In this episode of the Be the CEO Podcast, Tom and Adam dive into two powerful ideas that every business owner needs to hear: working less but more effectively, and the importance of small beginnings. Drawing inspiration from Gary Vaynerchuk and Justin Welsh, they share personal stories, client examples, and practical insights on shifting from being “busy” to being truly impactful.

Whether you’re self-employed or leading a growing team, this conversation will challenge the way you think about productivity, attention, and momentum in both business and life.

What You’ll Learn

• Do Less, But Better – Why eliminating distractions and narrowing your focus leads to excellence and deeper impact.
• Busy Is Not Better – How to stop wearing the “busy badge” and instead prioritize meaningful, high-impact work.
• Work-Life Harmony – Why balance is a myth and how to create harmony between work, family, and personal growth.
• The Power of Small Beginnings – How one small LinkedIn post launched an $11M business for Justin Welsh, and why momentum always beats waiting for the “perfect time.”
• Attention Management – Using your energy and focus strategically to make progress without burnout.
• From Fear to Flow – How shifting away from perfectionism and procrastination opens the door to confidence and success.

Key Quotes

• “You’re either all in, or you’re in the way.” – Adam
• “Clarity doesn’t come from waiting—it comes from small actions.” – Tom
• “Momentum loves small beginnings.” – Justin Welsh

Resources & Mentions

• Essentialism by Greg McKeown
• Gary Vaynerchuk
• Justin Welsh

Join the Conversation

👉 Visit bethe.ceo for opportunities to meet with Tom and Adam.

In this episode, Tom and Adam take a new direction with Be the CEO Podcast. Each week they’ll bring you content from top voices in entrepreneurship and leadership—posts they love, disagree with, or find thought-provoking—and break it down through the lens of their own experience.

This week’s discussion highlights two powerful posts from Dan Martell and Alex Hormozi, sparking conversation about the real challenges of moving from self-employed to CEO.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

The Money Ladder (Dan Martell):

• Why your first $100K comes from skills.
• Why your first million requires hiring support.
• How systems, leaders, and brand fuel growth beyond $1M.
• Why the “solopreneur dream” is a myth for most entrepreneurs.

The Decision Dilemma (Alex Hormozi):

• Why you’re not slow—you’re just not moving.
• How indecision keeps entrepreneurs stuck.
• The role of intuition in cutting through doubt.
• Why making decisions from certainty (your why, values, and vision) matters more than confidence.

Real Talk from Tom & Adam:

• The pitfalls of trying to “prove yourself” by doing it all alone.
• How hiring—even a few hours of support—creates the leverage you need to grow.
• Why waiting to make decisions keeps you stagnant.
• Stories from their own coaching clients about aligning values with action.

Why This Matters

The journey from self-employed to CEO isn’t about doing everything yourself—it’s about shifting your mindset, building the right support, and making decisions with clarity. Dan Martell’s “money ladder” and Hormozi’s call to action both highlight the key truth: growth demands both people and perspective.

Resources & Mentions

• Dan Martell – Buy Back Your Time
• Alex Hormozi – Entrepreneur & Author
• Learn more about Tom & Adam’s coaching at bethe.ceo

Call to Action

Are you ready to stop being just self-employed and start being the CEO of your business and your life?

👉 Visit bethe.ceo and start your journey today.

In this episode of Be The CEO, Adam and Tom dive into the mindset shifts required to go from simply growing a business to truly leading one. They answer questions posed by their assistant, Gary, based on real conversations with clients, challenges in their own business, and lessons learned through years of coaching entrepreneurs.

From tackling limiting beliefs and sabotaging habits to mastering focus, scaling strategically, and protecting your energy, this episode is packed with actionable insights for business owners who want to evolve into intentional CEOs.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck in practitioner mode, or unsure how to scale without burning out, this episode will help you identify the changes you need to make—not just in your business, but in yourself.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• The difference between growing a business and leading one — and when that shift happens.
• How to identify and overcome limiting beliefs that hold you back.
• Why certainty beats confidence when making decisions as a CEO.
• The crucial difference between growth and scaling — and how to avoid common pitfalls.
• Practical strategies for staying focused and managing distractions.
• How to redefine your identity when building a business versus staying self-employed.
• Simple steps to protect your energy and stay present as a leader.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps

• 00:48 – Growing vs. leading a business: what changes when you become a CEO
• 02:52 – Tom’s biggest limiting belief and how it shows up in his business
• 04:45 – The power of certainty over confidence in decision-making
• 06:24 – Managing attention and avoiding distractions
• 08:20 – Why founders struggle to scale and what scaling really means
• 10:19 – Sabotaging habits and how to keep them in check
• 13:14 – The "One Plan" for building a million-dollar coaching business
• 15:46 – Head trash: letting go of outdated beliefs about leadership
• 17:38 – Helping clients navigate overwhelm and create lasting change
• 19:36 – The shift from grinding to leading: management vs. leadership
• 21:37 – Why you can't build a new business with an old identity
• 24:01 – Staying present and protecting your energy as a leader
• 25:34 – Why networking is the most authentic way to build relationships

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode

• 🌐Visit us at Atomic Business Coaching
• 🚀Join our free networking events at BeThe.CEO
• 📘Read our book The Atomic Game Changer for practical strategies to grow your business intentionally

Join the Conversation

We want to hear from you!

What’s one limiting belief or sabotaging habit you’ve had to overcome in your business?

Share it with us on LinkedIn or during one of our live networking events.