Impact with Eddie Wilson

Dec 2

What if real leadership isn’t about holding power tighter but knowing when to give it back? In this episode Eddie Wilson unpacks the story of Cincinnatus, the Roman farmer who was pulled from his field, given absolute power as dictator, saved Rome in just 15 days and then walked away to go back to his plow. Eddie uses this ancient story to challenge modern leaders, founders, and parents who never “asked” to lead but now have people watching them, along with breaking three core leadership truths. From business owners stuck at the $5M ceiling because they won’t relinquish control, to parents learning when to let their kids fail and grow, to politicians who “die in the spotlight” because they hold power too long, this episode will force you to ask: Am I building something that shines without me, or something that only works as long as I’m in the room? TIME STAMPS: 00:00 – Leadership isn’t ego, it’s letting go 00:37 – Who is Cincinnatus? The farmer turned Roman dictator 01:32 – When leadership finds you 02:44 – For leaders who never asked to lead but answered the call 04:21 – Accepting the role: abandoning what was, embracing what is 05:37 – In one day: from farmer’s clothes to dictator’s robe 07:41 – Overnight march, citizen soldiers, and outmaneuvering the enemy 09:39 – Victory in 15 days and Cincinnatus walks away from power 11:34 – Lesson #1: Power is a tool, not a throne 14:00 – Lesson #2: True leaders know when to step up and step away 15:42 – Why most small businesses never get past $5M 16:16 – Letting go as a parent: leading sons at different stages 17:51 – Lesson #3: Discipline over dominance restraint is greatness 19:56 – Give your followers the credit, not yourself 21:09 – Are you building a business that can thrive without you? 22:03 – Don’t just build for power; build for peace 22:47 – When leaders hold power too long: politics, ego, and dying in the spotlight 25:09 – Final challenge: use power as a tool, then let it go Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 25

Most founders don’t have a business problem, they have a decision problem. In this hard-hitting episode, Eddie Wilson reframes “violence” not as physical aggression, but as surgical intensity: the courage to cut people, systems, and revenue that are quietly killing your empire. Using a story from the Continental Congress, memories of his father’s quiet strength, and real world examples from his own companies, while breaking down three “violent” decisions every empire builder must make. You’ll learn why delay is often just fear in disguise, why your gut as a solid operator is rarely wrong, how to think in terms of protecting your future instead of punishing the past, and why “profit that costs purpose is way too expensive.” Eddie closes with three piercing questions to audit your life, business, and relationships so you can finally make the cuts you already know you need to make. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Franklin vs. Adams & the danger of endless diplomacy 02:03 – Empires require clear, courageous, sometimes ruthless decisions 03:01 – Eddie’s dad’s quiet strength 06:27 – Defining “violence” in business: not fists, but focus and surgical intensity 08:09 – Why most founders avoid “violent” decisions: indecision, loyalty, and “not burning bridges” 10:03 – Trusting your gut vs. over-rationalizing what people have already shown you 10:45 – Violent Decision #1: The courage to cut 16:15 – You’re not punishing the past; you’re protecting your future 17:19 – Who in your organization is no longer qualified to carry what’s next? 17:48 – Violent Decision #2: Burn what’s comfortable but broken 19:28 – Violent Decision #3: Kill the wrong revenue 21:40 – “Profit that costs purpose is way too expensive” 22:02 – What “violence” actually looks like 25:11 – Empire builders don’t swing wildly; they strike strategically and on time 26:06 – Three questions: What are you tolerating out of fear, what are you delaying, and what “violence” does your empire need today? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 18

Most founders aren’t failing, they’re just sitting in the wrong seat. In this episode, Eddie breaks down the three seats in every business Owner, Operator, CEO, and shows you how blurred lines create bottlenecks, burnout, and stalled growth. You’ll learn what each seat actually owns, how to transition from Operator to CEO without the business collapsing, why systems are better than sweat, and the exact one week challenge to audit your calendar, color code your tasks, and offload what keeps you stuck. If you want scale, rest, and real freedom, this is your roadmap. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Why most founders are stuck: wrong seat, blurred lines. 02:36 – Clarity brings freedom: define Owner, Operator, CEO. 03:47 – The Owner seat: equity, decision rights, profit participation. 07:03 – The Operator seat: in the weeds, approvals, bottlenecks. 11:17 – The CEO seat: strategy, culture, leading leaders systems, not sweat. 13:11 – Think in quarters and years, not hours and days. 14:21 – Review data over drama; build rhythm and plan the exit. 16:26 – Step 1: identify all seats you’re sitting in now. 17:05 – Phase 1 Operator season: necessary, but temporary. 18:49 – Transition to CEO: delegate, lead by metrics, replace yourself. 22:14 – Why visionaries must reach CEO: scale, sell, rest. 24:33 – The one week challenge: audit calendar, color code, offload. 27:13 – Decide to shift now; empires aren’t built by do it alls. 27:58 – Final line: “Design everything to get done without you.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 4

