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Greg Newlands is a fitness coach for founders and high performers who helps entrepreneurs get into elite shape without extreme diets, burnout, or unsustainable routines. In this episode of The EXIT Podcast, Greg joins Adrian Salamunovic to break down the exact system that helped Adrian lose over 50 pounds, reclaim his energy, and stay consistent while running companies, traveling internationally, and operating under constant pressure. This conversation is not about motivation.It’s about systems that work when life is chaotic. Greg explains why most founders fail at fitness despite being disciplined, how calorie control and resistance training outperform trendy hacks, and why walking, protein intake, sleep, and accountability create predictable results over time. If you’re a founder, executive, or high performer who knows fitness matters - but keeps postponing it “until after the exit” - this episode shows how to build a body that matches your ambition now. Timestamps: 0:00 – Why Founder Fitness Affects Leadership & Perception 1:00 – Losing 50+ Pounds as a Founder (Adrian’s Transformation) 3:40 – Greg Newlands’ Founder Fitness Philosophy 5:30 – The First Principles of Fat Loss for Busy Founders 7:30 – Why Discipline Fails Without the Right System 9:10 – Using Data & Checklists to Stay Consistent 11:30 – Understanding Weight Fluctuations Without Panicking 15:15 – Deadlines, Accountability & Founder Psychology 17:50 – Confidence, Identity & Visualizing the Result 20:05 – Alcohol, Sugar & the 80/20 Rule 23:00 – Walking: The Most Underrated Fat-Loss Tool 24:45 – Protein, Calories & Simple Macro Tracking 28:50 – Sleep as a Performance Multiplier 36:30 – Training Consistency With a Chaotic Schedule 43:00 – Using AI to Track Food & Fitness 48:20 – Running vs Weight Training for Founders 52:40 – Supplements, TRT & What Actually Matters 56:20 – Health, Respect & Executive Presence 59:40 – Why Founders Shouldn’t Wait Until the Exit Subscribe to The EXIT Podcast - where founders share the real stories of building, scaling, and becoming who they needed to be after success. Like, comment, and subscribe if this episode helped you rethink fitness as a founder - it helps us reach more high performers who need this message. Follow the Guests & Hosts Instagram http://www.instagram.com/theexit.group Greg Newlands https://www.instagram.com/greg_newlands/ Adrian Salamunovic https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriansalamunovic/

Daniel Weinand is one of Canada’s most quietly influential founders — the Co-Founder and former Chief Design Officer & Chief Culture Officer of Shopify, the $100B+ commerce platform that reshaped how entrepreneurship works around the world.In this episode of The EXIT Podcast, Daniel reveals the real story behind Shopify’s creation — dropping out of university, moving countries, and building the earliest versions of the product out of coffee shops and 500 sq ft offices.Daniel opens up about designing Shopify’s culture from the ground up, navigating the pressures of hyper-growth, and why his identity after leaving the company sent him on a journey through filmmaking, VC investing, fatherhood, design, and even becoming a music producer and DJ.Timestamps0:00 – Introduction: Daniel Weinand0:01:01 – Origin Story: Dropping out & moving to CanadaDaniel recounts the phone call that changed everything0:03:25 – The first Shopify office0:04:35 – Founder dynamics & choosing Tobi as CEO0:07:01 – Becoming Chief Design Officer without a design degree0:08:46 – Scaling from 7 to 1,000+ employees0:10:09 – Being Chief Culture Officer0:14:50 – Going public: The real emotional impact of the IPO0:17:38 – The truth about design: Light, space, flow & how people work0:23:30 – Life after going publicHow brand visibility changed everything — from recruiting to M&A strategy.0:25:46 – The moment Daniel knew it was time to leave 0:30:46 – Reinvention: Building a media studio, meeting Mike Janke & starting new chapters0:34:41 – Angel investing: “It’s legalized gambling.”0:36:40 – Steve Aoki, biohacking & longevity investingWhy Aoki is one of the hardest-working people Daniel knows0:39:11 – Nutcase: The cashew chocolate milk disruptor 0:43:29 – Becoming a DJ & saying yes to fearFrom never touching CDJs to booking a major festival0:47:15 – Losing $800K on a crypto gaming startupA brutally honest breakdown of failure, timing, crypto volatility, and refunding the community.0:51:16 – Defense tech, critical infrastructure & government innovation0:55:07 – Bucket lists, Keanu Reeves & humilityThe simple things Daniel still wants out of life.0:56:23 – The life philosophy that changed everything0:58:20 – The IPO logo story you’ve never heard1:00:49 – Creativity, failure & reinventing yourself🎧 Subscribe to The EXIT Podcast — where top founders share the real stories of building, scaling, and discovering what life looks like after the exit. Intro Song: Nutcase by Denial (aka Daniel Weinand)🔗 Follow the Guests & HostsTHE EXIT GROUP® – https://www.theexit.groupInstagram – http://www.instagram.com/theexit.group Daniel Weinand - https://www.instagram.com/isthisdenial/Adrian Salamunovic – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriansalamunovic/

Jack Newton is one of Canada’s most successful and enduring founders — the CEO and Co-Founder of Clio, the legal-tech platform that’s transforming how law is practiced around the world. In this episode of The EXIT Podcast, Jack sits down with Adrian Salamunovic to share his 18-year journey — from bootstrapping during the 2008 financial crisis to raising a $900 million USD Series F, the largest private round in Canadian tech history. Jack opens up about how he built a category-defining company, what it takes to evolve as a founder over nearly two decades, and why the best entrepreneurs build for impact, not exits. 🔥 Watch for these key moments: ⏱ 0:00:00 – Introduction & Clio's $900M roundHow Clio became one of the most valuable SaaS companies in Canada and why Jack’s long-term mindset still drives him today. ⏱ 0:00:07 – Jack Newton: Background & Clio's Origin StoryFrom turning down a PhD under AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton to starting Clio with his childhood best friend in Edmonton. ⏱ 0:05:23 – Building Clio: Early Challenges & Division of RolesThe scrappy startup phase — coding, support, and strategy — handled entirely by two founders. ⏱ 0:07:26 – Co-founder Transition: Ryan's Role ShiftWhy Ryan stepped back from operations and how their friendship survived nearly two decades of building together. ⏱ 0:10:20 – Scaling & Mentorship: Learning from OthersHow mentorship from Zendesk, PointClickCare, and global investors helped Jack scale Clio into a SaaS powerhouse. ⏱ 0:15:16 – Clio's Mission & Transforming Legal ExperienceInside Clio’s bold mission to “transform the legal experience for all” — and the trillion-dollar opportunity ahead. ⏱ 0:19:09 – AI & The Future of Legal ServicesWhy AI will revolutionize how people access justice — and how Clio plans to be at the center of it. ⏱ 0:22:07 – Founding Clio During the Financial CrisisStarting up in 2008, the worst possible time to raise money — and how they survived by betting on the cloud. ⏱ 0:27:08 – Fundraising: Series F & IPO PerspectiveJack’s view on IPOs, liquidity, and building a 100-year company that outlasts its founders. ⏱ 0:30:53 – Advice for Founders: Personal LiquidityWhy taking chips off the table early can actually make you a better, bolder founder. ⏱ 0:34:29 – Acquisition Strategy at ClioHow Clio’s M&A strategy is entirely product-led — acquiring startups that align with its long-term vision. ⏱ 0:39:19 – Founder Advice: Gold Mines & LandminesHiring lessons, investor alignment, and the biggest mistakes to avoid when scaling. ⏱ 0:45:39 – Leadership, Vision, and the Role of CEOHow Jack’s role evolved from builder to visionary — and why product obsession still defines Clio’s culture. ⏱ 0:47:31 – Running and Personal Recharge AnalogiesThe mindset of a marathon runner — and how consistency, not speed, builds generational companies. 💬 About Jack Newton Jack Newton is the Co-Founder and CEO of Clio, the world’s leading cloud-based legal software. Under his leadership, Clio has grown to serve 150,000 legal professionals across 130 countries and has become one of the most respected SaaS success stories in North America. 🎧 Subscribe to The EXIT Podcast — where top founders share their real stories of building, scaling, and redefining what success looks like after the exit. 💬 Leave us a comment and don't forget to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode – it helps us grow and reach more founders. 🔗 Follow the Guests & Hosts THE EXIT GROUP® – https://www.theexit.group Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/theexit.group Jack Newton – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackbnewton/ Adrian Salamunovic – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriansalamunovic/

