In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Eric Coonrod, founder of E. Coonrod & Co. and author of The Preparation Principle, to break down the real truth behind selling a business. We dive into the hidden friction of M&A, the psychology of founders during exit, and what it actually takes to prepare for a successful transition—before, during, and after the deal.

Key Takeaways

1. Most founders underestimate the time, cost, and emotional toll of selling a business.
2. The best time to prepare for a sale is the day you start the company.
3. Identity loss post-sale is one of the biggest blind spots entrepreneurs face.
4. Deal fatigue and seller’s remorse derail more deals than lack of opportunity.
5. The right team (M&A attorney, tax advisor, wealth manager, accountant) is non-negotiable.

Quotes

• “Deal fatigue is real and it kills more deals than bad offers.” – Eric Coonrod
• “Your business isn’t just your income. It’s your identity.” – Eric Coonrod
• “The best time to prepare for a sale is the day you start the company.” – Eric Coonrod

Connect with Eric Coonrod
📧 eric@ecoonrod.com
🌐 https://ecoonrodco.com

📘 The Preparation Principle on Amazon

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Alignment First. Progress Always.

#AlignmentFirst #Leadership #MandA #IdentityLeadership #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #Business #PeacePresencePower

What if your leadership ceiling isn’t a strategy problem…but a health and self-awareness problem?

In this episode of Alignment First, I sit down with Dr. Pat Boulogne — chiropractor, acupuncturist, entrepreneur, and executive mentor — for one of the most wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversations I’ve had on the show.

From selling lemonade at four years old to building and exiting a high-volume chiropractic practice, to mentoring executives on judgment and sustainable performance, Dr. Pat embodies integration.

Dr. Pat breaks down her three-brain model (reptile, mammalian, and conscious) and how most leaders are unknowingly operating from reactive survival patterns instead of conscious leadership.

If you want durable performance physically, mentally, financially, you must upgrade the quality of your internal dialogue and the inputs you tolerate.

We also unpack:

• Functional medicine vs. sick care

• Why early symptoms are data, not inconveniences

• The gut-brain connection and its impact on decision-making

• Boundaries, burnout, and knowing when to sell at your peak

• Why alignment isn’t optional for high performers

And it all comes back to alignment.

Key Takeaways

1. “You’re not what you eat. You’re what you can absorb.”

2. Most people don’t resist health — they resist knowing.

3. Insurance covers sick care. You are responsible for health care.

4. Your reptile brain agrees with your circumstances — your conscious brain must interrupt the pattern.

5. Durable performance comes from fewer interventions and higher-quality judgment.

Quotes

• “Executives are paid for their judgment. Health is the same.”

• “If you say you’re sick, your reptile brain will prove you right.”

• “Denial keeps you comfortable — until the bill comes due.”

• “I’m a very good doctor. I’m looking for a very good patient.”

Connect with Dr. Pat

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drpatboulogne/
Website: healthteamnetwork.com
Facebook & Instagram: Ask Dr. Pat

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Stay Connected & Take Action

✅ Clarity | Coaching | Consistency | Community → NextLevelHQ.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → NextLevelHQ.co/blog

✅ Subscribe to Alignment First → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/coachderz/

Partners & Sponsors

@ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways

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#AlignmentFirst #Leadership #ExecutiveHealth #FunctionalMedicine #Mindset #DurablePerformance #HighPerformance #Ownership #Alignment #Podcast

Dr. Ruth N. Faucette, PhD is a relationship-driven psychotherapist and executive leadership consultant who built her foundation in medical academia at Virginia Tech and went on to train physicians in holistic care and leadership development. In this episode of Alignment First, we unpack the Four Ps quietly sabotaging high performers: perfection, proving, pleasing, and performing.

If you’re a driven leader who gets results but feels the strain underneath the surface, this conversation will hit. We explore why authenticity is more than a buzzword, how vulnerability builds trust instead of weakness, and why chasing perfection disconnects you from your team.

Dr. Ruth shares how relationships before agenda is her current growth edge and how sustainable leadership requires alignment across biological, psychological, social, and spiritual domains.

This episode is a recalibration for founders, executives, and high achievers who are ready to stop auditioning and start leading.

Key Takeaways:
1. Perfection blocks connection and erodes trust
2. Proving creates division and keeps leaders stuck in “me” instead of “we”
3. Pleasing breeds resentment and weakens standards
4. Performing without authenticity leads to burnout
5. Sustainable leadership starts with self-awareness and courageous feedback

Notable Quotes:
• “Relationships before agenda.”
• “Authenticity is the most powerful approach you can take as a leader.”
• “You’re not leading. You’re auditioning.”
• “Pleasing feels kind, but it often avoids courage.”
• “Alignment comes before sustainable performance.”

Connect with Dr. Ruth:
• Website: https://https://www.legendaryleadershipbydrruthfaucette.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ruth-n-faucette-phd-010a475a/

___________________________________________________________________________________

Stay Connected & Take Action

✅ Clarity | Coaching | Consistency | Community → NextLevelHQ.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✅ Ready to be the Fittest Leader Possible? → NextLevelHQ.co/blog

✅ Subscribe to Alignment First → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/coachderz/

Partners & Sponsors

@ThorneHealth → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thorne.com/u/progressalways

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@StrongCoffee → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strongcoffeecompany.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Code: NEXTLEVEL15

Alignment First. Progress Always.

#AlignmentFirst #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #AuthenticLeadership #HighPerformance #NextLevel #PersonalGrowth #FounderLife #LeadershipMindset #ProgressAlways