Home
Categories
EXPLORE
True Crime
Comedy
Business
Society & Culture
Sports
History
News
About Us
Contact Us
Copyright
© 2024 PodJoint
00:00 / 00:00
Sign in

or

Don't have an account?
Sign up
Forgot password
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts221/v4/39/35/70/39357055-01e4-5e95-5b13-4126e0945317/mza_3604833852302701458.jpg/600x600bb.jpg
Built to Sell Built to Buy
Sam Penny
30 episodes
3 days ago
Built to Sell Built to Buy features the world’s leading business thinkers sharing how great companies are built, scaled, and valued. Hosted by entrepreneur and adventurer Sam Penny, each episode explores the systems, leadership, and mindset behind businesses that thrive without their founders. For those ready to think bigger, lead boldly, and build lasting enterprise value.
Show more...
Entrepreneurship
Business,
Marketing
RSS
All content for Built to Sell Built to Buy is the property of Sam Penny and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Built to Sell Built to Buy features the world’s leading business thinkers sharing how great companies are built, scaled, and valued. Hosted by entrepreneur and adventurer Sam Penny, each episode explores the systems, leadership, and mindset behind businesses that thrive without their founders. For those ready to think bigger, lead boldly, and build lasting enterprise value.
Show more...
Entrepreneurship
Business,
Marketing
Episodes (20/30)
Built to Sell Built to Buy
Build Your Marketing Machine: Stop Chasing Trends & Start Creating Systems: with Jeff Wenberg

If your marketing feels like guesswork — some months booming, others bone-dry — today’s episode will show you exactly what’s missing.

Sam sits down with Jeff Wenberg, founder of Offer Evolution and former early-stage team member at Leadpages and Zipify Apps, where he helped scale tech companies by focusing on one core principle:
➡️ Marketing works when your machine works

Jeff went from broke musician to building and selling his own SaaS and helping thousands of entrepreneurs create simple, scalable marketing systems that generate predictable revenue. In this actionable and energising conversation, Jeff shares:

What You’ll Learn

✔ Why most founders struggle with inconsistent lead flow
 ✔ The #1 difference between companies that scale vs those stuck spinning their wheels
 ✔ The exact foundational components of a Marketing Machine (Audience → Message → Rhythm → Process)
✔ The 80/20 work every entrepreneur skips — and pays the price for later
✔ How to interview customers the right way to unlock language that converts
✔ The simple tweak that added $20K MRR in 3 months for one client
✔ How to avoid the shiny-object trap (especially with AI)
✔ Why true marketing is more human — and more simple — than ever


Key Quotes

“Most people don’t slow down long enough to get clear on the transformation they provide — and that confusion comes through in their marketing.”
 
"The brands that win are simply joining the conversation their customers are already having.”

“If you want to build something repeatable and scalable, you need a system — or you’ll be tied to your desk forever.”

Jeff’s Top Takeaways

1️⃣ Talk to your customers — deeply and often
2️⃣ Sell the transformation, not the features
3️⃣ Consistency beats cleverness, every time

About Jeff Wenberg

Jeff is the creator of Offer Evolution, where he helps coaches, course creators, and info-businesses position and pitch their offers so customers say “I need that” before they even hear the price. Previously, he helped scale Leadpages from 11 staff to over 170 and tens of thousands of users worldwide.

👉 Website: JeffWenberg.com
👉 Instagram: @IamJeffWenberg

👉 Connect with Sam: sampenny.com
 

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
 01:00 – From musician to marketer
 03:20 – Early lessons at Leadpages
 06:10 – When marketing becomes a machine
 10:00 – Tactic chasing vs. system building
 14:30 – What successful businesses always have in common
 20:00 – Consistency vs clarity
 23:30 – The customer that went from $0 to $20K MRR
 26:00 – Why AI will never replace connection
32:00 – Storytelling as a trust accelerator
36:00 – Jeff’s 3 steps to build your machine today
37:30 – Where to find Jeff

If You Found This Valuable

Share it with a founder still searching for that elusive “consistent sales” feeling.
You might just save them years of struggle.

Show more...
1 month ago
38 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Why Communication Is a Strategic Advantage: Joshua Altman

In this episode, Sam dives deep into the power of communication as a growth driver — not a buzzword. Joshua Altman, former Capitol Hill journalist and now pioneer of the Fractional Chief Communications Officer (CCO) model, explains how smart communication shapes perception, accelerates decisions, builds trust, and connects every part of a business to its strategy. 

From small-to-mid-size companies to government agencies, Joshua has helped leaders transform messaging from reactive output into an operating system for better decisions. He breaks down:

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Communications is strategy
    Your newsletter, website, and pitch deck aren’t the end goal — they’re conversation starters that shape how customers and stakeholders think. 
  • Better messaging = Faster decisions
    When teams and customers are aligned, they move confidently without hesitation. 
  • Small businesses need an integrated approach
    Not siloed social posts — a narrative that supports product, sales, and culture. 
  • Be the signal, not the noise
    Strategic silence can be powerful — but ignoring customers when it counts can destroy trust. 
  • AI is a tool — not the storyteller
    Technology can speed execution, but humans are still the edge. 

🧩 What We Cover

✔️ What a Chief Communications Officer actually does
✔️ Why the fractional model is booming
✔️ How to prevent communications chaos during growth
✔️ The Cracker Barrel brand meltdown example — and what leaders should learn from it
✔️ The habits of leaders who communicate well
✔️ Practical steps any business can take this week to improve clarity


🧠 Who This Episode Is For

This one’s essential listening if you are:

  • A founder juggling marketing and messaging yourself
  • A CEO scaling into new markets or raising capital
  • A leader dealing with communication bottlenecks
  • Anyone wanting to build a brand that customers trust

🔗 Connect with Joshua Altman

  • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/JoshuaiAltman 
  • Website & Free Tools: beltway.media (check out the Quick Guides!) 
  • Email: jaltman@beltway.media

❤️ Enjoying the Show?

If this conversation helped you rethink communication as a growth engine, please:

✔️ Share this episode with your team
 ✔️ Leave a 5-star rating and review
 ✔️ Subscribe so you never miss an episode

For the complete Blog Article, head to sampenny.com

Show more...
1 month ago
51 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Ben Adkins on Building 7-Figure Marketing Systems that Sell Themselves

From Chiropractic Tables to Digital Empires: Dr Ben Adkins on Building Systems That Sell Themselves

Guest: Dr Ben Adkins — Founder of Fearless Social and One Hour Influencer
Host: Sam Penny
Duration: 1h 10m

Episode Overview

Dr Ben Adkins went from an overworked chiropractor in a small town to one of the most trusted marketing minds online.
 When faced with an empty waiting room, he taught himself digital marketing — and within months, filled his clinic beyond capacity. Then he sold it, built Fearless Social, and created One Hour Influencer — a system that helps business owners turn one hour a month into 30 days of powerful content.

In this episode, Ben reveals how to:

  • Turn your expertise into scalable, sellable systems
  • Build a marketing engine that attracts clients — even while you sleep
  • Transition from being the operator to becoming the entrepreneur
  • Create authentic content in an AI-driven world
  • Build a business that fits in your backpack — literally

This conversation is for service professionals, course creators, and business owners who want to escape the grind and build brands that scale with trust and simplicity.

What You’ll Learn

1️⃣ The “Empty Waiting Room” Moment
How a failing chiropractic clinic pushed Ben to master digital marketing — and how that single skill created a business he could sell.

2️⃣ Building the Engine That Attracts Buyers
Why valuation skyrockets when your business runs on a repeatable marketing system rather than your personal hustle.

3️⃣ The Birth of Fearless Social
How fear became the foundation for an agency that helped thousands of small business owners grow their reach online.

4️⃣ The Power of Simplicity: Answer 20 Questions
The framework behind Ben’s success — turn the top 20 questions your customers ask into content. That’s your marketing plan.

5️⃣ The Backpack Entrepreneur Philosophy
Ben’s rule: if your business doesn’t fit in a backpack, it’s not truly free. He explains how to build portability into your business model from day one.

6️⃣ From Service to Product
How Ben scaled from done-for-you agency work to scalable digital products and recurring programs.

7️⃣ The Birth of One Hour Influencer
How a simple accountability problem led to a new business model that creates one month of content in one hour — now used by lawyers, coaches, and service professionals worldwide.

8️⃣ Authenticity in the Age of AI
Ben and Sam unpack how to use AI as a support tool — not a substitute — to keep content human and trust-driven.

9️⃣ Action Plan for 2025 Creators
Ben’s three-step roadmap for anyone starting today:

  1. Write down why you started.
  2. List the 20 questions your audience keeps asking.
  3. Get on camera and answer them — imperfectly but consistently.

Top Quotes

“If your business doesn’t fit in a backpack, you’re not free.”
 — Dr Ben Adkins“Your founder story is your most powerful marketing asset. Tell it before anyone else does.”
 — Sam Penny“AI should never be your final step. The human touch is the only thing that builds trust.”
 — Dr Ben Adkins

Resources Mentioned

  • The 4-Hour Work Week – Tim Ferriss

  • Fearless Social

  • One Hour Influencer

  • Opus Clip

  • Hootsuite

Connect with Ben Adkins

🌐 Website: 1hourinfluencer.io

📧 Contact: via the site
📱 Instagram: @drbenadkins

🎧 Podcast: Serial Progress Seeker

Connect with Sam Penny

🌐 sampenny.com

🎙️ Follow Built to Sell | Built to Buy for weekly conversations on creating businesses that buyers chase.

Show more...
1 month ago
1 hour 10 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
John Solleder on Building People, Purpose & Value That Lasts

In this episode of Built to Sell | Built to Buy, host Sam Penny sits down with entrepreneur, author, and mentor John Solleder, whose 40-year career has been dedicated to one thing: helping people unlock their potential. From humble beginnings in New Jersey to building international, people-driven enterprises, John has spent decades proving that leadership, discipline, and personal growth are the foundations of lasting business value.

Together, Sam and John unpack how to:

  • Build equity by developing people first.
  • Balance personal discipline with business agility.
  • Use technology and AI without losing the human touch.
  • Attract the right people and culture to scale beyond yourself.
  • Stay relevant across decades of change in marketing, mindset, and media.

🧭 Key Topics Covered

  • The defining moment that launched John’s lifelong focus on mentorship and growth — inspired by Ronald Reagan’s 1983 commencement speech.
  • Success habits that compound: getting up early, staying consistent, and making each hour count.
  • How to pivot and stay agile, from cassette tapes and flyers to podcasts and AI.
  • The power of brand values and why personal integrity outlasts any tool or platform.
  • Leadership for the next decade — blending human empathy with technological fluency.
  • Equity as more than money: how to build reputation, culture, and enterprise value that endures.
  • Personal discipline & health — how John lost 40 kilos, redefined his diet, and turned lifelong habits into business fuel.

💡 Key Quotes

“Success isn’t luck — it’s design.” – John Solleder
 “For things to change, you have to change. For things to get better, you have to get better.”
 “Don’t let people rent space in your head unless they’re paying rent in positivity.”
 “Exercise is king, nutrition is queen — put them together and you build a kingdom.”
 “Businesses don’t scale — people do.” – Sam Penny

🔑 Actionable Takeaways

  1. Discipline beats motivation. Go to bed early, get up early, and work like the future is now.
  2. Become a student of your craft. Read, listen, and learn constantly — success leaves clues.
  3. Build equity through people. Invest in culture and leadership, not just systems.
  4. Embrace change with agility. New tools don’t replace you; they multiply your reach if used right.
  5. Protect your mental bandwidth. Remove negativity and surround yourself with growth-minded people.

📚 Mentioned in the Episode

  • Leaving Nothing to Chance and Equity by John Solleder
  • The Seasons of Life – Jim Rohn
  • Good to Great – Jim Collins
  • Influences: Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, Earl Nightingale, Mary Kay Ash

🔗 Connect with John Solleder

  • Website: JohnSolleder.com

  • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnsolleder

  • Books: Leaving Nothing to Chance | Equity | Moving Up 2020 (available via Amazon & JohnSolleder.com)
  • Podcast: Leave Nothing to Chance
Show more...
2 months ago
1 hour 5 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Culture Branding: How to Build a Company That Moves 56x Faster — with Nader Safinya

In this episode of Built to Sell | Built to Buy, host Sam Penny sits down with Nader Safinya, founder of Black Ribbit and creator of the Culture Branding™ methodology — a powerful framework that bridges brand, culture, and leadership to accelerate decision-making and deepen loyalty inside and outside organisations.

Over two decades, Nader has worked across continents and industries to help businesses design cultures that live their values, not just print them on a wall. He reveals how aligning core beliefs across employees and customers can make decisions up to 56 times faster, boost retention, and drive measurable growth.

From his multicultural upbringing to the birth of Black Ribbit and the development of the Culture Brand Filter — an AI-driven decision-making system — Nader shares how empathy, consistency, and design thinking can transform both company culture and bottom-line results.


🧠 Key Themes Covered

1. The Origins of a Culture Builder

Growing up across Iran, Indonesia, France, and the US, Nader’s early life taught him to observe human behaviour and cultural dynamics. He credits his mother’s legendary parties — where CEOs and housekeepers mingled as equals — for teaching him the power of consistent treatment and emotional safety.

2. The Birth of Black Ribbit

What started as a misread tattoo shop in Munich turned into a global agency name — and an ethos. Frogs, as Nader later discovered, symbolise empathy, transformation, and guidance across cultures. “It was fate — or as my mum would say, kismet,” he laughs.

3. Defining Your Core Values

Before he could define company values, Nader had to define his own. After a decade-long personal transformation, he identified his three non-negotiables — reliability, compassion, and deliberate action — values that now underpin every decision at Black Ribbit.

4. What Is Culture Branding?

Traditional branding focuses on customers. Culture Branding connects both sides of the business — employees and customers — through shared values and consistent experiences. It ensures that what companies say aligns with what they do.

“Culture Branding bridges the gap between what companies say and what they do — by designing the customer and employer brand simultaneously.”

5. The Culture Brand Filter

The heart of the framework is a powerful AI-driven tool that helps organisations make values-based decisions at speed.

“We had clients who’d been deliberating for 12 months and solved it in 12 minutes,” Nader explains.

The tool ensures decisions align with three core values, increasing clarity, trust, and cohesion across teams.

6. Quantifying the Impact

Culture Branding has delivered dramatic results:

  • 56x faster decision-making
  • 96% increase in customer loyalty
  • $2M saved in staff retention
  • 43% reduction in hiring costs

Yet the greatest ROI, Nader says, is time — “the one thing holding us back from becoming better humans.”

7. The Challenge of Implementation

Despite its success, many companies hesitate to act. “It’s fear,” Nader admits. “They ask, ‘What do we get?’ — even as I show them the data. But what they’re really missing is the willingness to install the program, not just buy it.”

8. AI, Humanity, and the Future of Culture

Nader warns that if businesses don’t integrate empathy and values into their systems now, “we risk becoming cattle to the machine.”

“Culture Branding gives humans back time. It lets technology handle the monotonous so we can get back to being better humans.”

9. Practical Steps for Leaders

If you want to apply Culture Branding in your business this week:

  1. Look in the mirror — Ask yourself, “Would you want to work for you?”
  2. Ask your team and customers — “Why do you want to work here or buy from us?”
  3. Read your reviews — Identify what feedback is consistent, good or bad, and act on it.
“Consistent behaviour elicits consistent responses. That’s how trust is built.”

💬 Memorable Quotes

“Consistent behaviour elicits consistent responses — and that’s the foundation of brand trust.”
 “Culture Branding designs the inside and the outside of your business at the same time.”
 “Time is the only thing holding us back from becoming better humans.”
 “If your values change with your product, you don’t have values — you have preferences.”

🏁 Final Takeaway

Aligning your brand and culture isn’t a marketing exercise — it’s a business accelerator. When your team and customers tell the same story about who you are, your company moves faster, makes better decisions, and becomes magnetic to the right people.

Clarity of values leads to clarity in decisions — and clarity drives growth.

🔗 Connect with Nader Safinya

  • Website: blackribbit.com
  • Podcast: Frog Talk
  • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nadersafinya
Show more...
2 months ago
1 hour 3 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Culture That Sells: Chris Dyer on Transparency, Trust & Remote Leadership

When it comes to building a business people actually want to buy, it’s not just about profits — it’s about people.

In this episode, Chris Dyer, bestselling author, culture consultant and former CEO of PeopleG2, joins Sam Penny to unpack how company culture directly drives performance, profitability and business valuation.

Long before remote work became mainstream, Chris built one of America’s most recognised “Best Places to Work,” scaling a fully virtual company through the GFC and eventually selling it — all by putting culture first.


From his Seven Pillars of Culture to radical transparency, and why he ditched one-on-one meetings for faster decision-making, this conversation reveals how culture isn’t soft — it’s a hard-edge advantage that creates enterprise value buyers can see and feel.

In this episode:

  • How Chris turned a struggling business during the GFC into an Inc. 5000 success story
  • Why transparency (even sharing your P&L) boosts profitability and trust
  • The “Seven Pillars” that every great culture is built on
  • How to make remote and hybrid teams thrive — without losing connection
  • The secret to “feed forward” instead of “feedback”
  • The quiet quitting myth — and what’s really behind disengagement
  • How culture impacts valuation (and why buyers pay more for great teams)
  • The meeting revolution: “Cockroach meetings,” “Tiger Teams,” and eliminating one-on-ones
  • Why the future of leadership depends on empathy, AI adaptability, and human-centred thinking

Guest bio:

Chris Dyer is a global culture expert, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of The Power of Company Culture and Remote Work. As the founder and former CEO of PeopleG2, he built one of the world’s first fully remote companies, recognised seven years running as a Best Place to Work. Chris now helps leaders worldwide build transparent, high-performing, human-centred organisations that attract and retain top talent.

👉 Learn more at chrisdyer.com

Follow Chris on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chrispdyer7

On Instagram/TikTok: @chrisdyer

Key takeaway

A great culture isn’t a perk — it’s a multiplier.
 When you build transparency, trust, and meaningful connection into your business, you don’t just create happier teams — you build a company worth buying.

Subscribe & share

If this episode helped you rethink what really drives value in your business, share it with a fellow founder or leader.
 Subscribe to Built to Sell | Built to Buy wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show more...
2 months ago
52 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Behaviour Drives Money: Hugh Massie on DNA Insights, Leadership, and Building Exponential Businesses

What if the way you’re wired is silently driving every financial and business decision you make?

In this episode of Built to Sell | Built to Buy, host Sam Penny sits down with Hugh Massie, founder of DNA Behavior International, to explore how our natural behavioural wiring influences money, decision-making, leadership, and ultimately the value of a business.

Hugh’s journey from chartered accountant to global entrepreneur reveals why behaviour is the denominator of success. He shares how losing his father at a young age shaped his passion for mentoring boys without fathers, why understanding behaviour is critical in scaling businesses, and how leaders can adopt an exponential mindset to unlock massive growth.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, team leader, or someone simply looking to make smarter financial choices, this conversation will give you practical steps to align behaviour with money, reduce risk, and open the door to exponential growth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • How behaviour drives money — and why financial outcomes start with self-awareness
  • The story of how Hugh built DNA Behavior into a global platform impacting millions
  • Why stress reveals your true wiring and how that impacts decision-making under pressure
  • The role of culture and behavioural alignment in maximising business valuation
  • What it means to adopt an exponential mindset vs. incremental growth
  • Lessons from Hugh’s initiative Boys Without Fathers, and how mentoring shapes leadership
  • How AI and technology are reshaping behavioural insights in business
  • Three practical steps you can take today to align your behaviour and money

About Hugh Massie

Hugh Massie is the Founder and Executive Chairman of DNA Behavior International, a global leader in behavioural profiling and money insights. His tools have been used by thousands of companies and advisors to improve decision-making, leadership, and financial outcomes. Hugh is also passionate about youth mentoring, particularly helping boys who grow up without fathers, and advocates for leaders to integrate purpose and values into business.

👉 Learn more at dnabehavior.com

 👉 Contact Hugh: dnacare@dnabehavior.com

Resources & Links

  • Explore DNA Behavior insights: dnabehavior.com

  • Connect with Hugh: dnacare@dnabehavior.com

  • Follow Sam Penny and discover more episodes: sampenny.com
Show more...
3 months ago
15 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Jim Penman: From a $24 Lawn-Mowing Gig to a Global Franchise Empire

What does it take to turn a side hustle into a household name? For Jim Penman, it started with mowing lawns for twenty-four dollars a week — and grew into Jim’s Group, one of the largest and most recognisable franchise networks in Australia and beyond.

In this conversation, Jim shares the story of how he built a brand that now stretches across more than 50 industries, why customer service has always been his non-negotiable, and the mindset that helped him grow from a single operator into a leader of thousands.

But this isn’t just a business story. It’s a conversation about vision, persistence, and the courage to build something bigger than yourself. Jim opens up about:

  • The leap from working solo to creating a scalable system.
  • Why he believes strong values beat flashy marketing every time.
  • The lessons he learned about resilience, delegation, and trust.
  • How personal discipline and faith shape the way he leads.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a leader steering a growing organisation, or simply someone fascinated by how ordinary people achieve extraordinary things, Jim’s story offers a rare window into the grit behind the growth.

👉 If you enjoy this episode, you might also love my other podcast Why’d You Think You Could Do That?, where I explore the stories of people who attempt the extraordinary and say yes to the impossible. Find it on Apple, Spotify, or at sampenny.com/brave.

Show more...
3 months ago
1 hour 2 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
From Rock Bottom to Exit: John Williamson’s Journey with Construct Health

What does it take to build a company, nearly lose it twice, and still walk away with a successful exit?

In this episode, Sam Penny sits down with John Williamson, founder of Construct Health. John grew his physiotherapy business to 40 staff, faced near-bankruptcy during the mining downturn, and ultimately rebuilt, restructured, and sold his company to a national group. Along the way, he discovered that resilience isn’t just about spreadsheets and strategy — it’s about daily habits, tough conversations, and choosing to keep turning up when everything inside you wants to quit.

Whether you’re an owner thinking about your exit, or a buyer wanting to understand what it really takes behind the numbers, this conversation is packed with lessons you won’t want to miss.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • Why cash flow discipline matters more than revenue in high-growth businesses.
  • How acquisitions can quickly turn toxic — and what to watch out for in due diligence.
  • The mental and physical habits John used to survive the darkest entrepreneurial moments.
  • How he restructured his business, repaid debts, and rebuilt trust with staff and stakeholders.
  • What it really feels like to walk away after 17 years when you finally sell your company.

Quotes from John

  • “I didn’t know if I could do it or not, but I knew I was going to keep turning up.”
  • “Even when you’re growing fast, cash flow is an issue. I learned that the hard way.”
  • “Sometimes survival isn’t about brilliance — it’s about refusing to walk away.”

Resources & Links

  • Connect with John Williamson on LinkedIn

  • Learn more about his new venture: Unventured.life
    (coming soon)

Like What You Hear?

This episode was originally recorded for Sam’s other podcast, Why’d You Think You Could Do That? — a show about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. If you want more stories of bravery and resilience, follow it wherever you get your podcasts.

And don’t forget to subscribe to Built to Sell | Built to Buy so you never miss an episode on maximising value, preparing for exit, and buying businesses the smart way.

Show more...
3 months ago
1 hour 9 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
The Art of the Exit: How to Sell Smart and Buy Right with Broker Nathan Hulls

What does it really take to sell your business for the best possible price—or to buy one without getting burned?

In this episode of Built to Sell | Built to Buy, I sit down with Nathan Hulls, a seasoned business broker and exit advisor with Link Business Brokers. Nathan’s journey spans from starting his first lawn mowing business at 12, to running companies across tech, retail, and fitness, and now guiding business owners and buyers through the high-stakes world of acquisitions.

With his unique blend of real-world business ownership and brokerage expertise, Nathan reveals:

  • Why being “exit ready” matters more than wanting to exit—and how to prepare your business years before you sell.
  • The psychology of the deal: how motivation, storytelling, and empathy shape both buying and selling outcomes.
  • The biggest mistakes sellers make (and how to avoid becoming a “dumpster fire” listing).
  • How buyers can protect themselves—from red flags in due diligence to spotting when emotions cloud judgment.
  • Why culture and fit can outweigh the financials in making a business sale stick.
  • The one surprising sale that smashed expectations—going from a $5M appraisal to a $12M deal.

Whether you’re a business owner eyeing an exit or a buyer chasing your dream acquisition, Nathan breaks down the numbers, systems, and human factors that truly drive value.

👉 If you’re planning to sell in the next 12 months, his number one piece of advice could save you years of regret.
 👉 If you’re buying your first business, his due diligence checklist will keep you from making an emotional mistake.

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Exit success starts with preparation—years before you plan to sell.
  • Buyers don’t just buy profit; they buy confidence in the future.
  • Culture, systems, and owner-independence drive valuation far beyond the P&L.
  • The right broker doesn’t just list a business; they connect people, stories, and strategies.

📬 Connect with Nathan Hulls

  • LinkedIn: Nathan Hulls

  • Email: nathan.hulls@linkbusiness.com.au

If you want to work directly with Sam, head to sampenny.com/action

Show more...
4 months ago
29 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
How to Navigate the Deal Without Getting Burned

Buying a business isn’t just about reviewing a P&L and signing a contract. Too many investors discover after settlement that they’ve inherited hidden problems—missing systems, staff departures, or a culture that doesn’t fit. In this episode, Sam Penny (aka The Impossible Guy) breaks down the biggest risks buyers face, how to spot them early, and the safeguards you need to put in place so you don’t get burned.

Sam shares real-world deal stories, the key questions every buyer should be asking, and the practical protections that separate smart acquisitions from costly mistakes.

If you’re planning to buy a business in the next 12 months—or you’ve got one on the radar right now—this session will give you the foresight and tools to take ownership with confidence.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • The four core risks that derail business purchases: overstated performance, key person departures, undocumented systems, and cultural mismatch.
  • How to test assumptions during due diligence instead of discovering problems post-settlement.
  • The questions that reveal hidden weaknesses, including:
    • “What are your biggest operational vulnerabilities right now?”
    • “Who are the three most critical people in the business and what keeps them here?”
    • “What would a worst-case first 90 days look like?”
  • Red flags in seller behaviour that signal deeper problems.
  • How to protect yourself with smart deal structures: transition plans, retention clauses, escrow/earn-outs, and SOP handover.
  • A real-world example of a buyer who uncovered undisclosed staff resignations—and saved six figures by renegotiating.

Resources & Next Steps

  • 📋 Download the DealSafe Toolkit – includes a due diligence checklist, key buyer questions, and a transition plan template.
  • 🎯 Book a Strategy Session with Sam – review your deal and test assumptions before you sign: sampenny.com/chat
  • 🎙️ Keep building your skills with the Built to Sell | Built to Buy Podcast – practical lessons from real-world deals.

Podcast Exclusive!
If you want to work 1:1 with Sam, a small number of spots are available for his loyal podcast listeners. Visit sampenny.com/action to take up this great offer.

Next Episode Teaser

In the next session, Sam dives into one of the most overlooked aspects of acquisitions: intangible assets. Learn how to identify, value, and leverage intellectual property, brand equity, customer data, and proprietary processes—the hidden drivers of valuation and growth.

Click here to view the episode transcript.

Show more...
4 months ago
18 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
The Broker’s Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before You List Your Business: With Sally Stuart

Selling your business isn’t something you decide on Monday and complete by Friday — it’s a strategic, multi-step process that can take 12 months, 18 months, or even years to get right. In this episode of Built to Sell | Built to Buy, host Sam Penny sits down with returning guest Sally Stuart, one of Australia’s top business brokers specialising in healthcare, allied health, aged care, and NDIS businesses.


Together, they go list-to-list, comparing their Top 10 Must-Do Items before taking a business to market. From the broker’s vantage point to the business coach’s perspective, you’ll hear where they agree, where they differ, and how each point can significantly impact your sale price.


What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • Why defining your reason to sell should be the very first step.
  • The role of professional valuations — and why “what you think it’s worth” isn’t enough.
  • How to clean up your financials and avoid scaring off buyers.
  • Legal and compliance essentials that can derail a sale if ignored.
  • Documenting your SOPs to increase value and reduce risk.
  • The dream team of advisers you need before you go to market.
  • Marketing materials that make your business irresistible — including the IM and pitch deck.
  • Identifying and resolving key person and operational risks.
  • Why removing owner dependency opens the door to more buyers.
  • Managing employee and customer impact for a smooth transition.

Why Listen?
If you’re a business owner even thinking about selling in the next 2–3 years, this episode could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to you. Sam and Sally unpack practical, actionable strategies you can start implementing today to boost your valuation and make your business irresistible to the right buyer.

Connect with Sally Stuart:

  • LinkedIn: Sally Stuart
  • Email: sally.stuart@linkbusiness.com.au | sally.stuart888@gmail.com
  • Phone: 0437 082 045

Resources & Links:

  • Follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
  • Download both Sam’s and Sally’s checklists from this episode to start preparing your own sale-ready blueprint -> CLICK HERE
  • Want to work 1:1 with Sam? Exclusive coaching for podcast listeners: CLICK HERE
Show more...
4 months ago
41 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Exit Ready or Just Tired?

Too many business owners confuse burnout with readiness. Feeling exhausted after a tough year doesn’t mean your business is ready to sell—and waiting too long for the “perfect moment” can be just as costly. In this episode, Sam Penny breaks down how to know whether you’re truly exit ready or just tired, and the steps you can take to avoid one of the most expensive mistakes an owner can make.

Sam draws on his own experience building and selling seven-figure businesses, plus his work alongside brokers and buyers, to give you a clear, no-nonsense framework for exit success.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • The difference between burnout and readiness—and why mistaking one for the other can cost you millions.
  • The two layers of readiness: emotional and structural—and why both must align.
  • The five core drivers of exit readiness every buyer looks for:
    1. Three-year financial stability
    2. Owner independence
    3. Documented systems and processes
    4. A clear growth story
    5. Strong market positioning
  • Signs you’re just tired (not ready to sell): no succession plan, dependence on your role, rapid growth still underway.
  • The hidden costs of selling too early—lower multiples, seller’s remorse, and leaving growth for the buyer.
  • The dangers of waiting too long—declining performance, market shifts, and negative buyer perception.
  • The self-check framework: 4 brutally honest questions to assess if your business could survive without you and appeal to buyers.
  • How to prepare your deal room, leadership team, and transition plan before going to market.
  • Sam’s Exit Readiness Action Plan—a step-by-step approach to maximise valuation and sell on your terms.

Links & Resources

  • Want my to be in your corner? I have a small number of coaching spots available: sampenny.com/action
  • Listen to more episodes of Built to Sell | Built to Buy: sampenny.com/podcast
  • Download your free Business Sale Readiness Report: sampenny.com/readiness
Show more...
4 months ago
21 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Inside the Broker’s Mind: How to Sell (or Buy) a Business the Right Way with Sherryn Deetlefs

What really makes a business sellable — and what will turn buyers away?

In this episode of Built to Sell | Built to Buy, I sit down with Sherryn Deetlefs, a LINK business broker who’s walked in the shoes of both sellers and buyers. Before moving into broking, Sherryn built and sold multiple businesses across hospitality, textiles, health, and design — giving her a unique, hands-on perspective of what it takes to close a successful deal.

We dive deep into:

  • Why you should get a market appraisal well before you plan to sell
  • How to prepare your business so buyers can’t say no
  • The mistakes that sink deals before they start
  • How cultural and operational fit can outweigh the highest offer
  • Creative deal structuring that keeps negotiations alive
  • Red flags for buyers during due diligence
  • Why storytelling matters just as much as numbers in attracting the right buyer

Whether you’re a business owner planning your exit or a buyer hunting for the right fit, this conversation is packed with practical strategies, real-world stories, and behind-the-scenes insights from someone who’s been on both sides of the table.

Connect with Sherryn Deetlefs:
🔗 LINK Business: linkbusiness.com.au/business-broker/sherryn-deetlefs
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sherryn-deetlefs-a33483b9
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/sherryndeetlefs_businessbroker

Listen & Subscribe:
🎧 Apple Podcasts: Built to Sell | Built to Buy on Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify: Built to Sell | Built to Buy on Spotify
📺 More Episodes: sampenny.com/podcast

Show more...
4 months ago
38 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Why Every Business Buyer Needs to Know the Seller's Exit Plan!

Most buyers fixate on the numbers—revenue, profit, multiples. But here’s what they miss: the seller’s exit plan is the X-ray. It reveals the true condition of the business, the handover risk, and whether you're about to inherit clarity or chaos. In this episode, Sam Penny pulls back the curtain on why a seller’s exit strategy—or lack of one—can make or break your acquisition.

Whether you’re actively negotiating or just sizing up your first opportunity, this episode will teach you how to interpret what sellers say… and what they don’t. From vague timelines to emotional hesitations, you'll learn how to decode the clues that reveal a seller’s readiness, reliability, and the operational depth of the business they’re leaving behind.

📌 What You’ll Learn:

  • The 5 signals hidden inside every seller’s exit story
  • Red flags that signal a risky handover (before it’s too late)
  • How to ask tough questions without spooking the deal
  • Why vague exit timelines often hide deeper issues
  • What a well-structured exit plan tells you about the systems, team, and culture
  • Real-life case study of a ‘clean’ deal that nearly turned disastrous
  • Tools and templates to assess the true handover risk

🛠 Free Tools Mentioned:

  • 🧠 Exit Readiness Scorecard: Quickly assess how prepared the seller really is
    → sampenny.com/readiness
  • 🧾 Transition Questions Guide: Ask the questions that uncover hidden risks
    → sampenny.com/readiness
  • 📋 Deal Debrief Template: Reflect and spot gaps post-conversation
    → sampenny.com/readiness
  • 📅 Book a Strategy Call: Get 1:1 clarity on your deal before you commit
    → sampenny.com/chat

💡 Big Takeaway:

You don’t just buy a business. You buy the first 90 days after takeover. If the seller’s exit plan is vague, reactive, or emotional, it’s a preview of what you’re walking into. And that chaos will cost you time, money, and momentum. Smart buyers read the seller, not just the spreadsheet.

📢 Next Episode Teaser:
Next week, we’re diving into How to Value and Leverage Intangible Assets. You’ll learn how to price and negotiate for brand, culture, IP, and systems—the hidden drivers of a business’s real value.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:
Catch this episode and more on:

  • Spotify
  • Apple Podcasts
  • SamPenny.com/Podcast

💬 Let’s Connect:
Got a deal on the table? Don’t walk into it blind.
Book a session with Sam → sampenny.com/chat

Show more...
4 months ago
23 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Don’t Blow the Deal: How to Build a Sales Process That Makes Buyers Say “Yes”

Even great businesses fail to sell; not because of poor performance, but because of a poor process.

In this powerhouse episode, Sam Penny unpacks why buyers walk away from solid businesses and what sellers can do to stop the deal from slipping through their fingers. From pre-market prep to buyer handover, Sam walks you through the 5 critical stages of a successful sales process, the 6 deal killers that spook buyers, and the tools you need to make your business irresistible on the open market.

If you’ve ever thought “my numbers are strong, why didn’t they buy?” this episode will show you exactly what went wrong and how to fix it.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

  • Why deals don’t fall over because of bad businesses, but bad processes
  • The 5-stage roadmap to a smooth, high-confidence exit
  • How to turn your sales process into a proxy for operational excellence
  • The 6 silent deal-killers that derail good offers
  • How to build buyer momentum instead of decision fatigue
  • The overlooked power of emotional runway and storytelling
  • What buyers are really asking when they say: “Why are you selling?”

🧰 Tools You’ll Walk Away With:

  • The ultimate sale prep checklist: P&Ls, add-backs, SOPs, IMs, org charts & more
  • How to structure your sales timeline to reduce fear and increase offers
  • A new mindset: Your process is your business in action

🧭 Next Episode Teaser:

Exit Ready or Just Tired?
Next week, Sam helps you decode whether you're truly prepared to sell… or just burnt out. Don’t miss the signs, and don’t leave money on the table.

📞 Want Personal Help?

Book a free strategy call with Sam at sampenny.com/chat
Want to check how ready your business is to sell? Get your free Business Sale Readiness Report at sampenny.com/readiness

Show more...
5 months ago
25 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
The Fit Factor: How to Avoid Buying the Wrong Business

Too many investors get seduced by EBITDA and end up buying the wrong business. In this episode, Sam Penny dives deep into what really matters when you're buying: fit. Because even a profitable business will eat you alive if the values, leadership style, or vision don’t align with you.

Drawing from 25 years of real-world experience buying, building, and selling businesses, Sam introduces the Buyer Fit Framework—a simple but powerful tool to evaluate whether a business truly suits who you are and how you lead.

This episode is for anyone who's ever looked at a P&L and thought, “This looks good,” but forgot to ask, “Does it feel right?”

What You’ll Learn:

  • Why buyers regret poor fit, not high prices.
  • The 4 dimensions of Buyer Fit: Values, Leadership, Skill, and Vision.
  • How to spot cultural misalignments before they derail your deal.
  • The “soft signals” that tell you if a business is truly right for you.
  • The red flags that even seasoned buyers miss (and how to catch them early).
  • Practical tools to evaluate alignment and de-risk your acquisition.

Free Resources Mentioned:

  • 🔍 Business Valuation Report
  • 🧭 Leadership Alignment Tool
  • 🛠️ Business Buying Roadmap
  • 🎯 Strategy Session with Sam: sampenny.com/strategy

Who This Episode Is For:

  • Acquisition entrepreneurs looking to avoid post-deal regret
  • Investors moving from theory to real-world ownership
  • Operators wanting more than just ROI—they want meaning, mission, and momentum

Final Thought:
When the fit is right, the numbers follow. But when it’s not, the deal becomes a burden. Don’t buy a misfit. Buy a business that fits you.

Show more...
5 months ago
18 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Inside the Broker’s Mind: Why Buyers Walk (And What Really Sells a Business)

Most business owners think their business will sell because of the numbers — the profit, the growth, the potential. But step into a business broker’s world, and you'll find that's not what kills deals. It’s fear.

In this episode of Built to Sell | Built to Buy, host Sam Penny is joined by Australia’s #1 business broker Sally Stuart, who sold 35+ businesses in just the past two years. Together, they unpack exactly why businesses don't sell — even when the financials look strong — and what actually makes a business irresistible to buyers.

Sally reveals:

  • 🔥 The surprising reason most buyers walk away
  • 💣 Why your lawyer might be the biggest dealbreaker
  • 💡 What makes a business “sexy” and sparks bidding wars
  • 🧾 The accounting mistakes that scare buyers off
  • 🏢 Why short leases quietly destroy business value
  • 🛑 How ego, overpricing, and bad timing sabotage the sale
  • ✅ The 3–5 things every owner should do 12–24 months before listing
  • 💬 Why a broker isn’t just a sales agent — they’re a dream facilitator

If you’re a business owner thinking of selling, or an investor who wants to understand what really moves the needle in a deal, this episode is your blueprint. Straight from the broker’s mouth.

🔗 Links & Resources:

  • 📞 Book a call with Sam Penny: https://sampenny.com/chat
  • 📚 Learn more about Sally Stuart: https://linkbusiness.com.au/business-broker/sally-stuart/
  • 🔍 Free Business Sale Readiness Report: https://sampenny.com/readiness

⏱️ Timestamps:

  • 00:00 – Intro: What really kills deals?
  • 02:45 – Sally’s journey into business broking
  • 04:00 – What business brokers actually do
  • 08:30 – The lawyer trap that destroys deals
  • 11:00 – What makes a business spark a bidding war
  • 15:20 – The self-sabotage sellers don’t see coming
  • 20:30 – How leases quietly crush deals
  • 24:00 – Why owner-dependence kills valuations
  • 28:55 – What buyers really want (and where they’re from)
  • 33:15 – The biggest mistake sellers make around timing
  • 36:15 – 5 things to do 12–24 months before listing
  • 42:00 – Culture, values, and why your website matters
  • 44:00 – Sally’s lightning round: Dealbreakers, red flags & wisdom
Show more...
5 months ago
49 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
The Secret to Selling Your Business? (It’s not what you’d think)

🎧 Episode Summary:

Think your business will sell because it's profitable? Think again.

In this powerhouse episode, business coach and advisor Sam Penny reveals the real reason businesses sell—and why the ones that should sell often don't. Spoiler: It's not EBITDA. It's not your P&L. It’s not even your systems.

It’s alignment.

Buyers don’t just want a business that makes money—they want one that feels like home. One that reflects their values, their leadership style, their vision for the future. And when they see themselves in your business? They move faster. They pay more. And they need less convincing.

This episode unpacks how to position your business for a premium exit by focusing on what really drives buyer decisions.


🧠 What You’ll Learn:

  • Why buyers walk away from profitable businesses
  • The 4 Pillars of Magnetic Positioning™
  • How to attract not just any buyer—but the right one
  • The surprising type of buyer who’ll pay the most (and it’s not who you think)
  • How to build values into your IM, pitch deck, and brand
  • A real-world case study where values-based positioning added over $500k to a deal
  • Tools you can use today: Business Readiness Report, Brand Mastery Course, Exit Strategy Roadmap

🔑 Key Takeaway:

Buyers don’t fall in love with businesses. They fall in love with the future they see in them.

💥 Bonus:

Sam walks through his step-by-step framework to turn your business into something buyers believe in, not just buy into.


🔗 Resources Mentioned:

  • 📊 Business Readiness Report – Assess your sale readiness across 8 value drivers
  • 🧭 Brand Mastery Course – Turn your values into a strategic asset
  • 📌 Exit Strategy Roadmap – Your plan to increase valuation and reduce risk
    All available at sampenny.com

🎯 Want to Position Your Business for Premium Buyers?

Book a free strategy session with Sam at
 👉 sampenny.com/strategy

🔜 Next Episode Teaser:

"Build a Sale Process That Doesn’t Blow the Deal"
Learn how to control the deal narrative, pace the process, and build trust while keeping your power. Don’t miss it.

📱 Subscribe & Review:

Follow Built to Sell | Built to Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform. And if this episode hit home—leave a review. It helps more founders find the insights they need to exit right.

Show more...
5 months ago
26 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
The Red Flag Playbook: Protect Yourself Before You Buy

Episode Summary:
In this critical episode of the Built to Sell | Built to Buy podcast, business coach Sam Penny dives deep into one of the most overlooked (yet most expensive) parts of buying a business: risk. Not revenue. Not growth potential. Risk — and how to spot it, quantify it, and price it into your offer.

Whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, this session will change how you think about due diligence. Sam breaks down the 3 categories of risk every acquirer must assess — operational, financial, and transfer risk — and reveals the tactics smart buyers use to protect themselves and avoid overpaying.

Learn how to go beyond glossy pitch decks and charming sellers, and start stress-testing the business like a pro. You’ll walk away with real frameworks, tools, and a case study that shows exactly how to reduce risk — and price it into the deal.

🔍 What You'll Learn:

  • Why most buyers overpay by ignoring risk
  • The 3 core risk categories and how to spot red flags
  • How to price risk into your offer and use it to negotiate better terms
  • A real-world deal that looked great on paper… until it didn’t
  • The tools elite investors use: checklists, red flag sheets, scorecards, and more

📚 Resources Mentioned:

  • Free Due Diligence Checklist
  • Risk Scorecard
  • Red Flag Tracker
  • Business Readiness Report
     👉 Available at sampenny.com

🧠 Quote of the Episode:

“The price is just a number — until you attach terms to it. Risk isn’t something to fear; it’s something to leverage.”

🎯 Call to Action:

💼 Buying a business? Book a free 30-minute strategy call to gut-check your deal before you sign:
👉 sampenny.com/strategy

Show more...
5 months ago
40 minutes

Built to Sell Built to Buy
Built to Sell Built to Buy features the world’s leading business thinkers sharing how great companies are built, scaled, and valued. Hosted by entrepreneur and adventurer Sam Penny, each episode explores the systems, leadership, and mindset behind businesses that thrive without their founders. For those ready to think bigger, lead boldly, and build lasting enterprise value.