So, I put my dream of opening my own facility on paper.

Eighteen months later, I co-founded Core Athletic, a sports performance and rehab facility in Madison, Wisconsin. I had lots of energy, passion, and knowledge of my field (but no clue how to run a business).

Now, what happened next is going to surprise you. Despite no business experience, Core Athletic grew from zero to over half a million dollars in annual sales in just 4 years. Along the way, I was fortunate enough to coach some professional athletes, including those from the NBA and NFL, as well as over 150 high school athletes who went on to play in college.

Several years in, I was an expert trainer with a fantastic 10-person staff and over 200 active clients.

On the outside, I was “living the dream” and “successful,” but other than our dedicated staff, few people saw what was really happening behind the scenes. I was on the verge of burnout.

With a big loan and a monster lease to pay, I blew out my adrenal glands at least twice by micromanaging every little detail and trying to do it all.

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  Then it hit me: I had started this business to have more freedom, but it turned into the opposite: a stressful, low-paying, and risky job. And I was miserable!

  Desperate for guidance, I sought out mentors, coaches, and marketing experts. I tried to absorb everything I could from them and model their success.

  It wasn’t an overnight turnaround, especially with the 2008 economic downturn thrown in, but slowly and surely, the business started to gain some good traction.

  With lots of learning, sweat, and simple strategies, the business gradually became more profitable and developed better systems, which really reduced stress levels.

  Fast-forward to the seventh year in business, and I ended up selling it to an up-and-coming employee for a nice profit.

  Looking back on it, when I was struggling just to make it, I didn’t need more money or to jump on the bandwagon of the latest fad or get another certification behind my name.

  What I really needed was a COACH. I needed someone with experience in the trenches from whom I could learn, whose shoulders I could stand on to see a clearer picture of where to go next. I needed a guide to FREEDOM.

  I’ve been happily married for over 16 years and have three amazing kids, but I also know what it’s like to be in the trenches of starting and growing a business while raising a family. It is not for the faint of heart.

  I’ve spent plenty of time on the rollercoaster ride of being a founder, from the highest highs—feeling like you’re on top of the world—to the lowest lows—feeling like a complete failure or wondering if you’ll have enough cash to stay in business next month.

  After successfully selling off two businesses and starting three, I have learned one lesson along the way: it’s too challenging to do it alone.

  If you want to be successful and finish well, you need a coach, just like any serious athlete.

  I’ve talked to so many digital agency founders who started their agencies with big dreams.

  Some of the most common dreams are to be financially free, spend more time with their family, do something they are passionate about, or run their agency remotely (while traveling the world).

  While each dream may be unique and different, one thing all dreams have in common is: the desire for freedom.

  While all agencies started with passion and the dream of freedom, I see too many agency founders working around the clock, completely stressed out, in poor health, making less than they are worth, and glued to their laptops and phones, tending to “work emergencies” during family time.

  The business that was supposed to be their vehicle for freedom has turned into a risky job they are a slave to (and this is NOT ok with me)!

  This is why I do what I do. This is my mission.

  I’m here to help you regain your freedom.

  I’m here to help you become more profitable, spend more time with your loved ones, and have the freedom to travel the world, if you want to.

  Let’s build thriving businesses and world-changing families…TOGETHER!