Never Been Promoted Podcast with Thomas Helfrich

Jim Schleckser, founder of The CEO Project, joins the podcast to share his insights on what it truly takes to scale a business as a CEO. Jim’s extensive experience working with high-performing CEOs offers valuable lessons on leadership, growth, and building a thriving company.

About Jim Schleckser:
Jim Schleckser is the CEO and founder of The CEO Project, an organization dedicated to helping high-performing CEOs navigate growth challenges. With decades of experience leading businesses and advising executives, Jim specializes in identifying constraints in companies and unlocking their full potential. He is also the author of Great CEOs Are Lazy, a book focused on optimizing leadership for maximum business impact.

In this episode, Thomas and Jim discuss:

• Building a Scalable Business
  Jim explains the key differences between running a small business and scaling to multimillion-dollar growth. He highlights how CEOs must shift their focus from operational tasks to strategic decision-making.
• The Importance of Talent in Business Growth
  According to Jim, hiring the right people is the most critical factor in scaling a business. He advises CEOs to "overclub the shot" by hiring top-tier talent, even if it requires stretching the budget.
• Avoiding the Resume Trap
  While impressive resumes may be tempting, Jim warns against hiring individuals from large corporate backgrounds who may struggle to adapt to the fast-paced demands of a growing business. He emphasizes the importance of hiring those who are willing to do the work, not just manage others.

Key Takeaways:

• Overhire for Success
  Hiring A-players may cost more upfront, but the return on investment is substantial. A-players tend to outperform average hires by 70% while earning only 20% more in salary.
• Process Development is Key to Scaling
  Jim discusses how great employees naturally create processes that make their work more efficient, which in turn allows businesses to scale effectively.
• Leverage Networking for Business Growth
  A strong professional network can provide invaluable connections and opportunities. Jim shares real-life examples of CEOs securing game-changing introductions simply by voicing their needs within a trusted group.

"The best CEOs aren’t the ones who work the hardest—they’re the ones who find and fix the bottlenecks that hold their business back." — Jim Schleckser

CONNECT WITH JIM SCHLECKSER:

Website: https://theceoproject.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimschleckser/
Book: Great CEOs Are Lazy

CONNECT WITH THOMAS:

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/thelfrich | https://twitter.com/nevbeenpromoted Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hovienko | https://www.facebook.com/neverbeenpromoted
Website: https://www.neverbeenpromoted.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neverbeenpromoted/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@neverbeenpromoted
LinkedIn:

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