113 - The 8 Critical Mistakes Founders Make That Prevent Scaling, Exiting or Stepping Back (And What to Do About Them). Part 1 of 2.
Sean reveals the 8 critical mistakes that block business growth—and how to fix them fast!
In this episode, Sean dives into the eight critical mistakes that prevent Founders from scaling their businesses, successfully exiting, or stepping back. These are the very issues that can block your progress, whether you're looking to take on investors, sell your company, or install management and reduce your day-to-day involvement.
From identifying leadership gaps to clarifying strategy and improving execution, Sean breaks down real-world examples from his experience in corporate and due diligence processes, highlighting the actionable steps you need to take to position your business for success.
Key Discussion Points
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The Holy Trinity of options: Step up, step out, or step back. Learn what path Founders are striving for in the next 3-5 years
- Real-life example: A million-dollar business run by two Founders failed to scale due to leadership and culture issues, making it risky for investors
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Mistake #1: Lack of a clear strategy and aligned execution plan
- Mistake #2: Ad hoc execution that lacks rhythm and scalability
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Mistake #3: Not having a capable leadership layer that inspires trust and retains top talent
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Mistake #4: Failing to enable individual success through clear expectations and support
Don’t miss this 2-part series... Tune in now!
ABOUTÂ OURÂ GUEST:
Sean’s not a start-up guy; he’s a growth guy. He is an expert in buying, building, and scaling businesses.
With his teams, he developed growth strategies and execution plans that led to the creation of over $100 million in new revenue for 4 companies over 8 years.
These companies included both large and small businesses, so Sean is uniquely positioned to understand the challenges Founders face at different stages of their scaling journey.
Sean now shares his methodology and frameworks for preparing for investment, installing management and full exits for 1m-30m businesses through his advisory services, podcasts and education programs.
The founders Sean mentors personally grow revenue by an average of 43%, EBITDA by 94% and enterprise value of 111% over the first two years.
He brings over 15 years of experience in growing businesses to the table. He’s integrated 7 brands into larger structures, scrutinised over 200 acquisitions, and consulted with ASX-listed companies on their acquisition strategies.
Sean is also the host of the ScaleHQ Podcast where he shares his methods, interviews successful entrepreneurs, experts on scaling, and Founders striving to scale.
About Sean Steele
Sean has led several education businesses through various growth stages, including $0-3M, $1M-6M, $3M-50M and $80M-$120M. He's evaluated over 200 M&A deals and integrated or started seven brands within larger structures since 2012. Sean's experience building the foundations of organisations to enable scale uniquely positions him to host the ScaleHQ podcast.
