Nick Strehle's Linkedin Analytics

Adrenaline isn’t a business strategy. And it runs out faster than you think. You’ve got about 18 months. That’s how long most business owners can run on adrenaline before reality sets in. In the beginning, you’re fired up. The ideas are flowing, the grind is exciting, and you tell yourself, “I’ll figure it out.” But then... 👉 The bank account isn’t growing fast enough. 👉 The team isn’t clicking. 👉 The decisions get heavier. And the energy that got you here? It’s running out. Fast. I've seen this in myself, clients, and plenty of prospects. It is real. The problem? Too many business owners waste those 18 months trying to figure it out alone. Or worse......only asking people who will tell them what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. Solution? Find the people who’ve been where you are. And I'll add actually made it through. Learn from them. Let them challenge you. The right help will get you out of the weeds before you burn out, not after. So here’s the real question: Are you asking the right people for help? Or just the ones who make you comfortable? I’ve worked with business owners who caught this early and those who waited too long. Guess which ones made it? If you’re ready to skip the hard (and expensive) lessons, let’s talk.

Celebrating Women in Business on International Women’s Day! Today, we’re not just recognizing women and celebrating the powerhouse force they bring to business. Women aren’t just participating in entrepreneurship; they’re redefining it. Their leadership, resilience, and vision aren’t just valuable and essential to long-term business success. Whether you're building, scaling, or leading, know this: Your strengths aren’t just assets; they’re competitive advantages. Let’s break down exactly why women excel in business—and how to own it. 💪🚀

I Was Drowning in Goals & Problems as a New Owner When I first started out, I could see everything— ❌ All the problems in the business ❌ All the goals I wanted us to achieve ❌ All my own personal goals on top of it It was too much. I kept working hard, but at the end of each week and month, I felt frustrated. No matter how much I did, I wasn’t making enough progress where it mattered. That’s when I built a system. Instead of trying to do everything, I focused on just three things at a time. 📌 3 big goals for the year 📌 3 monthly milestones for each goal 📌 3 weekly priorities 📌 3 daily tasks to move forward Moving forward is key, even if by an inch! And guess what? It worked. My frustration turned into progress. My business actually started scaling. 👉 Swipe through this carousel to see how the Rule of 3 can help you focus, execute, and grow. What’s the #1 thing overwhelming you right now? Drop it in the comments ⬇️

An attorney looks at your contracts. You start questioning everything. Here’s what both sides of selling a business really look like. This week I sat in on a talk from attorney Douglas Kim at the The Harbor Entrepreneur Center for the Insperity (thank you, Pamela Sullivan) breakfast series on what it really takes to sell your business from a legal point of view. It stirred up a lot. UGH! Memories from when I sold mine. Some of them good. Some of them gut-punching. Doug broke it down from the legal side. I started mentally stacking it up from the owner's side: - The late nights - The what-ifs - The second-guessing The weird mix of relief and loss when it’s all over Most owners think the hard part is getting the business ready for sale. But what most aren’t ready for is how the sale messes with your time, your head, your emotions, and your sense of identity. So I put together a visual: The Top 10 Legal Concerns vs. Top 10 Personal Impacts When Selling Your Business It’s for any owner who's even thinking about an exit, now or five years from now. Selling a business is a transfer of assets on paper But it’s a transfer of self in real life And if you’ve been through it or are in the middle of it, I'd love to hear your story. 👇

My friend called me last week, frustrated with the company’s owner. His boss is a CPA—smart, driven, and ambitious. But also stretched too thin. He owns four companies in different industries and still can’t let go. Every time he starts to delegate, insecurity creeps in. At least that's my take. I'm sure experts in micromanaging and perfectionism could also make a good case. He will suddenly, take tasks and responsibilities back, and the cycle repeats. My friend is stuck in the middle. He can’t run the company effectively because the owner won’t let him. And when he brings it up? The owner gets defensive. This isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. It’s an ownership problem. Many business owners get trapped here—caught between wanting to scale and fearing loss of control. In this case and many others I hear about, there's no way an owner can have control over anything including their time, making a profit, or building something they can sell. So, if this was your company, how would you break the cycle or advice would you give my friend?

99% of the News is Noise. The Other 1% Can Reshape Your Business. Most headlines won’t change how you run your company. But every now and then, a policy shift, a regulation, or a supply chain disruption sneaks in that fundamentally alters the playing field. The question isn't about news or politics. 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲? When you read articles like this [https://lnkd.in/ebRRir6J], don’t just skim them. 𝙐𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜! 🔍 Ask yourself: 1️⃣ If this policy goes through, how does it affect my costs, my supply chain, or my customers? 2️⃣ If this change disrupts my market, what’s my Plan B? 3️⃣ How can I position my business to not just survive—but take advantage of the shift? This is a chance to catch other business owners asleep at the helm. Most businesses react too late. Be the owner not tied to the daily operation so you can scenario plan. Be the one adjusting early, executing fast, and winning while others scramble. How do you track relevant news to adjust your strategy? Drop your approach in the comments. ⬇️

Sometimes, I feel like a broken record player, but many owners fail because they aren't improving their ownership abilities.

