Most business owners know technology matters, but many delay the decision because of cost, fear, or not knowing where to start. The result is usually the same, the owner stays buried in the day-to-day while growth stalls.

In this episode of Self-Made Is a Myth, Tim Campsall sits down with Brad Shields, owner of Shields Windshields, to unpack how resisting technology upgrades quietly limited growth, created bottlenecks, and kept too much responsibility on the owner’s shoulders.

Brad shares the real story behind building a high-performance manufacturing business, navigating a family business transition, and making the leap from manual processes to automation, systems, and leadership depth. He also opens up about the mindset shifts required to let go, trust a growing team, and build a company that can scale beyond the founder.

If you are a business owner who knows your business cannot keep growing the way it is currently run, this conversation will hit close to home.

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What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why delaying technology investments often costs more than making them
• How being the bottleneck slows growth even when demand is strong
• The hidden leadership shift required to let go without losing control
• Why “having the best product” is not enough to scale
• How building the right team and management structure creates freedom

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Looking To Scale Your Business:

Did you know that only 9% of businesses make it to $1,000,000 in revenue and less than 1% get to $5,000,000. The reason is that the hustle and grind that got you to $1,000,000 needs to shift to scaling strategies to go beyond. Book a Discovery Call now to learn how our ActionCOACH Business Operating System (ABoS) and coaching helps you to get unstuck and thrive to realize your personal and dreams and business goals. https://tbcactioncoach.com/discovery-zoom-call/

Sign up for our weekly business tips https://tbcactioncoach.com/resources/email-signup/

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Why avoiding technology quietly stalls growth
(02:20) Escaping low-margin work and rethinking the business model
(04:00) Running everything manually and wearing every hat
(06:30) The fear behind investing in automation and equipment
(08:05) The personal cost of being stuck in the day-to-day
(10:55) Why the best product alone does not scale a business
(14:40) The mindset shift required to let go without losing control
(18:00) Building leadership, management, and accountability
(22:50) Installing systems to prepare for future expansion
(26:50) Why self-made success is a myth and who helped most

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Most business owners do not struggle because they lack ideas. They struggle because they have too many priorities competing for their attention.

In this episode of Self-Made Is a Myth – Make a Difference Together, Coach Tim Campsall sits down with Brian of Indiana Business Advisors and Sunbelt Business Brokers to unpack how chasing too many opportunities, relying on referrals alone, and lacking a consistent lead generation system quietly pulls owners back into the day-to-day.

Brian shares how shiny object syndrome, revenue-first thinking, and wearing too many hats cost him peace of mind, focus, and leverage. He also explains why building systems that allow the business to run without the owner is not just about growth, but about long-term value, freedom, and exit readiness.

This conversation is especially relevant for owners who feel busy, successful on the surface, but stretched thin and reactive behind the scenes.

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What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• Why having too many initiatives creates hidden chaos inside the business
• How chasing revenue without structure hurts profit and valuation
• The real cost of relying only on referrals for growth
• Why consistent lead generation systems protect owner time and focus
• How stepping out of the day-to-day increases both freedom and business value

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Looking To Scale Your Business:

Did you know that only 9% of businesses make it to $1,000,000 in revenue and less than 1% get to $5,000,000. The reason is that the hustle and grind that got you to $1,000,000 needs to shift to scaling strategies to go beyond. Book a Discovery Call now to learn how our ActionCOACH Business Operating System (ABoS) and coaching helps you to get unstuck and thrive to realize your personal and dreams and business goals. https://tbcactioncoach.com/discovery-zoom-call/

Sign up for our weekly business tips https://tbcactioncoach.com/resources/email-signup/

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Why too many priorities stall growth
(01:00) Losing freedom after starting the business
(03:35) Shiny object syndrome and scattered focus
(06:00) The real cost of being pulled in every direction
(07:30) Revenue growth does not fix broken structure
(09:10) Profit, peace of mind, and owner leverage
(11:00) Why buyers avoid owner-dependent businesses
(14:00) Exit planning starts earlier than most owners think
(16:00) The danger of relying only on referrals
(18:30) Why consistent marketing systems matter
(22:00) Defining success beyond growth and hustle
(25:00) Why self-made success is a myth