CEO Bros - After Hours

CEO Bros
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

CEO Bros is an entertaining weekly podcast hosted by the Balduf Brothers and Matt Croke. Brian and Brad Balduf are successful entrepreneurs and CEOs with hundreds of engaging and insightful stories from the trenches. They talk about everything from the challenges of starting a business, to the exhilaration of growing the business, to the ultimate satisfaction of selling a business. They share real-life stories and lessons in an engaging and candid 'after hours' conversation moderated by Matt Croke, an international entertainer, comedian, and author. Join the guys every Friday afternoon for a new episode. Hear some rants, some ideas, some lessons learned, and some funny anecdotes about the world of running your own company.

  1. 4d ago

    How to ruin a business ep 89

    *Ignore These Business Basics (And Watch Your Company Die) S2 Ep 89* The scariest business disasters start with everyday bad habits. How do you lose customers without even noticing? What happens when your standards quietly slip? And why do business owners insist they have no competition? In this Halloween special, the CEO Bros trade scary stories from the business world. One golf course ignored three calls about a major event. Other companies let response times, quality, and urgency slide until the things that made them successful disappeared. And if you think showing up in pajamas or hiring whoever walks through the door is harmless, you may be building your own business horror story. *YOU'LL DISCOVER* • How ignoring one customer can cost you the next one, too • Why "good enough" slowly eats away at quality and urgency • How poor hiring puts the whole business at risk • Why silence makes employees invent problems that don't exist • What the Savannah Bananas can teach traditional sports about competition *WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Set clear response-time and quality standards, then track them. • If you're slammed, tell customers when you'll follow up. • Communicate clearly, repeat yourself, and check that people understood. • Reinvigorate, reinvent, and re-emphasize before status quo becomes decline. *WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf built and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf scaled By Your Side Autism to 11 centers and 550+ employees. Matt Croke hosts and asks the questions nobody else will. *THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* Your business doesn't always collapse overnight. Sometimes it slowly stops doing the things that made it good. What's the easiest way you've seen a business sabotage itself? Tell us in the comments. Subscribe for Part 2, where the list of business nightmares continues. *TIMESTAMPS* 0:00 - The fastest way to destroy a business 1:05 - Halloween special: worst candy wins 2:44 - Three calls. No callback. No customer. 6:10 - How quality and urgency quietly disappear 10:41 - Hire poorly, pay for it later 13:03 - Silence lets rumors take over 14:39 - Why pajamas send the wrong message 18:02 - "We don't have competition" (Really?) 22:31 - The slow death spiral of stagnation 25:14 - The Part 2 cliffhanger *ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches. 🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three business nightmares. Pick the one that matches your Halloween mood. 🍸 *THE BLOODY BOTTOM LINE* Brian Balduf - The storyteller who's seen what can go wrong Recipe: • 1½ oz vodka • 3 oz cranberry juice • ½ oz lime juice • Shake with ice and strain over fresh ice. Add a lime wedge. The Vibe: Blood-red and sharp, like the moment you realize customers have stopped calling because you stopped calling them. A little tartness is a useful warning. 🍸 *THE WITCHING HOUR* Brad Balduf - The operator who knows standards matter Recipe: • 1½ oz vodka • 3 oz orange juice • ½ oz grenadine • Pour vodka and orange juice over ice. Slowly add grenadine for a bloody swirl. The Vibe: Looks harmless until the red starts spreading. That's what happens when small lapses in quality become the new normal. 🍸 *THE BLACK CAT* Matt Croke - The host who keeps the conversation honest Recipe: • 1½ oz vodka • 3 oz black cherry juice or dark cranberry juice • ½ oz lemon juice • Shake with ice and strain into a glass over ice. The Vibe: Dark, simple, and a little sour. Perfect for the business owner who finally admits the competition is real and it's time to pay attention. Which Halloween cocktail are you pouring: Bloody Bottom Line, Witching Hour, or Black Cat? And which business mistake scares you most? *JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #SmallBusiness #Leadership #CEOBros #Halloween #businesstips #businessideas #businessowner #startups #startupsuccess #howtostartabusiness #howto #ceo #buyabusiness

  2. Oct 23

    Culture - The secret sauce of successful companies ep 88

    *YOUR BEST EMPLOYEES ARE WATCHING YOU (What Happens When Leaders Let Standards Slip) S2 Ep 88* The First 20 Employees Set the Tone. The Next 500 Live With It. Who's really deciding your company culture, you or the loudest person in the room? What happens when your best location turns sour six months after a leadership change? And why does one employee getting away with everything make everyone else stop caring? Brad Balduf has opened 13 By Your Side centers across three states. He knows culture doesn't magically travel from one location to the next. Brian Balduf built VHT Studios around accountability, respect, pride in workmanship, and actually enjoying the work. But even he admits he waited too long to address some behaviors. The guys get into what happens when founders assume people just know how to behave. They talk about the first five to 20 hires setting the standard, why new leaders need explicit direction, and how a few cigarette breaks or one perpetually negative employee can change the whole office. Then Brian shares a lesson from acquiring companies with completely different cultures. The answer wasn't forcing everyone to do things his way. It was figuring out what each side did well and keeping the best of both. And yes, there are fedoras. Naturally, this becomes show and tell. *YOU'LL DISCOVER* • Why your first 20 hires can shape a location for years • How one leadership change can wreck six months of good culture • Why founders must model the behavior they expect • When to coach a culture problem and when to cut ties • How to combine cultures after acquiring a company *WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Set expectations before the doors open. • Lead by example. No job is beneath the CEO. • Reinforce standards consistently, not just when you're annoyed. • Address toxic behavior before it spreads. *WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf built and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf scaled By Your Side Autism Therapy to 13 centers and 550+ employees. Matt Croke hosts and asks the questions nobody else will. *THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "If you don't do it and you leave it for people to interpret, it will go sideways." What's one behavior that defines your company culture, for better or worse? Drop it in the comments. SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories. No LinkedIn energy. *TIMESTAMPS* 1:30 - Culture, Cookies, and a Collection of Hats 2:43 - Who's Actually Building Your Culture? 4:29 - The First 20 Hires Set the Standard 6:15 - Four Values That Shaped VHT 11:35 - How Leadership Changes Culture 15:00 - Should Founders Practice What They Preach? 18:11 - What Happens When Companies Merge? 20:12 - The Problem With Inconsistent Standards 23:42 - The Culture Mistakes Brian Would Fix 25:49 - Why Speed Became Part of Brad's Culture 🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three approaches to company culture. Pick the one that matches your leadership style. 🍸 *THE CULTURE CLUB* Brian Balduf, the founder who believes work should be enjoyable Recipe: • 1½ oz dark rum • ¾ oz pineapple juice • ½ oz lime juice • ½ oz coconut cream • Shake with ice, strain into a chilled glass The Vibe: Work hard, enjoy the ride, and don't turn the office into a punishment facility. Brian built a culture people missed after they left. A little tropical, a little rebellious, and definitely not another boring office meeting. 🍸 *THE STANDARD SETTER* Brad Balduf, the operator who built across 13 centers Recipe: • 2 oz gin • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice • ½ oz honey syrup • 2 cucumber slices • Shake with ice, double strain into a rocks glass The Vibe: Clear expectations. Consistent follow-through. No guessing which rules count today. This drink is crisp, disciplined, and ready five minutes before the meeting starts. 🍸 *THE FEDORA FIASCO* Matt Croke, the host caught between CEOs and questionable hats Recipe: • 1½ oz vodka • ¾ oz elderflower liqueur • ½ oz cranberry juice • ½ oz fresh lime juice • Top with club soda • Shake the first four ingredients with ice, strain over fresh ice, top with soda The Vibe: You can establish a culture of accountability, respect, and pride in your work. You can also apparently establish a culture of trying on at least three hats per episode. Some traditions make more sense than others. Which drink fits your company, the Culture Club, the Standard Setter, or the Fedora Fiasco? *JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros #businessculture #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CompanyCulture #CEOBros #bestbusinesspodcast #businesstips #businessideas #businesscoach #startupsecrets #newbusinessideas

  3. Oct 16 ·  Video

    The Mental Fortitude of Business Founders

    *Your Business Will Test Your Mental Fortitude (What Happens When the Plan Collapses) S2 Ep 87* Brian spent six months lining up an investment. The money was supposed to arrive Friday. Six people pulled him into a conference room and killed the deal. He drove to a lake and sat there for four hours. What do you do when the plan collapses overnight? Can you keep your team focused when you're worried the company won't survive? And can you take a hit without letting it make the next decision for you? In Episode 87, Brian, Brad, and Matt get honest about the part of entrepreneurship nobody puts in the success story: the customer you lose at the Christmas party, the legal change that derails your plans, and the funding that disappears just when you need it most. The highs don't last. Neither do the lows. The job is to stay measured, think through your options, and keep moving without spreading panic through the team. *YOU'LL DISCOVER* • Why Brian spent four hours alone after a funding deal collapsed • What it takes to lose your biggest customer and still give the Christmas toast • Why a CEO has to absorb the shock without hiding the plan • How to stay steady when success and disaster can be a week apart • Why blaming people gets you nowhere when the business is in trouble *WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Take a breath before making the next move. • Work through alternatives and consequences, not anger. • Tell the team what happened and what comes next. • Treat each crisis as practice for the next one. *WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf built and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf scaled By Your Side Autism Therapy to 11 centers and 550+ employees. Matt Croke asks the questions business owners are thinking. *THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "Starting a company is like eating glass and staring into the abyss." What's the hardest business setback you've had to work through? Tell us below. SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories, no LinkedIn energy. *TIMESTAMPS* 0:00 - The weird baseball story that somehow leads to Dolly Parton 2:44 - The founder trait nobody talks about: pain tolerance 5:02 - The success story skips the painful middle 8:17 - Brian loses his biggest customer at the Christmas party 10:48 - A law change derails Brad's plan 12:25 - The CEO has to be the stopper 17:34 - The funding deal that fell apart after six months 20:32 - Brian spends four hours at a lake 24:27 - Turn the next crisis into a challenge *ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy), with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches. 🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three ways to handle the hard days. Pick your poison. 🍸 *THE FOUR-HOUR RESET* Brian Balduf, the guy who took the hit and kept going Recipe: • 2 oz aged rum • ¾ oz fresh lime juice • ½ oz demerara syrup • 2 dashes aromatic bitters • Shake with ice, strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass The Vibe: The deal fell apart, and Brian needed four hours before he could face the world again. Rich rum, sharp lime, and a slow finish for the days when you need to sit with it before you make a move. 🍸 *THE STEADY HAND* Brad Balduf, the operator who keeps the team moving Recipe: • 1½ oz pisco • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice • ½ oz simple syrup • 1 egg white • Dry shake, then shake with ice and strain into a coupe The Vibe: A crisis can spread through a team faster than the facts. This one starts with a little turbulence, then settles into something calm and balanced. Keep your head, then make the plan. 🍸 *THE NEXT-MOVE SPRITZ* Matt Croke, the one asking what happens now? Recipe: • 1½ oz Aperol • 2 oz dry sparkling wine • 1 oz soda water • Orange slice • Build over ice in a wine glass and stir gently The Vibe: You can't control the deal that fell through. You can control what you do Monday morning. Bittersweet, bright, and built for moving forward without pretending the setback didn't happen. Which one are you choosing: the reset, the steady hand, or the next move? *JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros #Entrepreneurship #MentalToughness #Leadership #BusinessPodcast #CEOBros

  4. Oct 15

    Business Partnerships - Pros and Cons ep 86

    *WHY RAY WOULD RATHER GO IT ALONE (Here's why he might have a point) S2 Ep 86* What happens when three entrepreneurs want the same business but disagree on how to run it? Who controls the money when one partner owns 50% and the other two split the rest? And how do you know if you're choosing a great business partner or just a friend with a checkbook? Brad is working toward a pool hall deal with two partners, and the questions are piling up. Ownership percentages, decision-making power, management responsibilities, debt repayment, and what happens when someone wants out. None of that sounds complicated until the partners disagree. Brian shares a hard-earned lesson from building VHT Studios. He and his partner agreed on the big things, but even something as small as choosing Christmas gifts for clients became a fight. Then Top Shelf Ray weighs in. He's spent years doing things his own way, and he has a pretty good reason for avoiding partnerships. His advice for anyone considering one? Find someone you trust, genuinely like, and want the same things as you. Otherwise, you've got a business partner or a roommate with a checking account. *YOU'LL DISCOVER* • Why equal ownership doesn't mean equal decision-making power • The $5,000 decision that can turn partners against each other • Why you need an exit plan before anyone signs • How small disagreements can damage a partnership • Ray's argument for going solo, and when another perspective is worth it *WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Put ownership, responsibilities, and voting rights in writing. • Agree on spending limits and major decisions upfront. • Discuss what happens if a partner wants to sell or leave. • Choose partners who share your vision, values, and risk tolerance. *WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf built and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf scaled By Your Side Autism Therapy to 11 centers and 550+ employees. Matt Croke hosts and asks the questions nobody else will. *THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH "If you have to rely on the contract, you have a problem with your partners right out of the gate." Would you rather own 100% of a business alone or share the risk and rewards with partners? Tell us in the comments. SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories, no LinkedIn energy. TIMESTAMPS* 0:00 - Brad's Pool Hall Deal Takes Shape 5:25 - What Changes When You Add Partners? 6:34 - Who Owns What, and Who Runs the Business? 9:14 - The Green Flags of a Good Partnership 11:10 - Brian's VHT Partnership Lesson 14:39 - Can You Compromise With Your Partners? 16:27 - When Partners Grow Apart 21:27 - Ray Explains Why He Goes Solo 23:25 - Ray's Advice on Choosing a Partner 25:04 - Why Brad Likes Having Partners 27:10 - CEO Bros Is a Partnership, Too 28:17 - The Pool Hall Deal Is on the Clock 🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Four drinks for four different takes on partnership. Pick your side. 🍸 *THE SOLE PROPRIETOR* Brian Balduf, the storyteller who's been there and sold the company Recipe: • 2 oz Scotch whisky • ¾ oz lemon juice • ½ oz honey syrup • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Shake with ice, strain into a rocks glass The Vibe: Brian learned that even partners who agree on the big things can fight over the little ones. This drink keeps things classic, with just enough bite to remind you that being in charge doesn't mean being right. 🍸 *THE MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER* Brad Balduf, the operator working through a three-partner deal Recipe: • 2 oz tequila blanco • ¾ oz fresh lime juice • ½ oz agave syrup • ½ oz grapefruit juice • Shake with ice, strain into a rocks glass The Vibe: Brad's pool hall deal means sorting out ownership, decision-making, and who gets the final say. Bright, direct, and built around a plan. 🍸 *THE MEDIATOR* Matt Croke, the host keeping the conversation moving Recipe: • 1½ oz gin • ¾ oz elderflower liqueur • ¾ oz lemon juice • Club soda • Shake the first three with ice, strain into a tall glass, top with soda The Vibe: When two partners see things differently, somebody has to keep the conversation going. Matt knows the job. The trick is getting everyone to agree before the glass is empty. 🍸 *RAY'S SOLO ACT* Ray the bartender, who prefers answering to himself Recipe: • 2 oz rye whiskey • ¾ oz sweet vermouth • ¼ oz amaro • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass, garnish with an orange twist The Vibe: Ray trusts people. He just doesn't want to ask permission to spend $5,000. This bold, bittersweet riff is for the owner who likes calling the shots and accepting the consequences. Which drink fits you, the majority owner, the mediator, the team player, or Ray doing it all himself? Tell us below. *JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros #BusinessStrategy #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPartnerships #Leadership #CEOBros #bestbusinesspodcast #startups #howto #business

  5. Oct 2

    Making business meetings more productive ep 85

    *YOUR MEETINGS ARE WASTING YOUR COMPANY'S TIME (Here's How to Fix Them) S2 Episode 85* Most Meetings Don't Need More People. They Need More Structure. You sit in a meeting for an hour, talk about everything, solve nothing, and leave with no idea who's doing what. Then you do it again next week. CEO Bros has a simple prescription: fewer meetings, fewer people, tighter agendas, and someone who actually owns the room. Brian hates meetings so much he once got corporate coaching about it. Brad thinks some meetings are necessary. Matt just wants them to be 30 minutes shorter. Somewhere in there is a system that actually works. And then there's Brian's FBI story. He was running a meeting with about 100 people when agents walked in and pulled him out for an hour. He came back, resumed the meeting, and forgot to explain where he'd been. *YOU'LL DISCOVER* • Why a meeting agenda needs a specific outcome, not just a topic • The one-to-three topic rule that keeps meetings from sprawling • Why you can excuse people from a meeting while it's happening • How to make sure everyone understands the decision before you close • Why "Code 6" became Brian's ultimate escape from a useless meeting *WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • One to three specific topics, with a time limit for each • One person owns the agenda, pacing, decisions and close • If someone doesn't need to be there, let them leave • End with clear agreement, action items and accountable people *WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf built and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf scaled By Your Side Autism to 11 centers and 550+ employees. Matt Croke hosts and asks the questions nobody else will. *THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* A meeting without an agenda, owner, decision or action item isn't a meeting. It's a time leak. What's the longest meeting you've ever sat through that accomplished absolutely nothing?  👇 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories. No LinkedIn energy. *TIMESTAMPS* 0:00 - Why Brian Was Late to the Meeting About Meetings 4:02 - Are Meetings a Necessary Evil? 5:15 - Brian Admits He Hates Meetings 6:16 - Matt's Rule: Make It 30 Minutes Shorter 6:50 - The Agenda Mistake That Starts the Spiral 8:32 - The One-to-Three Topic Rule 9:37 - Someone Has to Own the Meeting 13:43 - When You Should Kick People Out 18:01 - The FBI Walks Into Brian's Meeting 19:17 - When Meetings Become a Crutch 20:15 - The Art of Actually Ending a Meeting 23:59 - Brian's List of Everything Wrong With Meetings 25:20 - The "Code 6" Meeting 26:43 - CEO Bros Officially Adjourn *ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches. 🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three ways to survive a meeting. Pick the one that matches your situation. 🍸 *THE AGENDA* Brian Balduf - The man who'd rather send an email Recipe: • 2 oz gin • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice • ½ oz honey syrup • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Lemon twist • Shake with ice, strain into a coupe The Vibe: Crisp, direct and finished on time. No wandering into topic four. 🍸 *CODE 6* Brad Balduf - The guy willing to call it Recipe: • 2 oz blanco tequila • ¾ oz fresh lime juice • ½ oz ginger syrup • 2 dashes orange bitters • Lime wheel • Shake with ice, strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass The Vibe: Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is recognize when nothing is getting done. Call Code 6 and walk away. 🍸 *THE SLOW CLOSE* Matt Croke - Still waiting for someone to say goodbye Recipe: • 1½ oz vodka • ¾ oz elderflower liqueur • ¾ oz grapefruit juice • ½ oz fresh lemon juice • Club soda • Grapefruit peel • Shake first four with ice, strain into a Collins glass over ice, top with soda The Vibe: The meeting ended 12 minutes ago. Nobody has left. Someone just said, "One more thing." This drink knows how that story ends. Make all three. Which one are you ordering after your next meeting? T ag us. *JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros  #Entrepreneurship #meetingfails #Leadership #BusinessPodcast #meetings #CEOLife #TimeManagement #BusinessStrategy #Entrepreneurship #CEOBros #bestbusinesspodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipskills #leadershiptips #entrepreneur #startups #startupsuccessstories #businessstories #business #founderstory #founder #timemanagement #meetingmanagementskills #meetingmanagementhacks #howto #howtomanagmeetings #ceostory #ceomindset

  6. Sep 25

    How to improve time management at your company ep 84

    *WHY ARE YOU SO DAMN BUSY? (Being Busy Isn't a Productivity Metric) S2 Episode 84* They found the time-management problem hiding in plain sight. Why does a job take 8 hours when it could take 2? Why does everything suddenly become "urgent"? And why does being busy tell you almost nothing about productivity? From the time you walk through the front door to the time you reach your office, you can find 10 things that need doing. Do all 10 and somehow the important work never gets done. That's where this episode starts. Brian, Brad and Matt put their time-management rules on the table, and the crossover is almost nonexistent. Brad's self-imposed deadline rule: if the team says two weeks, give them three. Don't create stress that doesn't need to exist. Then comes the "painting the fence" rule. Give someone eight hours, they'll use eight hours. Give them 30 minutes, they'll work to that limit. Brian saw it firsthand, where 20 people produced 1,000 edits in June and 400 in December. *YOU'LL DISCOVER* • Why everything can't be "urgent" • How to prioritize the work only YOU can do • Why "busy" isn't a productivity metric • How to tell a trend from a one-off problem • Why your calendar needs a gatekeeper *WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Set deadlines people can actually hit. • Measure output against time, not output alone. • Ask what the work should take before adding people. • Protect time for work that actually moves the business. *WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf built and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf scaled By Your Side Autism Therapy to 11 centers and 550+ employees. Matt Croke hosts and asks the questions nobody else will. *THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "From the time I walk in the front door to the time I get to my office, I see 10 things that need to get done. If I just did them because I saw they needed to get done, none of the important stuff would ever get done." What eats your time that shouldn't? *TIMESTAMPS* 0:53 - Brian is going bald, apparently 1:26 - Why time management isn't a snooze 3:03 - The self-imposed deadline trick 6:11 - Stop making lists. Start prioritizing. 8:53 - Is it REALLY urgent? 12:11 - The painting the fence rule 14:04 - 1,000 edits vs. 400, same 20 people 16:41 - Can you actually estimate effort? 19:12 - "We're busy" isn't a metric 24:20 - Guard your calendar 25:29 - Spend time where it actually matters 27:11 - The 50-minute meeting rule *ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. 🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three ways to handle your time. Pick the one that matches your workday. 🍸 *THE DEADLINE EXTENDER* Brad Balduf - The CEO who gives you three weeks when you ask for two Recipe: • 2 oz rye whiskey • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice • ½ oz honey syrup • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Lemon peel • Shake with ice, strain over a large cube The Vibe: You said two weeks. Brad said three. Now the clock is real, the stress is lower, and nobody gets to say they didn't have enough time. 🍸 *PAINT THE FENCE* Brian Balduf - The guy who watched 20 people turn 1,000 edits into 400 Recipe: • 2 oz reposado tequila • ¾ oz pineapple juice • ½ oz lime juice • ¼ oz agave syrup • Pinch of salt • Shake with ice, strain over fresh ice The Vibe: Give the job eight hours and somehow it takes eight. Give it 30 minutes and suddenly everyone's focused. This drink is built around the clock. 🍸 *CALENDAR BLOCKED* Matt Croke - The host watching everyone argue about time Recipe: • 1½ oz gin • ¾ oz elderflower liqueur • ½ oz grapefruit juice • Club soda • Grapefruit peel • Shake first four with ice, strain into a tall glass with ice, top with soda The Vibe: Your calendar is not public property. Guard it, shorten the meetings, and stop inviting people just because you're afraid they'll feel left out. This one is for the meeting that should've been 25 minutes. Make all three. Deadline extender? Fence painter? Calendar guardian? Tag us. *JOIN THE CONVERSATION* [https://x.com/CeoBrosAH] [https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/] [https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH] [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros] #bestbusinesspodcast #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipskills #leadershiptips #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #startups #startupsuccessstories #businessstories #business #founderstory #founder #timemanagement #timemanagementskills #timemanagementhacks #howto #howtomanagetime #ceostory #ceomindset