“You Need the Right Mindset.” Cool... But What Does That Actually Look Like? Every business podcast, coach, and book tells you to have a 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙚𝙩. But let’s be real... When your day gets hijacked by tech issues, missed calls, or team problems… mindset can feel like a buzzword, not a tool. So here’s what it actually sounds like in real life. Same problems. Two different inner conversations. One keeps you stuck. The other moves you forward. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶? ♻️ Repost to help your buddies out!

Stop Doomscrolling & Start Future-Proofing Your Business 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁—𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁. You open your phone for “just a second” and next thing you know, you’ve spent 20 minutes scrolling through news that has zero impact on your business. But what if you could turn that time into a competitive advantage? Instead of getting sucked into the latest drama, what if you had a system to filter out the noise, spot real business threats (and opportunities), and stay ahead of the game? ⚠️ A supplier raises prices by 20%—what’s your move? ⚠️ A new regulation could change your hiring strategy—are you prepared? ⚠️ Your customers are shifting their buying habits—did you see it coming? If your strategy is “wait and see,” you’re already behind. The business owners who win are the ones who track the right signals and act before it’s too late. Good news? I just put together a simple, no-BS guide on how to do exactly that. 👉 Grab the link in the first comment. (Spoiler: It also includes why you must stop treating your SWOT analysis like a one-and-done exercise.) Don’t let your doomscrolling go to waste—use it to make smarter business moves. 🚀

You don’t need more hustle. You need a new role. If you're still stuck answering every question, fixing every fire, and approving every little thing... You’re not owning your business. You’re operating it, just with a nicer title. I've walked that road for a few years while I figured things out. It almost brought down my company. It’s exhausting, and it doesn’t scale. Here are 5 signs you're still playing operator when it's time to step up as an owner. >> Swipe through and comment below which number hit hardest. 👇 Drop it below. Let’s get honest about where you’re stuck. You don't have to do this alone.

How a Guy Who Couldn’t Flip a Burger Built an Empire .... And What It Means for You I had a blast writing this one. Check the first comment for the link to The Falcon's View Newsletter to read the latest post. Not every day I get to mix movies, business, and the relentless pursuit of doing things better. But 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳? Oh, that was the perfect blend. It’s the story of how two brothers built a world-class burger business with a perfect system for their time. But they lost it all (~$2.5 billion) to a 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 with zero experience flipping patties. And here’s the kicker: business owners are 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 making these same mistakes today. Why struggle through hard lessons when we can fast-track success by learning from others' failures? In this breakdown, I dive into: 🍔 Why a great product isn’t enough if you don’t own the system 📈 How trusting the wrong partner can scale you out of your own business 🏡 Where the real money in business is, and why most owners miss it ✍️ The $2.5 billion handshake mistake that still stings today This one’s equal parts fun, brutal, and eye-opening. Don't miss it! Want the full breakdown? Subscribe to The Falcon’s View and avoid getting Kroc’d in your business. The link is in the first comment. ♻️ Repost for the owners who need a reminder trouble might be ahead.

Even though I'm the third generation in my family to own a company, I didn't know what that meant. My dad and I purchased a small company, and in the second year, I bought my dad out. Only then did I realize how much I had to learn. And learn what it meant to be a real business owner.... Real Business Owners Don’t Just Build Companies—They Build Legacies. You didn’t start your business just to make money. Profit, SURE!. But at the end of the day, what you really want is 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩. 👉 Respect from your family so they see you as a provider, a leader, someone who built something, not just someone who works nonstop. 👉 Respect from your team so they don’t see you as the overworked boss who “does it all” but as the visionary who built a company that thrives without micromanaging every move. 👉 Respect from your community so that when you walk into that local restaurant, school, or church, people know you as the one who built something lasting. Not the one who’s always too busy, too tired, or too stressed to be present. But here’s the truth most business owners avoid: You don’t get that level of respect by being the hardest worker in the room. You get it by being the owner. By building systems. By developing leaders. By stepping out of the daily grind and into real ownership. That’s what The Raptor Route is about. Turning overworked operators into respected business owners who run companies. They achieve a level of ownership where they focus on strategy, culture, and legacy. Not the daily operation. 🚀 Want that kind of ownership? DM me. Let’s make it happen. #BusinessOwnership #Legacy #ScalingUp #WorkOnNotIn #Entrepreneurship

Cash Flow Isn’t Why Businesses Fail... It's the owner not taking ownership. People love to say, “90% of businesses fail because of cash flow problems.” This gets my boxers all wadded up! 😠 Wrong. Cash flow is just the scoreboard. The real game is played by the founder. And most founders make the same critical mistakes: 🚨 They assume passion is enough. They never check if people will actually pay for their idea. 🎩 They don’t learn the roles. They think they can just "hire it out" without understanding the basics of marketing, sales, finance, and leadership. Or worse, do it all themselves. ⏳ They run out of time and energy. They give up before putting the entire puzzle together. 🙅‍♂️ They don’t ask for help soon enough. They try to muscle through alone instead of seeking mentors, advisors, or the right team. Better yet, Falcon Insight Partners (shameless plug). Until your business runs without you, you don’t own a business—you own a job. What do you think? Drop your thoughts below. Or prove me wrong! 👇

🔥 You Missed It. But It’s Not Too Late. This morning, while you were busy being Chief Everything Officer, the latest edition of The Falcon’s View took flight. If you’re tired of being the bottleneck in your own business, this one was for you. 🚀 What you missed: ✔ How to fire yourself from one task this week (without taking it back). ✔ Why your team isn’t thinking for themselves—and how to fix it. ✔ The simple way to get your processes out of your head so your business runs without you. If your business needs you every second of the day, you don’t own it—it owns you. This week’s edition was all about breaking free from that trap. 🦅 Don’t miss another flight. Subscribe now and step into true ownership: Tap the link in the first comment. P.S. What’s one task you’re firing yourself from this week? Comment below—I want to hear it.

My daughter is 12. And I already feel sick about how the world might (will) treat her. This article hit me hard: See the link in the first comment. As the dad of a 12-year-old daughter, I felt it deep in my gut. That sour-stomach urgency you get when you know this still happens. We’re not doing enough to stop it. I’m not naive enough to think this post changes the world. But we must do better. I’m speaking to all men and boys. But to my typical audience of business owners.... You are in a prime position to lead. To display and permit the right behaviors through what you tolerate, speak up about, and who you empower. Support the women in your organization. Make it known they are seen, heard, safe, and belong. And actually mean it. We’ve lived too long under the weight of an unspoken “Bro Code.” A culture of systemic disrespect. Decades of tolerated misogyny. That old code makes too many men stay silent when they should speak up. It has influence. It holds power. It makes good people hesitate. It’s time to rewrite it. The new “Bro Code” should include: 🔹Calling out the guy who thinks he’s being funny when he’s just being gross. 🔹Pointing out the one who doesn’t realize the damage he’s doing. 🔹Checking the friend who never grew up or never learned better. You don’t have to be a dad to care. But being one? It puts it in full view. It makes me cringe thinking about how my daughter will be treated. She might only be 12, but she’s my daughter forever. And every woman out there is someone’s daughter. She deserves to walk through this world without fear, shame, or harassment. Yes..........that includes the “𝗷𝗼𝗸𝗲𝘀.” That includes unwanted groping. That includes the crap people excuse with “boys will be boys.” Let’s speak up. Let’s show up. Let’s raise the standard.

Can you break your success down into just two numbers? Before my calendar was dominated by shuttling kids to practices, school, and about 500 other things a week, but I had a passion for cycling. I would sign up for grueling 50-80 mile mountain races. The training was serious, and like any competitive cyclist, I tracked my progress. Yes, I geeked out on the numbers and learning about the body...All of it! Ask me how VO2 is the longevity golden ticket. But here’s the thing: I didn’t need 50 different metrics to know if I was improving. I only needed two—FTP (Functional Threshold Power) and the difference between the ATL (Acute Training Load) and CTL (Chronic Training Load) [thank you, TrainingPeaks]. Those two numbers told me if I was getting stronger, recovering properly, and ready for the next race. Your business (or personal lives) works the same way. You could track thousands of different numbers in your company. But do you really need to? If you understand your business deeply—if you truly own it—you only need to focus on the two numbers that tell you everything about your company’s health. For me, when I ran my company, those numbers were labor efficiency ratio and cash flow. Every week, I checked them like a coach watching game film. They told me if we were on track, if something was slipping, and where we needed to focus. So here’s my question for you: If you had to choose only two numbers to measure your success, what would they be? 👇 Drop them in the comments. I’d love to hear how you think about this. (Bonus: I’ll include a picture of my cycling days and a throwback of my kids learning to ride—because we all start somewhere.)

The 311-Year-Old Lesson in Mastery Last week, a 311-year-old Stradivarius violin sold for $11.25 million at Sotheby’s. Think about that. A violin, crafted centuries ago, still holds more value than most businesses ever will. Why? Because Antonio Stradivari never stopped learning. Born in 1644, he wasn’t a prodigy. He didn’t start out as a master luthier. But he refused to accept "good enough." At a time when most craftsmen followed tradition blindly, Stradivari obsessed over every detail—wood selection, varnish composition, arching techniques. While others relied on convention, he experimented relentlessly. His "Golden Period" of violin-making didn’t even begin until he was in his 60s. Think about that. Seriously! Most of you are looking to retire by 60! While others his age settled into their ways, he pushed further. He refined, tested, failed, and improved—right up until his final years. The result? His violins outlive empires. Stradivari’s legacy isn’t in his name. It’s in his relentless pursuit of mastery. The moment you believe you’ve “made it,” you’ve lost. But as long as you remain a student, your best work is still ahead. So, I’ll leave you with this: What craft are you still refining? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear.

One Million Cups: Where community, caffeine, and clarity collide. This morning’s speaker was Pierre Deas from Stono River Auto Spa. And let me tell you, Pierre made us all look in the mirror, and then look at our cars. He dropped some analogies that hit a little too close to home. Leaving your car dirty is like spending a full day at the beach without sunscreen or water. Or skipping the dentist for five years and still expecting a clean bill of health. Point taken: we are dirty people. And our cars deserve better. Beyond the playful guilt trip, Pierre quickly built trust and authority. The guy knows his stuff, and makes you think differently about keeping your car in showroom shape. (Check the comments for links to his socials—you’ll want to follow him.) We also had some great first timers in the room today. I got to meet Joe Gallagher Jr., who’s breaking culinary stereotypes with authentic Italian sauces. Yes, I know—Gallagher and “authentic Italian” sound like oil and vinegar… until he tells you his grandmother’s from Naples (the real one, not Florida). Also met Christine D. Johnson, MHRIR, SHRM-CP with Art Journey to Inner Peace. She’s got an exhibit opening this Friday in Park Circle—go see her work. It’s bold, it’s colorful, it’s a dose of joy in a noisy world. If you’re not showing up to these local events, you’re missing the heartbeat of your business community. Grateful to be a part of it. #OneMillionCups #CharlestonBusiness #LocalLegends #BusinessOwnership #CommunityMatters Campbell Wiltshire Megan Brown ☕️ Frank 💜 Wells Dana Halpern Pierre Deas Thomas Heath Toni Stone Rebecca Atwood Shoshanna Richek, CFNC Jimmy Farrell David Horine, ChSNC®, ChFC®, CFFM Tom Schipper Mark Gunkel Gerard "Jerry" Pepin, MBA Christine Marley Justin Tapp Trevor Crunelle Thomas Perez Jon Stroud Kayla Sewell Michael Renault

Ninety people. One room. One community. That’s what showed up this morning at 1Million Cups Charleston. And it wasn’t just the number—it was the energy. I didn’t see Thomas Heath in the room today, who typically completes these posts, so please forgive me if my message isn’t up to his expert standards. David Horine, ChSNC®, ChFC®, CFFM took the mic to introduce his new firm, Mount Pleasant Tax. Let me say this: if you’re a business owner or just someone staring down tax season with a sigh and a spreadsheet….DAVID IS YOUR GUY. He brings strategy, not just prep work. And in a town like Charleston, at this time of year? Much needed. He’s sharp, generous with his time, and worth a conversation. We were also lucky to have Melissa Fiore from the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce in the house. Melissa has this superpower of connecting people and making sure they feel seen. She doesn’t just “welcome” new Chamber members… she roots for them. The kind of person who makes you believe bigger things are possible. Grateful to have her in the mix. Charleston’s entrepreneurial scene is showing up in force. If you haven’t been to 1MC at Frothy Beard on a Wednesday morning, make it happen. Real people. Real connections. And, yeah, good coffee too. Let’s build more mornings like this. Mark Gunkel, Casey Carver, Tom Schipper, Megan Brown ☕️, Campbell Wiltshire, Joseph (Joe) Moody, Gerard "Jerry" Pepin, MBA, Toni Stone, Christine Marley, Justin Tapp, Trevor Crunelle, Thomas Perez, Frank 💜 Wells, Dana Halpern, Jon Stroud, Aaron Holley, Shoshanna Richek, CFNC, Renee Allison-Riley, CSA, CDP, Tom Jacobs, Darren Mize, ASA, Sophia Perlee, Kayla Sewell, Toby Palmer, Jackie Trail Kohlhepp, SHRM-SCP, LISW-AP, Rebecca Atwood, Harry Seel, Michael Renault, Courtney Stearn, DPT