Dreamcatchers

Most founders believe the liquidity event is the finish line. It isn’t. In this episode of Your NEXT, Jerome Myers sits down with Colin Hodge, a founder who grew a dating app to millions of users with virtually zero ad spend, navigated a first exit, joined the acquirer, and then experienced the part nobody markets: the emotional “now what?” that follows the deal. Jerome unpacks what he calls the Transaction Illusion: the belief that money automatically brings relief, identity, and fulfillment. Colin shares how vulnerability became a growth catalyst, how his company was forced into a fire sale, and the unbelievable twist of buying his own business back and scaling it again. If you’re building toward an exit, recovering from one, or quietly wondering why success feels… weird, this conversation will land. Key topics: Why money doesn’t solve the post-exit questions it exposes Identity shifts, shame, and the silent side of “success” Organic growth through user psychology The boo

Josh Mastel did not exit because he hit some magical finish line. He exited because the business stopped giving him energy. In this episode of Your NEXT, Jerome Myers sits down with Josh to talk about betting on yourself, walking away from comfort, and building a life in alignment with what matters most. Josh shares the story of cashing out his 401(k), getting fired early in his career, losing his brother at 18, building a business he eventually outgrew, and then helping his wife scale her company into a $100M ARR technology services firm. This conversation is about more than entrepreneurship. It is about resilience, identity, priorities, and the courage to stop being a prisoner of something you built. If you are trying to decide whether your business still fits who you are becoming, this episode will stay with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most advisors think the goal is to build a great firm. The best ones realize the real challenge is what happens when it’s time to step away from it. In this episode of Your NEXT, Jerome Myers sits down with Jon to explore the full arc of building, scaling, and ultimately exiting a wealth management firm that reached $2.5 billion in assets under management. Jon shares his journey from professional football to financial advisor, what drew him into the industry, and how he and his partner built a firm focused on serving athletes and entertainers. As the business grew, they shifted into an aggregator model, acquiring other advisory firms to expand their reach and capabilities. But growth is only part of the story. Jon opens up about the realities of being acquired, navigating integration, stepping away from day-to-day leadership, and redefining his role after the transaction. This is a conversation about more than strategy. It’s about transition. If you’re building a firm, considering acquisitions, or thin

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Jerome Myers interviews Mark Hartmann, exited founder and M&A advisor, on what it really takes to sell a business on strong terms and avoid the common post-exit traps. They cover seller’s remorse, identity after exit, de-risking a company for buyers, why earnouts can go sideways, and how founders should build a deal team that protects the outcome. Topics covered:• Selling Ethicare Advisors to a private equity-backed buyer• Deal readiness and due diligence preparation• De-risking customers, vendors, employees, and owner dependency• Earnouts, reps & warranties, escrow, and transition terms• Building a personal plan for life after the sale Links:Mark Hartmann: hartmannrhodes.comBook: The Sweat Equity Payday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Rudyak built a healthcare company the hard way. No venture capital. No safety net. And for a long stretch, not even the freedom to buy “two tacos” without doing the mental math. In this episode, Jerome Myers talks with Daniel, founder of ReadyRx, about what it takes to go from private equity boardrooms to the chaos of building: 120-hour weeks, 18 months pre-revenue, and the constant pressure of carrying a mission that’s deeply personal. ReadyRx has grown to 10,000+ monthly customers and a reported $70M valuation, but this conversation isn’t about hype. It’s about the truth founders rarely say out loud: the climb is hard, the summit is brief, and the “money” doesn’t give you what you think it will. If you’re chasing an exit, thinking about raising capital, or worried about what happens after the deal closes, press play. In this episode: Why ReadyRx exists (and the healthcare failures that sparked it) The real difference between investing in businesses and building one Why they ref

Most founders believe the exit will finally deliver freedom. But what if that belief is the lie? In this episode, Jerome Myers and Josselyne Herman-Saccio explore what founders discover too late about selling their business. Why achievement doesn’t automatically produce fulfillment. Why the exit doesn’t erase identity pressure. And why designing your “next” requires more than a successful transaction. If you think the deal will solve everything, listen first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kerry Harris has exited two companies. But what makes her story powerful isn’t the deal. It’s what happened after. In this episode, we unpack five hard lessons founders ignore about selling their business: * Why deals fall apart * How control structures shape exit outcomes * The emotional cost of acquisition * The identity vacuum after closing * And why success can feel strangely empty This is an honest conversation about what the exit does to founders behind the scenes. If you think you’re ready to sell, listen first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Hulbert built Pareto from scratch, scaled it to about £50M in revenue, and exited for around $100M, retiring at 37. But the most interesting part of his story is what happened next. In this episode, Andrew explains how he avoided the post-exit crash many founders experience by preparing himself personally, not just preparing the business. We talk about working with a business psychologist, the “Exit Island” concept, how he decompressed after closing, and why the things that looked like success (cars, status, noise) were far less fulfilling than reconnecting with his wife, kids, friends, and health. This is a practical, honest conversation for founders who are approaching an exit and wondering: Who am I without the business, and what comes next? We cover: preparing for exit mentally, clean exits vs earn-outs, identity after exit, relationship repair, health during the sale process, significance and meaning, and what Andrew would do differently if he built it again. Guest: Andrew Hulbert Hos

What happens after the deal closes is the question too few founders ask. In this conversation on Your N.E.X.T., Jerome Myers sits down again with Dr. Michelle Fritsch to explore why even highly successful founders feel lost, disconnected, or unprepared after exiting their businesses. Together, they unpack the often-ignored realities of post-exit life—identity loss, health decline, strained relationships, and the myth that money alone creates fulfillment. The conversation also introduces the thinking behind the Exit Ready Summit, a boardroom-style experience designed to help founders prepare not just financially, but personally, relationally, and purposefully for life beyond the business. [00:00 – 07:00] | The Question Founders Avoid Most founders ask when to exit, not who they’ll be afterExits are transformational portals, not just transactions Identity loss is the biggest blind spot in exit planning [07:01 – 14:00] | Why Health Is the First Domino Burnout is often a biological warning,

What happens when success finds you before you think you’re ready for it? In this episode of Your N.E.X.T., Jennifer K. Hill shares her unexpected exit journey and the deeper transformation that followed. From building and selling a company she never intended to create, to redefining identity, purpose, and alignment after the sale, Jennifer unpacks why true fulfillment doesn’t come from brute force or hustle.  This conversation explores connection over control, purpose over performance, and why having the right tools, mentors, and inner clarity can change everything about what comes next. [00:00 – 07:30] The Unexpected Exit Jennifer never planned to build or sell a company, yet received an unsolicited acquisition offerReputation, relationships, and alignment created opportunity without pursuit Exit success came from service, not strategy alone [07:31 – 15:45] Failure, Alignment, and Starting Again Jennifer’s first business failed despite prior corporate success Leaving misaligned e

What happens after the deal closes is the question too few founders ask. In this conversation on Your N.E.X.T., Jerome Myers sits down again with Dr. Michelle Fritsch to explore why even highly successful founders feel lost, disconnected, or unprepared after exiting their businesses. Together, they unpack the often-ignored realities of post-exit life—identity loss, health decline, strained relationships, and the myth that money alone creates fulfillment. The conversation also introduces the thinking behind the Exit Ready Summit, a boardroom-style experience designed to help founders prepare not just financially, but personally, relationally, and purposefully for life beyond the business. [00:00 – 07:00] | The Question Founders Avoid Most founders ask when to exit, not who they’ll be afterExits are transformational portals, not just transactions Identity loss is the biggest blind spot in exit planning [07:01 – 14:00] | Why Health Is the First Domino Burnout is often a biological warning,

Most founders believe the value of their business lies entirely inside their operating company. In this episode, Jason Bush joins Jerome Myers to challenge that assumption and expose one of the most overlooked exit-planning risks: real estate misalignment. Drawing from Jason’s two exits, his background in engineering, business advisory, and commercial real estate, and his work at Linville Team Partners, this conversation unpacks how poorly structured leases, ownership entities, and rent strategies can quietly destroy enterprise value.  You’ll hear real-world horror stories, surprising valuation math, and a powerful framework for turning real estate from a liability into a strategic wealth-building lever before an exit ever hits the market. [00:00 – 07:00] From Engineering to Exit Clarity Jason shares his early career as a civil engineer and his first successful business exit Why one exit worked and another failed despite strong income The difference between owning a “job” and building a sel

Many founders believe the exit is the finish line, but what happens after the deal closes often reveals a deeper challenge. In this solo episode, Jerome Myers explores why so many exited founders unknowingly rebuild the very businesses and lifestyles they were desperate to escape. He introduces the concept of the “ghost business” and explains how unprocessed identity loss, fear, and unresolved trauma quietly pull founders back into familiar patterns of overwork and self-imposed prisons.  Through powerful metaphors, real-world observations, and reflective questions, Jerome reframes the exit as a starting line rather than an ending. He offers a path toward clarity, freedom, and intentional post-exit living. [00:00 – 03:15] The Ghost Business That Follows Every Founder Many founders rebuild businesses not from purpose, but from discomfort with stillness The post-exit “next thing” often exists to avoid more profound identity questions Fulfillment is mistaken for activity, leading to busy work i

Most founders expect happiness to arrive the moment the wire hits. But, as Jerome shares in this powerful solo episode, many founders feel more lost after a successful exit than before it. Even when the deal is smooth, the number is hit, and every professional metric says success, the internal experience can feel hollow. Jerome breaks down why joy does not automatically follow liquidity, why identity and purpose collapse after exiting, and how founders can avoid falling into the Post-Exit Void.  He reveals the psychological sequence that unfolds after the deal closes, the hidden shame founders rarely admit, and a new definition of a successful exit that goes far beyond valuation. If you are building toward a liquidity event or still unraveling after one, this episode will give you clarity, language, and next steps to regain meaning, coherence, and direction.  [00:00 – 03:10] The Myth of Automatic Post-Exit Happiness Founders often assume money will solve everything, but joy after a liquidity event is s

Most founders think the hardest part of selling their company is the deal itself. But as Jerome Myers reveals, the real challenge begins in the silence that follows. In this deeply honest solo episode, Jerome breaks down the emotional, identity, and relational fears that make exits so difficult — and why avoiding these truths leads to regret, stalled decisions, and post-exit collapse. Using the metaphor of Pandora’s Box, he explains that what founders fear isn’t the future — it’s finally having to face everything they ignored while building the business. Jerome walks through the hidden fears inside the box, the dangers of avoidance, and the power of strategic identity work. He then shares a founder story that transforms fear into clarity, illustrating how an exit can become a portal to personal evolution rather than an ending. Listeners walk away with a roadmap for beginning the internal work now, and an invitation to access the tools that make a healthy transition possible. [00:00–01:15] The Hidden Strugg

Many founders stay stuck in the space between yes and no, not because of timing, money, or strategy, but because of resistance disguised as logic. In this powerful solo episode, Jerome Myers speaks directly to high performers who feel called to their next chapter yet hesitate to move. He breaks down the most common objections founders use to delay meaningful growth and reveals the deeper fears beneath them—from the discomfort of pausing long enough to feel, to the fear of being truly seen without the armor of achievement.  Jerome also opens up about his own experience with the Founder’s Exit Paradox and the identity unraveling that happens once success goes quiet. This episode serves as a mirror, a challenge, and an invitation to stop circling the life you want and begin stepping into it with clarity, alignment, and courage. [00:00–02:18] Sitting in the Gray Space Founders hesitate not because of time or money but because of quiet resistance Resistance dresses itself up as logic, busyness, and “r

 What happens when life shifts faster than you expect? In this solo episode, Jerome offers a raw and real update on the unexpected changes unfolding in his world. From becoming a faculty member at the Exit Planning Institute to being invited into rooms he once dreamed of, he reflects on recognition, alignment, and the responsibility that comes with thought leadership. Jerome also breaks down the heart of his methodology: helping founders exit to something meaningful rather than from something overwhelming. He shares behind-the-scenes experiences, upcoming speaking engagements, and the personal transitions shaping his next chapter.  This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation that reminds every founder that clarity, purpose, and personal planning remain the true North Star of any successful exit. [00:00 – 01:00] A Solo Episode and a Month of Change Jerome sets the tone with a personal update instead of frameworks or concepts Acknowledges unexpected changes that appeared without warning Frame

Everyone wants to know the number: what you sold your company for, the valuation, the payout. But as Jerome Myers reveals, the number is not the finish line. It is only one mile marker on the journey. In this solo episode, Jerome uncovers what truly defines a successful exit: peace, purpose, and freedom. Through powerful stories and practical frameworks, he explains the four hidden levers —structure, timing, control, and alignment — that determine whether your exit becomes an evolution or a regret.  Founders will walk away with tools to measure success beyond money and to negotiate for a life that feels right, not just a deal that looks good. [00:00 – 03:30] The Illusion of the Headline Number The world celebrates the sale price, but that number rarely reflects true success Founders often chase valuation without understanding its emotional cost “You can hit your financial goal and still miss your life goal” [03:30 – 07:30] The Hidden Levers: Structure and Timing Structure determine

What if achieving everything you dreamed of still left you feeling empty? In this enlightening episode of the Work You Love podcast, host Danielle Mizrachi sits down with Jerome Myers, founder of Exit to Excellence, to explore what really happens after success. Jerome reveals the emotional aftermath of selling a business—the Exit Paradox—and how he helps founders rediscover meaning beyond money. Together, they unpack why fulfillment, not achievement, is the real finish line, and how to align work with your purpose, joy, and impact. Listeners will leave with a renewed perspective on success: that true wealth isn’t measured in dollars, but in the difference you make and the peace you carry. [00:00 – 07:00] The Exit Paradox Jerome shares how he helps founders rediscover meaning after selling their companies The “Exit Paradox”: the grief, loss, and disorientation many feel after achieving financial success His first exit from corporate life revealed the emotional void behind professional wins