From Founder To CEO

When "From Founder To CEO" was in its infancy, my friend, Tim Warren, suggested I listen to Pat Flynn's podcast. I had never heard of him before, and barely knew what a podcast was. From the first time I hit the play button, I was hooked. 

Pat has been a guiding light and a beacon of integrity in the online business world. Through his highly popular blog, Smart Passive Income, his two podcasts ("Ask Pat" and "Smart Passive Income"), his best selling books "Will It Fly" and "Let Go" Pat helps thousands of entrepreneurs build businesses that change lives.

Over the years, I began to notice that Pat's team was growing and he began talking and writing more about his personal journey from Founder to CEO. In true Pat form and fashion, this is a candid and very authentic interview. Like everything he does, he shares specific stories that you can relate to. Pat is a giver and he does not disappoint in this interview. I'm grateful he took the time to share his experiences with you. 

It was a true honor to speak with such an amazing icon. Brian Smith epitomizes the strength, determination, grit, and hard work that comes with being a successful Founding CEO. Brian and his team are largely responsible for bring the iconic sheepskin boots and footwear, UGG, to the United States. 

His humility will inspire you and his stories about shifting from Founder to CEO are exceptionally insightful. He talks about:

• The struggles of maintain control of his company
• The absolute necessity of listening to his customers 
• The rewards of loyalty
• The challenges of "letting go" to grow
• The pitfalls of trusting investors who are only focused on money

After trading in his life on Wall Street for the Meat Packing District in Chicago, Lenny traveled over 103,368 miles, welcomed countless encounters with cattle, and conducted enough research to fill a library. He is a true beef guru. And, he is super passionate about great tasting beef with unparalleled quality. He started PRE Brands in 2012 and has been successful at bringing his great beef to over 400 stores. He is also candid about his journey From Founder To CEO. He explains how he underestimated the value of hiring for cultural fit and what he does now to ensure he gets the right people on his team.

Ross is one of those people that you just can't help but like. This former lacrosse player and coach joined forces with his siblings to launch and grow one of the fastest growing crafting sites on the internet. The business model is very creative and the way Ross talks about his own challenges shifting from Founder to CEO will make you like him even more.

FREE DOWNLOAD: "63 Productivity Hacks From 50 Top Founding CEOs"

Today's Podcast:

Michael Spinosa, CEO & Founder - Unleashed Technologies

"Spinosa," as he likes to be called, has been working since he was 15 years old. All that experience paid off when he decided to quite his job and build his amazing company, Unleashed Technologies. He and his team build custom web solutions...a difficult thing to scale. But, with his leadership, he and his team have made the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies in America list...3 years in a row. With growth like that, you are bound to have great stories. Spinosa doesn't disappoint in this fun and revealing interview.

With fast growing clients like Everything But The House and Lisnr, Michelle Joseph's company PeopleFoundry is on the ground floor of helping Startup CEOs build their team.  Her passion for talent acquisition and team development is super clear. And, her humble admissions about her own struggles as a Startup CEO will make you smile and will make you realize that it's a journey for all of us on the path from Founder to CEO.

It's Christopher's enthusiasm for growing his company and hisearnest desire to learn how to best motivate his team that willalso capture your attention. Gamification for team development?Yes. That's what Chris is doing. Listen and let me know what youthink.

You have seen him on The Today Show, Fox and Friends, FOX

Tarek is an accomplished five time entrepreneur. His new venture, Cerkl, is driving audience engagement and helping his customers earn email opens rates that are double the national average. He shares how he is doing this. And, he answers this BIG and very insightful question: What does it mean to be productive when you shift from Founder to CEO?