Going Beyond the Deal
Going Beyond the Deal
Podcast Description
Welcome to Going Beyond The Deal. The show for founders, business owners, and professionals who want to grow smarter, achieve bigger exits, and build a legacy that lasts.
Your host is no other than, J. Michael Fischer Jr – connector, life-long student of personal growth, and Managing Director at DBD – a bespoke investment bank that helps businesses handle big financial moves.
Each week, we look beyond the numbers and the deals to talk about what really drives success.
You'll hear from entrepreneurs, strategists, and top performers about the mindset, habits, and decisions that help businesses — and people — keep moving forward.
If you're getting ready to sell, raise capital, or just level up — you're in the right place.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers themes such as business growth strategies, personal development, and the intricacies of deal-making. Notable episode topics include succession planning in architecture and the vital role of accountants as trusted advisors, highlighting the importance of relationships and mental fitness in maintaining performance.

Welcome to Going Beyond The Deal. The show for founders, business owners, and professionals who want to grow smarter, achieve bigger exits, and build a legacy that lasts.
Your host is no other than, J. Michael Fischer Jr – connector, life-long student of personal growth, and Managing Director at DBD – a bespoke investment bank that helps businesses handle big financial moves.
Each week, we look beyond the numbers and the deals to talk about what really drives success.
You’ll hear from entrepreneurs, strategists, and top performers about the mindset, habits, and decisions that help businesses — and people — keep moving forward.
If you’re getting ready to sell, raise capital, or just level up — you’re in the right place.
Are you secretly worried your next big business move might happen to you instead of because of you?
J. Michael Fischer Jr. breaks the silence on a painful reality facing founders and CEOs who wait too long to plan their exit. In this solo episode of Going Beyond the Deal, he reveals why most business owners lose their best negotiating tool—leverage—and how to reclaim it before it’s too late. He explains why high revenue is not enough, how “strategic patience” can mask costly avoidance, and what true readiness looks like when it comes to growth, diligence, and market timing.
If you’re tired of the myth that great businesses automatically get great deals, this conversation is your wake-up call. The longer you wait, the less power you have and the cost can be everything you’ve worked for. Don’t gamble with your business legacy. Listen now for strategies proven to protect your options and your outcome, with insights you won’t hear anywhere else.
Timestamped Highlights
- 00:00 – The Founder’s Trap: Why the first signal you’re ready to sell means you’re already late
- 00:46 – Leverage Lost: The emotional (and financial) price of reacting instead of driving the exit process
- 02:34 – The Quiet Shift: How founders mistake performance for strategy and what they miss
- 05:07 – Strategic Patience or Avoidance? The business-language lie that keeps smart people stuck
- 08:00 – Growth vs. Readiness: The dangerous myth that high revenue means a great outcome
- 09:40 – Momentum Isn’t Control: The wake-up call that hits too late for unprepared founders
- 12:32 – The One-Buyer Nightmare: When negotiation power vanishes and the price gets retraded
- 15:21 – How Real Founders Win: Optionality, multiple paths, and strategic choices that protect your legacy
Important Links
- Feel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here.
- Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog.
- Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment Bank
Going Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

Disclaimer
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