  7. Sep 18

    How to access cash for your business ep 83

    *DON'T TAKE $75K IF YOU NEED $250K (That's How You Get Trapped) S2 Ep 83* Know exactly what the money buys before you ask anyone to write a check. Need startup cash? How much do you actually need? What does that money get you? And what happens when you run out before you reach the milestone? Matt wants to start a hat business. His first move? Ask Brian and Brad for cash. Their answer becomes a crash course in what investors want before they hand over a dollar. One entrepreneur asked for $250,000 to reach a milestone. He didn't. Then he needed another $250,000. When the investor couldn't put up that much, the entrepreneur asked for $50,000. That $50K would buy about two weeks of operation. Now the original investment is trapped, and saying no means risking the money already in. *YOU'LL DISCOVER* • Why "I need cash" isn't an investment pitch • The $250K request that turned into a $50K two-week problem • Why investors care about milestones, timelines and getting their money back • Why investor updates build financial trust *WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Know exactly what the money accomplishes before asking for it • Tie the raise to specific milestones and dates • Start small and build financial trust • Give investors clear, high-level updates on what's happened and what's next *WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf built and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf scaled By Your Side Autism Therapy to 11 centers and 550+ employees. Matt Croke hosts and asks the questions nobody else will. *THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "If you need 250, don't take 75 from somebody and then hope you're going to get there." How would you pitch your first raise? What would the money actually buy? 👇 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories. No LinkedIn energy.  *TIMESTAMPS* 0:00 - Matt asks for cash. The Bros immediately have questions. 2:26 - "I need startup cash" sounds easier than it is 3:45 - The first question every investor will ask 5:07 - Investors don't care how great your idea sounds 6:09 - The $250K raise that went sideways 7:37 - How $50K became a two-week lifeline 8:15 - The trap of taking whatever cash you can get 9:22 - Brian and Brad took two very different funding paths 11:57 - The investor gets a $50K request, then sees the vacation 15:03 - How milestones build financial trust 20:46 - SAFE agreements, ownership and convertible debt 23:06 - Matt realizes he has homework before asking for money 23:42 - The investor update you owe after taking the check *ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches. *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three ways to handle the money conversation. Pick the one that matches your raise. 🍸 *THE MILESTONE MINT* Brian Balduf - The guy who wants to know exactly where the money gets you Recipe: • 2 oz vodka • ¾ oz fresh lime juice • ½ oz simple syrup • 8 mint leaves • 2 oz club soda • Lime wheel • Muddle mint with syrup and lime. Add vodka and ice, shake. Strain over fresh ice and top with soda. The Vibe: Clean, specific, no wasted motion. Brian wants the money tied to a milestone, not floating around waiting for a plan. This drink has a destination too. 🍸 *THE TWO-WEEK WARNING* Brad Balduf - The operator who knows $50K doesn't magically become $250K Recipe: • 1½ oz vodka • 1 oz pineapple juice • ½ oz fresh lemon juice • ½ oz coffee liqueur • ¼ oz vanilla syrup • Pinch of salt • Shake hard with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe. The Vibe: Sweet up front, then the coffee hits. Just like taking a smaller check than you need, it feels good right now. Then you remember you've only bought two weeks. 🍸 *THE SAFE BET* Matt Croke - The guy who came for cash and left with homework Recipe: • 1½ oz gin • ¾ oz dry vermouth • ½ oz elderflower liqueur • ¼ oz fresh lemon juice • 2 dashes orange bitters • Lemon twist • Stir with ice until cold. Strain into a coupe and garnish with the twist. The Vibe: Matt walked in asking for cash and walked out with questions about ownership, interest, terms and investor expectations. That's a SAFE conversation with a lot more homework than a hat business pitch. Make all three. Which one fits your funding style: milestone, warning or SAFE? Tag the Bros. *JOIN THE CONVERSATION* [https://x.com/CeoBrosAH] [https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/] [https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH] [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros] #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupLeadership #BusinessFinance #CEOWisdom #StartupFunding #Entrepreneurship #CEOBros #funding #raisingcapital #leadership #startingabusiness #hats #businessstories #businesstips #businessideas

  8. Sep 11

    How to build a successful business by Top Shelf Ray

    *TOP SHELF RAY HAS A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT BUSINESS (And It Makes Perfect Sense) S2 Ep 82* Top Shelf Ray breaks down buying businesses, hiring people, communication, and why good businesses happen on purpose. What can a bartender teach you about buying a business? More than most owners want to admit. Ray starts with the people, not the bar, pool tables or books. Then he looks at the numbers and asks: If I own this place Monday, what do I want to fix? From there, he gets into communication, hiring and the advice he's picked up from years behind the bar. Then he casually drops that he founded and sold a 500+ location pizza chain. *YOU'LL DISCOVER* • Why Ray looks at people before the numbers • Three communication rules owners forget • What Ray looks for when hiring • Why attitude can beat experience • The business advice Ray picked up from the Bros *WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • Watch the people before judging the business • Tell people what you know, even when you don't know • Listen before you announce • Hire curiosity, hunger and attitude *WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf scaled By Your Side Autism Therapy to 11 centers and 550+ employees. Matt Croke hosts and asks the questions nobody else will. *THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "You can teach somebody a skill. You can't teach somebody to give a damn." What's the best advice Ray gave you? SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories. No LinkedIn energy. *TIMESTAMPS* 0:00 - Meet Topshelf Ray 2:59 - Ray's first rule for buying a business 4:03 - The question he asks before buying 5:49 - Ray's three communication rules 7:43 - What he looks for when hiring 9:33 - Why everyone calls Ray with business problems 9:56 - How Topshelf Ray got his name 11:21 - Ray's best business advice 12:57 - Ray's Surfside recommendation *ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches. 🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Four drinks for four guys with four very different takes on business. Pick your poison. 🍸 *THE SURFSIDE* Topshelf Ray - The bartender who somehow became the business guy Recipe: • 2 oz strawberry vodka • 3 oz strawberry lemonade • ½ oz lemon juice • ½ oz simple syrup • 2 strawberries • 1 oz club soda Muddle strawberries, syrup and lemon. Add vodka and lemonade, shake with ice, strain over fresh ice and top with club soda. The Vibe: Ray's personal favorite, and the drink he sent us home with. 🍸 *THE GOOD STUFF* Brian Balduf - Give people something worth remembering Recipe: • 2 oz bourbon • ¾ oz lemon juice • ½ oz honey syrup • 2 dashes bitters • Lemon twist Shake with ice and strain over a large cube. Garnish with lemon. The Vibe: Ray's "give them the good stuff" philosophy sounds a lot like Brian. Good advice, good conversation and no reason to serve the cheap stuff. 🍸 *THE GIVE-A-DAMN* Brad Balduf - Hire the person who cares Recipe: • 2 oz tequila • ¾ oz lime juice • ½ oz agave • ½ oz grapefruit juice • Pinch of salt Shake with ice and strain over fresh ice. Garnish with grapefruit. The Vibe: Brad liked Ray's hiring rule immediately. Skills can be taught. Giving a damn is harder to find. 🍸 *LISTEN FIRST* Matt Croke - Maybe don't give the speech yet Recipe: • 1½ oz gin • ¾ oz elderflower liqueur • ¾ oz lemon juice • ½ oz simple syrup • 2 oz club soda Shake everything except soda with ice. Strain over fresh ice, top with soda and garnish with lemon. The Vibe: Ray's advice to listen before announcing might be exactly what Matt needed to hear. Which drink fits you? *JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros #entrepreneurship #businessstrategy #leadership #hiring #businessadvice #ceobros #businesstips #businessideas #businesscoach #businessowner #startups #startupjourney #startuptips #startupfunding #TopShelfRay #howto #howtostartabusiness #hiring #bartender

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

CEO Bros is an entertaining weekly podcast hosted by the Balduf Brothers and Matt Croke. Brian and Brad Balduf are successful entrepreneurs and CEOs with hundreds of engaging and insightful stories from the trenches. They talk about everything from the challenges of starting a business, to the exhilaration of growing the business, to the ultimate satisfaction of selling a business. They share real-life stories and lessons in an engaging and candid 'after hours' conversation moderated by Matt Croke, an international entertainer, comedian, and author. Join the guys every Friday afternoon for a new episode. Hear some rants, some ideas, some lessons learned, and some funny anecdotes about the world of running your own company.

Information

  • Creator
    CEO Bros
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    CEO Bros - After Hours