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.

In this first episode of the Intentional CEO Podcast, Tom and Adam reintroduce their mission: helping entrepreneurs move from being accidental CEOs—overworked and reactive—to intentional CEOs who lead with clarity, agency, and purpose.

Drawing on four decades of combined experience and four years of partnership, they dive into the real challenges business owners face and share practical stories, insights, and tools to help you take control of both your business and your life.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Accidental vs. Intentional CEO: Why many entrepreneurs start out doing everything themselves, and what it takes to shift into intentional leadership.
• Agency + Belief = Confidence: The secret sauce of making empowered decisions and executing them with certainty.
• Overcoming Bottlenecks: How trying to “do it all” keeps you stuck—and the smarter ways to delegate, systemize, and scale.
• Confidence vs. Certainty: Why confidence gets you started, but certainty keeps you moving forward.
• Chaos to Clarity: How structure transforms overwhelming situations into focused progress—whether in business or personal life.
• Evolving Your Mindset: Why the same thinking that got you started won’t take you to the next level.
• Intentional Leadership: The power of listening, developing others, and leading by example instead of reaction.
• Work-Life Harmony: Why balance is a myth—and how to create true harmony by aligning priorities with flexibility.
• Breaking Perfectionism: How letting go of “perfect” creates momentum and growth.
• The Intentional CEO System: Why Tom and Adam built it, and how it simplifies success for entrepreneurs.

Memorable Quotes

• “Confidence is great, but certainty is what drives you forward.”
• “Structure isn’t restrictive—it creates clarity.”
• “Business is simple. It’s just not easy.”
• “Work-life balance is a myth. Harmony is the goal.”
• “Success always, in all ways. How you do one thing is how you’ll do everything.”

Resources & Links

• Visit bethe.ceo for free resources to help you become an Intentional CEO.
• Connect with Tom and Adam directly on LinkedIn.

👉 Tune in to learn how to stop leading by accident and start leading with intention—in business and in

life.

In this episode, Tom and Adam dive deep into one of the biggest challenges new and accidental CEOs face—confusing burnout with boredom. They unpack why hustle isn’t a badge of honor but a warning sign, how being the bottleneck stunts growth, and why systems—not endless motivation—are the true foundation of sustainable success.

From decision-making with certainty to reframing your identity as a CEO, this conversation highlights the mindset and structural shifts every founder must embrace. You’ll learn how to delegate effectively, manage attention like a leader, and avoid the pitfalls of chaos-driven growth.

If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels, gain clarity in your role, and build the freedom you envisioned when you started your business, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways

• Burnout vs. Boredom: Most entrepreneurs aren’t burned out—they’re bored because their business has stopped challenging them.
• Hustle is a Warning Sign: Hustle often signals disorganization and panic, not progress.
• Don’t Be the Bottleneck: Growth stalls when CEOs refuse to delegate or trust others.
• Inbox ≠ To-Do List: Protect your focus; don’t let emails dictate your priorities.
• Decisions Need Certainty: Think in terms of consequences, not just costs—certainty drives freedom and growth.
• Systems Build Confidence: Confidence isn’t a vibe, it’s a result of evidence produced by repeatable systems.
• Identity Evolution: Every new level of business requires a new version of you. Believe, behave, and become the CEO.
• Clarity in Communication: Your next client may be one clear sentence away—make it easy for your network to refer you.
• Motivation ≠ Structure: Growth isn’t about daily “rah-rah” energy; it’s about predictable systems that allow freedom and scale.

Resources & Links

Register for the Free Simple CEO Workshop → atomic.coach

A 90-minute live session with Tom and Adam to help you gain clarity, certainty, and the next step for your business.

Call to Action

If you found this episode valuable, don’t forget to:

• Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.
• Share it with a fellow entrepreneur who might be stuck in hustle mode.
• Leave a review and let us know your biggest takeaway from this conversation.

In this episode, Tom and his co-host dive deep into the real challenges entrepreneurs face when running their businesses — from burnout and chaos to flimsy business models and the trap of being “busy.”

Fresh off their recent Accidental CEO Workshop, they share the powerful lessons learned working with a unique group of business owners, highlighting the difference between reaction mode and true forecasting. With decades of experience behind the scenes of hundreds of businesses, they reveal the patterns that hold most founders back and the practical strategies to break through.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why being busy is not the same as being in business — and how the “busy badge” keeps entrepreneurs stuck.
• How to shift from reaction mode to forecasting mode and why systems are the key to avoiding burnout.
• The real role of coaching: not emotional support, but a strategic asset that challenges your thinking and sharpens your actions.
• Why delegating isn’t just handing off tasks, but transferring clarity and ownership.
• How flimsy business models and constant reinvention kill momentum — and what to do instead.
• The danger of waiting for the “perfect time” and why clarity comes from action, not waiting.
• How decision fatigue and unresolved “maybes” silently drain your energy and stall growth.
• Why your brand is not your logo, but your unique voice and truth in the market.
• The truth about referrals: it’s not about talent alone — it’s about clarity and confidence in your message.
• Why discounting destroys trust and how pricing is a leadership decision.

🚀 Key Takeaway

Business isn’t about reinventing the wheel or waiting for the perfect moment. Growth comes from clarity, consistent action, and building systems that outlive you. Move from being an Accidental CEO to an Intentional CEO by making strategic decisions, leading with clarity, and refusing to settle for chaos.

🎯 Next Step

Want to experience this transformation firsthand? Join the upcoming Accidental CEO Workshop and invest 90 minutes of your time for a roadmap to clarity, growth, and intentional leadership.

👉 Learn more and reserve your seat at atomic.coach.

In this episode, Tom and Adam tackle one of the biggest challenges small business owners face — getting stuck in the role instead of stepping into the CEO mindset. They share real-world client stories, personal insights, and practical strategies for breaking free from overwhelm, reclaiming your authority, and running your business like a true leader.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The “Technologia” Trap: How small technical issues mirror the bigger challenges business owners face when they try to do it all themselves.
• From Technician to CEO: Why you’re not stuck in your business — you’re stuck in your role, and how to shift to designing outcomes instead of just solving problems.
• Overwhelm vs. Laziness: Why overwhelm isn’t about time management but about focus, attention, and prioritization.
• The Productivity Lie: How structure actually creates more freedom and helps you move from task-based work to momentum-based growth.
• Identity Theft in Business: How imposter syndrome and pricing insecurity sabotage sales, and how to reclaim your authority.
• Sales with Clarity: Why selling transformation, not just expertise, makes sales calls easier and more effective.
• The Listening Advantage: How asking the right questions and truly hearing the answers turns more “no’s” into “yes’s.”
• Authority Over Approval: Why chasing client approval shrinks your authority and how to make sales about decisions, not desperation.
• The CEO Mirror: How self-awareness (not just more information) transforms both you and your business.

Workshop Invitation:

Every Wednesday, Tom and Adam host a free Accidental CEO Workshop for six business owners ready to shift from survival mode to intentional leadership. You’ll walk away with clarity, actionable next steps, and a community that gets it.

Click here to see if you qualify for the next workshop.

Links & Resources:

• Join the Accidental CEO Workshop →
• Follow Tom & Adam for more insights on leadership, sales, and business growth

In this episode, Tom and Adam dive into a challenge most entrepreneurs don’t even realize they’re facing—the quiet tax of control. From refusing to delegate to fearing the business will collapse without them, accidental CEOs often unknowingly sabotage their own growth.

The conversation covers:

• Why taking a vacation every 90 days isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for clarity and vitality.

• How burnout, lack of structure, and fear of letting go keep business owners stuck.

• The difference between healthy collaboration and seeking constant external validation.

• Why self-trust beats strategy every time when building your first million.

• How the Accidental CEO Workshop provides a simple structure to turn ideas into action and scale without burning out.

Whether you’re stuck at $60K or $600K, this episode reveals how to break the bottleneck you’ve created, reclaim your energy, and lead your business without sacrificing your life.

What You’ll Learn

• The “90-Day Rule” for recharging your mind, body, and business.

• The real cost of being the bottleneck in your company.

• How uncertainty fuels anxiety—and how to navigate it with confidence.

• Why isolation kills momentum and how to find the right support network.

• The mindset shift from employee to empowered CEO.

Short High-Impact Teaser

If your business can’t run without you, it’s costing you more than money—it’s costing you your freedom. Learn how to step back, recharge, and grow without burning out.

Resources & Links

• Free Accidental CEO Workshop → atomic.coach
• Connect with Tom and Adam on LinkedIn for workshop details
• The Atomic Game Changer — Learn more about vitality and sustainable growth