Welcome to CEO Brain Food, a show aimed at providing key insights, fresh perspectives, and proven tools that CEOs can apply to build enterprise value, generate higher profits and develop the talent needed to succeed in their businesses. In this episode of CEO Brain Food, Michael invites Daniel Marcos on to discuss his experience as an entrepreneur and CEO. Daniel is the co-founder and CEO of Growth Institute, the leading online executive education company for C level executives at fast growing firms. Michael and Daniel break down the four growth stages of business, the inherent value of coaching, and the importance of self-care. Finally, Daniel shares his beliefs on core values and speaks to his Master of Business Dynamics Program.
00:53 – Michael introduces today’s guest, Daniel Marcos
02:47 – Why everything starts and ends with the CEO
05:10 – Daniel speaks to why the strength of the founder usually becomes the weakness of the company
07:12 – Level Five Leaders
09:39 – The Southwest Airlines example
10:56 – Daniel’s entrepreneurial journey
16:50 – The importance of coaching
20:45 – Daniel speaks to his fundraising prowess
25:39 – Keeping up with the speed of scaling as a CEO
30:01 – The decision to leave his company, travel, and go back to school
32:13 – Daniel opens up about his mortgage company that failed in 2008
35:21 – Building the Growth Institute
37:44 – The value of learning through reading
39:14 – The importance of self-care
40:41 – Stages of growth
45:39 – Understanding that business plans change
46:04 – The second growth stage: sales
48:47 – The third growth stage: scaling and infrastructure
51:13 – The fourth growth stage: dominating your industry
52:03 – Differentiating between being an employee and owner of a company
54:56 – Michael and Daniel discuss core values
59:20 – Michael encourages the audience to visit Daniel’s website
59:50 – Daniel talks about his Master of Business Dynamics Program
1:02:37 – Michael teases the topic of the next episode of CEO Brain Food
1:02:52 – Where to find Michael’s Functional Team Scorecard
TWEETABLE QUOTES
“Usually what I’ve found is the strength of the founder becomes the weakness of the company.” (05:16)
“We as coaches need coaches. We cannot coach ourselves.” (19:46)
“So whenever you’re doing something you want to do, something that is a challenge, you do it well. When you see it as a problem, then you’re gonna do it well.” (31:16)
“And, by the way, the more I learn and the more exercise I do in the morning, the better day I have after.” (39:01)
“People believe they can do a business plan and they’re going to execute the business plan exactly as they thought. No way.” (45:39)
“So that’s when you begin scaling, after sixteen to twenty employees. And you have to build and invest in infrastructure. And then you have to align and simplify the operation.” (50:12)
“The only way to bypass this growth is really throwing a lot of money to fix mistakes and problems.” (57:30)
RESOURCE LINKS
BOOKS MENTIONED
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't
Mastering the Rockefeller Habits: What You Must Do to Increase the Value of Your Growing Firm