The Winning Momentum Podcast with Scott Sinclair

I went to Mexico. Came back sick. Still ran the show. This week at Sinclair Range: three live deals including a cannabis company exiting CCAA, a $100M private credit raise, and an active enforcement file. Plus — the one turnaround lesson that changes everything, a Docusign trap that nearly cost us eight figures, and how AI has taken over our entire operation in two weeks. Deals on the Go A cannabis producer in CCAA with $47M in hard assets and an imminent Health Canada licence reinstatement — seeking C$6M to exit restructuring and relaunch into medical and international markets. A Canadian private credit raise — a 26-year-old factoring lender raising up to $100M at 10% fixed quarterly, all first secured, targeting a $1.5B+ gap in the Canadian market. And a lender enforcing its security against a transport company — equipment being collected and sold in an orderly process. Lesson Learned: Admit You're in Trouble Every turnaround starts with one thing: changing your frame. Stop calling it a rough patch. When you admit you're actually in trouble, the problem stops being emotional and becomes math. We cover the baseline valuation concept — what each stakeholder recovers if the business blows up today — and why that number is the foundation of every serious lender negotiation. Struggles: When the Plan Doesn't Work The Sinclair Range turnaround was built on selling two real estate assets worth well into eight figures. Neither has sold. One buyer refused to close and put a lien on title — now in litigation. The other buried a clause in a Docusign offer letting them extend the conditional period indefinitely. We caught it and got out — but the lessons are hard-won: in a turnaround, the plan that should work often doesn't. And never sign a Docusign negotiation without reading every word — or running it through AI first. What I'm Thinking About: AI Has Taken Over Sinclair Range In two weeks: investment agreements, capital raise documents, liquidation analyses, contract reviews, a default notice, litigation file organization, 2,000+ transaction expense reconciliation, engagement letters, wealth management checklists, data room management, and daily CRM updates. This isn't the future. It's right now. The world is changing. Keep up. #BusinessTurnaround #PrivateCredit #CCAA #Restructuring #RealEstate #AI #SinclairRange #Deals #Leadership #SmallBusiness

This week we tackle two small business valuations, reveal how AI collapsed 30 hours of professional work into 90 minutes, and share a golden rule every investor needs to hear: you make your money on the buy. Interesting Deal / File of the Week: Valuing a Small Business We were asked to provide valuation guidance on two small businesses for partner buyouts. We walk through the full professional process — from understanding the purpose, to analyzing financials, to writing a defensible 6–10 page letter — and why that work typically costs $5,000 to $10,000. Then we show how AI let us complete both valuation letters, with full schedules and methodology, in just 90 minutes. We also discuss the growing problem of non-professionals using AI to imitate professional work — and what that means for the industry. Lesson Learned of the Week: Buy Bank Debt Working with a manufacturing client in financial distress, we break down why understanding liquidation value from the bank's perspective is critical to your negotiating position. We also explore an alternative deal structure: instead of refinancing the full loan, have a new lender buy out the existing bank's position at a discount — illustrated by a real acquisition where $3 million in debt was purchased for $1.5 million. What I'm Thinking About: Make Money on the Buy A golden rule for investors and entrepreneurs: your profit isn't made on the sale, and it isn't made on the value you add — your profit is made on the buy. We discuss why you should avoid competitive sale processes and instead create deals from a unique knowledge base. We reference a real debtor-in-possession lending example generating 50%+ annualized returns, first secured — the kind of deal no one hands you. You have to build it. #Business #Deals #Valuation #SmallBusiness #AI #PrivateCredit #BankDebt #Investing #Leadership #SinclairRange #WinningMomentum

