Podcast
The Decision by EO Nashville
Hosted by EO Nashville · EN
This is The Decision by Nashville EO. On this podcast, you will hear the rest of the story after tough decisions were made by Entrepreneurs who faced adversity and lived to tell about it.
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ann Johnson - How a $250,000 Employee Theft Changed One Business Forever
2w ago00:27:11Tap to summarizeAnn Johnson is the Founder and Owner of Waste Tech Services, a nationwide trash consulting and brokerage firm that negotiates waste contracts and reduces disposal costs for businesses. Since its founding, Waste Tech Services has negotiated thousands of contracts for clients and has saved millions of dollars for the companies it represents. With decades of experience in waste management, Ann built the company by forming buying co-ops, reviewing invoices, resolving service issues, and securing optimal contract terms. In this episode… Trust is essential in business, but it can also expose an owner to risks that are difficult to see from the outside. When a longtime employee quietly steals from the company, how does a leader respond without letting the betrayal define everything that follows? Waste-industry expert Ann Johnson built her career by understanding contracts, pricing, service structures, and the hidden costs clients often overlook. That attention to detail became critical when her company uncovered that a trusted bookkeeper had created false businesses, opened unauthorized accounts, and stolen $250,000 over the course of a year and a half. Ann helped build the case, strengthened internal controls, and eventually confronted the toll the experience took on her health. Her experience is a reminder for business owners to strengthen safeguards, share responsibility, and make space for their well-being when the weight of running a business becomes personal. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline sits down with Ann Johnson, Founder and Owner of Waste Tech Services, to discuss how she rebuilt trust and leadership after a major employee theft. Ann explores how the $250,000 scheme was uncovered, the safeguards she put in place afterward, and why the experience led her to prioritize her health and hand daily operations to a trusted CEO.
Transcribe →Phillip Simpson - How Entrepreneurs Can Balance Ambition, Focus, and Purpose
3w ago00:30:44Tap to summarizePhillip Simpson is the CEO of SFM Services, a family of companies that helps schools, churches, and other mission-driven organizations clean, maintain, and secure their facilities. He leads the company's growth, culture, and operations while developing teams that deliver dependable, high-quality work. A West Point graduate, former Army infantry officer, and an elite wrestler who trained for the Olympics, Phillip has experience in leadership, discipline, talent development, and building organizations around clear values. In this episode… Building a meaningful career often requires choosing between competing definitions of success. Strong leadership also depends on knowing when to pursue an opportunity, when to step back, and how to protect the values that matter most. How can entrepreneurs grow with ambition without losing focus, authenticity, or balance? Leadership and operations expert Phillip Simpson answers that question through disciplined priorities and intentional decision-making. He recommends choosing environments where trusted people will invest in your potential, recognizing that different employees require different forms of motivation, and resisting opportunities that distract from core strengths. Phillip also emphasizes identifying where you can excel rather than trying to master everything, creating conditions for people to perform meaningful work, and treating vulnerability as a tool for growth. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline talks with Phillip Simpson, CEO of SFM Services, about making difficult choices while building a values-driven business. Phillip explains how military and athletic experiences shaped his leadership style, why entrepreneurs must learn to say no, and how a strong culture helps people thrive. He also offers lessons on mentorship, vulnerability, and balancing growth with family.
Transcribe →Lauren Reed - Stepping Away To Lead Better: Lessons From an 18-Month Sabbatical
4w ago00:44:59Tap to summarizeLauren Reed is the Founding Partner of REED Public Relations, a full-service public relations and marketing agency. In her role, she leads strategy, business growth, and team development, drawing on expertise in communications, agency leadership, workplace culture, and cause marketing. Lauren also speaks and writes about entrepreneurship, burnout, and building a business that can thrive beyond its founder. In this episode… Some entrepreneurs have always known they would one day build a company. Others arrive there only after a decision forces them to trust themselves before the path is fully clear. What does it look like when an unplanned business becomes a catalyst for personal and professional growth? Communications strategist Lauren Reed began her career convinced entrepreneurship was too risky, shaped by what she saw growing up around the highs and lows of business ownership. When circumstances at her agency shifted, she left with no plan to start a company, only to find clients, mentors, and opportunities appearing almost immediately. Over time, Lauren moved from cautious founder to EO member, speaker, author, and leader willing to step away from the day-to-day so her team could rise. She maintains that building a sustainable company requires enough trust to stop being at the center of everything. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline sits down with Lauren Reed, Founding Partner of REED Public Relations, to discuss stepping away from the business to rediscover her role as a leader. Lauren shares why a 90-day sabbatical became 18 months, how spiritual exploration shaped her next chapter, and what changed when she returned with deeper trust in her leadership team.
