About Carl
Carl Powell is a lifelong entrepreneur with more than five decades of experience building, losing, rebuilding, and stabilizing businesses across retail, service, manufacturing, and franchise operations.
Rather than writing from theory, he writes from lived operational pressure — navigating margin compression, payroll strain, debt restructuring, leadership fatigue, and business transition.
He is the creator of the Still Standing Framework™, author of five published books, and speaker to business owners on endurance and structural clarity. He and his wife, Susan, live in Alabama.
Business Experience
Five decades of hands-on ownership across multiple industries means the advice in Still Standing comes from someone who has actually felt the pressure — not observed it from the outside.
The Still Standing Framework™
A disciplined approach built around three ongoing disciplines: Inventory, Runway, and Alignment — designed to help business owners strengthen structural durability before crisis forces correction.
Writing & Speaking
Carl works with small business owners and franchise operators seeking clarity in seasons of pressure. He is available for keynotes, workshops, and podcast appearances on business endurance, franchise operations, and transition planning.