In this raw, unfiltered episode, the Lords of Lending pull back the curtain on the personal experiences that shaped them into the SBA lending experts they are today.

From childhood poverty and career failures to finding purpose through adversity, Shane, Stephanie, and Brian share the dark seasons that forged their professional wisdom.

This isn't your typical business advice - it's the real story behind the expertise. Sometimes the best business wisdom comes from the worst personal moments.

🎯 TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Opening: Why vulnerability builds trust in business
04:12 - "Invisible & Underestimated" - The wounds that shaped us
06:47 - Shane's 7th grade identity crisis: From "thug" to outcast
09:36 - Brian's parents' divorce: Finding identity through sports
12:02 - Steph on daily invisibility: "Everyone else is prioritized"
16:28 - "You're Not Enough" - When the world tells you to quit
18:25 - Shane's Financial Collapse: Near-bankruptcy and the bird in the garage
23:47 - Steph's Dark Decades: "Zero through 20 - it was all dark"
26:21 - "Just when you think you're buried, really you're planted"
28:25 - Brian's Law Firm Disaster: Fired two weeks before his son was born
35:04 - The phone call that changed everything: "Dude, I just got fired"
38:20 - "Life Was All About Me" - The lies we believe about ourselves
43:19 - Steph: "I allowed people to typecast me for too long"
45:48 - Things We Can't NOT Do: Shopping carts, serving others, turning off lights
48:03 - Late Night Questions: Parasites, cancer fears, and life's anxieties
52:18 - The Archetypes: Oracle, Magistrate, and Alchemist revealed
53:05 - Steph "The Oracle": Seeing patterns before they emerge
55:03 - Brian "The Magistrate": From attorney to wise judge
56:53 - Shane "The Alchemist": Turning pressure into systematic gold
58:00 - Golden Nugget: Why people must be happy in their roles to succeed

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

In this tactical deep dive, Shane, Stephanie, and Brian sit down with serial acquirer Collin Trimble to dissect what really happens when you scale through acquisition. From chaotic day-one takeovers to post-close surprises, this episode is all strategy, scars, and lessons earned the hard way.

📌 Timestamps:
00:09:49 - What Strategy Looked Bulletproof (But Wasn't)
00:12:38 - 28 Minutes In: The Day One Disaster Story
00:15:55 - You Can't Prepare for Everything: Assessment Strategy
00:17:35 - The 90-Day Employee Rule: Listen Before You Lead
00:20:17 - Finding Hidden Leaders in Broken Organizations
00:27:11 - Employee Due Diligence: What to Look For
00:30:21 - Cultural Integration: Bringing Teams Together
00:35:18 - Customer Experience: From Personal Touch to Scalable Systems
00:41:07 - Not All Revenue is Equal: The Tire Story
00:42:57 - Due Diligence Providers: RMR Audits & Quality of Earnings
00:49:53 - Legal Landmines: Why You Need Transaction Attorneys
00:56:58 - Technology Infrastructure: Building Customer 360 with Salesforce
01:04:43 - Quick Fire Strategy Round: Never Do Again
01:05:42 - Essential Legal Moves & Holdback Strategies
01:10:12 - The 30-Day Liquidity Priority
01:13:18 - Next 5 Acquisitions: Geographic Expansion Strategy
01:15:07 - Closing: Resources for First-Time Acquirers

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

On the road, the Lords break down key takeaways from a week of business broker conferences. From AI innovations to personal follow-up strategies, Shane, Stephanie, and Brian explore how lenders can stand out, deepen relationships, and add long-term value beyond the transaction.

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: On the Road with the Lords
01:00 – Conference Recap: Transworld, IBBA, Murphy
02:15 – AI & Tech Takeaways from Top Brokers
04:30 – Standing Out in a Sea of Sameness
06:00 – Using AI to Create Business Plans for Buyers
09:00 – In-Person vs. Virtual: The Shift Back to Human
11:15 – Value Add That Lasts Beyond the Loan
13:00 – Relationship Management in the Digital Age
16:30 – The SBA Toolbox & Tools in Development
18:00 – Live AI Prompt Demo: HVAC Industry Use Case
23:30 – Creative Customer Retention Ideas from Other Industries
26:10 – Final Thoughts & Laughter from the Road
28:30 – Outro: Like & Subscribe

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.