This week at Sinclair Range, we catch up on the high-stakes drama and deals of 2026. From a $100 million private credit mandate to a "hostile takeover" attempt that required a 48-hour emergency rescue, we dive into the real-world grit of restructuring and transition. Interesting Deal / File of the Week: $100M Private Credit & Ontario Machining We went to market on a $100 million private credit offering for an established Canadian lender filling a $1.5 billion gap in the market. We also continue to market a precision machining firm in Ontario that is successfully pivoting into the aerospace sector following a challenging 2024. Lesson Learned: Mastering the Pitch Stop reading AI scripts and ditch the "fluff" (p. 4). We break down the essential hierarchy of a professional pitch: the 30-second "hook," the 3-minute "how," and the 10-minute "deal"—specifically how to get in, how to get out, and what happens in between. Struggle of the Week: The Rogue Contractor & The $2M Save A raw look at a contractor who attempted a hostile takeover of a client during a CCAA filing. We detail the immediate contract termination, the subsequent $2 million financing collapse, and the emergency Sunday night rescue through Sapphire Global Investments. What I’m Thinking About: Underestimating the Upside A personal musing on the "3-legged stool" of business, leadership, and self-improvement. We discuss why even seasoned advisors often underestimate their own brand potential and why maintaining positivity is a functional operating requirement for any leader.

This week at Sinclair Range, we reflect on the power of persuasion-based thinking, lessons learned from dealmaking under stress, the realities of rebuilding momentum, and why admitting trouble is the first step to any real turnaround. • Tribute & Lessons from Scott Adams Why persuasion-based framing explains behavior better than surface facts, how incentives and framing make seemingly irrational decisions predictable, and why this skill is critical in business, leadership, and negotiations. • Persuasion as a Business Skill Key persuasion concepts including framing, attention, repetition, visualization, and reciprocity, and how understanding persuasion improves sales, dealmaking, and decision-making in complex environments. • Momentum Requires Work A look at the physical and mental grind behind rebuilding a business, why changing momentum is not passive, and how discipline, hustle, positivity, and integrity form a simple but effective operating formula. • Interesting Deal / File of the Week Overview of a new going-concern sale or financing mandate for a precision machining and plastic injection mold tooling company in Ontario, including sector exposure, recent operational challenges, improving cash flow, and growth momentum in aerospace. • Lesson Learned: Deals That Die at the NDA Why prolonged negotiations over standard agreements are a leading indicator of deal failure, how decision paralysis kills distressed companies, and why availability of capital matters more than cost when survival is at stake. • Admitting Trouble as a Turning Point Why true turnaround begins with honestly admitting the severity of a problem, how denial slows decision-making, and why acknowledging rock bottom frees leaders to act decisively. • Struggle of the Week Progress update on completing the Pathway to Profit Academy, why it exists for founders not yet ready to hire Sinclair Range, and how finishing long-delayed projects is part of restoring momentum. • What I’m Thinking About: Momentum and Defense A personal reflection on illness, loss of momentum, rebuilding from defense, and why stabilizing first creates the foundation for growth, expansion, acquisitions, and private credit deployment in 2026. #Business #Deals #Turnarounds #PrivateCredit #Leadership #Momentum #Persuasion #Capital #Restructuring #SinclairRange

This week at Sinclair Range, we break down how to properly evaluate investment performance, why benchmarks and mandates matter more than headline returns, and why private credit generates better returns than real estate. • How to Judge Investment Performance Properly Why two portfolios with similar returns can be judged very differently depending on mandate, risk, and benchmarks. • Benchmarks, Risk, and the AI Bubble Why today’s equity benchmarks are distorted by a handful of AI-driven stocks, how diversification hurts returns in bubbles, and what happens when those bubbles burst. • Knowledge Arbitrage in Investing Why true outperformance comes from information and experience, not risk, and how private credit rewards those who understand complex situations. • Passive Income vs Real Returns Why real estate fund marketing often obscures true performance, how fees and structure compress returns, and why institutional capital is flooding into private credit. • Lesson Learned: Power in Distribution Why having a better product isn’t enough, how margin follows power in the value chain, and why most businesses lose to distribution - unless they go direct-to-consumer. • Struggle of the Week Why investors sometimes make losses worse by trying to “work with” borrowers and when you must shift from solution provider to enforcement mindset. #Finance #Investing #PrivateCredit #Wealth #Benchmarks #CapitalAllocation #Restructuring #CCAA #DIPLoans #SinclairRange

A big week at Sinclair Range, with our first Sapphire Global Finance deal closing, a deep dive into compounding vs “passive income,” and important lessons from real restructuring work across North America. Highlights: • Interesting Deal of the Week: Sapphire Global Finance Closes Its First DIP Loan Sapphire has completed its first transaction — a highly secured DIP loan for a Canadian cannabis company entering CCAA protection. Scott explains why DIP financing pays high returns, how court-ordered super-priority works, and why Sinclair Range’s expertise creates value for borrowers and investors. • Wealth & Compounding: The Truth Behind Passive Income After reviewing Grant Cardone’s “abundance mindset” message, Scott breaks down why compounding — money, skills, network, health, talent stack — is the real engine of wealth creation, and why wasting money kills momentum. • Private Credit vs Real Estate Funds Scott compares real-world returns: Cardone Capital IRR (~8%) S&P 500 (~14.9%) Private credit deals Sinclair Range is closing today, often multiples higher. He also outlines upcoming ways investors may gain access to private credit opportunities alongside Sinclair Range. • Lesson Learned: The Five Ways a Borrower Can Repay a Lender Scott reviews the only five paths in any restructuring: refinance, cash flow, asset/equity sale, restructure, or liquidate — and why borrowers and lenders often lose sight of these fundamentals. • Startups & Capital Founders must focus on mission, value creation, and execution — not just raising money. Scott highlights why capital follows traction and how The Inner Circle: Deals & Capital helps founders get feedback and clarity. #Finance #Investing #PrivateCredit #Compounding #Restructuring #Turnaround #DIPLoan #CCAA #CannabisBusiness #WealthBuilding #Entrepreneurship #SinclairRange #CapitalRaising

A huge week at Sinclair Range — from Elon Musk’s trillion-dollar pay package to real-world bridge loans, litigation, and market opportunities. Scott covers it all in this episode of Week in Review, where business, deals, and persuasion meet reality. Highlights: • Opening Commentary: Elon Musk’s $1 trillion Tesla pay package — what it really means, why it’s more persuasion than pay, and how outrageous anchoring works in business negotiations. • Lesson Learned of the Week: The five real ways a borrower can repay a lender. Forget the noise — Scott walks through the only options that actually exist, how companies get stuck, and what Sinclair Range sees in real debt restructuring work across North America. • Startups & Capital: Founders, stop confusing fundraising with execution. Why mission, business plans, and adding overwhelming value come before capital — and how The Inner Circle: Deals & Capital helps entrepreneurs get clarity, feedback, and traction. • Interesting Deal of the Week: Sinclair Range launches a $6 million Debtor-in-Possession (DIP) bridge loan in Alberta under CCAA protection — a fully secured, high-yield opportunity structured in investor-friendly tranches. • Struggles of the Week: Updates on Sinclair Range’s ongoing litigation with Ninepoint Partners, plus a new case with Zurn Elkay Water Solutions (NYSE: ZWS) — a U.S. industrial giant celebrated for sustainability, yet accused in court of failing cleanup obligations at a small Ontario site. • Musings of the Week: The massive $1-trillion-plus private debt market is booming. Scott explores how Sinclair Range is uniquely positioned in high-yield, secured turnaround lending — and whether it’s time to open co-investment opportunities for accredited investors. From persuasion and planning to private debt and litigation, this episode gives a candid look at how real deals get done — and what happens when they don’t. #Business #Finance #Investing #PrivateDebt #BridgeLoan #Restructuring #Turnaround #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #SinclairRange #TheInnerCircle #Capital #CCAA #Litigation #ZurnElkay #Ninepoint #Tesla #ElonMusk #Persuasion #Negotiation #Momentum #BusinessStrategy

It’s Halloween and a busy week at Sinclair Range. This episode includes the usual segments — Lessons Learned of the Week, Interesting Deal of the Week, and Struggles of the Week — with sharp insights into the real world of deals, debt, and capital. Highlights: • Inside look at The Inner Circle: Deals & Capital — Sinclair Range’s free, live biweekly community for founders, executives, and advisors. Next week’s meeting features a bridge loan pitch, a private debt lender, and a retired Air Force General discussing emerging warfare technology. • Lesson Learned: What is angel investing really? Scott breaks down the three major risk profiles — private debt, PE-style equity, and VC-style equity — and shares what works (and doesn’t) for individual investors. • Interesting Deal of the Week: Sinclair Range is arranging a 5 million dollar DIP financing for a premium and medical-grade cannabis producer in Alberta. Learn how the CCAA process, secured lending, and distressed debt intersect in this real-world turnaround story. • Struggles of the Week: Behind the scenes on Ninepoint Private Debt and its Canadian Senior Debt Fund — and why OPM Wire’s coverage caught Scott’s attention. Insight into fund-agent structures, liquidity issues, and Sinclair Range’s unique perspective from direct industry involvement and ongoing litigation. From angel investing and private debt to active restructuring mandates, this week’s episode dives deep into how real deals get made — and sometimes, how they go sideways.

This week, Scott takes a different approach — fewer files, more reflection. Amid chaos, tough negotiations, and constant bad news, he shares how The Power of Positive Thinking and the Winning Momentum methodology apply to both global events and business turnarounds. In this episode: • Why President Trump’s first-phase peace deal between Hamas and Israel is a master class in negotiation and turnarounds. • How Scott Adams describes Trump’s “reality distortion” as persuasion — and what leaders can learn from it. • Eric Trump’s surprising comment: “It was an excellent example of the power of positive thinking.” • The connection between Norman Vincent Peale’s 1952 classic The Power of Positive Thinking and the Trump family’s mindset — and why Scott is revisiting the book today. • Lessons from Peale that align with Sinclair Range’s Winning Momentum framework: recognizing “mental garbage,” replacing fear with focus, and manufacturing momentum through compounding wins. • Behind the scenes at Sinclair Range: weeks of chaos, collapsing deals, fraud discoveries, and constant bad news — and why Scott stopped reading negative updates. • The practical leadership takeaway: o Compress your “negative time” into a small daily window. o Focus the rest of your day on progress and value creation. o Find one thing to win at each day — because small wins compound into momentum. • How positivity, reframing, and focus bring order out of chaos — in business, leadership, and life. Quote of the Week: “You don’t have to be relentlessly positive — but you must not be negative. Negativity creates fear. Fear creates paralysis. Paralysis creates more negativity.” Join the conversation: If your company is in transition — growing fast, facing distress, or doing deals — reach out. Sinclair Range exists to help you navigate chaos and create momentum.

It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks at Sinclair Range. This episode includes our usual segments: Lessons Learned of the Week, Interesting Deal of the Week, Struggles of the Week, and Scott’s Musings of the Week. • Scott shares updates from a long trip to Toronto packed with back-to-back meetings, new client opportunities, and a couple of major blow-ups in the West, including a receivership and a new, complex file involving fraud. • Why Sinclair Range resigned from a client mandate - something that doesn’t happen often. • The critical difference between being “deal people” and running a business. • Why small businesses shouldn’t go public in today’s market • What would Scott do to grow Sinclair Range if he had unlimited capital to deploy? • Introducing Sapphire Global Investments - a brand-new capital pool looking for secured debt, equity, and other deals. • Receivership of a 25-year-old family business in Edmonton. • Highlights from the latest session of The Inner Circle, Sinclair Range’s free, private live community for founders, executives, and advisors: • Join the next session to pitch your deal, ask tough questions, and connect with serious players.

It’s been a busy week at Sinclair Range. This Episode includes our usual segments: Lessons Learned of the Week, Interesting Deal of the Week, Struggles of the Week, Scott’s Musings of the Week. • Why you should always draft your own non-binding term sheets before bringing in lawyers. • How AI can help you think through deal terms and prepare for negotiations. • Examples from current files, including: o Term sheet for a forbearance agreement o Statement of facts for Novanni litigation o Purchase order work for EarthProject • Bottom line: Sweat the small stuff - being prepared saves money, time, and headaches. • The Inner Circle: Deals & Capital Recap of our latest session: o Rick Williams (Terreno Resources Corp.) – Tantalum project update in Bolivia. o Geoffrey Hiscock (Desmos Partners) – Opportunities in private debt funds for Canadian mid-market businesses. o Jeremy Weber (7024 Ventures) – Using employee personal brands to humanize corporate brands. o Duane Morrison (Siena Lending Group) – Overview of Siena’s lending products. • Join us next time! It’s a free, private, live community for founders, executives, and advisors to pitch deals, share challenges, and sharpen strategies. • Cold email about buying Sinclair Range (unusual, well-written, worth a meeting). • No business for sale today, but Sinclair Range could be a strong platform leader in the future. • Update on the Receivership motion against a client. • Saying goodbye to Jennie, who has been with Sinclair Range through some difficult times. Don’t forget to subscribe, comment, and share if you found value in today’s episode. #Business #Entrepreneurship #Finance #Investing #DealFlow #Capital #PrivateEquity #Restructuring #Turnaround #Leadership

Brand Power, Receivership Risk and Office Struggles Join Scott Sinclair, Founder and President of Sinclair Range, for your weekly window into the real world of deals, decisions and business adventures. This week, we look at how brand eliminates the sales cycle, the risks of a receivership motion, and the frustrations of office providers who don’t deliver. In this episode: • Lesson of the Week – Power of the Podcast Brand is positioning, consistency and attention. From ads in the Ottawa Business Journal in the 1990s, to early blogging, to today’s podcasts and livestreams, consistent content has eliminated the sales cycle. Brand does the heavy lifting before you ever walk in the room. • Interesting Deal of the Week – Receivership Motion We are preparing for a receivership hearing next week. It is do-or-die against a hostile counterparty. No matter how strong your case, court is always a roll of the dice. The risk has to be weighed against the option of settling. • Struggles of the Week – Office Problems Shared office space has always been part of my business, from HQ in Ottawa in the 1990s to today. The model works until it doesn’t. Billing disputes, withheld messages, and poor service are the downside when the provider fails to deliver. • The Inner Circle The Inner Circle: Deals & Capital is growing. Founders, executives and advisors meet every two weeks to pitch deals, share challenges and sharpen strategy. Next week a world-leading personal branding expert joins us. Free, practical and valuable. Join us. If your company is navigating growth, distress or dealmaking, Sinclair Range is here to help. Connect with us for expert guidance on capital raising, restructuring and more. Thank you for watching. Subscribe for weekly insights into the deals and decisions shaping SRI’s world.

Deal Momentum, Oil Patch Challenges & Fundraising Success Join Scott Sinclair, Founder and President of Sinclair Range, for your weekly window into the real world of deals, decisions, and business adventures. This week, we dive into why preparation kills or saves deals, a high-stakes oil patch restructuring, a real estate deal heading to litigation, and a fundraising win for a local ski team that proves momentum is everything. In this episode: • Lesson of the Week – A life sciences company with big AI-driven ideas but no financials lost its shot at a $500k bridge loan – at least for now. Learn why momentum is critical and how to avoid killing your deal with unpreparedness. Investors need answers: How do I get in? How do I get out? How am I protected? • Interesting Deal of the Week – Deep in the oil patch, a company overextended with its lender and struggling with debt service - but showing signs of rapid growth. We’re crafting a forbearance agreement, cutting costs to stop the bleed, and positioning for upside participation to outpace the debt. • Struggles of the Week – A real estate deal, set to close in June, fell apart over equipment disputes. Litigation looms next week - stay tuned for updates! • Observation of the Week – Fundraising for the Fernie Alpine Ski Team showed the power of preparation and momentum. Oversubscribed and delivering value to sponsors, this is a lesson for every dealmaker. • The Inner Circle: Deals & Capital – Our free, biweekly Zoom community for founders, executives, and advisors is growing! Bring your deal, pitch, or questions to sharpen your strategy. Reach out in the comments to join! If your company is navigating high growth, financial distress, or dealmaking, Sinclair Range is here to help. Connect with us for expert guidance on capital raising, restructuring, and more. Reach out: Drop a comment or DM us to join The Inner Circle or discuss your business challenges. Subscribe for weekly insights into the deals and decisions shaping SRI’s world! #CapitalRaising #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTurnaround #PrivateEquity #Leadership #CashFlow #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessStrategy #Restructuring #OilAndGas #Fundraising

