The Founder’s Newsletter

Hey there,

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Let’s start straightforward: The way you handle your team's mistakes says more about your leadership than the mistake itself.

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Let’s say you’ve delegated a key task.

You trained them. You handed it off. You trusted it was covered.

And then—something breaks.

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A deadline slips. A client calls frustrated. A process gets ignored.

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And your first instinct might be to fire off quick instructions, expecting things to magically get done.

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Your team isn’t ChatGPT—don’t treat them like they are.

They need context.

They need clarity.

They need leadership.

If the person in front of you is someone you trust—someone you want to keep—the way you respond matters.

Because most people aren’t doing bad work on purpose.
They’re acting on the information, expectations, and context they were given.

And most of the time? That context wasn’t clear enough.

The instructions weren’t clear enough.

The expectations weren’t clear enough.

Here’s how to handle mistakes like a leader, not a firefighter (again):

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1. Ask this before giving feedback

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“If you had to give yourself feedback on this, what would you say?”

This flips the conversation. It’s not you judging them, it’s them reflecting.

And you’ll usually get much more honesty than if you go straight into critique.

(Plus, if they don’t see the issue? That’s your cue to dig into expectations.)

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2. Check the briefing, not just the execution

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There’s a huge difference between:

• “Speak to client X about topics A and B in this tone and set a deadline before next Thursday.”
  vs.
• “Have this client do this asap.”

If you weren’t clear, you can’t expect alignment.
So ask yourself:

Did I actually brief them, or did I just throw it over the fence and hope for the best?

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3. Explore their logic

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Before correcting, understand their decision-making.

“We had agreed on X, and you went with Y. What made you shift paths?”

There’s almost always a reason, and it’s not because they’re lazy or incapable.

They saw something.

They filled a gap.

They interpreted your instructions in their own way.

And the more you explore that process, the better your coaching becomes.

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4. Explain the “why,” not just the “what”

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Telling someone what to change isn’t enough.

You need to show them why that change matters.

“Here’s what we were aiming for and here’s what didn’t land.”

That’s how learning happens.

Not through reprimands. Through reasoning.

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5. Give them space to own the next move

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“Here’s what I’d like to see improved. What’s your game plan to get there?”

They don’t need another lecture.

They need to leave with clarity, direction, and autonomy.

When they create the next step, they own it.

And that’s the difference between short-term correction and long-term growth.

Before that conversation ends, make sure they walk away with:

• A clear idea of what to shift
  
  
• A small, self-proposed action plan
  
  
• A check-in date to review it

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6. Don’t start with correction, start with the PNP

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There’s a reason the positive–negative–positive feedback method is a classic.

It works.

Start by recognizing what they did right: their intention, their commitment, their risk-taking.

“I really appreciate that you tried to go the extra mile here. That kind of initiative is valuable in this company.”

Then move into the gap or issue.

Not to attack, but to clarify:

“Here’s what didn’t land, and here’s why it matters.”

And finally, end by reinforcing your belief in their potential:

“I know you can improve this, and I’m here to help you get there.”

The PNP framework only works if you’re sincere.

Don’t fake the praise. Look closely and find something real.

This structure helps you keep the conversation constructive, so they walk away clearer, not crushed.

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Final reminder: most mistakes are communication problems, not character flaws.

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Your job isn’t to micromanage (as I already mentioned in previous issues.)

Your job is to create an environment where people can think, act, and adjust—without fear.

Because if they mess up once and learn?

That’s a win.

If they mess up again in the same way?

That’s when you reevaluate.

But either way, they’re not ChatGPT.

They’re human.

And leading humans starts with clarity, not control.

Mistakes are inevitable.

But how do you respond to them?

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Still building your team and trying to get delegation right the first time?

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My 1:1 Tailored Scaling Blueprint Calls are still on the waitlist only.

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Join the waitlist

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Or reply to this email and let me know what team challenge you’re working through—I’ll make sure you get support.

Catch up on previous issues – Access past insights to optimize your growth strategy.

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Read Past Issues Online

Talk soon,

Ignacio

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Hey there,

In my last newsletter, I told you how taking 48 hours off gave me the clarity to come back with a $100K idea.

I talked about how rest isn’t a luxury—it’s the foundation of high performance.

About how the belief that “things will fall apart if I’m not around” isn’t leadership. It’s fear.
And how founders need time away to access their sharpest thinking.

This week, I want to go one step deeper into that idea.
Because there’s a mindset that makes rest nearly impossible—and it’s one I’ve battled myself:

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Micromanagement.

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What micromanagement really costs

Micromanagement isn’t just about hovering or correcting every detail.

It’s a symptom of deeper fears: that if we’re not involved, things won’t get done.
That we are the glue—and without us, everything falls apart.

And in the short term, being hyper-present might even get results.
But in the long term? It’s a ceiling.

Micromanagement turns founders into bottlenecks.
It blocks your team from stepping up.
And it keeps you stuck in the weeds instead of leading at the level your company actually needs.

How do I know?

Because I’ve lived it. And I’m still working through it.
I’ve had to learn that the same intensity that helped me build momentum…
could also cast a shadow that stopped others from unfolding their own leadership.

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4 signs you might be micromanaging

(Even if you think you’re just “being thorough”)

1. You’re always the final checkpoint

No one ships without your review—and projects pile up on your desk.

2. You struggle to take time off

Because deep down, you believe things will fall apart without you.

3. Your team asks for permission… CONSTANLY

Instead of owning decisions, they wait for your approval.

4. You feel exhausted—but proud of it

You confuse burnout with dedication.

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4 ways to stop micromanaging

(Without letting go of quality or momentum)

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1. Use the GWC framework to assess your team

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Before handing over responsibility, make sure the person truly Gets it, Wants it, and has the Capacity to do the job.

Micromanagement often comes from a lack of trust, and sometimes, that distrust is valid.

If someone isn’t ready to lead, you’ll naturally feel the urge to step in.

GWC (from the book Traction) helps you get honest about whether someone is the right fit for ownership so you can delegate with confidence, not fear.

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2. Get comfortable with controlled failure

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You’re in a leadership role because you’ve made (and survived) your share of mistakes.

Your team doesn’t need to fail as hard or as often as you did, but they do need space to learn.

That means stepping back, even if you’re worried something might go wrong.

You can set up controls, add “airbags,” and review along the way.

But growth happens in the doing, not in the watching.

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3. Give real ownership, not just tasks

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If you’re the one making all the calls, your team’s not leading. They’re just assisting.

And if someone feels like they’re only there to support your ideas, they’ll never fully step into their potential.

True ownership means they carry the vision, drive it forward, and feel the weight of results.

If you keep jumping in, you’re not just correcting them, you’re blocking their growth.

(Been there. Still catching myself sometimes.)

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4. Step back—and let others step up

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Micromanagement isn’t just about control, it’s also about energy.

When you’re always the one leading, your team doesn’t have to rise.

But when you make space, people often surprise you.

It happened to me in my own family.

I used to handle everything for my parents until I moved to the U.S., and my sister naturally stepped in.

Same in business: when you create room, others rise to fill it.

Founders often say they want freedom.

But the truth is: most haven’t created a structure that allows for it.

You didn’t become a founder to answer Slack messages 24/7 or fix formatting in a slide deck.
You started this to build something bigger than yourself.

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And that only happens when you trust the team you’ve built to carry it forward.

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So ask yourself:

If you can’t step away for one week…
is the company actually scaling—or are you just stretching?

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If you’re ready to scale your business without sacrificing your health, your time, or your team’s potential, let’s talk.

My 1:1 Tailored Scaling Blueprint Calls are currently sold out—but the waitlist is open.

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Join the waitlist

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Or just hit reply if you’re stuck in the weeds and need a reset.

I’ll make sure you get the support you need.

Catch up on previous issues – Access past insights to optimize your growth strategy.

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Read Past Issues Online

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Best,

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There’s an important topic that affects women, founders, and society as a whole. Today, I want to contribute to that conversation.

As I mentioned last week, hiring the right people is the foundation of any successful business. But what happens when a hiring decision comes with built-in structural challenges—ones that neither the candidate nor the company can fully control?

Today, I want to address a situation that affects both founders and female candidates in the hiring process.

It’s a reality many avoid discussing openly: the challenges surrounding supporting women in startups —especially those who may want to start a family in the future.

Let’s be clear: women shouldn’t have to justify their personal choices in a job interviews. Actually, they shouldn’t have even been asked in job interviews (since it’s ILLEGAL!).  Yet, in many startup environments, founders ask women candidates uncomfortable personal questions.

Although I wouldn’t burn my hands for any founder, in most cases, they don’t mean bad, but they know their company might not survive if a key player is suddenly gone for a year or more.

A Problem Without Villains—Just Structural Gaps

Big corporations like Unilever or Avon have the resources to offer long parental leaves, on-site childcare, and seamless role transitions. If one person is absent, they have thousands of employees to keep things running smoothly.

But small startups? Usually, they have their seats counted, and losing one key team member—especially in leadership or highly specialized roles—can be as disruptive as losing a top player in the World Cup finals. The team takes a hit, and recovery isn’t always simple.

That’s why this issue is so complex. It’s not about bad intentions. It’s about a system that wasn’t designed to support small businesses and working mothers at the same time.

Main issue→ lack of government assistance

There’s a common misconception when it comes to small businesses: just because a founder brings in $5M (or more) in revenue doesn’t mean they’re taking home $5M in profit.

Many startups are operating at a loss, and in some cases, they need financial assistance to keep going.

While I’m not typically in favor of government intervention in private business (or in general), I do believe it’s essential for startups to receive financial support when it comes to supporting women during maternity leave.

Why? Because maternity leave isn’t just a personal matter—it’s a public health issue, and procreation is a collective good that benefits society as a whole.

Founders and women shouldn’t have to face this challenge on their own. Don’t you think it’s something we all have a stake in?

So, what can founders do?

The first step is acknowledging that this isn’t just a women’s topic—it’s a business matter. And like any business challenge, it requires strategy and innovation.

Here are a few ways startups can make meaningful progress:

Plan for parental leave before you need it Instead of reacting when the moment arrives, design a strategy now.

Flexible work structures Hybrid and remote work options, part-time leadership roles, or phased returns to work can help retain top talent without disrupting business operations.

Expand your talent bench Instead of relying on a single point of failure, build a network of freelancers, consultants, or part-time specialists.

Sure, these tips are helpful, but they’re the same ones any founder would give.

But, I want to go a step further.

As someone who’s founded three companies and, more importantly, as a guy who dreams of being the best dad I can be, here’s where I think we can make a real difference:

First, validate what happens to women in your company. Don’t just offer maternity leave because it’s the right thing to do on paper—actually see the challenges your employees face.

Next, create a safe space where your team, especially women, feels comfortable being open about maternity. I get it—it’s a delicate topic. But, trust me, they need to feel heard and supported.

And finally, recognize that both parties are in a vulnerable position.

As a founder, you have a business to sustain, and the stakes feel high. As a new mother, the pressure is equally intense. It’s easy for survival instincts to kick in and send both sides into defensive modes.

But here’s the key: neither of you means any harm. It’s all about survival, growth, and understanding that you’re in it together.

Hiring the right people means solving the right problems

Over the past 10 years, my company has hired 700 people, and 65% of them have been women. Of those women, 80% held mid-level roles. Along the way, we’ve had tens of pregnancies among our team.

This wasn’t a deliberate strategy; we didn’t set out to hire a specific number of women. As a founder, my focus has always been on finding individuals who align with the values of our company and have the right skills to help us achieve our goals.

Gender was never the driving factor—what mattered was the person and their fit within our culture.

The point is, startups shouldn’t have to worry about how to afford maternity leave. They should be able to focus on what really matters: hiring the right people who will help build the team and drive the vision forward.

And that means building teams that don’t just work today, but are sustainable for years to come. If you’re a founder struggling with hiring challenges, let’s talk.

Book a 1:1 Customized Scaling Gameplan Call, and let’s find a hiring strategy that works for your business.

Book your Free 1:1 Scaling Blueprint CallRead Past Issues Online

Best,

Ignacio

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Today I want to talk about something that can truly make a difference in your company: the people in it.

I've always believed that while a company may have many components, at its core, it all comes down to two things: your team and the culture you build together.

This idea seems simple, yet it can be surprisingly difficult to grasp for many. That’s why, in my 1:1 calls, I use the movie “300” as a powerful example.

The movie tells the story of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors, facing off against the massive Persian army. Outnumbered by thousands, they didn’t rely on sheer size to win—they relied on strategy, discipline, and the unwavering strength of a team that knew exactly what they were doing.

Every warrior was chosen carefully, trained relentlessly, and positioned precisely where they could make the greatest impact. We can say that King Leonidas nailed the hiring process for his team, right?

You can have the best brand, systems, or strategy, but in the end, it's all about who you choose to work with and how well they work together. Success doesn’t come from having the biggest team or the highest headcount.

Success comes from having the right people in the right roles, working together like a well-trained Spartan phalanx.

So, here’s where most founders struggle: hiring smart.

For years, I made the same mistake—conducting interviews that were 90% talk and only 10% actual proof of skill. Candidates told me about their certifications, past experience, and strengths. It all sounded great!

Plot twist: When they started the job, they couldn't actually do what they claimed.

That’s when I realized that hiring should be 90% testing and 10% talking. When I started testing candidates in real-time—giving finance managers an actual P&L to analyze or asking "Excel experts" to create a pivot table on the spot—the results were shocking.

People with impressive resumes couldn't do basic tasks. Others, who might not have seemed perfect on paper, proved their skills immediately.

Want to Hire A-Players? Start Here

Test before the interview

Resumes can be misleading, and interviews take time. A small, well-designed technical task upfront helps filter out weak candidates early. This ensures you're only spending time with those who can actually do the job.

Instead of “Tell me about a time when…” → Give them a real task.

Instead of “What’s your greatest strength?” → Have them solve a problem.

Instead of “Why should we hire you?” → Watch them execute.

Identify the 3 key skills for the role

Many hiring mistakes stem from vague expectations before the interview even begins. Before you start the hiring process, get clear on what truly matters.

Consider:

• What challenges will this person tackle every day?
• What abilities are essential for them to thrive in this role?
• What level of expertise ensures I can rely on them without constant oversight?
• What software, tools, or systems must they be proficient in?

Defining these criteria upfront helps you filter out the wrong candidates early—saving time, energy, and costly miss-hires.

Define your company’s core values (and hire accordingly)

Skills can be taught, but values and mindset are harder to change. That’s why defining your company’s values is crucial. If you haven’t solved this yet, try my Mission to Mars Exercise:

Imagine you’re building the first human colony on Mars but can only take three people from your company—those who truly embody its core values.

Steps:

1. Set the Scene: Explain this scenario to your executive team.
2. Choose the Astronauts: Have each person write down three teammates they’d bring.
3. Extract Values: For each selected teammate, list four defining values (each person ends up with 12).
4. Prioritize: Compile and vote on the most frequently mentioned values.

When hiring, go beyond resumes—test alignment with your culture. Present 2–3 real past scenarios where your core values were challenged, and ask the candidate how they would handle them.

The right hire isn’t just qualified—they belong in your team.

If you’re tired of hiring people who look great on paper but don’t deliver, it’s time to change your approach.

Want to refine your hiring process and build a high-performing team?

Let’s talk. Book your 1:1 Customized Scaling Gameplan Call and we’ll go through your biggest hiring challenges together.

Book your Free 1:1 Scaling Blueprint Call

Best,

Ignacio

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Hey there,

Let me ask you something:
When was the last time you checked in on your energy, not your metrics, not your team—you?

In 2016, we almost went bankrupt.

We had just acquired one of our biggest competitors. It should’ve been a massive win.

And then… we lost $5M in revenue almost overnight because of a technical problem

I was working 14-hour days trying to hold everything together. Leading meetings while lying on the floor. I developed Tinnitus. I was so burned out, I didn’t even realize I was burned out.

Here’s the thing:
Burnout doesn’t always look like a breakdown.
It looks like you, but not quite yourself.

The 4 Types of Burnout (and How to Recognize Them)

1. Overload Burnout

• You’re always “on.” There’s no off switch.

• You crash at the end of the day.

• You wake up already behind.

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Try this: Either lower the number of goals—yes, delay some for later—or increase the resources and support to meet them.
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Think of it this way: Organizing a 100-person dinner tonight sounds impossible… unless you get a professional event team to help.

It’s not always the goal that’s the problem, it’s the resources behind it.
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2. Lack of Control Burnout

• Everything feels out of your hands.

• You get lost in the weeds.

• Your schedule owns you.
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Try this: Reclaim your sense of control by locking in your top three priorities.
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Most founders feel out of control because they’re doing too much and moving too slowly.

Focusing on the few things that actually drive traction helps you feel momentum, and that momentum restores your sense of ownership.
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3. Purpose Misalignment Burnout

• You’re working hard, but can’t remember why.

• You’ve outgrown your original vision.

• You feel like a stranger in your own company.
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Try this: Realign with your original core purpose and values.
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Start by reviewing what you’re trying to build today vs. what you intended to create.

If you’re not sure where to begin, check out the Mission to Mars exercise I shared recently—it’s a powerful way to rediscover your real "why" and reset your company’s compass.
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4. Emotional Burnout

• You’re running on emotional fumes.

•You’re tired of always being the strong one.

• The weight of leadership is too heavy.
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Try this: Don’t do it alone.
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Burnout here is often a lack of emotional support. That’s why I built a personal board of A-players—mentors, coaches, advisors.

You’ll still feel the pain of hard moments (layoffs, pivots, setbacks), but you’ll process it in a healthy way, without it breaking you.

Burnout is quiet. Creeping. Cumulative.
You don’t see it until it’s running the show.

The earlier you recognize the signs, the faster you can course-correct before it costs you, your business, and your health.

Are you burnt out while trying to scale your company?

My 1:1 Tailored Scaling Blueprint Calls are still on the waitlist only.
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Join the waitlist

Or reply to this email and let me know what team challenge you’re working through—I’ll make sure you get support.

Catch up on previous issues – Access past insights to optimize your growth strategy.
‍

Read Past Issues Online

Talk soon,

Ignacio

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Hey there,

A few weeks ago, I had a meeting with someone who caught my attention.
She was magnetic, deep, expressive, wildly creative, and full of energy. The kind of person who lights up a room the second they walk in.

And within an hour of talking, she told me:

“I’ve finally accepted that it’s okay to say yes to something… and two hours later, feel like a no. I’m ok with changing my decisions constantly based on how my feelings change.”

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It was honest. It was raw. And it was a perfect example of today’s lesson:
Every strength you admire comes with opposite traits that may not be consistent with what you love.

We tend to focus so hard on what makes someone shine, that we forget to ask:

“What’s on the other side of this trait?”

And the more intense the strength, the more intense the cost.

The Bright Side Always Has a Back Side

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Let’s use a classic example: masculine vs. feminine energy (and we’re talking energy here—not gender).

Masculine energy is sharp. Structured. Focused.
It’s all about direction, results, precision, and drive.

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Feminine energy is expansive. Creative. Emotional.
It’s about flow, openness, depth, and expression.

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Both are powerful. Both are needed.
But when you choose someone for their intensity in one, don’t ignore what else comes with it.

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Let’s say you hire a salesperson who’s an absolute beast.
They’re magnetic in meetings, they close huge accounts, they walk into a room like Brad Pitt in Troy. That “different” energy.

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They will land the deal. No matter what.
But will they fill out the CRM?
Will they show up on time to internal meetings?
Will they follow structure?

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Most likely not.

On the flip side, you bring in someone extremely organized.
They document everything, show up early, crush admin work.
But do they have that same fire to hunt down million-dollar deals?

That’s the tradeoff.

3 Things to Remember Before You Hire (or Partner)

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1. Every strength has a cost

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We love strengths that shine—confidence, creativity, vision, drive.
But we forget: those traits are never isolated. They live on a spectrum. And on the other end of that spectrum? There’s always something harder to manage.
A visionary might be terrible at execution.
A high-performer might struggle with teamwork.
A bold communicator might bulldoze others without meaning to.

The question isn’t if there’s a downside. The question is:

Can you accept it, manage it, and still move forward?

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Quick tip:
When you're impressed by someone’s top trait, ask: “What would this look like on a bad day?”
If that version makes you pause, dig deeper before moving forward.

2. The more intense the trait, the more intense the shadow.

Intensity amplifies everything.
The more magnetic someone is, the more destabilizing they can become when things go sideways.
That salesman who can close the biggest deals? He might ghost meetings, miss deadlines, or crash the team dynamic with erratic behavior.
That emotionally open teammate who brings soul to the room? May also struggle to stay grounded under pressure.

Intensity is power—but it always cuts both ways.

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Quick tip:
Match intensity with role.
Someone with wild creative energy might crush it in ideation, but crash in operations. Don’t try to “fix” them. Just place them where their intensity helps instead of hurts.

3. The differentiator is self-awareness

Here’s the curveball: a strong trait with no self-awareness behind it becomes dangerous.
But that same trait—owned, understood, and managed? It’s gold.

I’ve seen passionate founders who know their energy can overwhelm others… so they pause, create space, and elevate the room. (I’m working personally on this).
That’s integration. That’s power with presence.

So the real question isn’t what traits do they have?
It’s: do they know how to hold them responsibly?

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Quick tip:
Ask them about a time their strength became a liability—and what they did about it.
If they can’t name one? They probably haven’t done the work.

Next time you’re wowed by someone’s energy, talent, or presence… take a step back.
Look at the whole person. Ask what might be hiding behind the thing that dazzles you.

Because strengths aren’t free—they always come with something else.

And if you want to build a team that can scale with you, not surprise you—this is where it starts.

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My 1:1 Tailored Scaling Blueprint Calls are still on waitlist only.
If you're building a team and want help choosing the right people—not just the shiny ones, get a personalized roadmap.

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Join the waitlist

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Or reply to this email. If you’re stuck navigating team dynamics or a tough hire, I’ll make sure you get the guidance you need.

Catch up on previous issues – Access past insights to optimize your growth strategy.

‍

Read Past Issues Online

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Talk soon,

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Hey there,

I want to start this newsletter by being honest.

When you received last week’s issue, I wasn’t at my desk.
I wasn’t reviewing metrics or planning a launch.
I was at the beach, barefoot in the sand, and laughing with friends.

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And I’ll be real with you—many colleagues wouldn’t even think of it.

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I have worked with many founders who thought success meant being on all the time.
That the more they showed up, the more their business would grow.
That they had to be available for everything and everyone.
If they weren’t “present,” things would fall apart.

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But here’s what I’ve learned: that belief was doing more harm than good.

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It didn’t make me a better founder—it made me exhausted.
And it definitely didn’t build the kind of life I was actually working so hard for.

Here’s the truth most founders don’t want to hear:

If you haven’t made the decision to take time off, you won’t have it.

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Time won’t magically appear. Free time is a lie.
You have to create it. You have to protect it.

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And not just for rest. For clarity. For energy. For your life outside the spreadsheet.

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This isn’t just theory.
After years of coaching founders, and from my own experience, I’ve seen this over and over.

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I was the guy always asking for extra days off.
Why? Because we were working 50 out of the 52 weeks every year.

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So when I managed to get just 4 extra days, it felt massive.
That’s 40% more time if you’re only taking 10 days off a year.
And those extra days? They changed everything.

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They gave me space to think, space to breathe, and—most importantly—space to come back sharper.

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And that’s why I call it what it truly is:
A productivity hack.

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Over the years, I’ve worked with founders scaling into 8- and 9-figure territory.
The ones who grow faster? They’re not grinding nonstop.
They’ve shifted their mindset.

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They’ve stopped living to work and started building a great life around their business.

And if you think it’s just about time management or fancy leadership frameworks… you’re missing the point.

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Most founders don’t take time off because they haven’t even considered it possible.
They’ve accepted the story that being a founder means being always on.

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But here’s the irony—
As founders, we create companies out of thin air.
We turn vision into reality.
So why not create a life that works for you, too?

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Let me give you an extreme example.

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A few years ago, I did a Vipassana retreat in Jakarta, Indonesia—10 full days of silence, meditating for 11 hours a day (they call it meditation prison)... No talking, no eye contact, no technology. And in my case, no food either. I decided to do a water fast alongside it—just 4 liters of water a day, nothing else.

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It was intense. 110 hours of meditation. No external stimulation. No distraction. Just deep internal work.
And here’s the wild part: not eating for 10 days? Totally possible. Most people carry enough body fat to survive 30, even 60 days without food. (Not that I’m recommending it without preparation or medical advice.)

But here’s something even more intense—go seven days without sleep, and you die. Literally.

That’s how vital rest is to your body and brain. That’s how non-negotiable sleep is.

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And yet, so many founders will skip sleep, skip breaks, skip life, thinking it's making them more productive.

But what they're really doing is running on fumes, tanking their decision-making, creativity, and long-term capacity.

Just like fasting unlocked a healing state in my body, rest unlocks a healing and regenerative state in your business mind.

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Sleep and time off aren't luxuries. They’re the base of the performance pyramid. First comes rest, then comes nutrition, then comes hustle.

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So next time you’re tempted to work through the weekend or skip your vacation, ask yourself:
Would you tell a teammate to work 100 hours without sleeping?
Then why would you do it to yourself?

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Taking time off isn’t a risk to your growth.
It’s the smartest growth strategy you’re not using enough.

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You didn’t become a founder to build a cage.

You became a founder to build freedom.

But freedom doesn’t happen by default—it happens by design.

If you keep filling your calendar with things that matter to everyone else, you’ll never have space to think, create, or lead at the level you’re capable of.

You don’t need more grind.

You need a better system. One that protects your energy as aggressively as it protects your revenue.

Because if you burn out, nothing scales.

And if you don’t change it, no one will change it for you.

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Remember: Your calendar is not going to create free time for you. You have to claim it.

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And if you don’t do it proactively, it will get filled—by emails, meetings, fire drills, and noise.

I’ve coached founders to block out visionary time months in advance.
Because once the month starts, your agenda is already hijacked.
Plan first—and let the rest revolve around your time, not the other way around.

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If you're building a great company but also want a great life, let’s talk.

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My 1:1 Tailored Scaling Blueprint Calls are currently sold out—but the waitlist is open.
Secure your spot and get a roadmap to scale in a way that actually works for you, not against you.

Join the waitlist

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Or just hit reply if you’re stuck and need a reset. I’ll make sure you get the support you need.

Catch up on previous issues – Access past insights to optimize your growth strategy.

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Read Past Issues Online

Best,

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Have you ever stopped to think about how ironic it is?

We start companies in pursuit of freedom—financial and professional—yet we hand over our "time-wallet" to whoever demands it. Meetings pile up, Slack pings steal our focus, and before we know it, the day is gone.

I hear this in most of my 1:1 calls, and I even remember a moment early in my journey when I caught myself working 14-hour days, convincing myself that "this is just a phase."

But it never was. The work never ended—until I made it end.

The truth? 90% of founders are overwhelmed, yet we pretend we’re not. We act like we have it all together, but deep down, we know something has to change.

Let’s stop pretending and start solving. Here’s how:

1. Build a High-Performing Agenda

If it’s not on your agenda, it won’t happen. And guess what? Scaling is never an “urgent” task—it’s important but never pressing. And yet, it’s the one thing only YOU can do.

I used to tell myself I’d “find time” for strategy work, but somehow, the day always filled up with emails, meetings, and last-minute fires. Sound familiar?

That’s when I created the 4x4 system—four mornings a week, four-hour deep work sessions.

The first time I implemented it, my schedule was packed with scattered tasks, making it hard to focus on long-term strategy. But after a few weeks of sticking to the 4x4 system, I noticed a shift—I had more clarity on priorities, made faster decisions, and mapped out concrete steps for growth.

This is when you do your Visionary Magic. This is when you actually grow the company.

2. Know Your Limits

Your brain has moments of deep focus and moments of passive resolution. If 9–11 AM is when you do your best thinking, treat it like a meeting with your most important client—your future self.

• Let your team know you’re unavailable.
• Turn off notifications—yes, all of them.
• Define the exact outcome you want before you start.

3. Define What Priorities Look Like to Your Team

If your team keeps coming to you for every little decision, it’s probably because of one of these two reasons:

1. You’ve (unknowingly) trained them to rely on you.

Fix it: Instead of being the answer key, be the guide. Define what truly needs your input and where they have full decision-making power. For those “gray area” moments, create a simple playbook to help them navigate without you.

2. You don’t fully trust them to make the right call.

Fix it: Start small. Delegate something low-risk and let them own it completely. The more they prove themselves, the easier it gets to let go.

4. Surround Yourself with a Personal Board of Advisors

As I already mentioned in a previous issue, even the best athletes have coaches, trainers, and teammates pushing them forward.

So, why do founders try to do it all alone?

The highest-performing founders operate the same way:

• A business coach to cut through the noise and sharpen decision-making.
• A financial advisor to ensure cash flow isn’t a constant headache.
• A network of peers who get it—because the higher you climb, the lonelier it gets.

The right support system isn’t a luxury—it’s how you stay in the game.

The #1 Time Bottleneck: Micromanaging

When we talk about reclaiming time, there’s one habit that quietly eats away at a founder’s schedule more than anything else: Micromanaging.

At first, it seems harmless—just a quick check-in here, an extra approval there. But soon, it becomes a cycle: your team hesitates to act without your input, and you feel trapped in the weeds of daily operations.

I used to think I was being a “good leader” by staying involved in everything. But then I realized something: my highest-performing team members didn’t actually need me hovering over them.

• They knew what they were doing.
• Their work spoke for itself.
• They delivered results—without my constant oversight.

So why was I checking in? To feel in control. And that’s when I knew something had to change.

Micromanaging is a company killer.

It drains:

1. Trust – Making people feel their work always needs supervision.
2. Freedom – If the update could be an email, don’t schedule a meeting.
3. Focus – Check-ins are interruptions. They shift their minds from creating to reporting.

Only 1% of founders can say, “I own my time and energy to focus on growth.”

Don’t be the micromanager leader.

Support your team. Let them fail (that’s how YOU learned also!).

Celebrate their wins. Inspire their growth.

That’s the foundation of a truly successful company.

If this resonates, let’s talk. I help founders build systems that let them scale—without burnout.

Book your Free 1:1 Scaling Blueprint Call

Get a customized roadmap to reclaim your time and accelerate growth.

Read Past Issues Online

Access past insights and strategies to help you scale smarter.

Best,

Ignacio

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The entrepreneurial journey demands a lot: vision, drive, and relentless effort.

But sometimes, the very habits that feel like dedication are actually keeping you stuck, draining your time and energy without real progress.

In my previous newsletter, we covered common time-wasters that usually come up in my 1:1 calls like treating everything as important, sacrificing sleep, saying yes to every opportunity, and falling into the hustle-culture trap.

Today, I want to share 3 more hidden habits that could be slowing you down.

Over-Reliance on Yourself

If you want something done right, do it yourself… right? Not quite.

Micromanaging every detail and refusing to delegate may feel like protecting quality, but in reality, it’s keeping you stuck in the weeds.

When you try to control everything, you don’t just limit your team—you limit yourself.

Your time is your most valuable resource, and spending it on tasks that someone else could handle takes you away from the high-impact work only you can do.

The key to sustainable growth is trust—trusting your team, your processes, and your ability to step back when needed.

What if you had to cut 50% of your time, with no option?

How would you manage your day, and what would you delegate because you have no choice?

This is what we realize with my 4x4 methodology: we make sure you get 4 mornings per week, for 4 hours straight, absolutely devoted to growth.

Now it’s easier to see what you need to delegate because you’re simply not time-rich anymore.

You’ll realize that you were present in many meetings, emails, and calls just because of inertia, or because you hadn’t challenged yourself enough to do things differently, just because you thought you had time.

The Emotional Bottleneck

Suppressing stress, ignoring emotions, and pushing through exhaustion may seem like resilience, but it’s actually a fast track to burnout.

Unaddressed emotions don’t just disappear, they resurface as physical exhaustion as tinnitus (real story), decreased focus, and wasted time trying to power through mental fog.

Instead of bottling everything up, acknowledge stress early.

Are you tracking your sleep with an Oura Ring or Apple Watch/Fitbit/Garmin?

Do you really know if you’re sleeping and recovering, with the right quantity and the right quality? I hear most founders saying “Yes, I sleep relatively well”.

But that’s like not knowing your company's P&L metrics and saying “Yes, I think we’re doing fine”. WTF

Sleep is the cornerstone for your health, recovery, and performance.
Sleep comes first as the fundamental pillar, then nutrition and last exercise.

Nail perfect recovery, and see how your whole resilience shifts.

The Busyaholic Syndrome

We all love the feeling of checking things off our to-do lists. But are those tasks actually moving the needle?

Filling your day with tasks that feel productive but don’t contribute to meaningful growth is a dangerous habit. Answering every email, sitting in back-to-back meetings, tweaking minor details—these things create busyness, not progress.

Take a step back and audit your daily routine. Ask yourself:

• Is this task truly necessary?
• Will this action bring me closer to my core goals?
• Could this be automated, delegated, or eliminated altogether?

Working smart means focusing on the activities that generate the most impact—the biggest NEEDLE MOVERS. Not just staying busy for the sake of “productivity”.

Breaking free from these habits isn’t just about productivity—it’s about building a business that doesn’t consume your life.

You don’t have to sacrifice your time, energy, and well-being to succeed.

I’ve been there. I’ve made these mistakes. And I’ve helped others escape them, too.

If you’re ready to take control of your schedule and build a business that works for you, not against you, let’s talk.

Book your free call now and start making these shifts today.

Book your Free 1:1 Scaling Blueprint Call

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Entrepreneurs are wired to chase big ideas, solve tough problems, and build something meaningful. But in the process, it’s easy to fall into habits that slowly drain your time, energy, and passion—without even realizing it.

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Today, I want to help you spot those hidden traps before they take their toll.

The entrepreneurial journey starts off with a rush of excitement—you’re motivated by the thrill of building something impactful, solving complex problems, and chasing the dream of freedom and control over your life.

But there’s a hidden trap that many entrepreneurs overlook: the habits that slowly drain your time, energy, and passion, eventually leading to burnout.

These habits don’t just impact your business—they seep into your personal life, too.

If you're already feeling the weight of burnout, let’s talk. I offer 1:1 calls where we can address it together and make a plan to turn things around.

If you're not yet at that point, it's still critical to recognize these habits before they take their toll.

By identifying and avoiding them now, you can preserve your energy, reclaim your time, and ensure your well-being while scaling your business.

Let’s break them down and see how avoiding these common traps can help you work smarter, not harder.

1. Treating everything as important

It feels productive at the moment. But it's actually one of the biggest productivity killers.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of responding to every email, attending every meeting, or fixing every problem that arises, but this approach pulls your focus away from the strategic goals that actually drive your business forward.

By prioritizing what truly matters—tasks that will MOVE YOUR BUSINESS NEEDLE (yes tattoo that on your forehead)—you can eliminate the noise and free up your time for what will truly move the needle.

This means taking a step back and evaluating which activities will have the most significant impact on your business’s growth.

Which ones are meta-blockers? (the master block that if you solve, it will free up your business)

What is the greatest needle-mover that I can tackle right now?

Focusing on the big picture requires discipline and the ability to say no to constant distractions, but doing so will ultimately save you time and energy in the long run, allowing you to make more progress with less effort.

2. The "I'll sleep when I'm dead" mentality

Pushing through sleepless nights and working around the clock may feel like a badge of honor in the hustle culture, but in reality, it’s a silent productivity killer.

You are your business brain and heart. And you need them both healthy to stay alive (personally and professionally).

I spent 10 days without eating in 2018 while doing a Vipassana. Only drank 4 liters of water per day. Depending on your fat %, you can usually spend 30-45 days without eating (don’t try this at home without proper supervision).

But when talking about sleeping, you’d literally die after 5 to 10 days with 0 sleep.
That’s how important and crucial, sleep is.

Sleep isn’t just a break for your body—it’s when your mind recharges, strengthens memories, and processes information.

Without adequate rest, your cognitive functions deteriorate, leaving you more prone to errors, slower decision-making, and an overall decrease in productivity.

Treat sleep, exercise, and nutrition not as afterthoughts or luxuries, but as non-negotiable elements of your daily routine.

Sleep is the fundamental base, then comes nutrition, and then exercise.

Prioritize them, and you'll find yourself with more energy, clearer focus, and the ability to operate at your highest potential.

3. Saying Yes to every "opportunity"

We've made companies out of thin air, of course, we see opportunities EVERYWHERE.

As founders, we constantly see business opps and things we could improve inside our companies.

However, just because something sounds intriguing doesn’t mean it’s the right move at this moment. In fact, pursuing too many opportunities at once can quickly become a recipe for overwhelm and inefficiency.

This is one of the 12 viruses that I describe in my Scaling Framework: Lack of Laser Focus.

When you say “yes” to everything, you risk spreading your focus and resources too thin, diluting the impact of your efforts.

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new ventures, but over-diversifying can leave you stretched too thin to make meaningful progress in any one area.

The more you take on, the less you’re able to dedicate to the things that truly matter.

Learning to say “no” or, at the very least, delegate certain opportunities, is one of the most powerful skills you can develop as a founder. By taking a more strategic approach to opportunities, you create space to focus on the initiatives that are truly aligned with your long-term vision.

What are your fearing, that you have to do so many things at the same time, instead of MASTERING the most important value proposition?

This not only conserves your time and energy, but it also ensures that you’re building something sustainable, rather than chasing fleeting opportunities that might distract you from your core goals.

Protect your focus and resources, and make decisions based on what will move you closer to your overarching business goals.

4. The hustle-culture trap

Always being “on” and glued to your phone may feel like dedication, but in reality, it’s a direct path to mental exhaustion and wasted time.

The constant barrage of emails, notifications, and last-minute requests keeps you in a reactive state—jumping from one thing to the next without ever making meaningful progress.

The truth is, you can’t be effective if your mind is constantly overstimulated.

When every moment is spent responding to external demands, you lose the ability to think strategically, make high-impact decisions, and truly move the needle in your business.

The hardest part? Letting go of the belief that being constantly busy means being productive. True productivity comes from working with intention, not exhaustion. The more you learn to step back and manage your energy wisely, the more impact you’ll have—not just in business, but in life.

The cost isn’t just wasted hours—it’s missed opportunities, stalled growth, and, ultimately, burnout.

Through years of trial, error, and working with countless founders, I’ve learned how to break free from these traps—and I’ve helped others do the same. By making a few intentional shifts, you won’t just reclaim your time; you’ll build a business that scales without sacrificing your well-being.

If you're ready to eliminate these time-wasting habits and take control of your schedule, book your free 1:1 Customized Scaling Gameplan Call now.

Let’s make your time work for you—not against you.

And stay tuned—next time, I'll be diving into even more hidden habits that drain your time and slow down your success.

Today, it seems like everyone’s a coach and most people have one.

But, is it enough to break the 10M barrier?

Well, it depends on two main factors.

1. The expertise of the coach

While many coaches claim expertise, it's essential to find someone who has both the practical experience and the insights to help you navigate the challenges you're facing.

• Most coaches have studied leadership, but haven’t actually led big and challenging teams.
• Many take cheap online courses that don’t require much real-world experience.
• They offer solutions without ever having built a company themselves.

As a result, most founders walk away feeling frustrated or stuck because the coach they chose didn’t truly understand their needs.

Maybe they relied on cookie-cutter advice, lacked hands-on experience, or focused on theories over actionable strategies.

It takes real experience, actionable insights, and the right kind of support.

The second factor?

2. The type of guidance founders choose

How do you identify the right guide?

Look for someone who has walked the path you’re on, brings a mix of strategy and empathy, and knows when to challenge you and when to support you.

Coach vs Mentor

Coaching isn’t about telling you what to do.

It’s about guiding you, helping you find your own answers and path forward.

Let’s be real—sometimes, you need more than just guidance.

Building a business is hard. Coaching through it? Even harder.

You need someone who truly understands the weight of every decision you make, those sleepless nights, and the risks you’re taking on.

That’s where a mentor comes in.

A mentor takes things a step further.

They share their own experiences—successes and failures—and offer tailored advice that comes from real-world experience.

They don’t just listen, they give you direction, provide insights, and sometimes, they even tell you exactly what you need to hear, even if it’s not what you want to hear.

Mentorship is about more than advice—it’s about being in the trenches with you.

And when things get tough, you need that kind of hands-on support.

Let’s go a step further

Here’s the deal: you don’t just need another coach or mentor, you need the right partner for your journey.

Someone who can focus entirely on your success, without any competing interests.

The right guide won’t sell you the latest trending strategy or push a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, they’ll help you create a tailored plan designed specifically for your challenges, strengths, and goals.

Your success shouldn’t depend on giving away equity or following a formula that worked for someone else.

It’s about finding the right tools and resources to fit your needs, and most importantly, helping you discover the solutions within yourself.

In a world full of generic advice, you deserve an approach that’s built for you.

Let’s be clear: there’s no one-size-fits-all process that will magically solve everything in your life.

But there is one person who can solve your problems: YOU.

Life is like a movie—and you’re the director.

You get to decide how the story unfolds.

Sure, we all have limitations and resources to work with, but that doesn’t mean you’re trapped. With the right support, you can rewrite the script, pivot, and take your company to the next level.

I’ve seen firsthand how powerful founders can be when they realize their own strength.

