CEO Stories with Jonathan Herps

Scaling doesn’t break at the money level. It breaks at the people level. And if you don’t fix that, you’ll stay stuck forever.

Jonathan opens up about the real barriers leaders face when moving from survival growth into scalable success. You’ll hear how to shift from short-term hustling to long-term building, and why the way you think about people, money, and planning determines whether you stay stuck or scale up.

Most CEOs don’t fail because of their ideas. They fail because they keep running their company like it’s still at $1M when it should be at $10M.

In this episode of Stories of Scale with Jonathan Herps, you’ll discover:

• Why moving from $1M to $3M revenue is really a people challenge more than a money challenge (00:43)
• Why annual planning fails CEOs and the alternative rhythm of three-year visions and 90-day sprints that drive execution (03:15)
• Principles to align business and life vision that lets you scale from chaos to $100M revenue  (05:13)

Key takeaways for CEOs and business owners:

• Growth always breaks at the people level. Scaling requires not just more people but the right level of people, and a strategy for funding them.
• Annual planning keeps most businesses stuck. A three-year vision paired with 90-day execution cycles creates rhythm, alignment, and results.
• Profitability doesn’t come from cutting back. It comes from structuring investments in people and systems that create scalable growth.
• Leaders who grow must evolve. Sometimes that means replacing team members (or even themselves) when the business outgrows existing skills.

Scaling is less about pushing harder but more about thinking bigger, planning smarter, and building a rhythm that frees you from being the bottleneck.

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN HERPS

Website: www.scaleupos.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherps

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@jonathanherps

Email: [email protected] 

🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Business?

If you’re interested, here are 3 ways I can help you right now: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast
Get actionable strategies to run a more efficient business from someone who built & exited 3 multi-million $ companies.
Click Here to listen & subscribe now! 

2. Download our free CEO Dashboard template 
Build a step-by-step business plan for consistent growth. 
Click Here to download.

3. Book a 20-min Business Growth Call
Map out a growth plan for your business and identify your biggest bottleneck & leave with a clear action plan. — Click Here

If you’ve ever felt trapped in your own business, unable to step away without everything grinding to a halt, this conversation will hit home. 

Jonathan Herps, four-time CEO and seasoned mentor, shares hard-won lessons on breaking free from founder bottlenecks, smashing through revenue plateaus, and building a business that thrives without you at the center of every decision. 

From overcoming the dreaded “valleys of death” to creating a culture and system that supports predictable growth, Jonathan gives practical strategies for CEOs ready to scale beyond $10M and reclaim their personal freedom.

In this episode of Stories of Scale with Jonathan Herps, you’ll discover:

• How to identify and fix the $3M growth ceiling (00:00)
• The leadership and structural shifts that allow your company to run smoothly when you’re not there (01:44)
• The “valleys of death” that stall most businesses and how to navigate these danger zones to achieve predictable, sustainable growth (02:40)
• The 3 pillars of a $10M self-sustaining company (04:21)
• Planning rhythms that connect your long-term vision to daily execution to keep your business scaling (04:49)

Key takeaways for CEOs and business owners:

• The $3M plateau often happens because the founder is still the hub for sales, delivery, and strategy. Replacing this with clear role ownership is the first step to breaking through.
• A truly self-sustaining business is built by empowering a leadership team with decision rights and aligning them through a shared operating system.
• Growth stalls (“valleys of death”) are predictable. They happen when team size outgrows informal management, and you need systems before you hit the threshold, not after.
• Scaling past $10M requires three non-negotiables: a self-managing team, a culture that drives performance without micromanagement, and processes that protect both profit and quality.

If you’re done being the bottleneck in your own business, this episode is your blueprint for building a company that scales and a life you don’t need a vacation from.

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN HERPS

Website: www.scaleupos.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherps

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@jonathanherps

Email: [email protected] 

🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Business?

If you’re interested, here are 3 ways I can help you right now: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast
Get actionable strategies to run a more efficient business from someone who built & exited 3 multi-million $ companies.
Click Here to listen & subscribe now! 

2. Download our free CEO Dashboard template 
Build a step-by-step business plan for consistent growth. 
Click Here to download.

3. Book a 20-min Business Growth Call
Map out a growth plan for your business and identify your biggest bottleneck & leave with a clear action plan. — Click Here

Most CEOs grow too fast, and then watch everything crack. Learn how to scale smart, keep control, and create a business that thrives at any size.

Parth Gulati, co-founder of Gather Wealth, shares his entrepreneurial journey - from childhood tinkering with tech to building a platform designed to simplify and unify the wealth management experience.Together with Jonathan, they dive into the leadership lessons that shaped his approach to scaling, staying small before going big, and keeping the right priorities in the chaos of business growth.

Parth’s story is full of practical wisdom for founders who want to grow without burning out or losing the essence of what made their business great.

If you’re a CEO or founder feeling the push to scale but not sure how to keep control of the process, this conversation will give you clarity, tools, and perspective.

In this episode of Stories of Scale with Jonathan Herps, you’ll discover:

• How early exposure to business and problem-solving can hardwire you for entrepreneurship (01:37)
• The principles behind building tools that solve complex problems in simple, repeatable ways so customers keep coming back (04:19)
• Why starting small is the fastest path to scaling successfully (13:37)
• How to structure your schedule so you can lead effectively without being consumed by day-to-day distractions (17:28)
• How to strategically rebalance priorities between business demands and personal life without losing momentum (19:59)
• How to build leadership teams that outperform the competition (34:31)
• The founder mindset that fuels sustainable growth (41:26)

Key takeaways for CEOs and business owners:

• Protect early-stage ideas from overexposure. Nurture them before scaling.
• Build deep relationships with customers to guide your product roadmap.
• Balance is dynamic. Keep rebalancing based on business and life seasons.
• Team chemistry can outperform technical skills in leadership success.
• Scaling is a long game. Perseverance is as critical as strategy.

Scaling is not a sprint. It’s a series of intentional steps, guided by clarity, connection, and the courage to stay small until you’re truly ready for big.

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN HERPS

Website: www.scaleupos.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherps

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@jonathanherps

Email: [email protected] 

🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Business?

If you’re interested, here are 3 ways I can help you right now: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast
Get actionable strategies to run a more efficient business from someone who built & exited 3 multi-million $ companies.
Click Here to listen & subscribe now! 

2. Download our free CEO Dashboard template 
Build a step-by-step business plan for consistent growth. 
Click Here to download.

3. Book a 20-min Business Growth Call
Map out a growth plan for your business and identify your biggest bottleneck & leave with a clear action plan. — Click Here

If your team still needs you to run, fix, or finish everything, you don’t have a business. You have a bottleneck. Find out how to install the systems, structure, and leadership your business needs to grow without you.

In this episode, Jonathan breaks down the core system behind how he helps founders go from scattered and stuck to focused and scaling. He unpacks the 5 essential pillars your business must be built on if you want to grow beyond yourself. 

If you're trying to lead a team, get out of the day-to-day, or finally hit that next stage of growth, you’ll see exactly what’s been missing and how to fix it.

In this episode of Stories of Scale with Jonathan Herps, you’ll discover:

• The five-part framework that builds a self-managing business (00:16)
• How to move from firefighting to high-level decision-making with a repeatable planning and execution system (01:53)
• Building a leadership team that runs the business without you (02:45)
• The purpose and impact of a 1–2 day session that creates a 12-month and 3-year roadmap (03:40)
• How the right message can inspire alignment, drive action, and energise leadership teams or audiences around scaling smart (04:07)

Key takeaways for CEOs and business owners:

• Why your mindset and role as CEO must shift before your business can scale
• The five critical systems that create a self-managing, scalable company
• How to align your leadership team to drive growth without relying on you
• A simple planning rhythm to reduce overwhelm and keep execution tight
• When to hit pause and invest in strategy to unlock clarity and momentum

Remember, if growth still depends on you, it's not real scale 

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN HERPS

Website: www.scaleupos.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherps

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@jonathanherps

Email: [email protected] 

🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Business?

If you’re interested, here are 3 ways I can help you right now: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast
Get actionable strategies to run a more efficient business from someone who built & exited 3 multi-million $ companies.
Click Here to listen & subscribe now! 

2. Download our free CEO Dashboard template 
Build a step-by-step business plan for consistent growth. 
Click Here to download.

3. Book a 20-min Business Growth Call
Map out a growth plan for your business and identify your biggest bottleneck & leave with a clear action plan. — Click Here

If your growth has stalled, it’s not always a motivation problem. Sometimes, it’s a model problem. This episode will show you exactly what to stop doing, what to start delegating, and what to fix if you want a business that scales without burning you out.

The CEO of Arvio Technology, Christopher Murray, joins Jonathan to unpack the often-ignored truths behind scaling a company that doesn’t rely solely on you. Christopher has led businesses through recessions, rebrands, and rebuilds, and here’s what he knows about scaling that most CEOs miss.

Christopher and Jonatahan talk about real leadership (the kind that shares wins and owns mistakes), how to avoid chasing every opportunity that comes your way, and why “who, not how” should become your new default mode. 

If you’re a founder or CEO who’s exhausted by doing everything, this conversation will show you how to do things differently.

You’ll walk away with practical, no-nonsense strategies to structure your business for scale without sacrificing your time, team, or sanity.

In this episode of Stories of Scale with Jonathan Herps, you’ll discover:

• Clarifying your value proposition by shifting from “what we do” to “what pain we solve” (07:39)
• The first things to fix before you try to scale (10:01)
• How planning around your “big 5” priorities builds consistency and momentum even when everything feels chaotic (11:50)
• What resilient businesses do differently and how to prepare your business now to withstand the next storm (15:35)
• The mindset that separates problem-finders from problem-solvers (18:46)
• How to use pain-based selling to increase conversions and shorten sales cycles (21:35)
• The one trait every high-functioning leadership team shares (22:38)
• Top learning habits of high-level CEOs to stay sharp and future-proofed (25:25)
• How to grow faster by doing less with the 80/20 scaling method (31:33)

Key takeaways for CEOs and business owners:

• How to focus on just 5 things a day that actually move the business forward
• Why you can't sell anything unless you're solving real pain 
• What most leaders get wrong about scaling, and the mindset shift that unlocks true growth
• The 80/20 principle: how to double down on the right clients and cut the noise
• Why finding the who, not figuring out the how, will fast-track your next big leap

If you’re serious about scaling, it’s time to stop doing more and start doing what actually matters.

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN HERPS

Website: www.scaleupos.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherps

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@jonathanherps

Email: [email protected] 

🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Business?

If you’re interested, here are 3 ways I can help you right now: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast
Get actionable strategies to run a more efficient business from someone who built & exited 3 multi-million $ companies.
Click Here to listen & subscribe now! 

2. Download our free CEO Dashboard template 
Build a step-by-step business plan for consistent growth. 
Click Here to download.

3. Book a 20-min Business Growth Call
Map out a growth plan for your business and identify your biggest bottleneck & leave with a clear action plan. — Click Here

You built it. You grew it. You should feel proud. So why does it feel like you’re drowning in the very thing you created?

In this episode, Jonathan gets real about the truth behind stalled growth. It’s not the market, your team, or even your cash flow. It’s you, still trapped in the founder seat, running on grit, trying to scale through sheer willpower.

But there’s a way out.

This episode unpacks the hidden traps that keep founders stuck at the $2M–$8M revenue ceiling, where grit stops working, DIY growth stalls out, and stepping back feels riskier than grinding harder. 

You'll learn what it really takes to build a team that thinks and acts like owners, why so many founders stay trapped in the weeds, and the high-stakes difference between building a lasting legacy or accidentally building a prison around yourself.

If your business feels like it’s handcuffed to you, this is the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed.

In this episode of Stories of Scale with Jonathan Herps, you’ll discover:

• Who Jonathan helps, the results he delivers, and how he solves bottlenecks around cash, profit, and valuation (01:01)
• The psychographics and demographics of Jonathan’s ideal client (01:56)
• Why overwhelm isn’t caused by “too much work” but by a lack of systems, rhythm, and the right leadership model (03:30)
• A fresh, strategic lens on how to finally lead without being in the weeds (05:10)
• The system that enables founders to scale without being chained to every decision or daily drama (06:34)

Key takeaways for CEOs and business owners:

• What’s actually stopping your business from breaking past the $2M–$8M ceiling
• Why staying in control is costing you growth and how stepping back is the only move that scales
• How to build a leadership team that acts like owners, not employees
• Why DIY tactics collapse under complexity and what a real growth system does differently
• The truth about legacy: Are you building something that frees you or traps you?

You didn’t build your business to become its employee. If growth feels like a grind, it’s time to build something that runs without you, so you can lead, live, and actually enjoy the ride.

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN HERPS

Website: www.scaleupos.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherps

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@jonathanherps

Email: [email protected] 

🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Business?

If you’re interested, here are 3 ways I can help you right now: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast
Get actionable strategies to run a more efficient business from someone who built & exited 3 multi-million $ companies.
Click Here to listen & subscribe now! 

2. Download our free CEO Dashboard template 
Build a step-by-step business plan for consistent growth. 
Click Here to download.

3. Book a 20-min Business Growth Call
Map out a growth plan for your business and identify your biggest bottleneck & leave with a clear action plan. — Click Here

You didn’t build your company just to feel buried by it. But here you are, stuck in the weeds, surrounded by chaos, carrying it all yourself because no one else gets it done right.

This episode is a wake-up call for founders who know they’ve outgrown their old way of leading but don’t know how to break through the ceiling. You’ll learn the hidden patterns keeping you stuck, the roles you must fill to scale without imploding, and the truth about coaching no one tells you, until you’re ready to actually grow.

Jonathan Herps busts the myth that coaching is for the weak. It's not. It's for the bold, the committed, the ones who know they’re meant for more, but feel trapped under the weight of everything.

He walks you through the biggest mental shifts that helped his clients unlock exponential growth, not just in business, but in leadership and life. And he shares the exact framework he uses to help frustrated CEOs finally scale up and breathe again.

In this episode of Stories of Scale with Jonathan Herps, you’ll discover:

• Why doing more isn’t the answer when you’re stuck in the weeds (01:29)
• Why coaching isn’t for the weak - it’s for the ready (02:50)
• The 4 roles every growth-focused CEO needs filled (04:22)
• How a trusted thinking partner lets you shift from reactive firefighting to intentional leadership (07:24)
• Must-ask questions before hiring a coach (09:10)
• Why long-term coaching drives long-term ROI (10:47)

Key takeaways for CEOs and business owners:

• Founders plateau because the habits that built the business become the very things that stop it from growing.
• The belief that asking for help is weakness is the silent killer of CEO performance and momentum.
• A true growth coach acts as your co-architect, teacher, conductor, and confidant to drive strategic, sustainable growth.
• The right coach brings real-world leadership experience, proven frameworks, and chemistry you can’t fake.

If you're feeling maxed out, tired of running in circles, and secretly burnt out from holding it all together, this one’s for you.

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN HERPS

Website: www.scaleupos.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherps

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@jonathanherps

Email: [email protected] 

🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Business?

If you’re interested, here are 3 ways I can help you right now: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast
Get actionable strategies to run a more efficient business from someone who built & exited 3 multi-million $ companies.
Click Here to listen & subscribe now! 

2. Download our free CEO Dashboard template 
Build a step-by-step business plan for consistent growth. 
Click Here to download.

3. Book a 20-min Business Growth Call
Map out a growth plan for your business and identify your biggest bottleneck & leave with a clear action plan. — Click Here

If scaling feels chaotic, inconsistent, or like you’re constantly pushing uphill, it’s probably not your offer, pricing, or even your team.

It’s who you’re selling to.

In this episode you'll learn how to identify your core customer, the one who drives profitability, team alignment, and predictable scale, and how to stop wasting time on clients who drain resources, distract focus, and slow your momentum.

You’ll see why profitability isn’t just a number on a spreadsheet, but the north star for every decision. Jonathan breaks down the difference between trying to please everyone versus building a brand that actually scales, and shares his own perfect future client profile as a working example. 

If you're a business founder or CEO trying to crack the next level of growth, this one’s for you.

In this episode of Stories of Scale with Jonathan Herps, you’ll discover:

• How to separate high-value clients from time-wasters using existing data (01:43)
• What a true customer-first business looks like in action (02:34)
• The framework to determine who to serve and who to walk away from (04:15)
• How to build a crystal-clear client profile (08:45)

Key takeaways for CEOs and business owners:

• Why vague client definitions sabotage your growth (and how to fix it).
• The real meaning of profitability and how it should guide every strategic move.
• Why a business built for “everyone” is a business built for no one
• A behind-the-scenes look at Jonathan’s ideal client profile, and how to build your own.
• What true customer-centricity looks like in high-growth businesses.

When you know exactly who you're built to serve, scaling stops feeling chaotic and starts becoming inevitable.

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN HERPS

Website: www.scaleupos.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherps

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@jonathanherps

Email: [email protected] 

🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Business?

If you’re interested, here are 3 ways I can help you right now: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast
Get actionable strategies to run a more efficient business from someone who built & exited 3 multi-million $ companies.
Click Here to listen & subscribe now! 

2. Download our free CEO Dashboard template 
Build a step-by-step business plan for consistent growth. 
Click Here to download.

3. Book a 20-min Business Growth Call
Map out a growth plan for your business and identify your biggest bottleneck & leave with a clear action plan. — Click Here

Most CEOs scale stress. The smart ones scale clarity, culture, and control.

In this episode, Jonathan Herps unpacks how Helder Klemp, founder of DNX Solutions, reshaped the future of his business, not by chasing numbers, but by committing to culture. His company now ranks among Australia’s best places to work, with 92% of employees genuinely excited to show up.

But the win wasn’t just emotional. It was strategic. Helder bet on clarity, cadence, and coaching to create a business that runs without him being in the weeds. And it worked.

This episode is your field guide to scaling without stress, building a team that performs because they want to, and finally stepping into the leadership role your business needs.

In this episode of Stories of Scale with Jonathan Herps, you’ll discover:

• How proactively defining a culture vision now can protect your business from chaotic growth later (01:35)
• A simple framework to align vision with execution (02:23)
• How prioritising people leads to better retention, higher performance, and more time to lead strategically (04:05)

Key takeaways for CEOs and business owners:

• Culture isn't just a vibe, it's a system. When you build it right, it becomes your most powerful lever for growth.
• A clear 3-year vision broken into 90-day execution cycles keeps your team aligned, focused, and forward-moving.
• Outsourcing culture to chance is a mistake. Bringing in the right expert can hardwire trust and accountability into your company’s DNA.
• What you measure, you improve. Benchmarking culture makes the intangible visible, actionable, and scalable.

When you stop managing chaos and start designing culture, your business becomes a magnet for talent, trust, and traction. 

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN HERPS

Website: www.scaleupos.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherps

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@jonathanherps

Email: [email protected] 

🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Business?

If you’re interested, here are 3 ways I can help you right now: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast
Get actionable strategies to run a more efficient business from someone who built & exited 3 multi-million $ companies.
Click Here to listen & subscribe now! 

2. Download our free CEO Dashboard template 
Build a step-by-step business plan for consistent growth. 
Click Here to download.

3. Book a 20-min Business Growth Call
Map out a growth plan for your business and identify your biggest bottleneck & leave with a clear action plan. — Click Here

Anyone can fill out an annual plan. But if you want to scale, you need a leadership strategy that actually moves the needle.

This episode isn’t about filling out a worksheet. It’s about getting real with yourself as a CEO and creating a business that supports your life, not the other way around.

Jonathan Herps walks you through the exact exercises he’s used to help hundreds of founders shift from scattered to strategic. Whether you’re leading a team of 3 or 300, these insights will help you stop chasing noise and start focusing on what actually moves the needle.

You’ll learn how to reframe your goals, reset your calendar, and lead in a way that creates calm, not chaos. This is about building the kind of company that doesn’t burn you out.

In this episode of Stories of Scale with Jonathan Herps, you’ll discover:

• How to build an annual plan that’s actually worth following (06:00)
• Redesigning your life before redesigning your business (17:24)
• The time-blocking approach that protects energy, family, and sleep (33:42)
• The ‘Stop, Start, Keep’ Framework for founders (41:03)
• How to build your one-year breakthrough plan (54:00)
• Sorting ideas by impact and execution, and choosing only the moves that create long-term leverage (01:07:33)
• The CEO Dashboard and how to focus on just three core metrics that drive serious growth (01:26:11)

Key takeaways for CEOs and business owners:

• When everything feels urgent, it’s a sign you’re missing a clear, prioritised plan that aligns with where you actually want to go.
• Your business can’t scale if your life is burning out. Healthy CEOs build healthy companies.
• Protecting your highest-value time (and energy) is the foundation for consistent execution, better decision-making, and sane scaling.
• Do fewer things, better.
• Track what matters, weekly.

Scaling your business doesn’t start with doing more. It starts with getting clear on what truly matters. When you lead with focus and intention, growth becomes inevitable, not overwhelming. 

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN HERPS

Website: www.scaleupos.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherps

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@jonathanherps

Email: [email protected] 

🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Business?

If you’re interested, here are 3 ways I can help you right now: 

1. Subscribe to our podcast
Get actionable strategies to run a more efficient business from someone who built & exited 3 multi-million $ companies.
Click Here to listen & subscribe now! 

2. Download our free CEO Dashboard template 
Build a step-by-step business plan for consistent growth. 
Click Here to download.

3. Book a 20-min Business Growth Call
Map out a growth plan for your business and identify your biggest bottleneck & leave with a clear action plan. — Click Here