Your Next: A Guide to Finding Fulfillment After Your Exit Hosted by Jerome Myers

Most high achievers are dangerously unprepared for life after the exit.

In this revealing episode, Jerome Myers sits down with Dr. Michelle Fritsch, a board-certified geriatric pharmacist and founder of Propel Your Wellness, to discuss the hidden dangers that follow success. From loss of identity to relationship breakdowns and rapid health decline, Dr. Fritsch exposes what happens after the business card disappears, and what you can do to prevent it.

If you think your freedom phase will last forever, think again. 

Tune in now to learn how to design a life of wellness, purpose, and clarity beyond the exit.

[00:00 – 12:00] Freedom Doesn’t Last Forever

• Why most people hit a wall 6–12 months after their exit

• The false security of hobbies, travel, and to-do lists

• Preventable reasons brilliant people fade after retirement

[12:01 – 24:00] The Dangerous Assumptions We Carry

• Why doctors don’t know as much about you as you think

• The unexpected collapse of key relationships

• Early signals that your mind and body aren’t prepared

[24:01 – 36:00] Tools for Clarity: Life Purpose Scan + Wellness Portfolio

• Assessing purpose, values, and emotional resilience

• The risk of losing cognitive sharpness after an exit

• Designing your next chapter around contribution, not consumption

[36:01 – 46:00] Stress, Scams, and Silent Suffering

• Health risks tied to unmanaged stress

• Sophisticated scams targeting lonely, high-net-worth retirees

• When the physical body limits the life you imagined

[46:01 – End] The Power of Planning

• The seven dimensions of the Wellness Portfolio

• Why advanced personal planning matters as much as estate planning

• How purpose reduces pain, isolation, and mental decline

Key Quotes:

“Freedom for most people lasts about six, maybe 12 months, and that’s when they realize, wait a minute, this stuff’s fun, but it doesn’t fill up the rest of a lifetime.” – Michelle Fritsch

“There’s a huge difference between being functionally limited for the decades ahead and being functionally ready to do everything that you really want to do.” – Michelle Fritsch

Connect with Dr. Fritsch!

Website: properlyourwellness.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michellefritsch

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Not every “no” sounds like a no. Some sound like “I need to talk to my advisor” or “I’m just tired.” 

In this eye-opening solo episode, Jerome Myers peels back the polite excuses founders often give and gets real about the resistance that’s quietly keeping you stuck.

If you’ve ever hovered over the “Book the Intensive” button or convinced yourself now’s not the right time, this episode holds up a mirror and asks: Are you willing to stop circling the life you want and finally step into it?

If you’re looking for clarity, this is your moment.

[00:00 – 02:00] Sitting in the Gray Space

• Why founders pause at the edge of transformation

• Understanding indecision as quiet resistance

• What keeps people hovering without action

[02:01 – 04:00] Common Objections That Mask Fear

• Avoiding action by blaming timing

• Doubting the process will work

• Deferring the decision to others

[04:01 – 06:30] What’s Going On

• Avoiding stillness to escape deeper truths

• Relying on logic in emotional decisions

• Fear of choosing without external validation

[06:31 – 09:00] The Identity Crisis After Success

• Losing clarity after stepping away from the role

• Feeling unknown beyond professional titles

• Navigating uncertainty after the exit

[09:01 – End] Stepping Into Your Real Next

• What people discover when they say yes

• Building a life that feels aligned inside and out

• Starting the chapter that truly belongs to you

Key Quotes:

“You don’t need anyone else to give you permission to say yes to your next.” – Jerome Myers

“Staying stuck is a decision, and so is saying yes.” –  Jerome Myers

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

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Your most meaningful moments begin after the exit.

In this deeply personal solo episode, Jerome Myers reflects on the first half of 2025, not just what was accomplished, but what was transformed. Through unexpected moments of presence and alignment, he shares what life looks like when success is no longer the goal, but the foundation for something more.

Whether you’re post-exit or preparing for one, this episode offers a rare, honest look at what comes next.

[00:00 – 03:30] From Metrics to Meaning

• Reflecting on accomplishments beyond the surface
• Reframing the scoreboard of success
• Choosing alignment over endless achievement

[03:31 – 06:30] The Silence After Success

• Confronting stillness after the summit
• Understanding the Founder’s Exit Paradox
• Beginning the inner work of reinvention

[06:31 – 09:30] Moments That Redefine You

• Family milestones and legacy in action
• Letting joy lead through travel and play
• Finding aliveness through presence, not performance

[09:31 – 12:30] Resonance Over Resume

• Living values through sacred rituals and reflection
• Recognizing impact beyond LinkedIn and titles
• Measuring life by connection, not credentials

[12:31 – 16:00] Designing What Comes Next

• Asking the questions that shape your next chapter
• Rejecting default paths in favor of intention
• Embracing support and sacred reinvention

Key Quotes:

“You didn’t come this far just to coast. You came this far to elevate to new levels of impact, meaning, and legacy.” – Jerome Myers

“The real reckoning only happens after the summit. When the exit is done, the money’s in the bank, and suddenly the calendar is quiet.” – Jerome Myers

Ready for your next chapter?

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

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Why do successful founders disappear when they’re on the edge of true personal growth?

In this powerful solo episode, Jerome Myers unpacks the fear that holds many high achievers back, not fear of failure, but fear of being seen. He explores how achievement can become emotional armor and what it really takes to step into purpose after the exit.

If you’ve ever felt lost after success, this episode offers the clarity, courage, and next steps you need.

Listen now and start your next chapter with intention.

[00:00 – 03:00] You Are Not Broken, You Are in Transition

• The internal calling beyond success
• The NEO Assessment as a personal mirror
• Starting the journey into clarity

[03:01 – 07:00] The Hidden Side of the Exit Paradox

• Why founders disappear after success
• The moment when identity begins to unravel
• Fear disguised as logic and timing

[07:01 – 10:00] When Identity Becomes Armor

• Achievement as emotional protection
• The illusion of fulfillment through productivity
• Breaking through surface-level success

[10:01 – 14:00] From Ghosting to Growth: David vs. Erica

• A tale of two founder responses
• Avoiding transformation vs. embracing it
• The real difference courage makes

[14:01 – 17:00] Choosing to Be Seen

• Letting go of performance-based identity
• Stepping into alignment and purpose
• The power of conscious choice

Key Quotes:

“They’re winning at business but silently losing the war within.” – Jerome Myers

“Being seen means letting go of the version of yourself you curated for survival and stepping into the version that’s aligned for significance.”– Jerome Myers

Ready for your next chapter?

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

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What happens when the check clears, and you still feel empty?

In this powerful episode, Jerome Myers talks with Rick Martinez, a former ER nurse, Army officer, and founder who scaled a 600-person healthcare company and exited successfully, only to face an identity crisis no one warned him about.

From ER shifts to military deployment to crying in his car after a $500K payday, Rick shares what happens after the win and why fulfillment matters more than freedom.

If you’ve ever asked, “Is this all there is?”, this episode is for you.

[00:00 – 12:00] Still in Scrubs: The Entrepreneur Who Kept Showing Up

• Why Rick still picks up ER shifts decades into success
• His transition from staff nurse to contractor to employer
• How one conversation in a hospital skybridge launched a business

[12:01 – 21:00] Building Something Bigger (Without Realizing It)

• From $8/hour raises to doubling his income overnight
• Creating an agency by accident and growing to 600 employees
• The systems that scaled without needing a business degree

[21:01 – 30:00] Service, Sacrifice, and the Truth About Scaling

• Military activation changes everything
• The moment he realized he was the problem, not the engine
• A brutal but freeing insight: the founder or CEO is often the biggest bottleneck

[30:01 – 38:00] The Check, the Crash, and the Cry

• The wire hits. Rick sits in his Porsche with tears in his eyes
• What no one tells you about the emotional cost of success
• The first signs that the real journey was just beginning

[38:01 – 45:00] Pain, Purpose, and a Spiritual Awakening

• A crushing injury in a CrossFit competition shifts everything
• Rick hears what he’d been ignoring and gets baptized
• Writing, service, and rediscovering what truly matters

[45:01 – End] What’s Next: From Exit to Expression

• Why “never a W2 again” wasn’t enough
• How Rick found meaning in ghostwriting and mentoring
• His ultimate advice for those chasing more than money

Key Quotes:

“The founder, the CEO, is always the biggest bottleneck.” – Rick Martinez

“Find the freedom that’s going to fulfill you. Be relentless about it, and when you get there, share it with the world.” – Rick Martinez

Connect with Rick!

Website: https://www.therickmartinez.com/optin1620132235803

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickmartinez

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

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What if trauma isn’t just in your head, but in your cells, your gut, your immune system?

In this electrifying conversation, Jerome Myers is joined by Dr. Don Wood, the founder of the Inspired Performance Institute and creator of TIPP, a neuroscience-based program for trauma resolution. What begins as a deeply personal story about saving his daughter’s life turns into a profound revelation: most of what we treat with pills could be solved by healing the mind.

If you’ve ever been told to just “manage” your anxiety, stress, or diagnosis, this episode is your wake-up call.

[00:00 – 12:00] Trauma Is the Root, Not the Symptom

• “Medication is like giving tissue for a runny nose, what caused it?”
• Trauma often underlies anxiety, addiction, and even autoimmune disease
• Dr. Wood’s daughter’s Crohn’s and lung disorder stemmed from childhood trauma, not just biology

[12:01 – 22:00] The Brain Isn’t Broken, It’s Protecting You

• The subconscious runs 95% of your daily life and doesn’t understand time
• Emotional triggers (or “activations”) are unresolved calls for action
• “Anxiety is your mind trying to solve something from years ago, now.”

[22:01 – 32:00] The Science of Reprocessing Memory

• Traumatic memories are stored in high-def; the solution is to reduce their intensity
• “We don’t erase memory, we reclassify it. So your brain sees it as past, not present.”
• Healing isn’t about forgetting; it’s about removing emotional dysregulation

[32:01 – 42:00] It’s Not Just About Therapy, It’s About Resetting

• Traditional therapy relieves the trauma; TIPP reprocesses it safely and quickly
• “I don’t need the whole story, just the trailer.”
• The mind must feel safe before it can heal

[42:01 – 49:00] Resilience is Built on Safety, Not Hardship

• “You don’t toughen a boxer by beating him before the fight.”
• A stable home builds resilience; trauma erodes it before life begins
• The system needs to feel safe to learn, grow, and repair

[49:01 – End] Why He Didn’t Stop After Saving His Daughter

• “We could’ve stopped. But we felt a calling.”
• Dr. Wood uses TIPP to help veterans, athletes, CEOs, and kids
• “Your mind and body are designed to heal. Trauma just gets in the way.”

Key Quotes:

“The mind and body are designed to heal. What’s interfering with it—in most cases, at least 80%—is unresolved trauma.” – Dr. Don Wood

“You can’t sabotage yourself. Your brain’s a survival brain. It’s protecting you.” – Dr. Don Wood

Connect with Dr. Wood!

Website: http://www.inspiredperformanceinstitute.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drdonwoodphd

Ready for your next chapter?

Start Your Assessment Now 👉 https://theexitparadox.com/assessment

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence.

🎧 Explore our previous episodes or learn more about our mission at https://exittoexcellence.com. Your next chapter starts here!

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What happens after the founder exits? Too often, regret, confusion, and loss of identity.

In this powerful session from the Exit Planning Institute, Jerome Myers delivers a wake-up call:  most exit plans ignore the human element. While others focus on finances and operations, Jerome highlights the missing pillar: personal planning.

Press play and rethink what it means to exit with excellence.

[00:00 – 12:00] Exit is Inevitable, But Fulfillment is Not

• 100% of founders will exit: “Sell it, give it away, or close it.”
• Most advisors ignore personal planning, but it’s what leads to regret
• “The stool wobbles without the third leg. We’re building incomplete exits.”

[12:01 – 25:00] The Founder’s Exit Paradox

• The paradox: rich and free, but lost
• “They decouple their identity from the business and enter a void.”
• Common regrets: loss of purpose, isolation, status drop, boredom
• Why does money only solve 2 of the 5 levels in Maslow’s hierarchy

[25:01 – 38:00] Six Centers of Doubt: The Hidden Struggles

• Introducing the Exit Paradox Iceberg
• Self-image, Relationships, Work, Health, Prosperity, Significance
• “If you don’t know where you’re going, you won’t like where you end up.”
• 60% of founders’ core relationships disappear post-exit

[38:01 – 48:15] From “What’s Next?” to N.E.X.T.

• Nourish, Evaluate, Xplore, Transcend: a framework for life after exit
• “Most are exiting from, not to. That’s why they regret it.”
• How Jerome helped his father find purpose again, becoming a mayor in his 60s

[48:16 – End] Real Tools, Real People, Real Legacy

• The NEO Assessment: Six archetypes for post-exit personality
• “Ask your clients: What are you optimizing for, money or fulfillment?”
• Advisors: why you need to engage the personal side, or risk losing the AUM
• “The only way your life ever matters is if you are positively impacting other people’s lives.”

Key Quotes:

“Money solves the first two levels of Maslow’s hierarchy. Everything after that –  purpose, belonging, impact – needs something deeper.” – Jerome Myers

“The biggest problem in exit planning is that most founders are exiting from instead of exiting to.” – Jerome Myers

Ready for your next chapter?

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

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What if your exit could be the beginning of your best story, not the end?

In this deep-dive workshop-style episode, Jerome Myers reunites with Homer Smith, financial strategist and founder of Konvergent Wealth, to unpack the financial and emotional blueprint for achieving true post-exit success. Whether you’re years from selling your business or already navigating offers, this episode delivers the playbook for preserving family wealth and personal purpose.

If you’re a business owner asking, “What’s next?” — this one’s for you.

[00:00 – 12:00] Two Paths After the Sale

• Why 70% of businesses brought to market don’t sell—and how to avoid being one of them
• The post-sale “tragedy” no one talks about
• “Only about 6% of owners who go to market are highly satisfied with the outcome.”
• The three pillars of a successful exit: business readiness, market readiness, and owner readiness

[12:01 – 26:00] The Real Reasons Founders Miss Out

• Unrealistic valuations and the myths around multiples
• Why internal partner conflict can kill a deal
• The #1 financial red flag for buyers: messy books
• The hidden danger of high customer concentration

[26:01 – 36:00] The Founder’s Exit Paradox

• Jerome breaks down the emotional crash that hits post-sale
• Creating a personal life plan that aligns with the deal terms
• “Most founders are walking into a sea of nothingness.”
• How the N.E.X.T. framework (Nourish, Evaluate, eXplore, Transcend) builds clarity and confidence

[36:01 – 45:00] Planning to Win (Not Just Exit)

• Real case study: $106M egg farm deal and $20M tax savings
• Why your transaction team might be too small—or too inexperienced
• Planning five years out: why it’s never too early to optimize

[45:01 – End] Exit Into Excellence

• How post-exit optimization begins long before you close
• Jerome’s call to founders: “Don’t build a business without designing the life beyond it.”
• Resources to prepare: free whitepaper and transition readiness assessment

Key Quotes:

“The business, the market, and the owner all need to be ready.” – Homer Smith

“Only about 6% of business owners who raise their hands to go to market are highly satisfied with the outcome.” – Homer Smith

Connect with Homer!

Website: http://www.konvergentwealth.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/homersmith4/

Ready for your next chapter?

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

🎧 Explore our previous episodes or learn more about our mission at https://exittoexcellence.com. Your next chapter starts here!

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What if your biggest failures were the stepping stones to your greatest impact?

In this raw and revealing episode, Jerome Myers sits down with Kasim Aslam,  serial entrepreneur and founder of the world’s top-ranked Google Ads agency,  to unpack his journey from troubled teen to 8-figure exit. With unmatched candor, Kasim shares the highs, the hard truths, and why his life’s mission today is centered on global employment, not just profit.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, burned out, or unsure of what’s next, listen closely.

[00:00 – 12:10] Two Exits, One Framework

• Building the #1 Google Ads agency

• Productizing services for scale

• The behind-the-scenes of an 8-figure exit

[12:11 – 22:45] Integrity Over Everything

• Why most agencies fail their clients

• Saying no to the wrong deals

• How honesty fuels demand and client trust

[22:46 – 34:00] The Rocky Road to Reinvention

• Growing up in poverty and crime

• Losing everything in the ’08 crash

• Finding purpose through failure

[34:01 – 45:00] Safe, But Not Satisfied

• What it felt like when the wire hit

• The paradox of post-exit emptiness

• Learning to delegate and let go

[45:01 – End] Meaningful Work as Legacy

• Why hiring is the new impact model

• Creating global opportunity through EAs

• The case for failing forward

Key Quotes:

“You want to change lives? Hire someone.” — Kasim Aslam

“Failure is the tuition that we pay.  Chase good failure, quality failure, healthy failure.” — Kasim Aslam 

Connect with Kasim!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kasimaslam

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kasimaslam

Ready for your next chapter?

Start Your Assessment Now 👉 https://theexitparadox.com/assessment

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If you found this episode valuable, leave us a review and share it with someone who wants to expand their business growth.

Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

🎧 Explore our previous episodes or learn more about our mission at https://exittoexcellence.com. Your next chapter starts here!

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What if you could add $1M to your exit, without working extra years?

Jerome Myers talks with Mahen Gundecha, a seasoned dealmaker, about how timing, positioning, and rolled equity can boost your exit value. Learn why most exits fail, what buyers want, and how to avoid costly delays.

A must-listen for any founder thinking about an exit, now or years from now.

[00:00 – 12:58] Mahen’s Global Journey + The Wake-Up Call for Founders

• From Tanzania to Toronto to Pennsylvania: Mahen’s backstory

• Why unplanned exits leave millions on the table

• The value of starting exit prep years before you’re ready

[12:59 – 24:32] What Makes a Business Truly Sellable

• Why only 20% of listed businesses ever sell

• Founder dependency: the hidden value killer

• How rolled equity can add major upside post-sale

[24:33 – 36:25] Market Forces You Can’t Ignore: Consolidation + Competition

• What happens when your competitor is acquired by private equity

• Why does consolidation raise the risk of customer loss

• The importance of differentiation to stay competitive

[36:26 – 48:07] When Growth Becomes a Gamble: Hope vs. Strategy

• Why acquisition strategies often fail without a solid plan

• How age affects your exit risk tolerance

• The danger of relying on “hope” as a growth strategy

[48:08 – 1:07:47] A Smarter Path Forward: Preparation Without Pressure

• Why you should never negotiate with one buyer

• How deal fatigue kills value and momentum

• Tools and steps to start preparing for a clean, profitable exit

Key Quotes:

“Prepare your business before life forces your hand.”— Mahen Gundecha

“Hope is what drives you, but you’ve got to have a plan.”— Mahen Gundecha

Connect with Mahen!

Email: mahen@bristol.group

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bristol-group/

Ready for your next chapter?

Start Your Assessment Now 👉 https://theexitparadox.com/assessment

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

🎧 Explore our previous episodes or learn more about our mission at https://exittoexcellence.com. Your next chapter starts here!

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