Transcribe →Dr. David Haase - Long-Term Health Habits for Entrepreneurs
Jul 300:44:28Tap to summarizeDavid Haase, MD, is the Founder and Executive Physician at MaxWell Clinic, a functional medicine clinic focused on advanced diagnostics, nutrition, longevity, and brain optimization. In 2025, he founded EverBetter, a health technology company dedicated to improving clinical outcomes, digital security, and human agency. Dr. Haase completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic and is double board-certified in Family Medicine and Integrative Holistic Medicine. He is also Lead Faculty at the Institute for Functional Medicine and trains physicians globally in approaches to Alzheimer's, dementia, and chronic illness. In this episode… Healthcare often rewards efficiency, compliance, and the search for the "right" answer. Yet when the goal is human flourishing, the better question may be how to build systems, habits, and communities that help people live and lead with more energy, clarity, and purpose. What would change if health were treated like a life-long strategy instead of a transaction? Dr. David Haase, a physician specializing in personalized and systems-based medicine, argues that sustained health starts by looking at the whole person rather than chasing isolated symptoms. For entrepreneurs, he suggests prioritizing brain health, protecting sleep by treating the bedroom as a sanctuary, and continuing to learn as a way to preserve cognitive function while aging. Health improves when people make daily decisions that support energy, resilience, and long-term purpose. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson sit down with Dr. David Haase, Founder and Executive Physician at MaxWell Clinic, to discuss health strategies for entrepreneurs. Dr. Haase shares the importance of brain health, how sleep impacts performance, and how ambition, learning, and community support long-term wellness.
Transcribe →Iris Pomerance Fields - From Tech Disillusionment to Buying and Rebuilding a Service Business
Jun 2600:28:51Tap to summarizeIris Pomerance Fields is the Owner and President of The Porch Company, a design-build construction firm specializing in custom porches and outdoor living spaces. Originally founded more than 30 years ago, she acquired the company and now leads its growth while preserving its craftsmanship-focused legacy. Before The Porch Company, Iris worked in business operations at Built Technologies and CareBridge. In this episode… A career can look successful on paper while feeling strangely disconnected from the work itself. Over time, that gap can evolve into a deeper question about whether day-to-day work feels grounded, tangible, and aligned with personal values. When external success no longer matches internal clarity, what does it take to realign the two? With a background in finance operations and high-growth tech startups, Iris Pomerance Fields found herself increasingly pulled toward work that produced visible, real-world outcomes. After years in abstract, systems-driven environments, Iris began rethinking what meaningful work would look like in practice and explored entrepreneurship as a way to regain autonomy and control over her time and impact. That search eventually led her into business acquisition, where she applied her systems-oriented mindset to an entirely different type of organization. Her key takeaway: clarity often follows action, not the other way around. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson sit down with Iris Pomerance Fields, Owner and President of The Porch Company, to discuss career reinvention through business acquisition and leadership. Iris explains her shift from tech to tangible business ownership, how she acquired and restructured a multi-branch company into a unified organization, and lessons from her EO forum.
Transcribe →Daniel Woods - Building a Service Business Through Hospitality and Intentional Leadership
Jun 1900:30:08Tap to summarizeDaniel Woods is the Founder and CEO of The Addison Group, a landscape architecture firm focused on designing personalized and elegant outdoor spaces. The company serves builders and custom clients throughout Greater Nashville, offering landscape design, site and grading plans, pool and outdoor living design, and 3D rendering. Before founding The Addison Group, Daniel was a senior Landscape Architect at Southern Land Company, where he played a principal role in the development of local communities. In this episode… Growth often begins with a simple question: Is the path you're on still the right one? For entrepreneurs, this question can surface in moments of uncertainty, forcing them to rethink how they lead, serve, and build what comes next. Landscape architect Daniel Woods spent years learning the craft of design before realizing that his deeper calling was entrepreneurship. After launching his own business in 2012, he moved from simply serving clients well to building a company with a clearer structure, stronger leadership, and a more intentional client experience. Throughout his journey, Daniel learned that growth requires more than talent — it requires listening well, planning ahead, and committing fully to the principles that set your company apart. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson talk with Daniel Woods, Founder and CEO of The Addison Group, about building a service business through intentional leadership. Daniel shares how he started his entrepreneurial journey, why communication and hospitality became his company's guiding principles, and how EO helped him improve his listening skills.
Transcribe →Matthew Anderson - Making Better Decisions in Real Estate, Law, and Entrepreneurship
May 800:28:30Tap to summarizeMatthew Anderson is a Partner at Anderson & Harrison, PLLC, a Nashville-based boutique law firm focused on construction and real estate law. The practice represents real estate professionals, investors, developers, and operators in breach-of-contract and tort disputes related to real estate and construction. As a real estate investor and operator, Matthew has approximately $25M of assets under management, consisting primarily of multifamily and office space in Tennessee. In this episode… Entrepreneurship often requires choosing between what's working and what's worth building next. As opportunities expand, the harder decision is not always whether to grow, but what to let go of in order to grow well. How do you know when a difficult season is actually pointing you toward the next right move? Real estate and construction law expert Matthew Anderson built his career at the intersection of legal strategy, investing, and entrepreneurship. After starting out in law while quietly pursuing real estate deals on the side, he eventually stepped into business ownership, learning that growth required more than ambition — it required focus, discipline, and the courage to say no. A deeply personal setback, including grief and a delayed bar exam, became an unexpected turning point that gave Matthew space to study investing and take action. His advice: stop dabbling, make offers, learn through due diligence, and use action to build confidence. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline sits down with Matthew Anderson, Partner at Anderson & Harrison, PLLC, to discuss making difficult decisions in entrepreneurship and real estate investing. Matthew shares how he joined EO, why investor experience shapes his legal advice, and how a major personal setback helped launch his investing journey.
