Business Owners Tell All

Jamie Seeker
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

On The Seeker Solution Podcast, your host, Jamie Seeker encourages business owners to tell all! They'll share not only their expertise, but their stories and their purpose and what it takes to run a successful business. We cover a wide range of topics – the good and exciting, the challenges and sometimes the ugly. Experiences and lessons learned that our guests have faced along the way. We believe that every person has a unique message which can make a positive impact . We let our guests share on the subjects they’re well-known for. No matter the topic, you’ll be hearing real stories from real people. *This podcast is not affiliated with any other show of the same or similar name. Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes is a project of Seeker Solution, featuring conversations with real business owners.

  1. Sep 3

    Reverse the Process: Turning an Industry Problem Into a Business

    In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Boris Zhukov, Co-Founder and CEO of LetYouKnow®, shares how his background in economics, statistics, and mathematics helped him build a marketplace designed to reverse the traditional buying process. Boris explains that his vision goes beyond simply making car buying more convenient. His goal is to shift transactional power toward consumers, allowing them to research the market, determine what they are willing to pay, and instantly discover whether a seller will accept their offer. Convenience and eliminating negotiation are benefits, but Boris repeatedly emphasizes that they are byproducts of the larger objective: empowering consumers to take control of transactions and save money. The conversation also explores the strategic challenge of getting dealerships to participate in a model that initially appears to compete with their existing sales. Boris explains that LetYouKnow was intentionally structured to provide incremental business rather than replace a dealer's normal sales channels. Dealers establish hidden pricing thresholds that operate automatically, allowing transactions to occur without manually reviewing individual bids. The platform also generates demand data from unsuccessful bids, which businesses can use to evaluate pricing and potential demand. One of the larger strategic themes of the episode is building for expansion from the beginning. Boris says LetYouKnow intentionally started with automotive because of its complexity. By solving for a difficult industry first, the company could create infrastructure capable of expanding into restaurants, hotels, storage, services, and potentially virtually any other industry without continually rebuilding the underlying system. Boris also discusses how the company's strategy has evolved since 2019. One significant lesson came from initially expecting dealerships to actively manage their pricing within the system. He eventually concluded that this was neither feasible nor desirable. Feedback from dealership owners, including some who became shareholders, pushed the company toward creating a hands-free, automated system instead. That feedback also revealed an opportunity Boris had not originally anticipated: the value of unsuccessful bids as demand data. Rather than seeing only completed transactions, businesses could potentially understand transactions they could have had at different price points and use that information to improve pricing decisions. The discussion ultimately moves from process management into leadership. Boris says one of the skills he had to develop was recognizing individual team members' strengths and weaknesses and positioning people accordingly. He credits much of LetYouKnow's evolution to surrounding himself with experienced business owners, shareholders, and advisors who could challenge assumptions and contribute practical expertise. When asked what it really takes to be a business owner, Boris identifies optimism, perseverance, hard work, honest evaluation of progress, and the willingness to keep solving difficult problems. Rather than viewing obstacles as evidence that something is going wrong, he argues that genuinely difficult problems can be evidence that a company has reached the frontier where meaningful innovation happens. Key Episode NotesCore theme: Process Management / Strategy Major discussion points: Boris's economics, mathematics, and statistics background became foundational to building LetYouKnow's marketplace and matching methodology.His motivation is not simply eliminating an unpleasant dealership experience. He wants consumers to control transactions and get better deals instantly.LetYouKnow's model is designed so businesses establish hidden thresholds rather than manually accepting or rejecting individual bids.Boris views the platform as a source of incremental business, rather than a replacement for a company's existing sales process.Missed bids create valuable demand data by showing businesses transactions that potentially could have occurred at other prices.The long-term vision extends beyond automotive into restaurants, services, hospitality, storage, nonprofits, and other industries.Boris uses opportunity cost as a framework for strategic decision-making and expansion.Starting with automotive was intentional because solving for a complicated industry created infrastructure that could later support simpler industries.A major operational pivot was moving away from expecting dealerships to continually manage their own pricing toward creating a largely hands-free system.Dealer and shareholder feedback became an important source of product and process innovation.Boris learned that leadership requires understanding people's individual strengths and putting them in positions where those strengths can produce the best results.He believes meaningful progress should be measured over longer intervals rather than expecting visible results every day.Difficult problems aren't necessarily warning signs. Boris sees some of the hardest obstacles as evidence that a company is working on something genuinely innovative. Memorable Quotes“I want to empower people to take control of these transactions.”“The focus is actually empower you to take control of those transactions to save money. Everything else comes as a byproduct.”“Opportunity cost, you do this, well, you cannot do something else.”“We started with the most difficult industry.”“I all of a sudden have something else, which is the transactions I could have had.”“You have to recognize who's really good at what, and then position them in that fashion.”“You gotta have this sense of optimism that it will work out.”“You gotta keep that optimism inside of you, and then you gotta persevere.”“When you look back... you should see big progression.”“Whenever you hit a wall, that's great.”“Look at your challenges as almost like a benchmark... you're on the right track.”Strongest Quote for Episode Promotion“Whenever you hit a wall, that's great. That's when you should persevere, that's when you should actually have that optimism that things will work out.” That quote captures the What It Takes theme particularly well because it connects Boris's approach to strategy, innovation, perseverance, and business ownership in one thought.

  2. Aug 27

    More Than a Great Pitch: Building a Business That Lasts

    Matt Kovacs, President of Blaze PR, joins Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes to discuss what happens behind the scenes of building and managing a successful PR agency. Drawing on more than two decades in public relations, Matt explains how Blaze has built processes that provide structure while allowing the team to remain nimble in an industry where the media landscape, technology, and client needs are constantly changing. Matt’s approach to process management starts with communication rather than rigid systems. Blaze uses regular Monday and Thursday team touchpoints, client meetings, timelines, and software to keep campaigns moving, but Matt emphasizes that effective processes also require understanding what team members and clients are experiencing. The agency views itself as a partner and counselor to its clients rather than simply an order taker. One of the central themes of the conversation is the balance between repeatability and adaptability. There are proven PR fundamentals, such as press releases, press kits, and media training, but Matt says those fundamentals must continually evolve. He points to AI as an example: rather than eliminating the need for PR, changes in AI and large language models are creating new considerations around how information is structured, distributed, and discovered. His team therefore has to continually learn while proactively creating new opportunities for clients. Strategy at Blaze begins by understanding the client's actual business objective. Matt's team asks whether the client is seeking investment, preparing for an eventual sale, building its brand, increasing sales, or pursuing another goal. From there, they map PR activity around launches, trade shows, seasonal opportunities, retail initiatives, and other important business moments. The objective is to ensure they aren't simply "doing PR for PR's sake," but connecting PR activity to meaningful business outcomes. Matt also discusses the importance of giving employees genuine ownership. Rather than requiring every idea or process improvement to originate with leadership, Blaze incorporates the experiences and perspectives of its team. Matt describes the company as "all our worlds," rather than his alone, and believes people should feel that their decisions matter. That philosophy has also allowed Matt to move away from being the decision maker for everything. After working together for years, his core team has developed the judgment and confidence to make decisions independently. Instead of focusing only on completing PR tasks or securing individual pieces of coverage, Matt teaches employees to think about each client's business as though it were their own and ask how their work can contribute to the client's larger objectives. The conversation closes with Matt's broader perspective on business ownership. For him, success isn't primarily about finding shortcuts or pursuing growth at all costs. It's built through "all the little things": remembering people's names, treating people well, being direct, doing the work, and investing in relationships. Those lessons trace back in part to his father, a third-grade teacher who emphasized the Golden Rule. Episode Notes & Key TakeawaysBuild structure without eliminating flexibility. Processes should create consistency while leaving room for teams to react to changing circumstances.Communication is part of the process. Blaze uses short, consistent team touchpoints to reset priorities and keep everyone connected.Start strategy with the business objective. Before deciding what tactics to use, understand what the client is actually trying to accomplish.Don't create processes simply because you can. Systems should support the strategy and ultimately affect the business.Create the newness. In a rapidly changing industry, waiting for the next opportunity isn't enough. Matt believes agencies have to continually generate fresh ideas.Give employees decision-making confidence. Matt doesn't believe everything should require his approval. Trust develops when people understand the business, clients, and reasoning behind decisions.Teach people the "why," not simply the task. Blaze encourages team members to understand why their work matters rather than simply completing a checklist.Think beyond transactions. A single PR placement may be useful, but Matt's focus is on long-term brand building, validation, and business impact.Relationships remain foundational. Even as technology changes PR, Matt believes knowing people, remembering details, and treating them well still creates lasting value.There are no sustainable shortcuts. Business ownership requires consistent work and attention to details that can easily be overlooked. Memorable Quotes"The kiss of death of any agency is, 'Well, you didn't do anything new.'"— Matt Kovacs"It's not my world, it's all our worlds."— Matt Kovacs"We want participants, not hostages."— Matt Kovacs, referencing Mike Tomlin"I don't need to sign off on everything."— Matt Kovacs"Think of it more of, this is your business. How would you want to treat it?"— Matt Kovacs"Coverage is transactional."— Matt Kovacs"I think it's all the little things."— Matt Kovacs"Treating people the way you want to be treated."— Matt Kovacs"If you look for angles and edges, and you're always trying to find the quick fix, it's not going to work."— Matt Kovacs"You're in the foxhole together."— Matt Kovacs, on the importance of strong client relationshipsStrongest Quote for Episode Promotion"Coverage is transactional." This is probably the strongest pull quote from the episode because it captures Matt's larger philosophy in just three words. The conversation that follows explains the distinction: individual coverage is transactional, while effective PR strategy is about building the business, strengthening the brand, and creating longer-term value.

  3. Aug 20

    The Anti Agency Blueprint for Business Growth

    Jason Yormark shares how more than 30 years in marketing, including work with major organizations such as Microsoft, ultimately led him to entrepreneurship and the creation of Socialistics. For years, Jason felt like a “square peg in a round hole” professionally and wanted to build something of his own, but the perceived security of a traditional paycheck kept him from making the leap. Rather than abruptly leaving his career, Jason intentionally built a runway. He developed momentum while still employed so that entrepreneurship would be a calculated transition rather than a blind leap. When his final traditional job ended, he committed fully to Socialistics. He credits overcoming fear and committing wholeheartedly as important pieces of eventually building a seven figure business and creating greater freedom in his life. Key Takeaways and Discussion NotesBuild a runway before taking the leap. Jason's approach to entrepreneurship centered on mitigating risk. He didn't believe starting a business had to mean immediately abandoning financial security. He built momentum first, creating a stronger foundation before committing full time. Know what kind of business you actually want to build. From the beginning, Jason wasn't interested in simply maximizing revenue. He wanted a business built around relationships, freedom, culture, and meaningful work. That meant accepting that Socialistics might grow more slowly or remain smaller than an agency focused purely on maximizing revenue. Learn to say no. One of Jason's biggest lessons as a business owner has been learning not to accept every opportunity simply because it generates revenue. Early businesses sometimes have to take work they might later decline, but the goal should be reaching a position where the company can deliberately choose the right clients and relationships. Client retention can matter more than client acquisition. Jason deliberately prioritizes long term client relationships instead of operating a “churn and burn” agency model. His philosophy is that choosing the right work and creating mutually beneficial relationships produces deeper partnerships, stronger culture, and a more fulfilling business. Freedom is a business objective, not just a personal benefit. Freedom is Socialistics' number one core value and central to Jason's definition of success. His team is evaluated on the quality of their work and their commitments rather than where, when, or exactly how long they work. Socialistics doesn't even use traditional time tracking, despite the additional challenges that creates when measuring profitability. Build a company that doesn't depend entirely on the owner. Jason was advised early that if he ever wanted the option of selling his company, the business couldn't depend on him. Finding Joanna, his Director of Operations, allowed him to intentionally remove himself from much of Socialistics' day to day operation. Hire for what can't easily be taught. Rather than concentrating primarily on technical skills, Jason looks for what he calls “untrainable traits,” including communication, emotional intelligence, authenticity, and genuine care for other people. Tools and technology can be taught. Those foundational characteristics are much harder to manufacture. Make employees feel like they're building the company with you. Jason wants team members to feel ownership in the business rather than simply seeing themselves as employees. Profit sharing, compensation, autonomy, and culture all support that philosophy. Eliminate friction wherever possible. Jason describes one of his core business philosophies as eliminating the things that interfere with winning and retaining great customers and great employees. That can mean reconsidering long term contracts, workload expectations, traditional agency practices, and anything else that makes it unnecessarily difficult for people to say yes or remain committed. Don't optimize revenue at the expense of the business you wanted to create. Jason acknowledges that Socialistics could potentially make more money with a higher volume, higher churn model. Instead, he deliberately protects capacity so his team has room to think creatively about existing clients. He's comfortable with a potential $3 million to $5 million ceiling if that allows him and his team to maintain the lives and culture they want. Niche down, and sometimes sub niche even further. Jason sees trying to be everything to everybody as one of today's biggest entrepreneurial mistakes. Socialistics eventually focused specifically on nonprofits, and he argues that newer service businesses may benefit from narrowing even further. Becoming highly specialized helps a company cut through competitive noise and establish itself as an authority. Business planning requires commitment after the decision is made. Choosing a niche or strategic direction isn't enough. Jason stresses that business owners need to stay the course rather than continually abandoning their strategy when something else appears attractive. What Does It Take to Be a Business Owner?Jason's answer came down primarily to patience, appetite, and stamina. Most entrepreneurs aren't going to immediately “hit a home run.” Businesses and ideas take time to develop, and goals frequently take longer than anticipated. Jason emphasized that patience shouldn't become analysis paralysis, but owners need the stamina to keep moving when results don't arrive according to their original timeline. Memorable Quotes“I didn't want to chase dollars, I wanted to chase relationships.” “Keeping clients, to me, is more important than winning new ones.” “Ultimately, just learning to say no is one of the biggest things.” “When you're chasing dollars, it just becomes a commoditized business, and it becomes just a grind.” “That's my calling card, is freedom.” “Just do awesome work, live life on your own terms.” “Make sure that the business isn't reliant on you.” “I always look for the untrainable traits.” “I want them to feel like they're building this business together with me.” “To me, it's about eliminating as much friction in business as possible.” “Better to be a big fish in a small pond.” “Sub-niching is the way to go.” “You've got to have the appetite and the stamina to see things through.” “Great things take time to build.” Core Theme of the EpisodeJason's approach to business planning isn't about creating the biggest company possible. It's about intentionally designing the business you actually want to own. His decisions around client selection, employee autonomy, leadership, specialization, growth, and even revenue ceilings all come back to that objective. Growth is important, but growth that undermines the owner's original goals isn't necessarily success. The episode ultimately reinforces that effective business planning means knowing what you're building, why you're building it, what you're willing to say no to, and having the patience to stay the course.

  4. Aug 6

    From Vision to Execution: What It Really Takes to Build a Business with Glen Fields

