Inside Strategic Coach: Connecting Entrepreneurs With What Really Matters
Inside Strategic Coach is a practical resource for entrepreneurs, or anyone with a growth mindset. Hosts Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller share breakthrough insights, educational success stories, and insider know-how, gained from working with thousands of successful business owners, worldwide.
Bad Decisions Beat No Decisions For Entrepreneurs
Are you holding back, waiting for the “right” decision? In this episode, Shannon Waller and Dan Sullivan reveal why taking action—even imperfect action—is the key to entrepreneurial momentum. Discover how making any decision unlocks feedback, reduces anxiety, and activates your best thinking, while indecision keeps you stuck. Plus, learn practical strategies to overcome perfectionism and move forward.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
The importance of making a decision that requires that you take action.How indecision leads to more indecision.What you sacrifice when you refuse to choose.How...How Entrepreneurs Rise Stronger After Setbacks, with Gary Mottershead
An entrepreneur for over 35 years, Gary Mottershead is the founder and president of GCP Industrial Products, the largest U.S. importer of industrial sheet rubber, serving customers across North America. In this episode, he shares the highs and lows of his career, as well as his goals as a Program Coach for The Strategic Coach® Program.
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What Gary considers to be his most important responsibility.How Gary’s entrepreneurial career started with an actual tire fire.How he and his team built up their “c...Why Entrepreneurs Should Sell Opportunity Instead Of Fear
Many entrepreneurs use negatives to make a sale. But why sell fear when you can sell opportunity, and why sell pain when you can sell growth? Dan Sullivan reveals why positive messaging attracts the best clients, how ambition fueled by principles keeps you young, and why your community determines your growth. Learn why the most successful entrepreneurs never retire—they just keep reinventing themselves.
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How selling is both an intellectual and emotional activity.Why fear isn’t something to avoid—but a sign you’re grow...How To Turn Your Solutions Into Profitable Intellectual Property
What if the solutions you’ve already created could generate value for decades—without more of your time? In this episode, Dan Sullivan reveals how packaging, naming, and protecting your ideas transforms them into scalable intellectual property. Learn why your “second company” (your multiplier) could soon be worth more than your entire business—and how to make it happen.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
How to make your solutions valuable by protecting them through intellectual property law.The thinking tool that lets you find the right person for the right role...The Secret Behind Why Every Entrepreneur Has Two Companies
Do you feel torn between the company you have and the one you wish you had? In this episode, Dan Sullivan reveals The Second Company Secret—how successful entrepreneurs leverage their first (real) company to fuel a second (multiplier) company built on intellectual property. Discover how to eliminate tension between the two, protect your creativity, and unlock exponential growth.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
Why your real company frustrates you.Why your imaginary company seems perfect.What you can do with the new Second Company Secret thinking tool.What yo...Turning Tariffs Into Your Unbeatable Advantage
Are you prepared for the biggest economic shift in 80 years? In this episode, Dan Sullivan reveals how the new global tariff landscape creates unprecedented opportunities for agile entrepreneurs. Learn why the post-WWII economic order is over, how to adapt your business model, and why being alert, curious, and resourceful is the secret to success in this emerging era.
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The real history behind today’s tariffs—and why it matters for your business.How WWII transformed the U.S. economy into a global pow...Growing Great Leadership
What if leadership isn’t about titles, but about creating new capabilities others can observe? In this episode, Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller break down the shift from bureaucratic management to self-leadership in the networked economy. Learn the four-step process to transform uncertainty into confidence—and why focusing on problems is the death of innovation.
