Solve Any Business Problem - Special Forces to $2B Brands with Tom Shipley | BWI #200

Episode 200 - Solve Any Business Problem - Special Forces to $2B Brands with Tom Shipley   Tom Shipley, an M&A strategist and former special forces operator, created the "Add a Zero" growth philosophy after building brands generating over $2 billion in revenue. He helps founders rapidly scale by teaching that almost every business challenge can be solved through strategic, complementary acquisitions. He uses systematic M&A to plug capability gaps and engineer premium exits.   Key Takeaways ●     Almost every business challenge can be solved by acquiring the right complementary business. ●     Define your specific vision and goals before identifying acquisition criteria to fill gaps. ●     Acquisitions stack capabilities, improve EBITDA, and dramatically increase business enterprise value. ●     Motivated sellers allow for highly flexible financing, often requiring no cash at close. ●     Generate acquisition leads directly through focused outreach on platforms like LinkedIn.   Resources Guest Bio: Tom Shipley is a serial entrepreneur, M&A strategist, and creator of the "Add a Zero" growth philosophy—helping founders 12x their business through strategic acquisitions. His journey is defined by bold thinking and execution under pressure, from an IDF special forces operator to building brands generating over $2 billion in revenue. After scaling Atlantic Coast Brands to over $100M by acquiring a $15M company during a cash crisis, Tom became a pioneer in programmatic M&A for mid-market companies. He raised $100M for FOUNDRY Brands and launched AVA to acquire performance agencies. He now leads a direct response growth equity platform. At his DealCon CEO Summits, Tom teaches 7–9 figure founders how to scale fast, plug capability gaps, and engineer premium exits—all through acquisitions. His core belief is that nearly every business challenge or exit goal can be solved with the right deal. References Mentioned in the Episode: ●     Tom's website: https://www.tshipley.com ●     DealCon CEO Summits: https://www.dealconlive.com ●     Tom's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/t-shipley ●     Tom's Instagram: @tom__shipley https://www.instagram.com/tom__shipley ●     Tom's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thomas.shipley.923   Connect with Jeanne I believe that Anything is Possible and that people have the genius within them to find and live in their Genius Zone, their ultimate potential, and to live in abundance without burnout and without burning those who surround them. For more information on Jeanne's coaching programs for coaches and consultants: ●     https://jeanneomlor.com/reviews/ For elite coaching for CEOs, celebrities, and icons: ●     https://jeanneomlor.com/private-label-advisory/ Follow Jeanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanneomlor/