Business Owner Tales from the Trenches

Cannon Carr

Join Cannon Carr, former business owner and Partner at EP Wealth Advisors, as he has conversations with entrepreneurs on lessons learned from the trenches. Cannon and his guests talk about sustaining business success, while appreciating financial independence along the way. Do you want to learn more about the 3Rs, a wealth strategy for entrepreneurs? Visit cannon-carr.com to find more information as well as resources to help you on your entrepreneurial journey.

  1. 21 OCT

    The 95% Rule: Building a Culture of Accountability with Todd Stanton

    💡 Episode Summary What if 5% of your employees are creating 95% of your problems? This week, Cannon and Claudia sit down with Todd Stanton, founder of Stanton Law and author of The 95% Rule: 29 Employment Law Axioms for Owners, Execs, and HR. While the title suggests employment law, this conversation goes much deeper — into the heart of leadership, ownership, and building a culture of accountability. Todd explains how a victim mentality in both leaders and employees erodes company health — and how reclaiming agency and responsibility leads to a high-performing, self-led team. He discusses the mindset shift from lawyer to entrepreneur, why "failure to fire" is leadership malpractice, and how running a law firm like a business can set a model for every professional service leader. 🔑 Key Takeaways 5% cause 95% of your problems. Recognize and address the small percentage of employees that drain time and culture. Ownership starts at the top. If problems persist, management allowed them to exist. Run your firm like a business. Lawyers — and all service professionals — thrive when they embrace leadership and accountability. Clarity saves time. The 29 axioms in Todd's book serve as heuristics for better, faster decision-making. Victim mentality kills progress. Both leaders and employees must reject entitlement and embrace agency. Build a business that outlives you. True success is creating sustainable and fulfilling lives for both employees and clients. Engage legal counsel early. Don't wait until a crisis to involve your attorney — use them proactively as a strategic partner. Leadership is letting go. The founder's job is to empower, not control; to make themselves increasingly unnecessary. 👤 Guest Bio Todd Stanton is the founder and principal of Stanton Law LLC, a forward-thinking employment law firm based in Atlanta. With 17 attorneys and a mission to create sustainable and fulfilling professional lives, Todd has built a firm that operates like a business, not a bureaucracy. He's also the bestselling author of The 95% Rule: 29 Employment Law Axioms for Owners, Execs, and HR, a practical and insightful guide for leaders who want to cultivate high-performing teams and avoid costly HR mistakes. 📘 Learn more at stantonlawllc.com Resources 📕 My 3Rs Framework: https://cannon-carr.com/the-3rs/   🌐 Website: https://cannon-carr.com/   🛠️ Resources: https://cannon-carr.com/resources/  🎙️ Podcast: https://cannon-carr.com/episodes/   ----------------------------------   FOLLOW ON SOCIAL LinkedIn: / cannon-carr Facebook: / epwealthadvisors YouTube: @cannon-carr ----------------------------------  EP WEALTH ADVISORS EP Wealth Advisors, LLC ("EP Wealth") is a leading independent registered investment adviser ("RIA") on a mission to provide clients with honest and objective advice through personalized financial planning, customized investment portfolios, and integrated tax and estate planning. Visit epwealth.com to find out more.

    27 min
  2. 1 OCT

    Reflections on a Successful Business Sale: Insights from Cannon

    What does it really take to sell a business without regret? In this anniversary conversation, Cannon Carr shares his experience of leading his firm through a major transition—what went as expected, what surprises hit hardest, and how preparation years in advance made all the difference. From the importance of clean books and solid processes, to setting non-negotiables, to navigating the emotional toll of the deal, Cannon gives a candid look behind the curtain of mergers and acquisitions. He also unpacks his Three R's Framework—Reward, Reinvest, and Repurpose—and why values are just as important as valuation. Whether you're a business owner considering your own exit or simply curious about how big deals come together, this episode delivers insight, vulnerability, and practical takeaways you won't hear anywhere else. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why two-thirds of business sales end in regret—and how to avoid that outcome. The foundational work every owner should do 2–3 years before a sale. The role of non-negotiables in deal negotiations. The emotional toll of selling—and how to stay grounded through it. Why shared values with a buyer are just as important as valuation. The importance of diversified wealth before a transaction. How Cannon's Three R's framework shaped his decisions. The personal and family impact of going through a business sale. How Vistage peer groups, EOS, and trusted advisors played into the process. Final advice Cannon gives to business owners considering a future exit. Resources & Links Mentioned: Cannon Carr's website & resources: cannon-carr.com EP Wealth Advisors: epwealth.com Vistage: vistage.com

    28 min
  3. 2 SEP

    The Power of Clarity and Health in Entrepreneurship

    In this episode, hosts Cannon and Claudia discuss the importance of health as a competitive advantage for business owners with guest Justin Roethingshofer, founder of Own It Coaching. Justin shares his transformation journey, driven by his experiences in the NHL and his personal health challenges. He offers insights into his high-performance health consultancy, which focuses on individualized health optimization for business leaders. Listeners are encouraged to consider key questions about their purpose, energy use, and risk management to ensure peak performance in their business endeavors. The conversation also explores the challenges of entrepreneurship, the value of clarity and process, and the importance of maintaining health to drive sustained business success. 00:00 Introduction: Health as a Competitive Advantage 00:35 Meet Justin Roethingshofer: Founder of Own Eight Coaching 02:20 Justin's Journey: From NHL to Health Consultancy 07:07 The Philosophy Behind Own Eight Coaching 13:41 Building the Business: Challenges and Breakthroughs 17:27 The Turning Point: Divine Intervention and the Own IT Manifesto 22:41 First Steps: Hiring and Scaling the Business 24:47 Delegating to Focus on Passion 26:05 Learning from Mistakes and Focusing on Client Experience 27:12 The Importance of Marketing and Personal Sacrifices 27:55 Celebrating Milestones and Telling Client Stories 28:51 Funding the Startup and Reinvesting Profits 29:31 Commitment to Excellence and Client Experience 31:45 Future Vision and Expanding Health Houses 34:28 Personalized Health and Preventative Care 36:29 The Concept of Age and Biological Health 38:27 Final Thoughts and Contact Information 39:11 Studio Wrap-Up and Key Takeaways

    33 min
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Join Cannon Carr, former business owner and Partner at EP Wealth Advisors, as he has conversations with entrepreneurs on lessons learned from the trenches. Cannon and his guests talk about sustaining business success, while appreciating financial independence along the way. Do you want to learn more about the 3Rs, a wealth strategy for entrepreneurs? Visit cannon-carr.com to find more information as well as resources to help you on your entrepreneurial journey.