The Road from Founder to CEO is Paved with a Mindset Shift

It’s not something they teach you about in college or an executive leadership program. I wish they did, because the reality is that the journey from founder to CEO can take years - it’s taken me close to a decade – because it’s not just about evolving responsibilities and priorities, it’s about a mindset shift.??

The Founder’s Mindset – Go, Go, and Grow?

Founders hustle hard. There’s no way around it. You’re often wearing multiple hats as you play a variety of roles that typically span the C-Suite. All that seems to matter is meeting the needs of the moment – often in a reactive way – and quickly iterating on that so you can continue to grow and grow fast.??

Processes? What processes? You do what’s needed in order to survive and make that next sale, The focus is on revenue and growth, and with growth, comes the need for a team. And this is where founders are most vulnerable – in simply filling roles quickly rather than strategically. It’s easy to hire the first people who show any indication of being able to execute, rather than mining for true talent that can help level up your operation.??

The CEO Mindset – Lead, Scale, Grow (and bring others along with you)??

What I asked myself from the very beginning was whether, like so many service organizations, I was building a “lifestyle” company with the goal of being acquired, or whether I was building a company to last, a legacy that would impact both employees and our clients. The unequivocal answer for me was the latter. The end game was a sustainable, long-lasting business which truly solves our clients’ problems. ?

As a CEO, you broaden your perspective and scale for growth. A critical component of this is hiring leaders with a similar growth mindset who can help your company not only get there quicker, but in a smarter way that you may have never imagined. Something that took me a long time to realize is that to be an effective and successful CEO you must trust your leadership team and empower them to make long-term decisions.???

Founders feel like they have to do it all themselves, executing non-stop with excitement and energy. CEOs know that leading with intention and bringing others along to build the company with you is the key to leaping into light speed growth and transformation.

Making the Switch from Founder to CEO?

Begin by setting milestones whether those are based on hitting sales (booking) goals or recognized revenue goals.???

Once you find and hire the right set of leaders, set them up for success with thoughtful onboarding. Empower them to make decisions, actively seek and listen to their feedback, and, most importantly, make improvements based on the feedback.??

How do you know when to make the switch? It’s when you decide that longevity, impact, and sustainable growth is more important than short-term gains and running on all cylinders at all times.??

Making the shift from founder to CEO doesn’t mean that you give up the enthusiasm, the energy, the ideas, or the relentless commitment to growth. It simply means that you channel all of these qualities into your leadership style and approach. You shake and blend all those qualities to create a cocktail that inspires your team and allows all of you to enjoy the ride.??

You’ll know you’re ready to shift from founder to CEO when you find the right leaders. I have been fortunate to do so in recent years. As we begin this season of gratitude, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for Cyclotron’s leadership team. I don’t know how you do it, but you all keep me grounded and help me fly at the same time. Can’t wait to see what’s ahead. Something tells me we’re just getting started.?