This week we get into how deals are packaged, why focus matters, a live opportunity in Alberta’s energy sector, and a reminder that staying humble is always good advice. In this episode: • Lesson of the Week – Too many entrepreneurs are pitching without numbers, structure, or focus. Investors need clarity: how they get in, how they get out, and what happens in between. • The Inner Circle – Our live community for founders, executives, and advisors is growing. Next meeting is Tuesday. Bring your deal, bring your questions, and sharpen your strategy. • Deal of the Week – A flow meter company in Alberta, one of only two vendors approved across Canada’s midstream oil and gas industry, is in a sale process. We’ve launched a solicitation to sell or bring in $2M equity. • Struggles of the Week – Sometimes the struggle is just being too busy. But stay tuned - next week may involve litigation with a NYSE-listed giant behaving badly. • Observation of the Week – A story from Las Vegas in the 90s and today’s headlines about Tesla put success in perspective. There’s always someone playing at a bigger level. If your company is in transition — high growth, financial distress, or dealmaking — Sinclair Range is here to help. #CapitalRaising #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTurnaround #PrivateEquity #Leadership #CashFlow #MergersAndAcquisitions

This week’s episode blends economic reality checks with behind-the-scenes dealmaking, negotiation strategy, and the ongoing rebuild at Sinclair Range. In this episode: • Canada’s economy contracts 1.6% in Q2 2025, with exports plunging 31% and unemployment hitting its highest level since 2016 (outside the pandemic). Does Mark Carney have a plan? • A restructuring file where a customer dispute led to insolvency pressures — and how applying my ATMOG negotiation framework turned it into a lifeline. • The Inner Circle: Deals & Capital is gaining momentum. Nearly 30 founders, executives, investors, and advisors are now on the admitted list. Why the community is working and what’s next. • Struggles of the week: when banks don’t show, lawyers push liquidation, and you find yourself needing a new enemy. • End-of-summer reflections: a season of rebuilding, new deals every week, and how Sinclair Range is balancing cash flow, client service, and AI-driven efficiency.

This week’s insights range from timeless marketing strategy to messy real-world restructurings, with lessons on how leadership, fundamentals, and clear process make the difference in deals. In this episode: • A quick MBA-level lesson in marketing strategy: the 3Cs and 4Ps. Outdated in the classroom, still essential for real-world pitches and business plans. • A restructuring file where a U.S. customer owes $1 million but claims offset through a kickback scheme. Why it matters for insolvency law, creditors, lenders, and the entire supply chain. • Why the AI “bubble” narrative is everywhere this week — and why I was saying the same thing in my Growth Quest keynote back in May. • The Inner Circle: Deals & Capital is live. Nearly 30 founders, investors, and advisors joined the first session. The next one is Tuesday, August 26 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Bring your deal, bring your questions. #SinclairRange #ScottSinclair #WeekInReview #Deals #CapitalRaising #BusinessTurnaround #PrivateEquity #Entrepreneurship #CashFlow #InnerCircle #Negotiation #Leadership #MergersAndAcquisitions #Founders #BusinessStrategy #SMBfinance #Marketing #AIBubble #Restructuring

This week we hosted the first-ever meeting of The Inner Circle: Deals & Capital. Close to 30 founders, executives, investors, brokers, and advisors joined us on Zoom to pitch deals, share challenges, and sharpen strategies. The next session is Tuesday, August 26 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Bring your deal and your questions. In this episode: • Why bad news should be delivered immediately. Delaying only burns relationships, wastes time, and creates unnecessary stress for your team. • A real creditor interaction from this week shows how turning a problem into a clear process benefits everyone. • Progress on a CAD $15 million bridge loan for a Canadian heavy oil producer backed by $625 million in reserves and assets. • We also structured an equity raise for a natural health products startup that prioritizes investor returns. • Our plastics recycling project hits more snags, from unrealistic timelines to shareholder issues. The need for the technology is massive, but so are the roadblocks. • On “book-a-meeting” culture and why making someone click a link to get on your schedule is the wrong way to start a business relationship.

Week in Review – August 8, 2025 | Sinclair Range This week at Sinclair Range, we spent serious time preparing for The Inner Circle: Deals & Capital. The calls start Tuesday, August 12 at 3 p.m. Eastern and continue every other Tuesday. If you’re raising capital, restructuring, or navigating challenges — show up. In This Episode: • Lesson of the Week: Be a magnet. You can’t sell financial deals — people have to want in. Structure and storytelling make the difference. • Interesting Deal: Refinancing and restructuring for a client with a major receivable standoff. The customer says they’re owed payments that were never contracted. If the company had collected, they likely wouldn’t be insolvent. Now we’re preparing to push the conversation forward — starting with attention. • Struggles of the Week: Dealing with lenders who haven’t caught up to the current situation. When the only thing left to sell is growth, the story has to be real — and built on trust. • Musings On governments and not-for-profits: broken processes get excused, but they don’t get fixed. What do you do? Be the best option. Make them want to work with you.

Scott's back from a golf break (4 rounds in 5 days - now the back is jacked) and diving into what’s happening at Sinclair Range during the summer slowdown. Here’s what we’re covering this week: Lesson of the Week • Why do we prepare financial models? • Not to predict the future—but to clarify our assumptions • A good model forces you to think about what really drives profit and cash flow • And it gives you something to share with stakeholders • Never send a model that shows failure -fix the assumptions, then get to work Interesting File of the Week • The Inner Circle: Deals & Capital launches August 12 at 3pm Eastern • This is a free, private Zoom group for founders, executives, and advisors • We meet every other Tuesday to • Pitch deals • Share challenges • Get feedback • Sharpen strategies Struggles of the Week • July and August - hard to gain traction; You can close a deal, but you can't really start one • Reminded again that closings fall apart when admin is a mess • We offer virtual, fractional controllership and bookkeeping at a reasonable cost to help you get your house in order Scott’s Musings • A death in the extended community last week • Life is short -enjoy it #Entrepreneurship #CapitalRaising #PrivateEquity #BusinessStrategy #FinancialModeling #Deals #Leadership #FounderLife #StartupCommunity #SinclairRange #InnerCircle #BusinessGrowth #CashFlow #Execution

This week: when lawyers derail deals, a high-stakes bridge loan, and a closing that crashed at the finish line. Lesson Learned of the Week Lawyers are there to protect the deal - not make it. Use them to paper what’s been agreed, not to run point. And definitely not to negotiate on your behalf. Especially not litigators. There are exceptions, sure – but, as a rule, deals should be made by business leaders. Interesting File of the Week We’re placing a $15M bridge loan for a Canadian oil and gas group, backed by $750M+ in assets. First secured position carved out in an interesting structure, default remedies are pre-negotiated, referral fee of $150K. Plus: $1B in tax losses we’re looking to unlock. Struggles of the Week Continuing the story of the real estate deal drama. Buyer sends legal letters right before closing claiming they expected assets to be left in the building, despite having no right to the assets. Buyer fails to close and instead “extends” closing without consent. Says they’re suing. Never hear from the business people, only the lawyer. Total mess. Musings Entrepreneurs wear different hats, such as shareholder, director, officer, employee, lender. Each has unique rights and obligations. If you're lending to your own company, document it like you would for a stranger. Shareholder loans are real loans - or they’re worthless in a fight. The Inner Circle – Deals & Capital Live, private Zoom community for dealmakers working through real problems, sharing tactics, and raising capital. Every two weeks. Free to join. Reach out in the Comments to gain access.