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Scaling your agency doesn’t always require a bigger team or ad budget—it might just take smarter tools and systems. In this episode, I sit down with tech founder and agency owner Jeff Vanasdal, who built three AI-powered tools—BotMockups, ListBuilder.ai, and HelpDocs.ai—to eliminate bottlenecks, close more deals, and drive recurring revenue growth with zero ad spend.

Jeff didn’t start by building for others—he created these tools to fix his own fulfillment overwhelm. Then he scaled them. You’ll hear the story of how one hyper-personalized chatbot demo landed his first major client, launched his agency, and led to a fully systemized operation where his team now runs day-to-day without him.

We dig into building tools that sell, simplifying client acquisition, and the mindset shift from operator to CEO. If you're still in the weeds, Jeff’s story is your blueprint for scaling lean, leading with clarity, and creating margin to grow beyond yourself.

Connect with Jeff Vanasdal
Explore the AI tools Jeff built to help agency owners automate client acquisition and scale without ads. Follow him on Facebook or Instagram to learn more about BotMockups, ListBuilder.ai, and HelpDocs.ai.

Books Mentioned

• Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell
• Software Is Your Future (referred to as “Software as a Science” in the episode) by Dan Martell

🔗 Connect with Jeff Vanasdal
Want to see how Jeff is helping agency owners automate lead generation and scale with AI tools? Follow him on Facebook or Instagram for behind-the-scenes insight into BotMockups, ListBuilder.ai, and HelpDocs.ai.

🌟 Check out our podcast sponsor, Competitive Edge Business Consulting, and book your free discovery call with them today at www.CompEdgeConsulting.com 🌟

Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence.

• Free 30-Minute Discovery Call:
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  Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference.
  
  

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Most agency owners build a business around their skills—then hit a ceiling when those same skills become their greatest limitation. In this episode, I sit down with Drew Larison, founder of Five Door Media, to unpack the real shift that unlocked scale in his agency: moving from overwhelmed operator to visionary CEO. For leaders navigating growth, structure, and team development, this conversation cuts to the heart of what it truly means to lead at scale.

Drew shares how implementing EOS wasn’t just a process upgrade—it was a complete redefinition of leadership inside his agency. We explore the emotional friction of letting go, the identity shift that comes with the visionary seat, and the difference between running campaigns and building a company that multiplies impact through people. You’ll hear how his Five Door Method clarified client results, why his agency now audits client sales calls to improve performance, and what it looks like to create a framework that empowers scale without sacrificing culture.

This is a must-listen for agency founders who feel the weight of growth and know they need to shift from operator to architect. And near the end, Drew shares a powerful leadership story from his family that reframes everything we think we know about legacy, loyalty, and what truly defines a great leader.

Connect with Drew Larison
Follow Drew at @MrDrewLarison on Instagram or LinkedIn, and learn more at fivedoormedia.com. Be sure to check out The Five Door Media Podcast for deep-dive agency growth strategies.

Books Mentioned

• Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk
• 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy

🌟 Check out our podcast sponsor, Competitive Edge Business Consulting, and book your free discovery call with them today at www.CompEdgeConsulting.com 🌟

Support the show

Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence.

• Free 30-Minute Discovery Call:
  Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success.
  
  
• Special Offer:
  Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference.
  
  

Connect with Dr. William Attaway:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• YouTube

Send us a text

What if you could sit down with the investor who decides whether to fund or pass on a digital agency—and ask him exactly what he looks for?

In this episode, I do just that with Steve Walsh, private equity investor and founder of Bison Equity Group. With over 30 years of experience evaluating entrepreneurs and structuring capital strategies, Steve breaks down why most agencies aren’t investor-ready, what separates scalable leadership from burnout-driven hustle, and how recurring revenue models change the game when you’re building something beyond yourself.

We talk about what makes a founder fundable, why capital can kill growth if it comes too soon, and what leadership mindset shifts are required to transition from fulfillment-mode operator to strategic CEO. For agency owners thinking about growth, systemization, or preparing for an eventual exit, this conversation delivers clarity, insight, and hard truths that most don’t hear until it’s too late.

Whether you’ve already crossed the 7-figure mark or are on your way there, this episode is a roadmap to becoming the kind of leader—and building the kind of business—that investors want to bet on.

Books Mentioned

• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida
• 10X Is Easier Than 2X by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy
• Flip the Switch by Coach Micheal Burt

Connect with Steve Walsh
Access capital strategy tools and grab Steve’s book Make the 10X Leap at BisonEquityGroup.com, or connect with him directly at steve@bisonequitygroup.com.

Support the show

Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence.

• Free 30-Minute Discovery Call:
  Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success.
  
  
• Special Offer:
  Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference.
  
  

Connect with Dr. William Attaway:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• YouTube