With the right mindset, tools, and support, almost nothing is off-limits.

Stop wasting time (and money) on inexperienced coaches and take a minute to identify the kind of guide who will truly boost your business.

As a founder, I’m OBSESSED about getting RESULTS with SPEED, that’s the ONLY thing that matters.

Ready to make your move?

Let’s talk about how I can help you break through that 10M barrier.

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Book a 1:1 free Tailored Scaling Blueprint Call!

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This is my "humble" confession: I'm a great party planner.

I’m efficient, resourceful, and even know how to reduce costs while keeping everything top-notch.

During my time at clickOn, I planned the massive end-of-year event:

• A marathon 24-to-30-hour experience packed with activities.
• Coordinated travel arrangements for 150 attendees from 10 provinces.
• Organized a full-day conference in December, featuring keynote sessions and workshops.
• Included yearly planning sessions, networking opportunities, and engaging workshops.
• Delivered a seamless evening of dinner, a vibrant carnival, party buses and bottle service at the main club VIP.

It was freaking fun, but highly time consuming.

In the first two years, I handled everything from A to Z.

While the events were a huge success, I began to notice hidden costs; not just financial, but in time and energy.

• Vendors changed prices
• Catering menus required adjustments for dietary needs
• A party bus broke down mid-event, forcing me to scramble for last-minute solutions.

It was then that I realized that by being the sole owner of every task, I was also the owner of every subtask, problem, and last-minute fire.

I would leave my tasks in the middle of the execution to answer calls from the catering team.

I would spend hours in details when I should have been checking reports.

I would be arranging a time with the DJ when I should have been answering important emails.

I would be engaged in a low impact activity while looking away from the actual REVENUE.

That’s when I decided this needed to stop.

Instead of micromanaging, I created a clear plan and coached our HR manager to take over.

In the first year, it took time to train him, but by the second and third years, the process was nearly seamless. Now, the events run smoothly without my constant involvement.

The same lesson applies to business

Planning an event is like running a business: every task has countless subtasks, and if you’re the only one responsible, you’ll become a slave to the process.

Take hiring people, for example:

• Set the profile of the ideal candidate.
• Define the tasks and responsibilities for the role.
• Publish the job offer on the right platforms.
• Review and filter CVs to identify promising candidates.
• Conduct interviews to assess skills, experience, and cultural fit.
• Negotiate the salary and finalize the offer.

And if, after all this effort, none of the candidates meet your expectations—or your offer doesn’t meet theirs—you’re back at square one, starting the entire process again.

It’s a meticulous and repetitive cycle, much like event planning, where persistence and attention to detail are key.

It might feel faster to do everything yourself, but the hidden costs of maintaining, troubleshooting, and improving the task will quickly overwhelm you.

Instead of putting out fires, build a team of firefighters.

Train them, delegate effectively, and trust the system you create.

Yes, it’ll take time upfront, but the payoff is exponential. You’ll free yourself to focus on growth, innovation, and leadership.

Take care of your time like you take care of your money

Every task you take on has a ripple effect of subtasks, maintenance, and coordination.

Just like with money, it’s essential to invest your time wisely.

That’s your REAL wallet. The time/energy wallet.

The wallet you use, to generate the money wallet.

Build structures and systems that support you and your goals rather than pulling you into endless cycles of reactive work.

If you’re ready to stop being the bottleneck in your business and start building a system that scales, let’s talk.

Schedule Your Free 1:1 Tailored Scaling Blueprint Call and start using your time wisely!

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RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW

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Imagine hitting $10 in revenue, you are feeling on top of the world. Suddenly, one quiet Wednesday morning, a high-pitched ringing in your ears refuses to go away.
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And then a doctor tells you, 'This is likely permanent.' What would you do?

This isn’t just a story, it’s MY story.

2015: I was living the founder’s dream or so I thought. We had just acquired 2 of our largest competitors.

Revenue was strong, but the cost of maintaining that trajectory was hitting everyone hard.

My co-founder developed tinnitus, an incessant ringing in his ears, and I watched his struggle, feeling empathy but not urgency.

After all, I had my own issues: severe back pain from years of stress and neglect.

2016: It was a turning point.

Our team went from 150 employees to just 45—a decision that kept me up at night for 9 months.

It felt like we were staring down bankruptcy.

For 6 months, we canceled every team event, froze resources, and focused solely on survival.

The reality was undeniable:

The culture was sh*t.

Yet, we stayed aligned, pushed forward, and hit $10M. But the relentless grind left its mark on us, on our team, and on what we wanted to build for the future.

It was a hard lesson, but one we’ve carried forward: success can’t come at the cost of sustainability.

2018: I was burnt out and handed over day-to-day operations to focus on branching into a new business.

One morning, while trying to have a slower workday, the ringing started in my ears.

At first, I thought it was temporary.

But after a series of tests, the doctor confirmed it: tinnitus.

PERMANENT.

It was the most terrifying wake-up call of my life.

I realized the life I was leading—constant hustle, zero support, and neglecting my health—was unsustainable.

Worse, it was damaging my body in irreversible ways.

The Turning Point:

That day, I made a decision. I refused to let stress control me any longer.

Instead, I built what I call my "personal board of A-players":

• Coaches who helped me rethink my priorities and strategy.
• Consultants who guided my business operations so I could step back and focus on recovery.
• Therapists who helped me unpack the mental toll of constant pressure.

With their help, I took deliberate steps:

• I overhauled my schedule to prioritize rest and strategic focus over back-to-back meetings.
• I rebuilt my diet, reduced alcohol, and even experimented with fasting.
• I invested in my sleep, mastering techniques to maximize recovery.
• I traveled for eight months, focusing on creative projects and giving my body and mind the chance to heal.

Through it all, I learned a vital lesson: You can handle stress, or stress will handle YOU.

Let’s be honest, this process takes years and neither do I or you expect it to happen right away.

But years of hard work take one day of action to actually begin.

Let’s start with the first step.

1. Build your support system: Stop doing everything yourself. No successful founder takes care of every step of the business and his/her life. NONE.
2. Help won’t come on its own. Look for the experts who can guide you in key areas of your life and company.
3. Redefine productivity: Don’t equate busyness with success. Ask yourself what you want to achieve and then decide what you need to do to get it.
4. For example, if you want to launch a new product spend your time doing your market research and investigating at a detective level the exact need you aim to solve, instead of being part of a design meeting.
5. Prioritize recovery (but actually do it): I know this sounds obvious and cliché, and there is a high chance you know about this concept but haven’t taken real action.
6. Are you ready to lose organs along the way? Burnouts are sometimes severe and leave permanent marks. This is no joke.
7. Learn to listen to your body (I know what I’m talking about.)
8. Fix your sleep, eat healthier(but really), and integrate downtime into your routine before it’s too late. I like to think of sprint and recovery cycles like a high-performing athlete.
9. Recognize the warning signs: Burnout doesn’t announce itself loudly, it creeps in. Are you constantly tired? Does your body ache all the time? Sleepless nights? High anxiety? Heartburn? Low libido?
10. Urge to abuse alcohol, recreational drugs or fast food? Do you have a mental fog?
11. THOSE are the signs. (If you said YES to at least one question, it’s a great moment to schedule a doctor’s appointment.)

You know it, I know it: Founders are incredible problem-solvers.

Paradoxically; we tend to neglect the most critical problem: ourselves.

The truth is, you can’t fix permanent damage, you can only prevent it.

Don’t let stress rob you of your health, relationships, and future.

If I could turn back time, I’d act sooner, before the damage became permanent.

You don’t have to wait for a wake-up call like mine.

Book a 1:1 session with me now, and let’s create a personalized framework that empowers your business growth while safeguarding your health and happiness.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW

Spaces are very limited, so don't miss out!

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Hey there,

Yes, you read it right, today I’ll teach you how to use scams in your favor.

I've been in business long enough to know that, at some point, most founders are likely to encounter a scam. Most times, a big one.

And when it happens, it shakes you to your core.

The first thing that comes to mind is, “How did I not see this coming? I’ve been running companies for years. I trusted this person. What does this say about my judgment?”

And I get it. When someone you trust—be it a co-founder, a key employee, or a longtime business partner—steals from you, it’s not just about the money…

It’s a hit to your confidence. It makes you question everything.

But here’s the twist: this is one of the most valuable lessons you’ll ever get.

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The Hardest Lessons Create the Sharpest Instincts

I work with founders running multi-million-dollar companies, and I see the same pattern over and over. The ones who navigate challenges with the most precision aren’t the ones who are just smart. They’re the ones with the most battle scars.

One of my closest friends—a decorated Navy SEAL—once told me that medals are usually awarded when things go wrong.

When a mission doesn’t go as planned, people die, and a soldier has to do something heroic to salvage the situation. From the outside, those medals look like achievements. But inside the SEAL community, they mean, “You’ve been through hell.”

In business, it is a bit similar. You don’t develop strong instincts just by reading books or analyzing reports. You develop them by going through hell and coming out the other side.

They don’t give medals in entrepreneurship for surviving.

Bad experience just becomes “experience”, and every scar prepares you to face your next battle.

When you get scammed, your sensors upgrade.

You start detecting red flags you never noticed before.

You read between the lines.

You catch subtle shifts in behavior that scream, “Something isn’t right.”

This is how experience works. Not by avoiding failure, but by learning from it.

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How to Turn Being Scammed Into an Asset

If you’ve been burned in business, it doesn’t mean that it won’t happen to you again. It just means that you’ll have more resources to identify similar situations. Here are some learnings from my own experience.

1. Understand that this does not happen ONLY to you!

Some of the smartest, most experienced founders I work with—people running eight- and nine-figure companies—have been scammed, stolen from, or betrayed.

You are not alone, and it’s not a reflection of your intelligence. The bigger the company, the more complex the problems—and the more sophisticated the scams.

2. Upgrade your filters

Think of it like a call-center scam.
The first time a fake caller claims to have kidnapped a loved one, panic might take over. But once you’ve seen that trick, you know better. The next scammer will have to work much harder to fool you.

In business, the same applies. Experience sharpens your instincts, but even the best filters aren’t foolproof. If something feels off, trust your gut—then verify. A quick check can confirm that everything is fine or help you catch a problem before it escalates. Either way, you stay in control.

3. Reframe the experience

After a betrayal, it’s natural to feel like you can’t trust anyone anymore. That feeling is valid—but it doesn’t have to be the final takeaway.

With time, you’ll see that what you’ve really gained is a sharper radar. Every difficult experience gives you more tools to filter relationships and spot misalignment before it turns into a crisis.

Would you rather learn this lesson over $10,000 now or $1,000,000 later? The earlier you refine your instincts, the better.

4. Find help from an outsider

When you’re too close to a situation, it’s hard to see clearly. That’s why one of the smartest moves you can make after being burned is to bring in a trusted outsider.

Someone with no emotional ties to your business can spot patterns, ask the right questions, and give you the kind of insights or coaching that are nearly impossible to uncover from the inside.

Fresh eyes bring fresh perspective—and that can be the key to real change.

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5. Apply the lesson before it’s needed

The worst thing you can do is learn the lesson too late. Start implementing stronger financial oversight, better hiring filters, and clearer accountability structures now, before the stakes get higher.

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Bad Experiences mean Experience

At the end of the day, experience isn’t just about intelligence, it’s about surviving enough battles to upgrade your sensors and see what’s coming next. Every great founder I know has their share of scars.

But those scars? They’re what makes them unshakable.

If you’re ready to build a company that scales without repeating costly mistakes, let's talk.

Over the past few weeks, I envisioned this moment, and now it’s real: 1:1 Tailored Scaling Blueprint Call is currently sold out. I’m incredibly grateful to be in this exciting scaling stage.

Want in? Join the waitlist for a 1:1 Tailored Scaling Blueprint Call to secure your spot and get a personalized roadmap to scale smarter.

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Join the waitlist

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If you feel like something’s off in your business, or you suspect you’re being scammed and need urgent help, don’t wait.

Reply to this email, and I’ll personally make sure you get the support you need.

Catch up on previous issues – Access past insights to optimize your growth strategy.

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Read Past Issues Online

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Best,

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If you are here, you are a founder, and if you are a founder, you may be thinking about closing Q1.

We all know the importance of setting quarterly goals. We read the books, listen to the podcasts, and nod along at conferences.

But here’s the question that really matters:

Are you actually tracking the right things?

Most founders I work with don’t have a real scorecard—a clear, structured way to measure progress every week. Instead, they rely on vague gut feelings, scattered reports, and a never-ending to-do list that only gets longer.

I get it. You’re busy. You have a million things on your plate. But if you’re not tracking the right data, how do you know if you’re winning or losing?

Let’s fix that before the quarter ends.

1. The 10–20 KPI Rule

A real scorecard isn’t just about sales numbers and bank balance. Yes, those matter, but they don’t give you the full picture.

Your scorecard should have 10 to 20 key performance indicators (KPIs)—the essential levers that determine whether your business is thriving or struggling. Not just revenue or cash in the bank, but the deeper metrics that reveal the full picture.

Financial KPIs (The Big-Picture Indicators)

1. Revenue (Absolute & YOY Growth %) – The clearest sign of business expansion and market demand. But raw revenue alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
2. Net Profit (% & Absolute) – The real bottom line: how much revenue actually turns into profit after expenses.
3. EBITDA (% & Absolute) – Wall Street’s favorite metric: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization—a clean view of operational profitability.

Operational KPIs (How Efficiently You Run the Business)

4. Operating Cash Flow – Measures the actual cash generated from daily business operations.
5. Cash Conversion Cycle – How long it takes to turn investments (inventory, resources) into cash from sales. A slow cycle can kill momentum.
6. Accounts Receivable Turnover – How quickly you collect cash from customers. Faster = healthier cash flow.

Customer KPIs (How Well You Keep and Delight Customers)

7. Customer Retention Rate – The percentage of customers who stick around. Growth isn’t just about acquiring customers—it’s about keeping them.
8. Net Promoter Score (NPS) – A direct measure of customer loyalty. If people wouldn’t recommend your business, you have a problem.
9. Return Rate (%) – How often customers return or refund your product. High return rates signal deeper quality or fit issues.

Marketing KPIs (How Effectively You Drive Growth)

10. Conversion Rate (CR) – The percentage of visitors who take a key action (purchase, sign-up, etc.).
11. Click-Through Rate (CTR) – The percentage of users who engage with an ad or link. If they aren’t clicking, they aren’t buying.
12. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) - How much is costing you to add 1 extra customer?
13. LifeTime Value (LTV) - How much revenue is one extra client bringing you in it’s whole customer journey (lifetime)?
14. Average Order Value (AOV) - How much are clients spending per transaction?

Efficiency KPIs

15. Return on Assets (ROA) - Indicates how profitable a company is relative to its total assets.
16. Return on Equity (ROE) - Measures how effectively management is using a company’s assets to create profits.

Innovation KPIs

17. R&D Expenditure as a Percentage of Sales - Indicates the level of investment in research and development.
18. New Product Revenue - The revenue generated from newly launched products.

The Scorecard Test

Imagine it’s Friday night. You’re on a plane with no internet, and you can only receive your weekly scorecard. Can you tell if your business is on track without checking Slack, emails, or calling your team?

If not, your scorecard isn’t doing its job.

2. The “Stop Consuming, Start Implementing” Challenge

It’s easy to get stuck in mental maceration—that cycle of consuming more and more information but never actually implementing what you learn.

Let’s break that cycle.

If you don’t have a weekly scorecard with the right KPIs, stop consuming content (after reading this newsletter).

Don’t open another podcast, book, or article until you build one. Because this one change will be 10x more valuable than anything else you learn this month.

3. The End-of-Quarter Sprint

With just a few weeks left in Q1, now is the time to:

• Audit your goals—Are they clear, measurable, and actually moving the company forward?
• Review your progress—Are you hitting the right numbers, or just staying busy?
• Refine your scorecard—Do you have the 10–20 key metrics that truly matter?

Closing the quarter strong isn’t about adding more to your plate—it’s about focusing on what actually drives growth.

If you’re ready to implement a system that keeps you on track without drowning in work, let’s talk.

As I envisioned the past weeks, I’m currently sold out, grateful for this scaling stage of Founder Accelerator!

Join the waitlist for a 1:1 Scaling Gameplan Call.

Join the waitlist

Secure your spot to get a custom roadmap designed to help you scale smarter, not harder.

Read Past Issues Online

Access past insights and strategies to help you scale smarter.

Best,

Ignacio

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Building a company isn't just about charging ahead—it’s knowing when to slow down and recalibrate.

Yes, this is another thing I learned the hard way.

In the early days of growing clickOn, we skyrocketed from $1M to $10M in just two years. But behind that rapid growth were costly mistakes that nearly brought everything to a halt.

One of the toughest lessons I learned came during a crisis that almost destroyed the business.

I often share these insights during my 1:1 calls, but today, I want to open up and share the five biggest mistakes I made—so you can learn from them and avoid the same pitfalls.

1. Scaling UP without Scaling BACK — and losing 105 employees

All the advice I consumed was about growth—more employees, more ads, more revenue.

No one warned me about the cost of scaling too fast, or what could happen if things went sideways.

In 2016, we faced our own internal pandemic. Half our revenue vanished overnight. We had to downsize from 150 employees to 45 just to survive.

The good news? By 2020, we had built in Treevotion (my 2nd company) a structure that allowed us to downsize in a WEEK.

That same experience allowed me to help my coaching clients.

The lesson? If you don’t learn how to scale back, you won’t survive long enough to scale up.

2. Ignoring core values and core purpose (thinking it’s an old-school cliché)

For years, I thought defining core values was just corporate fluff.

But when it came time to decide who to let go—and later, who to hire for future ventures—I realized this was my north star (especially when we had to downsize from 150 to 45 people).

This is the truth: when done right, core values and purpose don’t just inform your mission statement—they become your most effective execution tools for DAILY use.

They shape your company’s culture, influence team dynamics, and drive decision-making at every level.

These values aren’t just useful for determining who should stay, who should go, and who shouldn’t have been in your company in the first place—they help ensure your choices are in alignment with your long-term vision.

Without this foundation, it’s easy to lose focus on what really matters.

Hint: I have a free guide that you’ll love to define your core values fast, reply this email if you want it!

That’s why defining and living by your core values isn’t just a good idea—it’s a necessity for building a sustainable, scalable business.

3. Thinking the CEO needs to be both a visionary and an integrator

I used to think that as the founder, I had to do everything myself.

It was my company, my vision, so I took on every task—big or small—even the ones I absolutely hated. I thought it was part of the job.

But the reality? I burned out. I felt exhausted, overwhelmed, and, after months of juggling it all, stuck in a never-ending cycle of tasks that drained me.

I wasn’t growing the company; I was just managing the chaos. A true fire-fighter.

Then I discovered the concept of the “Visionary” and the “Integrator” (I went deeper into these roles in a previous newsletter, so if you’d like to get a copy, just shoot me an email, and I’ll forward it to you).

That’s when everything started to click.

When we hired an Integrator to handle the day-to-day execution, I was able to fully focus on what I do best—growing the company.

Suddenly, everything changed. My energy was focused on scaling, driving innovation, and pushing the business forward. The difference was night and day.

If you’re a Visionary like me, your role isn’t to get lost in the weeds of execution. Your job is to see the big picture, strategize, and GROW the company CONSISTENTLY.

The key is to hire someone who thrives in the details and execution—someone who can turn your vision into reality.

Once you make that shift, you’ll find that growth becomes not just possible, but inevitable.

4. Avoiding Co-Founder disagreements until it was too late

Co-founder misalignment doesn’t happen overnight—it builds gradually, like a slow-moving snowball gathering momentum and turning into something much more dangerous.

Each avoided conversation, every unspoken concern, and every moment of hesitation adds another layer of misunderstanding and miscommunication.

At first, it feels manageable, but over time, those small cracks widen into major fractures.

In the early days, I avoided tough conversations, thinking they could wait or would resolve themselves. But as the pressure mounted, so did the tension.

Eventually, what could have been addressed with a single difficult conversation became a much larger issue. If you're avoiding tough conversations today, just wait—over time, they will grow into challenges you may not be able to recover from.

5. Not investing in the right advisors—For my business and my life

Early on, I tried to save money on hiring advisors. The result? I got cheap advice that cost me millions.

Even in my personal life, I saw the difference:

15 years ago, a nutritionist told me to eat diet products to be healthier. Years later, I hired one of the best fitness coaches in the world.

In the first week, he gave me life-changing advice. Since then, I’ve lost 5% body fat, gained 3kg of muscle, and completely transformed my health.

The takeaway? You get what you pay for. Cheap advice is the most expensive mistake you’ll ever make.

Your mistakes are costing you!

Growing a company is HARD. But from my biggest mistakes, I made my biggest progress.

I went on to sell $65M online—and now I help founders remove blockers and scale again.

If you’re struggling with one of these challenges, don’t waste time making the same mistakes.

Let’s talk. Schedule a free call, and let’s fix it together.

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1:1 Customized Scaling Gameplan Call

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Let’s be real: we all have felt like our goals are either too small to excite us or so big they leave us overwhelmed.

Finding the right performance level for you isn’t just important—it’s transformational.

Here’s the thing: too little ambition keeps you in the same spot, while too much can spiral into imposter syndrome and burnout— that frustrating feeling that you’re never good enough, even when you clearly are.

Most founders struggle with imposter syndrome, and it's one of the main reasons their companies get stuck (If you can already tell this is you, let's talk in a 1:1 session).

But others are on the way, not even realizing how they are digging their own grave. Let's get deeper into this.

The Pitfalls of Under-Ambition

When you don’t push yourself, you’re settling for less than you can.

It’s comfortable to play it safe… for a while.

But soon enough, you’ll hit a wall: stagnation. That nagging question starts haunting you: “What if I had aimed higher?”

Without bold goals, you miss the chance to create the breakthroughs that could change your life and business.

The real cost of under-ambition? Regret.

I remember when we started slow the first 4 months of clickOn to be safe, as it was a new space for us, until we realized Groupon in Argentina was investing heavily and started to have quite a head start.

We gave them a dangerous edge.

The Dangers of Over-Ambition

On the flip side, aiming too high without a precise plan and expert support is just as dangerous.

Setting goals that are too big, too fast, or too complex without the proper support can overwhelm you. Instead of making progress, they spark self-doubt, procrastination, and perfectionism.

That’s the breeding ground for imposter syndrome. You push yourself so hard, you start questioning whether you even deserve to be there.

You may feel isolated, thinking “No one understands how hard this is.”

But here’s the reality: we’re all struggling to achieve something.

Building a business is tough AF— it’s why most people don’t succeed on the short-term, but especially in the long-term.

The difference between those who fail and those who succeed?

They admit they don’t have all the answers. They don’t pretend to know it all. They fill the gap.

Finding the ambition equilibrium.

You need to set goals that challenge you but are still achievable. Goals that stretch you without paralyzing you.

Start by asking yourself:

• Are my goals realistic yet challenging?: Instead of saying, "I want to run a marathon next month," consider whether it's realistic based on your current fitness level.

A more balanced goal could be, "I will train for a half marathon in six months and a full marathon in a year."

• Are they broken down into manageable steps?:  If your goal is to write a book, instead of thinking, "I need to write 300 pages," break it down into smaller tasks:

• Outline the main chapters
• Write 500 words a day
• Edit one chapter per week

The trick is to break big goals into small, manageable steps, and celebrate every win, no matter how small. That’s how you build momentum.

Celebrate your wins, no matter how small, and let that momentum build.

A Founder’s Success Framework - With a Real-Life Example

Here are three steps you can implement today:

1. Conduct a “Goals Audit”: Take a moment to reflect on your current goals. Are they inspiring, realistic, and specific? Adjust them as needed to ensure they are challenging but achievable.

DON’T:

• Set vague goals like “Grow my business.” This doesn’t give you a clear direction or measurable outcome.
• Create goals that are too easy, like “Make 2 sales per month,” without considering how you’ll grow over time.

DO:

• Set clear, measurable goals like “Increase monthly revenue by 20% = 52K MRR by launching two new marketing campaigns.”
• Make sure your goals stretch you but are achievable with the resources you have—like “Increase website traffic by 30% to 25k visits in the next quarter by publishing two blog posts per week.”

2. Obsess about milestones (EOS calls them Rocks): Break your goals into weekly milestones. Focus on 1-3 key actions every week that move you closer to your goals. Track your progress.

DON’T:

• Try to do everything at once, like working on your website redesign, product launch, and social media strategy in the same week without prioritizing.
• Ignore deadlines or skip tracking progress, which can lead to losing sight of your goals.

DO:

• Focus on 1-3 key actions that will bring massive results contributing to your goals acceleration. For example, one week might be focused on customer outreach while the next is dedicated to finalizing your product launch.
• At the end of each week, reflect on what you accomplished, track your progress, and adjust your action plan accordingly.
• Find your support system: Success isn’t a solo game. Whether it’s a mentor, a mastermind group, or a coach, having a sounding board is critical for staying on track and avoiding burnout.

DON’T:

• Seek generic advice from multiple sources, like random LinkedIn posts, without applying it to your specific business challenges.
• Try to handle everything on your own without feedback, leading to unnecessary mistakes and missed opportunities.

DO:

• Find a mentor or coach who is aligned with your goals and has experience in your industry. For instance, schedule regular check-ins with someone who has successfully scaled businesses similar to yours.
• Engage with a mastermind group where you can share ideas, ask questions, and get tailored advice from peers who understand your unique challenges.

Does this feel overwhelming? Don’t worry, we can do it together!

Let’s create your personalized plan for balanced ambition.

Schedule your free 1:1 Customized Scaling Gameplan Call today, and let’s make your goals work for you.

Remember: balance is within reach. And when you strike it, you’ll feel clear, confident, and capable.

You’ll have the drive to achieve your big goals without burning out.

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Do you want to double your progress like my 25-year-old client?

There is no single formula to grow your money.

But there is ONE thing every founder who succeeds does: FOUNDER COACHING.

I won’t lie—it’s not easy.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to do it alone. Let’s have an audit call and I’ll personally tailor a 1-1 scaling plan, completely free for you. You won’t believe the amount of value you’ll get.

Why?

Because, after coaching clients aged 20 to 45 for over 700 sessions, I've arrived at three key conclusions that every founder needs to know:

1. Older founders come from my school.

If you’re in your 40s like me, you grew up being told to “figure it out” on your own. Asking for help wasn’t an option.
This mindset can lead to:

• Carrying the weight of past failures.
• Relying on outdated strategies because they worked “before.”
• Struggling to trust others—or new advice.

But this approach doesn’t scale, and it can make you the main bottleneck of your own company.

2. Younger founders are more open to being coached.

Today’s young entrepreneurs understand the value of mentorship.

They actively seek it, avoiding obvious mistakes and accelerating their growth.

Take my 25-year-old client, for example:

At just 21, he embraced mentorship and took decisive action. Now he’s:

• Building incredible relationships.
• Maintaining his health.
• Scaling his company at a lightning pace toward $100M (and beyond).

And this is my third and last conclusion:

3. No founder has it all figured out.

NONE. Period.

When I started my company in my 20s, I refused to delegate.

I worked late into the night, neglecting my relationships and health.  (If you have read my previous newsletters you know what I’m talking about).

It wasn’t sustainable.

Now, at 40, I face new challenges. They’re different, but they’re still struggles.

Even younger founders face:

• Imposter Syndrome
• Limited Experience
• Lack of Community

And every middle-aged founder is:

• Unsupported and burnt out.
• Stuck at some revenue point of their entrepreneurship career.
• Unable to delegate to scale their company.

But both are:

• Extremely talented.
• Hungry to see their businesses grow.
• Constantly thinking how they can make it easier, faster and more sustainable.

That’s why I’m so passionate about this: the founder’s lifestyle is tough, and founders themselves need support—through coaching, mentoring, therapy, or whatever works for them.

Don’t wait for burnout or breakdowns to force you to invest in yourself.

Age doesn’t guarantee wisdom, and youth doesn’t guarantee innovation.

But with the right guidance, you can bridge any gap.

Let’s build a strategy that works for you.

Schedule your Free 1:1 Customized Scaling Gameplan Call today.

Together, we’ll create a clear, actionable plan to overcome your biggest challenges and scale effectively.

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The first week of the year is electric.

Energy is high, goals are ambitious, and optimism is through the roof.

You've probably set a long list of goals—maybe it’s scaling your business, improving your health, or finally launching that side project.

I get the feeling you’ve done this before,

I sure have.

By week two we are discussing them on the run.

By week three, the excitement fades away. Those goals? They start gathering dust.

“I’ll just do it later, they are not urgent” – you think to yourself.

When you realize they will be kept under the rug, you blame procrastination.

It’s time to let that old excuse go.

Procrastination gets a bad rap, but the truth is, it’s rarely about laziness or lack of discipline. Instead, it’s a sign that something deeper is at play.

The real problem isn’t procrastination

Imagine trying to assemble furniture from a flat-pack kit. You’re excited to see the finished product, but when you open the box, you realize:

• The instruction manual is missing.
• Some screws and tools aren’t included.
• And the parts aren’t labeled.

You sit there, staring at the pile of parts, unsure where to begin. At first, you think, “I’ll figure it out. Maybe I can Google the instructions.” Then you notice the missing screws and tell yourself, “I’ll just run to the hardware store to get what I need.”

Hours pass. The frustration grows. Instead of making progress, you end up postponing the whole project, telling yourself, “I’ll deal with this later.”

But what if you had clear instructions, every piece neatly labeled, and the right tools at hand?

Suddenly, putting that furniture together feels straightforward—and maybe even fun.

That’s the real issue behind procrastination: it’s not about motivation—it’s about being under-resourced and unclear.

When you don’t have the right tools, prep, or plan, even the simplest tasks can feel paralyzing.

How does this show up in your goals?

Here’s how being under-equipped might be holding you back:

1. Delaying decisions because you don’t have clear frameworks for prioritization.
2. Avoiding delegation because you’ve been burned in the past and don’t trust the process.
3. Postponing progress because you don’t know where to start or don’t have the right tools.
4. Feeling overwhelmed because you’re trying to tackle everything all at once.

It’s not about trying harder or working more hours, it’s about having the clarity and support to make progress without burning out.

Don’t let 2025 be another year of missed goals.

The energy you have right now is your biggest asset.

But to sustain it, you need more than willpower: you need the right systems, frameworks, and tools to turn your goals into reality.

Here’s where to start:

1. Clarify your priorities. What’s the real problem you’re trying to solve? Do you have SMART goals or OKRs?
2. Find the right tools. Swinging harder won’t get the job done—use the right resources. (What resources do you need to be able to excel on this task?).
3. Ask for help. Success isn’t a solo sport. Lean on experts, mentors, or peers who can guide you.

This year can be different.

The most successful founders and leaders I’ve worked with didn’t achieve their goals by grinding harder.

They learned to work smarter, with the right support and strategies in place.

Let’s make sure 2025 is the year you stop spinning your wheels and start making real progress.

Book a 1:1 session with me now, and learn how to overcome overwhelm, gain clarity, and finally tackle your biggest challenges as a founder with confidence, and obsessed about results.

You don’t need to be a micromanager, an operator, a burnt-out founder, a busy-aholic, or a stalled business.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW

This is your year—don’t let the first week’s energy go to waste.

Ignacio

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Let's make 2025 your year of real wins.

Many people start the New Year with ambitious resolutions, only to see them fade away within a couple of months.

Vague resolutions are sh*t.

You know the ones I’m talking about: “Be happier next year.” “Open a new market.” “Improve company culture.”

We’ve all written goals like these. They feel ambitious, but deep down, you know they’re setting you up to fail.

Why?

Because vague goals = vague results.

And I know from experience, for many years I “thought” I was setting great goals, until I realized that being vague and broad like “get in better shape” was complete BS and lead me nowhere.

What happens when your goals aren’t clear?

• Your days feel chaotic and reactive.
• You waste time (and money) on projects that don’t move the needle.
• You work hard but never feel like you’re making real progress.

It’s exhausting. And yet, most of us keep doing it year after year.

Let’s change that in 2025.

Have you heard about SMART goals?

I know, very probably, you have.
But remember: most problems I see with founders are not around NOT knowing a concept, but on how they actually implement it (or fail to do so).

Let’s revise: SMART goals are objectives that are:

Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Relevant. Time-bound.

Here’s the thing: Knowing what SMART goals are isn’t the same as putting them into action.

So here’s what they look like in real life:

❌ Instead of: “Improve company culture.”
✅ Try: “Reduce employee churn from 50% to 30% by December 2025.”

Then break it down further:

• Add 3 new employee benefits by the end of Q1.
• Increase salaries by 20% by the end of Q2.
• Schedule bi-annual feedback sessions by Q3.

Now it’s actionable. It’s trackable. And most importantly, it’s doable.

How to set SMART goals that actually work:

1. Get Specific: Define exactly what success looks like.
2. Prioritize Ruthlessly: Focus on goals that truly matter and drive results.
3. Break It Down: Is it a 10-day, 30-day, or 60-day kind of goal? Create a timeline.
4. Track & Adjust: Measure your progress weekly and tweak it as needed.

When you shift from vague goals to SMART goals:
✅ Your team knows what to focus on.
✅ Your business moves forward with direction.
✅ You regain confidence and momentum.

What’s one SMART goal you’re setting for yourself or your business?

Steal this SMART goal sample:

2025 Main Goal: Reduce employee churn from 50% to 30% by December.

Timeline: This is a 90-day goal to kick off, with adjustments every quarter.

Actionable Plan:✅ Q1: Focus on retention drivers.

• Introduce 3 new employee benefits (e.g., wellness stipends, flexible hours, professional development budgets).

✅ Q2: Boost compensation and recognition.

• Increase salaries by 20% for key roles.
• Implement a monthly employee recognition program tied to performance.

✅ Q3: Prioritize feedback and growth.

• Launch bi-annual 360° feedback sessions to identify team challenges.
• Roll out a tailored growth plan for 100% of your team.

✅ Q4: Measure impact and improve.

• Compare Q1-Q3 churn rates to final numbers.
• Conduct a year-end culture survey and review progress against Q1 benchmarks.

Metrics That Matter:

• Churn Rate: Track employee turnover percentage every 3 months.
• Engagement Score: Send a short, anonymous feedback form in January and November. Compare results to measure improvement.
• Team Satisfaction: Monitor attendance at benefits programs, training sessions, or recognition events.

Improvement:
This goal started vague—“improve company culture”—but now it’s clear, actionable, and measurable. You’re solving a specific problem (churn) with a structured plan that grows over time.

Imagine how much progress you’ll make if you apply this framework to every big dream you have for 2025.

Ready to create goals like this for your business?

Let’s turn your vague ideas into a winning plan.

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Book your Free 1:1 with me now!

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Did you know that fewer than 1! of U.S. businesses achieve annual revenues exceeding $10 million?

This statistic underscores the challenges companies face in scaling their operations.

This was me before hitting my first 10M:

• Having countless meetings to meet potential customers
• Travelling the world to jump into conferences and learn what my competitors were talking about
• Refining my product with the latest market updates
• Etc.

I was doing it all—burning the candle at both ends—but something wasn’t clicking.

No matter how many late nights I worked or how hard I pushed, the growth I dreamed of felt just out of reach.

Looking back, I see the problem: I wasn’t obsessed about the biggest needle movers that I had to prioritize.

Instead of starting with 1, 2, and 3, I was diving headfirst into 8, 4, and 9.

The result? Overwhelm. Frustration. Feeling stuck.

In 2016, during the EMP (MIT & EO Mastermind) in Boston, I had a breakthrough: success wasn’t about working harder—it was about finding the right person to share the journey with.

That’s where the magic of the dynamic duo comes in: the Visionary and the Integrator.

This isn’t just a simple partnership, it’s a powerhouse combination.

One dreams big, while the other brings those dreams to life with focus and precision.

Together, they don’t just share the workload, they transform it into something greater than either could achieve alone.

The Visionary (Hunter Energy)

That’s me—you can already tell —the one always chasing the next big thing.

Whether it’s spotting opportunities no one else sees or jumping headfirst into an ambitious idea, I’m constantly on the move.

I’m the person who’s glued to market trends, brainstorming the next game-changing product, and rallying the team with big-picture thinking and contagious energy.

I thrive in the fast lane: closing deals, meeting clients face-to-face, and building connections at networking events.

It’s high-energy, high-stakes work, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

For me, risk isn’t scary.

The Integrator (Farmer Energy)

This is the steady hand that keeps everything on track.

While the Visionary is chasing big ideas, the Integrator is behind the scenes, making sure every team, process, and goal is perfectly aligned.

They’re the ones who turn chaos into clarity, ensuring projects stay on schedule and nothing falls through the cracks.

The Integrator is a master at cutting through distractions, keeping the focus on what really matters and bringing balance to the messy world of creativity.

Integrators provide stability and structure that allow the big ideas to actually happen. Without them, the dream stays a dream.

Attempting to juggle both roles single-handedly can lead to burnout and stalled growth. The key is recognizing your natural strengths and finding someone who complements them.

For me, partnering with an Integrator was a game-changer. It didn’t just improve our company’s performance; it unlocked potential we didn’t even realize was being held back.

My learning:

Instead of juggling both ends of the spectrum yourself, focus entirely on finding your counterpart. If you’re the visionary, get obsessed with finding your integrator. If you’re the integrator, find your visionary.

When you find the right match, everything changes.

You’ll release the parking brake you’ve been operating with for years. Your company’s performance and life will transform in ways you never imagined.

So, take a step today: obsess about finding a partner (or worst case a high-level employee with some equity/phantom stocks) who will take you to the next level. Because the path to 10M and beyond isn’t meant to be walked alone.

How to find the right partner?

• Know yourself first: Before seeking a partner, take a step back and assess your strengths and weaknesses. Are you the big-picture dreamer who thrives on risk and innovation, or are you the steady hand who loves structure and execution?
• Look for complementary skills, not similarities: The best partnerships rely on balance, not duplication. If you’re the visionary, look for someone who’s detail-oriented, and enjoys building processes. If you’re the integrator, find a visionary who brings energy, creativity, and bold ideas to the table.
• Test the relationship with small projects: Start by collaborating on a smaller scale to see how well you work together. Pay attention to how you communicate, handle conflicts, and make decisions as a team.

A Visionary-Integrator partnership can be the game-changer that helps your business break past the $10M mark.

Book some time with me and let's audit where your business is standing at the moment, and leave with key actionables to start scaling sustainably.

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Do you ever find yourself working harder than ever, only to feel like the results you dream of are always just out of reach?
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It’s exhausting and deeply frustrating.

A few weeks ago, I talked about the dangers of over-diversifying a product’s features.

It’s like noticing a small crack in the foundation, only to realize the entire structure is at risk of collapse.

Here’s the truth: more doesn’t always mean better.

Sometimes, success isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter, focusing your energy, and aligning your actions with intentional strategies.

I learned this the hard way last year. As a coach—not a social media guru—I tried to juggle the endless demands of every platform while still running my business.

I thought that if I could just stay visible everywhere, the results would follow.

Each day became a race against the clock. I was:

• Scrambling to post on Instagram.
• Engaging in conversations on Threads.
• Uploading videos to YouTube.
• Crafting articles for LinkedIn.

The result?

• Low engagement.
• Exhaustion.
• Little to show for all the effort.

So, I made a radical decision: I pressed pause on everything except LinkedIn.

For an entire year, I focused solely on mastering that one platform.

The impact was undeniable.

• I discovered exactly where my audience hangs out and what they care about.
• I fine-tuned my messaging to resonate deeply.
• And most importantly, I created meaningful, sustainable growth.

After coaching many founders, I’ve noticed a common pattern: the same missteps that tripped me up on social media often derail businesses as well.

Many founders fall into this trap, believing that doing more will lead to better results. They:

• Launch new products before perfecting their existing ones.
• Venture into new markets without fully dominating their current space.
• Spread their efforts too thin instead of doubling down on their core strengths.

The problem isn’t the effort—it’s the direction. When energy is scattered, progress slows.

Success comes not from doing more, but from doing what truly matters with focus and intention.

When you shift your focus from “doing more” to doing what truly matters, everything changes.

How to deal with this?

Find clarity in your purpose: Identify the one thing that truly matters to your business right now—whether it’s refining a product, deepening customer relationships, or improving your operations. What is the biggest needle mover right now?

Commit fully: Stop multitasking your priorities. Dedicate 6–12 months to mastering a single, impactful area.

Embrace the feedback loop: Growth isn’t about perfection. It’s about listening, learning, and adjusting along the way. Progress comes from the small pivots you make when you’re focused and intentional.

Resist the pull of “more”: The temptation to add just one more feature, market, or initiative is real. But the more you stretch your focus, the weaker your results. Instead, focus amplifies everything.

Remember: Over-diversification dilutes your impact. Focus amplifies it.

Over-diversification is just one of the 12 “viruses” that silently sabotage success and the solutions I’ve shared here are only the beginning.

There are 11 more critical blockers that could be holding your business back, and I’m ready to help you uncover them.

Join me for a live, private session designed specifically for founders who are ready to identify their true priorities, cut through the noise, and simplify their strategies for faster, sustainable growth.

This is your chance to learn actionable solutions and build a business strategy that’s not just intentional, but genuinely impactful.

Seats are limited, so don’t wait—reserve your spot now and take the first step toward clarity and success.

I can’t wait to see you there!
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Book your Free 1:1 with me now!