What does a great CFO actually do? In this episode of The Way to Value, Tom Johnson (20+ years as a CFO) breaks down the difference between bean counting and building value—from capital structure and cash forecasting to the exit process itself. He’s lived it: Tom helped take a company scale from ~$25M valuation to a $165M exit. If you’re debating f…

Trey Gaskin didn’t outspend competitors—he out-served them! In this episode of The Way to Value, Trey (Founder & CEO, Advanced Property Tech) breaks down the moves that took his multifamily low-voltage integrator from startup to successful exit. His formula? Be the integrator that actually integrates (access control, cameras, ERRC, Wi-Fi, smart loc…

If your homepage says “innovative solutions for leading stakeholders,” you’ve got a Buzz Word Marketing problem In this episode of The Way to Value, Marty Osborn and Dale Thrush break down how buzzword-heavy copy and vague mission statements repel buyers, confuse teams, and crush trust. We show you how to spot the jargon, strip it out, and rewrite …

In this episode of The Way to Value, we sit down with John Harrison—VP of Revenue at KeyMark, Inc, Clemson MBA guest lecturer, and ex–baseball closer—to break down the gates that actually move a deal: real discovery, ROI proof, multi-threading the decision group, and legal review. We also get into the negotiation rules that protect your margin! Wha…

This Overtime is all about Furman. Marty and Dale unpack their conversation with Brian & Eric from Furman University’s Hill Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship—and why their approach is creating graduates who can actually start, build, and lead in the real world. We highlight the Hill Institute’s three pillars—critical thinking & self-disco…

Ever wonder what it’s really like to work with By Design Advisors? In this episode, the mic gets flipped! Dale Thrush takes the hot seat as Marty Osborn interviews him about what actually happens during a 90-day engagement — the same framework that's helped dozens of businesses get unstuck and finally execute. From leadership dysfunction to bloated…

Thinking about hiring a CFO? Watch this first. In this episode of Wouldn’t You Like to Know, we’re back with Tom, diving deep into what really makes a great CFO — and spoiler: it’s not just about crunching numbers. We unpack how tools like DISC and Working Genius help predict if someone is actually wired for the CFO role — and how getting it wrong …

Ever wonder what it’s actually like working behind the scenes in the NBA? In this surprise episode of The Way To Value, we sit down with Lauren O’Connell, former Marketing Manager for the Dallas Mavericks, to talk about everything from Mark Cuban’s courtside antics to running full-blown digital campaigns on the fly during the playoffs. Lauren share…

Think a fancy strategy session in your conference room builds trust? Think again. In this episode of Wouldn’t You Like to Know, Marty (Motty) Osborn breaks down why offsite leadership summits are the secret weapon for building real trust, alignment, and an actually fun team — and why skipping them could be destroying your company culture. From epic…

Ever hire someone, only to realize three months in… it was a disaster? Yeah — we’ve all been there. In this episode of The Way to Value, we sit down with John Sterling, a successful entrepreneur who has led massive teams, coached hundreds of leaders, and made plenty of hiring mistakes of his own. Together with Marty Osborn & Dale Thrush, they break…

🕒 What if the way your business uses “time” is actually destroying your growth, your team, and your culture? What is business timing? In this eye-opening episode of By Design Advisors, Marty Osborn and Dale Thrush break down why year-end bonuses, annual performance reviews, and long-term planning are failing your business — and how rethinking your …

In this episode of The Way To Value, we sit down with Michael D'Onofrio, founder of Tested HQ, to uncover how he scaled his startup from a one-man side hustle into a 12-person company working with Fortune 500s. Michael shares his raw, behind-the-scenes experience of launching during the pandemic, hiring early team members, overcoming founder burnou…

Most companies are terrible at marketing — and they don’t even know it. In this no-fluff episode of the By Design Podcast, we sit down with marketing strategist Mary Selvaggio to unpack why your message isn't working, why your website is confusing, and why your marketing team is probably set up to fail. From separating sales and marketing to using …

🚨 Fun Fact: 80% of partnerships fail. This one didn’t — and the reason why will surprise you. In this episode of the #bydesignpodcast, Dale, Marty, & Paul break down how the power of three partnership model led to years of growth, a successful exit, and almost zero drama along the way. From how they handled exits, to avoiding toxic compensation iss…

💥 Think your culture is fine? Think again! In this raw and revealing episode of the By Design Podcast, we sit down with Steve Iverster and Chris McCord from Ideal HR to expose the real reasons company cultures fall apart — from bad hires, to toxic promotions, to leaders with zero self-awareness. If you've ever wondered: - “Why is my best talent lea…

If you're still working in pajamas, you need to hear this. In this episode of "Wouldn't You Like to Know", Marty and Dale break down one of the most important topics in business right now: Why remote work may be quietly killing your career. From promotion stats, to culture breakdowns, to the real ROI of showing up, we’re exposing why you can’t lead…

In this explosive episode of the #bydesignpodcast M&A attorney Chris Edwards reveals the biggest mistakes sellers make, why bad LOI's (letters of intent) can ruin deals, how messy cap tables scare investors away, and what hidden legal traps you MUST watch for when selling your company. From avoiding toxic buyers to making sure your deal actually cl…

🎙️ In this episode of the #bydesignpodcast, we sit down with Matt Gabriel, founder of Tech Wheelhouse, to explore how startups can win with people from day one. We break down how DISC and Working Genius assessments are used before hiring, how to build the right team in early-stage companies, and why knowing your people is your true competitive adva…

🎙️ In this episode of the #bydesignpodcast we sit down with #JoeMancini of Front Porch Venture Partners to uncover how #vcs really evaluate #startups, what makes a founder investable, and the #mistakes that kill deals before they start. From real talk about #valuations, hiring mistakes, and #foundermindset, to practical tips on building investor tr…

Hiring the right people isn’t luck—it’s a process. In this episode of the By Design Podcast, Marty Osborne shares a proven framework to build teams by design, not by default. Whether you're a startup founder, HR leader, or business owner, you’ll discover how to use tools like DISC and Working Genius to hire smarter, delegate better, and reduce cost…

🎙️ In this episode of the By Design Podcast, we dive deep into author Marty Osborne’s powerful leadership book, Finding Significance: Five Keys to Becoming the Leader People Are Happy to See. We explore Key #2: “It’s Your Team, Don’t Leave It to Chance” — a crucial mindset shift for any leader who wants to build a strong, engaged, and high-performi…

💡 Want to Write a Book or Become a Great Leader? Here's How! 💡 In this episode of By Design Podcast, we dive into the 4 essential keys to writing a book and explore the 5 keys to becoming a leader people love to follow with author and leadership expert Marty. Whether you’re an aspiring author, entrepreneur, or leader, this episode breaks down pract…

Thinking of #buyingabusiness? Here’s What You NEED to Know! In this episode of the By Design Podcast, we chat with entrepreneur Corey Sanders, who has successfully #acquired and #scaled multiple businesses across different industries. From car washes to printing businesses to recruiting firms, Corey shares the real lessons behind buying, improving,…

Thinking of Selling Your Business? Here’s What You NEED to Know! 💼 In this episode of the By Design Podcast, we sit down with M&A expert Shay Houser to reveal the biggest mistakes business owners make when preparing to sell their company. Whether you’re considering an exit strategy, seeking investment, or just want to understand the M&A process, th…

In this episode of By Design, we uncover the 5 biggest mistakes business owners make when exiting their business—and how you can avoid them. Whether you’re considering selling now or in the future, these insights are critical to ensuring a smooth, profitable transition. We’ll explore: 1️⃣ The importance of a strategic exit plan. 2️⃣ Why over-relian…

In this episode of By Design, we dive deep into the "4 C’s" of business success: Human Capital, Customer Capital, Structural Capital, and Social Capital. Discover how 80% of a company's value lies beyond the balance sheet and in these critical areas. We discuss: Why structural processes like payroll and CRM systems are foundational but not game-cha…

What’s next for your business? At By Design Advisors, we specialize in helping business owners answer this critical question. Whether you’re growing, transitioning, or planning an exit, our proven framework ensures you’re intentional every step of the way. In this episode, we discuss: ✅ Why intentionality is the key to success. ✅ How to build a roa…

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