Strategy Ladders Podcast

About Strategy Ladders Podcast

Welcome to Strategy Ladders, where our expert advisory team gives you no-nonsense, real-world advice on business strategy, business growth, and badass business ownership. If you're a B2B service provider looking to scale, streamline, or get out of day-to-day ops, this channel is for you. Our podcasts dive into core topics like B2B sales, leadership, and the mindset shifts required for long-term growth. With over 17 years of hard-earned experience, we break down actionable strategies to help you overcome business bottlenecks, build stronger teams, and ultimately, put your business to work for

Publisher

Strategy Ladders

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Oct 2024

Latest episode

25 Apr 2025

Latest episodes

18 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Apr 2025

   Advisor vs. In-House vs. Agency: Who Grows Your Business Faster

   Most founders don’t have a hiring strategy. They have a hiring reaction. Someone quits? Panic post the job. Pipeline slows? Panic hire a “growth expert.” But the biggest hiring mistake isn't who you hire, it's how and when you start the process. We’re finally releasing our no-BS recording from LinkedIn Live on this topic through the Strategy Ladders Podcast. Join Brian, Kas, Josh and Austin as they expose the difference between hiring with intention... and hiring out of desperation. From choosing agencies that ghost you after the proposal, to consultants who solve one problem and quietly create three more. We even look at the in-house hires who drown under onboarding. This episode breaks down why most founders hire late, hire wrong, and stall growth as a result. And yes, we’re calling out the myth that proactive recruitment is just for fancy corporates. Spoiler alert: if you’re waiting until the seat’s cold to post the job, you’re already two months behind. In This Episode: ✅ The real cost of bad hiring decisions (hint: it’s not just money) ✅ Why your “gut feel” is screwing up your hiring strategy ✅ Proactive recruitment frameworks for scaling smarter ✅ Consultant illusions that trap early-stage businesses ✅ Why treating agencies like employees (and vice versa) kills results If you’ve been burned by agencies, ghosted by consultants, or hired a salesperson that couldn’t sell a pen, this episode is your roadmap out. 👉 Subscribe and watch now! Your future self (and your next hire) will thank you.

2. 

   5 Mar 2025

   Content Strategy vs. Content Authenticity: What Actually Matters?

   Authenticity or attention—do you actually need to choose? Personal branding is the golden ticket for founders, creators, and business leaders—because let's be real, shouting into the void isn’t a growth strategy. But the hot debate sweeping LinkedIn and Twitter rants: Is content authenticity still a thing, or does playing the algorithm always win? In our latest Strategy Ladders Podcast, Kas brings in our content lead, Gabriel, to tackle the debate no one talks about honestly (but everyone secretly judges). How much of your brand should be raw, unfiltered personality, and how much should be “I swear this isn’t just engagement bait” strategy? Because despite people rolling their eyes at marketing psychology hacks and neatly packaged carousels, most still aren’t growing—because they’re just posting and praying instead of posting with purpose. 🚀 In This Episode: ✅ Personal Branding vs. Content Strategy: Which one actually builds influence? ✅ The biggest mistakes creators make when trying to grow on LinkedIn (besides posting inspirational gym selfies). ✅ Why "Content Authenticity" isn’t enough (but pretending to be a guru is worse). ✅ How to scale content while staying true to your voice (without sounding like ChatGPT wrote it). ✅ What founders get wrong about positioning themselves online (spoiler: it’s not just about "value” posts). If you’re stuck between posting ‘whatever feels right’ or becoming a walking content calendar, this episode might be your wake-up call. 👉 Watch now and subscribe for more unfiltered conversations about scaling, content, and branding that actually works.

3. 

