Founder's Framework

Great founders hold strong opinions, but they also know when to change their minds.

In this episode, Ninety Founder & CEO Mark Abbott and Brand Strategist Cole Abbott explore how high-performing leaders evolve their thinking, challenge their biases, and refine their decision-making over time. They break down the balance between conviction and adaptability — and why staying too rigid can hold you and your company back.

What you’ll learn:

• Why strong opinions should be earned, not assumed
• How to challenge your own biases and avoid blind spots
• The role of ego development in leadership
• How to think in frameworks that allow for growth and change

Resources:
→ On Stages of Development
→ Subscribe to the Founder’s Framework Newsletter
→ Get the Founder Mode Workbook

Connect:
Follow Mark on LinkedIn
Follow Cole on LinkedIn

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

Not everyone is built to be a founder. It takes more than a great idea — it requires resilience, self-awareness, and the ability to make tough decisions every day.

In this episode, Ninety Founder & CEO Mark Abbott and Brand Strategist Cole Abbott break down what it really takes to be a founder and how the Founder Mode Workbook helps you develop the mindset and strategies to build a lasting company.

What you'll learn:

• Why being a founder requires more than just a great idea
• The mindset and resilience needed to build a lasting company
• Mistakes founders make and how to avoid them
• How to use the Founder Mode Workbook to clarify your vision and strategy

Resources:
→ Get the Founder Mode Workbook
→ Download the Vision Builder’s Workbook
→ Subscribe to the Founder’s Framework newsletter

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

Explore the challenges of aligning vision, leadership, and organizational growth in a scalable way. Mark and Cole discuss the importance of building an agreements-based culture, fostering the right kind of communication, and strategically timing key leadership hires to ensure your shared vision is executed effectively.

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

In this episode, Mark and Cole discuss common attributes of truly great companies. These include the importance of leveraging agreements in favor of expectations, the need for a passionate commitment to the work, and more. The conversation stresses the significance of continuous learning, resilience, and cultivating strong relationships with the people on your team.

For more on this subject, check out our recent blog post: The 9 Essential Characteristics of Great Companies

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

This episode reflects on the challenges and milestones of the past year, specifically the importance of scaling thoughtfully, maintaining team alignment, and preparing for the next phase of growth. The conversation wraps up with Mark and Cole sharing their excitement surrounding some upcoming initiatives for 2025.

Ninety's Assessment Tool

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

Mark shares how the laws of physics also apply to business: If you’re not growing, you’re dying. The conversation touches on balancing ambition with practicality as well as the importance of strategic planning so founders can avoid entropy and build lasting, impactful companies.

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

As the Founder Mode series continues, Mark and Cole discuss the importance of recognizing and scheduling time for different modes to leverage productivity and minimize inefficiencies. They also highlight the value of empathy and self-awareness for founders of companies at any stage.

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

This episode digs into the importance of trust and transparency in the annual planning process, specifically how these elements support alignment and accountability across all levels of an organization. The conversation highlights how teams benefit from assessing core competencies and addressing uncertainties. 

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

Explore the delicate nature of leadership transitions, particularly surrounding the role of a visionary within an organization. Learn about the challenges founders may face when stepping back from leadership roles and the importance of owning responsibilities while nurturing team relationships.

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!

Learn more about the trending topic of "founder mode” as Mark and Cole explore the distinctions between visionary and legacy founders and the various mindsets that all founders must navigate. The conversation highlights how chaotic leadership can result when founders aren't self-aware and the importance of being adaptable to build fluidity and reduce anxiety.

Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week.
→ Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter

→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  

→ Try Ninety free for 30 days!