Strategy Ladders Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.