Episode 384: Happy Holidays DealQuest Family

About fifteen years ago, I gave up the conversation around balance entirely. The word I use instead is integration, and in this holiday episode I share why that shift transforms how entrepreneurs experience everything from year-end deal closings to family obligations.

In this holiday episode of the DealQuest Podcast, I share reflections on 2025, point to must-listen episodes, preview what's coming in 2026, and break down the integration mindset that has shaped my approach to business and life.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

In this episode, you'll discover why the balance conversation creates unnecessary stress, the four episodes from 2025 worth revisiting, what's coming in January with my partner Brian Meegan, how designing where you live and which clients you take on become integration decisions, why great mergers have integration at their core while failed ones have integration problems, and how clarity creates filters for better decisions.

MY INTEGRATION JOURNEY:

Balance frames everything as separate competing demands pulling in different directions. Integration creates a lens where choices support multiple priorities simultaneously.

Living in Marina del Rey serves integration. Fifteen minutes from LAX. Secure building. Walking my dog along the promenade during breaks. Cold brew moments on the patio before M&A negotiations. Every choice reduces friction.

EPISODES WORTH REVISITING:

Dave Hersh on Episode 381 delivered one of my favorite interviews ever, sharing hard truths about post-exit challenges through his inner board meeting framework. Bob Bush on Episode 377 told his remarkable journey from East St. Louis to founding Mutombo Coffee with the late Dikembe Mutombo. Jodi Hume on Episode 366 helps founders avoid the regrets that plague up to 85% of entrepreneurs after exits. Hikari Senju on Episode 354 offered a different lens on building AI companies through strategic bootstrapping.

WHAT'S COMING IN 2026:

January kicks off with my partner Brian Meegan joining to discuss what we're seeing in the deal landscape. Special series are planned diving deep into specific industries similar to our RIA aggregator coverage.

KEY INSIGHTS:

The great mergers and acquisitions have integration at their core. The ones that fail typically have integration problems.

Choosing podcasting over a weekly column reflects integration thinking. This format feels like an extension of who I am rather than an obligation.

When you have clarity about what integrates in your life, it creates a filter for decisions, just like whiteboarding sessions create filters for M&A clients.

Perfect for entrepreneurs feeling pulled in too many directions, business owners heading into year-end closings, and dealmakers who want to underst