What happens when a chemist accidentally becomes an entrepreneur — and then has to figure out who he is after he sells the company he built? Scott Bening, author of “Formulating Solutions” and the newly released “The Back Nine,” joins the podcast to share a career story that is equal parts unexpected and instructive.
Scott grew up in Buffalo, New York, earned his degrees from St. Lawrence University and UIC Chicago, and spent just nine months in a laboratory before pivoting into technical sales. That pivot — combining deep scientific knowledge with a learned ability to sell — became the foundation for everything that followed, including leading MonoSol, a manufacturer of water-soluble films with an exclusive supply relationship with Procter & Gamble, and ultimately selling the company to a Japanese acquirer.
In this episode, Scott and Michael explore the underrated power of a technical background in sales, the role that journaling played in Scott’s first book, and why integrity and relationship-building are not soft concepts but core business drivers. Scott also shares what he learned from a book tour in Japan, where his first book resonated far beyond the audience he originally anticipated.
The conversation then turns to “The Back Nine” — Scott’s candid guide for Baby Boomers navigating Retirement, finding new purpose, and staying mentally engaged after decades of professional identity. Scott speaks openly about his work mentoring university students and business professionals in transition, and why so few high-achieving people plan seriously for the chapter of life after work.
Whether you are building a company, preparing to exit one, or simply trying to lead a more intentional career, this episode delivers hard-won perspective from someone who has done it all and chosen to write it down.
Books: Author of “Formulating Solutions” and “The Back Nine“
Website: https://www.mbs2.org/
Topics covered: Technical sales, entrepreneurship, MonoSol, water-soluble films, Procter & Gamble, career transitions, mentorship, Retirement Planning, book writing, integrity in business, life after ownership
