Most people don’t leave a stable engineering job and build a $2.5M company in two years, but Karl Hughes isn’t most people. In this episode of Unfinished Business, David Sliman gets into the real behind-the-scenes of growing Draft.dev, building a business portfolio, and scaling without losing your mind (or your weekends).

Karl shares how he went from software engineer to founder, built a remote-first content agency serving high-growth developer tools companies, and is now acquiring service businesses with smart systems and serious clarity. If you're tired of hustle advice that skips the process, this episode delivers the real strategy.

Key Takeaways:

• Start small, grow smart – Why the best first business is the one that buys you freedom.
• Cold email isn’t your strategy, it’s your trap – How Karl scaled by building trust, not blasting inboxes.
• Scaling isn’t sexy, it’s systems – The real talk on hiring, delegation, and letting go of control.

🎙️ Podcast Quote: "Every entrepreneur uses their unfair advantage. The best ones lean into it hard." – Karl Hughes

Like this episode? Send it to someone building a business and needs the blueprint. Subscribe to Unfinished Business for unfiltered conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, and smart growth.

Connect with Karl Hughes:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karllhughes/
• Website: https://draft.dev
• Business Portfolio: https://www.karllhughes.com
• Podcast: The Business of Open Source

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SalesProformancePCS
• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

This episode is brought to you by Unfinished Business, where we dive deep into the journeys of people who are reshaping what success looks like. Make sure to tune in for more episodes that’ll inspire your own entrepreneurial path!

Developed by Titan Media Worx – making podcasting easy and professional. Learn more about our video editing services and how we can help you grow! Visit our website: https://titanmediaworx.com/

#UnfinishedBusiness #Sales #Leadership #DavidSliman #Growth #Mindset #Business #FamilyBusiness #SalesDevelopment #Strategy #Training #Results #CEO #CEOLeadership #Entrepreneurship #Success #Podcast #Interview #KarlHughes #DraftDev #Entrepreneurship #StartupGrowth #ServiceBusiness #FounderJourney #TechContent #BusinessAcquisition

Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about self-awareness, accountability, and a growth mindset. In this episode of Unfinished Business, host David Sliman sits down with Dr. Gary McGrath, CEO of Statarius and creator of the LeaderStep7™ program, to unpack what it really takes to go from good boss to great leader.

With a background in the military, corporate sales, and leadership coaching for Fortune 500 companies, Dr. Gary shares how emotional intelligence, questioning, and compassionate accountability transform both business cultures and personal relationships. If you're leading a team, scaling a company, or trying to elevate your own leadership DNA, this one hits home.

Key Takeaways:

• Why emotional intelligence matters more than charisma – And how to develop it.
• Compassionate accountability – How to lead with both empathy and high standards.
• Forget authority and become a coach – Why the best leaders ask better questions (and listen harder).

🎙️ Podcast Quote: "Leadership is a responsibility, not a position." – Dr. Gary McGrath

If this episode made you think differently about leadership, share it with someone who needs it. And don’t forget to subscribe to Unfinished Business for more straight-talk on business, growth, and becoming your best.

Connect with Dr. Gary McGrath:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgarymcgrath/
• Website: https://www.statarius.com
• Books: Mastering Leadership and The Seven Steps of Intentional Leadership

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SalesProformancePCS
• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

This episode is brought to you by Unfinished Business, where we dive deep into the journeys of people who are reshaping what success looks like. Make sure to tune in for more episodes that’ll inspire your own entrepreneurial path!

Developed by Titan Media Worx – making podcasting easy and professional. Learn more about our video editing services and how we can help you grow! Visit our website: https://titanmediaworx.com/

#UnfinishedBusiness #DavidSliman #Sales #Leadership #DavidSliman #Growth #Mindset #Business #FamilyBusiness #SalesDevelopment #Strategy #Training #Results #CEO #CEOLeadership #Entrepreneurship #Success #Podcast #Interview #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #ExecutiveCoaching #LeaderStep7 #BusinessMindset #SelfAwareness #GrowthLeadership #CompassionateAccountability #GaryMcGrath

Let’s face it: IT only becomes “urgent” when something breaks. But Harold Mann, President of Mann Consulting, says that mindset is exactly why businesses lose time, money, and trust. On this episode of Unfinished Business, David Sliman gets into it with Harold on tech mistakes that cost companies big, the importance of proactive systems, and why your onboarding, offboarding, and cybersecurity processes should never be an afterthought.

With more than 30 years in IT, Harold has helped organizations, from fast-scaling startups to established enterprises, transform their operations by thinking strategically about technology, not reactively. If you’re tired of tech chaos or ready to scale without breaking your systems, this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Stop treating IT like a fire extinguisher – How a proactive approach to tech creates real business efficiency.
• Why your newest hire should write your onboarding checklist – A smarter way to tighten processes and avoid confusion.
• Think like a 50-person company (even if you’re 5) – The systems you build now determine how well you grow later.

🎙️ Podcast Quote: "Hard work, easy life. Easy work, hard life." – Harold Mann

Connect with Harold Mann:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmann/
• Website: https://www.mann.com/

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SalesProformancePCS
• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

This episode is brought to you by Unfinished Business, where we dive deep into the journeys of people who are reshaping what success looks like. Make sure to tune in for more episodes that’ll inspire your own entrepreneurial path!

Developed by Titan Media Worx – making podcasting easy and professional. Learn more about our video editing services and how we can help you grow! Visit our website: https://titanmediaworx.com/

#UnfinishedBusiness #Sales #Leadership #DavidSliman #Growth #Mindset #Business #FamilyBusiness #SalesDevelopment #Strategy #Training #Results #CEO #CEOLeadership #Entrepreneurship #Success #Podcast #Interview

You’ve heard of networking, but Steve Ramona is on a whole different level. With over $5 billion in projects and 125+ million in partner deals, he’s the definition of a super connector. In this episode of Unfinished Business, David Sliman gets real with Steve about how building intentional, value-first relationships can completely change your business and your life.

Steve shares how he went from working the front desk of his family’s health club at 18 to running a top-ranked podcast and mentoring entrepreneurs across the country. His principle? Serve first. Sell second. If you’re trying to grow your business through referrals, partnerships, or purpose-driven leadership, this one's for you.

Key Takeaways:

• “ASK. Shut up. LISTEN. ASK again.” – The framework that turns conversations into connections.
• Transformational > Transactional – Why sales pros and leaders must prioritize relationships over quick wins.
• From $25K deals to life-changing moments – The power of showing up, following through, and serving with intention.

🎙️ Podcast Quote: "Ask. Shut up. Listen. Ask." – Steve Ramona

Connect with Steve Ramona:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveramona/
• Podcast: https://www.servinginbusinesspodcast.com/
• Email: stever1961@gmail.com

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SalesProformancePCS
• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

🚀 Like this episode? Make one intentional connection today. Share this episode and subscribe to Unfinished Business for more conversations that lead to real results.

This episode is brought to you by Unfinished Business, where we dive deep into the journeys of people who are reshaping what success looks like. Make sure to tune in for more episodes that’ll inspire your own entrepreneurial path!

Developed by Titan Media Worx – making podcasting easy and professional. Learn more about our video editing services and how we can help you grow! Visit our website: https://titanmediaworx.com/

#UnfinishedBusiness #Sales #Leadership #DavidSliman #Growth #Mindset #Business #FamilyBusiness #SalesDevelopment #Strategy #Training #Results #CEO #CEOLeadership #Entrepreneurship #Success #Podcast #Interview #RelationshipMarketing #BusinessNetworking #SalesLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #PartnershipGrowth #LeadWithService #ReferralBusiness #BusinessWithHeart #SteveRamona

What happens when you walk away from a high-profile career to bet on yourself with no backup plan? That’s exactly what Aundrea Cline-Thomas, three-time Emmy-winning journalist and CEO of The Rewrite and Mountain Court Media, did. In this episode, David Sliman digs in with Aundrea on career reinvention, the business of media, and how storytelling can literally change your life.

From covering tragedies in Macon, Georgia, to anchoring in New York City, Aundrea built a powerful career in journalism, but it was her transition into entrepreneurship that revealed her deeper purpose: helping leaders find their voice, own their story, and communicate with intention.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Storytelling = strategy – Why every professional needs to master their narrative, especially during career transitions.
• The business of media is broken – What Aundrea saw from the inside and why she left the newsroom for entrepreneurship.
• Get uncomfortable on purpose – How growth, clarity, and reinvention come from pushing past fear and stepping into new spaces.

🎙️ Podcast Quote: "We give our pens away and let someone else write our story, why do we do that?" – Aundrea Cline-Thomas

Connect with Aundrea Cline-Thomas:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aundreact/
• Website: https://www.mountaincourtmedia.com
• Podcast: The Next Best Thing

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SalesProformancePCS
• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

This episode is brought to you by Unfinished Business, where we dive deep into the journeys of people who are reshaping what success looks like. Make sure to tune in for more episodes that’ll inspire your own entrepreneurial path!

Developed by Titan Media Worx – making podcasting easy and professional. Learn more about our video editing services and how we can help you grow! Visit our website: https://titanmediaworx.com/

#UnfinishedBusiness #Sales #Leadership #DavidSliman #Growth #Mindset #Business #FamilyBusiness #SalesDevelopment #Strategy #Training #Results #CEO #CEOLeadership #Entrepreneurship #Success #Podcast #Interview #CareerTransition #StorytellingForBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #EntrepreneurMindset #MediaIndustry #WomenInLeadership #PersonalBranding #AuthenticLeadership

Most companies throw money at marketing and hope for results, but hope isn’t a strategy. If your content isn’t driving leads, closing deals, or aligning with sales, you’re doing it wrong.

This week, A. Lee Judge, Co-Founder and CMO of Content Monsta, joins David Sliman to break down how to bridge the gap between marketing and sales, create content that actually drives revenue, and why business leaders need to build their personal brands NOW.

Key Takeaways:

• Sales and marketing don’t have to be at war – How to align both teams for maximum impact.
• Content is a long game – Why businesses fail at marketing and how to fix it.
• Personal branding = business growth – Why CEOs and leaders need a digital presence to win.

🎙️ Podcast Quote: "The best marketing strategy? Give your sales team the content they actually need to close deals." – A. Lee Judge

Like this episode? Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway! Don’t forget to subscribe to Unfinished Business for more no-BS conversations on growth, leadership, and sales.

Connect with A. Lee Judge:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleejudge/
• Website: https://www.aleejudge.com
• Content Monsta: https://www.contentmonsta.com
• Book: https://aleejudge.com/cash/

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SalesProformancePCS
• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

This episode is brought to you by Unfinished Business, where we dive deep into the journeys of people who are reshaping what success looks like. Make sure to tune in for more episodes that’ll inspire your own entrepreneurial path!

Developed by Titan Media Worx – making podcasting easy and professional. Learn more about our video editing services and how we can help you grow! Visit our website: https://titanmediaworx.com/

#UnfinishedBusiness #Sales #Leadership #DavidSliman #Growth #Mindset #Business #FamilyBusiness #SalesDevelopment #Strategy #Training #Results #CEO #CEOLeadership #Entrepreneurship #Success #Podcast #Interview #ALeeJudge #ContentMonsta #ContentThatSells #SalesAndMarketing #RevenueGrowth

If you’re still selling like it’s 2015, you’re already behind. Sales is evolving faster than ever, and if you don’t adapt, you’re going to get left in the dust. Jake Dunlap, CEO of Skaled Consulting, joins David Sliman to talk about what actually works in sales today, why automation alone is killing sales teams, and how to leverage AI without losing the human edge.

Jake doesn’t just consult, he’s built and scaled sales teams from zero to millions in revenue at companies like Glassdoor. He’s here to cut through the fluff and tell you exactly how to optimize your sales process, align your team, and turn data into deals.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Stop relying on outdated playbooks: The way buyers make decisions has changed, and your strategy needs to evolve.
• AI & sales tech aren’t optional anymore: How to use them the right way to speed up deals, not slow them down.
• Your sales process is probably broken: Why constant optimization is the difference between hitting quota and getting left behind.

🎙️ Podcast Quote: "Sales is a science. If you’re not tracking, optimizing, and evolving, you’re losing." – Jake Dunlap

🚀 Like this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear it! Don’t forget to subscribe to Unfinished Business for more no-BS insights on sales, growth, and leadership.

Connect with Jake Dunlap:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakedunlap/
• Website: https://www.jakedunlap.com/
• Website: https://www.skaled.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jake_Dunlap
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YSdOae5YyHNfy6UQd7iIM

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SalesProformancePCS
• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

This episode is brought to you by Unfinished Business, where we dive deep into the journeys of people who are reshaping what success looks like. Make sure to tune in for more episodes that’ll inspire your own entrepreneurial path!

Developed by Titan Media Worx – making podcasting easy and professional. Learn more about our video editing services and how we can help you grow! Visit our website: https://titanmediaworx.com/

#UnfinishedBusiness #Sales #Leadership #DavidSliman #Growth #Mindset #Business #FamilyBusiness #SalesDevelopment #Strategy #Training #Results #CEO #CEOLeadership #Entrepreneurship #Success #Podcast #Interview #JakeDunlap #SalesStrategy #AIinSales #ModernSelling #B2BSales #SalesLeadership #TechEnabledSelling #BusinessGrowth #RevenueOptimization

Most people want change, but they don’t know where to start or how to break through old habits. That’s where Todd Bertsch, Owner and President of Evolve Marketing, comes in. In this episode, David Sliman sits down with Todd to talk about reinvention, resilience, and rewiring your mindset to reach your full potential.

From his early struggles with addiction and rock-bottom moments to building a thriving business and helping professionals transform their lives, Todd proves that change is possible when you commit to winning the day. If you feel stuck, unmotivated, or overwhelmed, this episode will flip the switch on what’s holding you back.

Key Takeaways:

• Change isn’t instant, but it is possible – How to start with small wins and stack them into unstoppable momentum.
• Reprogram your mind for success – The habits, content, and people you surround yourself with determine your future.
• Manifestation that actually works – Why clarity, consistency, and visualization are game-changers.

🎙️ Podcast Quote: "You can rewire your brain. You just have to be curious enough to consider change." – Todd Bertsch

🚀 Like this episode? Don’t just listen, take action! Share it with someone who needs to hear it and subscribe to Unfinished Business for more real, no-BS conversations on growth, leadership, and success.

Connect with Todd Bertsch:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/
• Website: https://www.toddbertsch.com/
• Podcast:https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb

Connect with David Sliman

• Website: http://salesproformance.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidslimansalespro/
• Linktr: https://linktr.ee/salesproformance
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SalesProformancePCS
• Email: GoPro@SalesProformance.com

This episode is brought to you by Unfinished Business, where we dive deep into the journeys of people who are reshaping what success looks like. Make sure to tune in for more episodes that’ll inspire your own entrepreneurial path!

Developed by Titan Media Worx – making podcasting easy and professional. Learn more about our video editing services and how we can help you grow! Visit our website: https://titanmediaworx.com/

#UnfinishedBusiness #Sales #Leadership #DavidSliman #Growth #Mindset #Business #FamilyBusiness #SalesDevelopment #Strategy #Training #Results #CEO #CEOLeadership #Entrepreneurship #Success #Podcast #Interview #MindsetShift #RewireYourBrain #GrowthMindset #EntrepreneurLife #ManifestSuccess #PersonalDevelopment #SmallWinsBigResults #LeadershipThatWorks