#432: Why More Growth Won’t Set You Free (And What Will) with Nick Bradley

More revenue, more employees, and more complexity can actually pull you deeper into the day-to-day grind—unless your business is structured the right way. 

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In this episode, I sit down with Nick Bradley, a business growth strategist and private equity veteran who has worked on billion-dollar deals and now helps business owners scale with purpose. We dive into the hidden traps of scaling, why private equity firms are changing their approach, and how to transition from being stuck in the business to running it like an investor. 

We also get into the critical distinction between cash flow and strategic valuation, why most exit planning advice is broken, and how owners can create optionality—whether they want to sell or simply step back from the daily grind. If you’re wondering how to build a business that truly works for you, this episode is a must-listen.

Nick Bradley is a business growth strategist, entrepreneur, and private equity veteran who has built, bought, and sold over 100 businesses. With a background in high-stakes M&A and multi-billion-dollar exits, he now helps business owners scale with purpose—focusing on sustainable value creation, strategic exits, and operational independence. As the host of the Scale Up with Nick Bradley podcast and a sought-after advisor, Nick specializes in transforming businesses into scalable, sellable assets while helping owners reclaim their time and financial freedom. 

Chapters:  

• (00:00) Introduction of Nick Bradley, his background in private equity 

• (03:42) Discussion on exit planning and its meaning for owner-operators 

• (08:06) Investment bankers vs. private equity operating partners 

• (14:33) Nick's focus on service-based businesses and scaling strategy 

• (18:52) Two business types: lifestyle vs. growth-focused companies 

• (26:42) Addiction to goal achievement, clear personal vision before business goals 

• (31:29) Understanding the constraints of time, cashflow, and wealth 

• (40:11) The value of short-term actions and three-year planning horizons 

• (54:31) Lifestyle businesses, income realities for business owners in the messy middle 

• (01:14:45) Private equity evolution and adaptation to higher interest rates 

• (01:27:08) The power of niching down in service-based businesses 

• (01:40:45) Building a sustainable business model for uncertain times 

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Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals.