In this episode, Levi and Colby are joined by David Barnett — business broker turned consultant, author, and content creator — for a masterclass in buying, selling, and valuing small businesses. David shares his journey from Yellow Pages rep to business owner, debt broker, and ultimately trusted advisor helping entrepreneurs navigate the complex world of business transactions. The conversation dives deep into lessons learned from brokerage, the realities of small business exits, how real-world transactions often differ from theory, and why systems, not just passion, build enduring organizations.

The episode also explores how content marketing, authorship, and thought leadership have fueled David’s consulting business, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs thinking about how to build reputation and revenue streams beyond direct operations. Packed with candid advice, practical frameworks, and a dose of tough love, this episode is a must-listen for anyone considering buying, selling, or scaling a business.

Links and Resources Mentioned
David on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbarnettmoncton/
David Barnett’s Website: DavidCBarnett.com
Books by David Barnett https://www.investlocalbook.com/p/buy-book.html
Courses by David - https://www.businessbuyeradvantage.com/
YouTube Channel: David Barnett’s channel with over 700 videos - https://www.youtube.com/@DavidCBarnett

Quotes Worth Sharing
"The business is the cash flow — that's what someone is acquiring, not just the stuff inside."
"Businesses are always worth far more to their owners than they are to the buyers."
"Luck often explains success in business more than genius — sometimes the right person was simply hired at the right time."
"If you want to sell your business for more, make it more profitable — you get to enjoy the profits while you still own it."
"Don't buy yourself a job unless that's exactly what you want."

Segment Breakdown with Timestamps

00:00 – 07:00 | Introducing David Barnett: A Life in Business
David shares his early passion for business and journey through Yellow Pages sales, entrepreneurship, and business finance.
Lessons learned during the 2008–09 financial crisis.
The evolution from business broker to consultant.

07:00 – 14:30 | From Broker to Consultant: Building a Better Model
The flaws in the traditional brokerage commission model.
How David transitioned to a consulting business structure.
Early use of YouTube to automate sales conversations.
Going from local clients to an international consulting practice.

14:30 – 27:00 | Lessons in Systems, Franchises, and Business Building
How systemization helped David successfully build and sell his first business.
The myth vs. reality of franchise support systems.
Importance of documented processes to create transferable business value.
Why small operational details often separate great businesses from average ones.

27:00 – 42:00 | Buying and Selling Businesses: Tough Love Edition
Why most small businesses don’t sell (80% failure rate).
How owners often drastically overvalue their businesses.
The real market dynamics for Main Street businesses (under $500k cashflow).
Five main reasons people are forced to sell: burnout, poor health, divorce, relocation, retirement.

42:00 – 59:00 | The Reality of Small Business Acquisitions
Insights on "buying a business without money" claims.
Understanding buyer competition and market realities.
How to create your own deal flow outside of traditional brokers.
Why passion can sometimes blind buyers to real business risks.

59:00 – 1:15:00 | Deal Structuring, Due Diligence, and Red Flags
How to evaluate small businesses realistically (cash flow, working capital, client concentration).
Hidden pitfalls: improper broker valuations, missing

In this episode of the Build to Last podcast, Levi and Colby sit down with entrepreneur and self-described “solutionist” Stephen Dixon, founder of GrimRoss Brewing. The conversation ranges widely—from the messy, nonlinear path of growing a business to the philosophical underpinnings of meaningful work. Stephen shares how brewing beer led him to create a side venture tackling industrial waste with black soldier fly larvae, all in the pursuit of sustainable, circular solutions.

But this isn’t just a story about business success. Stephen opens up about burnout, rediscovering health after years of neglect, and why legacy now means solving real, human-scale problems. Whether you’re scaling a company or just trying to reclaim your time and purpose, this episode offers wisdom wrapped in laughter, curiosity, and genuine connection.

Links and Resources

Stephen on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dixonstephen/

GrimRoss Brewing Co. – https://www.grimross.com/

The Solutionists by Solitaire Townsend – https://www.koganpage.com/responsible-business/the-solutionists-9781398609327

Peter Attia – Physician known for work on longevity and the “Centenarian Decathlon.” https://peterattiamd.com/

BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits – Framework that helped Stephen overhaul his health through small changes. - https://tinyhabits.com/

Naval Ravikant – Entrepreneur and thinker mentioned in the context of big questions and meaning. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Ravikant

Chris Williamson Podcast – Referenced in the discussion around self-kindness. - https://chriswillx.com/podcast/

Black Soldier Fly Larvae – Central to Stephen’s waste management startup concept. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermetia_illucens

Quotes Worth Sharing

“I don’t want to be dependent—I want the freedom to choose how I spend my day.” – Stephen Dixon
“Entrepreneurship is just solving problems people care about. That’s it.” – Stephen Dixon
“You can’t outsource understanding. I needed to know how everything worked so I could build it and let it go.” – Stephen Dixon
“Fitness isn’t about perfection. It’s about tiny habits, compounding over time.” – Stephen Dixon
“We’re trying to build systems so we don’t have to do it—so we can, not so we must.” – Levi Lawrence

Episode Breakdown

5:00 – 12:30 | Starting GrimRoss & Leaving the Safety Net
Brewing beer as a side hobby and early-stage entrepreneurship.
The moment Stephen decided to build something he could fully understand and operate solo.

12:30 – 21:00 | Delegation, Growth, and Letting Go
How GrimRoss scaled through organic need—staffing, systems, and trust.
Why meaningful delegation is a constant cycle, not a one-time event.

21:00 – 30:00 | The Shift Toward Impact
Stephen’s personal health crisis and COVID wake-up call.
Redefining success: from ROI to long-term human impact and sustainability.

30:00 – 43:00 | The Black Soldier Fly Affair
The hilarious and humble beginnings of an insect-based waste solution—starting in a basement.
Exploring circular economy thinking and the protein revolution.

43:00 – 54:00 | Systems Thinking & Iron House Pro’s Role
Why most founders want independence—not retirement.
Discussing Iron House Pro’s work helping businesses reduce founder dependence and scale sustainably.

54:00 – 1:10:00 | Fitness, Identity & The Long Game
Strength, mobility, and the Centenarian Workout.
How physical health mirrors organizational health—and how to shift from guilt to purpose-driven habits.

1:10:00 – 1:25:00 | Big Questions, Small Changes
Meditation, moderation, and meaning: lessons from Buddhist thought and quantum theory.

In this deeply human and insightful episode of Built to Last, Levi and Colby sit down with therapist and business owner Rankyn Campbell for a conversation that blurs the lines between entrepreneurship, mental health, and personal growth. Rankyn opens up about his journey from competitive hockey to running a thriving mental health clinic, and shares the real, often messy work of self-awareness, boundary-setting, and leadership.

Together, they explore the inner challenges faced by entrepreneurs—compassion fatigue, resentment, identity, burnout, and the myth of work-life balance. Rankyn offers a refreshingly grounded perspective on how values, self-care, and even frameworks like Buddhism and Stoicism can shape a more sustainable and meaningful business (and life). If you’ve ever felt like the renovation never ends—this one’s for you.

Links and Resources Mentioned

Rankyn on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rankyn-campbell-831b2814a/
Campbell Health (Rankyn’s clinic) - https://www.campbellhealth.net/
Self-Determination Theory by Ryan & Deci - https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/theory/
Secular Buddhism Podcast by Noah Rasheta - https://secularbuddhism.com/

Quotes Worth Sharing

“You can drown in 10 feet of water just as easily as you can in 100.”

“Acceptance is not resignation. You can have acceptance and ambition.”

“Resentment is often your first signal that a boundary has been crossed.”

“Self-care has been weaponized—it shouldn’t be another thing that makes you feel like you’re not enough.”

“We are meaning-making machines. Most things aren’t good or bad, we just love to assign meaning.”

Segment Breakdown with Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction and Rankyn’s Story
From hockey to therapy: how sport shaped his mindset
Lessons on confidence, regret, and internal belief systems

10:00 – The Business of Helping People
Starting a mental health clinic with little business training
Learning to lead, hire, and grow a team through therapy and coaching
Reconciling purpose-driven work with financial responsibility

17:00 – Compassion Fatigue & Boundaries
Recognizing early signs of burnout and cynicism
Why resentment is a boundary indicator
Holding two truths: caring deeply while maintaining limits

28:00 – Community, Culture, and Connection
Western therapy vs. traditional communal healing
Isolation, loneliness, and how culture shapes mental health
The role of belonging and interdependence in well-being

40:00 – Identity, Resentment, and the Entrepreneurial Trap
The slippery slope from passion to resentment
Making intentional choices and the illusion of freedom
Why some things are never “fully learned”

50:00 – Rethinking Self-Care and Rediscovering Values
How self-care became a checklist item—and how to reclaim it
Finding your true values through behavior, not just beliefs
Aligning calendar with what matters most

1:06:00 – Sprinting vs. Marathon Work Styles
Knowing how you thrive: short bursts vs. steady pace
Creating recovery rituals and protecting energy
Why being isn’t the opposite of doing—but just as essential

1:10:00 – Mental Health at Work: For Employers
The employer’s role in creating a psychologically safe environment
Trust, autonomy, and relatedness as foundations of workplace culture
Self-determination theory in building resilient teams

1:22:00 – Buddhism, Belonging, and Acceptance
Rankyn’s journey into Buddhism and misconceptions he let go
The danger of constant longing and how to break the cycle
How suffering often stems from resisting what