Control and Compound with Darren Mitchell

Join the Harvest Your Wealth launch team: https://hub.controlandcompound.com/harvest-your-weath-book-launch-team-registration Register for the free Corporate Tax Masterclass: https://hub.controlandcompound.com/corporate-tax-masterclass-webinar-registration Canada's trade negotiations with the United States have collapsed—and 50% tariffs are now in effect on billions of dollars in goods. What did Canada walk away from, who will ultimately pay for the retaliation, and what could this mean for Canadian businesses, jobs and investment? In the September 2026 Monthly Update, Darren Mitchell and Christina Wyatt break down the escalating Canada–U.S. trade war, the unanswered questions surrounding the rejected deal, and why small and medium-sized businesses could bear the greatest cost. They also cover Canada's latest inflation numbers, including Nova Scotia's 5% inflation rate, the Bank of Canada's next move, a slow Canadian housing market, strong stock-market performance, and Bitcoin's sudden 21% monthly surge. Plus, Darren shares details on his upcoming book, Harvest Your Wealth, and Control & Compound's free Corporate Tax Masterclass for Canadian business owners on September 29. Show notes: 00:00 - September update and Harvest Your Wealth announcement 02:56 - Will the Bank of Canada hold rates again? 05:00 - Inflation rises—and reaches 5% in Nova Scotia 08:31 - Canadian dollar and stock-market update 12:28 - Why Bitcoin surged 21% in one month 16:59 - Canada's housing market remains stalled 19:38 - Canada–U.S. trade negotiations collapse 25:09 - The threat of 50% tariffs on Canadian vehicles 26:03 - Who actually pays for retaliatory tariffs? 28:35 - Small businesses, jobs and investment at risk 30:32 - Can Canada really diversify away from the U.S.? 33:31 - Canadian life insurers report strong earnings 35:09 - New book and Corporate Tax Masterclass 37:14 - What's coming next from Control & Compound Check out our webinar on infinite banking: https://shorturl.at/k1V89 FIND US ON: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

Ray Kroc didn't invent McDonald's. He recognized that one successful restaurant could become something much bigger. At 52 years old, Kroc took the McDonald brothers' efficient restaurant model and transformed it into a global system. But hamburgers were only one part of the strategy. In this Financial Autopsy, Darren and Christina examine how Ray Kroc used standardization, franchising, real estate and accessible capital to build one of the most recognizable businesses in history. They break down: Why McDonald's true product was its system How single-location franchises helped Kroc maintain control Why real estate became central to the company's business model How Kroc reportedly borrowed against life insurance policies during McDonald's early years The difference between owning a business and owning a job Six lessons today's entrepreneurs can learn from Ray Kroc Ray Kroc's greatest innovation wasn't the hamburger. It was building a business that could operate consistently without depending on one individual. If you're a Canadian business owner who wants greater control over your capital and a system built for long-term growth, this episode is for you. Show notes: 00:00 - How Ray Kroc changed the world 01:27 - The opportunity the McDonald brothers couldn't see 03:00 - McDonald's wasn't selling hamburgers 04:09 - Why Kroc sold franchises one location at a time 05:58 - How McDonaldization changed modern business 07:23 - Do you own a business or a job? 10:15 - McDonald's real breakthrough was real estate 13:20 - How Ray Kroc accessed capital when banks wouldn't help 15:41 - Six lessons entrepreneurs can learn from Ray Kroc 17:00 - Working on your business instead of inside it Check out our webinar on infinite banking: https://shorturl.at/k1V89 FIND US ON: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

Courtney and Terrence Howell didn't move to rural Newfoundland because it was the easiest place to build a business. They moved there because it was where they wanted to build their life. After meeting while teaching English in South Korea, the couple eventually settled in Grates Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. With backgrounds in anthropology and fine arts, they launched an art and tourism business before transforming an old school into a Cajun-Creole fusion restaurant. Then a walk along the beach changed everything. Terrence, who has lived with Crohn's disease for most of his life, was dealing with serious irritation around his medical appliance. After handling a piece of local seaweed and noticing an unexpected change in his skin, he and Courtney began exploring how its naturally occurring bioactive compounds could be extracted and preserved. That discovery eventually became 7 Fathoms Seaweed Skin Care. In this Entrepreneurial Spotlight, Courtney and Terrence join Darren to discuss building a business in rural Newfoundland, finding their earliest customers, working with scientific researchers, sustainably harvesting seaweed, appearing on Dragons' Den and preparing 7 Fathoms for its next stage of growth. Learn more about 7 Fathoms Seaweed Skin Care: https://www.7fathomsseaweedskincare.ca/ Follow Control & Compound for more conversations about Canadian business, entrepreneurship, investing and building lasting wealth. Show notes: 00:00 - From Seaweed to a Growing Skincare Company 01:15 - Meet Courtney and Terrence Howell 02:02 - Choosing a Life in Rural Newfoundland 03:14 - Starting Their First Business 04:04 - Building a Restaurant at the End of the Road 06:25 - Terrence's Journey With Crohn's Disease 08:59 - The Walk on the Beach That Changed Everything 11:15 - Turning a Personal Discovery Into a Product 13:43 - When Customers Started Calling 15:44 - The Scientist Who Walked Into Their Restaurant 19:01 - Why Entrepreneurial "Luck" Isn't Really Luck 19:19 - Discovering the Science Inside Newfoundland Seaweed 22:09 - Navigating the Difficult Years 25:00 - Raising a Family While Building a Business 27:07 - Scaling From Rural Newfoundland 31:05 - Harvesting Seaweed Sustainably 36:19 - Making It Onto Dragons' Den 38:53 - Preparing for the Dragons' Den Effect 41:37 - The Biggest Myth About Entrepreneurship 45:23 - Curiosity, Courage and Giving Back 45:51 - Where to Find 7 Fathoms Check out our webinar on infinite banking: https://shorturl.at/k1V89 FIND US ON: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