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The four-step process that always makes you an inspiring leader.Why a goal isn’t a destination.The big difference between a role and a job.Why there are no orde...Clarify Your Thinking To Become A Better Entrepreneur, with Erik Solbakken
The Strategic Coach® Program has been helping entrepreneurs achieve accelerated growth and personal freedom for over 35 years. Now, Strategic Coach® is excited to welcome a new coach to the Program. In this episode, Associate Coach Erik Solbakken shares his unique journey from chartered accountant to successful entrepreneur, and what excites him about connecting with fellow entrepreneurs.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
How Erik responded after his professional dream was decimated.How Erik’s clients inspired him to become entrepreneurial.What led Erik to The Strategic Coach Program and how it ch...All Entrepreneurs Need To Have Courageous Creativity
Is complaining holding you back from your full potential? In this episode, Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller discuss the surprisingly simple choice between complaining and creating when facing obstacles. Discover how shifting to a creative mindset, embracing courage, and taking full responsibility can unlock new capabilities and exponential growth.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
How complaining allows you to avoid responsibility by justifying why you can't move forward.The Strategic Coach® thinking tool for transforming obstacles into capability and confidence.Why you need commitment and courage before you can ga...Why Entrepreneurship Is The Safest Career Move You Can Make
Organizations have changed a lot over the past 50 years, and it’s vital for entrepreneurs to be aware of these changes if they want to achieve great business success. In this episode, Dan Sullivan, who has been coaching entrepreneurs for 50 years, talks to fellow business coach Shannon Waller all about the changes in companies that have taken place over the past half-century and the very different position that entrepreneurs are in today.
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What gave Dan confidence to become a business coach.How Dan’s desire...How Lucky Are You As An Entrepreneur?
Do you believe in luck, or do you make your own success? In this episode, Dan Sullivan explores the concept of luck in entrepreneurship. Drawing from 50 years of coaching experience, he reveals how successful entrepreneurs create their own paths, often starting young by seeking opportunities to grow their wealth. Discover how self-made success intertwines with luck in the entrepreneurial journey.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
The top ways Dan has been lucky.Why it’s more difficult for someone born into wealth to become an entrepreneur.The new Strateg...What Ambition Looks Like At 80
Do you believe ambition fades with age, or can it actually grow stronger? In this episode, Shannon and Dan discuss how ambition evolves over time, share Dan's desire to be even more ambitious at 90, and reveal how transforming ambition into action can lead to growth and fulfillment at every age.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
How Dan’s strongest ambition relates to ambition itself.What you can gain by sticking to what you’re great at and love doing.How Dan came up with the goal of living to the ag...Entrepreneurs Can’t Move Forward With Costs, Only With Investments
Entrepreneurs always want to be moving forward. What determines whether they’ll be able to is their understanding of the difference between cost and investment. In this episode, business coaches Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller talk about the growth mindset that lets you improve for the rest of your life—versus the mindset that means you’ll forever be stuck right where you are.
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The reason why small entrepreneurs are small entrepreneurs.Why you won’t get a return on investment if you think of team...Business Lessons For Creating The Job You Want, with Patti Mara
When Patti Mara graduated from university in the recession of 1989, she couldn’t get a job—so she made one up instead. In this episode, Patti shares how she’s achieved entrepreneurial success, the exciting new project she’s launching to support local businesses, and what she’s learned as a long-time coach in The Strategic Coach® Program.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
The invaluable resource that Patti turned to when she realized she didn’t know how to build a business.Some of the most helpful tools Patti learned in h...The Right Way And The Dangerous Way To Think About Ambition
Entrepreneurs need to be ambitious. But what happens when you achieve your ambition? In this episode, Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller explain the drawbacks of having ambition as a destination and describe the incredible benefits you can expect when you see ambition as a capability.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
Why Dan sees ambition as an internal capability.Measurements you should be making every day.What’s made Dan’s life simpler over time.How Dan gifts Strategic Coach® members extra years to their entrepreneurial lives.What you need to av...Success Traps Are Harder To Escape Than Failure Traps
For many entrepreneurs who achieve business success early in their lives, repeating that success can be difficult. It’s called the success trap, and in this episode, Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller explain what the success trap is, why it’s difficult to escape, and how you can safely avoid falling into it.
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Why some entrepreneurs eventually go on auto-pilot.How experiencing a crisis can actually be beneficial to an entrepreneur.Why Dan doesn’t take people who are growing and succeeding i...Entrepreneurs Should Spend Less Time Doing What Others Do Better
The best entrepreneurs want better teamwork so they can achieve greater success, growth, and freedom within their business. But teamwork is even more important and valuable than that. In this episode, Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller discuss the many ways entrepreneurs can take advantage of teamwork, and outline the extraordinary benefits that come with having great teamwork at your company.
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Why Friction Is The Source Of Expanded Freedom For Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs always want to be moving forward. But sometimes it’s like their feet are stuck to the ground because something is holding them back. In this episode, business coaches Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller explain how you can always use friction, the very thing that seems to hold you back, to achieve the next step of your business growth.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
Several types of friction commonly encountered by entrepreneurs.The Four Freedoms that all entrepreneurs are striving for.The difference between obstacles and friction.Why you...Master The Art Of Alignment For Unlimited Business Success With Strategic Coach® And EOS®
EOS®, the Entrepreneurial Operating System®, was developed by a Strategic Coach® member who envisioned an extension of the Coach Program. Now, EOS and Strategic Coach are on parallel tracks in helping entrepreneurs live their best lives. In this episode, Strategic Coach business coaches Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller are joined by EOS Worldwide’s leadership duo, Kelly Knight and Mark O’Donnell, to discuss all the ways entrepreneurs can benefit by taking advantage of both EOS and Coach.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
·     How Mark and Kelly each became involv...
Forging Your Own Path To Success When That's Your Only Choice, with André Brisson
André Brisson was working as a structural engineer when he decided to start his own engineering company. Like a great many entrepreneurs, André knew he needed to be able to do things his way. In this episode, André shares with business coaches Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller how he’s found freedom and business success on his entrepreneurial journey.
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How the company André worked for became a toxic environment for him.What helped André realize that he doesn’t need anyone’s permission.Why André’s opin...Why A Community Is The Secret Weapon In Every Entrepreneur’s Life, with David Braithwaite
What if the key to unlocking your entrepreneurial potential lies in embracing discomfort? In this episode, Associate Coach David Braithwaite shares his inspiring journey from a "rubbish" student to a thriving entrepreneur and coach. Discover how embracing risk, fostering genuine connections, and prioritizing personal growth can transform your business and life.
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Why David never saw the point of school.How David got into financial planning.What prevents people from becoming incredible entrepreneurs.Why David considers products secondary in his work.What entrep...Why A Community Is The Secret Weapon In Every Entrepreneur’s Life, with David Braithwaite
What if the key to unlocking your entrepreneurial potential lies in embracing discomfort? In this episode, Associate Coach David Braithwaite shares his inspiring journey from a "rubbish" student to a thriving entrepreneur and coach. Discover how embracing risk, fostering genuine connections, and prioritizing personal growth can transform your business and life.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
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Why David never saw the point of school.How David got into financial planning.What prevents people from becoming incredible entrepreneurs.Why David considers products secondary in his work.What entrep...The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint For Inspiring Leadership Over Management
What’s the difference between being in charge and being in control? In this episode, Dan Sullivan shares his surprising insights on managing teams and creating a productive work environment, offering practical strategies for empowering team members, fostering independence, and creating a thriving organizational culture. Tune in to discover Dan's proven approach to entrepreneurial leadership!
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Why self-managing has to be built in from the very beginning.What gives Dan confidence in his concepts and tools.What people rely on entrepreneurs for as leaders.Why Dan...Why Does Structure Equal Freedom In Every Entrepreneur’s Life?
A Free Day™ is a 24-hour period with no work-related activity whatsoever. A great many entrepreneurs struggle with taking true Free Days™. In this episode, business coaches Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller talk about The Entrepreneurial Time System®—which consists of Free Days, Focus Days™, and Buffer Days™—and why it’s essential for you to provide structure to your Free Days if you want the greatest business success.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
The purpose of each of the three types of days in The Entrepreneurial Time System.Some non-work...Unlocking The Secrets To Entrepreneurial Freedom, with Ben Laws
In this episode, Shannon Waller interviews Associate Coach Ben Laws, exploring his entrepreneurial journey and insights on self-discovery. Ben shares how intentional structures and relationships have fueled his success across multiple businesses and offers a unique perspective on business, life, and family. Tune in to uncover the mindset that drives impactful entrepreneurship and personal growth!
