Many entrepreneurs build businesses only to hit a wall. Growth stalls, burnout creeps in, and despite all the hard work, the business feels more like a trap than a path to freedom.

It’s a frustrating cycle—owners pour themselves into operations, avoid narrowing their niche, and get stuck doing work that doesn’t align with their strengths. The result? A profitable business that still leaves its owner feeling drained, directionless, and disconnected from their true purpose.

In this episode, Jeff Kikel talks with Christian Brim—CPA, podcaster, and now self-styled “Profit Prophet”—about how he rebuilt his firm by embracing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), niching down to creatives, and shifting his mindset from features and benefits to solving emotional needs. Christian shares his journey of stepping away, burning out, and ultimately coming back stronger by redefining success and focusing on what really matters.

Key Takeaways:

• Why Christian left his accounting firm, started a software company, and eventually returned with a new vision.

• How implementing EOS transformed his leadership and business growth.

• The power of narrowing your niche—and why creatives became his firm’s focus.

• Why clients don’t buy “bookkeeping and taxes,” but instead a feeling of control around money.

• How to avoid the trap of being the bottleneck in your own company.

• Why screening clients for mindset and willingness to change is essential.

• Christian’s new brand as “The Profit Prophet” and why clarity beats complexity.

• His creative side project: writing a historical fiction love story about the Choctaw Nation.

About the Guest:

Christian Brim, CPA, brings a wealth of experience and a deeply personal mission to his work in helping business owners with their finances. With over 25 years of experience, his background in both personal and professional finance, as well as his own family's experience with bankruptcy, gives him a unique perspective and empathy for his clients.

Links:

https://christianbrim.com/

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I think it would be doing what I’m starting to re-doing, which is go and help business owners get stuck. My niche is entrepreneurs that have success, but then they’re stuck at that level. That’s what I would do.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Functionally, it is getting in my own way. Practically, it was hanging on too long to the sales and marketing seat. I wasn’t the right person, but I didn’t let go until it cut down to the bone.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “Besides the Bible: The E-Myth, Scaling Up by Vern Harnish, Traction by Gino Wickman. Also Confessions of a Pricing Man, Alchemy by Rory Sutherland, and Greatness Cannot Be Planned.”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “I’ve tried a lot of AI tools, but what I’ve leaned into is relearning coding—not to code myself, but to understand software development better and work with people who do.”

5. What is your definition of freedom? “My initial answer is in Christ. But secularly, freedom is knowing why you’re doing what you’re doing. Not just following expectations. It’s having both money and time to do what you’re called to do, under the umbrella of your purpose.”

About Jeff:

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the...

Many mid-career professionals dream of leaving the 9–5 grind, but the fear of starting a business from scratch holds them back. Creating systems, building operations, and taking on risk can feel overwhelming.

This fear keeps people stuck—working long hours for someone else’s dream, instead of building their own. Too often, people dive into the wrong franchise, like restaurants, without understanding the razor-thin margins and lifestyle demands. The result? Burnout, financial strain, and disappointment.

In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with James Hilovsky, franchise consultant and founder of The Fran Dream. With over 20 years inside the franchise world—supporting openings, operations, and franchisees—James reveals how franchising can be the ultimate “business in a box” when done right. He explains what makes a good franchise fit, common mistakes people make, and how to choose a path that builds wealth, freedom, and legacy.

Key Takeaways:

• How James went from Del Taco corporate to scaling Pyology from 1 to 100 locations.

• Why not all franchises are created equal—and why restaurants are often the riskiest.

• The benefits of working with a franchise consultant vs. going it alone.

• How to choose franchises that fit your lifestyle, goals, and risk tolerance.

• Why mindset and willingness to “bet on yourself” are the key traits of successful franchisees.

• The step-by-step process of evaluating, funding, and validating a franchise.

• Why support from franchisors and fellow franchisees makes all the difference.

• The truth about margins, training, and why some businesses are better avoided.

About the Guest:

James is a former minor league baseball player who knows firsthand what it’s like to face the question, “What’s next?” After his time in professional sports, he transitioned into the restaurant industry, steadily working his way up through the ranks. Yet, even after years of climbing the corporate ladder, he held onto a bigger vision owning something of his own.

That pursuit led James into the world of franchising, where he discovered his passion: helping others make the leap into business ownership. Today, he guides aspiring entrepreneurs, former athletes, and career professionals through the process of finding the right franchise to match their goals, lifestyle, and investment level. He represents more than 400 brands across industries such as kids’ education, fitness, senior care, home services, and beyond.

In addition to supporting new franchise owners, James also partners with independent business owners who want to scale their companies by turning them into franchise models.

Whether someone is transitioning from sports, seeking a way out of the corporate grind, or simply exploring entrepreneurship, James brings a unique perspective and real-world insight into what it takes to succeed in franchising and how to build a business that truly works for one’s life.

Links:

https://www.thefrandream.co

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I would use my knowledge on my laptop to start conversations right away—reaching out to my network, creating quick content, connecting with franchisors. Conversations become candidates. Networking and relying on my network would get me back up.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “In corporate, it was playing office politics instead of standing by what I knew was best for my team. As an entrepreneur, it was losing focus on customers—the main thing is always the main thing.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend?...

We spend more hours than ever glued to our screens—and our eyes are paying the price. From dry eye to macular issues, the digital age is creating new vision problems we never faced before. Yet, most people ignore it until it’s too late.

If you’ve ever ended the day with tired, burning eyes, struggled with blurred vision after long Zoom sessions, or watched your kids glued to their iPads, you know this isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a health crisis. Traditional solutions like vitamins, glasses, or eye drops often get ignored, leaving millions vulnerable.

In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with Dr. Roger Wu, an eye doctor and serial entrepreneur who created iDrink—a science-backed beverage designed to fight digital eye strain. Dr. Wu shares how he went from frustration in his practice to launching a “Gatorade for your eyes,” why blue light is more dangerous than you think, and how he’s scaling a wellness product in an entirely new industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Why digital screens are causing dry eye and macular damage in younger patients.

• The science behind iDrink, and why hydration and omega-3s are key for eye health.

• How Dr. Wu pivoted from medicine to entrepreneurship—despite having no beverage background.

• Why “premium ingredients” matter when building a wellness product.

• The cultural shock of moving from healthcare into the slow-paced beverage industry.

• How iDrink is rolling out—from optometry practices to trade shows, and eventually into Whole Foods and beyond.

• Why investors in healthcare see massive opportunity in eye wellness products.

• The long-term vision: scaling globally while protecting proprietary manufacturing methods.

About the Guest:

Dr. Roger Wu is a board-certified optometrist who has spent more than two decades helping people see the world more clearly. When smartphones and constant screen time became the norm, Dr. Wu noticed a new wave of complaints in his clinic—burning, gritty “computer eyes,” blurry vision after endless Zoom calls, and early signs of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Recognizing that screens were here to stay, he set out to do more than prescribe eye drops and tell patients to blink. Partnering with nutrition scientists, he created The Eye Drink—a ready-to-drink, fruit-flavored beverage that delivers AREDS2 nutrients plus highly absorbable, plant-based (triglyceride-form) Omega-3s. In a 90-day pilot study with real patients, every participant’s macular pigment optical density—a key marker of retinal health—improved, while dry-eye symptoms fell.

Links:

https://theeyedrink.com/

Fast Five Questions

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? "I probably look for an optometrist’s job opening locally first. Start working for someone, and then either during lunchtime or after hours try to explore other opportunities. That’s what I would do, start saving up enough money."

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? "Not raising enough money for my previous startup. People told me not to start until I had $7–7.5 million raised, but we started with less than $200,000. We had a unique algorithm, but when the pandemic hit, we didn’t have enough funding to survive."

3. What is a book that you would recommend? "Blue Ocean Strategy—definitely one of my favorites. Also Patrick Bet-David’s book, Your Next Five Moves."

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? "That’s tough—I’m a workaholic. I get up at five, answer emails. Honestly, if there was an AI that could respond to emails for me, that would...

