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Beyond 8 Figures
A.J. Lawrence
314 episodes
1 month ago
At Beyond 8 Figures, we believe in DELIBERATE entrepreneurship. It means creating a solid foundational framework for your entrepreneurial journey, building from a place of passion, and intentionally aligning your actions with your goals so that you can create success on your terms. Join A.J. Lawrence, the journeyman entrepreneur with several 7 figure exits, as he shares honest conversations with successful entrepreneurs about their experiences starting and scaling businesses to $10M and beyond, the realities of being a modern-day entrepreneur, advice for practicing deliberate entrepreneurship, and more!
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Entrepreneurship
Business,
Management
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All content for Beyond 8 Figures is the property of A.J. Lawrence and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
At Beyond 8 Figures, we believe in DELIBERATE entrepreneurship. It means creating a solid foundational framework for your entrepreneurial journey, building from a place of passion, and intentionally aligning your actions with your goals so that you can create success on your terms. Join A.J. Lawrence, the journeyman entrepreneur with several 7 figure exits, as he shares honest conversations with successful entrepreneurs about their experiences starting and scaling businesses to $10M and beyond, the realities of being a modern-day entrepreneur, advice for practicing deliberate entrepreneurship, and more!
Show more...
Entrepreneurship
Business,
Management
Episodes (20/314)
Beyond 8 Figures
How to Build Exit-Ready Companies with Niraj Shah, DKZ Equity

Thinking about selling your company someday? Most founders wait until it’s too late to prepare their business for a clean, valuable exit.

In this episode, I chat with Niraj Shah, M&A Advisor and 5x Founder, about what really makes a company exit-ready. We dig into mindset traps, deal-killers, and the simple actions you can take right now to set up your business for maximum value, whether you sell this year or ten years from now.

🔍 What we cover:

  • Why “exit readiness” starts years before you sell
  • The biggest founder blind spots during M&A
  • How to identify red flags buyers will uncover
  • The emotional side of letting go

📣 Want to turn your business into a valuable asset—on your terms? Let’s talk.

🔗 Resources & Guest Links:

  • Niraj Shah: Website, LinkedIn, Newsletter
  • The Messy Marketplace by Brent Beshore
  • Exit Strategy by Sherry Walling & Rob Walling
Show more...
1 month ago
38 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Reset Your Business After Burnout with Jason Long, Ascendance

Success isn’t just about hustle—it’s about surviving the chaos of growth.

Jason Long knows this better than most. After building a 30-person agency, he lost it all in the 2008 crash, nearly died in a horrific car accident, and spent years rebuilding both his businesses and himself.

In this episode, Jason and I get real about what scaling actually takes—the mistakes most entrepreneurs make, and the systems that separate struggling founders from professional CEOs.

Here’s what you’ll hear:

  • Why 80-hour work weeks are a badge of failure, not success
  • The accident that forced Jason to rebuild his brain—and his businesses
  • How private equity taught him the power of financial literacy
  • The frameworks he blends (EOS, OKRs, forecasting) to actually scale companies
  • The mindset shift that frees entrepreneurs from burnout

This one’s raw, practical, and packed with lessons you can apply today.

👉 Looking for a roadmap to scale with less stress? Let's talk.

🔗 Resources & Guest Links:

  • Jason Long: Website, Ascendance, Tangent Solutions, JH Media Group
Show more...
2 months ago
54 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How To Build A Resilient Business Without Burning Out with Margo Crawford

What if stepping back from your business didn’t mean losing control—but gaining clarity?

In this episode, I talk with Margo Crawford, founder of Business Sherpa Group, about the five-year succession plan that helped her shift from CEO to Chair—and the deep mental work it took to let go without giving up.

You’ll learn:

  • When to start planning your exit (spoiler: not when you're ready to leave)
  • How to prepare your team to lead without you
  • Why most founder burnout is rooted in back-office friction
  • How to measure success in more than revenue

If you're overwhelmed by complexity or craving more freedom, this one’s worth a listen.

🎯 Listen now + explore what's next for your business. 👉 Chat with A.J.

🔗 Resources & Guest Links:

  • Margo Crawford: LinkedIn
  • Business Sherpa Group Resources
Show more...
2 months ago
40 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Think Like a Strategic CEO with Bruce Eckfeldt

Success doesn’t come from working harder, it comes from thinking differently.

In this episode, I talk with Bruce Eckfeldt, strategic coach and 5x Inc. 500 founder, about how to shift from founder mode to CEO-level thinking. If you’re feeling the strain of growth and wondering why your business feels harder at $7M than it did at $1M, Bruce breaks down how to restructure your team, planning, and priorities to build something sustainable.

What we cover:

  • What separates founders from strategic CEOs
  • The building blocks of scalable, sellable businesses
  • Why a 3-day strategy sprint can reveal your biggest blind spots
  • How to start thinking—and acting—for your business’s long game

🎯 Want to lead like a real CEO, not just the person putting out fires? Let’s talk. 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources & Guest Links:

  • Bruce Eckfeldt: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram
Show more...
3 months ago
35 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Think Strategically in an AI World with Hamza Mudassir, Strategize

When your business is growing fast and AI is changing the game every week… how do you keep your head clear and your strategy sharp?

In this episode, I sit down with Hamza Mudassir—lecturer at Cambridge and founder of Strategize—to talk about mental clarity, digital twins, and how to make smarter decisions in an age of overload.

Here’s what we dig into:

  • How strategic thinking is evolving in real time
  • What digital twins really are (and how they work)
  • The mental toll of reactive leadership—and how to fix it

🎧 Listen to the full episode and let’s talk about what comes next. 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources & Guest Links:

  • Hamza Mudassir: LinkedIn, Strategize
  • Harvard Business Review article: "AI Can (Mostly) Outperform Human CEOs


Show more...
3 months ago
51 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How EOS Helped Steve Maly Break Through a Growth Plateau (After 20 Years in Business)

What happens when your agency hits a growth ceiling—and brute force stops working?

In this episode, Steve Maly shares what finally pushed him to adopt EOS, how it changed his team’s rhythm and decision-making, and why hiring a $500 intern changed the trajectory of his business.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

  • How to spot the real reason your growth has stalled
  • The hidden value of weekly meetings (done right)
  • Why structure matters more than tools
  • How to think like a strategist—not just a founder

🎯 Ready to get out of the weeds and think bigger about your business? 👉 Let’s talk.

🔗 Resources & Guest Links:

  • Steve Maly: LinkedIn, Maly Marketing
  • EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)
  • Baby Bathwater
Show more...
3 months ago
36 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Train Your Brain for Entrepreneurial Resilience with Paola Telfer, Sens.ai

Your brain is your business’s most valuable asset—so why aren’t you training it?

In this episode, I talk with Paola Telfer, founder of Sens.ai, about how she turned a personal brain injury into a mission to help entrepreneurs perform better mentally. We dig into the science of neurofeedback, how to stay sharp under pressure, and why brain optimization isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for high-stakes leadership.

🔹 What you'll learn:

  • How brain training works and why founders need it
  • Tools to manage stress and sharpen focus
  • How to bounce back from burnout and mental fog

Listen now & build a smarter brain for the business you’re leading.

🔗 Resources & Guest Links:

  • Paola Telfer: LinkedIn, Sens.ai blog, Sens.ai Instagram
  • Get Sens.ai: https://bit.ly/44VpVQ5 
Show more...
3 months ago
44 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Rebuild Purpose After Selling Your Company with Jess Stewart, Jess Stewart LLC

What comes after the big exit? For Jess Stewart, it wasn’t freedom—it was confusion.

In this episode, we unpack how she rebuilt both her purpose and leadership rhythm after selling her company. If you’re feeling stuck in your business or unsure about what comes next, Jess’s story offers a practical path forward.

Here’s what we cover:

  • The emotional and operational void after exiting a business
  • How to install structure without losing flexibility
  • What leadership rhythms look like in real companies

Feeling stuck in the chaos of what comes after your big milestone? Let’s figure out your next chapter. 👉 https://bit.ly/3ZnqyzR 

🔗 Resources & Guest Links:

  • Jess Stewart: Website, Activate Community
Show more...
4 months ago
33 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Build Exit-Ready Growth with Philip Blackett

Success isn’t just surviving chaos—it’s building toward your exit.

In this episode, I talk with Philip Blackett, founder of Dream Business Makeover and LifeAfter40.com. He’s been through the fire—literally rebuilding a cemetery business during COVID while pulling double shifts at Chick-fil-A to make payroll.

We talk exit strategy, leadership, and what really works when you’ve got to grow through chaos.

🎯 You’ll Learn:

  • Why most “busy” CEOs miss the point
  • How to plan your exit (even if it’s years away)
  • The 4 levers that grow revenue and value
  • What it looks like to lead when everything’s on fire

Ready to grow your business with a future? Let’s build your exit-ready roadmap. 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources & Guest Links:

  • Philip Blackett: LinkedIn, LifeAfter40.com
  • Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Show more...
4 months ago
43 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
The Truth About Buying a Business (Most People Won’t Tell You) — with Richard Parker, Diomo Corporation

Buying a business sounds like a shortcut—but most people never make it to the finish line. Why? Because they chase the wrong deals.

In this episode, I talk with Richard Parker, founder of Diomo Corporation, about what really works when you're looking to acquire a business that fits you—and what most people get completely wrong.

