip Simpson, CEO of SFM Services, about making difficult choices while building a values-driven business. Phillip explains how military and athletic experiences shaped his leadership style, why entrepreneurs must learn to say no, and how a strong culture helps people thrive. He also offers lessons on mentorship, vulnerability, and balancing growth with family.

  7. Jul 10

    Lauren Reed - Stepping Away To Lead Better: Lessons From an 18-Month Sabbatical

    Lauren Reed is the Founding Partner of REED Public Relations, a full-service public relations and marketing agency. In her role, she leads strategy, business growth, and team development, drawing on expertise in communications, agency leadership, workplace culture, and cause marketing. Lauren also speaks and writes about entrepreneurship, burnout, and building a business that can thrive beyond its founder. In this episode… Some entrepreneurs have always known they would one day build a company. Others arrive there only after a decision forces them to trust themselves before the path is fully clear. What does it look like when an unplanned business becomes a catalyst for personal and professional growth? Communications strategist Lauren Reed began her career convinced entrepreneurship was too risky, shaped by what she saw growing up around the highs and lows of business ownership. When circumstances at her agency shifted, she left with no plan to start a company, only to find clients, mentors, and opportunities appearing almost immediately. Over time, Lauren moved from cautious founder to EO member, speaker, author, and leader willing to step away from the day-to-day so her team could rise. She maintains that building a sustainable company requires enough trust to stop being at the center of everything. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline sits down with Lauren Reed, Founding Partner of REED Public Relations, to discuss stepping away from the business to rediscover her role as a leader. Lauren shares why a 90-day sabbatical became 18 months, how spiritual exploration shaped her next chapter, and what changed when she returned with deeper trust in her leadership team.

  8. Jul 3

    Dr. David Haase - Long-Term Health Habits for Entrepreneurs

    David Haase, MD, is the Founder and Executive Physician at MaxWell Clinic, a functional medicine clinic focused on advanced diagnostics, nutrition, longevity, and brain optimization. In 2025, he founded EverBetter, a health technology company dedicated to improving clinical outcomes, digital security, and human agency. Dr. Haase completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic and is double board-certified in Family Medicine and Integrative Holistic Medicine. He is also Lead Faculty at the Institute for Functional Medicine and trains physicians globally in approaches to Alzheimer's, dementia, and chronic illness. In this episode… Healthcare often rewards efficiency, compliance, and the search for the "right" answer. Yet when the goal is human flourishing, the better question may be how to build systems, habits, and communities that help people live and lead with more energy, clarity, and purpose. What would change if health were treated like a life-long strategy instead of a transaction? Dr. David Haase, a physician specializing in personalized and systems-based medicine, argues that sustained health starts by looking at the whole person rather than chasing isolated symptoms. For entrepreneurs, he suggests prioritizing brain health, protecting sleep by treating the bedroom as a sanctuary, and continuing to learn as a way to preserve cognitive function while aging. Health improves when people make daily decisions that support energy, resilience, and long-term purpose. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson sit down with Dr. David Haase, Founder and Executive Physician at MaxWell Clinic, to discuss health strategies for entrepreneurs. Dr. Haase shares the importance of brain health, how sleep impacts performance, and how ambition, learning, and community support long-term wellness.

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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

This is The Decision by Nashville EO. On this podcast, you will hear the rest of the story after tough decisions were made by Entrepreneurs who faced adversity and lived to tell about it.

Information

  • Creator
    EO Nashville
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    126
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Decision by EO Nashville (c) 2023
  • Show Website
    The Decision by EO Nashville