39 - The Founder Identity Crisis | 3 Signs You’re Trapped & How to Break Free
Are you building a business, or a prison? In this vulnerable, practical episode, Eddie unpacks the Founder Identity Crisis: how pouring yourself into your company creates an identity exchange that can warp decisions, stunt growth, and make healthy exits impossible. He shares the three warning signs your identity is tied to the business and a clear, repeatable framework to break free: create emotional separation by treating the business as an asset, journal wins & failures as data (not identity), clarify your calling vs. your company, and build systems so you’re not mission critical. With candid stories, Eddie shows how to lead as the architect, not the empire, and why your calling is bigger than any company you’ll ever build.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Welcome & topic: the Founder Identity Crisis00:48 – The identity exchange: pour into the business, it gives you identity01:51 – Why detaching identity leads to better decisions02:17 – Becoming the business, then struggling to exit03:16 – 2019 exits & post-exit depression: “life-changing money… but empty”05:24 – Sign #1: Emotions track your P&L (your worth ≠ income)06:51 – Sign #2: You can’t picture the business without you; delegation fear, sabotage08:03 – Sign #3: You don’t know who you are outside the role09:30 – Step 1: Create emotional separation—treat it as an asset10:20 – “Asset leader” language & stewardship mindset11:36 – Journal wins, and journal your failures as data, not identity 13:10 – Step 2: Clarify calling vs company 15:07 – Calling > brand: purpose bigger than logo, site, or P&L16:48 – Step 3: Build systems so you’re not mission-critical17:33 – “Grow by vision, not constant involvement”18:20 – Howard Schultz/Starbucks: founder identity vs scaling well21:29 – Eddie’s temptation to return & choosing “no” to protect calling22:37 – You’re the architect, not the empire; your calling is higher23:22 – Legacy > business: raising his sons, serving through Impact Others24:33 – Final charge: find identity in who you are, not what you build Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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38 - Faith, Filters, & Focus | Protect Your Mind, Change Your Outcomes
Foundations beat tactics. In this powerful episode, Eddie Wilson unpacks Proverbs 4:23, “Guard your heart” and shows why your inputs (media, music, conversations, relationships, beliefs) inevitably become your outputs (words, decisions, results). From defining the “heart” as your thoughts, desires, and will, to a practical, 5-step Daily Heart Check, Eddie equips leaders to replace negativity with truth, protect emotions without going numb, and set boundaries that lift everyone around them. He also shares moving stories about forgiveness, perspective, and gratitude that demonstrate how guarding your heart transforms your life, leadership, and legacy.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Foundations vs tactics: why anchors matter00:39 – Worldview & order: the architect behind creation03:39 – Scripture as foundation: timeless truths for everyone04:23 – Proverbs 4:23 explained: “Guard your heart”05:16 – What “heart” means: thoughts, desires, will06:34 – Reverse engineering your results: fix inputs, not just actions07:35 – Scripture cross-check (Luke): overflow of the heart → life09:23 – Leadership ripple: your input → their outcome10:46 – Guarding ≠ walls: the heart as a garden12:27 – “Hurt people hurt people”: why inputs drive reactions14:07 – Step 1: Guard your inputs (think on true/honest/just)17:12 – Step 2: Anchor in capital-T Truth (Scripture/constitution)19:41 – Step 3: Monitor thoughts; replace lies with truth21:28 – Step 4: Set relational boundaries (influence ≠ access)23:07 – Step 5: Protect emotions—be a person of action, not reaction24:25 – Stay spiritually alert: battle the right enemy25:07 – Daily Heart Check: the 5-part routine26:29 – Gratitude reset story: perspective that heals29:23 – Relational filter & prayer/meditation release30:22 – Closing: guard inputs → experience abundant life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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37 - The Partnership Paradox | Caution and Clarity in Business Alliances
Thinking about teaming up with a co-founder or equity partner? In this no-fluff masterclass, Eddie Wilson breaks down why most partnerships fail and exactly how to build one that scales instead of sinks. You’ll learn the biggest red flags (undefined decision rights, uneven value/capital, no operating agreement/buy-sell, “visionary only” partners), when to partner for acceleration, not rescue, and the five non-negotiable boundaries that keep alliances healthy: mission first, clearly assigned roles, document everything, regular check-ins, and plan the exit before you start. Eddie also contrasts Buffett/Munger with Jobs/Wozniak to show how partnerships must evolve, or be restructured for scale. If you’re a founder, investor, or exec considering a JV or co-founder, this playbook will help you prevent conflict, protect value, and multiply your mission.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – The Partnership Paradox: great alliances scale empires; bad ones sink ships01:15 – Why partnerships fail: passion without clarity = conflict02:07 – “Where there’s no communication, negativity fills the void”04:19 – #1 failure: assumed alignment without defined roles04:56 – Red flags: decision rights, uneven value/capital, no buy-sell, “visionary-only” partner06:59 – Don’t partner for help : partner for acceleration08:14 – Benefits done right: complementary strengths & radical honesty10:04 – Offense vs defense: dividing roles to scale sanely11:40 – Shared capital/credibility + “Both partners must bring a Brick (core KPI)”12:43 – The 5 boundaries: mission, roles, documentation, check-ins, plan the exit14:04 – North Star example: Impact Others as the mission16:34 – Same-page weeklys & quarterly vision alignment17:42 – Build the off-ramp before you enter the highway (buy-sell)18:54 – Case studies: Buffett/Munger vs Jobs/Wozniak23:47 – Partnerships are force multipliers, only if forged in clarity24:10 – Call to action: mission alignment, equal investment, written agreement Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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36 - The 4 Dimensions of Discipline: The Titan’s Blueprint for Growth
Most people chase motivation, Titans build discipline. In this episode, Eddie breaks down why your business will never outgrow the leader’s discipline, and how to replace “grind” with clarity, constraint, and rhythm. You’ll learn the 4 dimensions of personal discipline (mental, physical, emotional, and time), why “Titans don’t live in reaction, we live in rhythm,” and how to install practical habits that multiply results: time-blocking, margins (not laziness), boundaries that create breakthroughs, and rituals that beat motivation every time. Eddie shares an emotional case study on the power of a pause in conflict, a Stoic story of courage under fire, and actionable routines to turn discipline into your competitive edge.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Titans aren’t made by innovation—they’re forged by discipline01:33 – Motivation follows action: start with discipline02:16 – Discipline ≠ hustle: it’s restraint and essentials with consistency03:08 – Busting the grind myth: not chaos & caffeine, but clarity & constraint04:35 – Your calendar reveals your values; Titans live in rhythm, not reaction05:52 – If you can’t say no to the wrong things, you’ll never build the right things06:15 – The 4 dimensions: Mental • Physical • Emotional • Time07:17 – Mental discipline: guard inputs, choose long-term over short-term, seek daily silence09:20 – Physical discipline: sleep • movement • hydration; master what you eat12:58 – Emotional discipline: lead without emotional leakage; the power of a pause19:01 – Time discipline: margin isn’t laziness; boundaries create breakthroughs21:46 – Father–son story: leaving the phone = real breakthrough time23:25 – “You don’t get stronger by being available to everything…”23:53 – Stoic story (Lucius): “A man cannot command fire or fate—only himself.”27:43 – Discipline as multiplier: gives back time, reduces decision fatigue, scales leaders31:17 – Rituals > motivation + action steps: morning routine, start/stop, Sunday plan, habit audit, accountability mirror Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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35 - Your Success Is a Cage | The 3 Freedoms That Set Entrepreneurs Free
What if everything you built for freedom is now the thing that owns you? In this punchy, no-fluff episode, Eddie Wilson exposes why hustle culture “sold you enslavement dressed up like success” and gives you the Three Freedoms Formula to break out: freedom from your role, freedom from your perspective, and freedom of your time. Eddie shares a ruthless litmus test “If you can’t sell it or step away for 30 days, your success is a cage, not a crown.” He then layers in Stoic leadership (Marcus Aurelius: rule with clarity, not noise) and a practical reframing of fulfillment beyond titles, pay, and benefits. If you’re ready to trade busyness for freedom and design a business that thrives without you, this is your playbook.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – “What you built to create freedom now owns you”00:20 – Hustle culture sold you enslavement; define real freedom02:05 – Mindset reset: more clients, bigger team, more revenue = more chains03:08 – “Your success is a cage, not a crown.” The 30-day/“sell it” test03:48 – Freedom #1: From your role — detach identity from function05:22 – Freedom #2: From your perspective — remove ego; think like an investor07:00 – Freedom #3: Of your time — your calendar is the scoreboard08:13 – Measure success by time you control, not money in the bank09:18 – Did you build a trap or a platform? Detachment = power09:42 – Stoic leadership: rule in silence; act with clarity, not noise11:27 – Clarity ≠ apathy; build with the end in mind12:07 – “Step down from the title if you’re not great at it”13:05 – Titles, pay, benefits are traps; fulfillment = highest & best service13:56 – Action: choose one freedom to fix today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Impact with Eddie Wilson Podcast. I'm Eddie Wilson, and I'm excited to share my journey and insights with you. As an entrepreneur who has successfully owned over 125 businesses and developed a unique business operating system, I understand the importance of living intentionally and finding your purpose.In this podcast, we will explore how you can take control of your life, unlock your potential, and create a meaningful impact. I believe that everyone has the ability and responsibility to make a difference, and through this podcast, I want to help you discover what you are created for and how to achieve it.We'll cover a wide range of topics, including entrepreneurship, leadership, personal growth, and philanthropy. My goal is to inspire you to live with purpose, take deliberate actions, and create a ripple effect that will positively impact the world. So, join me on this journey, and let's make a difference together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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