Jim Schultz started his company, Applied Educational Systems (AES), with a $2,500 investment out of his parents' basement.

Thirty-six years later, he sold it.

But he had to survive reinvention first.

We talk about the bold decision to walk away from a successful business model and rebuild the company from the ground up. The transition wasn't easy. Revenue disappeared, the team shrank dramatically, and Jim and his wife emptied retirement accounts to keep the vision alive.

Jim shares what he learned about leadership, recurring revenue, building a strong management team, and why waiting until you're ready to sell is too late to start preparing for an exit.

If you're building a company, leading through change, or thinking about what comes next, this conversation is full of lessons earned the hard way.

Build Something Magnetic.

Jason Leck started working on the back of a recycling truck when he was 12 years old.

Most people would see that as a job.

Jason saw it as an education.

In this episode, we talk about the leadership lessons he learned from working every level of a family business before eventually growing it into a multi-state operation and selling it for $30M+.

One of the biggest takeaways?

You can’t manage what you can't measure.

Too many business owners make decisions from a spreadsheet without understanding how those decisions affect the people doing the work.

Jason shares how focusing on culture, knowing his numbers, and building a long-term strategic plan helped turn a $7M company into a $30M business.

We also dive into what really happens during the sale process, the mistakes founders make when preparing for an exit, and why most entrepreneurs start planning far too late.

If you're building a business, scaling a team, or thinking about an eventual exit, this conversation is packed with practical lessons you can apply right now.

Build Something Magnetic.

Most business owners will only sell a company once.

That gap in experience between owners and buyers can cost you millions.

That's why I created The 5 Year Exit!

I'm sitting down with founders, CEOs, investors, M&A advisors, and acquisition experts to uncover what actually creates value in your business and what separates an average exit from a life-changing one.

After recording the first 12 episodes, these three themes kept showing up.

Whether you're planning to sell in five years, fifteen years, or just want to build a stronger business today, this podcast is designed to help you create more freedom, more value, and more options.

Build Something Magnetic with Magnetic Consulting