Can I Borrow Your Car?

Mike Garrison

The Can I Borrow Your Car Podcast is dedicated to transforming how financial advisors and client-focused professionals approach client acquisitions. Drawing on decades of expertise, best-selling books, and industry recognition, the podcast’s mission is to help listeners fill their sales funnel with more ideal clients than they require—by building a referral system rooted in generosity, respect, and genuine care for relationships. Core Themes and Approach Giving, Not Begging: The podcast champions a referral system based on purposeful giving, not asking or begging. Listeners will learn how to become someone trusted enough to be “loaned” the most important relationships in a client’s life. Lowering Referral Risk: Each episode explores strategies for reducing both perceived and actual risk in the referral process, making it easier and more comfortable for clients and centers of influence to refer their valued contacts. Farming, Not Hunting: Adopting a “farmer” mindset, the podcast emphasizes nurturing a diverse network, engaging key contacts early, and cultivating long-term relationships that naturally yield referrals over time. Systematic Growth: Listeners are guided to set clear client acquisition targets, double their meeting goals based on closing rates, and create a waiting list of interested clients—ensuring a full pipeline and sustainable business growth. Respect and Enterprise Value: The podcast highlights the importance of treating people with respect and care, which not only increases referrals but also enhances the enterprise value of an advisory practice. Enjoyable Referral Process: Episodes focus on making the referral process enjoyable for all parties, so that giving and receiving referrals becomes a source of pride and satisfaction, not stress. Who Should Listen Financial advisors seeking to grow their practice and enterprise value through referrals Professionals in client acquisition roles who want to make referrals their primary growth engine Anyone who values building their business by loving people and giving on purpose within a proven system Host Credentials Best-selling author of multiple books on referrals, including Can I Borrow Your Car? 2024 Exit Planning Institute Member of the Year and online faculty member Recognized expert in helping financial advisors grow their practices’ enterprise value through referrals and exit planning Podcast Promise Listeners will discover how to become the “obvious choice” in their market by building a referral-driven business that everyone loves participating in—clients, centers of influence, and advisors alike. The Can I Borrow Your Car Podcast is your guide to growing your business by loving people, giving first, and earning the right to be introduced to your ideal clients.

  1. 5D AGO

    Nothing Happens Until You Sell Something with George Sandmann

    What if the real reason advisors struggle… isn’t skill, it’s sales? In this episode of Can I Borrow Your Car?, Mike sits down with George Sandmann, founder of Growth Drive, to unpack what truly separates elite professional advisors from everyone else. George shares his bold strategic intent: helping $1 trillion of private businesses increase strategic capacity. But here’s the catch: Nothing happens until you sell something. They dive deep into: The difference between a qualified client and an ideal clientWhy most advisors sabotage deal velocityThe hidden cost of saying yes to the wrong engagementWhy AI will compress fees, but not valueHow to price for ROI (and stop charging like an employee)Why referrals fail, and how to fix themThe three non-negotiables for doubling revenue in 24 months If you’re an advisor, consultant, wealth manager, CPA, EOS implementer, or business strategist… This one might make you uncomfortable. Good. Because growth isn’t transactional, it’s intentional. Connect with George: george@growth-drive.com and growth-drive.com Learn More About Can I Borrow Your Car: https://caniborrowyourcar.com Subscribe to the Can I Borrow Your Car Substack: https://bit.ly/CanIBorrowYourCarSubstack Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegarrisoncaniborrowyourcar/ Buy your copy of Can I Borrow Your Car: https://amzn.to/3ZeudQV Email Mike: Mike@CanIBorrowYourCar.com Call Mike: 540-314-5665

    1h 19m
  2. FEB 16

    Stop Hiding from Sales (And Start Preparing for What’s Next)

    Last week I recorded a series of short videos that turned into something bigger. This episode brings them together into one message: You are in commercial sales. AI is here. And how you buy determines how you’ll be bought from. If you’re a CEPA, attorney, CPA, consultant, financial advisor, or professional service firm selling to business owners, you are in commercial sales whether you like it or not. And if you don’t embrace that? You’ll struggle. In this episode we talk about: Why sales is the only essential function in a for-profit businessWhy marketing without sales results is meaninglessThe hidden hypocrisy in how professionals buy vs. how they expect to be bought fromWhy giving must precede getting in a real referral systemHow AI is disrupting accounting, legal, financial services and consultingWhy the future belongs to those who are more human not more automated Plus, I share a personal reflection on rebuilding locally in Southwest Virginia and why it’s never over if you’re willing to evolve. This is part challenge. Part warning. Part opportunity. If you’re in senior leadership at a professional firm, you probably have less time than you think. Let’s go. Learn More About Can I Borrow Your Car: https://caniborrowyourcar.com Subscribe to the Can I Borrow Your Car Substack: https://bit.ly/CanIBorrowYourCarSubstack Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegarrisoncaniborrowyourcar/ Buy your copy of Can I Borrow Your Car: https://amzn.to/3ZeudQV Email Mike: Mike@CanIBorrowYourCar.com Call Mike: 540-314-5665

    22 min
  3. JAN 9

    Can I Borrow Your Car? What Happens When You Stop Hiding in Business with Carl Cox

