Entrepreneurial Excellence Podcast

Hosted by Adam Spector

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112

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Entrepreneurial Excellence, the podcast that unlocks the secrets of running a successful startup. Get ready for captivating interviews with industry experts, thriving entrepreneurs, and visionary leaders. Deep dive into topics like crafting killer business ideas, optimizing operations, and mastering the art of scalability. Join us for empowering insights and practical advice that will propel you towards your entrepreneurial dreams.

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August 6, 2026Episode 31 hr 20 min

You Won The Wrong Game with Dr. Yishai Barkhordari

In this episode, Adam sits down with Dr. Yishai to challenge one of the biggest assumptions in entrepreneurship: that success automatically means you're on the right path. They explore why some founders build successful companies while quietly feeling stuck, exhausted, or pulled in different directions, and why real progress starts with being honest about what you actually want your business and your life to look like. The conversation unpacks why so many founders carry unnecessary pressure, how guilt quietly drains focus, and why balance is less about dividing your time equally and more about knowing where your attention belongs in each season of life. Dr. Yishai also shares why great founders don't try to be great at everything, how the right coach helps uncover blind spots that AI still misses, and why your biggest limitation is often the story you're telling yourself without realizing it. More than a conversation about business, this episode is about learning how to think with more clarity when the stakes are high, make decisions with greater confidence, and build a company without losing yourself along the way. Key Topics: -Success without alignment often comes at a hidden personal cost -Great founders build businesses around what matters most to them -Balance comes from shifting priorities not dividing time equally -Your emotions can reveal what needs your attention -The best leaders focus on their strengths instead of doing everything -A great coach helps uncover blind spots that AI still cannot see Timestamps: 06:13 Can You Be Successful Without Being Aligned 09:26 The Biggest Lie Founders Tell Themselves 12:18 Your Emotions Are Giving You Important Data 13:25 Why Work Life Balance Is a Myth 16:48 The Hidden Trait Shared by Great Founders 18:22 Your Zone of Genius Is Your Greatest Advantage 21:22 Why High Performers Get the Most Out of Coaching 27:35 Does Every Founder Need a Coach 29:58 How to Find the Right Coach Without Wasting Money 31:24 Why Asking for Help Makes You Stronger 32:18 Nobody Is Great at Everything 34:13 Stop Doing Work Someone Else Can Do 36:09 Is Executive Coaching Actually Worth It 37:42 The Hidden Reason Your Business Stops Growing 39:20 How to Measure the ROI of Coaching 42:19 AI Coach vs Human Coach Which One Wins 44:26 The Biggest Blind Spot AI Still Cannot See 46:10 The Blind Spot That Changes Everything 47:18 Why Founders Struggle Under Pressure 47:50 Pressure Is Not What You Think It Is 49:52 The First Time Will Always Be the Hardest 51:52 Your Brain Is Trying to Help You Not Hurt You Connect with - Dr. Yishai Barkhordari: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/dryishai Website: dryishai.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠ Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

July 30, 2026Episode 21 hr 15 min

The Biggest Hiring Lie Every Founder Still Believes with Adam Gellert

Adam Gellert explains why most companies are hiring the wrong way and why relying too much on resumes often causes them to miss great people. He shares how founders can build stronger teams by focusing on trust, attitude, grit, and the real business problem they need to solve instead of simply checking boxes on a CV. In this episode, Adam talks about why speed is one of the biggest advantages in hiring, why "hire slow, fire fast" is a flawed mindset, and how the best founders treat recruiting as one of their highest priorities. He also shares practical lessons from building recruiting businesses that help startups and small businesses hire top talent faster. At its core, this conversation is about making better hiring decisions, building systems that attract the right people, and creating businesses that grow because of great teams, not just great ideas. Key Topics: -Resumes are not the best way to identify great talent -The fastest companies often hire the best people -Trust attitude and grit matter more than a perfect background -Great founders treat hiring as one of their most important jobs -Delaying a hire can cost more than hiring the wrong person -Building the right team starts with solving the right business problem Timestamps: 02:29 Hiring Is About Getting the Best Person Fast 04:42 Stop Filtering People Out and Start Finding the Right Ones 06:13 The Three Traits Every Great Hire Needs Trust Attitude and Grit 07:25 Recruiting Is Much Simpler Than Most Founders Think 09:42 How to Hire Without Relying on Resumes 14:46 Why You Should Never Trust a Resume Too Much 17:00 We Completely Rebuilt Our Hiring Process 18:03 Entrepreneurship Is About Becoming an Athlete of Business 19:03 Grit Cannot Be Taught 20:14 If You Need Motivation Make It Cost You Something 21:19 Why I Paid for an Office During the Recession 25:29 The Moment I Realized Recruiting Was My Calling 26:04 Why Every Startup Should Hire Top Talent Within 48 Hours 30:13 The Biggest Hiring Mistake Founders Make 32:03 Great Founders Spend Up to Half Their Time Recruiting 33:34 Your Business Will Fall to the Level of Your People 34:47 The Fastest Founders Win the Best Talent 36:07 Speed Is the Greatest Hiring Advantage 38:15 Hire Slow Fire Fast Is One of the Biggest Lies Ever Told 38:44 Delaying a Hire Is More Expensive Than Hiring the Wrong Person 40:21 Why the First Sales Hire Is So Difficult 43:44 The Three Traits Every Great Salesperson Shares 45:58 The Most Overlooked Early Hire for Founders 47:04 Every Job Needs a Clear Outcome 49:33 Specialists Usually Beat Generalists 51:01 Remote vs Office Which One Actually Wins 53:26 How to Decide the Right Salary for a New Hire 01:13:06 The One Piece of Advice Every Entrepreneur Needs 01:14:13 The World's Best Entrepreneurs Stay Focused on the Big Picture Connect with - Adam Gellert: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/adamgellert Website: linkusgroup.com (Company) hirehipo.com (Company) recruiteradam.com (Personal) Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠ Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

July 24, 2026Episode 149 min

When It's Time to Leave Your Safe Job and Build a Business with Chieh Huang

Leaving a safe career to build a business sounds exciting, until you're the one making the decision. In this episode, serial entrepreneur Chieh Huang shares what it's really like to leave a prestigious law career, build multiple startups, experience successful exits, take a company public, go through bankruptcy, and start all over again. He explains why entrepreneurship is never a straight line, why there is never a perfect time to start, and what separates founders who keep going from those who quit. Chieh Huang is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of AstroApe, Boxed, and Pelago. His first startup was acquired by Zynga, he later helped build Boxed into a public company, and his TED Talk, Confessions of a Recovering Micromanager, has been viewed millions of times. Today, he's building Pelago, a platform helping companies improve the employee offboarding experience. He discussed: -Why there is never a perfect time to leave your safe job and start a business -The mindset that tells you it's finally time to become an entrepreneur -Why every startup eventually breaks—and why that's completely normal -How Boxed grew from a garage startup into a public company with over 1,000 employees -The biggest leadership mistake founders make as their company grows -What bankruptcy, being fired from your own company, and starting over taught him about success Timestamps 00:01:20 What Makes an Entrepreneur Truly Great? 00:04:36 Why He Walked Away From a Dream Career 00:10:23 What the First 6 Months of a Startup Really Look Like 00:12:15 Why You'll Never Feel Ready to Start a Business 00:13:34 The One Sign It's Time to Go All In 00:14:43 Why Starting a Business Isn't as Risky as You Think 00:17:17 Why He Left Zynga to Build Something Bigger 00:18:03 How Boxed Went From a Garage to a $900M Company 00:20:04 The Truth Every Founder Learns the Hard Way 00:22:42 Why They Turned Down Acquisition Offers 00:26:04 The Collapse That Changed Everything 00:32:53 The Leadership Mistake That Nearly Cost Him Everything 00:39:44 Getting Fired From the Company He Built 00:44:19 Will AI Create More Entrepreneurs or Kill Jobs? 00:46:04 How Success Changed After Building Multiple Companies Connect with - Chieh Huang: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/chiehhuang Website: Pelgo.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠ Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

July 16, 2026Episode 51 hr 15 min

Why Most Restaurants Fail (And How We Built One That Lasted 17 Years) with Thomas McNaughton and David Steele