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·     How Strategic Coach®has influenced much of how Ben’s personal life functions.
·     What Ben considers to be the ultimate freedom.
·     How Ben demonstrated an ent...
How To Get Paid For Doing Only The Things You Love
In this episode, Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller discuss the philosophical and moral foundations of entrepreneurism, tracing its roots from Adam Smith's theories to present-day insights. They explore the correlation between creating value, self-interest, and moral philosophy, providing valuable insights for entrepreneurs today and proving that entrepreneurship lies at the foundation of a prosperous world.
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The rewards—financial and otherwise—for being an entrepreneur.The prevalent attitudes in higher education that often stand in opposition to entrepreneurialism.How Dan has used setbacks o...The Impact Of Intentional Thinking For Entrepreneurs
In this episode, Dan Sullivan reveals his secret weapon for entrepreneurial success: The Impact Filter™. Learn how this powerful tool can boost your confidence, sharpen your focus, and dramatically increase your productivity. Also, discover how Dan uses it to clarify his thoughts, set intentions, and make decisions rapidly—all while reducing meetings by two-thirds!
Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
How Dan Sullivan uses Fast Filters (the “sprint” version of The Impact Filter) to have focused conversations with himself before important events.The importance of being in teamwork with yoursel...The Power Of Context Over Content For Entrepreneurs
In this episode of Inside Strategic Coach, Shannon and Dan discuss the profound impact of setting context over focusing on content. Renowned for his ability to create powerful contexts in coaching, Dan shares insights on how this approach shapes thinking and decision making among entrepreneurs. Through real-life examples and coaching strategies, they explore how clarity of context not only simplifies complexities but also enhances community building, personal growth, and self-confidence.
Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
The distinction between context and content in coaching and communication.How setting a cl...An Entrepreneur's Playbook For Building Trust And Collaboration, with Colleen Bowler
In this episode of Inside Strategic Coach, Shannon Waller interviews Colleen Bowler, a Strategic Coach Associate Coach with over 20 years of experience. Colleen shares her journey from an early entrepreneurial mindset, influenced by her family, to becoming a leader in the financial planning industry. They discuss Colleen's current company, C&J Innovations, and her leadership in the industry, as well as her passion project, Generous Kids. Tune in to learn how Colleen's early entrepreneurial mindset shaped her career and the impact of Strategic Coach on her journey.
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The Entrepreneur's Secret Weapon Is An Elite Thinking Program
For 35 years now, The Strategic Coach® Program has been helping entrepreneurs to achieve business success and business growth while living happy lives. But Dan Sullivan didn’t set out to create a program for entrepreneurs. He set out to create a thinking program, and entrepreneurs are the ones who took to it the most. In this episode, Dan talks with fellow business coach Shannon Waller about the genesis of Strategic Coach® and why it works so well for entrepreneurs.
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The learning experience created by others...Simple Steps To Get AI On Your Side And Future-Proof Your Business, with Evan Ryan
Everyone knows that AI is going to be an increasing factor in business success and business growth, and it’s essential that entrepreneurs are aware of the technology’s limitations as well as its potential. In this episode, business coaches Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller speak with special guest, AI expert Evan Ryan, about what’s holding back the productive application of AI and what you can do instead to best take advantage of AI in your organization.
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How to use AI, an intangible...How Entrepreneurs Can Access A Whole New World Of Thinking
Do you give yourself time to think? Many people don’t. And for entrepreneurs, the stakes are higher because they’re in the marketplace independently. In this episode, business coaches Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller talk about why thinking time is so important for business success and how entrepreneurs can get the highest quality thinking time through The Strategic Coach® Program.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
·     Why deep thinking is scary.