    In this episode, I sit down with my friend, Carl Cox, a “recovering CPA,” strategic thinker, and one of the most authentic leaders I know. What starts as a conversation about strategy quickly turns into something much deeper: faith, fear, identity, and the courage it takes to show up fully as yourself. Carl shares a powerful story about stepping onto a stage, abandoning the polished business persona, and speaking from the heart, and how that single decision transformed his business, his relationships, and the people in the room. We talk about: • Why authenticity is now a competitive advantage • The real future of business in an AI-driven world • Why relationships will always outperform tactics • Execution vs. information — and why most people are stuck • Faith, clarity, and confidence in direction This episode isn’t about hype. It’s about alignment. And the freedom that comes when you stop pretending. If you’re a business owner navigating uncertainty, pressure, or the rapid changes coming our way, this conversation is for you. Connect with Carl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carljcox/ Register for the 40 Strategy Growth Workshop: https://40strategy.com/ Learn More About Can I Borrow Your Car: https://caniborrowyourcar.com Subscribe to the Can I Borrow Your Car Substack: https://bit.ly/CanIBorrowYourCarSubstack Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegarrisoncaniborrowyourcar/ Buy your copy of Can I Borrow Your Car: https://amzn.to/3ZeudQV Are you a good fit for the Strategic Referral Team? https://strategicreferralteam.com Email Mike: Mike@CanIBorrowYourCar.com Call Mike: 540-314-5665

    44 min
  4. 12/12/2025

    The Shift in Buyer Behavior: Why Your Clients Decide Long Before You Show Up

    In this eye-opening episode of Can I Borrow Your Car?, Mike Garrison sits down with marketing strategist and longtime collaborator John Lusher to break down the latest 6sense Buyer Experience Report — and what it really means for small, elite professional service firms. Buyers are moving upstream. Decisions are being made before a seller ever enters the conversation. 80% of deals now go to a vendor someone on the buying team already knows personally. Meanwhile, AI isn’t replacing research — it’s multiplying confusion, accelerating timelines, and raising the bar on digital presence. Mike and John unpack: Why organic reach is not a strategyThe myth that “great expertise sells itself”How consistency + credibility = early shortlist placementWhy AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is the new SEOThe only shortcut in modern deal flow — and when you should use itHow small firms can win big by focusing on ideal clients, content they’ll stick with, and a referral ecosystem that actually scales This is the playbook for professional service owners who refuse to be invisible while their competitors get chosen first. Read the 2025 B2B Buyer Experience Report: https://6sense.com/science-of-b2b/buyer-experience-report-2025/ Learn More About The Social Buzz Lab: https://webuildbuzz.com Connect with John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlusher/ Email John: John@WeBuildBuzz.com Call: 540-314-7145 Learn More About Can I Borrow Your Car: https://caniborrowyourcar.com Subscribe to the Can I Borrow Your Car Substack:  https://bit.ly/CanIBorrowYourCarSubstack Connect with Mike on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegarrisoncaniborrowyourcar/ Buy your copy of Can I Borrow Your Car:  https://amzn.to/3ZeudQV Email Mike: Mike@CanIBorrowYourCar.com  Call Mike: 540-314-5665

    1h 8m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Can I Borrow Your Car Podcast is dedicated to transforming how financial advisors and client-focused professionals approach client acquisitions. Drawing on decades of expertise, best-selling books, and industry recognition, the podcast’s mission is to help listeners fill their sales funnel with more ideal clients than they require—by building a referral system rooted in generosity, respect, and genuine care for relationships. Core Themes and Approach Giving, Not Begging: The podcast champions a referral system based on purposeful giving, not asking or begging. Listeners will learn how to become someone trusted enough to be “loaned” the most important relationships in a client’s life. Lowering Referral Risk: Each episode explores strategies for reducing both perceived and actual risk in the referral process, making it easier and more comfortable for clients and centers of influence to refer their valued contacts. Farming, Not Hunting: Adopting a “farmer” mindset, the podcast emphasizes nurturing a diverse network, engaging key contacts early, and cultivating long-term relationships that naturally yield referrals over time. Systematic Growth: Listeners are guided to set clear client acquisition targets, double their meeting goals based on closing rates, and create a waiting list of interested clients—ensuring a full pipeline and sustainable business growth. Respect and Enterprise Value: The podcast highlights the importance of treating people with respect and care, which not only increases referrals but also enhances the enterprise value of an advisory practice. Enjoyable Referral Process: Episodes focus on making the referral process enjoyable for all parties, so that giving and receiving referrals becomes a source of pride and satisfaction, not stress. Who Should Listen Financial advisors seeking to grow their practice and enterprise value through referrals Professionals in client acquisition roles who want to make referrals their primary growth engine Anyone who values building their business by loving people and giving on purpose within a proven system Host Credentials Best-selling author of multiple books on referrals, including Can I Borrow Your Car? 2024 Exit Planning Institute Member of the Year and online faculty member Recognized expert in helping financial advisors grow their practices’ enterprise value through referrals and exit planning Podcast Promise Listeners will discover how to become the “obvious choice” in their market by building a referral-driven business that everyone loves participating in—clients, centers of influence, and advisors alike. The Can I Borrow Your Car Podcast is your guide to growing your business by loving people, giving first, and earning the right to be introduced to your ideal clients.