Turn Words Into Wealth: Aurora Winter on Books, Authority & Freedom

Too many entrepreneurs are experts in their fields but invisible to the world. They know they have wisdom to share, yet they struggle to stand out, attract clients, or build authority in a crowded market.

The reality is: without visibility, your business growth is capped. Traditional publishing feels intimidating and slow, while social media can feel like a never-ending treadmill. How can you build credibility, attract clients, and create leverage—without burning out or waiting years?

In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with Aurora Winter—TV producer turned author and publishing strategist—who shares how she helps entrepreneurs, coaches, and experts turn their words into wealth. Aurora reveals the proven system she uses to help thought leaders write bestselling books, repurpose their message into hundreds of pieces of content, and ultimately position themselves as authorities in their industries.

Key Takeaways:

• Aurora’s journey from yacht sales and TV production to bestselling author and publishing mentor.

• Why self-publishing now beats traditional publishing for most entrepreneurs.

• How authors like David Goggins made millions more by retaining control of their books.

• Why audiobooks and YouTube are exploding opportunities for thought leaders.

• How to repurpose interviews into hundreds of pieces of social media content.

• The 3 publishing eras (1.0 gatekeepers → 2.0 Amazon/eBooks → 3.0 thought leadership).

• How book titles and positioning can make or break your success.

• Why your personal story matters more than ever in the age of AI.

• The trifecta of visibility: Amazon (books), YouTube (videos), and AI (search engines).

About the Guest:

Aurora Winter, MBA is the CEO of Same Page Publishing, which specializes in publishing award-winning books. She is also an award-winning, bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction.

Her latest fantasy series is Magic, Mystery and the Multiverse, which won the Readers' Choice Award, Best Book for Teens, 2023.

Turn Words Into Wealth reveals seven blueprints to build your business using your book. This book was honored with the Outstanding Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award (Writing/Publishing) in 2022.

Links:

https://www.aurorawinter.com/

Fast Five Questions

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I'm going to pick a niche that's local to me… something like concrete, plumbing—high value, emergency services… I’ll set up a GMB listing, push it for leads, and do paper lead deals—$50–$100 per lead. That solves rent and starts scaling.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? "I fell in love with my businesses and waited until I was fed up to sell them. That’s the worst time to sell. Now I always think about the exit strategy, even when I love the business."

3. What is a book that you would recommend? "Alex Hormozi’s $100M Offers and $100M Leads are fantastic. I also recommend Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff and The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle."

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? "Fireflies—it joins my Zoom calls automatically, records, summarizes, and sends me the notes. I also use Google Docs daily, plus AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude."

5. What is your definition of freedom? "Freedom is being creatively self-expressed. Helping others create things that make a difference—whether that’s joy, insight, or information."

About Jeff:

Jeff...

Most parents assume traditional school is the only path to prepare their kids for success. But with declining literacy rates, rising stress, and rigid systems, many children are left unprepared for real life.

Parents know something feels broken. They see their kids losing curiosity, struggling with structure, or even dreading school. Yet, the idea of homeschooling or unschooling feels overwhelming—especially for busy professionals and entrepreneurs who think they don’t have the time.

In this powerful episode, Jeff Kikel speaks with Moira Mills, who was raised completely unschooled and now helps families transition from traditional education into homeschooling and self-directed learning. Moira shares her personal journey from Alaska homestead life to raising her own son while traveling the country. She breaks down how unschooling really works, why curiosity-driven learning beats rigid standards, and how parents can rethink education to prepare kids for a world shaped by freedom, creativity, and responsibility.

Key Takeaways:

• What “unschooling” really means—and how it differs from homeschooling.

• How Moira’s upbringing outside of traditional school shaped her worldview.

• Why kids learn best when driven by curiosity and real-world experiences.

• The myth of standardized education and why it’s holding kids back.

• How literacy rates were higher before compulsory schooling.

• Why boredom is essential for creativity and imagination.

• The role of technology and AI in the future of learning—and why young kids need less screen time, not more.

• How universities are increasingly recruiting homeschool students.

• Why raising kids to be entrepreneurs, not just employees, is critical for the future.

About the Guest:

Moira Mills is a lifelong unschooler, roadschooling mama, and certified Rolfer® with a background in health coaching, regenerative community building, and brand alignment. She works at the intersection of healing, parenting, and entrepreneurship, helping people come home to themselves so they can build lives that actually work.

Links:

https://moiramills.com/

About Jeff:

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation

Connect with the Freedom Nation podcast at https://freedom-nation-podcast.captivate.fm/

Connect with Jeff:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomnationpodcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffKikel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkikel/

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Most small business owners are working themselves to the bone… yet still feel broke. Revenue is coming in, but there’s never enough left over. Retirement feels like a pipe dream, and worst of all, there’s no safety net when life hits hard.

This was Debbie Deknight’s reality—until a personal crisis forced her to quit her job and take control of her finances, her freedom, and her future. Like many entrepreneurs, she wanted time for family, financial stability, and a business that worked for her—not the other way around. But that path was anything but easy.

In this inspiring episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with Profit First professional and fractional CFO Debbie Deknight, who shares how she turned chaos into clarity and created a business that gives her (and her clients) true financial freedom. Debbie reveals her journey from burnout to building a virtual bookkeeping firm that helps small business owners implement the Profit First system, master their numbers, and actually keep more of their money.

Whether you’re barely scraping by or scaling your business, this episode shows you how to take back control—and why Profit First might be the missing piece in your Freedom Day journey.

Key Takeaways:

• How a health crisis pushed Debbie to quit her job and finally start her own business.

• Why Profit First changed everything—and how you can implement it yourself.

• The hidden dangers of “lump sum” bookkeeping (and why detail matters).

• What most bookkeepers and accountants get wrong about helping small businesses.

• The power of time freedom—and how Debbie uses it to care for her parents.

• Why most entrepreneurs don’t realize they’re leaking profit in dozens of tiny ways.

• How Profit First ensures your taxes, payroll, and profit are always covered.

• What fractional CFO services can do for contractors and trades businesses.

• The importance of emotional resilience and community for solo entrepreneurs.

About the Guest:

Debbie Deknight, founder of Right Way Profits and Bookkeeping, brings over 30 years of accounting experience and expertise as a Profit First Master certified coach and Strategic Business Advisor. Debbie is passionate about educating, implementing, supporting, profit-driven strategies that lead to sustainable success.

Links:

https://www.rightwayprofits.com/

Fast Five Questions

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? "Cry. Honestly, that’s what would happen... Then pick myself up, grab my journal, and start to strategize. I'd quadruple my social media, get on podcasts, attend networking events... it's all a numbers game."

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? "If something was uncomfortable or scared me, I avoided it and I held myself and my business back. A few years ago, I made my theme 'Screw it, just do it' and everything changed."

3. What is a book that you would recommend? "Profit First. Every small business owner should read it. There’s enough in there to start implementing right away."

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? "Trello. I’m a list-making control freak, and Trello helps me stay organized, track ideas, manage tasks—and it integrates with Google Calendar."

5. What is your definition of freedom? "Trello. I’m a list-making control freak, and Trello helps me stay organized, track ideas, manage tasks—and it integrates with Google Calendar."

About Jeff:

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that...

Most business owners spend decades building their company—only to discover that when it’s time to sell, no one wants to buy it. In fact, 80% of businesses listed for sale never sell, leaving owners with nothing to show for years of hard work.

That’s not just a missed payday—it’s a financial nightmare that could derail your Freedom Day plans. Add in shady brokers, outdated marketplaces, and unqualified buyers, and it’s no wonder small business owners are feeling stuck with no clear exit strategy.

In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with Evan Poling, founder of BizRetire.com, to talk about how he's shaking up the broken world of buying and selling businesses. Evan shares how his background in anti-money laundering and finance led him to create a commission-free, seller-first marketplace—and how his model helps both buyers and sellers avoid the pitfalls of traditional exit strategies.

Whether you're planning your exit, looking to acquire a business, or just want to understand how to build something worth selling, this episode is packed with insight, strategy, and straight talk.

Key Takeaways:

• Why 80% of businesses listed for sale don’t sell—and what you can do to avoid that fate.

