Owner's Profit Playbook

Shannon Jamail is the Founder of the Mind & Body Complete family of companies, a retreat and training brand that includes Retreat Ranch, a 46-acre retreat center near Austin, Texas. A former mental health therapist turned retreat strategist, Shannon designs transformational wellness experiences and teaches leaders how to create, market, and lead profitable retreats. She is also a best-selling author and podcast host with more than 100 retreats hosted around the world. In this episode… As business owners look for ways to increase revenue, the answer is not always more leads, more ads, or more hours worked. Sometimes the bigger opportunity lies in creating a deeper experience that strengthens trust, connection, and long-term customer value. Could the next profit opportunity come from doing less volume and designing something more meaningful? The answer is found in retreats, and Shannon Jamail, a retreat strategist and therapist-turned-mentor, explains how immersive experiences can become both transformational for attendees and profitable for business owners. Rather than treating retreats as wellness-only events, she illustrates how experts in nearly any field can use them to teach more deeply, build stronger relationships, and create recurring revenue after the experience ends. Shannon emphasizes starting with a clear outcome, testing interest with a warm audience, pricing based on value, and making the guest experience personal from the moment people arrive. Retreats work best when they are not isolated events, but part of a larger business model built on connection, trust, and continued engagement. In this episode of Owner's Profit Playbook, Pat Mancuso chats with Shannon Jamail, Founder of Mind & Body Complete, about using retreats as a profitable business growth strategy. Shannon explains why in-person connection matters, how to test retreat interest, and what makes an experience memorable. She also touches on pricing, ideal group size, luxury versus simplicity, and recurring revenue.

Shawn Walchef is the Founder and CEO of Cali BBQ Media, a digital content and media company that helps restaurants and business leaders grow by teaching them to leverage storytelling, social strategy, and digital tools to connect with audiences. He also owns and operates Cali BBQ, a San Diego restaurant known for its community‑focused hospitality. With over 17 years of experience as a restaurateur and digital storyteller, Shawn hosts multiple podcasts and digital series on leveraging online presence to drive visibility and revenue. In this episode… In today's business landscape, having a great product or service isn't enough to guarantee success. Visibility and storytelling often matter more than marketing budgets. How can business owners share their story in a way that attracts real attention and engagement? Shawn Walchef, an expert in digital storytelling and hospitality, explains that capturing and sharing the everyday reality of a business can be more powerful than traditional marketing. Documenting daily operations instead of creating polished content allows audiences to connect with authenticity, while consistent posting builds credibility and reach. Shawn also emphasizes the concept of "being the show, not the commercial," showing how repetition and real-life storytelling amplify a brand's presence online. By focusing on these approaches, he reveals practical ways to engage audiences while reinforcing a business's identity. In this episode of the Owner's Profit Playbook, Pat Mancuso sits down with Shawn Walchef, Founder and CEO of Cali BBQ Media and Owner of Cali BBQ, to discuss why storytelling drives business growth. Shawn shares how to start creating content, the mindset needed to embrace digital storytelling, and strategies for turning everyday activities into engaging narratives. He also touches on leveraging podcasts, social media, and tech partnerships to expand reach.

Janene Liston is the Founder of The Pricing Lady, a pricing strategy and advisory business that helps service-based companies replace guesswork with structure, confidence, and sustainable profit. With an engineering background, corporate pricing leadership, and certification in pricing, Janene works with owners who struggle to charge for the value they deliver. She helps clients uncover pricing blind spots, rethink discounting, communicate value clearly, and build businesses that pay them well. In this episode… Pricing decisions shape profitability long before business owners see the results in their financials. Delayed price changes, unnecessary discounts, and competitor-based pricing can quietly create profit leaks that compound over time. So how can owners replace uncertainty with a clearer way to set, explain, and stand behind their prices? The answer starts with building confidence through clarity, math, and value. Janene Liston, a pricing strategist, explains that many owners were never taught how to set prices, so they rely on guesswork, market averages, or fear-based decisions. Instead of leading with discounts, owners can examine scope creep, understand the true impact of price reductions, and learn how to communicate value in a way that makes pricing feel grounded rather than defensive. Janene also points out that companies with strong pricing discipline stay close to their customers, use financial insight, and revisit pricing before hidden leaks compound. In this episode of Owner's Profit Playbook, Pat Mancuso talks with Janene Liston, Founder of The Pricing Lady, about why pricing is one of the most overlooked profit leaks in business. Janene shares how owners can spot pricing problems, rethink discounting, and lead conversations from value. She also touches on scope creep, pricing confidence, and why the math matters.

