Would you like to know how to define what the next level is in your business?  In this episode, Adam Strong is joined by Scott Ritzheimer, a master at defining the next level in business. Scott shares his experience of starting and scaling a multimillion-dollar business before the age of 35. He discusses the challenges faced during the growth stages and the importance of building a strong leadership team. The conversation focuses on identifying key questions and areas of focus for business owners, such as legacy, leadership, and decision-making.  The episode concludes with a discussion on milestones in the business journey. In this conversation, Scott Ritzheimer discusses the different stages of a founder's journey and the challenges they face. He emphasises the importance of building an executive team and hiring a second-in-command to share the leadership burden. Scott identifies the founder's stage as a reluctant manager and highlights the need for alignment with this stage.  [Final Week] Join Our £5.8K-£25K/yr Mastermind at ZERO Cost! (Exclusive to 3 Visionaries Only!) Join our waitlist here for early access to our next cohort: https://bit.ly/business-mastermind-waitlist Takeaways Building a strong leadership team is crucial for scaling a business. Recognising the challenges of growth and understanding the different stages of the business lifecycle can help navigate the journey. Legacy and vision play a significant role in shaping the future of a company. Effective decision-making and focusing on key areas of the business are essential for success. Building an executive team and hiring a second-in-command can help founders share the leadership burden and drive growth. Letting go of certain aspects of the business can create space for future success. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Excitement for the Show 01:21 Introducing Scott Ritzheimer and the Next Level 09:14 Discovering the Business Lifecycle Stages 12:04 Transforming the Business and Building a Leadership Team 14:02 Recognising the Challenges of Growth 19:33 Identifying Key Questions and Focus Areas 23:09 Focusing on Legacy and Leadership 24:36 Making Decisions for the Future 26:01 Vision for the Future of the Company 27:11 Milestones in the Business Journey 27:38 Building an Executive Team 28:14 Founder's Stage: Reluctant Manager 29:07 Alignment with Stage Three 30:25 The Importance of Focusing on the Right Things 32:11 Separating Defence from Offence 33:16 The Myth of Carrying the Whole Business 34:29 Bringing in a Second-in-Command 36:01 Choosing the Right Operator 37:04 The Temptation of Hiring a Business Partner 38:32 The Challenge of Diversified Approach 41:35 The Power of Visionary-Operator Combination 44:17 Letting Go to Create Space for Success 47:56 The Hardest Decisions: People and Letting Go 50:57 Scott's Current Work and The Founder's Evolution 🙏 How To Support The Business Strategist 🎙️ Subscribe, listen and leave a review on 👉 Apple, Spotify Help us to make a bigger impact by buying me a cup of tea 👉 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thebusinessstrategist Tag us and share the show with your network ABOUT THE GUEST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottritzheimer/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottritzheimer/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Scale_Architects Facebook: https://www.fb.com/scott.ritzheimer.official Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/scottritzheimer Free digital copy of my book https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Have you got a plan for scale in 2024? If not, take the business growth quiz here: https://howtogrowabusiness.scoreapp.com Get early access to the game changers inner circle business mastermind go to https://bit.ly/business-mastermind-waitlist for more info Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices