Are you terrified that even considering selling your business could unleash chaos or expose your intentions to the wrong people?

This episode is a must-listen for founders and owners who want to explore life-changing financial options, minus the drama. J. Michael Fisher Jr., trusted investment banker and Managing Director at DBD Partners, reveals the mindset and real-world structures behind true confidentiality in business sales, long before you commit to a deal.

Learn why calm, disciplined processes protect not only your value, but your sanity and your relationships. Discover the crucial difference between brokers who push and advisors who empower, and uncover how to quietly test the waters without exposing what you’ve built.

Tune in now. The biggest risks are the secrets you don’t control. Don’t wait to safeguard your legacy or your leverage. This episode off

[00:00] – The secret cost behind premature deal rumors… and why the best processes never feel rushed

[00:01:29] – Founders’ hidden crossroads: What really triggers the decision to sell

[00:02:12] – Why your biggest risk isn’t selling, but losing control of your own story

[00:03:21] – How a single loose comment can upend everything you’ve built

[00:03:52] – Exposing the “NDA myth”: Why paperwork is not real confidentiality

[00:04:47] – Buyer temperament exposed: Why discretion matters more than a big offer

[00:05:38] – Who should protect you—partner or pushy broker—and how to spot the difference

[00:06:54] – Permission granted: Why holding back is powerful, and how you can explore quietly

1. Feel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here.
2. Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog.
3. Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment Bank

Going Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

What would you give to build a business that actually supports your life, not competes with it?

Vanessa Quigley, co-founder of Chatbooks and mother of seven, reveals the raw, uplifting story behind turning everyday family chaos into a brand that disrupts an entire industry.

In this episode, J. Michael Fisher Jr. goes deep with Vanessa on performing under pressure, the unexpected resilience of busy parents, and the pivotal moment where nostalgia changed everything. They pull back the curtain on life-first company culture, the illusion of “perfect” business journeys, and the radical clarity it takes to lead at work and at home.

Skip this, and risk getting trapped in a business that burns you out. Listen now for exclusive, hard-won wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. Your sanity and your future self will thank you.

[00:01:32] – From opera dreams to motherhood: When life throws you a creative plot twist

[00:03:38] – The heart-stopping moment of mom guilt that sparked Chatbooks’ invention

[00:05:30] – Can being a performer secretly make you a stronger entrepreneur?

[00:13:32] – Why seeing “take my money!” beats a decade of polite indifference

[00:17:19] – The unexpected upside and stress of co-founding a company with your spouse

[00:20:24] – The revolutionary power of “subscribing to your life”… and why customers obsessed over it

[00:33:06] – Be a grownup: Vanessa’s approach to boundaries and real-life culture at work

[00:43:09] – When doing business your way finally clicks, and how to own your unique journey

1. Instagram
2. Substack
3. Make A Wish Foundation
4. Best Friends Animal Society
5. United Way
6. Meta
7. Utah Foster Family Network
8. The Stone Pony (music venue)

Vanessa Quigley is the Co-Founder and Chatbooker in Chief at Chatbooks, the innovative company helping millions of families turn everyday photos into meaningful, lasting keepsakes with zero fuss. A proud mother of seven and passionate storyteller, Vanessa brings a performer’s flair, a parent’s heart, and over a decade of hands-on brand-building experience to her leadership at Chatbooks. She’s a sought-after voice on entrepreneurship, work-life balance, and the life-changing power of family memories.

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Ever wonder why some businesses become buyer magnets while others stay stuck in chaos? If you crave real transformation, scalable process, robust culture, and exit-ready performance, this masterclass will arm you with proven, uncommon tools to win.

Host J. Michael Fisher Jr. sits down with Nio Queiro, CEO and founder of The Queiro Group, whose 35-year career in healthcare and M&A has reshaped companies from the inside out.

You’ll discover surprising strategies for engaging teams, turning crisis into catalytic change, and using AI to thrive, not just survive. From overcoming stagnant leadership to fixing cashflow leaks, this episode is a treasure trove of actionable insights for business owners who want more than just a deal; they want victory.

Don’t settle for business as usual when the stakes are this high. Listen now to escape the pain of lost value, missed growth, and mediocre exits. This episode delivers exclusive secrets you won’t find anywhere else, only for listeners ready to level up now.

[00:00] – What happens when a masterclass mindset collides with a career-defining health crisis

[00:03:41] – Why “transformation” isn’t what most consultants claim and how reframing drives deal-winning momentum

[00:05:44] – The real reason entrepreneurs must sometimes “drive their own boat” (warning: silver-haired resistance ahead)

[00:08:31] – The controversial strategy that builds trust from the ground up, not the C-suite down

[00:12:20] – How communication (and a simple “call to action”) can flip a broken culture into unstoppable execution

[00:14:59] – Two types of Cairo clients and the surprising innovation secret most leadership teams miss

[00:22:14] – When top leaders are the example (and when culture clashes force an expert to tap out)

[00:27:12] – AI without the hype—why most healthcare “automation” is stuck in the past, and what you REALLY need to ask now

[00:32:43] – Where businesses bleed cash without knowing it (hint: it’s not just healthcare…and it’s NOT staff cuts)

[00:47:09] – The tiny failure at Deloitte that forever changed Nio’s approach to leadership and team unity

1. Human-centered leadership architecture
2. McKinsey AI adoption report (89% by 2026 reference)
3. Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
4. Kaiser Permanente
5. Mayo Clinic
6. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles