In this episode of The Wealthy Practitioner Podcast, Steph opens up about one of the hardest—and most rewarding—parts of scaling a business: building a high-performing team.

Drawing from her experience growing multiple businesses and leading The Wealthy Practitioner to new levels, Steph gets raw about what it really takes to lead at a championship level. From firing team members you love to setting "Netflix-level" standards of excellence, she shares the mindset, structure, and culture shifts required to build a team that truly wins.

Steph walks through the evolution of her leadership over the last three years, the lessons learned from building teams across multiple companies, and how she's now creating her own TWP Culture Memo inspired by Netflix's Dream Team philosophy.

You'll learn how to recognize when someone isn't the right fit, how to elevate your expectations without guilt, and how to attract A-players who thrive under high standards. Whether you're managing your first hire or running a full operation, this episode will challenge you to lead with clarity, confidence, and conviction.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Introduction: Why Team Is the Key to Freedom

02:12 – The Realities of Leadership: Gray Hair, Growth, and Hard Decisions

04:01 – Building the Early TWP Team and What Changed in 2024

06:14 – Setting Championship-Level Standards Before "Full Send"

09:20 – Letting Go of a Team Member and the Pain of Tough Calls

11:43 – The Netflix Culture Memo: The Dream Team vs. the Family Model

16:02 – The Core Values That Create A-Player Teams

20:34 – What Happens When You Raise the Bar (and People Step Up)

24:18 – Avoiding Complacency: How to Keep a Team Hungry and Driven

27:40 – Leading Without Permission: Developing Independent Thinkers

31:56 – Why Your Team Mirrors Your Energy

35:22 – The Hard Truth: Not Everyone Grows with You

38:04 – How Firing Someone Opens Space for Alignment

41:10 – Final Thoughts: The Stranded Island Test for Building Your Dream Team

Key Takeaways

- Your team determines your freedom. You can't scale or lead without people who are fully bought into your mission.

- Set standards that feel uncomfortable. Leadership means making decisions most people won't.

- You attract what you embody. If you want A-players, show up like an A-player.

- Culture isn't perks—it's performance. Build a professional sports team, not a family.

- Letting go isn't cruel—it's kind. Releasing the wrong person creates alignment for everyone involved.

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