 Donnie is as transparent as you might expect, being a Marine. His amazing company is helping thousands of business owners connect with the right people. So, I found it really interesting that he made a decision as a Founder & CEO that initially did not connect with his people. Sometimes, as Founders, and as we grow, we need to augment our decision-making with a bit more data and insight. The gut instincts that got us to launch and reach traction becomes insufficient over time. Listen to what happened to Donnie, how he fixed the situation, and what you can learn from his mistake. 

From Founder To CEO

What to do when you make a BIG BAD decision

 WOW! We could not have asked for a better 400th Podcast Episode Guest! And, Jason Fried delivered. He was super candid about a great many topics that I think you will really enjoy listening about and learning from. In this interview, Jason discusses: What he considers to be the harder part of the transition From Founder To CEO. Why he made this controversial decision: "No more societal and political discussions on our company Basecamp account." How the "fallout" from this decision impacted the company. How the "fallout" personally impacted him. What he did to get through the stressful and "sad" elements of this decision. Why this decision is a turning point for the company. What the future of Basecamp looks like. How a new COO and Product Leaders will factor into a relatively new structure for Basecamp's future. How he envisions being the CEO in the future. And so much more. Like many of you, I have been reading Jason's books and his vulnerable online posts for many years. You can tell he is a hard-working, kind-hearted man who strives to do the best he can. I hope you enjoy listening to this very special 400th Founder interview as much as I did. 

BIG 400TH INTERVIEW: Jason Fried discusses his controversial decision & its fallout

 Tutoring is big business. And, Myles and the team figured out how to provide this valuable service for FREE to thousands of students. It wasn't easy. And, it became even harder when he and his co-founder, Victor, realized that two other co-founders may not be in it for the long haul. What do you do when it becomes clear that a co-founder, or two, need to exit the business and there is not a pre-planned process for this? Well, as Myles explains in this interview, it was stressful and there was lots of drama. But, in the end, Myles learned a lot about influence, motivations, and how to speak into the hopes and fears of others. 

What To Do When You Need To Exit 2 Co-Founders

 You may remember Ashley from her appearance on ABC TV's "Shark Tank." At the end of the show, Ashley received and accepted an offer from Daymond John. What you don't know is the rest of the story. Unfortunately, like many other deals on the show, this one did not make it through post show due diligence. Ashley describes what happened and how taking a year off from her business helped her decide the answer to this question: "Do I want to be the leader that pilots the company to forward growth?" 

Shark Tank Founder: Deciding If You Want To Be CEO?

 My draw dropped open when Norman told me how much money in energy costs he saved a Brazilian company. He and his team take a decidedly business approach to their environmental efforts. And, Norman is quite articulate about the power of using your "breakdown" as your "breakthrough." He details the time his hand went numb as well as when a friend called him for help. Both stories remind us that Founders are not super human. We need people and habits that support our wellbeing. 

BIG EcoTech Founder: Use your "breakdown" as your "breakthrough"

 What started as a side hustle, caught him by surprise when Google reached out with an intriguing offer. As a self-described, "not a people person," Abhinav realized that he had to recruit more experienced leaders and bring on team members who can do one thing well and really define their ares of scope much better. Recruit and define...easier said thAn done. But, with over 400 team members and market value of $2 billion, Abhinav and his team figured it out. 

"Unicorn" Founder/CEO: Growth Requires Defining New Team Member Scope

 Surprising and delighting customers as they interact with their digital wallet is the expertise of Elias and his team. Many parts of the world have embraced the digital wallet faster than the United States. Elias has been patient as the technology is adopted more here. In fact, patience has been key to his leadership success. Yet, he learned that even his patient demeanor wasn't enough for the patience needed for a Founder CEO. Listen and see why. 

Even a patient Founder needs more patience

 Have you ever heard a Founder say he enjoys buying business insurance. I thought so. It takes a special kind of Founder to tackle the business insurance industry and David and his team are doing just that. I appreciated David's candid and thought-provoking story about Founder courage versus Managerial Courage. In this interview he explains how he would have handled a delicate situation differently. 

The Courage To Share The Truth...When It Is Needed Most

 Krister and I last spoke in 2017 in episode 185. It was an intense conversation. Why? Because Krister's journey has been so intense. When I saw that his new book was a #1 WSJ Bestselling book, I was not surprised. Because his journey has been so rich with insights, he has taken these life lessons and shared them with all of us in a very practical way that I am most certain will change YOUR life. Read his book and let me know what you think. 

The 22 Talk SHIFTs that will change your leadership...and life

 The pandemic wreaked havoc on many businesses. But, how many of you know a Founder who launched DURING the pandemic? Allow me to introduce you to Tara. Tara knows the locs business inside and out. She and her team created a product that revolutionizes the way those with locs, take care of their locs. And, along the way, she has learned some pretty incredible lessons. Among them is something unique to her personality as the needs of a startup from a Founder. She is a self-described empath who, for a time period, began doing the work of her team. There were various reason for this. But, what she realized is quite compelling. 

Tara: Here is what I did when I was not delegating effectively

 Who doesn't like a good walk in the forest? It turns out that walking in the forest is even more important than we realize. Jared and his team have been able to quantify the importance of nature, and many are taking notice. When you are a mission driven Founder like Jared, it can be hard to stay focused on the core economics of the business. Listen how Jared overcomes the urge to investigate other "curious" areas of inquiry and stay focused. 

FOCUS: It's hard to do when you are like THIS Founder

 A larger number of people in the United States are "gig workers." And, that number has increased steadily. Craig and his team know this and are on a mission to help serve this group of hard working people connect easily with the organizations that hire them. He is also quite articulate about the intersection of bold vulnerability and personal accountability. Listen to the strength of his voice and the wisdom in his words. 

The powerful combination of founder vulnerability & accountability

Phillip's Book Click Here! Phillips Free Assessment: www.phillipstutts.com/insights  

BONUS: The 5 Steps To An Undefeated Marketing System

 Tim has been a friend for quite some time. I admire him for so many reasons...not the least of which is his prowess at sales. In fact, it was this skill that also prevented him from scaling. What? Yes, his skills at sales limited the company's ability to grow. Why? Listen to him yourself and see the connection that we all need to pay attention to. 

Giving Up Sales To Scale The Company: True Story Of Growth

Know How To Connect With Investors: www.CrucialConnections.com GoLoot: https://www.igoloot.com/ Lucas On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-b%C3%A9land-4ab1b5174/

Friday Founder Fundraising Forum: Lucas - Know WIIFM for each investor

If you are a Founder who loves the company you started, and you want to be the CEO that pilots it to sustained success, you’re in the right place! Hear from dynamic, inspiring, and successful Founders as they share their insightful stories and practical tips that make becoming the CEO more fun, stress free, and easier to build and scale the company and life of your dreams. Your guide, Todd Uterstaedt, is super passionate about Startup CEO success and wants to help boost your leadership capabilities, confidence, and mindset so that you can: 1) Build, scale, and lead your company commensurate with your dreams and aspirations 2) Maintain control of your company 3) Enhance your company’s valuation for possible succession or a profitable exit. It’s leadership development for the busy Founder and CEO.

hubhopper

From Founder To CEO

hubhopper