Strategic Selling: Unlocking Growth by Converting CapEx to OpEx

Strategic Selling: Unlocking Growth by Converting CapEx to OpEx

Author: Chad Lingafelt, Tony Hokanson, Lars Johnston January 15, 2026 Duration: 1:03:23

In the first official deep dive of 2026, the Unlocked Podcast team explores a game-changing sales strategy: shifting high-ticket security solutions from Capital Expenditures (CapEx) to Operating Expenses (OpEx). Chad from Loc-Doc Security, Tony from Assured Security, and Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe break down why large, six-figure proposals often stall in today’s economic climate.


The hosts explain that while security and key systems are vital, they often fall to the bottom of a client's priority list when competing with HVAC repairs or parking lot maintenance for limited capital budgets. By converting a large project into a digestible operating expense, facility managers can often bypass complex investment committees and use their own autonomous budgets to say "yes" faster. Lars shares a massive real-world example of a $700,000 rekey project that was successfully closed by spreading it over a five-year operational forecast. Tune in to learn how to tailor your sales approach to match how your customers actually want to spend their money.


Tune into Unlocked Podcast for a grounded, cross-border conversation about what it really takes to build a company meant to last. You’ll hear from three practicing business owners, each running their own operations from distinct locations-North Carolina, Minnesota, and Alberta, Canada. They don’t deal in abstract theory; instead, they draw directly from their own evolving playbooks, setbacks, and hard-won victories. The dialogue in this podcast revolves around practical strategies and philosophical shifts necessary for creating enterprises that can thrive beyond a single owner’s tenure. Episodes delve into the nuanced decisions around leadership transition, cultivating a resilient company culture, and implementing systems that ensure stability through market changes. It’s a candid exchange between peers who are in the trenches themselves, offering listeners a rare, ongoing case study from multiple industries and perspectives. If you’re steering a business and thinking about its legacy, this series provides a thoughtful, actionable companion for the long journey ahead.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 76

Unlocked Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Organic AI Adoption? (Episode 65) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In Episode 65, Chad, Tony, and Lars explore how business owners can turn unexpected chaos into operational gold. When a rare North Carolina snowstorm threatened to derail a week of factory training for the Calgary team,…
Building Habits for a Successful 2026 (62) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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2026 Strategy: Operational Spring Cleaning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:49
Welcome to the first episode of 2026! We have officially hit Episode 60, and to celebrate this milestone, the team is pulling back the curtain on the "magic" that keeps the Unlocked Podcast consistent. Chad Lingafelt fro…
2025 Successes: Reflection, Discipline, and Leveling Up (59) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:14
As the year comes to a close, the hosts take a moment for reflection—a crucial and often overlooked discipline for busy entrepreneurs. Tony from Assured Security shares his pride in the team's resilience, detailing how t…
Post-Conference Paralysis: How to Prioritize Your Best Ideas (58) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:11
Do you return from every conference or book with a notebook full of ideas only to suffer from "whiplash" and implement nothing? Tony from Assured Security admits this struggle with prioritization, often running after the…
Vertical Market Strategy: Defining Your Focus for Scale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:48
Are you spreading your business too thin by trying to be "all things to all markets"? This episode dives into the critical strategy of defining your ideal vertical market for growth. Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe, Tony f…
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Duration: 55:22
Do your business processes feel more like a tangled web of handcuffs than a straight path to profit? In this episode, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe, Tony from Assured Security, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security dive into th…