In this episode, Laurie Barkman is joined by Dr. Brianna Rhue, optometrist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Dr Contact Lens. Brianna shares her journey from a private practice owner to a tech maven, driven by the need to solve a critical "leaky bucket" problem: doctors losing contact lens sales to online retailers. She discusses the "entrepreneurial gene", the power of a "chip on your shoulder", and the lessons learned in building a full-blown tech platform from scratch.

💬 Quote from Brianna: "You have to get a really thick skin... as an entrepreneur, you are going to pave roads and you're gonna get arrows shot at your back. You're gonna get knocked off, you're gonna get made fun of... And if you don't have that core belief in yourself of your why, it makes those days really, really hard."

Key Takeaways:
💡 How the "entrepreneurial gene" is planted by early exposure to risk and observing the "ups and downs".

👥 Why a "chip on your shoulder," often formed from childhood experiences, can be essential energy for an entrepreneur.

💰 The steep transition from medicine to tech, and learning a new language of SaaS, CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost), and LTV (Lifetime Value).

🏦 How Doctor Contact Lens solves the "leaky bucket" problem of doctors losing recurring revenue to online retailers.

🤝 Brianna's "Three Frogs" method for daily productivity: one joy, one easy, and one hard task to move the business forward.

🎧 Tune in to Succession Stories to learn how to identify a major pain point in your industry and build a tech solution to solve it.

This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa®

📣 Write a Podcast Review: ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

🎧 Tune in to learn the realities of entrepreneurship through acquisition, from the search process to surviving economic uncertainty in the first year.

Laurie Barkman sits down with Aashay Kumar, owner of Tri-Form, Inc. Aashay shares his story of leaving a corporate career to buy an existing manufacturing business. He demystifies the process of entrepreneurship through acquisition. Listen in as Aashay reflects on his acquisition journey including stealth search process, securing an SBA loan, diligence misses, and the ups and downs of the first 15 months of ownership.

💬Quote from Aashay Kumar:
"Take the approach of being a learner from day one. Always ask questions. Always do more research than you think you have to, and be humble throughout the process." ________________________________________________________________________

Key Takeaways:
💡 Why buy vs. start: The value of buying a business with positive cash flow, especially if you don't have a specific problem you are trying to solve.

👥 Independent search vs. search fund: Why Aashay chose an independent path to maintain full ownership and control, rather than being diluted by a search fund.

💰 How to finance the deal: A look at navigating SBA loans, negotiating with multiple banks, and using a seller financing note to structure the deal.

🏦 The diligence "misses" to watch for: Aashay shares what he overlooked, including the condition of the building and smaller assets like a company truck.

🤝 "Fit first, financials second": Why the cultural fit and relationship with the prior owners (and their family members in the business) was a critical, non-negotiable part of the deal.

This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa®

📣 Write a Podcast Review: ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aashaykumar

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tri-form-inc/

What does it take to finance a business transition or acquisition? In this episode, Laurie Barkman sits down with David Miller, Executive Vice President at Enterprise Bank, to demystify lending for business owners — from SBA loans to insider buyouts.

David shares how banks assess deals, why management continuity matters most, and how entrepreneurs can become "bankable" when it's time to grow or exit.

💬 Quote from David Miller:

"Don't think you can't buy a business just because you're not personally wealthy. If you have the right skillset and knowledge of the industry, there are flexible ways to make it happen."

Key Takeaways:

💡 How SBA loans act as an "insurance policy" for banks — and a growth tool for small businesses.

👥 Why insider buyouts often outperform private equity or third-party acquisitions.

💰 How to match financing structures to your business goals and cash flow needs.

🏦 What "being bankable" really means — and how to build it before you need it.

🤝 Why having the right professional team (CPA, attorney, advisor) is critical in any business transition.

🎧 Tune in to Succession Stories to learn practical strategies for financing growth, buying a business, or preparing for your own successful exit.

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook: btsherpa.com/book

📣 Write a Podcast Review: ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

Special thanks to Ryan Nolf, Marketing Director, for producing this Succession Stories episode live in studio at Enterprise Marketing.