GROW SMART: THE OPERATOR-TO-OWNER WORKSHOP
How to Make Your Business Less Dependent on You — Without Working More Hours or Losing Control
A hands-on workshop for small-business owners who are tired of being the answer to every question.
October 19, 2026 · Cornerstone Pub · Oconomowoc, WI
Noon–8 PM · Workshop, Dinner & Networking
Owner Ticket: $99 · Bring a Key Team Member for +$49
Limited to 100 attendees. This is a working session, not another business seminar.
If Everything Still Comes Back to You, Watch This.
In about two minutes, I’ll show you why successful owners get trapped in their own businesses—and what we’re going to work on October 19.
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Work on your actual business
DINNER + NETWORKING
Connect with other local owners after the workshop.
OWNER CIRCLE INCLUDED
Inaugural attendees get access through December 31, 2026.
What It Is
One focused afternoon to work on the thing that keeps pulling you back into your business.
You’ll identify where your company still depends on you, choose one recurring responsibility to hand off, and begin building the process, decision-making authority, and accountability someone else needs to own it.
This is not six hours of note-taking. You’re bringing a real business problem and working on it.
What You’ll Leave With
A 120-Day Operator-to-Owner Flight Plan with clear priorities for the next four months.
Clarity on what still depends too heavily on you — and what needs to change first.
A framework for building stronger systems, leaders, authority, and accountability.
The first moves already underway so your transformation doesn’t start “someday.”
Leave with a plan to transform how you run your business — not another notebook full of ideas.
How It Works
1. SEE IT
Identify the recurring work and decisions that keep your business dependent on you.
2. BUILD IT
Use guided exercises, practical tools, and an AI demonstration to draft a process someone else can follow.
3. PLAN THE HANDOFF
Define who should own it, what they can decide, and how you’ll measure progress—then schedule your first implementation steps.
Guest Perspective
Guest Speaker: Alan Fischer — sharing practical perspective on exit readiness, succession, and long-term optionality.
Plus: we may have one more surprise guest to announce soon.
I Built the Trap Myself
At one point, my two businesses generated roughly $2.5 million in combined revenue, while I personally took home about $50,000 before taxes.
I thought growth would fix the problem. More locations. More employees. More sales. But the businesses still depended too heavily on me.
That experience helped shape Grow Smart: a practical approach to building systems, developing leaders, and transferring real responsibility—not simply working harder.
Mike DeJong · Business Owner · Author of Grow Smart
Your Workshop Seat
October 19, 2026 · Cornerstone Pub · Oconomowoc, WI
Workshop: Noon–6 PM
Dinner at 6 PM, followed by networking until 8 PM
$99 per owner · Add one key team member for $49
Bring your co-owner, manager, or the team member who will help put your plan into action. Two attendees: $148 total.
Inclusions
Your admission includes the workshop, workbook and planning tools, dinner, a follow-up implementation clinic, and Grow Smart Owner Circle access through December 31, 2026.
Come. Work. Decide for Yourself.
Attend the workshop and decide for yourself. If you don’t feel you’ve received worthwhile value, notify our event team privately by 4:00 PM Central on October 19, and we’ll refund your workshop admission in full.
No argument. No awkward sales conversation.
Pre-event cancellations and ticket transfers follow our separate Cancellation & Transfer Policy.