Jeff Dudan: The Business Athlete's Guide to Entrepreneurial Inflection Points

In this episode of 'The Wisdom Of' Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Jeff Dudan, Chairman & CEO of Homefront Brands and founder of AdvantaClean. From turning Hurricane Andrew's devastation into a business opportunity to scaling a national franchise with 240 locations, Jeff shares profound insights on entrepreneurial resilience, strategic decision-making, and building legacy businesses. Discover his unique "business athlete's" approach to recognizing inflection points, making decisions with discernment, and creating organizations that thrive through crisis and opportunity alike.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 Introduction and Jeff's journey from college athlete to entrepreneur

05:18 How Hurricane Andrew became a life-changing inflection point

12:36 The athlete's mindset and its application in business leadership

18:52 Identifying the three critical types of inflection points in business

25:44 Scaling challenges: from founder-led operation to franchise model

33:29 The power of discernment in strategic decision-making

38:22 Creating sustainable franchise systems through franchisee-centered design

45:36 The partnership with St. Jude and building purpose beyond profit

52:12 Leadership fundamentals: why finding your own happiness comes first

58:43 Legacy-building and the transition to helping other entrepreneurs succeed

About Jeff Dudan

Jeff Dudan is the Chairman & CEO of HomeFront Brands and founder of AdvantaClean, a national restoration franchise that grew to 240 locations before its successful acquisition in 2019. His entrepreneurial journey began as a college football player at Appalachian State University, where he started a student apartment painting business, before pivoting to disaster recovery following Hurricane Andrew.

Jeff is the author of "Discernment: The Business Athlete's Regimen for a Great Life through Better Decisions," a Forbes contributor, and tireless advocate for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. His expertise spans franchise development, operational excellence, and leadership transformation, with particular insight into building sustainable business systems that balance growth with purpose.

Throughout his career, Jeff has demonstrated exceptional ability to recognize inflection points—those critical moments where decisive action transforms challenges into opportunities. As a former Division I athlete, he brings unique perspective on discipline, performance, and excellence to the entrepreneurial journey.

Connect with Jeff Dudan

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

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

Website: https://jeffdudan.com/

Company: https://homefrontbrands.com/

About Simon Bowen

Simon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.

Connect with Simon

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/

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

Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/

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