·     The question that The Strategic Coach Program was based on from the start.
·     Why it’s easie...
Podcasting's Move To The Mainstream With Industry Trailblazer Paul Colligan
Podcasting is the future of content. Are you ready to master it? Join Dan Sullivan, Shannon Waller, and industry veteran Paul Colligan as they dive into the business of podcasting, from where it was to where it’s going. With over 20 years of trailblazing experience, Paul shares secrets to podcasting success and the mindsets that separate the amateurs from the pros. Learn how to create a hit show and leverage this booming medium to skyrocket your business influence and growth.
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What it was like in the ea...Business Lessons From A Tradesman-Turned-Trailblazer, With Kenny Chapman
Employment opportunities for people with blue collar skills are going to keep growing. In this episode, business coaches Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller talk to Kenny Chapman, CEO of The Blue Collar Success Group, about his entrepreneurial path and how skilled blue-collar work is going to be much more crucial, popular, and needed going forward.
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How Kenny’s experience in the military led him to becoming an entrepreneur.What The Blue Collar Success Group helps with.How Kenny “leveled up” his self-esteem.The biggest ben...No Drama, Just Great Teamwork For Top Entrepreneurs
Every great entrepreneur wants (and deserves) to have a dependable team around them so they can be freed up to develop new ideas and focus on growing their business. But how do you get one? After all, the first question most entrepreneurs ask when they join The StrategicⓇ Program is, “Where do you find such great team members?” In this episode of Inside Strategic Coach, Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller finally answer this question in-depth. From identifying and nurturing your team’s areas of Unique AbilityⓇ and creating a positive and collaborative work culture to investing in team members’ growth, Dan...
Three Rules That Give Entrepreneurs A Friction-Free Future
When things need to get done, it doesn’t mean that you, as the entrepreneur, need to do them yourself. In fact, for the best kinds of business growth and business success, you need to do as little as possible. In this episode, business coaches Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller share the three rules for having a friction-free future.
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The way to achieve more by actually doing less.Why you need to be clear about what you want to be doing.How to determi...Discover The Most Essential Tools Used By Successful Entrepreneurs
Everything that humans create is done with tools. But the skill level people have for using tools varies drastically. In this episode, business coaches Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller discuss why it’s essential to be good at using the tool of language for both thinking and communicating, and share the thinking tools that all entrepreneurs can use for both business success and business growth.
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Why Dan vowed years ago to never again operate his business with receivables.Why you’re never starting from zero...Do You Know Where The Highest Level Entrepreneurs Look For Collaborations
Description:
Since 1989, Strategic Coach® has been helping entrepreneurs find greater happiness and business success. In this episode, Gord Vickman and business coach Dan Sullivan talk about how the company has grown over nearly 35 years and how they’re catering to the needs of successful, collaborative entrepreneurs with growth mindsets.
Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode
What entrepreneurs get out of each of the three Strategic Coach program levels.Why additional program levels were created Why there’s no competition for entrepreneurs in the “Free Zone.”Why Dan considers himself only...The Growth Mindset That Extends Your Lifetime
Exciting advances are being made in the area of life extension. Business coach Dan Sullivan, having set a goal for himself in 1987 to live to the age of 156, has been keeping close track of the trends. In this episode, he and Shannon Waller talk about what people should know if they’re interested in living a great life as long as possible.
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Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
Why Dan chose age 156 as his goal.The profound impact Dan’s growth mindset has had on his thinking.The simple thinking...Why Entrepreneurs Must Be Clear On Their Own Perspectives
While some people think it’s a good idea to take neutral positions, Dan Sullivan says entrepreneurs need to avoid this. In this episode, he and fellow business coach Shannon Waller discuss the business motivation for always choosing a side.
Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode:
Why trying to be neutral doesn’t teach you anything or get you anywhereHow to know your own standards.How Strategic Coach® clients learn about themselves.The way to strengthen your position using opposing views.Show Notes:
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