• How Evan’s background in anti-money laundering (AML) shaped his approach to evaluating businesses.

• The dark truth behind traditional business brokers and the hidden “failure tax” sellers pay.

• Why BizRetire is designed to be the “baby” of a good business broker and a quality marketplace.

• Why low-revenue “boring” businesses are a massive opportunity for future entrepreneurs.

• The emotional cost of poor planning: widows, lost homes, and buyer exploitation.

• The buyer bottleneck myth—it’s not buyers that are hard to find, it’s sellers who are unaware.

• How seller-financing and advisory partnerships can make or break a deal.

• Why your business isn’t a “baby”—and why the market doesn’t care unless it’s prepared to sell.

About the Guest:

Evan Poling is a lifelong learner and optimizer, driven by curiosity and a passion for doing things better. From earning a black belt in Hapkido to managing a full house remodel, building a business, owning rental property, and serving in the military, Evan's diverse experiences bring a unique lens of clarity, depth, and innovation to every challenge.

Now, as the founder of BizRetire.com, Evan is on a mission to disrupt the 300-year-old business brokerage industry. While traditional brokers operate like Blockbuster, Evan is building the Netflix of business sales—modernizing how entrepreneurs transition out of their businesses with smarter, more streamlined solutions.

With a background rooted in adaptability and insight, Evan brings a fresh perspective to an industry in need of reinvention.

Links:

https://www.bizretire.com/

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? "I'm going to log on to Facebook Marketplace and find some stuff that I can buy and resell... I'm going to make some money."

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? "There's a thing called Iron Triangle: speed, quality, and price. You can only have two. I chose price and quality—and it took me six to seven months to launch my website. I should have just paid the extra $3,000 or $4,000."

3. What is a book that you would recommend? "The Bible. If you're not right spiritually, physically, emotionally, you're going to chase after the wrong things. My business is not about profit. It's about impact."

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would...

Tired of building someone else's dream in a 9-to-5?

The traditional path school, job, save for retirement often ends in burnout, not freedom. If you’re feeling stuck or uninspired, you’re not alone.

Luke Van Der Veer broke the mold—and built his own digital empire.

After years of trying side hustles, Luke discovered the power of renting out websites like digital real estate. Today, he earns passive income by generating leads for local businesses—without being tied to any one client or job.

In this episode, Luke unpacks how he turned SEO into a 6-figure lifestyle business, and why this model could work for you—even if you’re starting from scratch.

Key Takeaways:

• Why the “hope and pray” method of saving for retirement doesn’t work

• How Luke escaped corporate life by renting lead-gen websites

• The SEO strategy behind choosing profitable, low-competition niches

• How he builds passive monthly income with flat-fee or pay-per-lead deals

• Why business acquisition is his next level of digital leverage

• The tools and mindset he uses to stay ahead of Google's algorithms and AI disruption

About the Guest:

Luke Van Der Veer has helped hundreds of people build passive income and take control of their lives. His students have built 6 and 7-figure incomes, quit their jobs, escaped the trap of trading time for money, grown their businesses, and completely transformed their lifestyles.

Links:

https://lukevanderveer.com/

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I'm going to pick a niche that's local to me… something like concrete, plumbing—high value, emergency services… I’ll set up a GMB listing, push it for leads, and do paper lead deals—$50–$100 per lead. That solves rent and starts scaling.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Focusing only on the money. I chased side hustles based on how much they could make, not whether they fit me. That wasted 3.5 years. I should’ve asked: ‘What model can help me create the life I want?"

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “DotCom Secrets by Russell Brunson. Honestly, get all three of his books. Sales, personal growth, marketing—he puts it all together. Massive impact.”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “WhatsApp. My freelancers are all over the world. It’s the easiest way to message, group chat, and coordinate in one place.”

5. What is your definition of freedom? “Doing whatever you want, whenever you feel like it, with whoever you want—without asking for permission. For me, that’s family and friends. And I have that now.”

About Jeff:

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation

Connect with the Freedom Nation podcast at https://freedom-nation-podcast.captivate.fm/

Connect with Jeff:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomnationpodcast/

Twitter:...