    In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Jamie Seeker sits down with Glen Fields, CEO and Co-Founder of Big Deal Agency in Greenacres, Florida, to discuss how strategic business planning, accountability, and measurable results have fueled the growth of his agency. Glen shares his unconventional path to entrepreneurship, beginning with his work at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and later transitioning into public relations during the early days of digital advertising. Recognizing that online advertising would become the future of marketing, he made the difficult decision to leave a traditional PR firm and launch Big Deal Agency after his vision for digital marketing wasn't shared. The conversation explores how Glen built a results-driven agency focused on transparency and ROI instead of vague marketing promises. He explains why he abandoned the traditional retainer model in favor of a billable-hours approach, allowing his agency to eliminate scope creep, improve profitability, and better manage both client expectations and employee accountability. Throughout the discussion, Glen emphasizes that business planning isn't just about creating goals, it's about building systems that support sustainable growth, measuring performance, adapting when necessary, and having the courage to make difficult operational changes. The episode concludes with Glen's thoughts on what truly separates successful entrepreneurs: passion, resilience, patience, and the ability to learn from failure without allowing setbacks to define the future. Key TakeawaysSeeing Opportunity Before Everyone ElseGlen recognized the potential of digital advertising long before it became mainstream. His willingness to act on that vision ultimately led to the creation of Big Deal Agency. Results Should Always Be MeasurableOne of Glen's guiding principles is that marketing should never rely on hope or vague promises. Every client should understand exactly what they're paying for and the results they're receiving. Business Planning Evolves with GrowthAs the company expanded, Glen realized that his original retainer model no longer supported sustainable growth. Transitioning to a billable-hours model improved profitability, reduced burnout, and created clearer expectations for clients and employees. Scope Creep Can Destroy ProfitabilityAllowing unlimited client requests under a fixed retainer created operational challenges. Tracking billable hours provided an objective way to manage additional requests while maintaining healthy client relationships. Leaders Need to Understand Their BusinessGlen believes founders should understand every major function of their company, especially during the early growth stages. Learning different aspects of the business allows leaders to better estimate workloads, coach employees, and make informed decisions. Accountability Builds TrustWhether managing employees or clients, Glen believes accountability begins with measurable expectations and complete transparency. Never Be Afraid to Ask QuestionsFor business owners hiring outside experts, Glen encourages asking questions until you fully understand where your money is going. Passion Comes Before PlanningBusiness planning matters, but Glen believes successful entrepreneurs first need genuine passion for solving a real problem in a better way than what's currently available. Failure Is Part of Business OwnershipEntrepreneurs should expect setbacks and develop the resilience to move past them without allowing one failure to affect future opportunities. Memorable Quotes"Marketing and advertising has to come with accountability and results.""People actually pay for results. People understand what they're getting.""Nowadays, I'm running my agency like a law office.""It's your money. If you don't understand what that money's being spent for, then the agency's not doing their job.""Don't be intimidated by the marketing lingo.""Learn how to do it." (Advice to founders about understanding every function of their business.)"Have passion for what you're doing.""If you believe that you can deliver quality work faster, cheaper, or just much better than others, then that's your cue to get started.""That's not a recipe for success." (On starting a business simply because others are doing it.)"Business ownership is so much about failure.""Seven failures out of ten gets you into the Hall of Fame.""Every client is now your boss.""Take the joy of the little successes that you have, and build on them."

  5. Jul 30

    Building Luxury Experiences That Scale

    In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Jamie Seeker sits down with Nikita Khandheria, Founder and CEO of ERIA, to explore how thoughtful business planning has fueled her entrepreneurial journey from launching her first venture as a teenager to building one of Northern California's fastest-growing hospitality and experiential brands. Nikita shares how she discovered entrepreneurship at a young age, the pivots that shaped her career, and why she believes successful founders should focus less on rigid plans and more on having a clear long-term vision with the flexibility to adapt along the way. Throughout the conversation, she discusses evaluating opportunities, choosing mentors, budgeting during different stages of growth, and building a business around meaningful experiences rather than simply providing services. She also explains her personal "Compass Method," a planning framework that starts with defining the life she wants decades into the future and then working backward to make today's decisions. Whether you're launching your first company or scaling an established business, this episode offers practical insights into strategic planning, decision-making, and building a business that aligns with your long-term vision. Episode NotesIn this episode, you'll learn:How Nikita's entrepreneurial journey began with nonprofit clinics before entering hospitality.Why she believes every successful entrepreneur should embrace pivots instead of fearing them.How buying out investors and reinventing her business ultimately led to the creation of ERIA.Why planning should provide direction without becoming restrictive.The importance of evaluating opportunities based on long-term goals instead of short-term excitement.How she determines which mentors and advice are worth following.The role of reinvestment during high-growth phases of a business.Why flexibility is one of the most valuable business planning skills.The "Compass Method" she uses to make major business decisions.Advice for entrepreneurs creating their first business plan. Key TakeawaysBusiness plans should evolve as the business evolves.A clear long-term vision makes short-term decisions easier.Great opportunities are measured by alignment, not excitement.Reinvestment priorities change as a company matures.Flexibility allows businesses to adapt without losing momentum.Experience design is ultimately about creating lasting emotional connections. Memorable Quotes"I'm in the business of making life a little bit more fun.""You only live once. I want to experience everything.""It's about taking the next step forward and taking the step that gets you closer to where you want to be.""When you're good at what you do, the next steps will automatically come in front of you.""Why take learnings from someone who isn't where you want to be?""I know exactly where I want to end up. I just need to figure out how to get there.""Business planning isn't about having every answer. It's about knowing your direction.""When you're growing, you're reinvesting a lot more than when you're in a steady state.""I try not to set too many hard rules because sometimes the best opportunities require you to pivot.""The experiences people remember are the ones that make them feel something."

