In this episode, I sit down with Mike Truitt to talk about his path from inside sales to business ownership, what it looked like to buy Disney McLane with his business partner, Craig, in 2007, and how they grew and eventually sold the company.

We also get into what the business actually does, how they expanded across multiple states, and what it means to lead a company through a recession.

Mike shares lessons on choosing the right business partner, retaining employees, reinvesting in people, and planning an exit years before you take it. We also talk about the discipline he took from his military family, what real pressure looks like, and the advice from his dad that still guides him today: sharpen your pencil.

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00:01 Intro and why Mike’s story matters
01:42 Early jobs and how he got into Disney McLane
03:41 Buying the business in 2007 and selling in 2020
04:34 What Disney McLane actually does
08:12 Taking over right before the 2008 recession
10:55 Growing territory, lines, and offices
13:47 Choosing the right business partner
17:09 Retention, rewards, and taking care of employees
23:06 What he would and wouldn’t do differently
24:35 Exit strategy and grooming the next owners
29:22 Reinvesting in the business and standing out
33:00 Investing, side ventures, and the gas station
37:23 Military background and lessons on discipline
40:47 What real pressure looks like
44:45 Family history and tracing the Truitt tree
51:12 Rapid fire round
56:05 Final wisdom