YOUR BUSINESS CAN MAKE $1.2 MILLION AND STILL PUT YOU 60 DAYS FROM BANKRUPTCY

What if growing your business is actually keeping you trapped? In this episode of Business and Beyond’s Feature Friday, Tania Bartolini sits down with Mike DeJong, multi-unit franchise owner, turnaround specialist, and author of Grow Smart: Your Path to Transformation, Master the Transition from Operator to Owner. Mike grew a business to $1.2 million in its first year. Yet despite that impressive growth, he found himself just 60 days away from bankruptcy and trapped in the daily grind. He thought business ownership would give him freedom. Instead, that near-collapse forced him to rethink what it really means to own and grow a business. Today, Mike helps franchise owners and entrepreneurs escape the operator trap, build stronger businesses, and transition from being the person who does everything to becoming the owner who leads strategically. In this conversation, Mike shares insights on: • Why rapid business growth can create unexpected challenges • The difference between revenue, profitability, and true business freedom • How entrepreneurs become trapped working in their own businesses • What it takes to transition from operator to owner • How to build systems that allow a business to operate without you • Lessons from facing a business turnaround and the possibility of bankruptcy • Why sustainable growth requires more than simply increasing revenue Because revenue isn't the same as freedom. Growth isn't the same as profitability. And owning a business doesn't automatically make you an owner. If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or franchisee who wants to build a company that doesn't depend on you for every decision, this conversation is worth watching. Subscribe to Business and Beyond for more conversations with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and experts sharing practical lessons on business growth, leadership, strategy, and entrepreneurship.