🎯 You’ll Learn:

  • Richard’s “4-4-4-1-1” process for staying focused during your search
  • Why experience doesn’t always translate to ownership success
  • The 5 filters that’ll save you from a bad acquisition
  • How to tell if a business is a spaghetti mess—or ready to scale
  • The one shift you must make before even reaching out to a seller

If you’re even thinking about buying a business, start with this episode.

🔗 Guest Links:

  • Richard Parker: https://richardparker.com/
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4 months ago
53 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Build a Personal Capital Stack with Mark Cecchini, Quadrant Capital

Your business is growing—but is your personal wealth strategy keeping up?

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Cecchini, a wealth advisor who works with high-growth founders, to break down what it really means to build a personal capital stack.

🎧 We cover:

  • Why “just invest in Vanguard” isn’t a real plan
  • How to make decisions when income’s uneven
  • What to do with cash that’s sitting idle
  • When to stop DIY’ing and bring in a pro

If you’ve ever felt behind on your own wealth strategy, this one’s a must-listen.

Want help finding clarity, control, and momentum in your business? Let's grow beyond the plateau together. ⟶ Chat with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

  • Mark Cecchini: X, LinkedIn
  • Quadrant Capital


Show more...
4 months ago
47 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Stop Profit Leaks in a Growing Business with Kevin Bees, ProfitHive

Growth doesn’t always mean profit.

In this episode, I’m joined by ProfitHive founder Kevin Bees to talk about how growing businesses leak money—and how to stop it. Kevin shares the 7 hidden areas where founders lose margin, plus a tactical framework for getting your financial house in order without becoming an accountant.


🎧 What you’ll learn:

  • How to spot and fix your biggest profit leaks
  • Why scaling doesn’t fix your financial blind spots
  • The mental shift that separates busy founders from wealthy ones
  • The simplest way to improve profit this quarter—no new clients required

Let’s make sure your growth is actually profitable. 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

  • Kevin Bees: LinkedIn, Twitter
  • ProfitHive
Show more...
5 months ago
27 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How Simplifying Your Business Drives Real Growth with Mikael Dia, Funnelytics

Success isn’t just about scale—it’s about control. And sometimes that means cutting through the chaos you created.

In this episode, I sit down with Mikael Dia, founder of Funnelytics, to talk about how simplifying your operations, offers, and mindset can unlock the growth you’ve been chasing. We get into the real stuff: what happens after the VC check clears, how complexity creeps in, and how to rebuild with clarity.

🎧 You’ll Learn:

  • How to simplify your business at any stage
  • What entrepreneurs get wrong about growth
  • Why churn was killing Mikael’s momentum—and how he fought back
  • The 4 pillars that keep you fulfilled while scaling
  • How Funnelytics can help you fix your funnel without the guesswork

Want to scale with more control? 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

  • Mikael Dia: LinkedIn, Facebook, 
  • Funnelytics 
Show more...
5 months ago
56 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
Reclaim Control of Your Business with John F. Kettley, Sales Masters Guild

Ever feel like the business you built is running you?

In this episode, I sit down with John F. Kettley, founder of Sales Masters Guild, to talk about how entrepreneurs lose their way as their company grows—and what it really takes to regain control of your business.

We talk mindset, sales systems, burnout, and the moment most founders realize they’re not leading anymore—they’re just reacting.

🎧 Inside this episode:

  • How to shift from doing the work to leading the company
  • Why most founders plateau at six figures
  • How to reconnect with your original business vision
  • The “helicopter view” strategy for finding clarity
  • Why sales + delivery alignment matters more than you think

If your business feels heavier than it should, it’s time for a reset. 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

  • John F. Kettley: Website, LinkedIn
  • Sales Masters Guild 


Show more...
5 months ago
31 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
Building a Purpose-Aligned Business with Amit Garg, Tau Ventures

Let’s be honest—most founders are chasing traction without stopping to ask: Is this still what I want to build?

In this episode, I talk with Amit Garg, Managing Partner at Tau Ventures, about what it means to build a purpose-aligned business from the ground up. From launching a hospital in India to raising $86M for a venture fund, Amit shares what real alignment looks like.

🎧 You’ll learn:

  • How to know if your business is actually venture-backable
  • What founders get wrong about raising capital
  • Why your pitch deck could be building a business you don’t want to run
  • How to use purpose as your operating system
  • Why public thinking is the new investor filter

If your business looks successful but doesn’t feel right, it’s time to reset. 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

  • Amit Garg: LinkedIn, X
  • Hospital For Hope
  • Tau Ventures
  • Data Driven
Show more...
5 months ago
41 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Lead a Visionary Business Without Losing What Matters with Justin Breen

Success isn’t always what it looks like on the outside.

In this episode, I talk with Justin Breen about what it really means to lead a visionary business—with clarity, intention, and zero fluff. We unpack Kolbe scores, mindset patterns, and the four traits that set true visionaries apart from the pack.

🔥 Inside this episode:

  • How to measure your life with two daily questions
  • Why “more” often leads to misery—not meaning
  • How Justin uses pattern recognition to build rituals that scale
  • The flywheel every founder needs: Mindset → Network → Opportunity
  • What most founders get dead wrong about leadership

Let’s build better, not just bigger.  👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

  • Justin Breen: LinkedIn, X, Instagram
  • Join BrEpic Network
  • Justin’s Map of EQ and IQ
  • Kolbe
  • Gallup Clifton Strengthfinders
  • The Enneagram
  • Working Genius
  • Read Epic Life by Justin Breen
  • Good to Great by Jim Collins
  • Built to Last by Jim Collins
  • The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Show more...
5 months ago
59 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Create Copy That Converts with Will Green, Copy Road

What if everything you know about “value-driven copy” is wrong?

In this episode, I talk to Will Green, Founder of Copy Road, about what actually makes copy convert. We dive into the difference between trust and tricks, and why the best copy doesn’t need a sales funnel—it needs a promise, proof, and process.

🔥 What you’ll learn:

  • Why most copywriting fails (and what to do instead)
  • The dead-simple rule that drives Will’s 7-figure campaigns
  • How his offshore team is helping founders scale video at 80% less cost
  • Why he thinks “free value” is overrated—and what to do instead
  • What founders get wrong when hiring copywriters

Want to grow with less noise and more clarity? 👉 Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

  • Will Green: Website, LinkedIn, X
Show more...
6 months ago
37 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Build Trust with Storytelling (Even If You’re Not a “Natural”) with Karen Eber


Success isn’t just about strategy—it’s about how you communicate it. And when the message isn’t landing, it’s probably not your offer. It’s your story.

In this episode, storytelling expert Karen Eber joins A.J. to explore how to build trust with storytelling—whether you're pitching, leading, or aligning your team. You’ll learn how to craft stories that connect, convert, and evolve with your business.

🎧 Inside this episode:

  • Why origin stories can actually hold you back
  • How to find your customer’s pain—and tell the story they need
  • The storytelling structure that works across leadership, sales, and culture
  • How to plan a full year of strategic story content
  • Why systems beat charisma every time


If you're tired of messaging that doesn’t stick or storytelling that never quite clicks, let’s change that. 👉Work with A.J.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

  • Karen Eber: Website, LinkedIn, X
  • Book mentioned: The Perfect Story by Karen Eber

Show more...
6 months ago
34 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Build Wealth Through Acquisition Entrepreneurship with Ben Kelly

Success isn’t just about hustle—it’s about smart ownership. In this episode, I sit down with Ben Kelly, an acquisition entrepreneur who’s scaled five businesses with little to no upfront cash. We talk about how you can skip the startup chaos and buy a business that’s already thriving.


🔥 You’ll learn:

  • The “aha” moment that made Ben leave JPMorgan
  • Why you don’t need to be an expert to scale a company
  • How to spot the right business to buy—and actually fund the deal
  • What mindset separates great acquisition entrepreneurs from wannabes
  • How Ben built real wealth while staying present for his family

This one’s for the builders who want more control, faster success, and a business that doesn’t burn them out.

🔗 Connect with Ben: 

  • LinkedIn
  • X
  • YouTube
  • Book a call
Show more...
6 months ago
36 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
How to Scale a Business with Clarity – Lessons from Sean Si’s SEO Journey

Growth doesn’t come from hustle. It comes from clarity.

Sean Si hit the wall most founders do — trying to do everything, lead everyone, and fix all the things. Then he blew it up and started fresh.

In this episode, he walks us through how he scaled SEO Hacker by simplifying, delegating, and focusing on what actually matters.
✅ What burnout taught him about leadership
✅ Why most marketing teams misfire — and how to fix it
✅ How to rebuild culture without being the bottleneck

If you’ve ever said "I don’t know what’s working anymore," this one’s for you.

🔗 Resources + Guest Links:

  • Sean Si: LinkedIn, Twitter, SEO Hacker
  • Book mentioned: Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell



Show more...
6 months ago
58 minutes

Beyond 8 Figures
At Beyond 8 Figures, we believe in DELIBERATE entrepreneurship. It means creating a solid foundational framework for your entrepreneurial journey, building from a place of passion, and intentionally aligning your actions with your goals so that you can create success on your terms. Join A.J. Lawrence, the journeyman entrepreneur with several 7 figure exits, as he shares honest conversations with successful entrepreneurs about their experiences starting and scaling businesses to $10M and beyond, the realities of being a modern-day entrepreneur, advice for practicing deliberate entrepreneurship, and more!