The Number

The Number | Episode 3 — The One NumberMost people manage money reactively — checking their bank account after the fact and hoping it adds up. In this episode, Wendy and Kelsey dig into The One Number: Black Star Wealth's system for cutting through the noise of multiple accounts, competing priorities, and unconscious spending. They explain why a spending plan works better than a budget, how automating your fixed costs frees up mental energy, and how a single weekly number can give you both boundaries and permission — depending on what you need.In This EpisodeWhy "spending plan" works better psychologically than "budget" — and how the framing changes your relationship with moneyHow The One Number works: automating fixed costs so you only need to track one weekly discretionary figureWhy the number resets every seven days, and why that matters when life goes sidewaysHow to use your weekly number to understand the real trade-off between paying down debt and maintaining your current lifestyleWhy this system helps both over-spenders and under-spenders — and how it removes the guilt from both sidesFeatured Quote"It's about how much can you spend on your discretionary things every week without worrying. Everything else works." — Wendy BrookhouseAbout the HostsWendy Brookhouse is the founder and chief strategist at Black Star Wealth and a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years of independent advisory experience. She works with entrepreneurs and business owners to build financial clarity, business value, and wealth that lasts.Kelsey MacAulay is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Relationship Officer at Black Star Wealth, and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. He works with business owners on the operational and strategic side of building a business worth transitioning.Resources & LinksThe One Number — Black Star Wealth's system for simplifying spending and aligning money with your goals. Learn more at blackstarwealth.comConnect With Black Star WealthWebsite: blackstarwealth.comLinkedIn: Wendy Brookhouse | Kelsey MacAulayPodcast: The Number — available on all major platformsIf this episode resonated, follow The Number so you don't miss what's next.

Got it — noted and saved. Kelsey MacAulay, and he. I'll make sure both the skill files and all future content reflect that correctly. Here are the corrected show notes:From Interested to Committed: What 500 Sessions TeachesThe Number | Episode [#] — Commitment, Habits & ConsistencyWhat does it take to stop being interested in something and actually commit to it? In this episode, Wendy and Kelsey get personal. Kelsey hit 500 gym sessions in under two years — tying for third fastest in his gym — and it changed more than his fitness. They unpack what made the habit stick, why identity matters more than motivation, and how the same thinking applies to the financial and business decisions that business owners keep putting off.In This EpisodeWhy convenience and structure matter more than willpower when building a lasting habitHow blocking non-negotiable time — in your calendar and in your mindset — removes decision fatigue before it startsThe difference between being interested in something and actually committing to it, and what it takes to flip that switchWhy your reason for committing has to be genuinely yours — doing it for someone else rarely worksHow building one consistent habit can create capacity for things that previously felt out of reachWhat it looks like when a goal shifts from external motivation to a core part of how you see yourselfFeatured Quote"It's more of an identity now, not a motivation." — Kelsey MacAulayAbout the HostsWendy Brookhouse is the founder and chief strategist at Black Star Wealth and a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years of independent advisory experience. She works with entrepreneurs and business owners to build financial clarity, business value, and wealth that lasts.Kelsey MacAulay is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Relationship Officer at Black Star Wealth, and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. He works with business owners on the operational and strategic side of building a business worth transitioning.Connect With Black Star WealthWebsite: blackstarwealth.comLinkedIn: Wendy Brookhouse | Kelsey MacAulayPodcast: The Number — available on all major platformsIf this episode resonated, follow The Number so you don't miss what's next.

Twenty years. That’s the number that launches The Number.The milestone number 20 marks Wendy’s twentieth year in the financial industry. What began as business consulting evolved into an independent financial planning practice grounded in curiosity, education, and doing what is right—not what is easy.In this first episode, Wendy Brookhouse and Kelsey MacAulay introduce the podcast and the concept behind it: beginning every conversation with a number and uncovering the story that sits behind it.Wendy and Kelsey discuss what has changed over the past two decades, from pandemic‑driven digital acceleration to the rise of AI and faster approval processes. They also explore what has stayed constant: every client brings their own story, fears, aspirations, and definition of success.With fewer than 17 percent of independent financial advisors being female, Wendy reflects on the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence in modern financial planning—skills that she believes will matter even more in the years ahead.They also outline the three core planning pathways at Black Star Wealth:The One Number SolutionRetirement PlanningTotal Wealth Blueprint for Business OwnersYou’ll hear why the firm is shifting toward fixed‑fee models to offer greater transparency and clarity for clients.This episode sets the tone for what The Number is all about: clarity, empowerment, and real conversations about the numbers that shape your life.

This episode takes a turn. Wendy’s not in the host chair. I slide in to interview her and Kelsey as we wrap up 2025 and look straight into 2026.We cover what surprised them about business owners this year, where owners are getting stuck, why so many people are tired, and why resilience and action suddenly matter more than ever.We dig into the myths that refuse to die, the habits that make a business sellable, and the blind spots that can wipe out value overnight.We also talk about life after the sale. The identity stuff. The what now moment.If you’re planning to sell in five years or you’re nowhere near ready but want the option, this one will get you thinking.

AI is showing up everywhere in business.And a lot of owners are turning it on without realizing what they just gave access to.In this episode, Wendy sits down with Darryl Cresswell, CEO and founder of myDWARE, to talk about why cybersecurity has to come before any AI rollout.They dig into real world examples entrepreneurs can actually relate to.AI agents running under owner level access.Sensitive data leaking through email, CRM systems, and shadow AI tools.And why flashy automation without guardrails can quietly destroy trust, value, and deal readiness.Darryl breaks down the difference between AI bots, AI agents, and agentic AI in plain language.They talk about shadow AI, third party tools, and how employees accidentally create risk.And why buyers and auditors are now paying close attention to cybersecurity when valuing a business.If you are experimenting with AI, thinking about automation, or planning to sell your business one day, this conversation will change how you think about “just turning it on.”Cybersecurity first.AI second.Always.

I invited Graham Barlow onto The Real Bottom Line because his founder journey is one of the wildest I’ve ever heard. He started out as a teenager selling virtual game items on eBay, scaled that “hobby” into almost six figures a month, and eventually went on to build and exit multiple companies.In our conversation, Graham and I dig intoHow he and a group of friends used bots to farm virtual currency long before in-app purchases were normal Why cash flow, projections, and financial discipline matter far more than top-line revenue The painful lessons he learned building a game studio and raising moneyHow ego and “I’m the only one who can do this right” thinking quietly caps your businessWhy community and the rooms you put yourself in can dramatically change your sense of what’s possibleThe two strategic gaps he sees in most businesses right now… outbound sales and how teams use AIWe also talk about Founder Link, the community he never planned to build, and why so many founders desperately need a place where they can ask real questions, drop the armour, and get guidance from people who’ve already walked the path.If you’ve ever hit a ceiling, questioned your next move, or wondered what it actually takes to build something someone would buy, you’ll get a lot from this conversation.

FinTech leader Carrie Forbes, CEO of Rockstar Advisory, joins Wendy to unpack the shift from startup energy to running energy, the corporate habits worth keeping, and how to make AI projects succeed with tiny, low risk wins. Human skills remain the moat... and that’s the optimistic bottom line.

Wendy talks with Dr. Susan Reid, revisioning specialist, author, and keynote speaker, about designing life after work. They explore identity beyond titles, why meaning matters in retirement, and how a simple “being vision” guides the next chapter. Susan shares research, lived lessons from building and selling businesses, and practical tools like journaling push/pull factors and building a “retirement team” of strong and weak ties.Show Notes (light timestamps)0:00 — Intro and Susan’s path: scientist → MBA → PhD → entrepreneur3:30 — The Bob Proctor yo-yo story and discovering vision7:55 — Creating a category: ice cider, then maple whisky12:10 — Why a seven-word vision moves people faster than a long plan13:40 — “Life after work” and early-retirement trends17:20 — Hard stop vs glide path and the anxiety dip21:30 — Prep to vision: quiet, journaling, push/pull factors24:30 — Open via nature, people, and the “universe”26:20 — Your Retirement Team: strong ties and weak ties33:00 — Values → being vision (stop obsessing about how)38:36 — The art of becoming + how to reach SusanKey TakeawaysTreat retirement as revisioning: move from freedom from to freedom to.Start with values and a being vision, then let the how emerge.Build a Retirement Team for support and fresh ideas.Keep the vision simple enough to remember.Prototype the next chapter before you leap.

Episode: The Real Bottom Line with Wendy Brookhouse Guest: Jennifer Williams, Founder of Firefly InsightsIn this episode, I sit down with Jennifer Williams, founder and partial owner of Firefly Insights, to unpack one of the most exciting developments for Canadian entrepreneurs — Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs).If you’re a business owner starting to think about succession, exit planning, or legacy, this episode will open your eyes to a whole new way to transition your business — one that rewards your team, sustains your community, and can even save you millions in taxes.We talk about:Jennifer’s unique path from nonprofit work to social entrepreneurship and employee ownershipThe tough mindset shift around profit versus missionHow to find the right scale in your business without burning outThe new Canadian EOT legislation and what it means for small and mid-sized companiesWho qualifies, how the trust is structured, and the real financial and cultural benefitsMy favorite moment: when Jennifer breaks down how profit can amplify your mission rather than distract from it.If you’ve ever wondered, “What’s next for my business when I step away?”, this conversation might just change the way you think about exit planning.Connect with Jennifer: fireflyinsights.ca Email: [email protected]

Guest: Ray Samuels, Growth Advisor and Founder, Cer CapitalEpisode in a sentence: Ray shares how “done beats perfect,” why relationships are the real currency, and how a simple idea plus disciplined iteration can create momentum, funding, and valuation growth.What we coverFrom high-school dances to London Telecom to Direct Energy: Ray’s entrepreneurial through-lineThe 65% rule: ship, listen, iterate“Clarity beats complexity,” and getting “pedestrian” with customers to gather real feedbackG.R.O.W. mindset: Gratitude, Resilience, Optimism, WillpowerThe Equal Tank story: a simple washer-fluid dispenser, environmental impact, and national rolloutFunding growth: why sales orders are easier to fund than ideasPackaging a story investors understand and want to backDaily relationship rituals that keep your network aliveKey takeawaysShip at 65% and improve with feedbackRelationships compound if you maintain them intentionallyKeep the product and the story simple so adoption is easyGrowth needs cash, data, and proof, not perfectionMomentum creates new problems, but they are the right problemsTimestamps00:00 Meet Ray and the power of relationships02:30 Early entrepreneurship: dances, driveways, done over perfect07:10 Iteration vs. perfection and the 65% rule08:50 Clarity beats complexity and learning to listen18:20 The G.R.O.W. mindset explained23:20 Equal Tank: simple solution, big impact28:20 When and how to fund growth35:50 Packaging the story for partners and investors36:30 Wrap: relationships and iteration as operating systemsConnect with Ray LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-samuels-a20165/Like this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a founder who needs a nudge to ship.

In this episode, I'm joined by the incredibly insightful Lissa Daub, founder of Strong Impact Academy. We met online through a couple of mutual groups, and it was a meeting that just felt like kismet. Lissa hails from Edmonton, Alberta, and she’s a force to be reckoned with.Lissa and I dive into some of the most critical topics for business owners, from the mindset shifts of moving from corporate to entrepreneurship, to the surprising truth about owning a restaurant (it's not always sexy!). We talk about how the pandemic actually opened up new opportunities and simplified things for business owners, and Lissa shares her biggest lesson: you can’t just build it and expect them to come.The heart of our conversation is all about the end game. As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor, Lissa is passionate about helping entrepreneurs understand that a profitable business isn't always a sellable one. We explore why it's so important to think about the value of your business as a key performance indicator and how to avoid the "owner's trap," where you build a job for yourself instead of a sellable asset. We also talk about The Exit Lab, a workshop that helps business owners intentionally prepare for their future.In this episode, Lissa and I discuss:My favorite Lissa quote: "A profitable business is not always sellable, but a sellable business is always profitable."Why entrepreneurs are notorious for chasing shiny objects and how to stop.The biggest mistake business owners make around exit planning (and why it could cost you a fortune).How to hire strategically so you can focus on the things you love to do.The staggering statistic that 75% of business owners regret selling their business a year later and how you can avoid it.Connect with Lissa:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lissadaub

150 episodes. Honestly, when I started this podcast, I wasn’t thinking about milestones. I just wanted to have conversations with entrepreneurs and share the lessons hidden inside their journeys. And yet here we are....150 episodes later.In this solo episode, I step back from the usual interviews to reflect on what I’ve learned along the way, about business, freedom, resilience, and legacy.Here’s what I dig into:Why I believe mistakes are just lessons in disguise.How freedom from and freedom to are two very different things.The way money and freedom are always intertwined.Why your business isn’t just your baby | it’s an asset meant to fund your life.How thinking about legacy changes how you grow your company.And why building a business that doesn’t depend on you is the real path to both time and wealth freedom.As I share my reflections, I also talk about my own journey, like how giving up alcohol five years ago became an unexpected lesson in consistency and compound results.The real bottom line? Freedom of time opens the door to freedom in every other area of life and business. And that’s what I wish for you.

Some entrepreneurs build one business and call it a day. Dalene Allen has built — and sold — more than one… and kept right on making powerful connections.In this episode of The Real Bottom Line, I sit down with Dalene to unpack her journey from direct sales leader earning pink Cadillacs, to running and selling the largest business referral network in Atlantic Canada, to launching her own networking company.Dalene opens up about how she navigated each exit, why she believes human connection will always beat automation, and the simple habits that keep her network alive and thriving.You’ll hear:How she turned a Mary Kay career into a sellable assetWhat it really takes to exit a franchise businessThe 10-minute-a-day LinkedIn strategy that worksHer top tips for beginner, intermediate, and pro networkersHow to instantly make new contacts feel welcomeWhether you’re building a business to sell or looking for better ways to meet the right people, Dalene’s story is packed with ideas you can put to work right away.Connect with Dalene Allen Email: [email protected] Website: networkingnaturally.ca

In a world obsessed with algorithms, trends, and going viral, what if the true key to social media success was simpler and more human? This week's guest, Ingrid Deon, founder of the organic social media agency Word-Craft, makes a powerful case for ditching the algorithm-chasing and focusing on what truly matters: authentic conversations.Ingrid shares her inspiring and unconventional path to entrepreneurship—from her roots in journalism to becoming a single mom working three jobs, to a pay dispute that ultimately led her to launch her own agency with major national clients.This episode is a masterclass in the "social" part of social media. Ingrid explains why genuine, two-way conversations are more critical than ever in the age of AI, how to create content that sparks real engagement, and why you don't need to be on every platform to succeed.In this episode, you will learn:Why you should stop trying to "game" the algorithm and what to focus on instead.How to find your brand's unique voice and personality online.Actionable tips for creating content that encourages comments and conversation.The surprising power of "older" platforms like Facebook for building community.How to know when it's the right time to outsource your social media.Connect with Ingrid Dion:Website: word-craft.ca

In this episode, I chat with Gord Stevens, former owner of Uncommon Grounds, Rum Runners, Sugar, and more. Now the COO at Halifax Partnership, Gord shares what it was like to build multiple businesses with heart — and how he eventually transitioned out of ownership without losing what made those businesses meaningful.We cover:Gord’s journey from finance to food and retailWhy creativity and storytelling are business superpowersThe personal challenges of selling a business you loveKey steps to prepare your business for saleHow to keep your business from depending entirely on youThe Real Bottom Line? Your business can be a reflection of your values and a valuable asset — but only if you start building with the end in mind.

On this episode of The Real Bottom Line, I sit down with Justin Goodbread, serial entrepreneur, value coach, and author of Your Baby’s Ugly. He’s started and sold seven companies and now helps business owners build scalable businesses that buyers actually want.We dig into what makes a business attractive to a buyer, how to mentally prepare for a sale, and why your exit should start long before you want out.We talk about:Why grit isn’t enough – and what you need insteadThe three types of readiness: business, financial, and mentalWhy coasting into retirement could cost you millionsHow selling your business could unlock a new kind of impactWhat happens when your identity is tied too tightly to your businessJustin shares hard-won lessons from the trenches – and how a coach helped him shift from technician to true business owner.Links & Resources:Justin Goodbread: Relentless Value CoachingWendy Brookhouse: Black Star WealthWhat would your life after business look like? Let's talk about it.

Guest: M. Shannon Hernandez, Messaging & Marketing Strategist and Founder of Joyful Business Revolution™Episode Summary: Feeling drained by social media? Struggling to see real business results from all your posts? You’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with M. Shannon Hernandez to talk about a more sustainable, joyful approach to marketing—one that doesn’t leave you glued to an algorithm.Shannon is the Founder of Joyful Business Revolution™, where she helps business owners create organic marketing strategies that align with their values and bring in revenue. With over 25 years in curriculum design and work featured on CBS, ABC, FOX, and NBC, Shannon knows how to craft messaging that connects and converts.We dive into:Why relying solely on social media is a mistake for most business ownersThe power of email marketing and why it should be your primary sales driverHow to simplify your marketing while increasing your resultsThe one-platform-plus-email strategy that keeps your marketing effective and joyfulHow to build true community in your business (hint: it’s not just online)Quotes from the Episode:“One platform that brings you so much joy plus email marketing that drives revenue. That is the perfect blend.” – M. Shannon Hernandez“Publishing more content, yelling louder, or dancing on TikTok won’t fix your marketing if your messaging isn’t landing.” – M. Shannon Hernandez“If they can’t hear you, you can’t help them.” – M. Shannon HernandezConnect with Shannon: Website: www.joyfulbusinessrevolution.comLinkedIn: M. Shannon HernandezResources & Links:Grab Shannon’s free resource: 65 Story Ideas for Better Email Marketing → joyfulbusinessrevolution.com/65storyideasLearn more about The Real Bottom Line Podcast: therealbottomline.caJoin us for our Renew & Recharge Retreat: Exploring the Flavors, Culture, and Creativity of Mexico in September 2025: https://bit.ly/4c53OYKOur Tuscan Retreat is May 2-8, 2026. We don’t quite have the registration page ready yet, but if you are interested in more info, please email us.Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us bring more valuable conversations to business owners like you.What’s your biggest takeaway from this episode? Let’s continue the conversation—connect with me on LinkedIn and share your thoughts!