Thomas McNaughton and David Steele share how they built Flour + Water Hospitality Group from a single restaurant into one of San Francisco's most respected hospitality brands by embracing change instead of chasing comfort. In this episode, they talk about why waiting until you're ready is one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make, how trust and honest partnerships helped them navigate challenges, and why putting people before profits became the foundation of their long-term success. They also share the lessons they learned from opening during the 2008 financial crisis, surviving the pandemic, and constantly reinventing their business. this conversation is about building something that lasts by staying curious, embracing change, and having the courage to keep evolving long after you've found success. Key Topics: -Stop waiting until you're ready -The secret to lasting 17 years in business -Great partners make different strengths win -Culture beats strategy every time -Hire for attitude, teach the skills -The biggest failures create the biggest growth Timestamps: 05:51 Why They're Still Entrepreneurs After 17 Years 07:26 The Business Plan That Changed Everything 11:32 They Met Through A Craigslist Job Post 13:02 The Restaurant Name Everyone Thought Was Terrible 21:40 The Real Secret To Staying In Business For 17 Years 22:05 They Almost Ran Out Of Money Before Opening 24:34 They Started Before They Had Enough Money 30:48 Stop Waiting Until You Feel Ready 35:25 Trust Your Instincts More Than Your Opinions 40:28 People Always Come Before Profit 42:17 Hire For Attitude, Train For Skill 46:20 The Culture Lesson That Changed Their Company 56:57 Every Great Leader Feels Like An Impostor 58:06 Why Their Vision Is Bigger Than Restaurants 59:54 Their Biggest Failures Built Their Best Business 1:01:05 The Pandemic Made Them Stronger Than Ever Connect with - David Steele: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/david-steele-76088a Website: flourandwater.com Connect with - David Steele: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/thomas-mcnaughton-b0345595 Website: flourandwater.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠ Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

June 4, 2026Episode 41 hr 9 min

Doctors Gave Him 6 Months to Live. He Said “Watch This” with Tom LeNoble

Tom LeNoble shares how being told he had six months to live three different times changed the way he sees business, leadership, and life. Instead of letting fear control him, he learned to focus on what is still possible and keep moving forward. In this episode, Tom talks about resilience, taking risks, and why some of his biggest mistakes became his biggest wins. He also shares lessons from working at MCI, Walmart.com, Palm, and Facebook, where he became employee number 57. At its core, this conversation is about choosing courage over fear, staying curious through uncertainty, and building a life that is not defined by what happens to you, but by how you respond. Key Topics: -Resilience is built by moving forward after every setback -The best entrepreneurs make decisions before everything feels certain -Some of the biggest business mistakes can become the biggest wins -Fear and self doubt are signs that you are stepping into growth -Great leaders stay close to their people and their customers -Reinvention starts when you stop accepting other people’s limits Timestamps: 09:20 I Was Told I Had Six Months To Live Three Different Times 10:02 When Someone Says It Cannot Be Done, I Say Watch This 18:26 The One Belief That Kept Me Alive 34:45 I Almost Hung Up On Facebook 35:08 My First Meeting With Mark Zuckerberg 39:32 The Third Time Doctors Gave Me Six Months To Live 40:29 The Four Words That Changed My Life Forever 24:16 Failure Is Usually The Beginning Of Success 11:03 Resilience Is The Only Asset Nobody Can Take Away 41:15 Stop Living In What Happened And Start Living In What Is Possible 49:47 Great Leadership Starts With Learning Yourself 51:43 A CEO’s Job Is to Carry the Problems No One Else Can Handle Connect with - Tom LeNoble: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/tomlenoble Website: tomlenoble.com (Personal) openingpathwayscollective.com (Company) Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠ Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