  6. Jun 4

    Learning, Unlearning, and Building Something That Matters

    In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Jaya Iyer shares her journey from growing up in India to building a purpose-driven fashion brand in the United States. With a Ph.D. in Fashion Merchandising and experience in both academia and the apparel industry, Jaya combined her knowledge, personal experiences, and motherhood to create Svaha USA—a brand designed to challenge gender norms and inspire learning through clothing. What began as a simple frustration—being unable to find a space-themed shirt for her daughter—turned into a powerful business idea. Through smart business planning, including launching with a Kickstarter campaign, Jaya validated her concept with minimal risk and built a brand rooted in education, empowerment, and curiosity. Throughout the conversation, Jaya emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, adaptability, and staying connected to customers. She highlights how failures, operational challenges, and unexpected events like COVID forced her to pivot, reinforcing that flexibility is one of the most critical skills a business owner can develop. Her approach to business goes beyond profit—Svaha is designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and create meaningful conversations through everyday products. Ultimately, Jaya’s story is a testament to the power of learning, resilience, and building something that truly matters. 🧠 Key Takeaways & Notes🚀 Origin Story & Business PlanningThe idea for Svaha came from a real-life problem: lack of STEM-themed clothing for girlsStarted with just 5 t-shirts and ~$500 investmentUsed Kickstarter to validate demand before scalingIdentified a clear market gap + emotional connection 📌 Lesson: Start small, validate early, and let the market guide you 🎓 Learning as a Competitive AdvantageAcademic background helped with:Consumer behavior understandingProduct development knowledgePricing and inventory strategyStrong emphasis on listening to customers 📌 Lesson: Knowledge reduces risk and increases decision quality 🔁 Learning Through Failure & AdaptabilityFaced unexpected challenges (e.g., COVID, production issues)Learned the importance of:Pivoting quicklyDouble-checking executionAccepting and correcting mistakes 📌 Lesson: Experience doesn’t eliminate mistakes—adaptability does 🧩 Building a Learning-Driven BrandClothing designed to:Spark curiosityEncourage conversationsReinforce identity and confidenceProducts act as “learning tools” in everyday life 📌 Lesson: Businesses can educate, not just sell 🧠 Mindset & Personal DevelopmentContinuous learning through:ReadingPodcastsFollowing thought leadersStrong focus on time management and boundaries 📌 Lesson: If you stop learning, your business starts declining 🤝 Leadership & Growth ChallengesDifficulty implementing change within teamsImportance of:Communicating vision clearlyShowing benefits of changeGrowth came from embracing new opportunities (e.g., adult clothing line) 📌 Lesson: Leaders must guide change—even when it’s uncomfortable 🌍 Entrepreneur RealityEntrepreneurship can be lonelyImportance of:Peer networksLearning from other foundersStaying updated with trends (e.g., tech, platforms, AI) 📌 Lesson: Surround yourself with people who challenge and teach you 💬 Memorable QuotesHere are standout, highly quotable moments from the episode: “I couldn’t find anything for her in the girls’ department… and that’s what sparked this idea.” “All my life experiences had prepared me to do this.” “You have to always listen to your customer… if your customer is not happy, nothing else matters.” “There is no dearth of things you can spend money on—you have to prioritize.” “You have to learn to pivot, you have to learn to be flexible.” “Clothing impacts how a child thinks.” “One of the reasons a business is successful is when you are offering something nobody else is.” “Nobody likes change—we’re all creatures of habit.” “I don’t think there is ever an end to learning.” “Being a business owner is a very lonely life.” “Patience, determination, and perseverance—that’s what it takes.”

  7. May 28

    The Hidden Skill Every Founder Must Learn: Decision-Making Under Uncertainty

    In this episode, Santosh Kaveti, Founder & CEO of ProArch, shares his journey of building a global technology company and the evolving mindset required to lead in times of rapid disruption. From embracing uncertainty as a first-time entrepreneur to navigating today’s unprecedented AI-driven transformation, Santosh highlights that success in business isn’t just about strategy—it’s about learning how to think, decide, and adapt under pressure. The conversation dives deep into decision-making as a learned skill, the importance of building aligned teams, and how leaders must continuously unlearn, relearn, and evolve to stay relevant. Santosh also reveals how ProArch is shifting from a traditional IT services model into an AI-driven organization—demonstrating how businesses must act quickly or risk becoming obsolete. 🧠 Key Takeaways1. Decision-Making Is a Learnable SkillFounders aren’t born with great decision-making abilitiesIt develops through experience, failure, and reflectionLeaders must train themselves to handle ambiguity 2. Clarity Drives ResultsTeams cannot perform without clear directionA leader’s job is to synthesize complexity and articulate it simplyMisalignment often comes from lack of clarity—not lack of effort 3. Your Team Is EverythingYou cannot scale aloneSuccess comes from aligning:Individual passionsCompany purposeTrue growth happens when teams are emotionally connected to the mission 4. Unlearning Is Just as Important as LearningGrowth requires letting go of old ways of workingBreaking down silos is essential for innovationCollaboration across functions creates stronger outcomes 5. Disruption = OpportunityAI is changing business faster than any previous technology waveCompanies must adapt quickly or risk becoming obsoleteLeaders must embrace change instead of waiting to react 6. Mentorship Accelerates GrowthGreat mentors help sharpen thinking and communicationLearning from others shortens the trial-and-error cycleExposure to different perspectives strengthens decision-making 7. Business Planning Must EvolveEarly-stage: vision-driven and experimentalGrowth stage: structured, strategic, and team-drivenToday: requires constant iteration due to rapid change 💬 Memorable Quotes (Polished for Impact)Here are some strong pull quotes you can use for social, promos, or show notes: 🔥 On Leadership & Clarity“Clarity is what drives results. If your team doesn’t have clarity, they can’t execute.”🔥 On Decision-Making“Decision-making isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you learn through failure, reflection, and experience.”🔥 On Building Teams“You need people, purpose, and progress—and a team that’s truly connected to all three.”🔥 On Growth & Letting Go“At some point, you realize you can’t do it all—and that’s when real growth begins.”🔥 On Learning & Mentorship“The ability to synthesize and articulate is a skill—and you can train yourself to get there.”🔥 On Change & Adaptation“You either embrace and adapt, or you don’t just fall behind—you become obsolete.”🔥 On Innovation“Anytime there’s disruption, there’s also massive opportunity.”🔥 On Collaboration“We had to unlearn working in silos and start thinking as one unified team.”🔥 Signature Closing Insight“It takes clarity of purpose, incredible patience, and the ability to influence people and connect them to that purpose.”📝 Suggested Show Notes (Ready to Publish)In this episode of Business Owner Tell All: What It Takes, we sit down with Santosh Kaveti, Founder & CEO of ProArch, to explore what it really takes to lead and grow a business in today’s rapidly changing world. Santosh shares how he built a global technology company without a traditional business background, and how learning, adaptability, and decision-making became his greatest tools along the way. We dive into: The reality of scaling from startup to growth stageWhy decision-making is a skill every founder must developHow to build and align high-performing teamsThe importance of clarity in leadershipNavigating disruption in the age of AIWhy companies must evolve—or risk becoming obsolete If you're a business owner navigating uncertainty, this episode is packed with real insights on how to think, lead, and grow in today’s environment.

  8. May 21

    Planning for Exit Before You’re Ready to Exit

    This episode dives into how Jesse Jackson built a fast-growing automotive repair business from zero to eight figures in just four years — without prior industry experience. Her journey highlights a core truth: business growth is a direct reflection of personal growth. Jesse shares how she leveraged: Continuous learningStrategic mentorshipAcquisition-driven scalingLetting go of control …to evolve from operator to enterprise-level leader. She also gives a raw, unfiltered look at balancing seven kids + eight businesses, emphasizing that success isn’t about balance — it’s about embracing constant pressure and growth. 🧠 Key Takeaways & Notes1. Entering an Industry Without Experience Can Be an AdvantageJesse didn’t come from automotive — and that helped her question outdated normsShe saw opportunity where insiders saw “the way things have always been done”Identified a massive market shift: 60% of shop owners retiring → wealth transfer opportunity 👉 Insight: Outsiders often innovate faster because they’re not conditioned by industry habits 2. Growth Forces Personal Evolution“You’re not ready for the goal — but you grow into it”Jesse describes herself evolving from “Jesse 6.0 to Jesse 8.3”Rapid scaling forces leadership development whether you’re ready or not 👉 Insight: You don’t wait to become capable — you become capable by pursuing bigger goals 3. Mentorship Accelerates EverythingKey turning point: learning from Roland Frasier (acquisition strategy)Mentors helped her compress years of learning into monthsEventually turned mentor into investor 👉 Insight: Proximity to the right people shortcuts trial-and-error 4. Letting Go of Control is Required to ScaleEarly stage: doing everything (HR, finance, marketing, payroll)Breaking point at 5 locations → forced to hireBiggest growth unlock = hiring people better than her 👉 Insight: You are the bottleneck until you replace yourself 5. Decision-Making: Speed vs. StrategyJesse shares a powerful metaphor: Entrepreneurs either:❌ Stand in the airport (paralyzed, miss opportunities)❌ Jump on every plane (bad decisions, misalignment)Her evolution:From fast decisions → to intentional, strategic decisions with consequences in mind 👉 Insight: Scaling requires upgrading your decision-making, not just making more decisions 6. Learning Comes From Pressure, Not Just BooksYes: books, mentors, programsBut most growth came from:Rapid scalingReal-world pressureBeing forced to adapt 👉 Insight: Execution is the fastest teacher 7. There Is No Balance — Only Capacity ExpansionJesse is brutally honest about life:“No balance”“Constant struggle”“Sometimes collapse under pressure”But she reframes it:Struggle = growthChaos = chosen lifestyle 👉 Insight: High performance isn’t balanced — it’s intentional chaos 8. Core Traits of a Business OwnerJesse distills it into two essentials: Be willing to “eat glass” (handle constant problems)Set big, audacious goals 👉 Insight: Endurance + vision = long-term success 💬 Memorable Quotes (🔥 These are GOLD for clips)On Entrepreneurship“Being a business owner is like eating glass — all the worst problems come to you.”On Growth“You’re not everything you need to be yet — but you’ll become that person on the way.”On Mentorship“I don’t know how to get from 20 million to 100 million — so I find people who do.”On Hiring“You think no one can do it better than you — and then you find them.”On Scaling“You are the limiting factor in your business.”On Decision-Making“Some people stand in the airport and never get on a plane… I was getting on every plane.”On Maturity as a Leader“Now I have to think about the consequences to 100 people — not just me.”On Life + Business“My life is held together by a hair tie and two broken bobby pins.”On Balance“There’s no balance. You just do it anyway.”On What It Takes (Signature Moment)“Be willing to eat glass… and set big, hairy, audacious goals.”

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2 Ratings

About

On The Seeker Solution Podcast, your host, Jamie Seeker encourages business owners to tell all! They'll share not only their expertise, but their stories and their purpose and what it takes to run a successful business. We cover a wide range of topics – the good and exciting, the challenges and sometimes the ugly. Experiences and lessons learned that our guests have faced along the way. We believe that every person has a unique message which can make a positive impact . We let our guests share on the subjects they’re well-known for. No matter the topic, you’ll be hearing real stories from real people. *This podcast is not affiliated with any other show of the same or similar name. Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes is a project of Seeker Solution, featuring conversations with real business owners.

Information

  • Creator
    Jamie Seeker
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    95
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jamie Seeker
  • Show Website
    Business Owners Tell All