In this high impact episode, Eddie opens the “lost files” of The Titan Doctrine and shows you how to remove the wrong leaders and elevate the right ones using an ancient battlefield lesson from Gideon’s 300. You’ll learn the three non-negotiable filters for leadership; Vision Loyalty, Mental Toughness, and Situational Awareness, and exactly how to apply them to your org today: prune your leadership team regularly, elevate by behavior not tenure, and protect the inner circle like your blueprint depends on it. If your team is talented but inconsistent, this framework will help you build trust at the top, align to a bigger vision, and stop fear based, reactive leadership before it spreads. Thank you to our Sponsor Collars & Co. Visit collarsandco.com and use the promo code IMPACT20 for 20% off. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – “Lost files” of The Titan Doctrine & ancient wisdom lens for leadership. 02:25 – Gideon’s battlefield: from 32,000 to 300 through fear & awareness tests. 05:19 – Filter #1: Fear Test 07:24 – Filter #2: Water Test 09:19 – Synthesis: God kept the focused & the disciplined. 10:06 – Vision Loyalty: mission over personality. 13:12 – Mental Toughness: calm under pressure, no fear-based decisions. 15:13 – Situational Awareness: eyes up, anticipate what’s next. 19:27 – Application #1: Prune your leadership team annually. 20:18 – Application #2: Elevate by behavior, not tenure. 21:22 – Application #3: Protect the inner circle. 23:28 – Three self audit questions for your inner circle. 28:14 – Closing truths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 28

An historic opportunity is here: 2–3 million Baby Boomer owners are exiting their companies, and most aren’t prepared to sell. Eddie brings in veteran dealmaker Matt Uhler (800+ transactions; owner in ~20 companies) to teach you exactly how to spot, finance, and operate a business that gives you freedom, not another job. You’ll learn what to look for, what to avoid, how to fund deals, the first 90 day moves, and a counterintuitive win-win negotiation approach sellers actually embrace. Real stories make this a practical masterclass for first-time buyers and seasoned operators alike. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Why this episode is different + guest intro 01:20 – The Baby Boomer exit wave: 2–3M owners leaving businesses 04:05 – What percentage of listed businesses actually sell & why 06:13 – Owners treat businesses like jobs vs assets 07:18 – Buyer’s filter: look for a recipe + positive financial trend 09:11 – Plane losing altitude analogy: why amateurs crash turnarounds 11:39 – Eddie’s “scale to the moon” vs Matt’s Main Street base-hit strategy 13:23 – First time buyers: start smaller; mind the five pillars 16:20 – 2020 Pandemic case study: stress, communication cadence, core competencies 20:26 – Funding deals: SBA, income producing debt, keep liquidity 22:48 – Don’t go solo: representation, comps, and avoiding listing traps 26:11 – KPIs & first diligence pass: can it pay for itself and you? 28:18 – Add-backs that aren’t bankable = deal killers 30:17 – First 90 days: third party accounting, protect the recipe 34:22 – How to correct operators without breaking the relationship 36:35 – Coaching his son’s buy: distressed appearance, fair multiple, inventory 38:32 – Negotiation masterclass: don’t corner sellers; preserve goodwill 43:34 – Cautions: stay in your core competency; test returns backwards 45:46 – Worst deal walked away from: people > numbers 49:08 – Three things to check: financials, customer proof, owner integrity 49:53 – What is a “business empire” now? Freedom, diversification, impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 21

