In this episode of The Intentional Owner, co-hosts Kaustubh Deo and Sam Rosati unpack what it looks like to build a fulfilling life around small business ownership without sacrificing long-term goals. Framed around personal goal setting, competing priorities, and everyday tradeoffs, the episode offers a candid look at how both hosts are trying to design lives that support sustainability—not just scale.

They share stories of recent chaos, from moving mishaps and work-life boundaries to surprise break-ins and activity trackers, all while reflecting on how much structure is enough to keep life moving forward without being overly rigid.

They also discuss:

• The tension between goal-setting and adaptability in both life and business

• How to balance ambition with long-term personal sustainability

• Frameworks like EOS and the Vision Traction Organizer for business planning

• The opportunity cost of hobbies and how personal priorities evolve with family

• Leveraging tools like KPI dashboards and Google Sheets for operational clarity

• The importance of community, fitness, and calendaring for intentional living

This episode is a thoughtful, unfiltered conversation for anyone navigating the overlap between business ownership, relationships, and building a meaningful life—one decision at a time.

Kaustubh on Substack - https://bigdealsmallbusiness.substack.com/p/read-me-first

Sam on X - https://x.com/Sam_Rosati

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:08) - Catching up

(00:14:39) - Setting meaningful goals

(00:20:34) - BHAGs

(00:22:47) - M&A Approaches

(00:26:53) - Goal setting at Blooma and at home

(00:33:48) - Maintaing friendships

(00:45:35) - Living with a long-distance SO

(00:48:50) - Priority tradeoffs

In this episode of The Intentional Owner, co-hosts Kaustubh Deo and Sam Rosati explore the concept of time prioritization and how small business owners can focus on non-urgent but important tasks to drive long-term success. They frame the conversation around the Eisenhower Matrix, examining how founders often get stuck in reactive decision-making and struggle to create space for deeper work.

Kaustubh shares specific examples from running Blooma Tree Experts, including how written scopes of work, real estate planning, and lead attribution have impacted operations. Sam and Kaustubh also dive into how to build organizational trust, encourage team accountability, and design business systems that reward consistent, strategic effort—rather than firefighting.

They also discuss:

• Why task repetition builds a strong accountability culture over time

• How new service lines like tree healthcare create stickier customer relationships

• The limits of capital and people in high-leverage small businesses

• Mental models for hiring, equipment investment, and lease decisions

• The role of consistency, presence, and humility in earning team respect

• How a fitness challenge turned into a real-time case study in incentive design

This episode blends tactical insight with personal reflection, offering a grounded look at how owners can lead intentionally—one week, one system, and one habit at a time.

Links:

Kaustubh on Substack - https://bigdealsmallbusiness.substack.com/p/read-me-first

Sam on X - https://x.com/Sam_Rosati

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:49) - The Eisenhower Matrix

(00:04:36) - Applying the EM to Blooma

(00:13:55) - Generating trust with teams

(00:21:03) - What investments do you want to make but lack people/capital? How are you going to solve that?

(00:27:08) - Kaustubh’s decision to pursue different revenue channels and non-linear growth

(00:36:52) - Updates on the fitness competition

In this episode of The Intentional Owner, co-hosts Kaustubh Deo and Sam Rosati unpack the concept of personal non-negotiables and what it takes to make business ownership sustainable over the long haul. What begins as a reflection on physical health quickly evolves into a broader conversation about habit formation, time prioritization, and the limits of willpower.

Kaustubh shares his recent experience becoming a certified arborist while leading Blooma Tree Experts. The two reflect on the difference between project-based discipline and long-term personal routines. Together, they explore a healthy operating rhythm for owners who want to stay in the game for years, not just quarters.

They also discuss:

• Why many business owners neglect their physical health despite having time

• The difference between startup energy and long-term operational sustainability

• How habit stacking and decision fatigue shape daily behavior

• Building accountability through competition and peer support

• Designing boundaries around work, family, and wellness

• How ownership allows for time control but requires discipline to use it well

This episode is a candid, tactical look at the intersection of personal growth and business responsibility, perfect for any owner working to align their health, habits, and leadership.

Links:

Kaustubh on Substack - https://bigdealsmallbusiness.substack.com/p/read-me-first

Sam on X - https://x.com/Sam_Rosati

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:12) - Catching up

(00:04:39) - Buying businesses where certification is required to operate them

(00:10:45) - Personal and Professional Non-Negotiables

(00:14:17) - Making physical fitness a priority

(00:29:50) - Creating a competition for fitness

(00:34:03) - Tactical Tips: What Sam and Kaustubh keep in their golf bags