219 - Chris Hurn on Why Entrepreneurs Need Courage - and Cash Flow

Chris Hurn, CEO of Community Bankshares, joined the show to talk straight about entrepreneurial leadership in high-stakes environments. He traces his roots to watching his single mother run a chocolate business out of their basement, an early masterclass in grit, marketing, and operations. That foundation shaped his view of what it means to lead—not just manage.

Now a leader in small business financing, Chris outlines the crucial difference between being an entrepreneur and becoming a CEO. He explains how leaders must eventually move beyond scrappiness and take calculated risks with debt to scale their companies. But he’s quick to note that optimism must be balanced with pragmatism. Cash flow—not charisma—is what gets a loan approved.

Chris also unpacks the coming wave of business acquisitions driven by baby boomer retirements, sharing insights on what industries are hot and where private equity is warping the landscape. His message is clear: real leadership is about seeing around corners and backing up vision with execution.

Want to learn more about Chris Hurn’s work? Check out their website at https://www.phxbusiness.com.

Connect with Chris Hurn on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishurn/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.