   27 Feb 2025

   Why Founders Bottleneck Their Own Growth | Breaking the Rule of 20

   Businesses always scale fast in its early stages, but as they mature, most founders hit a growth plateau. The uncomfortable reality these business owners face? When a business is hovering around 20 employees, they are the reason it's stuck. You think you're driving growth, but in reality, you’re the bottleneck. This is the Rule of 20—the invisible ceiling that keeps small agencies and service businesses from reaching their potential. In this episode of the Strategy Ladders podcast, our full team of advisors meet up to tear apart the common hiring mistakes that keep founders stuck. You’ll learn the difference between growth hires vs. clone hires and how the habit of hiring people who "do what you do," sets your business up for guaranteed stagnation. Real scale comes from hiring beyond yourself - with teams that outperform and kick you out of operations — not replicating yourself. The boys also tackle the biggest mindset shift you must make without excuse: transitioning from a hands-on operator to a real CEO. You can’t keep plugging gaps with quick fixes. Your team, your offer, and your leadership style all need to evolve. Inside This Episode: ✅ What the Rule of 20 is and why it happens to so many businesses ✅ Growth Hires vs. Clone Hires—which one actually scales your company? ✅ The Founder Bottleneck—how YOU are holding your business back If your agency or service business is stalling, this episode might be the wake-up call you finally needed. 👉 Subscribe & drop a comment below: Are you stuck at 20? What’s holding you back? Let’s talk.

4. 

   19 Feb 2025

   Relocating, Hiring & Personal Growth: How Founders Actually Scale

   Is relocating the ultimate founder growth hack? Or just another distraction? When Kas packed up and moved to Mexico City, it was more than just a change in location—it was a catalyst for personal growth, sharper decision-making, and business expansion. In this episode of Strategy Ladders, Kas joins Brian in their first-ever in-person episode to take dive deep into how your environment shapes your mindset, and why moving (physically or mentally) is often the fastest way to level up. But growth isn’t just about geography—it’s also about hiring the right people. They break down the clone hires vs growth hires debate: Clone hires: Reliable, predictable, but often create stagnation.Growth hires: High-impact, challenge the status quo, but require trust. Which do you need more of? (Spoiler: If you want to scale, you better choose wisely.) - Why most founders struggle to hire ‘growth hires’—and how to fix it - The real reason relocating forces entrepreneurs to think bigger- Personal growth vs business growth—do you really need both?- Mexico City: The next startup hub, or just another remote work trend? If you’ve been feeling stuck—whether it’s in your city, your team, or your business strategy—this episode will challenge you to think bigger, hire smarter, and scale faster. Hit play to rethink how you build your life and business. Don’t forget to subscribe for more no-BS convos on scaling a real company.

5. 

   12 Feb 2025

   The Founder Addiction No One Talks About (Until It’s Too Late)

   You’re not addicted to work. You’re just committed, right? Wrong. Entrepreneurs love to glorify the grind. They convince themselves that 80-hour weeks, constant stress, and sacrificing everything is just the price of success. But many founders are addicts to the dopamine hit of working non-stop. And worse? They don’t even realize it. In this episode of the Strategy Ladders podcast, Kas and Josh step into an unexpected founder’s therapy to discuss this trap of workaholism: - The addiction founders don’t admit and why it’s killing businesses - Self-awareness as a survival skill: How to tell if you’re running on fumes - Founders burnout: Why even the smartest entrepreneurs crash and burn - The myth of toxic productivity culture (and why it’s a lie we all buy into) - Why escaping the grind doesn’t mean you’re failing (but staying in it might) Get ready to question everything about the working habits you think brings success. If you’re pressured to overwork through culture, escapism, or personal beliefs, then your business is probably running you instead of the other way around. Think you’re not addicted, watch until the end. You might be wrong. This conversation is meant to help you stop your excessive hustle long enough to recognize the value of today rather than deferring happiness to an elusive tomorrow. 👉 Subscribe now for more unfiltered convos on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.

6. 

