The Start, Scale & Succeed Podcast

In this insightful episode, Stacey Bailey, Senior Consultant & Executive Coach of The Intention Collective, shares how creative founders can successfully lead their first team in stage 3. If you feel frustrated that no one else can keep up, think like you, or deliver the way you do, you won't want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why expecting your team to think and work like you creates unnecessary struggle and misalignment

- How to create clarity around vision and expectations so everyone rows in the same direction

- What it takes to build real trust and give effective feedback instead of being “nice.”

This episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 3 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quiz

Stacey Bailey is a leadership coach, strategist, and facilitator who helps entrepreneurs and creative leaders build businesses with heart. A certified System and Soul™ Implementor and Dare to Lead™ Certified professional, she brings more than 15 years of experience in leadership and operations within the creative services industry. Today, through Intention Collective, Stacey partners with founders and leadership teams of creative agencies generating $1M–$15M in revenue to build scalable, values-driven businesses. Her expertise includes leadership development, operational alignment, and strategic planning, and she has successfully supported organizations through private equity transitions, B Corp certification, and international expansion.

Want to learn more about Stacey Bailey's work at The Intention Collective? Check out his website at https://intentioncollective.co/

Email her at [email protected]

Check out Stacey's personal website at https://www.stacey-bailey.com/

Connect with Stacey through her LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceylbailey/

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz Today

If you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.

Founder's Quiz

In this eye-opening episode, David Barnett, Owner of www.DavidCBarnett.com, shares how to protect and strengthen your business as you grow in stage 3. If you’re growing fast but feel exposed to hidden risks, or worry that one mistake could wipe out years of work, you won’t want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why focusing only on revenue and profit leaves your business dangerously vulnerable.

- How to use your balance sheet to spot and manage risk before it becomes a crisis.

- What changes to make now so you can grow profitably while protecting what you’ve built.

This episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 3 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quiz

David C. Barnett is an author, consultant, and international speaker who has helped thousands of entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes and achieve successful business exits. Having personally started, bought, sold, and closed multiple businesses, David brings hands-on experience rather than theory. He specializes in the critical areas of buying, selling, financing, and managing small- to mid-sized businesses—the key leverage points that determine whether an entrepreneur can truly scale and succeed. His insights equip entrepreneurs to move forward with clarity and confidence, helping them prepare for a profitable exit even years in advance.

Want to learn more about David Barnett's work at www.DavidCBarnett.com? Check out his website at https://www.investlocalbook.com/

Connect with David through his LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbarnettmoncton/

Check out David's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@DavidCBarnett

Get a copy of his book The Business Fortress: How to Grow, Protect, and Exit Your Business with Confidence at https://www.amazon.com/Business-Fortress-Grow-Protect-Confidence/dp/B0F99NVR38

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz Today

If you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.

Founder's Quiz

In this strategic episode, Jesse Gilmore, Founder of Niche in Control, shares how to escape the founder-as-bottleneck trap by shifting your identity from doer to leader and building real systems so you stop owning a job and start owning a business. If you’re still the single point of failure and every client or fire runs through you, you won’t want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why succeeding as the best doer in stage two can make you the bottleneck that prevents scaling into higher stages

- What signs reveal you've built yourself a job instead of a business, such as inability to take a week off without everything stalling

- How to complete a 7-day time log to identify tasks for eliminate, automate, delegate, and time-block so you can shift from doer to trainer to manager to visionary

This episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 2 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quiz

Jesse P. Gilmore is a transformational business coach and the founder of Niche in Control, where he helps agency owners scale their businesses while reclaiming their time and peace of mind. Creator of the Leverage for Growth® method, host of the Leverage for Growth Podcast, and author of The Agency Owner’s Guide to Freedom, Jesse has helped over 100 marketing agencies break through plateaus and systematize sustainable growth. His mission: to help business owners scale not just their profits—but their freedom.

Want to learn more about Jesse Gilmore 's work at Niche in Control? Check out his website at https://www.nicheincontrol.com/

Connect with Jesse through his LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessepgilmore/

Get a FREE copy of his book The Agency Owner's Guide to Freedom at https://go.nicheincontrol.com/resources/get-the-book

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz Today

If you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.

Founder's Quiz

In this efficient episode, Scott Abbott, Founder and CEO of BOS-UP, shares how to lead executives effectively by blending robust systems with human-centered leadership, EQ, and intentional "Boss Up Moments" to scale beyond founder-driven chaos. If you struggle with executives falling out of alignment despite a strong team, or if you find that your drive and decisiveness now work against you at this level, you won't want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why what got you here as a founder will now work against you as a CEO

- How to shift from managing people to building systems that create real alignment

- What it truly means to lead from the heart while maintaining strong structure

This episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 5 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quiz

Scott Abbott is the Founder & CEO of the BOS-UP Coaching Solution & Academy. He is also an executive coach, angel investor, entrepreneur, and best-selling author. Over the last 35+ years, Scott has started, built, bought, and scaled companies worldwide. He has conducted more than 10,000 coaching sessions to help leaders and teams strengthen their systems, alignment, and performance. His latest best-selling book, BOS-UP Moments, blends leadership, psychology, and soft skills into a modern, visual field guide for growth in business, work, and life. Scott is known for his solution-centric coaching and his passion for unifying Business Operating Systems with AI and human development.

Want to learn more about Scott Abbott's work at BOS-UP? Check out his website at https://bos-up.coach/

Connect with Scott through his Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottabbottabc/

Follow Scott Abbott on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/scottabbottabc/

Check out Scott Abbott's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@BOS-UPMoments

Grab a copy of Scott Abbott's book BOS-UP Moments at https://www.amazon.com/BOS-UP-Moments-Catalyst-Prosper-Business/dp/B0G1HRVSDX/

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz Today

If you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.

Founder's Quiz

In this insightful episode, Eric Woodard, CEO of Win At Work, shares how you rethink dissatisfaction, stop chasing entrepreneurship as an escape, and find alignment by focusing on real needs and human connection. If you feel stuck, frustrated in your work, or tempted to start something just to “get out,” you won’t want to miss it.

You will discover:

- How to identify whether your dissatisfaction is situational or a sign you’ve stopped growing

- Why starting a business to escape a bad job sets you up for failure

- How to use curiosity and market needs to find work that actually creates momentum

This episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 1 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quiz

Eric Woodard is the founder of Win At Work, where he helps founders, leaders, and professionals build careers and businesses that actually work for their lives. He is known for turning complex career and leadership challenges into clear, practical steps people can take right away. Through coaching, workshops, and content, Eric helps people get unstuck, build trust faster, and create momentum without burnout. His work focuses on clarity, confidence, and human connection, especially during moments of growth, change, or reinvention. Eric believes success should feel sustainable, not exhausting, and his approach blends real-world experience with simple frameworks that stick.

Want to learn more about Eric Woodard's work at Win At Work? Check out his website at https://winatwork.io/

Connect with Eric through his LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericwoodard/

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz Today

If you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.

Founder's Quiz

In this tactical episode, Anthony Blatner, Founder of Speedwork, shares how you transition from founder-led, one-to-one sales into scalable, one-to-many systems using LinkedIn and thought leadership. If you’re stuck closing every deal yourself and struggling to scale pipeline without burning out, you won’t want to miss it.

You will discover:

- How to shift from one-to-one sales into scalable one-to-many acquisition without losing message clarity

- What to build before scaling ads so you don’t waste budget on unproven offers

- How to structure a thought leadership funnel that attracts, nurtures, and converts high-value B2B buyers

This episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 4 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quiz

Anthony Blatner is the Managing Director of Speedwork Social, a firm that helps B2B tech and SaaS companies amplify their customer acquisition on LinkedIn. With more than a decade of experience in LinkedIn advertising, Anthony works directly with Founders, CEOs, CMOs, and marketing leaders to build high-impact campaigns that convert. Based in Austin, Texas, he also hosts the podcast LinkedIn Ads Radio, where he shares actionable insights and tactical best practices for the LinkedIn Ads ecosystem.

Want to learn more about Anthony Blatner's work at Speedwork? Check out his website at https://speedworksocial.com/

Connect with Anthony through his LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyblatner/

Check out Speedwork's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@speedworksocial

Check out Speedwork's podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/01QPcQE41cI1GCDchUJqTu and https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/linkedin-ads-radio/id1692236492

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz Today

If you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.

Founder's Quiz

In this high-impact episode, Eric Nitzberg, Founder and Principal of Sierra Leadership, shares why even successful CEOs battle imposter syndrome and identity struggles in stage 5. If you feel exposed, question your role, or wonder “who am I now?” as your company grows beyond your hands-on control, you won't want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why imposter syndrome actually increases at senior levels and is a normal response to bigger challenges

- How to reframe your role from “doer” to strategic leader who focuses on vision and talent

- What it really means to be both fully authentic and fully strategic in your communication.

This episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 5 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quiz

Eric Nitzberg is Founder and Principal at Sierra Leadership, where he serves as an executive coach and trusted advisor to CEOs and C-suite leaders across fast-growth sectors like technology, software, and life sciences. He has two decades of experience guiding hundreds of high-performing leaders through complex business challenges, personal growth, and lasting transformation. In one long-standing engagement at a Fortune 100 global technology company, he has worked with more than 150 leaders, including C-level executives, VP/GMs, and heads of emerging business units. He previously served as a communication coach at Stanford Graduate School of Business, teaching executive presence and persuasive storytelling.

Want to learn more about Eric Nitzberg's work at Sierra Leadership? Check out his website at https://sierraleadership.com/

Connect with Eric through his LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericnitzberg/

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz Today

If you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.

Founder's Quiz

In this transformational episode, David Miller, Founder and CEO of Alchemy of Scale, shares how to move from overwhelmed founder to effective leader in stage 4. If you have managers but still feel like everything runs through you, you're frustrated with constant questions, and the team isn't owning results, you won't want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why having managers doesn't mean you have real leadership

- How to shift from managing people to building systems that create accountability

- What it takes to develop leaders who think and act like owners

This episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 4 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quiz

David Miller is a Growth Alchemist who has built, scaled, and exited multiple businesses while guiding others to do the same. He founded PeachCap, a premier investment and finance firm, which he grew to over $10M before exiting. As a global speaker and board member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), the world’s largest community of seven‑figure business owners, he shares powerful lessons from both success and failure, including how a costly business deal reshaped his views on trust. Through his coaching practice, Alchemy of Scale, David helps founder‑operators break plateaus, build legacy, and transform good companies into great ones.

Want to learn more about David Miller's work at Alchemy of Scale? Check out his website at https://alchemyofscale.com/

Connect with David through his LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-miller-business-coach/

Check out his Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/davidmiller.buzz

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz Today

If you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.

Founder's Quiz

In this constructive episode, David C. Olcott, CEO of Samurai Success, shares how to move from reluctant manager to effective leader in stage 3. If you feel frustrated managing people, overwhelmed by constant questions, and stuck wearing too many hats, you won't want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why managing people directly creates constant frustration and burnout.

- How to build systems that allow your team to self-manage and scale sustainably.

- What role distinctions you must master to lead without losing your identity.

This episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 3 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quiz

David C. Olcott is the founder, president, and CEO of Samurai Success, Inc., an international executive, organizational, and personal coaching firm headquartered in Denver, CO. David has poured the wisdom he has gained from 35 years of coaching into the trademark Samurai Success coaching system, which provides a proven roadmap for success. David’s clients become more purposeful, and their businesses become more sustainable and profitable. David is truly in the service of others, helping them create a successful life, meet their destiny, and leave a legacy of their own.

Want to learn more about David C. Olcott's work at Samurai Success? Check out his website at https://samuraisuccess.com/

Connect with David through his LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-c-olcott-1107bb1/

Get a copy of his book Swords of Illumination at https://www.amazon.com/Swords-Illumination-David-C-Olcott/dp/B0CF4CXVHJ

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz Today

If you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.

Founder's Quiz

In this gritty episode, Corey Dissin, Owner of The Corey Dissin Companies, LLC, shares why most early-stage founders fail—not from bad ideas, but from quitting before their habits compound. If you struggle with consistency, get distracted by shiny objects, or feel like entrepreneurship should be easier than it is in stage 2, you won't want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why discipline beats talent and strategy when nobody is watching.

- How to keep swinging when results don’t show up immediately

- What it really takes to go the distance instead of quitting too early.

This episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 2 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quiz

Corey Dissin is the no-nonsense force behind Knockout Life and High-Performance Coaching, helping driven pros ditch the fluff and finally get unstuck. After nearly 30 years leading massive media projects, he flipped the script and built a coaching system rooted in grit, structure, and relentless action. He’s also the author of GOING THE DISS-TANCE — part memoir, part fight plan for building a life that actually hits back.

Want to learn more about Corey Dissin's work at The Corey Dissin Companies, LLC? Check out his website at https://coreydissin.com/

Connect with Corey through his LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreydissin/

Get a copy of his book Going the Diss-tance at https://www.amazon.com/GOING-DISS-TANCE-Championship-Lessons-Tribute-ebook/dp/B0BYTGVW62

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz Today

If you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.

Founder's Quiz