Summary

In this lively conversation, Charles Barnard shares his incredible journey through business coaching, engineering, and the lessons he has gathered along the way. He emphasises the importance of conducting thorough research when purchasing a business, the challenges of entrepreneurial poverty, and the necessity of creating companies that are both scalable and easily sellable.

Charles discusses the importance of cash flow, the need to identify and resolve bottlenecks, and maximising the impact of high-priority tasks. He kindly introduces his special 'champagne planning' method for achieving weekly success and emphasises the importance of planning for life beyond the business.

At the end, he offers thoughtful insights from his upcoming book, 'Forged', designed to guide business owners through their unique challenges.

Takeaways

• Conducting thorough research is crucial when purchasing a business. It helps you make confident and informed decisions. Remember, taking the time for due diligence can save you from potential surprises down the road.

• Getting to know the owner's background can help avoid costly mistakes and save you time and effort.

• A business needs to have a steady and reliable cash flow to be appealing to buyers.

• Scalable businesses tend to catch the eye of more buyers, making them especially appealing.

• Identifying bottlenecks can unlock new opportunities for growth and streamline processes, resulting in a smoother workflow.

• It's often helpful to focus on high-value tasks first, as they can make a bigger impact than lower-value ones.

• Planning your week can help you achieve more and set a positive tone for the days ahead!

• Setting milestones makes it easier and more motivating to achieve those big, long-term goals. It’s a great way to keep yourself on track and celebrate small wins along the way!

• Preparing for life after business is crucial to ensure a smooth and stress-free transition.

• Sharing knowledge through mentoring is a fantastic way to help inspire and support future generations.

Sound Bites

Having a consistent and reliable approach is a significant outcome.

To me, if something is scalable, it also tends to be more saleable.

I wrote that book as a way to share my contribution.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to Charles Barnard's Journey

07:05

The Importance of Local Knowledge in Business Transactions

12:15

Understanding Entrepreneurial Poverty and Business Turnaround

17:40

Identifying Bottlenecks in Business Operations

22:58

Maximising Business Valuation Through Strategic Focus

28:53

Milestones and Delegation: Ensuring Progress in Business

36:19

Sharing Knowledge: The Role of Mentorship in Business Success

Keywords

business coaching, due diligence, entrepreneurial poverty, scalable businesses, cash flow, bottlenecks, high-value tasks, champagne planning, exit strategy, business transition

Links

The sponsor of the show, Business Exit & Beyond

The guest of the show is Charles Barnard, and The Growth Engineer

And Charles' book Forged is Available on 26 August, on my birthday.

Connect with David G Fisher: Mr Exit-Ready

The $44M Referral Secret: Why Your Next Big Deal Is Already in Your Network

Guests: David G. Fisher (Mr Exit-Ready) & Derek Morgan (Referral Marketing Ideas & Referit.ai)

Episode Summary

In this power-packed episode, David Fisher welcomes Derek Morgan, a veteran in sales, partnerships, and referral marketing. They dive into how outdated marketing tactics are draining business owners and why referral partnerships offer a scalable, trust-based alternative to lead generation — especially for those preparing to exit their business.

Derek breaks down the Referral Marketing Formula™, reveals why AI is speeding up your exit timeline, and shares the story behind a $44 million missed opportunity that could have been solved with a coffee and a phone call.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Referral marketing isn’t ad-hoc — it’s a scalable, systemised growth strategy.

• AI won’t take your business — but your AI-using competitors will.

• Most leads you need already exist in your past client list or network.

• Strategic partnerships outperform paid ads in trust, conversion, and cost.

• Don’t just automate — automate the right strategy.

• Your exit plan needs to begin now—not in three to five years.

  
  

  🧩 Episode ChaptersTimestamp

  Chapter Title

  00:00 – 04:10 Welcome & Derek’s Introduction

  04:11 – 10:20 From Financial Services to Referral Systems

  10:21 – 18:30 What’s Gone Wrong With Marketing Today

  18:31 – 25:00 The AI Effect: Why Your Sales Team Is Losing Cut-Through

  25:01 – 33:15 Referral Formula vs. Fad Marketing

  33:16 – 40:40 How to Grow in a Noisy Market

  40:41 – 47:55 What Should Business Owners Do Now? (Slow Down to Speed Up)

  47:56 – 55:00 Why You Must Prepare + Optimise (Even If You’re Not Ready to Exit)

  55:01 – 1:02:00 The $44M Referral That Was Missed — and Why That Matters

  1:02:01 – 1:07:00Building a Scalable Referral Partner Model

  1:07:01 – End The Referit Platform Explained + Final Nuggets

🛠️ Tools & Resources Mentioned

• Referit.ai – A platform to manage and scale your private referral network

• Referral Marketing Ideas – Derek’s strategy and partnership growth advisory

  https://www.referralmarketingideas.com/

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/referralmarketingideas/

• Referral Affiliate Invitation – from Derek

  https://portal.referit.co/sign-up/RMIpodcasts

  
  

  Business Exit & Beyond

  https://businessexitbeyond.com/

Summary

In this episode, Vince opens up about his inspiring journey from selling newspapers as a child to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the garage door industry. He shares the ups and downs he experienced while growing his business, highlights the importance of being prepared when selling, and discusses the valuable lessons he learned along the way. Vince also takes a moment to reflect on life after his business, expressing the happiness he finds in new adventures with his family.

Takeaways

Vince's family moved to Australia, dreaming of new opportunities, and he began working early to help support them. In 1988, Vince took a big step by moving from working for others to starting his own business. Having a real passion for what you do is so essential for achieving success. Selling the company was a heartfelt decision, shaped by family needs. Proper preparation makes all the difference when considering a sale. To attract the right buyers, it's essential to promote your business effectively. Vince's son spent several years working in the company before choosing a different path. After winding down the business, life can open up to exciting new adventures and hobbies. Staying active and healthy is key to making the most of this new chapter.

Chapters

00:00

The Journey Begins: Vince's Early Life

04:52

Building a Business: From Garage Doors to Wholesaling

10:18

The Transition: Selling the Business and Family Dynamics

19:19

Preparing for Exit: Advice for Business Owners

22:39

Life Beyond Business: Embracing New Adventures

Keywords

business journey, entrepreneurship, family business, business exit, garage doors, wholesaling, business advice, life after business, success stories, Vince's story