Succession Stories

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Laurie Barkman
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Entrepreneurship Business
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1.1K - 1.9K listeners Neutral 5.0 rating 74 reviews 189 episodes USA
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30s Ad: $43 - $52 60s Ad: $50 - $59 CPM Category: Business
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8,440 subscribers followers Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
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Succession Stories is an award-winning podcast guiding entrepreneurs from transition to transaction hosted by Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa®.

Succession Stories explores the entrepreneurial stages of a business from growth to maturity focusing on value creation, exit planning, succession, and M&A for owner-led companies.

If you are an entrepreneur looking for inspiration to create a more valuable business, or an owner who wants to figure out the best way to transition or sell their closely held company, this podcast is for you.

Hosted by Laurie Barkman, Amazon best-selling author of "The Business Transition Handbook: How to Avoid Transition Pitfalls and Create Valuable Exit Options."

Learn more about Laurie's strategic business transition planning and M&A advisory services by visiting: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com

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Recent Hosts, Guests & Topics

Here's a quick summary of the last 5 episodes on Succession Stories.

Hosts

Laurie Barkman

Previous Guests

Nick Hutchison
Nick Hutchison is the CEO and Founder of BookThinkers, a platform dedicated to helping individuals leverage the power of books for personal and professional growth. His entrepreneurial journey has been marked by a rebellious spirit and a passion for creating successful businesses. Nick emphasizes the importance of systems and strategic growth in scaling operations and has shared insights on the impact of books in transforming lives. He is also an endurance sports enthusiast and is excited about his journey into fatherhood.
Scott Couchenour
Scott Couchenour is an executive coach specializing in helping leaders over 50 design a future they won't regret. With a focus on mid-life reinvention, Scott guides individuals through transitions with intention and clarity, drawing from his own experiences of overcoming burnout. He is the founder of Serving Strong, where he provides resources and coaching to empower business owners and executives in navigating personal and professional changes.
David Newman
David Newman is an entrepreneur, author, and sales and marketing expert known for his insights into the entrepreneurial mindset. He has transitioned from a struggling entrepreneur to a successful mentor, emphasizing the importance of alignment in business and the need to avoid distractions. David is passionate about helping future entrepreneurs navigate their journeys and has a keen interest in the impact of AI on consulting. He also enjoys retro video games and provides resources for further learning through his website.
Ghislain Gouraige
Ghislain Gouraige is a Partner at NewEdge Wealth, where he specializes in helping ultra-high-net-worth families and entrepreneurs navigate complex business transitions. With a focus on providing valuable insights into preparing for business sales, Ghislain is well-versed in success factors for personal and financial readiness, maximizing business value, and understanding M&A market trends. He is actively involved in industry discussions and conferences, such as the 2025 Onward Conference at Carnegie Mellon University, where he shares strategies for identifying attractive target companies and characteristics that appeal to consolidators.

Topics Discussed

entrepreneurial journey BookThinkers scaling businesses personal growth endurance sports fatherhood business systems networking burnout breakthrough mid-life reinvention executive coaching purpose pressure succession personal transition entrepreneurial gene maverick risk-taker alignment distractions AI in consulting mentorship community support entrepreneurship business transition value creation exit planning M&A founders CEOs business transitions M&A market trends wealth preservation business value maximization success factors target companies consolidators

YouTube Channel

Channel Info

The Business Transition Sherpa ®
@TheBusinessTransitionSherpa

Channel Stats

Subscribers: 8,440
Total Videos: 456
Total Views: 89,696
Joined: Mar 23, 2020
Location: United States

Description

Laurie Barkman is The Business Transition Sherpa™. As a Business Transition and M&A Intermediary, she advises entrepreneurs how to build with an exit in mind to create more valuable businesses and find the right buyer when it’s time to let go.

Laurie is an Amazon best-selling author of "The Business Transition Handbook: How to Avoid Succession Pitfalls and Create Valuable Exit Options" and hosts the award-winning podcast, “Succession Stories.”

She offers The Endgame Entrepreneurship Masterclass and Group Advisory to entrepreneurs who want to build with their exit in mind.

Learn more at https:/thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com

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Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on Succession Stories.

0:00 27:53

187: Transforming Pages Into Profits - Nick Hutchison - The Entrepreneur Gene

Hosts
Laurie Barkman
Guests
Nick Hutchison
Keywords
entrepreneurial journey BookThinkers scaling businesses personal growth endurance sports fatherhood business systems networking
In this episode of The Entrepreneur Gene, host Laurie Barkman sits down with Nick Hutchison, CEO and Founder of BookThinkers. They discuss Nick's entrepreneurial journey, how books changed his life, and his rebellious nature that drove him to create successful businesses. Nick shares key decisions and challenges in scaling BookThinkers, emphasizing the importance of systems and strategic growth. The conversation also touches upon personal anecdotes, Nick's passion for endurance sports, and his excitement about becoming a father. Listeners gain insights into leveraging books for personal growth and the importance of creating structured business systems.
 
Takeaways:
  • Delve into books that other successful entrepreneurs recommend to gain knowledge and different perspectives. Consider books like "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki, "The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael Gerber, and "Traction" by Gino Wickman.
  • Focus on making small, incremental improvements over time. Break your long-term goals into manageable quarters or small steps progress steadily.
  • Invest in systematizing your business processes. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) and centralized systems can help scale operations efficiently.
  • Consider hiring consultants or coaches who can provide expertise in specific areas, such as backend infrastructure, to streamline your business operations.
  • Ensure your team is aligned with the new systems and processes. Change management is critical, and getting buy-in from your team is essential.
  • Networking is powerful. Engage with people, attend events, and build relationships that can support your business growth.
 
Quote of the Show:
  • “I genuinely believe at my core and in my bones that the right book at the right time can permanently change somebody's life.” - Nick Hutchison
Links:

 

📣 Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

 

This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa®

Get your business unstuck so you can grow, scale, and exit while enjoying the journey.

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook here: https://btsherpa.com/book

 

More Resources: 

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

Website: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/

Book: https://btsherpa.com/book

Course: https://btsherpa.com/course

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBusinessTransitionSherpa

 

0:00 45:12

186: From Burnout to Breakthrough with Scott Couchenour

Hosts
Laurie Barkman
Guests
Scott Couchenour
Keywords
burnout breakthrough mid-life reinvention executive coaching purpose pressure succession personal transition

Is your “Fourth Quarter” of life filled with purpose—or just pressure? Executive coach Scott Couchenour helps leaders over 50 design a future they won’t regret. In this episode of Succession Stories, host Laurie Barkman talks with Scott about his journey from burnout to breakthrough, and how he now guides others through mid-life reinvention with intention and clarity.

Perfect for business owners and executives navigating succession or personal transition, this conversation will inspire you to turn uncertainty into opportunity.

🔗 Connect with Scott:
Website: www.servingstrong.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scottcouchenour

 

📣 Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

 

This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa®

Get your business unstuck so you can grow, scale, and exit while enjoying the journey.

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook here: https://btsherpa.com/book

 

More Resources: 

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

Website: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/

Book: https://btsherpa.com/book

Course: https://btsherpa.com/course

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBusinessTransitionSherpa

 

0:00 29:46

185: From Corporate Consulting to Entrepreneurial Success - David Newman - The Entrepreneur Gene

Hosts
Laurie Barkman
Guests
David Newman
Keywords
entrepreneurial gene maverick risk-taker alignment distractions AI in consulting mentorship community support
Welcome to our new sub-show on Succession Stories...The Entrepreneur Gene! In this 1st episode, Host Laurie Barkman interviews David Newman, entrepreneur, author, and sales and marketing expert. David shares his insight into the idea of an entrepreneurial gene, discussing key traits such as being a maverick and a risk-taker. He reflects on his journey from a struggling entrepreneur to a successful mentor, emphasizing the importance of alignment and avoiding distractions in business. David also explores the impact of AI on consulting and shares personal insights and advice for future entrepreneurs. The episode ends with discussing David's passion for retro video games and resources listeners can access for further learning!
 
Takeaways:
  • Understanding that entrepreneurship often stems from an inherent drive to be mavericks, mavens, and rebels, leaders should recognize and nurture these qualities within themselves.
  • Entrepreneurs often struggle with distractions from multiple ventures. Focusing on how to align efforts under one coherent strategy or "roof" can prevent spreading oneself too thin.
  • Instead of starting entirely new ventures, which David calls hot dog stands, focus on improving and innovating within the current business structure to scale and grow.
  • Embrace technological advancements like AI to improve efficiency but ensure the added value is applied in a human-centric manner.
  • Find mentors, join masterminds, and accept help from peers and successful entrepreneurs early in the journey to accelerate learning and avoid common pitfalls.
  • Before investing heavily in new business ideas (like building logos or websites), sell the concept first to ensure there is market demand.
  • Being part of a community or network can provide support, opportunities for learning, and potential collaborations.
Quote of the Show:
  • “The mavericks, the mavens, the rebels, those kinds of people, if that's in their DNA, then they're truly cut out for entrepreneurial success.” - David Newman
Links:

 

📣 Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

 

This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa®

Get your business unstuck so you can grow, scale, and exit while enjoying the journey.

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook here: https://btsherpa.com/book

 

More Resources: 

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

Website: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/

Book: https://btsherpa.com/book

Course: https://btsherpa.com/course

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBusinessTransitionSherpa

 

 

 

 

 

0:00 6:07

184: Meet The Entrepreneur Gene, New Feature Series: Trailer with Laurie Barkman

Hosts
Laurie Barkman
Keywords
entrepreneurship business transition value creation exit planning succession M&A founders CEOs

Cheers to 5 years of Succession Stories! On our anniversary, we are excited to introduce our new feature series, The Entrepreneur Gene! A bonus for Succession Stories Podcast listeners!

Listen weekly as show host Laurie Barkman talks with founders and CEOs exploring the rewards and challenges of the entrepreneurial path.

Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

 

This Show is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa®

Get your business unstuck so you can grow, scale, and exit while enjoying the journey.

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook here: https://btsherpa.com/book

 

Connect with Laurie Barkman: 

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

Website: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/

Book: https://btsherpa.com/book

Course: https://btsherpa.com/course

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBusinessTransitionSherpa

 

📣 Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

 
0:00 36:50

183: Guiding Entrepreneurs Through Business Exits with Ghislain Gouraige

Hosts
Laurie Barkman
Guests
Ghislain Gouraige
Keywords
business transitions M&A market trends wealth preservation business value maximization exit planning success factors target companies consolidators

Ghislain Gouraige, Partner at NewEdge Wealth, helps ultra-high-net-worth families and entrepreneurs navigate business transitions. Ghislain joins host Laurie Barkman to recap the firm's 2025 Onward Conference held at Carnegie Mellon University and valuable insights to help you prepare before a sale:

  • Success factors to prepare personally and financially
  • How to maximize business value
  • Understanding M&A market trends and roll-up strategies
  • Identifying target companies
  • Characteristics that make industries attractive to consolidators

Dive in for insights to preserve wealth, achieve your transition goals, and build a lasting legacy.

____________________________________ 

This Show is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa®

100 percent of owners will leave their business one day. But few are prepared. Are you?

Learn what every entrepreneur needs to know about making your business more scalable and sellable!

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook here: https://btsherpa.com/book

👉 Don’t miss Laurie’s expert advice in Success Magazine:  Secure Your Business With Succession Planning | SUCCESS

____________________________________ 

Connect with Laurie Barkman: 

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

Website: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/

Book: https://btsherpa.com/book

Course: https://btsherpa.com/course

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBusinessTransitionSherpa

 

Connect with Ghislain Gouraige:

Website: https://www.newedgewealth.com/team/ghislain-gouraige/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghislain-gouraige-5074b220/

 

For all episodes visit: https://successionstories.com 

📣 Leave a Review on Rate This Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

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5.0 rating 74 reviews

USA

5.0 ratings 70 reviews

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