Check out our webinar for business owners: https://hub.controlandcompound.com/business-masterclass-webinar-replay Michele Romanow didn't build her wealth by chasing a bigger salary. She built companies, retained ownership and used each success to create her next opportunity. In this financial autopsy, Darren and Christina examine how the Dragons' Den investor went from launching a caviar company in New Brunswick to building businesses such as Buytopia, SnapSaves and Clearco. More importantly, they break down the financial pattern that continued throughout her career. You'll learn why ownership can create wealth differently than income, how skills and relationships compound alongside money, why entrepreneurs should think carefully before giving away equity and how successful business owners eventually make the transition from operator to investor. Michele's journey is a Canadian success story—but the principles behind it can be applied by business owners everywhere. Show notes: 00:00 The Financial Autopsy of Michele Romanow 01:19 - Why Michele's Story Is Different 03:50 - Meeting Michele Romanow 04:44 - The Story Before Dragons' Den 05:01 - Building a Caviar Business From Scratch 06:44 - Entrepreneurship Is About Finding Answers 08:33 - How Michele Romanow Built Her Wealth 09:03 - Why Ownership Matters More Than Income 10:22 - Turning One Success Into the Next 11:39 - The Business Problem That Inspired Clearco 12:16 - Why Founders Give Away Ownership 13:18 - Capital Without Giving Away Equity 14:22 - Control, Capital and Financial Flexibility 16:04 - Five Lessons From Michele Romanow 16:27 - Your First Business Isn't Your Forever Business 16:53 - Skills Can Compound Faster Than Money 17:28 - Protecting Your Ownership and Equity 18:26 - Making the Shift From Operator to Investor 19:30 - The Work Behind the Success 21:24 - Final Thoughts FIND US ON: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

https://hub.controlandcompound.com/business-masterclass-webinar-replay What made Sam Walton one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs in history? In this financial autopsy episode of Control and Compound, Darren and Christina break down how Sam Walton built Walmart from a small-town retail operation into a global empire worth hundreds of billions. From scaling systems and reinvesting profits to using real estate, equity, trusts, and life insurance strategically, this episode dives into the exact principles Walton used to build AND protect generational wealth. Topics include: Building scalable business systems Why Walmart targeted small towns first Equity compounding strategies Real estate ownership & control Access to capital during downturns Family trusts & estate planning How the Walton family preserved wealth across generations Corporate uses of cash value life insurance If you're an entrepreneur, investor, or business owner looking to build long-term wealth, this episode is packed with lessons you can apply today. Show notes: 00:00 - Introduction 01:51 - Sam Walton's Big Business Idea 03:50 - Starting Small But Thinking Big 05:04 - Why Walmart Focused on Small Towns 06:21 - Building Systems & Scaling Efficiently 07:17 - Reinvesting Profits Back Into Growth 08:18 - Using Equity to Build Massive Wealth 09:03 - What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Sam Walton 11:18 - Investing in Business & Scaling Properly 12:22 - Real Estate Control & Owning Store Locations 14:01 - Access to Capital During Downturns 15:20 - Borrowing Against Assets vs Selling Them 16:02 - How the Walton Family Kept Their Wealth 18:17 - Life Insurance & Estate Liquidity 20:50 - Walmart's Controversial Insurance Strategy 24:08 - Final Lessons From Sam Walton FIND US ON: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

Check out our new Business Masterclass: https://hub.controlandcompound.com/business-masterclass-webinar-replay From salmon fishing in Alaska to running one of the North's most respected construction companies, this episode is packed with real entrepreneurial lessons. In this Entrepreneur Spotlight episode, Darren sits down with good friend Murray Arsenault — owner of Arctic Backhoe in Whitehorse, Yukon — to talk about risk, resilience, leadership, and what it actually takes to build a business in one of Canada's toughest operating environments. Murray shares the story of leaving senior government roles behind, betting everything he and his wife had on buying Arctic Backhoe, navigating cash flow crises, building a dominant niche business, and why most people fundamentally misunderstand entrepreneurship. This is a raw conversation about risk, ownership, business growth, northern Canada, and what happens when you truly go all in. Show notes: 00:00 - Introduction 01:29 - Growing Up in Nova Scotia & Moving North 03:04 - Economic Development in the Arctic 06:09 - Murray's First Truck in the North 07:10 - Transition Into Government Leadership 10:42 - What Government Misunderstands About Entrepreneurs 14:04 - Leaving Government & Buying Arctic Backhoe 18:10 - Financing the Business Purchase 20:42 - "This Will Take Every Nickel We Have" 22:13 - Learning to Operate the Business 27:07 - The Cash Flow Crisis That Nearly Broke Them 30:18 - Growing a Business in a Small Market 34:56 - Entrepreneurship & Family Influence 41:12 - Biggest Risk & Most Underrated Business Skills 43:35 - What Murray Would Do Differently FIND US ON: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us