What's Your Deal? | Business Buying, Business Acquisitions, Investing & Exit Strategies

Matt Uhler sits down with Mike Grossman, author of Failure Is an Option and a veteran CEO of six venture-funded companies. Mike explains how two failed attempts to take a company public led to an acquisition worth meaningfully more than the IPO. He covers why you should focus on inputs instead of outcomes and the danger of chasing adjacent opportunities. He also explains when it's worth defying your board, why spending discipline matters, and how a fully remote team of 300+ changed his view on recruiting. Connect with Mike Grossman: Book: Failure Is an Option, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble. Website: failureisanoption.com https://www.instagram.com/failureisanoptionbook Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Colleen Joyce, CEO of Lawyer.com, joins Matt Uhler to share how she built an eight-figure legal marketplace from a single room and a great domain name. She explains her "sell it, then build it" approach, why the team that gets you to $1 million usually isn't the team that gets you to $20 million, and how a money-losing live events experiment became a profitable annual conference. Colleen and Matt also dig into fast failure, learning to delegate, and what AI really means for lawyers and the people who need them. Connect with Colleen Joyce: lawyer.com lawyergrowthsummit .com https://www.facebook.com/ lawyerdotcom https://www.linkedin.com/in/ colleenjoyce/ https://www.linkedin.com/ newsletters/fast-five- tuesdays-7265815097552326656/ Instagram: @lawyerdotcom Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

For the first time on What's Your Deal, Matt Uhler sits down with a fellow business broker, Ryan Armstrong of Transworld Phoenix. He and Matt walk through the full life of a Main Street deal: preparing the seller emotionally, building a data-driven listing, and vetting buyers. They also cover LOIs, due diligence, financing and closing, and why the best deals leave buyer and seller as friends. Connect with Ryan Armstrong: https://www.tworld.com/agents/ryanarmstrong Phone: 480-447-3504 Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Why do brilliant people sometimes make terrible decisions? According to Rich Hua, former Chief EQ Evangelist at Amazon, it's because stress can cut your effective IQ in half, and most leaders were never taught how to manage it. In this episode of What's Your Deal, host Matt Uhler sits down with Rich to talk about emotional intelligence and why it may be the most underrated skill in business today. Rich grew up focused almost entirely on IQ: straight A's, a perfect SAT score, and engineering at UC Berkeley. He calls it his "genius robot" plan, and it worked well until he got married and realized something important was missing. That realization launched a lifelong study of EQ. At Amazon, he wrote the six-pager that created his own role and built a 70,000-person community. He ultimately helped bring EQ to more than 1.5 million people inside Amazon and across leading companies worldwide. Connect with Rich Hua: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/richhua Email: rich@richardhua.co Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Ryan Beckmann built and lost multi-million-dollar RV dealerships, won a 40 Under 40 award the same year he became homeless, and fought his way back from addiction to found Hero Picks and The Last Save. In this raw conversation, Ryan shares what it took to hit bottom, why service to others became the key to his own healing, and how he's now building "Beyond Awareness" — a platform designed to connect survivors of trauma and abuse directly to real-time resources and sustainable funding. Connect with Ryan Beckmann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-beckmann-heropicks/ https://www.instagram.com/ryanfbeckmann/ Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Matt sits down with longtime friend and ZebraScapes Landscaping founder Rodney Steidinger, who built his company from a minivan and a trailer during the 2008 recession into a thriving, multi-generational business. Rodney shares the breaking point that forced him to hire real leadership, how he built a family business empire with his three daughters, and the core values that guide every hire and promotion at ZebraScapes. Connect with Rodney Steidinger: https://zebrascapes.com https://www.instagram.com/zebrascapes/ Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Most business owners over 40 have never posted on social media — and it's not because they don't know how. It's fear. Matt Uhler sits down with Beau Bullard, founder of Bullard Media, to unpack why attention is today's most valuable currency, why iPhone content outperforms professional cameras by up to 800%, and how business owners (and the buyers who acquire their companies) should think about personal brand, legacy, and authenticity on social media. Connect with Beau Bullard: https://bullardmedia.org/ https://www.instagram.com/beaubullardaz Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Tax attorney and wealth advisor Nik Agharkar of Crown Point Tax joins Matt to unpack the difference between tax evasion, tax deferral, and legitimate tax strategy — and why so many business owners unknowingly torch their company's sale value with aggressive write-offs. They dig into the "Costco conversation," why most CPAs aren't equipped to strategize (only to prepare). A must-listen for anyone planning to sell a business — or just tired of overpaying Uncle Sam. Connect with Nik Agharkar: https://www.crownepointtax.com Social media https://www.instagram.com/nikagharkar/ https://www.instagram.com/crownepoint_tax/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikagharkar/ Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Most business owners spend decades building their company but almost no time planning what happens after they sell it. In this episode, Matt sits down with Anthony Perez of Harvest Wealth Strategies to talk about "knowing your number," why owner dependency is the #1 deal killer, and how to turn business equity into lasting personal and generational wealth — before it's too late to plan. Connect with Anthony Perez: Phone: 619-241-6336 Email: anthony.perez@ harvestwealthstrategy.com Social media @harvestwealthstrategies - Instagram @harvestwealthstrategies - YouTube www.linkedin/in/anthonyperezj Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

This week's episode flips the script — Beau Bullard, who's never bought a business himself, turns the tables and interviews Matt with the exact questions first-time buyers ask most. They cover finding your core competency, why profitable businesses go up for sale, how valuations really work, SBA loan qualification, seller-carried notes, blue sky, employee retention, and what actually makes a Main Street business tick. If you're buying — or selling — this is the FAQ episode you need. Connect with Beau Bullard: www.bullardmedia.org https://www.instagram.com/beaubullardaz/ Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Eric Wiklendt, Managing Director of SpySide Equity, joins Matt Uhler to break down how private equity firms evaluate, acquire, and transform manufacturing businesses. Eric shares the "fix and build" framework his firm uses to grow EBITDA and scale revenue, how they handle underperforming key employees, why smaller businesses struggle to execute transformation, and what a five-to-seven-year hold period means for deal strategy. A must-listen for anyone curious how PE thinking differs from Main Street business ownership. Connect with Eric Wiklendt: https://speysideequity.com/team/eric/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericwiklendt Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Nearshoring is reshaping how U.S. companies build teams — and Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, has spent over a decade helping businesses do it right. In this episode of What's Your Deal, Brian joins Matt Uhler to break down why nearshoring has become a go-to strategy for outsourced talent. Brian shares firsthand experience building an 80-person remote team from the ground up, the real cost breakdown between hiring domestically versus nearshoring, and how his company handles everything from sourcing and vetting to compliance and IP protection — while stepping back so clients build direct relationships with their hires. Whether you're a small business owner considering your first remote hire or scaling a larger team, this conversation offers a practical, no-nonsense look at how nearshoring works — and whether it's the right move for your business. Connect with Brian Samson: https://plugg.tech Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/ Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

In this special episode, Sarah turns the tables and interviews Matt about an exciting new project: a community built for anyone thinking about buying a business. This new space opens the door for the masses to get questions answered live, weekly, with everything archived and searchable. Buying a business doesn't have to be guesswork. Get direct access to a business broker with nearly 30 years of experience in The Dealmakers Hub! This is a community built for people actively exploring business acquisition. Inside you'll get: Weekly live Q&A calls with me (Matt Uhler) Exclusive self-guided course "Don't Just Buy a Business, Buy the RIGHT Business" Real-world acquisition insights A growing library of call recordings Most of all… COMMUNITY! Learn alongside other buyers, ask your questions, and see what's actually working. As part of our inner circle, you get 7 days completely free. Please note that to reserve your spot you'll enter your payment info, but you won't be charged a thing until the trial ends. Cancel anytime before then and you owe nothing. Space in this first group is limited, and if you are serious about buying a business this is the place to be. Get 7 Days FREE Here! See you on the inside! -Matt

Eben and Ali Hartzenberg arrived in America with nothing, started from scratch, and built a portfolio of nine retail businesses. In this episode, they open up about facing fear, the power of data over intuition, what makes their marriage-meets-business-partnership work, and the red flags that tell them to walk away from a deal. Connect with Ali and Eben Hartzenberg: Ali@bennali.com Eben@bennali.com Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Most business owners exploring an exit only hear one pitch: sell to private equity or a strategic buyer. Matt Middendorp, Director of ESOP Consulting at VisionPoint Capital, joins the show to make the case for a third path — selling to your own employees. Matt breaks down what an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) actually is, the biggest misconceptions owners have about price, control, and legacy, and why ESOP companies often outperform their non-ESOP peers on growth, retention, and productivity. We get into eligibility rules, vesting, valuation, timelines, and one of the most overlooked ESOP tax benefits — one that can mean a tax-free exit for the right seller. If you're a business owner weighing your exit options, or just curious how employee ownership actually works in practice, this episode lays it out in plain terms. Connect with Matt Middendorp: www.esopready.com matt.middendorp@ visionpointcapital.com 715.897.0879 Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Most business owners think they're making rational decisions. Robin Afinowich says otherwise. In this episode, Matt sits down with Robin Afinowich — a clinically trained mental health counselor, national speaker, and daughter of M&A legend Jim Afinowich — to unpack how unresolved stress and trauma quietly shape the decisions business owners make every day. From childhood adversity to burnout in leadership, Robin breaks down the science behind why high performers overwork, over-please, and struggle to stay present — and what to do about it. You'll learn why the "fawn" response is the most common (and most dangerous) pattern among executives, why stress and trauma leave the same physical fingerprint on the brain, and why the body always tells the truth even when the mind is "holding it together." This isn't a therapy session — it's a practical look at the inner drivers behind outer success, and why ignoring them eventually costs founders their health, relationships, and joy. Connect with Robin Afinowich: Trauma & Resilience Professional Training-Development-Speaking visit: https://trauma-forward.com Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

What actually creates lasting wealth? And why do so many entrepreneurs hit a ceiling despite working harder than ever? In this episode of What's Your Deal? , Matt Uhler sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and marketing strategist Alexa D'Agostino to discuss the uncomfortable truths behind scaling a business, building wealth, and transitioning from founder to owner. Alexa has built and exited multiple companies, helped generate billions in revenue, and created the exclusive Wealth Mastery Summit , where high-level entrepreneurs, investors, and operators gather to solve real business challenges. Together they explore why wealth isn't built through one lucky break, how founders unknowingly become the biggest bottleneck in their businesses, why finding the right "Number Two" is critical for growth, and how successful entrepreneurs know when to pivot instead of stubbornly pushing forward. If you're building a business—or planning to acquire one—this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership, identity, and long-term success. Connect with Alexa: https://www.alexadagostino.com Instagram: @dralexadagostino http://wealthmasteryevents.com Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

Most business owners spend years building income through their business, but far fewer create a strategy to turn that income into lasting wealth. In this episode of What's Your Deal?, Matt Uhler sits down with wealth advisor Ted Young of Anasazi Investment Group to discuss the financial decisions that can make or break a business owner's future. Ted shares the biggest mistakes he sees entrepreneurs make, why diversification matters, how to prepare for a successful exit, and what it really means to become "work optional." The conversation also explores retirement planning, investment strategies, tax considerations, market volatility, and the emotional challenges many owners face after selling their businesses. Whether you're actively growing a company, preparing for an exit, or simply trying to make smarter financial decisions, this episode provides practical insights on building wealth that lasts. Connect with Ted Young: Anasaziinvestmentgroup.com Ted.young@raymondjames.com 602-953-8802 Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

What happens when one of the most influential financial educators of all time sits down to talk business, investing, and the mindset behind wealth creation? In this episode of What's Your Deal? , Matt Uhler welcomes Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and founder of the Rich Dad brand. With more than 40 million books sold worldwide, Robert has spent decades challenging conventional financial wisdom and encouraging people to think differently about money, investing, debt, and entrepreneurship. Robert shares the lessons he learned from having both a "rich dad" and a "poor dad," why rejection is a necessary part of success, and how developing entrepreneurial thinking can change the trajectory of your life. He discusses the importance of financial education, the difference between consumer debt and income-producing debt, and why he believes understanding cash flow is one of the most valuable skills anyone can learn. Connect with Robert Kiyosaki Website: RichDad.com Instagram: @therealkiyosaki X: @theRealKiyosaki YouTube: The Rich Dad Channel Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.

What if you could build multiple streams of income through ownership in small businesses — without running every business yourself? In this solo episode of What's Your Deal? , Matt Uhler breaks down the exact framework he used to build ownership interests in more than 20 businesses across multiple industries through strategic equity deals and partnerships. If you are interested in learning more about the Multiple Streams of Income Framework please email - admin@ampedsuccess.com Connect with Matt Uhler / Amped Success: Instagram: @ampedsuccess Website: ampedsuccess.com Email: admin@ampedsuccess.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612/ Want to be a guest or sponsor an episode? If you'd like to be a guest on What's Your Deal? or are interested in sponsoring an episode, reach out to: admin@ampedsuccess.com Listen & Subscribe: Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. It helps more people discover the show.