Looking for mentorship but keep finding people who don't actually help? Brian never joined a formal program. He asked questions at lunch. David Robin had just sold Chicago's biggest real estate firm and was stuck in a non-compete. He couldn't work but could advise. Brian kept asking. Robin kept answering. Decades later, they still meet. Brad built his company by admitting "I don't know" while other CEOs fake it. His wise man was Brian, who helped him build everything (but won't accept credit.)
This is episode 46. How to find your wise man when programs and LinkedIn don't work.
*YOU'LL DISCOVER*
• How Brian never sought formal mentors but always found the right ones
• The conviction vs stubborn test that keeps you open
• How admitting "I don't know" attracts better mentors than faking it
• Why the best wise man relationships have no contract
*WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS*
• Ask questions like your business depends on it
• Never waste their time on things you could Google
• Stay open to counsel but keep conviction
*WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf runs By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest and pulls out the chaos. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it.
*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "There's a ton of shit I don't know." Most people fake expertise to look strong. The ones who admit ignorance get the real help. Ever found your wise man? Too stubborn to admit you need one?
👇 SUBSCRIBE for real stories about building companies without the corporate polish.
*TIMESTAMPS*
0:00 - Dementors vs Mentors (Matt's Harry Potter joke)
2:16 - Brian never sought mentors but always asked questions
3:24 - How Brian met David Robin (the lunch that changed everything)
5:13 - The North Shore real estate legend in non-compete lockup
7:28 - Why this relationship still works decades later
8:23 - Being open to advice beats faking expertise
9:44 - Brad's "I don't know" philosophy (people think it's weakness)
28:53 - Matt learned mentoring through hosting this show
29:57 - Brad admits Brian built his business (the reluctant wiseman exposed)
*ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO BROS: After Hours is raw business talk from CEO brothers Brian Balduf (VHT Studios) and Brad Balduf (By Your Side Autism Therapy) with host Matt Croke. Every Friday they share what actually happens building companies: brutal failures, scaling disasters, and the messy truth about leadership. No corporate polish. No LinkedIn energy. Just honest stories from the trenches.
🍸 *WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three wise man strategies. Pick yours.
🍸 *THE RELUCTANT WISE MAN* Brian Balduf - The storyteller who's been there and sold the company Recipe: • 2 oz Irish whiskey • 0.75 oz honey syrup • 0.5 oz lemon juice • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Lemon twist • Shake with ice, strain into rocks glass The Vibe: Brian says he won't be held accountable for mentoring but built Brad's entire company anyway. This drink's smooth and generous, like advice given without keeping score. The honey makes wisdom easy to swallow.
🍸 *THE THOUSAND QUESTIONS* Brad Balduf - The operator running 550 employees across 11 centers Recipe: • 2 oz vodka • 1 oz St-Germain • 0.75 oz grapefruit juice • 0.5 oz lime juice • Grapefruit peel • Shake hard with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: Brad asked everything. Never faked knowing what he didn't. This drink's clean and honest, no hiding behind barrel-aging or smoke. You taste exactly what's in it, just like admitting "I don't know."
🍸 *THE INFORMAL ARRANGEMENT* Matt Croke - The host keeping it real and pulling out the chaos Recipe: • 2 oz cognac • 0.5 oz Grand Marnier • 0.5 oz lemon juice • 2 dashes orange bitters • Orange peel • Stir with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: No contract. No structure. Just lunch meetings that turn into decades of wisdom. This drink's got depth that only comes from time and consistency. No flash, just substance that lasts. Make all three. Are you the reluctant wise man helping anyway? The curious one asking everything? Or building something informal that lasts? Tag us. ————————————
*JOIN THE CONVERSATION* https://x.com/CeoBrosAH https://www.instagram.com/ceobrosah/ https://www.facebook.com/CEOBrosAH https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-bros
#Entrepreneurship #BusinessMentorship #CEOAdvice #StartupLife #Leadership
Music: "Back to Black" by Rockin' For Decades (licensed through Epidemic Sound)
