What happens when you realize that no amount of hard work, planning, or control can guarantee the outcome you want?
In this episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie sits down with Geoff Eliason, CEO and Principal of SDR Ventures, for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, loss, leadership, and learning to let go of control.
Geoff shares how losing two babies became one of the experiences that fundamentally changed the way he thought about control, surrender, and life. He connects that lesson directly to entrepreneurship, explaining why business owners eventually have to accept that they cannot control every outcome—and why learning to be at peace with that can create real freedom.
The conversation also explores the messy middle of business and life. Geoff explains how breaking enormous challenges into manageable pieces—one step, one mile, or one day at a time—can help you keep moving when the finish line feels impossible to reach.
Anne and Geoff talk about defining the “why” behind the work, especially when motivation disappears. Geoff shares the personal reason behind his half-Ironman training and how major family losses changed his priorities around health, longevity, and being present for the people he loves.
The episode goes deeper into mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, the importance of creating flow states, and why business owners need intentional space to step out of fear, anxiety, and constant adrenaline.
At the heart of the conversation is a simple reminder: you may not be able to control what happens, but you can choose how you respond—and sometimes success is simply putting one foot in front of the other.
IN THIS EPISODE
PULL QUOTES
“I really don’t have control.”
“Success boils it down to breaking it down into manageable pieces.”
“You have got to define the why behind the what and the how.”
“This is who I am. This is what I do, and this is why I do it.”
“You have got to prioritize taking care of yourself.”
ABOUT GEOFF ELIASON
Geoff Eliason is the CEO and Principal of SDR Ventures, a Denver-based investment bank that has been serving business owners and entrepreneurs for 25 years.
SDR Ventures helps business owners prepare their companies for sale, navigate business sales, pursue acquisitions for growth, and raise capital.
Geoff is also an entrepreneur himself and speaks passionately about walking alongside business owners through the challenges of growth. Outside of his work in investment banking, he has a long background in competitive weightlifting and professional strength and conditioning. He now coaches young athletes through a weightlifting club and continues to make fitness, discipline, and personal development a major part of his life.
In this episode, Geoff shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped his perspective on resilience, surrender, health, leadership, and what it means to build a meaningful life alongside a meaningful business.
CONNECT WITH GEOFF ELIASON
Website:
https://sdrventures.com/
Email:
geliason@sdrventures.com
CONNECT WITH ANNE GILLASPIE
Website:
https://theannegillaspie.com/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/annegillaspie/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annegillaspie/
OnlyFounders Podcast:
https://theannegillaspie.com/podcast
LISTEN / WATCH ONLYFOUNDERS
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@onlyfounders.podcast
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2PuNBpWpZKzCnuwmFQOPI4
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/onlyfounders-explicitly-human-stories/id1832541527
ABOUT ONLYFOUNDERS
OnlyFounders is about the human side of entrepreneurship—the messy, complicated reality behind building businesses, leading teams, navigating loss, relationships, health, identity, fear, failure, and growth.
Hosted by Anne Gillaspie, the show features honest conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders about what really happens behind the business.
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