Transcribe →Brian Fisher - How To Find Your True Role in Business and Build a Career That Fits
May 100:44:51Tap to summarizeBrian Fisher is the Co-founder and COO of Jucebox, a digital marketing and sales platform for life insurance agents and advisors. He is also the COO and Chief Compliance Officer at JB Wealth Advisors, an SEC-registered investment advisory services company. With a background in operations and marketing, Brian helps advisors improve performance and client acquisition. In this episode… Success may look like a straight path from passion to achievement, but it rarely unfolds that way. Many professionals find themselves pivoting, reevaluating, and redefining what fulfillment means along the journey. What can you do when the path you've invested in no longer aligns with the life you want to build? Business infrastructure expert Brian Fisher didn't begin his career with spreadsheets or systems, but with a trumpet in hand and a vision of performing. As he moved from music into the restaurant industry, he immersed himself in operations, eventually running multimillion-dollar establishments and launching his own creative dining experiences. Even after achieving his dream of opening a restaurant, an unexpected loss forced Brian to rebuild from scratch. Alongside his twin brother, he found a new path, learning to embrace his strengths behind the scenes — designing systems, scaling operations, and supporting growth rather than chasing the spotlight. Brian's journey demonstrates that success comes from aligning your work with your natural strengths, not forcing yourself into roles that drain you. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson sit down with Brian Fisher, Co-founder and COO of Jucebox, to discuss navigating career pivots and finding your role in business. Brian shares his transition from music to restaurants, lessons from building and losing a business, and how defining his strengths reshaped his leadership approach.
Transcribe →Joyce Mehlman - How to Bet on Yourself and Build a Business Through Uncertainty
Apr 2400:32:26Tap to summarizeJoyce Mehlman is the Founder of iLEX Consulting Group, a fintech consulting firm. She is also the President and COO of Spidr, a fintech platform that enables businesses to develop and deliver embedded banking solutions. With over 30 years of experience in financial services and fintech, Joyce held senior leadership roles across operations, compliance, and payments. In this episode… Major career decisions rarely arrive at convenient times. They tend to show up alongside uncertainty, responsibility, and the pressure to choose between stability and something unproven. When the stakes include family, finances, and personal identity, how can you decide which path to take? Seasoned fintech leader and strategist Joyce Mehlman didn't begin her career in finance — she stumbled into it after her plans for law school fell through and a temporary bank job turned into a lifelong endeavor. Over decades, she worked her way through nearly every function in banking, eventually rising to executive leadership before stepping away to build something of her own. Along the way, Joyce faced moments that tested both her resilience and conviction — from supporting her family through uncertainty to navigating a near-collapse of her business during an industry downturn. Through it all, she leaned into adaptability, honesty, and persistence, proving that the willingness to bet on yourself can be the most important decision you make. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson sit down with Joyce Mehlman, Founder of iLEX Consulting Group and President and COO of Spidr, to discuss building resilience through uncertainty. Joyce shares how she transitioned from banking into entrepreneurship, navigated financial instability during the pandemic, and evolved her leadership style through honesty and active listening.
Transcribe →Jim Fisher - Lessons in Entrepreneurship, Sales, and Walking Away at the Right Time
Apr 1700:34:11Tap to summarizeJim Fisher is the Founder and CEO of Jucebox, a digital marketing and sales platform for life insurance agents and advisors. He is also the Managing Director at JB Growth Partners, where he leads retirement planning and financial education initiatives. With years of experience in retirement income planning, Jim focuses on helping financial professionals scale their production to serve clients more effectively. In this episode… Growth often comes from moments that don't look like wins. Entrepreneurs frequently face decisions where holding on feels safer than letting go, even when the path forward is unclear. Sometimes walking away turns out to be the most strategic move you can make. As a sales coach in the financial services industry, Jim Fisher's journey is shaped by a series of calculated risks and hard-earned lessons. Early in his career, he absorbed a customer-first philosophy that emphasized solving problems rather than pushing products, a mindset that later defined how he trained others. Along the way, Jim faced a defining setback when a business partnership unraveled, forcing him to choose between a prolonged legal fight or redirecting his energy elsewhere. He chose to move forward, channeling his focus into refining his craft and helping others master sales through clarity, conviction, and purpose. Jim emphasizes narrowing your focus and committing to where you can create the most value. In this episode of The Decision, Robert Hartline and Eric Jackson sit down with Jim Fisher, Founder and CEO of Jucebox and Managing Director of JB Growth Partners, to discuss entrepreneurship, sales, and decision-making. Jim explains how to niche down for growth, what traits define high-performing salespeople, and why walking away from a business can lead to greater long-term success.
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