The $10M Founder vs The $50M Bottleneck, with Chris Burke

The $10M Founder vs The $50M Bottleneck, with Chris Burke

The skills that get your business to $10 million aren't the same skills that will get it to $50 million.  In this episode of The Scalability Code, Matt Haney sits down with Christopher Burke, a visionary entrepreneur who bootstrapped Brickenden into a powerhouse consultancy, generating $250 million in sales without any outside funding. Christopher shares his battle scars from 25 years of building global businesses, including his transition from being "in the weeds" to stepping back as a scalable leader.  Christopher holds nothing back as he shares his most painful business lessons, from a disastrous sign-on bonus mistake to a delayed restructuring decision during Brexit that erased 18 months of profit. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why the $10M founder is the exact bottleneck for reaching $50M • How a delayed Brexit decision wiped out 18 months of profit • The danger of keeping early-stage "generalist" employees too long • Why you must track maintainable revenue to avoid shrinking • The profound legal advice of arguing your issue from the other side • The ROI of offering life-coaching to uncover your team's "why" Connect with Chris on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-burke-uk/] Feeling stuck in your business? It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up. Get OUT of the Sh*t Show [https://www.sinclairventures.com/]  Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

Navy Discipline, Zombie Obstacle Courses, and Scaling to $55 Million, with Ryan Hogan

How does a 24-year Navy veteran go from throwing the first-ever zombie 5K to building a $55 million murder mystery empire? In this episode of The Scalability Code, Matt Haney sits down with serial entrepreneur and military veteran Ryan Hogan. Ryan unpacks his wildly non-linear journey, revealing how he navigated massive failures—like the bankruptcy of his event company Run For Your Lives—and used those hard-learned lessons to scale Hunt A Killer to $55 million in just five years. In this episode, we discuss: * The danger of making decisions too fast and why it's costing your business * Why tracking leading indicators instead of lagging indicators is steering you wrong. * The reality of a "rockstar on paper" who drives revenue but creates massive organizational toxicity * The unforgettable advice Ryan received from his Navy commander about teamwork Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanehogan/] Feeling stuck in your business? It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up. Get OUT of the Sh*t Show [https://www.sinclairventures.com/]  Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

The Trust Problem in Scaling Sales Teams (Every CEO Faces This)

Transitioning sales away from the founder is one of the hardest—and most critical—inflection points in a growing business. In this episode of The Scalability Code, Matt Haney is joined by Adam Boyd, owner of Trinity Training & Development, to explore the challenges of moving from founder-led sales to a scalable, team-driven revenue engine. They discuss the psychology behind why founders struggle to let go, the risks of staying too involved, and how to build trust, accountability, and structure within a sales organization. The conversation also covers practical frameworks for pipeline management, objective deal evaluation, and developing sales leaders who can truly own revenue. This episode is essential listening for founders, CEOs, and operators navigating growth beyond the early stages. CHAPTERS 00:00 Matt Haney and Adam Boyd 00:24 Show Intro 00:49 Meet Adam Boyd 01:54 Early Hustles 02:53 Leadership Sparks 05:05 Sandler Origins 06:35 Cold Calling Grind 07:49 Cookbook Method 08:45 Rocks And Scorecards 09:57 Right Seat Flow 11:26 Trinity Overview 12:05 Frontline Leaders 14:37 Program Delivery 16:18 Toolbelt To Leader 18:56 Entrepreneur Fear Cycle 19:26 Billion Dollar Worries 20:45 Cash Flow Crucible 21:43 Handing Off Sales 23:20 CEO Role in Deals 24:56 Trust and Transparency 26:25 Better Prospects Not More 27:27 Owner Sales Leader Balance 30:18 Pipeline Review Blueprint 32:25 Objective Deal Scorecards 35:23 Ideal Client Profiles 36:29 Closing and Farewell Contact Adam Boyd: https://thenorthwoodgrp.com/contact/ Feeling stuck in your business? It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up. Get OUT of the Sh*t Show [https://www.sinclairventures.com/]  Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

Why Fast-Growing Companies Need Integrators: Lessons from 20+ Business Transformations

What does it really take to scale a business? In this episode of The Scalability Code, Matt Haney speaks with EOS Implementer Amanda Matthews, who shares her journey from a 15-year career at Capital One to helping entrepreneurs build scalable, high-performing companies. After transitioning into the restaurant industry and helping grow a multi-unit business from 6 to 21 locations, Amanda discovered the power of structured execution through EOS. Now, she works with leadership teams to implement systems that improve alignment, accountability, and growth. This episode dives into: *  The difference between visionaries and integrators—and why both are essential  *  How to create repeatable processes that drive results  *  Why leaders struggle with accountability and difficult conversations *  Practical ways to improve team performance and execution *  The EOS tools that help businesses scale with clarity and confidence  Amanda’s story also highlights how pivotal life moments can reshape career paths and open the door to entrepreneurship.  If you're a founder, operator, or leadership team member looking to scale your business more effectively, this episode delivers actionable insights you can apply immediately. Feeling stuck in your business? It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up. Get OUT of the Sh*t Show [https://www.sinclairventures.com/]  Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.

Why Most Teams Fail (And How to Fix It Fast)

What’s really holding your team back? In this episode of The Scalability Code, Matt Haney and DeEtte Feurtado explore the hidden factors that prevent teams from performing at a high level. From siloed departments to unclear accountability, DeEtte shares insights from her leadership journey on how to create alignment, trust, and measurable results across an organization. In this episode: * Why teams struggle even with strong talent * How silos impact performance across departments * The importance of clarity, communication, and shared goals * A leadership approach rooted in curiosity and development If you’re looking to unlock better performance from your team, this conversation delivers practical, real-world guidance. Feeling stuck in your business? It’s ok. We’ve all been there… You simply don’t have time for vision and growth. You feel frustrated, anxious, and stuck because goals aren’t being met, processes aren’t followed, and your team isn’t on the same page. Time after time, you’re putting out fires only fast enough for the next one to pop up. Get OUT of the Sh*t Show [https://www.sinclairventures.com/]  Let’s build your team and guide them to the next level.