Business Lunch

In This Episode Of Business Lunch: A Hartford Financial study found that 75% of business owners regret selling their company. Roland Frasier and Ryan Deiss have both lived it, and they get personal about what the wire does not fix: the identity you give up with the business, the buyer promises that rarely survive the close, and why more than half of sellers wind up swooping back in. Then the way out: fulfillment continuity, the threads you build before the exit so you are not adrift after it.
If you have exited a business, share in the comments what surprised you most about life on the other side.

Chapters:
0:00 The telescope and why founders exit unhappy
1:57 The Hartford study: 75% of owners regret selling
4:22 Roland's identity shift after leaving law
6:02 Ryan on exiting Traffic and Conversion Summit
9:10 What buyers promise vs the post exit reality
13:52 Why due diligence pulls the two sides apart
19:46 Business partnerships are marriages: extending grace
23:45 The threads that save you from being adrift
27:02 Fulfillment continuity: Roland's framework
32:14 Find the part of the business that fulfills you
40:47 Reallocating your time as seasons change
48:20 The miserable rich person trap
49:04 Fire and rehire yourself every year

Listen to Business Lunch:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/business-lunch/id1442654104
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0iWSA89TaD263zhXETdSvZ
Roland Frasier:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rolandfrasier/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rolandfrasier/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rolandfrasier
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RolandFrasierPage/
More: https://msha.ke/rolandfrasier/
Ryan Deiss:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryandeiss/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandeiss/
X: https://x.com/ryandeiss
Scalable: https://www.scalable.co
Mentioned in this episode:
Build Your CEO Dashboard
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Not every problem in your business is yours to fix. Roland Frasier and Ryan Deiss break down how to tell a seasonal slump from a fire you actually started, why the easy and obvious moves matter most when the numbers dip, and how AI written resumes are quietly breaking hiring for small businesses. Plus the internal recruiter role they think every growing company is about to need.

0:00 Welcome back from a 30 day vacation

1:46 Why rest is actually productive work

3:20 When do you let the dumpster fire burn?

4:52 Internal vs external: what you can and cannot fix

6:00 Control what you control: lead flow and double booking

6:51 Do the easy and obvious things well

10:07 Red vs yellow metrics on the scorecard

15:46 Theory of constraints: which fire to fight first

17:47 Why small businesses aren't hiring: the AI resume problem

20:01 How to interview when AI writes every resume

25:20 The pre interview email that filters out a third of applicants

26:53 The rise of the internal recruiter

Listen to Business Lunch:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/business-lunch/id1442654104

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0iWSA89TaD263zhXETdSvZ

Roland Frasier:

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

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rolandfrasier

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RolandFrasierPage/

More: https://msha.ke/rolandfrasier/

Ryan Deiss:

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

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

X: https://x.com/ryandeiss

Scalable: https://www.scalable.co

In This Episode of Business Lunch: We explore the evolving landscape of search engine optimization (SEO) versus answer engine optimization (AEO), and how businesses can adapt their strategies to stay ahead in AI-driven search environments. They discuss practical tactics, the importance of evidence and authority, and how to leverage paid and organic channels effectively.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:17 Challenges with Technology and Setup
00:30 Introduction to ChatGPT Ads and Platform Insights
00:58 SEO vs AEO: What's the Difference?
01:26 Understanding Search Engine Optimization and Answer Engine Optimization
02:02 Should You Invest in SEO Now?
02:30 Clarifying SEO, GEO, and Generative Engine Optimization
03:06 How Answer Engines Are Replacing Search Engines
03:42 The Shift from Rankings to Recommendations
04:15 Using Search Engines for Direct Source Verification
04:56 The Changing Role of Search in Customer Awareness Levels
05:36 Branded Search and Its Importance
06:01 The Evolving Nature of Search Optimization
06:19 Optimizing for Recommendations, Not Rankings
07:15 Bidding Strategies on Competitors and Trademark Terms
08:40 Cost-Effective Strategies for Competing in Answer Engines
10:00 Practical Approach for Business Owners
11:00 From Rankings to Recommendations: New Optimization Goals
12:08 The Role of Evidence and Proof in AI Recommendations
13:15 Creating Credibility and Authority for Search Engines
14:06 Content Strategy for AEO Success
15:29 Schema and Technical SEO for AI
16:29 Building the Neural Network: Assets and Relationships
17:32 Practical Steps to Optimize for AI and Answer Engines
18:36 Focusing on Questions, Not Keywords
19:10 Gathering Evidence to Prove Authority
20:39 Distribution, Freshness, and Uniqueness in Content
21:26 The Importance of Original and Contrarian Content
22:29 Using the Skyscraper Strategy for AI Optimization
23:46 Reverse Engineering Top Sources and Cited Content
25:38 Prioritizing Strategies Based on Business Needs
26:09 Shifting Budgets from SEO to AEO
27:05 Content and Embedded Influencers for Organic Growth
28:14 Paid Search and Branded Terms for Immediate Impact
29:41 Balancing Organic and Paid Strategies
33:02 The Role of Authority and Evidence in AI Rankings
36:34 Starting with Paid Search and Organic Content
37:49 The Future of Search and Business Strategy
40:13 Encouragement to Experiment and Share Results
42:22 Final Thoughts and Wrap-up

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LinkedIn: Check out my LinkedIn Here
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Resources:
• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook
• Get my book, Zero Down, FREE
Mentioned in this episode:
Build Your CEO Dashboard
Get one report every week of the key metrics you need to know with the CEO Dashboard!
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In This Episode of Business Lunch: We explore the concept of founder identity and how legacy identity debt can hinder business growth. They discuss practical strategies for recognizing and overcoming identity lag to scale effectively.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to founder identity and role evolution
00:30 The five stages of role evolution in business
00:58 Understanding identity lag and its effects
01:28 The concept of identity debt in business
02:24 Sleep debt analogy and identity debt
02:51 Impact of legacy identity debt on scaling
03:22 Recognizing when you're in the wrong role
04:05 The importance of role clarity and job descriptions
08:06 How to get consciously competent and fix identity debt
09:44 Defining your current role and responsibilities
10:14 Using time studies to identify role mismatches
11:52 Addressing comfort work and role reversion
12:24 Resetting roles and accountability with team members
13:19 The importance of honest communication and ownership
14:38 Handling time constraints and delegation
16:29 Hiring the right roles and using AI tools
17:12 Recognizing and overcoming identity debt in business
17:43 Summary: Overcoming insidious identity debt
Connect with me on social:
TikTok: Check out my TikTok Here
Instagram: Check out my Instagram Here
Facebook: Check out my Facebook Here
LinkedIn: Check out my LinkedIn Here
Subscribe to my YouTube 👉 Here

Resources:
• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook
• Get my book, Zero Down, FREE
Mentioned in this episode:
Build Your CEO Dashboard
Get one report every week of the key metrics you need to know with the CEO Dashboard!
CEO Dashboard

In This Episode of Business Lunch: This episode explores the myth of hiring A players, the concept of micro CEOs, and how to structure teams for maximum agility and profitability in the AI era. Ryan Deiss and Roland Frasier discuss the pitfalls of traditional hiring and the advantages of outcome-based roles.

Chapters:
00:00 The A-Player Debate
02:52 Hiring Owners vs. A-Players
05:57 Understanding Micro CEOs
08:51 The Role of Metrics in Hiring
11:58 Compensation Structures for Micro Owners
14:55 The Future of Leadership in Business

Connect with me on social:
TikTok: Check out my TikTok Here
Instagram: Check out my Instagram Here
Facebook: Check out my Facebook Here
LinkedIn: Check out my LinkedIn Here
Subscribe to my YouTube 👉 Here

Resources:
• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook
• Get my book, Zero Down, FREE
Mentioned in this episode:
Build Your CEO Dashboard
Get one report every week of the key metrics you need to know with the CEO Dashboard!
CEO Dashboard