{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Beyond the Startup","title":"Beyond the Startup Ep. 5: Peter Briden","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/8bbb03f2\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3390,"description":"In this Beyond the Startup episode, Lliam Holmes (CEO of MIS Solutions) interviews Peter Briden, an IT services veteran from Pittsburgh, about his path from struggling in school to launching a career in IT after attending DeVry, then leaving corporate life to start his own company. Peter explains how an attorney connection helped him land his first clients, the challenges of hiring the first employee and managing transactional revenue, and how documentation, processes, and learning finance improved stability and profitability. \nHe discusses the impact of peer groups like Strategic Coach and industry groups, leadership development as a key growth hurdle, and using tools like Gazelles and EOS. Peter recounts selling PC Network Services after 27 years and shares his post-exit “rules of engagement,” coaching work, and core advice on unique ability, societal value, continuous improvement, and financial discipline.\n00:00 Quitting to Start Up\n00:41 Meet the Hosts\n02:19 School Struggles to DeVry\n05:04 First IT Career Break\n07:33 The I Quit Moment\n10:31 Landing First Customers\n13:39 Hiring and Cashflow Reality\n16:08 Systems and Profitability\n19:28 Strategic Coach Framework\n24:02 Peer Groups That Scale\n27:34 Choosing the Right Peer Group\n28:09 Peer Groups That Work\n29:25 Breaking Through Stuck\n33:03 Leadership Chasm Explained\n34:51 Owner Role and Vision\n37:40 EOS And Gazelles Tools\n40:12 Selling After 27 Years\n43:57 Four Rules Of Engagement\n45:52 Purpose After The Exit\n51:22 Three Career Lessons\n54:27 Spouse Team And Farewell\n ","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/wdEP5kxLXZor2olvL3ehuWvX12eIjQRTrSAdLm5qkQQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85OGI0/ZmIzODA4N2NkYTE5/NDNjNWYzMmQ1MGEw/MDhkMS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}