Business Legacy

Legacy Planner For Serial Entrepreneurs | Strategic Advisor
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

The Legacy Podcast is a series of conversations with business owners who share their journey to financial freedom and the legacy they want to leave for the next generation. Their stories are empowering, educational, and encouraging.

  1. Designing the 15 accounting practice to serve your life and make an impact

    1d ago

    Designing the 15 accounting practice to serve your life and make an impact

    Erica Goode spent her early career on the traditional accounting track — Big Four, Fortune 50 finance, the late nights and missed dinners that come standard with the path. Then she looked up at the senior leaders above her and realized she didn't want to be any of them when she grew up. That single honest moment set off a decade-long pivot that took her out of corporate, into full-time motherhood, and eventually into building the kind of accounting firm she'd never seen modeled for her. In this conversation with Paul Dio, Erica unpacks what it looks like to bring corporate-level skill — forecasting, cash-flow modeling, strategic finance — to the small businesses sitting right down the street. She talks about her first client, a Taekwondo studio, and how the work she'd built her career on suddenly became the thing standing between that small business and bankruptcy during the early months of COVID. The story is a quiet argument for why human accountants still matter, especially now. The episode also takes a hard look at the million-dollar revenue obsession that's everywhere in the consulting and accounting worlds. Erica makes the case that a business owner pulling $300K can take home almost as much as one chasing seven figures — minus the headcount, the overhead, and the burnout. Million-dollar revenue, in her words, is a vanity metric. What actually matters is what lands in your personal bank account at the end of the month, and how much of your life you got to keep along the way. There's also a fascinating detour into AI. Erica fed her own redacted tax return into Claude this past tax season just to see what would happen — and walked away with a 50/50 hit rate that captures exactly why human advisors still matter. The conversation lands on an optimistic note for the profession: when AI handles the rote work, accountants finally have room to be the human their clients actually need. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and welcome 01:00 – From Big Four to Fortune 50 to walking away 03:30 – "I don't see anybody I want to be when I grow up" 04:45 – Choosing to be home and not knowing there was a third path 06:00 – Missing accounting and the first client down the street 09:00 – The freedom of choosing your clients 11:00 – Books worth keeping on the shelf 13:00 – Why the Life First Accounting Firm podcast exists 17:00 – The vanity metric of seven-figure revenue 18:30 – Where AI can't replace the human 20:30 – Feeding her tax return into Claude 23:00 – Where accounting goes from here 25:30 – The Taekwondo studio and a cash-flow story that saved a business 30:00 – Where to find Erica Episode Resources Discover how Erica helps small business owners and entrepreneurs build profitable, life-first accounting practices through intentional forecasting, strategic finance, and client-by-client growth: www.ericagoodie.com Legacy Podcast: For more information about the Legacy Podcast and its co-hosts, visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review and rating on your preferred podcast platform. For more information: Visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com to access the show notes and additional resources on the episode.

    31 min
  2. Why Your Business Might Not Need More AI It Might Just Need Better Thinking

    Jun 15

    Why Your Business Might Not Need More AI It Might Just Need Better Thinking

    Most business owners hear "AI" and immediately think: we need that. Myles Harrison thinks the opposite — and he built a company around it. Myles is the founder of  Praktikai, a boutique data and AI consulting firm whose name literally means practicality. A veteran of Big Five firms like Accenture and PwC, he now helps business owners cut through the noise and ask the real question: is technology actually your problem? In this episode, Myles shares why a bajillion-dollar tech investment can still fail if your people and processes aren't aligned, what it actually looks like to be a "sober, pragmatic" voice in an industry obsessed with hype, and how the best consultants don't make themselves the hero — they make their clients look good. We also dig into: The three-part operating model that most AI projects get wrong Why Myles is still waiting on the paperless office before worrying about the Terminator The farming metaphor that reframes how we think about automation and knowledge work What burnout on the Big Five consulting track actually taught him about limits The airport moment that surprised him most about working with clients in person If you've ever wondered whether AI is actually the solution — or just the most expensive way to avoid fixing the real problem — this episode is for you. Timestamps 00:30 Welcome and introductions 01:15 What is Praktikai — and why "practicality" is the whole point 02:45 From Big Five consulting to accidental entrepreneur 04:30 How to know if you need a consultant: "what part of your job sucks the most?" 06:15 The operating model problem: people, process, and technology 08:10 Why complexity is not the same as excellence 09:45 What makes consulting gratifying — and why the goal is to make clients look good 11:30 Myles' bearish take on AI: signal vs. noise and the paperless office problem 14:00 The farming metaphor: automation, knowledge work, and what actually disappears 16:20 The next five years: under-promise, over-deliver, and do good work 18:00 Finding your limits: burnout, sleep, and what fast-paced consulting actually costs 20:30 The airport moment — what surprised Myles most about working with clients in person 22:30 Where to find Myles and PRAKTIKAI   Learn more about PRAKTIKAI and how Myles helps businesses cut through AI hype and focus on what actually moves the needle: prktk.ai Legacy Podcast: For more information about the Legacy Podcast and its co-hosts, visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review and rating on your preferred podcast platform. For more information: Visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com to access the show notes and additional resources on the episode.

    17 min
  3. The LinkedIn Blind Spot Costing Executives Their Next Job

    Jun 8

    The LinkedIn Blind Spot Costing Executives Their Next Job

    When Carol Kaemmerer's 20-year consulting career was abruptly ended by a corporate restructuring, she didn't see it as an ending — she saw it as a kaleidoscope being shaken. The pieces of her experience, expertise, and skills were still all there; they just needed to form a new pattern. In this episode, Carol shares how she rebuilt her career by helping other senior leaders do the same. Her work sits at the intersection of strategy and story: clarifying what executives want to be known for, positioning their leadership, and building visibility that reflects who they are today — not who they were three jobs ago. We dig into: Why "doing great work" isn't enough at the senior level Her "Seen, Trusted, Chosen" framework for executive visibility How a minimalist LinkedIn profile can quietly cost you the next opportunity The story of a burned-out sales director who became an administrative pastor at a megachurch — and what it teaches us about transferable skills Her concept of "Kaleidoscope Thinking" for career reinvention Why AI agents and search engines are now part of how decision-makers find leaders Whether you're a C-suite executive, a director eyeing the next rung, or someone navigating an unexpected career inflection point, Carol's perspective will change how you think about your professional narrative. Timestamps 03:00 — Welcome and introductions 03:42 — The inspiration behind starting the Kaemmerer Group (hint: termination) 05:30 — Discovering LinkedIn as a platform for personal positioning 07:02 — "I write business stories" — finding a coherent personal brand 09:09 — Why senior leaders lose opportunities they thought they had 11:08 — What decision-makers are really looking for (and where they look first) 12:20 — The "Seen, Trusted, Chosen" framework explained 14:37 — The hidden disadvantage of a minimalist C-suite profile 16:28 — Featured story: The burned-out sales director who became a pastor 20:27 — The intimate work of rebuilding people at career low points 21:01 — Kaleidoscope Thinking: career reinvention as pattern-shift 22:41 — Where to find Carol and her book Episode Resources Discover how Carol helps senior executives take control of their personal narrative, build visibility that matches their level, and position themselves for what's next: www.carolkaemmerer.com Legacy Podcast: For more information about the Legacy Podcast and its co-hosts, visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review and rating on your preferred podcast platform. For more information: Visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com to access the show notes and additional resources on the episode.

    19 min
  4. Building Confidence, Leadership, and Legacy Through Dance

    Jun 1

    Building Confidence, Leadership, and Legacy Through Dance

    In this episode of the Business Legacy Podcast, Paul Dio sits down with Katherine Horrigan, owner and CEO of Dance Academy of Virginia, to discuss how dance became the foundation for leadership, confidence, discipline, and personal growth. Katherine shares her journey from professional ballet and contemporary dancer to entrepreneur, explaining how injuries led her to transition out of performing and into business leadership. After spending a decade helping scale another dance company, Katherine unexpectedly launched her own academy during the height of COVID — turning uncertainty into an opportunity to build something extraordinary. Over the past five years, Dance Academy of Virginia has expanded to two locations, over 1,300 students, and a growing leadership team focused on developing not just dancers, but future leaders. Throughout the conversation, Katherine dives into the mindset shifts required to scale a company quickly, the importance of empowering team members to think independently, and how embracing bold decisions can accelerate growth far beyond incremental progress. The episode also explores the emotional connection between music, performance, and identity, the balance between supporting both students and parents, and the lasting impact businesses can have when they prioritize human development over transactions. This conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership is ultimately about helping others see what's possible within themselves. Timestamps 00:05:36 – Introduction to Katherine  Horrigan 00:06:03 – Katherine 's Career as a Professional Dancer 00:07:38 – How Dance Builds Confidence and Leadership 00:09:47 – Managing Parent Expectations and Student Development 00:12:18 – The Most Rewarding Part of Building the Company 00:13:35 – The Song That Brings Back Powerful Memories 00:14:52 – What Katherine  Is Most Excited About Next 00:16:23 – Using AI and Technology to Scale Operations 00:17:39 – Producing a Full-Length Nutcracker Performance 00:20:09 – Why Compressing Timelines Accelerates Growth 00:21:18 – Moments Katherine  Surprised Herself as an Entrepreneur 00:27:43 – Leadership, Delegation, and Teaching Teams to Think Independently 00:31:13 – Katherine 's Thoughts on Legacy and Leadership 00:35:22 – Where to Learn More About Dance Academy of Virginia Episode Resources Learn more about Dance Academy of Virginia: https://danceacademyva.com Legacy Podcast: For more information about the Legacy Podcast and its co-hosts, visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review and rating on your preferred podcast platform. For more information: Visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com to access the show notes and additional resources on the episode.

    31 min
  5. How 180 Water Is Modernizing the Water Well Industry Through Franchising

    May 25

    How 180 Water Is Modernizing the Water Well Industry Through Franchising

    In this episode of the Business Legacy Podcast, Paul Dio sits down with Jack Clark, founder of 180 Water, to discuss how he transformed a traditional water well service company into a rapidly growing franchise model focused on clean, reliable drinking water across rural America. Jack shares his journey from growing up on a Montana ranch to building a scalable business in one of the most overlooked essential industries in the country. What started as hands-on work in the water well industry evolved into a mission-driven company helping entrepreneurs build sustainable local businesses while modernizing an aging trade. Throughout the conversation, Jack breaks down the operational side of scaling a service business, the importance of systems and SOPs, and how innovation often comes from empowering independent operators closest to the work. From custom-built service trucks to simplifying installation processes, 180 Water is creating efficiencies in an industry that has historically resisted change. The episode also explores the deeper legacy angle behind skilled trades, mentorship, and preserving institutional knowledge before an entire generation of water well professionals retires. For entrepreneurs, this conversation is a reminder that some of the greatest opportunities still exist in underserved industries where reliability, relationships, and execution matter most.   Timestamps 00:01:08 – Introduction to Jack Clark and 180 Water 00:01:31 – How 180 Water Started 00:02:03 – Choosing Franchise Locations 00:02:49 – Jack's Background in the Water Well Industry 00:05:45 – Why the Franchise Model Works 00:06:06 – Building SOPs and Scalable Processes 00:08:04 – The Importance of Trusting Your Gut in Business 00:08:54 – The Most Rewarding Part of Building 180 Water 00:10:07 – Franchise-Driven Innovation and Product Development 00:11:34 – Challenges Facing the Water Well Industry 00:13:08 – What Jack Is Most Excited About Moving Forward 00:13:45 – How to Learn More About 180 Water   Episode Resources Learn how Jack and the team at 180 Water are modernizing the water well industry through scalable systems, skilled trades, and franchise-driven innovation: https://180waterfranchising.com Legacy Podcast: For more information about the Legacy Podcast and its co-hosts, visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review and rating on your preferred podcast platform. For more information: Visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com to access the show notes and additional resources on the episode.

    14 min
  6. How Siloed Departments Quietly Kill Profit

    May 18

    How Siloed Departments Quietly Kill Profit

    Most companies don't lose money because of bad ideas. They lose it in the gaps — the quiet space between marketing, sales, and operations where reports never get compared and insights never get shared. In this episode, Paul Dio sits down with Anam Jawad, founder of TCSC (The C-Suite Consultant), to talk about what she calls "the missing dollar" — the revenue and ideas that disappear when departments work in isolation. The tension she keeps running into: businesses that look healthy on paper but are quietly leaving exponential growth on the table. Anam walks through how she works with founders and executives to integrate data across siloed tools, build a true bird's-eye view of the business, and then translate that view into pricing strategy, customer segmentation, and smarter marketing spend. She shares her process — about a month and a half of studying customer behavior before adjusting pricing or subscriptions — and explains why flexibility, not certainty, is what separates the companies that grow from the ones that stall. The legacy thread running through this conversation is mindset. Anam is clear that no system, dashboard, or consultant can fix a business where employees are punching a clock and leaders aren't open to suggestions from the bottom up. The companies that build something lasting are the ones that let teams meet across departments, surface ideas without executives in the room first, and then trust leadership to take those ideas seriously. It's a quieter kind of leadership — but it's the kind that compounds. For founders, operators, and executives, Anam's takeaway is direct: profit lives in the connections between your departments, not inside any one of them. Audit where your data isn't talking. Be willing to change pricing. Segment your customers before you spend another marketing dollar. And measure profit, not just revenue — because in one of Anam's recent engagements, that shift alone produced a 78% increase in profit. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome and Introduction 01:15 – When Acquisitions Create Silos: A Real Story 02:38 – Imagining the Missing Dollar 03:50 – What TCSC Actually Does 05:20 – Initiating Cross-Department Conversations 07:00 – Mindset as the First Step 08:30 – Anam's Data and Pricing Process 10:30 – A Client Case Study: 78% Profit Increase 12:50 – What's Most Gratifying About the Work 13:40 – Building TCSC in the U.S. Market 14:30 – How to Connect with Anam Episode Resources Explore Anam's approach to bridging departmental silos, restructuring pricing, and finding the hidden profit inside your business: www.tcscllc.com Legacy Podcast: For more information about the Legacy Podcast and its co-hosts, visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review and rating on your preferred podcast platform. For more information: Visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com to access the show notes and additional resources on the episode.

    15 min
  7. The Grandparent Advantage: Building Legacy Through One-on-One Connection

    May 11

    The Grandparent Advantage: Building Legacy Through One-on-One Connection

    Legacy is often misunderstood as something financial, distant, or reserved for later in life. In this episode, Perry Solomon reframes legacy into something far more immediate—and far more impactful. Perry, founder of Solomon Growth Advisors and author of Grandpa Day, shares how a simple practice—spending intentional, one-on-one time with each grandchild—became a 20-year system for mentorship, connection, and generational influence. Drawing from his background as a business leader and now advisor, Perry explains how structure, curiosity, and consistency can transform relationships the same way they transform organizations. What started as casual outings evolved into a repeatable framework for developing confidence, decision-making, and identity in the next generation. This conversation bridges business leadership and family leadership—highlighting that the same principles that build great companies (intentionality, systems, listening, and empowerment) also build meaningful legacies at home. Key takeaway: Legacy is not what you leave behind—it's what you build into people while you're still here.

    20 min
  8. Build the Solution the Market Is Missing

    May 4

    Build the Solution the Market Is Missing

    Most businesses don't start with a perfect idea they start with a problem that can't be ignored. In this episode, Santiago Galvez, founder of Pet Cultures, shares how a personal challenge saving his dog after a severe health issue turned into a fast-growing international brand. After trying dozens of products that didn't work, Santiago realized something deeper: the market was filled with solutions that sounded good but failed in execution. Leveraging his background with major CPG companies like Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo, he partnered with a chemist to create a better formulation one rooted in effectiveness, not marketing. But what makes this conversation powerful isn't just the product it's the strategy behind the growth. From understanding consumer psychology to expanding internationally, Santiago breaks down how different markets think, buy, and adopt products. For entrepreneurs, this episode highlights a critical truth: the best businesses don't chase trends they solve real problems better than anyone else. Timestamps 00:00:00 – Introduction & Santiago's Background 00:01:09 – The Problem That Started It All 00:05:59 – Understanding Probiotics and Results 00:06:25 – Early Signs of Product Effectiveness 00:09:16 – Consumer Psychology & Decision-Making 00:10:36 – Preventative vs. Reactive Buyers 00:15:35 – Building the Product & Key Relationships 00:18:44 – Career Transitions and Network Leverage 00:19:23 – Scaling the Business Globally 00:21:14 – Market Strategy: U.S. vs Europe 00:23:58 – Lessons for Entrepreneurs 00:24:12 – Where to Find Pet Cultures Episode Resources Discover how Santiago built a science-backed solution in a crowded market—and explore how Pet Cultures is redefining pet wellness through proactive health and smarter formulation: https://petcultures.com Legacy Podcast: For more information about the Legacy Podcast and its co-hosts, visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review and rating on your preferred podcast platform. For more information: Visit https://businesslegacypodcast.com to access the show notes and additional resources on the episode.

    26 min
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5
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About

The Legacy Podcast is a series of conversations with business owners who share their journey to financial freedom and the legacy they want to leave for the next generation. Their stories are empowering, educational, and encouraging.

Information

  • Creator
    Legacy Planner For Serial Entrepreneurs | Strategic Advisor
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    265
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 Kirk Chisholm
  • Show Website
    Business Legacy