   5 Feb 2025

   Cold Email Isn't Dead in 2025, But Your B2B Growth Strategy Might Be

   Cold email is dead? No. But your approach probably is. In this episode of the Strategy Ladders Podcast, Kas invites Vovik Tsybulskyi to rip apart the biggest myths about B2B business growth, discuss why cold email is still a game-changer in 2025, and why most B2B agencies set themself up to fail before they've even properly started. The #1 reason B2B agencies struggle to scale? It’s not competition. It’s not pricing. It’s a weak offer. If your pitch is “We do cold email” or “We run ads,” you’re just another name in the crowd. Kas and Vovik break down how agencies can shift from “service providers” to “problem solvers” who attract high-ticket clients. 🔥 What You’ll Learn (and Probably Need to Hear): ✅ Cold email in 2025: What’s changed and how to stop sending cringy templates from 2019. ✅ Why Your Offer Sucks (and How to Fix It): Learn how to package your service like a profit-generating machine. ✅ B2B vs. B2C: Why most people trying to scale a B2B agency still think like B2C founders—and why that’s a disaster. ✅ Fractional CMO vs. Traditional Agency: Who’s Actually Making Money (and Who’s Just Playing Business)? ✅ The Confidence to Sell Without Sounding Desperate: Stop begging and learn to own the conversation like a closer. ✅ Why Most Agencies Deserve to Fail: How relying on volume instead of strategy puts you one Google policy update away from extinction. If you're tired of low-quality clients, ignored emails, and selling like an amateur, this episode will be a slap in the face you didn’t know you needed. 🚀 Hit play and get ready to take your B2B agency from "just another agency" to an actual business that thrives. Subscribe for more brutally honest insights from Strategy Ladders.

7. 

   30 Jan 2025

   The Entrepreneurial Mindset That Makes Smart People Quit

   How do you build loyal and high-performing teams that thrive and scale with you? In this episode of the Strategy Ladders Podcast, Kas and Austin dig into the business models, leadership styles, and entrepreneurial mindsets that create strong, aligned teams for the long haul. Too many businesses focus on hiring the right people, but then fail to keep them engaged. Austin shares how his past experiences with toxic, cutthroat team cultures taught him what not to do when building a company. Meanwhile, Kas explores how non-monetary measures of success are the real key to aligning a team’s personal priorities with the company’s growth. Play now to uncover: ✅ Why team motivation and alignment are more valuable than individual talent. ✅ The unexpected downside of hiring "great people" without a bigger vision. ✅ Why people don't just leave for better pay—but for something deeper. ✅ How to attract and retain top performers—without just throwing money at them. ✅ The real meaning of accountability of leadership and why entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. This isn’t another “how to be a leader” discussion—it’s a raw, unfiltered look at the entrepreneurial mindsets and business models that make people stay, thrive, and build something worth showing up for. 👉 Watch now and learn how to lead a scalable team with impact and build something that lasts. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more no-BS insights from Strategy Ladders!

8. 

   15 Jan 2025

   From Resolutions to Results: Personal Priorities That Grow a Business

   Strategy Ladders host Brian joins strategic advisors Josh, Austin & Kas to explore why aligning personal priorities and values drives sustainable business growth and lasting success.

9. 

   3 Jan 2025

   10 Brutal Truths Every Entrepreneur Must Know to Scale in 2025

   Ready to transform your business in 2025? Buckle-up. It won't be easy, but we promise it will be worth your while! In our New Year’s episode for the Strategy Ladders Podcast, our founder Brian Smith steps up to speak to you directly by diving into the 10 powerful truths that every entrepreneur must embrace to unlock sustainable business growth...instead of avoiding it. These aren’t just feel-good principles — they’re actionable strategies designed to break free from founder dependency and help you build a high-growth and high-performance business. From mastering a growth mindset to avoiding common pitfalls like bad fit clients and clone hires vs growth hires, this episode is curated with all the insights to help you scale smarter this year. Key Highlights: ✅ Growth Mindset for Entrepreneurs: Why mindset shifts are the first step to scaling your business. ✅ Hard Decisions vs Hard Work: The role of decisive action in driving growth. ✅ Clone Hires vs Growth Hires: How hiring the wrong people can cap your success. ✅ Bad Fit Clients: Why repelling misaligned clients is critical for long-term sustainability. ✅ Incremental Growth: Why consistency beats big strategies in the early phases of scaling. This episode is your first guide of 2025 in cutting through the noise and focusing on what truly matters: building clarity, systems, and momentum. Whether you’re struggling with operational challenges or stuck in founder dependency, these business cornerstones will provide the perspective and tools you need to scale on your terms. 👉 Watch now and discover how to reframe your approach, embrace a growth mindset, and position your business for a breakthrough year in 2025! Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more no-BS insights from Strategy Ladders.

10. 