Ashlee Hall and Mary Lundstedt are Founding Partners at Hall Lundstedt, a boutique tax law firm serving clients nationwide in complex tax controversy, IRS resolution, strategic tax planning, and advanced structuring. As tax attorneys, they work with business owners, investors, high earners, and families to address audits, examinations, appeals, tax-advantaged structures, entity and transaction planning, credits and incentives, and liquidity events. Ashlee brings advanced tax planning and resolution experience, and Mary adds more than 20 years of legal experience in taxation, business matters, and taxpayer advocacy. Together, they help clients navigate complex tax issues with clear, legally grounded strategies designed to reduce risk, protect wealth, and support stronger business and personal outcomes. In this episode… Taxes are one of the most overlooked places where business owners and high earners lose money, not because they are doing something wrong, but because they are often working from incomplete information. Filing a return may satisfy compliance requirements, but it does not automatically mean someone is planning ahead, reducing risk, or taking advantage of the strategies available to them. So what changes when tax planning becomes proactive instead of reactive? The answer begins with understanding that tax filing and tax strategy are not the same thing. Experienced tax attorneys Ashlee Hall and Mary Lundstedt explain how business owners, investors, and high earners can benefit from legal guidance that looks beyond year-end reporting to encompass long-term planning, IRS readiness, and defensible tax mitigation. Ashlee emphasizes the importance of starting early, documenting decisions in real time, and being cautious with strategies that sound too good to be true. Mary points out that many costly tax problems begin when people wait until there is already an IRS issue, an exit event, or a missed opportunity before seeking help. Together, their insights encourage listeners to ask better questions, involve the right professionals earlier, and treat tax planning as an ongoing part of wealth protection. In this episode of Owner's Profit Playbook, Pat Mancuso talks with Ashlee Hall and Mary Lundstedt, Founding Partners at Hall Lundstedt, about why a CPA alone may not be enough to save business owners and high earners money. Ashlee and Mary discuss how proactive planning creates stronger outcomes, why legal tax guidance matters before problems arise, and examine audit readiness, risky strategies, IRS disputes, and exit planning.

Adam Contos is a Partner at Area 15 Ventures, a business investment firm. As the creator of the Leadership Factory, he coaches entrepreneurs to build leaders and grow their businesses. Adam served as the CEO of RE/MAX Holdings, where he oversaw its four brands RE/MAX, LLC, Motto Franchising, LLC, booj, and First. Before joining RE/MAX, he ran a SWAT team as a Lieutenant at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. In this episode… Some people want to start a business but are overwhelmed to the point of inaction. Yet strategic action offsets overwhelm. How can you propel yourself to move forward in your career? Former real estate CEO and leadership coach Adam Contos maintains that you must be held accountable for taking action on your vision. However, less than 1% of people can hold themselves accountable regularly for their entrepreneurial endeavors, leading small businesses to fail in the first year. Instead, you should acquire a coach or leader to develop an accountability system. Exceptional leaders influence and guide you to accomplish a task or vision by building trust and practicing what they preach. With an inspirational leader, you can identify the mental gaps in your personal and professional life and take action for future growth. In the latest episode of Destination Business Freedom, Pat Mancuso invites Adam Contos, a Partner at Area 15 Ventures, to speak about building ventures through effective leadership. Adam shares some of his favorite books and most influential mentors, his leadership philosophy and personal wisdom, and how he began franchising businesses with RE/MAX Holdings.

Adam Webb is the Owner and Managing Partner of Quazar, a boutique investment banking firm specializing in M&A services. In his role, he helps privately held businesses in the lower-middle market sell or grow through acquisitions. Adam has led deal teams and negotiated favorable outcomes for clients in dozens of transactions with an aggregate value of hundreds of millions of dollars. Before Quazar, he was the Senior Associate of Risk Management at RSM, where he specialized in helping clients perform internal audits and implement internal controls to maintain compliance. In this episode… Most entrepreneurs generating $10-20 million in yearly revenue are so involved in the daily grind of their business that they haven't even considered an exit. When it's time to retire, they often discover their company's value is lower than their targeted range. How can you prepare for an exit while ensuring an ideal sale valuation? With experience securing M&A deals for lower-middle market companies, Adam Webb often has to break the harsh news that most business owners won't walk away with $20 million from their transactions. You must consider transaction expenses and deal structures like escrows, equity rolls, where you retain some ownership in the business, and SBA finance deals, where the seller finances the buyer. These structures take time and understanding, so it's crucial to begin planning your exit at least five years in advance and disclose any outstanding company information to avoid value decreases or deal collapses during due diligence. Tune in to the latest episode of Destination Business Freedom as Pat Mancuso hosts Adam Webb, the Owner and Managing Partner of Quazar, to talk about optimizing your business for an exit. Adam shares how he determines business value during a transaction, the worst transaction he has ever witnessed, and how to reduce M&A taxes.

Ivan Polic is the Co-founder of Jumpstart Your Exit, which partners with million-dollar brands to help them grow, scale, and exit their businesses. As a strategic growth specialist, he has acquired, restructured, scaled, and exited small-to-midsize businesses to maximize returns. Having founded his business with his wife Mariana, they have served as advisors to small- and medium-sized businesses and on over 300 board of directors meetings in various industries and economic sectors. In this episode… Many entrepreneurs don't even consider the possibility of a business exit during the launch and growth stage. However, when operations suddenly go awry, and they become too overwhelmed to continue, they realize their company isn't primed to sell. How can you integrate an exit strategy into your business from the start, ensuring you can pivot during tough times? After losing 95% of his revenue and risking bankruptcy, business exit strategist Ivan Polic realized he had to restructure his entire enterprise to prepare for an exit. He began by developing a report that allowed him to visualize and predict his current and future cash flow based on the company's financial and operational conditions. Through this deliberate and conservative approach, Ivan kept the business alive to evaluate buyers before staging a profitable exit. If you're facing turmoil in your business and want to exit fast, you must identify each possible risk to present buyers with an accurate representation of your business, ensuring a smooth and timely exit. In this week's episode of Destination Business Freedom, Pat Mancuso joins Ivan Polic, the Co-founder of Jumpstart Your Exit, to talk about how he developed an exit strategy to navigate a business crisis. Ivan shares how he rebuilt his business with a supportive team, the importance of disclosing risks to maximize business value, and the turning point for his eventual exit.

Brian Kurtz is the Founder and CEO of Titans Marketing, a direct response marketing educational, coaching, and consulting company. For nearly 40 years, he has employed proprietary direct marketing principles that have allowed him to scale a publishing company to $150 million. As a self-proclaimed serial direct response marketer, Brian has marketed and sold newsletters and books through infomercials, email, and the internet. He is also the author of Overdeliver. In this episode… Exiting your business doesn't mean you have to sell it immediately. It's an intricate process requiring years of planning and reverse-engineered strategies. How can direct response marketing help you map out your destination, and what strategies are essential for growth? With the advent of digital marketing, the industry has become saturated with channels, methods, and strategies, making it overwhelming for small-to-midsize businesses to establish a presence without breaking their budget. According to direct response marketing pioneer Brian Kurtz, marketing is everything, but you don't have to advertise on every channel to achieve results. However, you should explore both online and offline strategies like social media and direct mail to remain relevant. Brian suggests conducting research and evaluating your financial assets to determine an ideal method for your business, allowing you to plan your exit effectively. Join Pat Mancuso in this episode of Destination Business Freedom as he welcomes Brian Kurtz, the Founder and CEO of Titans Marketing, to discuss designing a marketing plan that fits with your business landscape. Brian talks about the role of QR codes in direct marketing, the lessons he learned when pricing and marketing his products and services, and how to define business freedom.