In this episode of The EXIT Podcast, we sit down with Aydin Mirzaee, co-founder of FluidSurveys and now CEO of Fellow.app. Aydin shares how he built and scaled FluidSurveys into a major player in the online survey space — only to sell it to their sworn enemy, SurveyMonkey. What looked like a dream exit turned into a temporary identity crisis, forcing him to question who he was without the company he built. Aydin opens up about navigating that existential low, why exits don’t always equal happiness, and how he ultimately found his next chapter building Fellow, a market leader in the meeting note taking space powered by AI. From building against the odds, to selling to a rival, to rebuilding meaning after the payday — this episode is raw, insightful, and packed with lessons for every founder. 🎧 Listen now to learn:What it’s like to sell your startup to your biggest competitor Why the “post-exit high” can quickly turn into a personal low How Aydin rebuilt confidence and clarity to start again What he’s doing differently at Fellow to align purpose with business 📍 About Aydin Mirzaee: Aydin is a Canadian entrepreneur and the co-founder of FluidSurveys, acquired by SurveyMonkey in 2014. Today he leads Fellow.app, a meeting productivity platform backed by top investors, and advocates for healthier, more intentional company cultures. 🧠 Subscribe to The EXIT Podcast for more unfiltered conversations with founders who’ve built, sold, and reinvented themselves. Timestamps: 0:00:00 – Introduction & Aydin’s Early Entrepreneurial Journey 0:01:47 – Founding Fluid Surveys & Entering a Crowded Market 0:04:01 – Finding a Niche: Accessibility & Canadian Data Sovereignty 0:05:55 – Pivoting to Enterprise & Discovering High-Value Customers 0:10:38 – The Role of Co-Founders and Experience in Startup Success 0:14:54 – Bootstrapping, Growth, and Financial Struggles 0:17:29 – First Contact with SurveyMonkey: Friend or Foe? 0:23:47 – Acquisition Negotiations: Tactics and Challenges 0:30:24 – Custom Contracts and Due Diligence Hurdles 0:32:54 – Employee Buy-In and Closing Conditions 0:36:40 – Timeline of the Exit Process & Competing Offers 0:40:57 – Negotiating the Sale Price & Currency Lessons 0:46:43 – Life After the Exit: Identity and Finding the Next Venture 0:49:35 – Overcoming Overthinking: The Importance of Starting and Pivoting 0:55:52 – Lessons for Founders Considering an Exit 0:57:56 – Providing Context and Transparency Post-Acquisition 1:03:59 – Life-Changing Impact of the Exit & Personal Reflections 1:12:39 – Giving Back: Helping Other Founders and Angel Investing 1:17:25 – Final Advice: The Journey, Compounding, and Moving the Needle 💬 Leave us a comment if you enjoyed this episode – it helps us grow and reach more founders. 🔗 Follow the Guests & Hosts THE EXIT GROUP® https://www.theexit.group Instagram @theexit.group Aydin Mirzaee @aydinmirzaee Adrian Salamunovic @adriansalamunovic

What does it really take to sell your company for life-changing money? In this episode of THE EXIT, I sit down with Mark Macleod — former CFO of Shopify and FreshBooks, founder of SurePath Capital, and the coach behind over $1B in successful exits — to uncover the real truth behind the startup exit process. We talk about: - The biggest mistakes founders make during an exit - The psychology of selling your company (and what comes after) - Why most earn-outs are traps - How Marc built his post-exit life around mindfulness, purpose, and founder performance - Tactical advice on aligning with acquirers and investment bankers - Why your physical and mental health are the #1 growth tools as a founder If you're building, scaling, or selling a venture-backed startup, this is the episode you can't afford to miss. Subscribe for more real conversations with world-class founders, investors, and M&A experts. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction of Mark Macleod 01:00 Mark's Background in Venture-Backed Startups 02:15 Yahoo Purchasing Facebook? 04:30 What Makes for a Successful Acquisition? 06:24 Why I Avoid Earnouts 07:55 Psychological Aspects of Selling a Company 09:55 Founder Burnout and Recovery Time 12:36 Importance of Being Present 13:20 Fitness and Mental Health for CEOs 20:00 The Role of Coaching in Startups 21:34 Operational Experience in Coaching 26:20 Two Things You Need to Succeed in Business 29:04 What Founders Get Wrong Pre-Exit 32:30 Should Founders Work With I-Bankers and When? 41:28 Avoiding Exit Landmines 48:24 Coaching and Providing Tough Feedback 49:44 Creating a Massive Business You Never Want to Exit 🔗 Follow the Guests & HostsTHE EXIT GROUP® – https://www.theexit.group Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/theexit.group Mark Macleod – https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/ Adrian Salamunovic – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriansalamunovic/ #startup #founderlife #exitstrategy #venturecapital #marcmacleod #adriansalamunovic #theexitpodcast #shopify #freshbooks #burnout #startupcoach #founderhealth #startupmistakes #mna #founderexit

Marc Lafleur: From Rock Bottom to Multimillion Dollar Exit – The EXIT Podcast In this episode of The EXIT Podcast, we sit down with Marc Lafleur, the co-founder of truLOCAL, who went from facing depression to exiting a multimillion-dollar meat delivery company. Marc opens up about how hitting rock bottom gave him the clarity he needed to take big risks, how he bootstrapped his way to 8 figures, and why the real work started after the exit. From mental health to hustle culture, from raising capital to learning to let go, this one is raw, inspiring, and packed with lessons for any founder or aspiring entrepreneur. 🎧 Listen now to learn: The truth about what drove Marc to start truLOCAL The mindset shift that helped him break through fear when nobody believed in him How he approached scaling without losing the soul of the brand What he wishes more founders talked about post-exit 📍 About Marc Lafleur: Marc is a Canadian entrepreneur, speaker, and advocate for mental health in business. After exiting truLOCAL in a major acquisition, he’s focused on inspiring the next generation of builders to find purpose beyond the money. 🧠 Subscribe to The EXIT Podcast for more unfiltered conversations with founders who’ve built, and sold their companies – and what came next. 💬 Leave us a review if you enjoyed this episode – it helps us grow and reach more founders. 🔗 Follow the Guests & Hosts THE EXIT GROUP® – https://www.theexit.group Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/theexit.group  Marc Lafleur– https://www.linkedin.com/in/marclafleur1/ Adrian Salamunovic – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriansalamunovic/ #TheEXITPodcast, #MarcLafleur, #truLOCAL, #StartupExit, #FounderJourney, #EntrepreneurStory, #FromRockBottom, #MentalHealthForFounders, #BuildToExit, #ExitStrategy, #StartupLife, #BusinessPodcast, #EntrepreneurMindset, #FoundersUnfiltered, #PodcastInterview

In this trailer, get a sneak peek into the raw, unfiltered conversations with founders who’ve built, scaled, and ultimately exited their companies. From heartbreak to high-fives, Adrian Salamunovic dives into the real stories behind the business headlines. This isn’t just about term sheets and valuations. It’s about identity shifts, personal growth, and life after the wire transfer. Whether you’re dreaming of your own exit, in the trenches of building, or just fascinated by the mindsets of high-performing entrepreneurs, THE EXIT gives you a front-row seat to the turning point. Subscribe now. Full episodes launching soon.

What does it really take to build a multi-million dollar digital empire without selling out? In this episode of THE EXIT, I sit down with Neil Patel — digital marketing legend, founder of NP Digital, and creator of companies like Crazy Egg and KissMetrics — to uncover the raw truth behind entrepreneurial success. We dive deep into: The hunger that drives a first-generation immigrant entrepreneurWhy most founders regret selling their companies too soonThe real cost of success (hint: it's not about money)Balancing family, health, and business ambitionsHow to create a business you never want to exitThe critical mistakes founders make when scalingA brutally honest look at building wealth, maintaining purpose, and creating a life beyond just making money.If you're an entrepreneur, startup founder, or anyone dreaming of building something meaningful, this conversation will change how you think about success. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with world-class founders. 🔗 Follow the Guests & Hosts THE EXIT GROUP® – https://www.theexit.group Instagram –   / theexit.group  Neil Patel –   / neilkpatel_ Adrian Salamunovic –   / adriansalamunovic