Kirk McLaren: Breaking Free from the Grind

The Power of Connections

In this episode, Rich and Kirk discuss:

• The role of personal connections in professional growth
• Overcoming the belief that working harder equals success
• Strategies for reducing work hours while maintaining success
• How family and values shape personal and business goals
• Lessons from transitioning from a technical CFO role to business leadership

Key Takeaways:

• Scaling back working hours doesn't mean scaling back success. With the right strategies, entrepreneurs can create freedom while maintaining financial stability.
• Family dynamics and early life beliefs can often set the tone for approaching success, but redefining that narrative and achieving balance is possible.
• Delegation is key to scaling, but knowing which responsibilities should stay with you as the business leader is important.
• Connecting with others without an agenda can lead to the most profound breakthroughs in life and business. Cultivating relationships authentically is a major driver for success.
• Relationships are not just about networking for business—they are about building trust, supporting others, and giving back without expecting anything in return.

“The man that's going to really have joy and bring something into the world in all fronts, their family, their friends, their business, is the one that really gets intimately connected with certain other people who really know who they are.” — Kirk McLaren

About Kirk McLaren:

Kirk is the “Financial Freedom Guy.” His mission is for business owners to gain financial freedom on their terms while reducing working hours to healthy levels. In doing so, business owners become free to live a life of purpose with the people they love. He believes that when business owners do well, many people do well.

Kirk invented the Growth CFO Financial Freedom Method, is the CEO of Foresight CFO, a #1 Amazon Forbes author, and a Georgetown University SCS graduate studies lecturer. Kirk wrote The Growth CFO Void.

In addition to a rewarding career, Kirk is married to the love of his life - Nayarit has two sons, Don Fernando and Luke Leonardo, who both serve as Army Officers after graduating from West Point Military Academy, likes being outside hiking and biking, and takes care of his Belgian Malinois, Daisy.

Kirk holds an MBA with a Finance and Accounting concentration, an M.A. in International Relations and Economics from Johns Hopkins SAIS, a Graduate Certificate in International Business from Georgetown University, a Bachelor of Science from University of Maryland University College, is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), and earned his Growth CFO Financial Freedom Certification (FFS).

Connect with Kirk McLaren:

Website: https://www.foresightcfo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkwmclaren/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqHKntqUyf9Ehte-zuZJLnQ

X: https://x.com/foresightcfo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirkwmclaren/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForesightCFO

Connect with Rich Woo:

Website: www.catalyst.nm.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richwoo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rich_woo/?hl=en

Book: The Relationship Recession - https://a.co/d/dXlXd71

Email: [e-mail]