Explore alternative ownership models and the 10X mindset—how to scale your business, keep your legacy intact, and think bigger for exponential growth.
Read time: 8.18 minutes.
Read this on: jeanmoncrieff.com
What's in store for today:
- What if your employees became the owners?
- The growth formula every CEO needs
- The 10X mindset
Hey there,
Alternative ownership models are gaining serious traction—and for good reason.
Around 70% of businesses that go to market never sell. That’s a brutal reality for owners who’ve spent years building something meaningful. But the good news? There are better options than private equity takeovers, rushed sales, or shutting the doors.
In this episode of The Freedom Experience, I talk with John Abrams, a pioneer in employee ownership. Long before worker co-ops were a thing, John converted his company, South Mountain, into a worker-owned cooperative. Decades later, it’s thriving, his employees are fully engaged, and his legacy is intact.
“When employees have a stake in the business, they think and act like owners—and that changes everything.” – John Abrams
John’s story proves that ownership doesn’t have to be a solo act—it can be shared, sustainable, and built to last.
|
🎙️ In this episode, we get into:
- What it means to be a worker cooperative (and why they’re growing fast)
- The five key shifts founders need to make to build a business that outlives them
- How alternative ownership models can protect your company from being sold off for parts.
If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a better way to transition your business, this episode is for you.
Jean
🎧 Listen to the full conversation on The Freedom Experience:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
1. What if your employees became the owners?
If you’ve ever wondered what happens to your business when you’re ready to step back, you’re not alone. Most owners don’t have a clear exit plan, and the stats are brutal—around 70% of businesses that go to market never sell. That means years of hard work can disappear overnight.
But selling to a big firm that guts your company or shutting the doors isn’t your only option. There are several alternative models—approaches that keep your business intact, your employees engaged, and your legacy alive.
One model is the worker cooperative. And before you dismiss it as some niche concept, hear me out.
The Traditional Exit Route (and Why It’s a Problem)
Most owners assume there are two ways out:
- Sell to a private buyer or private equity firm.
- Close up shop and walk away.
Both come with problems. A sale can strip your business of its soul—employees get laid off, company culture erodes, and what you built slowly disappears. And if your business doesn’t sell (which happens a lot), shutting down may feel like the only move.
That’s why more owners are looking at alternative ownership models—ones that transfer the business to the people who know it best: your employees.
The South Mountain Story: How One Business Owner Made the Shift
John Abrams didn’t set out to build a worker cooperative. In fact, he wasn’t even planning to start a business. He was just a guy who loved building things.
Then, one day, he realized he had a company. And after years of running it, two of his key employees came to him and said, “We want to stay for our careers, but we need more than an hourly wage.”
That moment could have gone a lot of ways. He could’ve made them partners. He could’ve ignored the request and risked losing them. Instead, he took a step back and asked: What if ownership wasn’t just for a select few? What if employees could gradually buy in and share in the success?
He stumbled on worker cooperatives, a concept barely known in the U.S. at the time. And despite his initial fear of “losing control,” South Mountain became a co-op.
The results?
- The business grew stronger.
- Employees stuck around—some for over 30 years.
- His legacy didn’t just survive—it thrived.
What’s the Difference Between a Worker Co-Op, an ESOP, and an EOT?
You might have heard me talk with Eric Reiger about Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) or Peter Koehler about Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). So how do they compare?
Here's a quick summary:
- ESOPs are the most common employee ownership model in the U.S. They come with tax advantages but require heavy compliance and don’t always give employees decision-making power.
- EOTs are newer in the U.S. but popular in the UK. The trust owns the company on behalf of employees, but workers don’t directly hold shares.
- Worker Cooperatives give employees an actual ownership stake and a say in major decisions. They’re flexible, work for businesses of different sizes, and don’t have the same regulatory headaches as ESOPs.
Think of it this way: If you want employees to own the business and play a real role in shaping its future, a co-op might be the best fit.
“But Letting Go Feels Like Losing Control…”
That’s the big fear, isn’t it? The idea that stepping back means watching your business change into something unrecognizable.
John had that same fear. He compared it to holding the reins of a runaway horse—until he realized something surprising: It didn’t get worse. It got better.
Ownership didn’t just keep the company stable; it made it stronger. Employees had skin in the game. They cared about the decisions being made because they weren’t just workers anymore—they were owners.
And the best part? He built a business that would outlast him.
A Growing Movement
This isn’t just a trend. Worker cooperatives are popping up everywhere. In places like Northern Italy and Spain, they’ve been around for decades, creating strong, stable economies.
Now, U.S. business owners are catching on.
Organizations like the ICA Group and TeamShares are helping owners transition to employee ownership—sometimes even buying out businesses that would otherwise shut down and converting them into co-ops.
So, if you’ve ever worried about what will happen when it’s time to move on, know this: You have options.
A worker cooperative isn’t for everyone. But if you want your business to keep thriving, your employees to stay engaged, and your legacy to live on—it might be the best move you never considered.
2. The Growth Formula Every CEO Needs
Most businesses are struggling to find and keep great people. But what if the key to growth wasn’t about hiring more talent—but about investing in the people you already have?
The Circle of Growth reveals a powerful truth: when you put employees first, they drive customer loyalty, which fuels profitability. That profit can then be reinvested into your people—creating an upward spiral of success.
Paul Spiegelman, who coined the phrase, proved that focusing on employees led his company to achieve profit margins far above industry standards—and ultimately sell for a 22x multiple.
The secret? Engaged employees create loyal customers willing to pay a premium for great service.
Want to break the cycle of high turnover and low engagement? Watch this week’s video to see how the Circle of Growth works—and how you can implement it in your business.
|
3. The 10X Mindset: How to Scale Your Business Exponentially
Most businesses operate in a world of incremental growth—pushing for 10% gains, tweaking processes, and working harder to squeeze out small improvements.
But what if instead of incremental growth, you shifted your mindset to exponential growth?
This is the 10X mindset—the ability to think beyond day-to-day challenges and focus on radical transformation. The biggest breakthroughs in business don’t come from working harder; they come from thinking bigger and making bold moves.
Why 10X Thinking Changes the Game
When you set a goal to grow your business by 10%, you naturally look for small tweaks—cutting costs, refining processes, or working a little faster. But when you aim to 10X your business, you’re forced to think completely differently.
You have to question everything:
✅ What would need to fundamentally change in my business model?
✅ What systems, processes, or people do I need to get there?
✅ Where am I holding onto outdated ways of thinking?
✅ What do I need to let go of to make room for 10X growth?
10X thinking isn’t just about scaling up—it’s about reinventing your approach to leadership, strategy, and execution.
How to Start Thinking 10X
1. Focus on What Works—And Amplify It
Most businesses waste time trying to fix things that don’t truly move the needle. Instead, identify the 20% of actions that drive 80% of your results and double down on those. Eliminate distractions, streamline operations, and focus only on high-impact strategies.
2. Shift from Working Harder to Thinking Bigger
10X growth doesn’t come from simply working harder—it comes from thinking differently. Challenge yourself to make one bold decision that could radically change your trajectory. Whether it’s expanding into a new market, productizing your services, or restructuring your leadership team, big moves create big results.
3. Build a Team That Can Scale
A business that relies too much on its founder can’t scale. If you want 10X growth, you need A-players who can think and act independently. Invest in leaders, not employees—people who can drive your vision forward and make decisions that accelerate momentum.
4. Eliminate the 80% That’s Holding You Back
Just as important as focusing on what works is letting go of what doesn’t. Many businesses get stuck because they hold onto outdated systems, underperforming employees, or legacy products that drain resources. To grow 10X, you need to cut ruthlessly and create space for transformation.
5. Make Decisions Like a 10X Leader
The best leaders don’t ask, “What’s the safest move?” They ask, “What’s the move that changes the game?” They take calculated risks, trust their vision, and act decisively. If you want to 10X your business, you need to step into that mindset.
The 10X Challenge: What’s Your Next Big Move?
Scaling a business 10X doesn’t happen overnight—but it also doesn’t happen by playing it safe. The key is to start thinking differently today.
Ask yourself: What’s the one bold move I can make this quarter that would have the biggest impact on my business?
Then go all in. Because the future of your business isn’t built on small improvements—it’s built on big, transformative leaps.
One quote to start the week strong
"Every next level of your life will demand a different you.”― Leonardo Di Caprio
I’m in a season of 10X growth—not just for myself, but for every business owner I work with.
Every time I’m with a client, we’re challenging the way they think, pushing beyond incremental gains and shifting toward exponential results.
Because every new level demands a new mindset. If you want to 10X your business, you have to start by 10X-ing yourself—your thinking, your strategy, your execution.
Growth isn’t about working harder. It’s about thinking bigger.
Have a great week!
- Jean
|
Responses