EP19: Two Types of People

“A business needs two types of people to achieve a mass scale without everything going all crazy - the starter and the scaler.”

Timothy Dick (00:55-1:20)

There are two archetypes necessary to scale a business to a high seven or eight figures. While it’s possible to build a business to a certain point with only one type - whether that’s one person or multiple people of one type - to achieve mass scale without the overwhelm and headache, a business needs both types.

Type One: The Starter 

Most entrepreneurs and visionaries are Starters who have created things that never existed before. Starters do a lot of “ready, fire, aim.” They’re involved in market sell. They test, test, test. 

But after a while, entropy sets in. While testing and trying a million new things, a Starter can be in danger of losing control on the backend of the business.

Type Two: The Scaler

A Scaler (or Operator ) is typically either a CEO or COO who manhandles the day-to-day operations of the business. Because they’re addressing the nitty-gritty details on a daily basis, they’re able to make tiny little tweaks that move the business forward.

“The Scaler has the ability to just make a little tweak and make end-over-end growth. But they need the momentum that the Starter is creating.”  -Nic Peterson (3:11-3:21)

The Benefits of Having Both Types

When an entrepreneur who is a Starter wants to double their business, they have to create twice as much stuff and do double the work

On the other hand, while a Scaler has the ability to make one little tweak and create end-over-end growth, they lack the momentum that the Starter creates.

I’ve gone it alone multiple times. I’ve had five companies that reached high six or seven figures. But I eventually wanted to burn them all down because I was trying to play both roles and hated doing the things that a Scaler does. 

After accepting my position as a Starter and operating only in that role while my business partner operates as a Scaler, I now love what I do. Our business and revenue grew, my responsibilities decreased, the headaches left, and I sleep better. 

It’s the best decision I’ve ever made to just play the role of a Starter and allow someone else to be the Scaler. 

“I could be a Scaler. I have the ability to learn that. But it would come at the expense of my strength.”  - Nic Peterson (3:34-3:41)

Know Which You Are

The best thing you can do right now is to determine if you are a Starter or a Scaler. Which one is your strength? If you’ve started your own business, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a Starter. You could potentially be an Operator/Scaler. 

Do you like to ready, fire, aim? Do you like to create and test stuff? Then you might be a Starter. 

Or do you prefer maintaining a slow, methodical control of the business as you grow it bigger? If so, there’s a good chance you're a Scaler. 

Determine which is your strength and then start building around that.

You Don’t Have to Have a Partner

While it’s necessary that you have both of these archetypes in your business, you don’t have to have a partner. If you’re a Starter, you could hire a COO. That’s exactly what ProfitLayer does for people. We act as the Scaler role. Or, for those who are already Operators, we can act as the Starter role. 

If you’d like to learn more about this, join our free group, or if you’d like to talk to Nic directly, you can schedule a free call here or here.

If you would like more information about Timothy Dick, and the success businesses have gained through work with him, please visit his website.

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