The Scalability Code

The skills that get your business to $10 million aren't the same skills that will get it to $50 million. 

In this episode of The Scalability Code, Matt Haney sits down with Christopher Burke, a visionary entrepreneur who bootstrapped Brickenden into a powerhouse consultancy, generating $250 million in sales without any outside funding. Christopher shares his battle scars from 25 years of building global businesses, including his transition from being "in the weeds" to stepping back as a scalable leader. 

Christopher holds nothing back as he shares his most painful business lessons, from a disastrous sign-on bonus mistake to a delayed restructuring decision during Brexit that erased 18 months of profit. In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the $10M founder is the exact bottleneck for reaching $50M
• How a delayed Brexit decision wiped out 18 months of profit
• The danger of keeping early-stage "generalist" employees too long
• Why you must track maintainable revenue to avoid shrinking
• The profound legal advice of arguing your issue from the other side
• The ROI of offering life-coaching to uncover your team's "why"

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

Feeling stuck in your business?

It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up.

Get OUT of the Sh*t Show 

Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

How does a 24-year Navy veteran go from throwing the first-ever zombie 5K to building a $55 million murder mystery empire?

In this episode of The Scalability Code, Matt Haney sits down with serial entrepreneur and military veteran Ryan Hogan. Ryan unpacks his wildly non-linear journey, revealing how he navigated massive failures—like the bankruptcy of his event company Run For Your Lives—and used those hard-learned lessons to scale Hunt A Killer to $55 million in just five years. In this episode, we discuss:

• The danger of making decisions too fast and why it's costing your business
• Why tracking leading indicators instead of lagging indicators is steering you wrong.
• The reality of a "rockstar on paper" who drives revenue but creates massive organizational toxicity
• The unforgettable advice Ryan received from his Navy commander about teamwork

Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn

Feeling stuck in your business?

It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up.

Get OUT of the Sh*t Show 

Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

Transitioning sales away from the founder is one of the hardest—and most critical—inflection points in a growing business.

In this episode of The Scalability Code, Matt Haney is joined by Adam Boyd, owner of Trinity Training & Development, to explore the challenges of moving from founder-led sales to a scalable, team-driven revenue engine.

They discuss the psychology behind why founders struggle to let go, the risks of staying too involved, and how to build trust, accountability, and structure within a sales organization. The conversation also covers practical frameworks for pipeline management, objective deal evaluation, and developing sales leaders who can truly own revenue.

This episode is essential listening for founders, CEOs, and operators navigating growth beyond the early stages.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Matt Haney and Adam Boyd
00:24 Show Intro
00:49 Meet Adam Boyd
01:54 Early Hustles
02:53 Leadership Sparks
05:05 Sandler Origins
06:35 Cold Calling Grind
07:49 Cookbook Method
08:45 Rocks And Scorecards
09:57 Right Seat Flow
11:26 Trinity Overview
12:05 Frontline Leaders
14:37 Program Delivery
16:18 Toolbelt To Leader
18:56 Entrepreneur Fear Cycle
19:26 Billion Dollar Worries
20:45 Cash Flow Crucible
21:43 Handing Off Sales
23:20 CEO Role in Deals
24:56 Trust and Transparency
26:25 Better Prospects Not More
27:27 Owner Sales Leader Balance
30:18 Pipeline Review Blueprint
32:25 Objective Deal Scorecards
35:23 Ideal Client Profiles
36:29 Closing and Farewell

Contact Adam Boyd: https://thenorthwoodgrp.com/contact/

Feeling stuck in your business?

It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up.

Get OUT of the Sh*t Show 

Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

What does it really take to scale a business?

In this episode of The Scalability Code, Matt Haney speaks with EOS Implementer Amanda Matthews, who shares her journey from a 15-year career at Capital One to helping entrepreneurs build scalable, high-performing companies.

After transitioning into the restaurant industry and helping grow a multi-unit business from 6 to 21 locations, Amanda discovered the power of structured execution through EOS. Now, she works with leadership teams to implement systems that improve alignment, accountability, and growth.

This episode dives into:

•  The difference between visionaries and integrators—and why both are essential 
•  How to create repeatable processes that drive results 
•  Why leaders struggle with accountability and difficult conversations
•  Practical ways to improve team performance and execution
•  The EOS tools that help businesses scale with clarity and confidence 

Amanda’s story also highlights how pivotal life moments can reshape career paths and open the door to entrepreneurship. 

If you're a founder, operator, or leadership team member looking to scale your business more effectively, this episode delivers actionable insights you can apply immediately.

Feeling stuck in your business?

It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up.

Get OUT of the Sh*t Show 

Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

What’s really holding your team back?

In this episode of The Scalability Code, Matt Haney and DeEtte Feurtado explore the hidden factors that prevent teams from performing at a high level.

From siloed departments to unclear accountability, DeEtte shares insights from her leadership journey on how to create alignment, trust, and measurable results across an organization.

In this episode:

• Why teams struggle even with strong talent
• How silos impact performance across departments
• The importance of clarity, communication, and shared goals
• A leadership approach rooted in curiosity and development

If you’re looking to unlock better performance from your team, this conversation delivers practical, real-world guidance.

Feeling stuck in your business?

It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up.

Get OUT of the Sh*t Show 

Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

Jason Lippman’s entrepreneurial journey includes scaling a real estate portfolio to hundreds of homes, losing everything during the 2008 financial crisis, and rebuilding a successful financial services company from scratch.

At one of his lowest points, his wife called from the grocery store because her debit card had been declined — and there was nothing he could do about it.

In this episode, Jason shares the hard lessons from losing everything, the mindset required to rebuild, and why fast-growing companies often face their biggest challenge: cash flow.

We discuss:

• The rise and collapse of a vertically integrated real estate business
• The painful lessons of the 2008 financial crash
• Rebuilding after financial devastation
• Why growth often makes cash flow problems worse
• Building a remote-first financial services company
• Hiring experienced operators instead of junior staff
• Leadership lessons from endurance sports and aviation

This episode is a candid look at resilience, leadership, and the realities of entrepreneurship when things don’t go according to plan.

Feeling stuck in your business?

It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up.

Get OUT of the Sh*t Show 

Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

Marc Cortez didn’t plan on becoming an entrepreneur.

But after nearly two decades building someone else’s company, a failed buyout attempt gave him a new perspective — and he launched Converge Medical Technologies from scratch.

Within 12 months, the company hit $4 million in revenue and $1 million in EBITDA.

In this episode, Marc shares:

• How to transition from employee to founder
• Raising capital the right way
• Designing a scalable sales model
• Leading through a 60% revenue loss
• Making tough decisions without losing your culture
• Building a logistics-heavy medical device business
• Why the right partners make or break a company

This conversation is a blueprint for founders navigating rapid growth, operational complexity, and unexpected pivots.

If you're building, scaling, or rebuilding — this episode delivers practical lessons from someone who’s done all three.

Connect with Marc on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Converge Medical Technologies

Feeling stuck in your business?

It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up.

Get OUT of the Sh*t Show 

Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

In this episode of The Scalability Code, Matt Haney welcomes Tara Kinney, founder of Atomic Revenue, for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, scaling businesses, and the practical impact of AI on modern operations.

Tara walks through her entrepreneurial journey—from early hands-on work in a small town to launching and growing Atomic Revenue—while sharing lessons learned along the way. The discussion explores how founders can better align KPIs with their company vision, overcome sales conversion challenges, and leverage AI as a tool for smarter growth rather than added complexity.

The episode also highlights:

• The shift from corporate careers to entrepreneurship
• Real-world applications of AI for lead generation
• Trust-building exercises that improve team performance
• Practical AI strategies for small businesses
• Why and when to work with a fractional COO or integrator

This episode is packed with grounded insights for entrepreneurs navigating growth, operations, and the evolving role of AI in scaling sustainable businesses.

Contact Tara: 
Tarakinney.com - https://tarakinney.com/contact/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarajkinney
Atomic Revenue: https://www.atomicrevenue.com/

Feeling stuck in your business?

It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up.

Get OUT of the Sh*t Show 

Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

Scaling a business is exhilarating—until it isn’t.

In this episode of The Scalability Code, host Matt Haney is joined by EOS Implementer Amy Holtz, who shares her journey from accidental entrepreneur to scaling a multi-location retail empire with hundreds of employees—and the leadership lessons that shaped her along the way.

Amy reflects on what she learned building and selling one of Party City’s largest franchises, and how running her later businesses on EOS completely changed her experience as a leader. Together, Matt and Amy explore the most common breakdowns they see inside growing companies, including hiring mistakes, poor onboarding, and the absence of true accountability.

Key topics include:

• Why visionaries often struggle with hiring and people management
• The “Head, Heart, Briefcase” hiring framework
• The danger of putting the right person in the wrong seat
• How onboarding failures derail even strong hires
• Why accountability isn’t punitive—it’s empowering
• The critical role of the integrator in scaling a healthy organization

Amy also shares a deeply personal leadership philosophy centered on building others up, creating leaders (not followers), and designing organizations where people—and businesses—can truly grow.

This episode is a must-listen for founders and operators who want to scale with clarity, structure, and humanity.

🎙️ Follow The Scalability Code for more insights from entrepreneurs, EOS implementers, and operators building businesses that last.

Contact Amy Holtz:
https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/amy-holtz/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amykholtz

#operationsmanagement #eos #fractionalcoo #podcast

Feeling stuck in your business?

It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up.

Get OUT of the Sh*t Show 

Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

Scaling a franchise business forces leaders to confront reality—fast.

In this episode of The Scalability Code, host Matt Haney is joined by Amanda Barkey, EOS Implementer and longtime owner of multiple Soccer Shots franchises, to explore what franchising teaches you about leadership, accountability, and operational discipline.

Amanda reflects on nearly two decades of entrepreneurship, from buying into Soccer Shots at an early stage to scaling multi-location operations across Southern California and Hawaii. She shares how implementing EOS helped bring clarity to people management, accountability, and decision-making—and why tools like the Scorecard and Accountability Chart are essential in franchise environments.

You’ll hear practical insights on:

• Why accountability can’t be forced—and how strong leadership creates it
• The role of EOS in scaling franchise operations without losing culture
• Common leadership mistakes founders make as they grow
• How tracking the right weekly numbers creates clarity instead of fear
• What franchising reveals about systems, people, and management gaps

This episode is a must-listen for franchise owners, operators, and leaders looking to move from reactive management to a business that runs with clarity and consistency.

Feeling stuck in your business?

It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up.

Get OUT of the Sh*t Show 

Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.