Are you building a business, or a prison? In this vulnerable, practical episode, Eddie unpacks the Founder Identity Crisis: how pouring yourself into your company creates an identity exchange that can warp decisions, stunt growth, and make healthy exits impossible. He shares the three warning signs your identity is tied to the business and a clear, repeatable framework to break free: create emotional separation by treating the business as an asset, journal wins & failures as data (not identity), clarify your calling vs. your company, and build systems so you’re not mission critical. With candid stories, Eddie shows how to lead as the architect, not the empire, and why your calling is bigger than any company you’ll ever build. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Welcome & topic: the Founder Identity Crisis 00:48 – The identity exchange: pour into the business, it gives you identity 01:51 – Why detaching identity leads to better decisions 02:17 – Becoming the business, then struggling to exit 03:16 – 2019 exits & post-exit depression: “life-changing money… but empty” 05:24 – Sign #1: Emotions track your P&L (your worth ≠ income) 06:51 – Sign #2: You can’t picture the business without you; delegation fear, sabotage 08:03 – Sign #3: You don’t know who you are outside the role 09:30 – Step 1: Create emotional separation—treat it as an asset 10:20 – “Asset leader” language & stewardship mindset 11:36 – Journal wins, and journal your failures as data, not identity 13:10 – Step 2: Clarify calling vs company 15:07 – Calling > brand: purpose bigger than logo, site, or P&L 16:48 – Step 3: Build systems so you’re not mission-critical 17:33 – “Grow by vision, not constant involvement” 18:20 – Howard Schultz/Starbucks: founder identity vs scaling well 21:29 – Eddie’s temptation to return & choosing “no” to protect calling 22:37 – You’re the architect, not the empire; your calling is higher 23:22 – Legacy > business: raising his sons, serving through Impact Others 24:33 – Final charge: find identity in who you are, not what you build Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 7

Foundations beat tactics. In this powerful episode, Eddie Wilson unpacks Proverbs 4:23, “Guard your heart” and shows why your inputs (media, music, conversations, relationships, beliefs) inevitably become your outputs (words, decisions, results). From defining the “heart” as your thoughts, desires, and will, to a practical, 5-step Daily Heart Check, Eddie equips leaders to replace negativity with truth, protect emotions without going numb, and set boundaries that lift everyone around them. He also shares moving stories about forgiveness, perspective, and gratitude that demonstrate how guarding your heart transforms your life, leadership, and legacy. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Foundations vs tactics: why anchors matter 00:39 – Worldview & order: the architect behind creation 03:39 – Scripture as foundation: timeless truths for everyone 04:23 – Proverbs 4:23 explained: “Guard your heart” 05:16 – What “heart” means: thoughts, desires, will 06:34 – Reverse engineering your results: fix inputs, not just actions 07:35 – Scripture cross-check (Luke): overflow of the heart → life 09:23 – Leadership ripple: your input → their outcome 10:46 – Guarding ≠ walls: the heart as a garden 12:27 – “Hurt people hurt people”: why inputs drive reactions 14:07 – Step 1: Guard your inputs (think on true/honest/just) 17:12 – Step 2: Anchor in capital-T Truth (Scripture/constitution) 19:41 – Step 3: Monitor thoughts; replace lies with truth 21:28 – Step 4: Set relational boundaries (influence ≠ access) 23:07 – Step 5: Protect emotions—be a person of action, not reaction 24:25 – Stay spiritually alert: battle the right enemy 25:07 – Daily Heart Check: the 5-part routine 26:29 – Gratitude reset story: perspective that heals 29:23 – Relational filter & prayer/meditation release 30:22 – Closing: guard inputs → experience abundant life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 16

Thinking about teaming up with a co-founder or equity partner? In this no-fluff masterclass, Eddie Wilson breaks down why most partnerships fail and exactly how to build one that scales instead of sinks. You’ll learn the biggest red flags (undefined decision rights, uneven value/capital, no operating agreement/buy-sell, “visionary only” partners), when to partner for acceleration, not rescue, and the five non-negotiable boundaries that keep alliances healthy: mission first, clearly assigned roles, document everything, regular check-ins, and plan the exit before you start. Eddie also contrasts Buffett/Munger with Jobs/Wozniak to show how partnerships must evolve, or be restructured for scale. If you’re a founder, investor, or exec considering a JV or co-founder, this playbook will help you prevent conflict, protect value, and multiply your mission. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – The Partnership Paradox: great alliances scale empires; bad ones sink ships 01:15 – Why partnerships fail: passion without clarity = conflict 02:07 – “Where there’s no communication, negativity fills the void” 04:19 – #1 failure: assumed alignment without defined roles 04:56 – Red flags: decision rights, uneven value/capital, no buy-sell, “visionary-only” partner 06:59 – Don’t partner for help : partner for acceleration 08:14 – Benefits done right: complementary strengths & radical honesty 10:04 – Offense vs defense: dividing roles to scale sanely 11:40 – Shared capital/credibility + “Both partners must bring a Brick (core KPI)” 12:43 – The 5 boundaries: mission, roles, documentation, check-ins, plan the exit 14:04 – North Star example: Impact Others as the mission 16:34 – Same-page weeklys & quarterly vision alignment 17:42 – Build the off-ramp before you enter the highway (buy-sell) 18:54 – Case studies: Buffett/Munger vs Jobs/Wozniak 23:47 – Partnerships are force multipliers, only if forged in clarity 24:10 – Call to action: mission alignment, equal investment, written agreement Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.