Leadership Lessons and Pivoting for Growth– Jim Schleckser Ep91
Release Date: 04/16/2021
From $7M to $280M — How Whisker Scaled Smart with Jacob Zuppke
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In this episode of The Eight Figure Product Show, Luke Peters sits down with Jacob Zuppke, CEO of Whisker—the innovative brand behind Litter-Robot and other smart pet products. Jacob joined Whisker when it was a $7M company and helped scale it to over $280M by 2022. This is a no-fluff conversation about: Transitioning from operator to CEO Building a scalable product roadmap Partnering with a founder without friction What it really takes to grow a product business at speed If you’re a founder, product leader, or aspiring CEO—this is a masterclass in operational scale and...
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The New Cold War? What Tariffs Really Mean for U.S. Businesses
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In this episode, Luke Peters breaks down what most business owners and investors are missing about the new wave of tariffs on China. This isn't just a trade dispute—it’s a global reset in how business is done. You’ll learn: Why this is not about leveling the playing field—it's about national strategy The real reason behind rising tariffs and what the administration is signaling How U.S. businesses importing from China are at serious risk if they don’t adapt What Scott Bessent's remarks reveal about the shift from Wall Street to Main Street Why this could mark the start of a...
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Selling the World's First Privacy Company — Featuring Lance Cottrell
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In this episode of The Eight Figure Product Show, Luke Peters sits down with Lance Cottrell, a seasoned entrepreneur and expert in security, privacy, and scaling tech-driven businesses. Together, they dive into the tactics that actually work when building and exiting a successful company—from early product strategy to leadership evolution and preparing for acquisition. You’ll learn: The biggest mistakes founders make in early growth How to think about product-market fit in technical industries Why leadership structure determines scale And how Lance built and sold his company...
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Inbound vs. Outbound: Why Most SMBs Are Leaving Growth on the Table
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Most small to mid-sized businesses rely almost entirely on inbound sales—and it’s holding them back. In this episode, Luke Peters explains why companies stuck at $3M to $15M often plateau and how adding outbound sales can be the growth catalyst you’ve been missing. You'll learn: The two biggest reasons founders avoid outbound Why doing the same thing at $10M you did at $2M is a red flag How cold outreach can add real fuel to your growth strategy Why executive talent—not just hustle—is key to outbound success If you’re not hitting new revenue levels, this episode shows you...
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High Payoff Activities: What CEOs Should Really Be Working On
The 8-Figure Product CEO
Most founder-CEOs are stuck in the weeds—busy, overwhelmed, and still not moving the business forward. In this episode, Luke Peters breaks down what’s really holding you back: low margins, reactive thinking, and no system for focusing on what actually matters. You'll learn: Why low margins are the root of burnout and chaos What “high payoff activities” (HPAs) actually look like How to shift your mindset from task manager to strategist Why hiring a true sales leader is often the #1 growth lever A simple way to execute strategy using OKRs If you're grinding hard but not...
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Margin Expansion: The Overlooked Key to Selling Your Business for More
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Thinking about selling your business? If you're relying on a standard EBITDA multiple, you're probably leaving money on the table. In this episode, Luke Peters breaks down multiple expansion—how boosting margins and reducing risk can increase both your earnings and the multiplier buyers are willing to pay. You'll learn: Why recurring revenue and consumables drive higher valuations How improving from 10% to 15% EBITDA can boost your multiple The difference between running a lifestyle business and building a sellable asset Simple ways to shift your business model—without...
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What Are You Tracking? Why Most CEOs Measure the Wrong Things
The 8-Figure Product CEO
Too many founders obsess over dashboards and KPIs—yet still miss what actually drives long-term growth. In this episode, Luke Peters breaks down the difference between lagging indicators and the leading inputs that move the needle. You’ll learn: Why real financial truth comes from monthly accrual reviews—not real-time dashboards The most overlooked metrics that shape future success How tracking too much is just as bad as tracking too little And why a Garmin watch might be smarter than your KPI report If you’re a CEO stuck in the weeds, this episode is your blueprint for...
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Now’s the Time to Hire: Why Downturns Are Gold for Finding Talent
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Most CEOs sit on their hands when the economy slows. Not Luke Peters. In this episode, he explains why this market is a rare chance to level up your team—especially when it comes to key hires like a Head of Sales or COO. You’ll learn: Why top talent is finally back on the market The mindset shift founders need to grow in tough times Why your bottleneck might not be your product—it’s your people And how hiring smart now can pay off when the economy rebounds If you're stretched too thin or stuck in a sales rut—this episode is your wake-up call.
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How to Lead Through Uncertainty: A CEO’s Take on Hard Times
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Uncertain times can crush a business—or create an opening. In this short episode, Luke Peters shares how he navigated major disruption, from tariffs to financial crises, and why most CEOs focus on the wrong things. He explains: Why optimizing a bad situation is a losing game How to avoid getting stuck in a red ocean The power of long-term thinking in short-term chaos And why starting a business during tough times can actually be a huge advantage If you're a founder or CEO dealing with market pressure, supply chain issues, or global noise—this episode is for you. Clear. Tactical....
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Your Margins Are Too Low! Here’s How to Fix Them Fast
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Most businesses struggle with pricing—charge too little, and you're stuck in a race to the bottom. Charge too much without offering more, and customers walk. So how do you set prices that maximize margins without killing demand? In this episode, Luke Peters, founder of a multi-million dollar appliance brand, breaks down value-based pricing—what works, what doesn’t, and the exact strategies he used to scale to $80M+ before selling to private equity. You'll learn: The real reason brands fail at pricing (and how to fix it) Why niching down boosts margins and lowers stress How to test price...
info_outlineHow to be a Good CEO That Succeeds in Business Growth – with Jim Schleckser
Are you a good CEO or just an average CEO? Do you look for the point of constraint in the business or just sit around not understanding what the job is? Great CEOs are effective and don’t work crazy hours to meet their goals; they instead look for constraints and work towards untying them to continue growing the business.
In this episode of the Page One Podcast, we have Jim Schleckser, he helps leaders grow companies. He and his team at the Inc. CEO Project work with over 100 CEOs of high growth companies to identify and obliterate the things that stand between them and continued organizational success. Jim has over 30 years of leadership in business strategy, technology businesses, process improvement, organizational development, mergers and acquisitions, engineering, and sales and marketing.
Listen in to learn how to find ‘kinks’ or constraints in your business as the CEO and work towards untying them together with your team. You will also learn the power of crafting a great customer experience for your business to succeed in the eCommerce space.
Key Takeaways:
- Why you shouldn’t share all your vision points with your team at once.
- How to be a good communicator to your team by meeting them where they are and framing your message how they’ll understand.
- How to be flexible with your planning and not be bound by annual planning.
- How to build a surprising and fun quality to differentiate your business online and offline.
Episode Timeline:
- [1:52] Jim shares his experience climbing Kilimanjaro.
- [5:19] The difference between good CEOs and average CEOs in problem-solving and effectiveness.
- [7:54] A story of a CEO who pivoted and continued to grow the business during the pandemic.
- [11:47] How not to make the mistake of sharing your vision points with the team all at one go.
- [16:20] How to effectively communicate as a leader by meeting your message receiver where they are.
- [21:22] How to approach new ideas with the team by either shifting or adding the talent.
- [26:38] How to craft your customer experience to perform great in eCommerce.
- [37:21] Jim explains why they spend most of their time driving for business growth.
- [38:48] The importance of innovating and improving your business model to continue growing your business.
- [42:17] He talks about his new book Professional Drinking, which is about networking confidently.
Quotes:
“Great leaders are thoughtful about their audience, and they frame and share the message in a way that their audience can receive it.”- Jim [18:43]