41 - Stop Promoting Ego | How to Keep Leaders Who Only Win the War
In this high impact episode, Eddie opens the “lost files” of The Titan Doctrine and shows you how to remove the wrong leaders and elevate the right ones using an ancient battlefield lesson from Gideon’s 300. You’ll learn the three non-negotiable filters for leadership; Vision Loyalty, Mental Toughness, and Situational Awareness, and exactly how to apply them to your org today: prune your leadership team regularly, elevate by behavior not tenure, and protect the inner circle like your blueprint depends on it. If your team is talented but inconsistent, this framework will help you build trust at the top, align to a bigger vision, and stop fear based, reactive leadership before it spreads.Thank you to our Sponsor Collars & Co. Visit collarsandco.com and use the promo code IMPACT20 for 20% off.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – “Lost files” of The Titan Doctrine & ancient wisdom lens for leadership.02:25 – Gideon’s battlefield: from 32,000 to 300 through fear & awareness tests.05:19 – Filter #1: Fear Test07:24 – Filter #2: Water Test09:19 – Synthesis: God kept the focused & the disciplined.10:06 – Vision Loyalty: mission over personality.13:12 – Mental Toughness: calm under pressure, no fear-based decisions.15:13 – Situational Awareness: eyes up, anticipate what’s next.19:27 – Application #1: Prune your leadership team annually.20:18 – Application #2: Elevate by behavior, not tenure.21:22 – Application #3: Protect the inner circle.23:28 – Three self audit questions for your inner circle.28:14 – Closing truths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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28:46
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28:46
40 - From W-2 to Owner | Your Playbook to Buy Profitable Businesses
An historic opportunity is here: 2–3 million Baby Boomer owners are exiting their companies, and most aren’t prepared to sell. Eddie brings in veteran dealmaker Matt Uhler (800+ transactions; owner in ~20 companies) to teach you exactly how to spot, finance, and operate a business that gives you freedom, not another job. You’ll learn what to look for, what to avoid, how to fund deals, the first 90 day moves, and a counterintuitive win-win negotiation approach sellers actually embrace. Real stories make this a practical masterclass for first-time buyers and seasoned operators alike.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Why this episode is different + guest intro01:20 – The Baby Boomer exit wave: 2–3M owners leaving businesses04:05 – What percentage of listed businesses actually sell & why06:13 – Owners treat businesses like jobs vs assets07:18 – Buyer’s filter: look for a recipe + positive financial trend09:11 – Plane losing altitude analogy: why amateurs crash turnarounds11:39 – Eddie’s “scale to the moon” vs Matt’s Main Street base-hit strategy13:23 – First time buyers: start smaller; mind the five pillars16:20 – 2020 Pandemic case study: stress, communication cadence, core competencies20:26 – Funding deals: SBA, income producing debt, keep liquidity22:48 – Don’t go solo: representation, comps, and avoiding listing traps26:11 – KPIs & first diligence pass: can it pay for itself and you?28:18 – Add-backs that aren’t bankable = deal killers30:17 – First 90 days: third party accounting, protect the recipe34:22 – How to correct operators without breaking the relationship36:35 – Coaching his son’s buy: distressed appearance, fair multiple, inventory38:32 – Negotiation masterclass: don’t corner sellers; preserve goodwill43:34 – Cautions: stay in your core competency; test returns backwards45:46 – Worst deal walked away from: people > numbers49:08 – Three things to check: financials, customer proof, owner integrity49:53 – What is a “business empire” now? Freedom, diversification, impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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54:16
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54:16
39 - The Founder Identity Crisis | 3 Signs You’re Trapped & How to Break Free
Are you building a business, or a prison? In this vulnerable, practical episode, Eddie unpacks the Founder Identity Crisis: how pouring yourself into your company creates an identity exchange that can warp decisions, stunt growth, and make healthy exits impossible. He shares the three warning signs your identity is tied to the business and a clear, repeatable framework to break free: create emotional separation by treating the business as an asset, journal wins & failures as data (not identity), clarify your calling vs. your company, and build systems so you’re not mission critical. With candid stories, Eddie shows how to lead as the architect, not the empire, and why your calling is bigger than any company you’ll ever build.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Welcome & topic: the Founder Identity Crisis00:48 – The identity exchange: pour into the business, it gives you identity01:51 – Why detaching identity leads to better decisions02:17 – Becoming the business, then struggling to exit03:16 – 2019 exits & post-exit depression: “life-changing money… but empty”05:24 – Sign #1: Emotions track your P&L (your worth ≠ income)06:51 – Sign #2: You can’t picture the business without you; delegation fear, sabotage08:03 – Sign #3: You don’t know who you are outside the role09:30 – Step 1: Create emotional separation—treat it as an asset10:20 – “Asset leader” language & stewardship mindset11:36 – Journal wins, and journal your failures as data, not identity 13:10 – Step 2: Clarify calling vs company 15:07 – Calling > brand: purpose bigger than logo, site, or P&L16:48 – Step 3: Build systems so you’re not mission-critical17:33 – “Grow by vision, not constant involvement”18:20 – Howard Schultz/Starbucks: founder identity vs scaling well21:29 – Eddie’s temptation to return & choosing “no” to protect calling22:37 – You’re the architect, not the empire; your calling is higher23:22 – Legacy > business: raising his sons, serving through Impact Others24:33 – Final charge: find identity in who you are, not what you build Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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24:29
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24:29
38 - Faith, Filters, & Focus | Protect Your Mind, Change Your Outcomes
Foundations beat tactics. In this powerful episode, Eddie Wilson unpacks Proverbs 4:23, “Guard your heart” and shows why your inputs (media, music, conversations, relationships, beliefs) inevitably become your outputs (words, decisions, results). From defining the “heart” as your thoughts, desires, and will, to a practical, 5-step Daily Heart Check, Eddie equips leaders to replace negativity with truth, protect emotions without going numb, and set boundaries that lift everyone around them. He also shares moving stories about forgiveness, perspective, and gratitude that demonstrate how guarding your heart transforms your life, leadership, and legacy.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Foundations vs tactics: why anchors matter00:39 – Worldview & order: the architect behind creation03:39 – Scripture as foundation: timeless truths for everyone04:23 – Proverbs 4:23 explained: “Guard your heart”05:16 – What “heart” means: thoughts, desires, will06:34 – Reverse engineering your results: fix inputs, not just actions07:35 – Scripture cross-check (Luke): overflow of the heart → life09:23 – Leadership ripple: your input → their outcome10:46 – Guarding ≠ walls: the heart as a garden12:27 – “Hurt people hurt people”: why inputs drive reactions14:07 – Step 1: Guard your inputs (think on true/honest/just)17:12 – Step 2: Anchor in capital-T Truth (Scripture/constitution)19:41 – Step 3: Monitor thoughts; replace lies with truth21:28 – Step 4: Set relational boundaries (influence ≠ access)23:07 – Step 5: Protect emotions—be a person of action, not reaction24:25 – Stay spiritually alert: battle the right enemy25:07 – Daily Heart Check: the 5-part routine26:29 – Gratitude reset story: perspective that heals29:23 – Relational filter & prayer/meditation release30:22 – Closing: guard inputs → experience abundant life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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30:47
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30:47
37 - The Partnership Paradox | Caution and Clarity in Business Alliances
Thinking about teaming up with a co-founder or equity partner? In this no-fluff masterclass, Eddie Wilson breaks down why most partnerships fail and exactly how to build one that scales instead of sinks. You’ll learn the biggest red flags (undefined decision rights, uneven value/capital, no operating agreement/buy-sell, “visionary only” partners), when to partner for acceleration, not rescue, and the five non-negotiable boundaries that keep alliances healthy: mission first, clearly assigned roles, document everything, regular check-ins, and plan the exit before you start. Eddie also contrasts Buffett/Munger with Jobs/Wozniak to show how partnerships must evolve, or be restructured for scale. If you’re a founder, investor, or exec considering a JV or co-founder, this playbook will help you prevent conflict, protect value, and multiply your mission.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – The Partnership Paradox: great alliances scale empires; bad ones sink ships01:15 – Why partnerships fail: passion without clarity = conflict02:07 – “Where there’s no communication, negativity fills the void”04:19 – #1 failure: assumed alignment without defined roles04:56 – Red flags: decision rights, uneven value/capital, no buy-sell, “visionary-only” partner06:59 – Don’t partner for help : partner for acceleration08:14 – Benefits done right: complementary strengths & radical honesty10:04 – Offense vs defense: dividing roles to scale sanely11:40 – Shared capital/credibility + “Both partners must bring a Brick (core KPI)”12:43 – The 5 boundaries: mission, roles, documentation, check-ins, plan the exit14:04 – North Star example: Impact Others as the mission16:34 – Same-page weeklys & quarterly vision alignment17:42 – Build the off-ramp before you enter the highway (buy-sell)18:54 – Case studies: Buffett/Munger vs Jobs/Wozniak23:47 – Partnerships are force multipliers, only if forged in clarity24:10 – Call to action: mission alignment, equal investment, written agreement Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Impact with Eddie Wilson Podcast. I'm Eddie Wilson, and I'm excited to share my journey and insights with you. As an entrepreneur who has successfully owned over 125 businesses and developed a unique business operating system, I understand the importance of living intentionally and finding your purpose.In this podcast, we will explore how you can take control of your life, unlock your potential, and create a meaningful impact. I believe that everyone has the ability and responsibility to make a difference, and through this podcast, I want to help you discover what you are created for and how to achieve it.We'll cover a wide range of topics, including entrepreneurship, leadership, personal growth, and philanthropy. My goal is to inspire you to live with purpose, take deliberate actions, and create a ripple effect that will positively impact the world. So, join me on this journey, and let's make a difference together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.