David Trent
The Guy
I’ve Been the Owner in the Room
For most of 27 years, I was the person ultimately responsible for the decision.
I built Trent Capital Management, grew it past a billion dollars in assets, and eventually sold it. Like a lot of founders, I spent much of that time believing that being the person who made the call was simply part of the job. The team needed an answer. A client needed a decision. Something had to move.
So I got good at making the call and moving on.
What I didn’t see until later is what that creates. Being the only person who can make the decision isn’t necessarily evidence of a strong company. Sometimes it’s evidence that the company hasn’t been built to run without you.
I understand that differently now, and it shapes most of the work I do with other owners.
That belief is at the heart of Elevate Others.
Inspiration
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
Timothy 2:2
Twenty-One Years Later, I Came Back to Strength
In 2005 I opened Absolute Athlete, a training facility in Little Rock, with two coaches. Our tagline was, ‘Disciplined Training for Sports and Life,’ and we meant the second half of it. We tested every athlete across ten areas, each rated from 1 to 10, and combined those results into what we called a Power Rating Score, with 100 being a perfect score. At the end of our workouts, we would spend ten minutes reading and discussing something together. We called it a Wisdom Session.
In 2008, I shut Absolute Athlete down. Not because it failed, but because the financial crisis arrived and I didn’t know whether the firm that paid for everything was going to survive. I couldn’t afford to be looking in two directions.
On September 28, 2026, I opened a Discover Strength studio in The Heights, about fifteen minutes from where I launched Absolute Athlete 21 years earlier.
The same principles apply to a company and to the person running it. Build deliberately, rely on systems rather than intentions, and don’t wait until something becomes urgent to start taking it seriously.
David Trent
I’m an entrepreneur, founder of three companies, author of Elevate Others and the Elevation Performance Playbook, founding partner and M&A advisor at Optima Mergers & Acquisitions, and owner of Discover Strength Little Rock.
I’ve spent my career building businesses, including Trent Capital Management, which I founded at 33 and grew to more than $1 billion in assets under management before my exit.
Validation From Your Peers
Trent Success truly lives up to its name. David and his team elevated my business to new heights by activating comprehensive plans that energized my operation, skillfully transforming vision into reality and helping me exceed financial targets. David’s passion for client success is evident in every interaction, ensuring alignment towards our goals.
Being a business owner can feel isolating, especially at the top. Joining David Trent’s one-on-one coaching and CEO roundtable provided the mentorship and peer guidance I needed to conceive a plan, grow my business, and establish an exit strategy. My experience and growth as both an entrepreneur and as a person—along with the increase in my business’s value—have been profound. The insights shared by other business owners are invaluable. It’s a truly unique experience where you learn how to scale your business effectively.
As a business owner ready to exit, I found Trent Success invaluable. I had built my company but lacked the necessary M&A contacts and financial support to execute my exit plans. David Trent and his team provided the crucial connections and prepared my company to showcase its strengths when it mattered most. David’s experience in exiting his own firm brings a level of expertise that’s truly beneficial. His guidance as a business advisor drove real results, optimizing my company’s value and ensuring a smooth transition. For business owners planning their exit, Trent Success offers expert support.
Reserve a Private Call
If you’re an accomplished Founder CEO thinking about what’s next for your business—whether that means continuing to grow, preparing for an eventual exit, or exploring your options—reserve a private call with David.
In 15 minutes or less, you can determine whether a deeper conversation makes sense.
One-on-One
with David
Have a 15-minute private call with David to explore whether this opportunity aligns with your vision. If there’s a strong fit, we’ll move forward with a deeper conversation, whether in person or over Zoom.
Your time is valuable—let’s make it count.