David Walsh’s Post

Last year I worked with 15 scale-ups. I see a pattern in success. - If you are familiar in the start-up scene, you probably know the founder profiles and how the three musketeers often make success. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 Builds the product 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿 Sells the product 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗽𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 Makes the product desirable Founders who cover these 3 roles seem to be balanced and well prepared for what's coming. They don't get stuck either. - Still.. they miss one important aspect. As People & Culture becomes more and more important because business owners understand and acknowledge that the team is a huge factor to their success. (If not the biggest.) So introducing: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿 Makes the team - Growth at all cost isn't durable. You can burn cash. You can't burn your "Human Resource". The Harmonizer makes sure everybody is on a growth leap, motivated and inspired to give their best without burning out. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸? 𝗜𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆? - 👋🏻 Hey, I'm Sam.  🎯 My mission: Build strong teams in scale-ups. ➕ Follow me for: Inspiration on People & Culture.

Today marks seven years since the official launch of what is now D&S Executive Career Management. From starting as a side hustle - to building a website at our kitchen table in the middle of the night with my husband ahead of our launch - to quitting my job six months later to focus on scaling - to making our first real hire in early 2020 - Every big move seemed like a leap of faith that paid off. I almost forgot about our anniversary this year because I've been head down focusing on strategic planning for 2024 and launching a new line of business (more on that later). But I'm glad I was reminded of it because it gives me a chance to celebrate how far we've come and the great work we've done to get here. When I started this as a side hustle without intending to launch a business - I had no idea how many amazing clients, high-caliber team members, and dedicated partners I'd have the opportunity to work with every day. If you've played even a small part in our journey - thank you. We wouldn't be here without you. #entreprenuership #businessownership #launch #scale #growth #leadership #businessleadership

A couple announcements, couple sharp pivots, and a heart tying it all together. 💙 If you could share this post, my (growing) family would be grateful. Announcement. My sweet boy will be a big brother to another sweet boy. 💕 Being a dad and husband are the two most rewarding roles of my life. Pivot. In Sep I left corporate to start Handbook Growth. Your support and referrals meant a lot. (https://lnkd.in/gjM6BniE) Early-stage entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster. Now with two little ones to support, stability is important. So I'm pivoting back. Second announcement. Seeking a leadership role in Growth Marketing/Demand Generation/Ecommerce. I'm extremely data-driven and my past results speak. Know a company needing rocket fuel? Today I sit surrounded by life & career upheaval. It's nervewracking, ngl But I love my family and I love ya'll. And that brings us to the heart. A symbol of the neverending inclusiveness of love. "Neverending?" you say, "Cute post Ersan, but I think you mean a circle. A heart has corners." To which I say, Those are not corners. A heart is simply a circle with two sharp pivots. ❤️

On June 12, 2019 – I had a choice to make. Coming home at 7pm after a day running my company, my wife sat me down, “Look sweetheart. I think you can be a really good CEO or a really good Dad, but you’re failing at trying to be both”. Her words stung but she was right. Being a Founder/CEO means giving everything you have, always, every minute of every day. Whether you like it or not, your company is always in the front of your mind and you can’t turn it off. She knew, before I did, that I couldn’t do both at the same time. I’d been a Founder/CEO at three different businesses. I’d been doing this 17 years, 10 months and 5 days. I’d successfully exited two companies, and was well on my way to doing the same with my third. But I had to make a choice – be the CEO I wanted to be, or be the Dad I knew I could be. That was my last day as CEO. Since that day in 2019, I’ve partnered with a dozen growth stage founders and worked beside them to help them navigate the chaos of their growth stage business. To scale more predictably and with a better sense of control. And it has been the best thing I’ve done in my career. Not just for my family, but for me. It turns out that I love working with founders and CEOs. The commitment that you make as a founder is unique and I lived it for almost 2 decades. Being able to help founders convert this commitment into amazing outcomes fills me with purpose everyday. Why? Because I remember what it felt like to close a $3M customer and stand at a townhall to tell my company what we’d accomplished. And to reflect back from that moment to when it all started with 2 other people, no revenue and just an idea. Helping founders experience more of these moments brings me genuine happiness.

What if I told you that big change is nothing but a series of small wins? In the world of business transformation, it's easy to fixate on the endgame. We look at the proverbial 'mountain top' and forget that we have to take several steps to reach there. But what if we celebrated each step as a victory in its own right? This, ladies and gentlemen, is the power of 'Small Wins'. It's about breaking down complex, intimidating tasks into manageable ones. It's about celebrating each milestone, each achievement, and each step forward. Take the example of a tech startup. Sure, having that scalable product is the ultimate goal. But what about that first line of code? Or the first successful test of a module? Aren't they small victories, too? Rejoice in small wins. They make the journey less daunting, more achievable. They breed confidence, build momentum, and feed into the larger goal. The road to change is paved with small wins, and it's those wins that take you to your destination. So, next time you're working on a big project, remember to celebrate the small victories along the way. They matter.

A year ago today, I made a pivotal decision to resign from my dream role as Chief Experience Officer—a role I had dedicated two decades of my career to achieving. It was a bold step, leaving behind a position many aspire to, but it was undeniably the best decision for me at that stage in my life. So I want to share some profound lessons I’ve learned since beginning my entrepreneurial journey: Persistence Opens Doors: Securing opportunities often requires persistence, from filling out multiple contact forms to making numerous calls, and even sending messages on Instagram and LinkedIn. Every effort counts. Maintain Class in Your Efforts: As any adept salesperson knows, effort paired with professionalism reaps rewards. Intent Matters: People can sense your intentions. When they are genuine, you don’t just make contacts; you build lifelong relationships. Ripe for Revolution: Industries that don’t innovate are prime targets for disruption. At Blade Butlers, we’re reshaping our industry by altering perceptions, pricing, and delivery—and it’s paying dividends. Stepping Back to Lead: Transitioning from daily sharpening operations to strategic leadership has not only benefited me with having frontline experience but has also given me the opportunity to witness the growth and impact of the talented team driving the Blade Butlers vision forward. The Joy of Hands-On Work: Although my role has evolved, the hands-on experience of connecting directly with customers remains irreplaceable. The Impact of Strategic Marketing: Effective marketing is crucial and must be intentional, consistent, and clear. Remember, “If you confuse, you lose.” - Donald Miller The Satisfaction of Providing Value: There’s immense joy in revitalizing someone’s tools, saving them money, and enhancing their experience—all while benefiting the environment with our service. Living the Dream: Despite the long hours and challenges, the fulfillment from seeing your dream materialize and positively impact others is profoundly rewarding. Continuous Growth: This year has been the most significant in terms of personal and professional growth and development, and I’m excited to see what the future holds. Starting Blade Butlers has been a journey of passion, resilience, and continuous learning. I’m grateful for every moment and excited about the future. Here’s to many more years of innovation, growth, and learning! #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Innovation #CustomerExperience #BladeButlers #NeverADullMoment #StaySharp

BEHIND CLOSED BUSINESS DOORS 🚪 🤷 Social media can be deceiving, right? Behind the scenes, I'm facing challenges, too. Recently, our manager left, profits dipped and I'm back at square one. It's a rollercoaster, but here's the unfiltered truth. The reality is, setbacks are part of the journey, and I'm navigating them just like you.💙 Life's not all highlights and 'WOW' moments. In fact, it's the struggles that connect us more deeply. 🤝 So, let's break down those barriers, share in the struggles, and celebrate the wins—because that's the real journey. Who else can relate to the ups and downs of the hustle? 🤔 Ever felt the pressure to only share the successes? Let's embrace the authenticity together! Share your thoughts below! 👇. #MOVESWIFTLY . . . . . #healthbizmentor #ptmentor #ptbusinesscoach #ptcoach #journey #behindthescenes #bts #realtalk #successstory #businessreality #reel #physiobusinessmentor #physiobusiness

🚀 Life's rollercoaster took me from founding a company, witnessing it soar to $50 million, to being fired in a boardroom meltdown. It was a tough blow, but it forced me to reassess, find my true purpose, and rebuild. Today, having grown another business to over $100 million, I've embraced the lessons from failure, determined to build success the right way. #Resilience #entrepreneurialjourneyjourney

Why do founders fail? Some people say they lacked product-market fit. Others say the team didn't go along well. I say: They focused mostly on the wrong people. Wrong customers. Wrong employees. Wrong investors. Here is why: When founders speak to 100 people, they encounter 3 categories: 33 who love what they do. 33 who don't care. 33 who hate everything about them. 1 perfect fit. It is tempting to focus on the haters and try to evangelize them. Time wasted. They will never change. What founders need to do is identify the perfect fit and people who love what they do and move to the next cohort of 100 people. It is really sifting through much contact to find the perfect fit for all key roles. Don't get distracted, and focus on the fitters and people who love what you do. When founders focus on the wrong people, get indifferent people in key roles. Or even worse, haters. They self-sabotage their company and lead it to failure.

I've stared at 17 one-star reviews (so why should I continue?) Here's how I turned the tide. Start-ups are a rollercoaster, aren't they? One moment you're scaling heights, and the next, you're plummeting into valleys of self-doubt. Add a sprinkle of nasty reviews, and it feels like the world's against you. 😓 But what if I told you that these lows are not your end but your beginning? I've been there—salaries delayed at times, teams stretched thin, and yes, those dreaded one-star reviews. But we pivoted, and not just the business model. We pivoted our mindset. 🔄 So, how do you turn the tide? First, acknowledge the issue. Don't sweep it under the rug. Address it head-on. Keep your team in the loop because transparency builds trust. Sometimes a pivot is more than a change in direction; it's a change in perspective. Use those negative reviews as a goldmine for improvement and celebrate the little victories that pave the way for big successes. 🌟 Bad times at your start-up? Funding issues? Bad reviews? Don't worry. You can make things better by talking openly, changing plans, and celebrating small wins. So, have you ever faced a pivot that felt like the end but turned out to be a new beginning? Share your stories below. 👇