May 28, 2026Episode 31 hr 3 min

Attention Is the New Currency: Why Your Hiring Strategy Is Failing

Jay Berard explains why great hiring is no longer about resumes, credentials, or polished applications. In a world flooded with AI generated noise, the people who stand out are the ones who know how to build real relationships, communicate clearly, and create trust. He shares why emotional intelligence is becoming more valuable than technical intelligence, and why the best candidates know how to adapt, learn fast, and move through uncertainty. As the founder and CEO of Jagger, Jay has helped high growth companies hire top talent in one of the most competitive recruiting markets in years. He breaks down why so many companies fail at hiring, why founders often misunderstand the roles they actually need, and how great recruiters identify signals most people completely miss. In this episode, Jay shares why surviving is different from thriving, how AI is rewriting the recruiting playbook, and why attention has become the most valuable currency in business. He also explains why the best hires are often unconventional, why human connection matters more than ever, and how founders can build stronger teams by first understanding themselves better. Key Topics: -AI is completely rewriting the hiring and recruiting playbook -Emotional intelligence is becoming more valuable than IQ -Most companies fail at hiring because they do not know what they actually need -The best hires are identified through conversations, not resumes -Human connection is becoming more important in an AI driven world Timestamps: 01:24 How Jay Berard Turned Recruiting Into a High Trust Business 02:10 The Best Entrepreneurs Obsess Over Daily Improvement 03:37 Your Company Will Only Grow as Fast as You Do 05:58 The Shift From Surviving to Truly Thriving 07:12 Why Smart Founders Are Betting Big on AI Right Now 07:56 In Person Relationships Are Becoming More Valuable Again 08:45 The Biggest Hiring Mistake Most Startups Make 10:23 Emotional Intelligence Is Becoming More Valuable Than IQ 12:18 The Best Candidates Tell Stories Differently 13:35 Why First VP of Sales Hires Often Fail 15:15 Companies Fail at Hiring When They Do Not Know Themselves 17:32 Hiring a Great Employee Will Not Fix a Broken Company 21:25 AI Is Flooding the Hiring Process With Noise 23:32 The Best Way to Get Hired Today Is Still Human Connection 25:35 Young People Are Entering the Hardest Job Market in Years 27:05 Attention Is the Most Valuable Currency in Hiring Today 29:32 The Best Recruiters Know How to Cut Through the Noise 31:25 Recruiters Should Be Judged by Pipeline Quality, Not Hires 34:00 The Difference Between Bad, Good, and Elite Recruiters 36:02 Elite Recruiters Start Narrow and Win Faster 37:45 Sometimes There Is Only One Right Candidate in the Market Connect with - Jay Berard: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jayberard Website: http://hellojagger.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠ Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

May 21, 2026Episode 21 hr 26 min

Why Great Ideas Don’t Build Great Companies with Jordan Ritter

Jordan Ritter explains why great companies are never built by one person, no matter how visionary the founder may seem. He shares why the best entrepreneurs are not the smartest people in the room, but the ones who know how to build teams, adapt under pressure, and keep moving after constant rejection. For Jordan, startups are not about titles, fundraising, or ego. They are about resilience, culture, and finding people willing to suffer and grow together. As a six-time founder and former co-founder of Napster, Jordan breaks down the real mechanics behind startup success. He explains why culture matters more than skills in the early stages, how great teams can turn weak ideas into billion-dollar companies, and why hiring should feel like a strong emotional alignment, not just a checklist of qualifications. He also shares his “3 Cs” framework for building elite teams: culture, capacity, and craft. In this episode, Jordan talks about why fundraising is often misunderstood, why too much money can destroy a company, and why the real achievement is building a product people genuinely love. At its core, this conversation is about building companies through people, surviving uncertainty, and understanding that the hardest part of entrepreneurship is not the product, it is becoming the person capable of leading it. Key Topics: -Great companies are built by teams, not solo founders -The best entrepreneurs adapt when the plan falls apart -Culture matters more than skills in the early stages -Fundraising is not the win, building something people love is -Great teams can turn weak ideas into strong companies -Leadership starts with self-awareness, resilience, and trust Timestamps: 02:19 A Plan Is Just a List of Things That Will Not Happen 03:07 No Founder Can Build a Great Company Alone 07:33 Success Belongs to the Team, Failure Belongs to the CEO 10:37 You Need to Keep Getting Back Up After Every Punch 13:23 Great Teams Can Turn Bad Ideas Into Winning Companies 14:00 Culture Is What Makes Startup Teams Survive 16:19 Your Team Is More Valuable Than Your Product 18:08 The Best Interviews Reveal the Person Behind the Resume 21:45 Hiring Should Be a Strong Yes or an Easy No 28:52 It Is Better to Suffer Alone Than With the Wrong People 35:03 Prove the Tech Works Before You Sell the Dream 40:54 Startup Success Always Comes Back to the Team 44:48 Fundraising Is Not the Achievement 45:24 Be Careful What You Raise Because You Have to Pay It Back 46:08 The Real Win Is Building Something People Love 49:47 Great Leadership Starts With Learning Yourself 51:43 A CEO’s Job Is to Carry the Problems No One Else Can Handle Connect with - Jordan Ritter: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jordanritter Website: darkridge.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠ Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

May 14, 2026Episode 11 hr 20 min

Why Founders Struggle to Delegate and How to Fix It with Connor Drake

Connor Drake explains why most founders are not actually overwhelmed because of the company, they are overwhelmed because they refuse to let go. He breaks down why saying yes to everything slowly destroys focus, why many entrepreneurs stay stuck in “scrappy founder mode,” and why delegation is not about laziness, it is about survival and scale. As the co-author of Radical Delegation and a senior executive coach at MindMaven, Connor works closely with founders who are trying to grow companies without losing themselves in the process. He shares why the best leaders stop trying to be the hero, why some fires should be left alone, and why the most successful CEOs build systems that free them to think instead of constantly reacting. In this episode, Connor and Adam dive into founder psychology, the pressure to prove yourself, the fear behind saying no, and why relationships are one of the biggest drivers of long term success. They also explore how great founders prioritize their time, build stronger teams, and create companies that can grow without depending on them for every decision. Key Topics: -Why founders struggle to delegate even when it slows the company down -How saying yes to everything quietly kills focus and growth -Why great CEOs stop being the hero and let some fires burn -How to train your team to stop needing your approval -Why relationships, priorities, and systems drive real founder success Timestamps: 07:24 Every Yes Is Quietly Killing Your Focus 08:14 Why Founders Are Terrible at Saying No 12:46 Some Fires Are Not Worth Saving 13:03 Your Team Should Not Need Your Approval Forever 17:00 This Is Why Most Delegation Fails 19:14 Success Means Nothing If It Breaks You 24:24 No Founder Wins Alone 27:25 The Best Founders Stop Reacting to Everything 29:39 Freeing Up Time Means Nothing Without This 31:58 Stop Escaping One Busy Trap Just to Enter Another 34:09 The Best Founders Have Something to Prove 37:45 You Can Train Yourself to Become More Competitive 40:25 World Changing Founders Think Differently 43:08 The Self Made Founder Is a Lie 46:12 Important Work Gets Ignored Because It Is Not Urgent 48:33 Every New Idea Will Test Your Focus 50:08 Great Leaders Know What Their Team Really Wants Connect with - Connor Drake: Email - connor.d@mindmaven.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠ Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

May 7, 2026Episode 51 hr 25 min

The Founder Freedom Playbook Behind 6 Exits with Mac Lackey

Mac Lackey explains why most founders do not fail because they lack ambition. They fail because they build businesses that depend entirely on them. After six exits across tech, sports, and media, he learned that real entrepreneurial success is not just about making money, it is about building a business that gives you freedom, optionality, and control over your life. As the founder of ExitDNA, Mac helps entrepreneurs build companies that can scale, operate, and even sell without the founder being involved in every decision. He shares how becoming a father completely changed the way he worked, why stepping away forced his team to grow, and how great businesses are built by trusting people instead of controlling everything yourself. In this episode, Mac breaks down why founders stay trapped in execution, how forcing functions create stronger teams, and why mentors, advisors, and self awareness are critical for long term success. At the core, this conversation is about building a company that does not own your life, surrounding yourself with the right people, and learning how to lead without becoming the bottleneck. Key Topics -Building a business that does not depend on the founder -Why founders become the bottleneck without realizing it -How becoming a father changed the way he built companies -The forcing function that made his team perform at a higher level -Why the best entrepreneurs move fast and bet on themselves -The importance of mentors, advisors, and self awareness in leadership -Why real entrepreneurial success is about freedom, not just money Timestamps: 06:24 He Built Wealth, Then Chose Time Instead 07:44 The Business Ran Better When He Stepped Away 09:20 Why Letting Go Is So Hard for Founders 11:43 The 4:45 Rule That Changed His Life 12:26 His Team Leveled Up When He Left the Room 13:26 Founders Are Often the Bottleneck 14:16 The Fastest Way to Force Real Delegation 15:27 Pressure Reveals Who Can Actually Lead 16:31 How Founders Can Escape the Daily Grind 17:57 The Founder Hat and Owner Hat Are Not the Same 19:10 Employees Rarely See the Risk Founders Took 20:39 One Alignment Problem Can Break the Team 21:57 Great Leaders Plan for People to Leave 22:48 Hard Conversations Save Strong Teams 24:16 One Question Exposes Performance Issues Fast 25:40 Why Waiting Too Long Can Hurt Everyone 26:42 Soccer Built His Founder Mindset 27:55 Why He Got Hooked on Startups Fast 29:15 The Timing Bet That Changed Everything 31:18 Why He Thought a Safe Job Was Riskier 31:54 Bet on Yourself, Even If You Miss 33:29 Winners Move Before the Market Agrees 34:52 The Real Reason His Companies Worked 36:00 Most Founders Build Alone When They Should Not 37:57 Smart Advisors Can Save You From Expensive Mistakes 39:36 How Broke Startups Get World Class Advisors 41:20 Ego Keeps Founders Stuck 42:13 Know Your Lane or Lose the Business 43:42 Mentors Do Not Work If You Only Reach Out When You Need Something 45:20 Your Mentor May Not Fit Every Season 46:36 The Right Mentor Knows Your Whole Life 47:36 The Best Mentors Do Not Give Easy Answers 48:17 Fast Founders Need Slow Thinkers Around Them 49:19 Founders Need Someone They Can Be Honest With 50:00 Your Calendar Shows What You Actually Value 50:44 Founders Do Not Fail From Lack of Effort Connect with - Mac Lackey LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/maclackey Website: exitdna.com (Company) thefenx.com (Company) maclackey.com (Other) Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠ Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast

August 13, 2026Episode 41 hr 20 min

5 People, 30 Bots: Is This the Future of Work? with Christine Song

In this episode, Adam sits down with Christine Song to talk about what happens when AI removes the need for layers of management. As teams get leaner, the advantage shifts to people who can think for themselves, communicate before being asked, and take ownership without needing someone to constantly manage them. Christine breaks down why the traditional career ladder may be disappearing, why some leaders struggle to give up control, and what a future of “five people and 30 bots” could actually mean for companies. She also gets candid about founders who want high-performing teams but aren't prepared to hear uncomfortable truths from the people closest to them. This is a conversation about a new standard for work: fewer layers, more ownership, and leaders who are secure enough to let great people do great work. Key Topics: -AI is raising the bar for employees who wait to be managed -The best people take ownership before someone tells them what to do -Proactive communication creates trust and earns more autonomy -Traditional career ladders may disappear as teams become leaner -Great culture requires leaders to stay aligned, not just the CEO -Founders need people around them who are willing to tell them the truth Timestamps: 01:26 What Entrepreneurial Excellence Really Means 04:01 How to Hire People Who Actually Take Ownership 07:31 How to Spot a True High Performer 10:55 Is Micromanagement Dead in the Age of AI 14:18 Why AI Will Push the Best Employees to the Top 15:41 You Are the Entrepreneur of Your Own Career 16:57 Will AI Replace HR Managers 19:01 Why Proactive Communication Gives You More Freedom 23:29 Why the Traditional Career Ladder Is Disappearing 24:28 The Future Could Be Five People and 30 Bots 27:08 Culture Cannot Come From the CEO Alone 29:39 Should You Fire Leaders Who Refuse to Get Aligned 31:01 What Great Startup Culture Actually Looks Like 35:51 Can You Build a High Performance Culture Without Making People Miserable 38:46 Why People Will Work Incredibly Hard for the Right Founder 40:51 Every Founder Needs Someone Who Will Tell Them the Truth 50:50 The Real Cost of Making a Bad Hire 1:13:55 Why Great Founders Still Have to Learn How to Be CEOs Connect with - Christine Song: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/songchristine1 Website: 5to9society.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠ Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast