Sparking The Fuse

Chris Cook
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Real conversations with the leaders sparking growth in their businesses. Host Chris Cook explores the wins, failures, and breakthroughs that fuel progress. If you’re building, scaling, or leading—this podcast will light your next fuse.

  1. 2d ago

    Simon Zryd: The Exit-First Mindset That Changes How You Build a Business

    Simon Zryd, founder of Denver Business Coach, shows how to build a business you can actually sell. Learn the growth plateaus, leadership skills, and enterprise value moves that prepare you for exit. A practical conversation on scaling, strategic planning, and exit-first thinking for small business owners. In this episode of Sparking the Fuse, Chris sits down with Simon Zryd, founder of Denver Business Coach. Simon shares his path from Switzerland to entrepreneurship and what he has learned about building a business that lasts. They cover the stages of growth, the capacity plateaus that stall owners, how to build a leadership team, and why enterprise value is the real measure of impact. Simon also explains how to adapt your business model for expansion and prepare for exit by building transferable assets. Key Takeaways - Start with the end in mind to build a saleable business - Humble beginnings can lead to big growth with the right strategy - Scaling requires developing leadership and management skills - Strategic planning is often overlooked in small businesses - Building a community within your advisory network enhances value Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Simon Zryd and Denver Business Coach 01:56 Simon’s journey from Switzerland to entrepreneurship 04:02 Evolution of Denver Business Coach and its vision 06:01 Key lessons on growing a successful business 09:51 Common growth plateaus and how to overcome them 11:56 Building leadership teams for scale 16:04 Measuring impact through enterprise value 20:08 Growth journey of Denver Business Coach 24:02 Adapting business models for expansion 28:02 Preparing for exit and building transferable assets 31:47 Future plans and exciting opportunities 35:58 Advice for entrepreneurs and continuous learning Keywords: business growth, entrepreneurship, business scaling, exit strategy, enterprise value, leadership, business coaching, strategic planning, business valuation, Simon Zryd, Denver Business Coach, Sparking the Fuse 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ 🔗 Connect With Today’s Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonzryd/ Website: https://denverbusinesscoach.com/ 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/

  2. Oct 21

    Regan Bach: How Better Teams Turn Conflict Into High Performance

    Regan Bach went from whitewater kayaking to executive coaching. Here is how better teams turn conflict into high performance. Learn why trust, healthy disagreement, and following your instincts define great leaders. Hear Regan Bach of Better Faster Further on culture, coaching, and systemic change. Regan Bach shares his path from whitewater kayaking to executive coaching and entrepreneurship. We talk about how athletic principles carry into corporate leadership, why trust and healthy conflict drive high-performing teams, and how repetition builds confidence in executive roles. Regan also covers systemic change, growing a coaching firm through reputation, and where Better Faster Further is headed. Key Takeaways - Trust your instincts as a leader and make decisions confidently - Healthy conflict is essential for high-performing teams, so avoid toxic or passive conflict - Repetition and experience build confidence in executive roles - Effective coaching combines academic frameworks with real-world experience - Organizations thrive when leaders create trust and accountability Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Regan Bach and his background 01:05 From whitewater kayaking to executive coaching 02:20 Lessons learned from action sports and outdoor adventures 04:32 The role of coaching in developing raw talent 08:18 How coaching helps break patterns and improve performance 09:03 The founding of Better Faster Further 11:05 Systemic change and scaling organizations 14:06 Overcoming imposter syndrome in executive roles 16:09 The importance of experience and real-world learning 18:50 Growth through word of mouth and reputation 21:50 What makes organizations high performing 23:38 Healthy conflict and team dynamics 26:04 Leadership style and organizational culture 28:43 Adapting to different organizational stages 33:48 The science and art of organizational change 36:02 Mental models for understanding organizations 38:37 Future vision for Better Faster Further 41:49 Integrating wellness and performance in leadership 43:07 Advice for entrepreneurs and leaders 45:32 Connecting with Regan Bach and next steps Keywords leadership, high performance, executive coaching, organizational culture, conflict resolution, team trust, entrepreneurship, systemic change, coaching 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reganbach Website: https://betterfasterfurther.com/ 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/

  3. Oct 20

    Daniel Duty: Stop Treating Negotiation Like a Battle

    Daniel Duty, CEO of Conlego, shows why negotiation is problem-solving, not a battle. Learn how motivations, interests, and expectations shape better business deals and partnerships. Plus how Portager AI helps retailers organize and analyze vendor proposals. EPISODE SUMMARY Daniel Duty takes us from Capitol Hill to corporate law, then to building negotiation teams at General Mills and Target. Now, as CEO of Conlego, he helps businesses negotiate smarter. We talk about the Michael Jordan Wheaties deal, common misconceptions about negotiation, cultural differences in negotiating styles, and why long-term partnerships beat win-lose tactics. Daniel also introduces Portager, an AI platform that helps retailers organize and compare vendor proposals, and shares his vision for negotiation technology across the retail process. KEY TAKEAWAYS - Negotiation is more about problem-solving than battle - Understanding motivations and interests leads to better deals - Setting the right expectations shapes negotiation outcomes - Deep industry experience combined with negotiation skills is unique - Portager AI helps retailers organize and analyze proposals CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and guest background 01:03 Transition from government to corporate law and negotiation 02:36 Michael Jordan Wheaties deal and negotiation insights 04:00 Building a negotiation team at General Mills and Target 05:20 Creating value through negotiation and partnership 06:55 Developing negotiation skills and mental models 10:57 Common misconceptions about negotiation 12:20 Problem-solving approach versus win-lose tactics 14:36 Cultural implications in negotiation styles 18:06 Growth and future opportunities for Conlego 26:15 Introduction to Portager AI platform 28:45 Using Portager for retail vendor negotiations 32:18 Expanding into new retail categories and brands 34:29 Future vision for Conlego and negotiation technology 36:26 Integrating negotiation tools across the retail process 38:36 Closing thoughts and next steps for listeners KEYWORDS negotiation, business deals, retail partnerships, negotiation strategies, Conlego, Portager, negotiation training, retail ecosystem, AI in negotiation 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielduty/ Website: https://conlego.com/ 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/

  4. Jul 9

    Kash Rocheleau: From Corporate CEO to Entrepreneur

    Kash Rocheleau left the corporate CEO seat to build something of her own — and learned that growth creates as many problems as it solves. In this episode of Sparking the Fuse, Chris sits down with Kash Rocheleau, Owner of Outgrow Accounting & Finance. They dig into networking, understanding your financials, and what a fractional CFO actually does for a small business. EPISODE SUMMARY Kash Rocheleau shares her journey from corporate CEO to entrepreneur, and what it took to build Outgrow Accounting & Finance from the ground up. She and Chris talk through why relationship-building drives business development, how financials tell a story that should shape your decisions, and how she thinks about managing internal growth challenges while balancing business and personal life. They also get into the evolving role of fractional CFOs and why small businesses should rethink financial leadership. KEY TAKEAWAYS - Relationship-building and networking are the foundation of sustainable business development - Your financials tell a story — learning to read and communicate that story drives better decisions - Growth creates internal challenges that need to be managed deliberately, not reactively - A fractional CFO gives small businesses financial leadership without the full-time cost - East Coast and West Coast business cultures differ in ways that shape how you build relationships CHAPTERS 00:00 The Journey to Entrepreneurship 03:26 Building Outgrow: The Early Days 06:38 Networking and Relationship Building 11:18 Understanding Financials: The Language of Business 19:56 The Structure of Outgrow: Team and Clients 25:22 Cultural Differences: East Coast vs. West Coast 32:19 The Role of a Fractional CFO 35:09 Rethinking Financial Leadership for Small Businesses 38:13 Navigating Internal Growth Challenges 43:08 Balancing Business Growth and Personal Life 44:56 Vision for the Future of Outgrow 47:25 Connecting and Building Relationships in Business KEYWORDS entrepreneurship, finance, networking, growth strategies, fractional CFO, business development, leadership, small business, Outgrow Accounting 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kash-rocheleau-a0678528/ Website: https://outgrowaccounting.com/ 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/

  5. Jun 18

    Dylan Hendrickson: Why Cash Flow, Not Profit, Is the Secret to Business Growth and Stability

    Dylan Hendrickson built Staxx into a 30-person, nearly $4M fractional CFO firm without ever becoming a CPA. In this episode, he explains why most business owners are running their company off the wrong financial statement entirely. From college football to private equity playbooks, this is how cash — not profit — becomes the real decision-making tool. Dylan Hendrickson started his accounting business while playing college football and finishing his master's degree, eventually merging it with his business partner's firm to form Staxx. He shares why he still recommends an accounting degree, how Staxx's ideal client profile evolved, and why most business owners are confused about their finances because they're managing cash off a P&L instead of a 13-week cash flow forecast. - Dylan built his accounting business while playing college football, doing one small thing daily to move it forward. - Staxx formed when Dylan merged his solo practice with his business partner's firm after meeting at an industry event. - Hiring ahead of need and stepping out of service delivery early made Staxx scalable, not founder-dependent. - A P&L can't manage cash; a 13-week cash flow forecast can, and that's the real gap for most business owners. - Staxx's ideal client typically does $1M-$30M in revenue, needing more than a bookkeeper but not yet an in-house team. - A clear sign it's time for outside help: making decisions purely off the bank balance and gut feeling. 00:00 - Intro 00:37 - College football and building a business at once 03:14 - How Staxx came together 09:17 - Building for the long term over quick wins 11:24 - Why Dylan still recommends accounting 17:49 - What Staxx looks like today 20:43 - How the offer has evolved 22:28 - The ideal client profile 23:43 - CFO-ready vs. controller-ready 28:23 - Why cash flow forecasting beats the P&L 32:00 - In-house accountants vs. fractional CFOs 35:23 - How long engagements last 37:45 - The hardest part of scaling right now 43:22 - Messaging, pricing, and positioning 46:32 - Balancing marketing, sales, and ops 49:18 - Where to find Dylan and Staxx fractional CFO, cash flow forecasting, Staxx, Dylan Hendrickson, small business CFO, cash flow vs profit, scaling a service business, financial advisory, business exit planning, entrepreneurship 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-hendrickson-113419153/ Website: https://www.startstaxx.pro/ 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/

  6. Jun 17

    Olivia Tillema: The Surprising Power of Systems Thinking in Small Business Growth

    Olivia Tillema helped automate a workflow that saved 91,000 hours in a single year. From a remote support gig to rebuilding operations for Bungie, she now runs her own ops agency, t2i collective. This episode breaks down the systems thinking that helps small businesses scale without burning out the team. Olivia Tillema went from a remote support role to rebuilding operations inside Bungie, one of the gaming industry's biggest studios, before launching her own boutique agency, T2i Collective. In this episode, she shares her systems-based approach to operations, how tools like Asana can transform team workflows, and the surprising amount of time (and money) the right systems can save a growing business. Key Takeaways: - Systems thinking is crucial for operational success - Automation can save thousands of hours annually - Understanding team responsibilities improves project flow Chapters: 00:00 From Layoff to Opportunity: Olivia's Journey 02:03 The Evolution of Remote Work and Operations 05:08 Navigating Career Transitions and Freelancing 08:15 Landing the Bungie Project: A Game Changer 11:14 Current State of T2I Collective: Growth and Challenges 14:01 Understanding Operations: The RACI Framework 17:18 Industry Insights: Communication and Workflow Improvements 23:14 Transforming Efficiency with Automation 24:38 Setting Growth Goals and Expanding Reach 26:26 Building Connections and Networking 27:27 Passion for Work and Personal Fulfillment Keywords: operations, systems, Asana, remote work, startup growth, process improvement, freelancing, Bungie, video game industry, business scaling 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-tillema-329599138/ Website: https://t2icollective.com/ 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/

  7. Jun 3

    Stephanie Groschup: Navigating Wealth with Purpose and Values

    A two-decade wealth management veteran on why money is a tool, not a destination. Stephanie Groschup shares how aligning investments with values changes everything. Listening first, the great wealth transfer, and building a boutique firm that stays high-touch. Stephanie Groschup, Founder and President of ArchHaven & Co. Wealth Partners, joins Chris to talk about what it means to manage wealth with purpose. Drawing on a career that started in oil and gas and spanned major market events at Merrill Lynch, Stephanie unpacks why listening is the foundation of good advice, how client expectations have shifted, and what the $70-90 trillion great wealth transfer means for families and advisors. It's a conversation about values, legacy, and seeing money as a tool for the life you actually want to build. KEY TAKEAWAYS - Listening is foundational - not just to what clients say, but to what they don't say - Clients who align their investments with their values stay engaged and avoid rash decisions - The great wealth transfer (an estimated $70-90 trillion) will reshape families, markets, and how advisors work - Roughly 70% of wealth is lost by the second generation and 90% by the third, often because families never talk about money - Including the next generation early - in both financial and emotional conversations - protects a family's legacy - A boutique firm can't be everything to everybody; clarity comes from knowing exactly who you serve - Technology matters, but the human side of wealth is what most people are missing - Your happiness, worth, and value aren't defined by how many zeros are in the account CHAPTERS 00:04 - Meet Stephanie Groschup 00:30 - What people misunderstand about big firms 01:17 - Navigating 9/11, 2008, and market volatility 03:08 - From oil and gas to wealth management 04:03 - Becoming a founder 04:53 - How ArchHaven serves clients today 05:44 - Why listening comes first 09:13 - Why people hesitate to talk to an advisor 17:02 - Addressing the great wealth transfer 22:07 - Growing a boutique firm while staying high-touch 26:46 - Where the firm feels tension 33:01 - A practical first step toward clarity 34:00 - Where to connect with Stephanie KEYWORDS wealth management, financial advisor, great wealth transfer, values-based investing, legacy planning, estate planning, behavioral finance, boutique advisory firm, women in finance, retirement planning, Merrill Lynch, generational wealth 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-groschup/ Website: https://www.archhavenwealth.com/ 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/

  8. Jun 1

    Saim Abbasi: Speed and Systemization for Business Success

    Saim Abbasi built multiple businesses before most people finish school. His edge? Speed and systems — executed before doubt sets in. Here's what that looks like in practice. Saim Abbasi is the founder of SA Digital Media Group, a multi-venture digital media and incubation company. In this episode, he breaks down how he moved from university startups during COVID to acquiring and scaling businesses across industries — and what he learned about execution, systems, and the evolving role of generalists in an AI-driven world. Key Takeaways: - Speed to market is a competitive advantage — move ideas forward within 48 hours - Build systems early so the business runs without you - Make yourself unnecessary by day 90 — that's the goal - Generalists have a growing edge in the AI era - Exits and acquisitions are tools, not endpoints - Identify bottlenecks in planning before they become bottlenecks in execution 00:00 Introduction to Saim Abbasi's Journey 00:40 Navigating University During COVID-19 04:07 From Ideation to Execution: Launching a Business 05:54 The Acquisition Experience 08:07 Building Multiple Ventures Simultaneously 09:46 Influences from Family and Early Lessons 13:24 Overview of SA Digital Media Group 17:07 The Intersection of Technology and Business 19:06 Ideal Clients and Mentorship 21:19 The Need for Generalists in Today's Market 27:12 Becoming Unnecessary: Systems Thinking in Business 30:56 Staying Focused Amidst Multiple Projects 34:08 Identifying Bottlenecks in Planning 36:13 Building Buffers for Success 36:56 Collaborative Opportunities and Networking Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Speed to Market, Systems Building, AI, Generalists, Business Growth, Startup, Mergers, Marketing, Leadership 🔗 Connect With Chris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/ Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/ 🔗 Connect With Today's Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saimabbasi/ Website: https://www.samedia.io/ 🎧 Listen on Other Platforms Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431 📸 Socials Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/

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About

Real conversations with the leaders sparking growth in their businesses. Host Chris Cook explores the wins, failures, and breakthroughs that fuel progress. If you’re building, scaling, or leading—this podcast will light your next fuse.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Cook
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Chris Cook