Become a fitter founder before your exit.
One email every Thursday. What buyers look for, why deals die, and how to stay strong through your exit.
Free. Read by founders, owners and buyers across North America.
about
I sell founder-led businesses at Breakwater M&A.
I've built and run four companies. And I train founders to stay fit while they do it, with the same habits that kept me strong through varsity rugby.
Most advisors won't tell you what actually happens inside a sale. I will.
latest writing
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“greed is good”What an ’80s Wall Street scandal can teach business owners about making the most of the AI boom without selling the future for a quick payday.Oct 29, 2026, 5 min read
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What an entrepreneur worth $200B tells himself every morningOne of the world’s most successful founders gave an answer I didn’t expect. It changed how I think about the hard parts of building a business.Oct 23, 2026, 3 min read
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how buying (not building) 86x his money.how XPO went from $175 million to $15 billion in revenue, the 13 acquisitions behind the growth, and the part Jacobs built from scratchOct 16, 2026, 4 min read
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$300 million was NOT good enough for this client...Ari Emanuel negotiated a $300M deal only for his client to demand even more...Oct 8, 2026, 4 min read
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if you can't invent, steal.how Mark Zuckerberg paid a price everyone hated for a company he could not afford to let someone else ownOct 2, 2026, 4 min read
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how to lose $1.4 billion in three years.the juice brand that made its sellers rich and its buyer a business school case study, why distribution killed the deal, and the one question every owner should ask about their buyerSep 24, 2026, 4 min read
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The 7-day founder fitness challenge
Seven days. One workout and one business challenge each day, plus a founder story to keep you honest. No gym required.
Start the challengeThe Eight-Figure Exit Guide
Exit planning for owners of $2M–$50M companies and businesses with $1M+ in EBITDA. 32 pages.
Get the guidecurrent ventures
- Breakwater M&A
- Guiding founders through the sale of their $2M–$50M businesses across North America.
Thinking about selling? Start a confidential conversation. - Chinook Business Advisory
- Boutique M&A advisory on Vancouver Island.
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- Free online community for business brokers.
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wealth without health is a bad trade.
Every issue includes the workouts and habits I use to run four companies without falling apart. Sell strong. Exit strong.
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