The Chris Voss Show

Whirl of Birds by Liana Vrăjitoru Andreasen Amazon.com This story collection is a journey into the human mind, from prehistory to our globalized times. One story follows a Neanderthal girl as she attempts to flee human tribes ("My Big Man"), while another offers a glimpse into the friendship of three girls during the Great Depression ("Painted Snails"). In one story, a boy disappears into a cloud (Stolen Light). In another, a boy's mother attempts to uncover the secret of his molestation ("Away from the Flock"). In one story, a horse lies dying at the outskirts of a modern city ("Valley of the Horse"), while in another, a strange bird formation foretells a woman reaching the end of her life ("Whirl of Birds"). One story addresses religious sects ("At Taft Point"), one peeks into the life of an animal hoarder ("The Return"), while another explores the seductive power of art ("Mahogany"). There is a fake Iraq veteran lying his way into a relationship with a single mother ("Drifters"), and an old man who paints the women with whom he has affairs ("Rabbit in the Hat"). Some stories have a slight element of magical realism ("Valley of the Horse" and "Whirl of Birds"), while in one story a telephone inside a radio station randomly produces a time travel event ("Sound Waves"). One story is a metaphor for communism in Eastern Europe ("Puppet Show"), while another is a political satire involving cats ("Prodigal").

Mastering M&A: Scott Weavil's Tips for Selling Your Business Sierrapacificpartners.com About the Guest(s): Scott Weavil is the founder of Sierra Pacific Partners, a specialized investment bank focusing on lower middle market sell-side mergers and acquisitions. With a background as a Wall Street M&A attorney working on multi-billion dollar public company transactions, Scott leverages his vast experience to offer expert advisory services. His firm assists companies in selling their businesses with a tailored approach comparable to real estate agents but in the complex world of business acquisitions. Episode Summary: In this riveting episode of The Chris Voss Show, host Chris Voss and guest Scott Weavil engage in a comprehensive discussion about the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the lower middle market. The episode starts with an overview of Scott's career transition from a lawyer on Wall Street to the founder of Sierra Pacific Partners, an investment bank offering specialized services in sell-side M&A transactions. Scott shares insights into how Sierra Pacific Partners operates like real estate agents but focuses on selling businesses instead of properties, providing expert advice tailored to unique business challenges. As the conversation evolves, Scott discusses the importance of preparing a business for sale, highlighting key elements like stable revenue, diverse customer bases, and high-quality financials. He emphasizes the necessity of planning your business with an exit strategy in mind and delineates the different services Sierra Pacific provides, including auction processes and capital raising. Moreover, Scott shares anecdotes and lessons learned from handling both smaller, less structured companies and major Wall Street level transactions, offering listeners a window into the multi-faceted world of business sales and strategy. Key Takeaways: Building a business with an exit in mind involves strategies like growing revenue, maintaining stable finances, and reducing owner dependency. For a successful M&A, having high-quality financials comparable to public company standards is crucial. Timing and thorough preparation are essential for a successful transaction, including the creation of marketing materials and data rooms. Emotional preparedness for an exit is a crucial element in convincing buyers of a seller's commitment to a transaction. Partnering with the right M&A advisor can make a significant difference, emphasizing the importance of experience and industry expertise. Notable Quotes: "The more prep you can do before it comes to me to actually try to drive through transaction, the better." "If you're the owner with your hair on fire, with everything coming through you, no buyer's interested in that." "One of the big things that I work with with sellers is that generally speaking, one sided deals just don't get done." "For our clients it can be an emotional process. And one of the things, particularly for those non-professional clients…they're definitely gonna probe if you're actually serious about doing a transaction." "The difference in M&A is assuring buyers that you're serious and have a vision for life after closing."

Scaling Up Your Business with Herb Cogliano: Expert Insights AspireGrowthAdvisors.com About the Guest(s): Herb Cogliano is an experienced international executive business coach and CEO with expertise in scaling businesses. Leading his advisory practice, Herb utilizes the "Scaling Up" performance platform, derived from Verne Harnish's book "Mastering the Rockefeller Habits," to help business leaders achieve more freedom, develop accountability within their teams, and foster strong economic strategies. He is passionate about aiding growing companies to achieve industrial leadership by ensuring healthy cash flow and driving flawless execution. Herb formerly served as CEO of Sullivan and COO Designers, a distinguished technology staffing and workforce solutions firm. Episode Summary: In this episode of "The Chris Voss Show," host Chris Voss engages in an insightful discussion with Herb Cogliano, an international executive business coach and expert in scaling businesses. Herb shares vital strategies on how to elevate growth companies by instilling a sense of purpose through profit, fostering accountability, and driving flawless execution. Through his journey from an entrepreneurial family background to his current role, Herb explains how he supports business owners and leadership teams in achieving a higher valuation and reducing workplace drama. Herb offers detailed methodologies on overcoming the substantial barriers that business owners face while scaling up, particularly the challenges of leadership, sales and marketing, and innovating within rapidly changing market dynamics. Central to this discussion is the concept of building a high-value business with clear metrics for success, transparent accountability, and an active leadership role. Utilizing his experience and insights, he articulates how businesses can adapt to innovation, refine their market positions, and enhance cash flow to secure growth funding. Key Takeaways: Herb emphasizes the significance of building a company that aligns profits with purpose, thereby making substantial impacts on communities, clients, and employees. Identifying and nurturing next-level leadership within companies is crucial for effective scaling and achieving sustained growth. The episode outlines the necessity of creating clear, measurable KPIs to ensure employees understand their roles and performance expectations. Herb sheds light on the ongoing changes in remote work culture and its implications for company structures and employee satisfaction. Leadership accountability and consistent follow-up are paramount to ensuring robust decision-making and efficient business operations. Notable Quotes: "The more employees, the more locations, the more clients, the complexity to run the business increases and we get stuck." "You need a company that can show consistent growth — whether it's in sales, gross margin, profitability, or cash." "I think a company is a combination of our collective talents, and when we put those talents to good use, normally good outcomes happen." "Most entrepreneurs are very good in the beginning at delegating, but have a problem when they go to those people later." "We are a lifestyle company, some of us, and we enjoy keeping it small and focused. Nothing wrong with that."

Innovate or Die: Michelle Risinger on Social Impact Strategies Risingsolutions.co About the Guest(s): Michelle Risinger is the principal and founder of Rising Solutions, an internationally recognized innovation strategist, design thinker, facilitator, and public speaker. She has extensive expertise in training thousands of individuals in innovation and design thinking approaches. Michelle has a formidable portfolio of global innovation projects highlighted by notable organizations such as USAID, the U.S. Department of State, and the Gates Foundation. Her work is also featured in the critically acclaimed 2018 book "Lean Impact." Episode Summary: Welcome to another insightful episode of The Chris Voss Show, where today's discussion revolves around the imperative role of innovation in the social sector. Our esteemed guest, Michelle Risinger, delves into the critical need for research and development in the realm of social impact, emphasizing the alarming 15-20 year lag compared to the private sector. Through her expertise, Michelle champions the integration of innovative strategies to elevate global challenges, ensuring sustainability and relevance in rapid social change. In this engaging conversation, Michelle demystifies the intricacies of fostering an innovation culture, underscoring the importance of psychological safety and its implications on productivity. Listeners will gain insights into the fascinating world of chronobiology and learn the nuances of crafting a purpose-driven business. By addressing burnout and encouraging agility, Michelle provides a blueprint for organizations to stay ahead in a competitive landscape. Dive into this episode to explore how Rising Solutions is leveraging strategic partnerships to bring social innovations to life. Key Takeaways: Innovation is crucial for maintaining relevance and effectively addressing global social challenges. The social sector lags 15-20 years behind the private sector in innovation and requires concerted efforts to catch up. Cognitive performance is influenced by chronobiology, and workdays should be structured around peak performance hours. Psychological safety is foundational to nurturing an innovation-driven culture within organizations. Being a purpose-driven business means aligning projects and values towards social impact rather than solely focusing on profit. Notable Quotes: "In the social sector, we don't invest in R&D teams…and jokingly, we're referred to as being 15 to 20 years behind the private sector." "Innovation culture is predicated by psychological safety…that actually is the number one indicator of whether or not you have an innovation culture." "Chronobiology is…planning your workday around your peak cognitive hours." "Your workday should be designed around your peak performance, your peak cognitive performance." "We only work with clients who are trying to have a social impact…"