    25 Dec 2024

    Redefining Discomfort and Development Through Perception of Obstacles

    In this episode of the Strategy Ladders Podcast, Brian Smith and Rachel Hamlin dive deep into the transformative power of shifting your perception of obstacles. Real resilience draws it’s impact from embracing challenges, discomfort, and fear to become the foundation for true personal development and professional success. And in this installment, they show us why… With her background in high performance coaching, Rachel helps us explore how aligning your business with a non-monetary measure of success can help founders break free from traditional definitions of achievement. She shares practical insights on moving from external validation to intrinsic motivation, allowing leaders to find clarity and purpose in their work. Brian builds on this by revealing why staying comfortable can be the greatest threat to growth, emphasizing that your capacity for discomfort is directly tied to your capacity for success. But it takes a dose of honesty. This thought-provoking conversation covers fascinating angles like: The balance between masculine and feminine energies in business and leadership. Why authenticity, not performance, is the key to effective leadership. The dangers of over-rationalizing decisions and how intuition plays a vital role. How to use business as a reflection of your growth journey and a path to self-discovery. If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain, or too focused on external outcomes, this episode will help you reframe your mindset and take actionable steps toward becoming the leader your business needs most. Ready to embrace a growth mindset and redefine success? Watch now and subscribe for more transformational insights from your favorite outsourced co-founders!

11. 

    18 Dec 2024

    Capacity vs Bandwidth: Hidden Hiring Mistakes Founders Make in Scaling

    Kas and Josh explore how founders can avoid hidden hiring mistakes by differentiating between capacity and bandwidth, leading to decisive leadership and business growth.

12. 

    11 Dec 2024

    Growth Mindset in Entrepreneurship: Why Action Beats "Perfect" Strategy

    Strategy Ladders Podcast hosts Brian Smith and Andy Smith break down how embracing a growth mindset and taking bold action can drive entrepreneurial success by overcoming bottlenecks and achieving real business growth.

13. 

    4 Dec 2024

    High-Performance Leadership: Using the Body & Mind to Battle Burnout

    Performance coach Rachel Hamlin shares actionable strategies to combat burnout and lead with resilience by harnessing somatic techniques and cultivating a mindset rooted in empathy and nervous system regulation.

14. 

    27 Nov 2024

    Unlocking Business Growth By Mastering The Power of Branding & Digital Marketing

    Strategy Ladders Podcast hosts Brian and Kas share actionable insights on how to build a standout brand that scales, by mastering branding and digital marketing strategies that drive business growth.

15. 

    20 Nov 2024

    Recruitment Gone Wrong: How to Avoid Hiring Mistakes That Cost You

    Josh and Austin expose costly hiring mistakes and share actionable insights on cultural fit, accountability, and strategic recruitment to drive long-term business success.

16. 

    13 Nov 2024

    Master Cash Flow: Essential Tips to Control Debt & Empower Your Business

    Are you struggling to be the master, not the slave, of your debt, or find it difficult to control the cash flow in your business? Understanding how your finances are managed is essential for any founder looking to succeed and scale their business. In this episode of Strategy Ladders Podcast, Josh and Doug tackle the pressing financial issues many businesses face today. From cash flow management to the critical differences between personal finance and business finance, they cover it all! Dough takes us into the world of debt financing to discover how strategic use of debt can propel your business forward. "Is there a good scenario where you mismanage the company for a number of years and now you want to use debt to pull yourself back out of that hole?" This episode answers that question and more. We’ll also explore the importance of knowing your costs of service delivery to maintain healthy profit margins. Hiring underqualified staff can derail your financial health—find out how to avoid this common pitfall. Automating your accounting processes can simplify your financial tracking, but remember the key distinction between profitability and cash flow. Join us for this engaging discussion and sidestep the most common form of business mismanagement! Subscribe to Strategy Ladders Podcast for more expert tips on navigating business ownership where everything (including revenue) can start working for you. Are you a Founder of a $1M to $5M Business? Let us help you tackle challenges like: 🚀 Co-Creating a Clear Path to Growth 📉 Stabilizing Sales & Unlocking Hidden Revenue 🔥 Reducing Founder Dependency to Avoid Burnout 🎯 Refining Market Positioning for Maximum Impact 👀 Building Accountable and High-Performing Teams to Scale Schedule a free call with us: [www.strategyladders.com (http://www.strategyladders.com/)] Let’s Connect: 🔔 Stay in the Loop! Turn on notifications, so you never miss an episode. 💌 Join the Community! Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive insights: [www.strategyladders.com (http://www.strategyladders.com/)] 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments below – we’d love to hear from you! 📢 Spread the knowledge! Share this episode with anyone feeling stuck in their business. 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like and share to support the podcast. #StrategyLadders #cashflow #personalfinance #businessfinance

17. 

    5 Nov 2024

    How Entrepreneurs Can Harness Fear and Discomfort for Real Growth

    In this episode, Brian and Josh dive into the heart of entrepreneurship, tackling the grit and grind of personal growth, accountability, and self-reflection. If you’re a founder, business leader, or just someone aiming to grow, this conversation delivers no-BS insights on achieving success through focus, confronting fear, and cultivating a work-life balance that fuels growth. Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint-hearted—it’s for those willing to embrace discomfort, challenge themselves, and dig deep into personal development. Brian and Josh bring their perspectives on why fear and discomfort are more than just obstacles; they’re signals that you’re pushing boundaries. They explore the power of accountability and why setting clear, attainable goals creates a path to success in both personal and business life. Key Takeaways: If you’re serious about personal growth and want to develop the skills and mindset essential to impactful leadership, this episode is for you. Hit subscribe to never miss insights like these—where real entrepreneurs get honest about what truly matters in business and beyond. Schedule a free call with us: ⁠www.strategyladders.com⁠ (www.strategyladders.com) Let’s Connect: 🔔 Stay in the Loop! Turn on notifications, so you never miss an episode. 💌 Join the Community! Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive insights: ⁠www.strategyladders.com⁠ (www.strategyladders.com) 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments below – we’d love to hear from you! 📢 Spread the knowledge! Share this episode with anyone feeling stuck in their business. 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like and share to support the podcast.

18. 

    29 Oct 2024

    The Irrational Side of Founders: How It Impacts Business Growth

    In the first episode of the Strategy Ladder podcast, Brian and Austin sit down to talk about the importance of a growth mindset and how it radically shapes the trajectory of a business. Founders often exhibit irrational behaviors, particularly in hiring, which stalls business growth. Hiring alone doesn’t solve deep-rooted business problems and emotional attachments to employees complicate matters even more. Founders may feel they’re investing in people, but are they investing in the right focus? Our advisors explore how C players in a team steals momentum from the A players, and why **stagnation in business growth often stems from getting too stuck in set approaches. Leadership requires making tough decisions, especially when it comes to fostering a thriving environment for a founder’s team. Brian and Austin stress that challenging relationships are essential for both personal and business growth. They give a no-bars-held take on the need for decisive leadership and the willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone. The episode also covers exit strategies, pointing out that many founders don’t have a clear plan for their business's future. It again stresses the importance of a growth mindset, the resource that allows leaders to continuously question, adapt, and make tough choices to roadmap their way to long-term success. Keen to learn how a founder’s thinking, fearless leadership, and exit strategies play into sustained business growth? Then this video is for you. Watch now to gain cutting-edge insights and learn how overcoming these obstacles can put your business to work for you! Are you a Founder of a $1M to $5M Business? Let us help you tackle challenges like: 🚀 Co-Creating a Clear Path to Growth 📉 Stabilizing Sales & Unlocking Hidden Revenue 🔥 Reducing Founder Dependency to Avoid Burnout 🎯 Refining Market Positioning for Maximum Impact 👀 Building Accountable and High-Performing Teams to Scale Schedule a free call with us: www.strategyladders.com (www.strategyladders.com) Let’s Connect: 🔔 Stay in the Loop! Turn on notifications, so you never miss an episode. 💌 Join the Community! Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive insights: www.strategyladders.com (www.strategyladders.com) 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments below – we’d love to hear from you! 📢 Spread the knowledge! Share this episode with anyone feeling stuck in their business. 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like and share to support the podcast.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

780,767

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

58

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

32