Bruce Merrill

You can turn $100,000 into a $50 million business through acquisitions. This is closer to capital allocation than traditional entrepreneurship. Here's the deal structure. First, the capital stack. You buy a business the same way you buy a house. Equity in, bank covers the rest. With SBA loans: 90% loan, 10% equity. A million dollar business might require $100K to $200K down. Target companies with $1 to $3 million in earnings. Go to sellers that are NOT at market. Brokered deals are competitive and sellers want cash at close. This only works off-market. Here's what you propose: Seller keeps 20% equity in a new entity. Asset sale, their company moves into newco, they keep running it at fair market salary. You write them a check for 60% via bank loan. Remaining 20% is a seller's note: 10% straight note, 10% performance earnout. From the bank's perspective, you created 40% equity. The truth? It's really only 20%, and it's the seller's. Your money in? Approaching zero. But you own 80% of Enterprise Value. Why would a seller agree? Tell them: my goal is to make your 20% as valuable as the 80% we're giving you today. What are the odds you double the value on your own in 3 to 5 years? Now stack earnings. $2 million average per company. Buy 10 just like this. $20 million combined earnings under one entity. Centralize marketing, accounting, HR, governance at HQ. You bought each at 4 to 4.5x. A $20 million earnings business sells for 7 to 7.5x or more. That's multiple expansion, just by combining them. Close the first one. Negotiate the next $100K for the next business. Then newco sells to PE for 7, 8, 9x your $20 million in earnings. That's the path from $100K to $50 million. If you're considering buying a business in the next 12 to 24 months, we built Acquisition Lab for exactly this. walkerdeibel.com

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🔥 HOT TAKE: You’re spending hours creating an AI version of yourself… when your actual business needs you to show up. Another animated reel. Or an AI-generated “you” sipping champagne next to a pool or stepping onto a private jet. ✨ Cute. But let’s be real: Your AI avatar isn’t running a business: you are. And no matter how curated or cinematic your content looks… An illusion of success won’t build actual success. That digital twin in the villa? She’s not making sales. She’s not mapping strategy. She’s not fixing your leaky funnel or clarifying your messaging. You are. Or at least ... you should be. Because while you're spending hours editing the perfect fake backdrop... → Your real offers still aren't converting → Your audience still doesn’t fully get what you do → And your content still isn't moving anyone to take action This isn’t a visibility problem. It’s a priorities problem. You need to spend less time trying to look successful… and more time building something that actually is. What's your thoughts on the rise of AI in the business space? I'd love to know!⤵️

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People are moving money from stocks to million-dollar sports cards. Jason Koonce, CEO of OTIA, explains why this trend is significant for collectibles as serious assets. New Episode - http://bit.ly/4kbnDlj

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Every standard point‑spread or moneyline bet at odds of −110 includes a hidden commission called the vig. That commission means you must win about 52.38% of your bets just to break even, before you see a single dollar of profit. Real‑world data confirms what the math predicts: across millions of users, only a tiny minority—roughly 4% over five years—end up net winners. The rest drift downward, often slowly at first, then rapidly as they chase losses.

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📌 From startup hustle to multimillion-dollar fleet—this is what strategic credit can unlock.  💼 Let’s talk business growth, asset leverage, and legacy building.  Watch @Buddy Fab Full podcast: https://lnkd.in/esn9a4qr

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𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝟵𝟵% 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹 (𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭% 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀) Everyone wants to be a podcaster today, but the numbers tell a sobering story: there are over 5 million podcasts worldwide, yet 35% of all listeners only tune into the top 10 shows. At Podcast Labz, we’ve analyzed the blueprint for moving from zero subscribers to millions. If you’re tired of "winging it" and want to build a show that actually scales, here are the non-negotiable rules for success: 1. Find Your "Deep" Niche. Don't try to be everything to everyone. Identify a topic, whether it’s parenting, real estate, or history, where you can "hang with anybody" on that subject. Statistics show that True Crime (24%) and Politics (10%) are the largest genres, but success comes from going deep into your niche before you ever try to go wide. 2. Master "Unreasonable Hospitality" Landing big guests isn't about telling them why they need you; it's about what you can do for them. When you land a high-profile guest, ditch the branded merch. Instead, provide a unique, authentic gift that matters to them, like a first-edition book or a piece of history. 3. The Art of the "5th Follow-Up" Anyone can ask a question from ChatGPT, but the magic happens in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th follow-up questions. This is how you peel back the layers to find the "real why" that audiences crave. 4. Consistency Over Everything, 99% of people quit because they lack commitment. Set a realistic goal, like one episode per week for two years, and stick to it regardless of the views. Even the biggest shows started with 30 views and "regular" guests like the local barber. 5. Data is Your Compass. Stop guessing what works. Use tools like YouTube Creator Studio to find exactly where viewers drop off. If your co-host is just a "yes-man," your audience will get bored; engagement thrives on healthy conflict and debate. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲: Never start a podcast just for the money. Do it because you have a message and a passion for the craft. If you stay humble as you grow, the "higher law" of podcasting ensures your audience will stay with you. Which of these rules are you implementing in your content strategy this week? Let’s discuss in the comments! 👇 #Podcasting #ContentCreation #PodcastLabz #DigitalMarketing #PersonalBranding #Entrepreneurship

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🎰 GAMBLING & TAXES: What You Need to Know in 2025 In a rarely discussed provision of Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” a tax change now limits gamblers to deducting just 90% of their winnings—even if they’re net losers. In this eye-opening clip from Double Down with Breslo, legal analyst and gambling expert Steve Ruddock joins James Breslo to explain how W-2Gs could put recreational and professional gamblers in trouble with the IRS. ⚠️ If you bet online or at a casino, you need to hear this. 🎥 Watch the full episode here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eQwFX3PC Want to advertise or sponsor a CrossCheck Media program like Double Down with Breslo? 📧 Contact us at Support@BizTalkTodayTV.com 🔔 Subscribe to CrossCheck Media and Biz Talk Today TV on YouTube for more insight-driven programming. #GamblingTax #DoubleDownWithBreslo #CrossCheckMedia #SteveRuddock #JamesBreslo #IRSUpdate #TrumpTaxBill #SportsBetting #CasinoLife #LegalInsight #BizTalkTodayTV #FinanceNews #OnlineGambling #ContentSponsorship #Gambling #Casino | CrossCheck Media Inc. | Biz Talk Today TV (BTT)

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It’s not a distress wave…it’s a Tsunami. Here’s why every investor needs to be paying attention right now: Back in 2020–2021, a ton of operators took short-term teaser loans at ~3%. They underwrote deals thinking they’d refi or sell before the rates climbed. Well..a ton those loans are maturing now. And rates aren’t 3% anymore. They’re 7–8%+. That’s a debt service explosion many owners can’t handle. Which means: ➡️Rates: Operating income can’t cover the new debt load. ➡️Lenders: Special servicers and workout teams are knocking. Hard. ➡️Motivation: Sellers are going from “we’ll hold” to “make me an offer fast.” This is when you see A-class assets selling at deep discounts… Not because the property is bad, but because the capital stack collapsed. If you know where to source these deals… If you can underwrite and complete diligence fast… You can write your own ticket investing in Multifamily. Cycles like this don’t come around often… And I believe we’re going to be looking back saying: “Wow, that was a once-every-other-decade window.”

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Music publishing is a ~$10B business built on trust. Licensors trust royalties will be collected and paid; licensees trust they can use music without disruption. Sitting between them are the PROs (BMI, ASCAP, etc.). A recently filed lawsuit is challenging whether that trust still holds—specifically, whether PROs can reliably guarantee what both sides think they’re getting. On a recent road trip, I broke down what’s at stake and what it could mean for the publishing ecosystem: • Do venues keep relying on blanket licenses from PROs? • Or do they start licensing directly from rights holders? • How might greater transparency and tech reshape the model? Curious to hear from venue owners, publishers, attorneys, and artists: where do you think this goes? #MusicPublishing #MusicBusiness #MusicLicensing #Royalties #BMI #ASCAP #PROs #MusicLaw #EntertainmentLaw #CreatorEconomy #Transparency #MusicTech

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This is what I think is going to happen in 2026 I predict the death of the "subscription silo." Right now, we are drowning in credits for multiple platforms. We're buying fast hours here, credits and tokens there, and a separate tier for editing software. It’s fragmented and it kills creative flow. My prediction for 2026 is this: The rise of the "Universal AI Wallet." Now, there might be people working on this already, but you're going to see it blow up next year. Imagine a "PayPal for Creativity." Instead of buying tokens on every single platform, you hold a single, universal balance of compute tokens that travels with you. Kinda like an NFT wallet (if you remember those) Need to generate an image? The wallet pays the API. Need to upscale video? It deducts from the same pot. Switching tools? Your "AI creative currency" moves with you. This is more about creative fluidity than payment. It's about keeping you in that creative zone without tab hopping. In Air’s 2026 Trend Report you'll read some other predictions by some of the sharpest minds in marketing and creative who are predicting the shifts in consumer behavior, platform tech, and creative workflows. If you are building a brand or leading a creative team, I'd suggest you check it out. What are your predictions for 2026? Grab the full report for free in the comments below Get some Air here: https://lnkd.in/d2ypBG-F #AirPartner

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47% of podcast listeners just...aren't buying fully AI-generated episodes. (Yep, almost half.) As someone who’s obsessed with efficiency AND real human connection, this stat stings a bit. I get it. AI can make things faster, cleaner, maybe even cleverer. (Bless those edit tools! 🤖) But, honestly, what keeps us pressing “play” again and again? It’s the *real* laughs, the vulnerable moments, the off-script rambles... those little imperfections that make us, well, us. Look, I’m the first to geek out over new tools that save time, the amount of work-hours Team Podcast saves makes my heart SING, but authentic connection can’t be faked or fully scripted by a bot. Our listeners can feel the difference. (I know I can.) So, how do you balance innovation with intimacy? AI is a brilliant assistant, but it shouldn’t be the star. Your unique story, awkward pause, or heartfelt aside is where the magic happens. Curious: Where do YOU draw the line between AI convenience and authentic connection in your content? Have you experimented, or are you old-school all the way? Let’s talk in the comments. (And if you’re feeling a little AI-angsty, hey, you’re not alone.) Love love ❤️

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