In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, Austin Gray talks with Tanner Mullen—a founder who helped build and sell a business for a jaw-dropping 9-figure exit. 

Now on his next mission, Tanner is building a startup in public and sharing everything he’s learned about hiring, delegation, scaling, and letting go of ego.

This episode is packed with real-world founder lessons—from how Tanner built culture at scale, to why he let people quit, to the questions he asks in every final interview.

Whether you’re just starting out or hiring your 20th employee, you’ll want to hear this.

HIGHLIGHTS:

00:00 – Intro: 9-figure exit and what’s next

02:15 – Tanner’s biggest regret: Not slowing down after the sale

03:40 – How ego held him back as a founder

05:10 – Letting go: “People should quit if it’s not a fit”

08:20 – Scaling culture while scaling teams

11:30 – Why he stopped chasing growth for growth’s sake

14:00 – The one question he asks in every final interview

17:15 – Tanner’s next chapter: Building in public

20:00 – Hiring advice: What he looks for in operators

22:45 – Coaching, mental health, and founder identity

26:00 – Advice for founders who feel stuck or lonely

29:10 – How much freedom do you really want?

—

🔗 Connect with Tanner Mullen on Twitter: https://x.com/tannerdripjobs

🔥 Mentioned in This Episode 🔥

We use Jobber to manage our quoting, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off your first 6 months here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops

📚 Bookkeeping: Get 50% off bookkeeping for 3 months with the Home Service Bookkeeping Pros: https://dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops

🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker Digital⁠ SEO: https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo

Want to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business?

📰 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: → ownrops.com/newsletter

💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops