Poised for Exit
Welcome to the Poised for Exit podcast! Poised for Exit is an under 30-minute strategic planning guidance podcast for busy small business owners. Each week you’ll hear certified exit planning advisor, Julie Keyes, talk with a range of entrepreneurs and professionals about preparing your business for a future transition. Guests at every stage of company ownership will share their personal stories and lessons learned about topics such as the anatomy of the exit planning process, developing a growth strategy, how to sell on your terms, exit planning for women small business owners, handling business diversity, and how to sell a family business. Whether you’re planning an exit in the near future or not, this show will provide you with the same action-oriented content that Julie utilizes while consulting with Keyestrategies clients. Building an exit strategy can be overwhelming, especially with all the decisions and details you have to consider. “Poised for Exit” will simplify the process and help you unwrap the unknowns, giving you more confidence in your planning process. Previous episodes are available for download, so if you are new to our show, you can listen to them in any order that suits you. Join us each week for timely, relevant content that will surely impact your business exit outcome! Subscribe to our newsletter below to receive your weekly episode link and stay updated on new strategic planning content. Find “Poised for Exit” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, and others. Thank you to our Sponsors: Sunbelt Business Advisers and JAK CPA's. A special note of thanks to Tyler Keyes who produced the music for the “Poised for Exit” show.
Poised for Exit
Fit For Transition
As co-owner of Hi Tempo Sports and founder of the Foot Lab, Brad Nelson brings over four decades of entrepreneurial experience rooted in grit, persistence, and a deep commitment to customer well-being. From starting out in ski boot fitting to becoming a certified pedorthist, Brad has built a business legacy grounded in service and innovation.
In this episode, Brad sits down with Julie to share the full arc of his journey, from acquiring Hi Tempo in 1978 to growing it into a regional powerhouse and thoughtfully transitioning ownership to the next generation of leadership. With humor and humility, Brad reflects on the lessons he learned the hard way, the power of mentorship, and how his background in foot health became a life-changing service for thousands.
The conversation explores the emotional and strategic realities of succession planning, the challenges of educating young athletes on long-term injury prevention, and how the outdoor recreation industry has shifted in the wake of COVID. Brad also discusses why every owner needs to start planning their exit far earlier than they think.
Whether you're facing a transition or just getting started, this episode offers hard-earned wisdom and encouragement for business owners at every stage.
Learn more about Hi Tempo here: https://www.hitempo.com/
Learn more about the Footlab here:https://www.hitempo.com/foot-lab/
Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor