Unlocking Business Freedom: Think Like an Owner, Not Just a CEO
Welcome to Emerge Insights, my weekly newsletter, where I reveal cutting-edge tips to help you find momentum, scale up your business, and reclaim your life.
Read time: 5.46 minutes.
Read this on: jeanmoncrieff.com
What's in store for today:
- Thinking like an owner, not just a CEO
- Small Giants Gathering in Europe
- The hidden talents within your team
Hey {{first_name}},
This week on The Freedom Experience® show, I sat down with Ryan Tansom, who described running his family’s $21 million business as feeling like having a noose around his neck.
Ryan describes how the constant pressure of payroll, operations, and keeping everything afloat took its toll, making him realize that success wasn't just about revenue–it was about gaining independence over his time.
For most entrepreneurs, real freedom isn’t just about money—it's about independence over time, the ability to control how one spends one's days, and the ability to focus on what truly matters.
That's what ultimately redefines success.
In this episode, we discuss how business owners must transform their mindset from being operators stuck in the weeds to owners who can step back and create a business that works for them—not the other way around.
If you’re feeling like you’re chained to your business and longing for more freedom, you won’t want to miss this conversation.
Tune in to this week’s episode of The Freedom Experience on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.
|
1. Thinking like an owner, not just a CEO
If you want to build a business that runs without you, you need to make a critical shift: You need to think like an owner, not just a CEO.
This mindset shift means viewing your business as an asset that generates value over time, not just a monthly paycheck.
One key lesson from my conversation with Ryan is the importance of decoupling yourself from the daily operations.
It’s about stepping back and letting your team manage the details while you focus on strategic, high-level decisions.
When you begin to see your business as a financial asset rather than a job, you open up the opportunity for freedom and independence, allowing you to control how you spend your time.
It’s not easy to make this transition, but it’s critical for any business owner who wants to stop being the bottleneck in their company.
You have to ask yourself the tough questions, like:
- What do I want from my time?
- How can I set up systems that allow the business to thrive without me?
- How much cash flow do I need to sustain my lifestyle, and what is my equity target?
Here are three things you can start doing now to think more like an owner:
- Delegate with intent: Start delegating day-to-day tasks to your leadership team. Build a structure where they take ownership of operations, allowing you to focus on strategy and long-term growth.
- Set clear financial targets: Treat your business as an asset by setting clear cash flow and equity goals. Know how much you need for financial independence, and build your business around meeting those targets.
- Focus on scalability, not just growth: Instead of trying to grow revenue at all costs, think about how to scale your business in a way that doesn’t depend on you. Look for systems, automation, or processes that will drive value long-term.
By adopting this owner’s mindset, you’ll create a business that works for you—not the other way around.
If this resonates with you and you’re ready to break free from growth purgatory, I invite you to join one of our upcoming Foundation for Growth Masterclasses.
In this masterclass, we’ll dive deep into how to overcome these barriers and evolve your leadership team to drive long-term, sustainable growth.
It’s designed for business owners who want to stop being the bottleneck and start building a business that works for them.
Join our upcoming Foundations for Growth Masterclasses 👇
2. Small Giants Gathering in Europe
This week, we hosted the first European Small Giants gathering in 13 years, and what an incredible experience it was!
Our vision is to grow a thriving Small Giants community across the continent, uniting purpose-driven businesses that prioritize values over sheer growth.
If you’re new to the Small Giants philosophy, you can learn more about it here.
The gathering took place at Atelier Zobel in Zurich, where 16 entrepreneurs and scientists enjoyed a fantastic dinner and engaging conversation.
We explored the role of seeds in environments and how they form the foundation of life—a perfect metaphor for the seeds we’re planting in the growth of the Small Giants community in Europe.
It was an inspiring mix of business and science, and we’re excited to watch how this community continues to take shape and evolve.
The following day, during our first group session, we dove into meaningful discussions—getting to know one another, sharing the challenges we face as business owners, and charting a path forward for Small Giants in Europe.
Interested in being part of this journey?
Stay tuned!
We’ll be sharing details on upcoming events in the weeks ahead.
🙏 A huge thanks to Sue Schmid and the Atelier Zobel team for the beautiful space and for organizing such a fantastic dinner!
3. The hidden talents within your team
At the Small Giants gathering, I had some great conversations about the hidden talents that often lie within teams.
One story that stood out to me was from Jess, an employee at Atelier Zobel, who discovered the business by walking past the store.
She was drawn inside by the jewelry designs and, upon entering, that feeling of “mojo”—that sense of business charisma Bo Burlingham talks about in his book Small Giants.
After stepping in, she realized she wanted to work there.
What I found even more fascinating was that Jess, along with her colleagues, has the freedom to put her personal touch on the jewelry they create.
While the designs are Peter’s, each person can add their unique touch, so much so that you could almost recognize whose work it was if you knew them well enough.
Another great example comes from Niels, one of Jess’s colleagues, who is not only a goldsmith but also responsible for the store’s remarkable window designs and themes.
The business actively taps into these internal talents, allowing team members to showcase their creativity in ways beyond their defined roles.
This approach highlights the team's unique strengths and builds a stronger, more cohesive culture.
In another conversation, Joe Tabbit shared how one of his clients discovered that an employee had incredible photography skills.
Instead of outsourcing this work, they allowed the employee to contribute, which saved costs and further enhanced the sense of community within the business.
Uncovering and leveraging these hidden talents not only helps reduce external expenses but also fosters a workplace where people feel empowered to share their passions and skills.
One quote to start the week strong
"What if I told you that 10 years from now, your life would be exactly the same? I doubt you'd be happy. So, why are you so afraid of change?"
- Karen Salmansohn
Change is hard, I know.
I've been thinking a lot about it lately.
But ten years from now, regardless of how hard the journey seems, you’ll be glad you persevered through the tough times and stuck with your vision.
Never give up.
Keep going.
Have a great week!
- Jean
|
Responses