The Exit Paradox: Why Building to Sell is the Only Way to Build to Keep
Discover why treating your business like a product to be sold is the best strategy for operational sanity, even if you plan to keep it forever.
Ben Schmidt
7 minBusiness Systems
7 posts
The Oxygen Mask Fallacy: Why Your Burnout Is the Single Biggest Risk to Your Company
An honest look at founder burnout as a systemic risk. We explore the biology of stress, the contagiousness of anxiety, and how to build systems that allow you to rest without the business collapsing.
Ben Schmidt
7 min
The Heavy Hand: Why We Cling to Control and How to Finally Let Go
An exploration of the psychology behind micromanagement, reframing it as an excess of care, and providing a structural path to delegation through standardized training.
Ben Schmidt
8 min
The Kindness of Clarity: Why Lowering Your Standards Isn't Empathy
An exploration of the tension between empathy and accountability in leadership. We discuss why clear expectations, powered by precise training and systems, are actually the kindest thing you can offer your team.
Ben Schmidt
8 min
The Exit Strategy That Does Not Involve Selling: Building a Self-Managing Company
Learn how to transition from an operator to an owner by building robust training systems and documentation, allowing your business to thrive without your constant presence.
Ben Schmidt
8 min
The Silence at the Top: Navigating the Structural Isolation of Leadership
A deep dive into the psychological toll of entrepreneurial loneliness, the science of decision fatigue, and practical strategies for building peer networks and leveraging technology to regain perspective.
Ben Schmidt
8 min
The Prison of Intuition: How to Scale Your Magic Without Losing Your Mind
An in-depth look at the challenge of translating founder intuition into scalable business systems. We explore the science of tacit knowledge and how to document your 'secret sauce'to ensure consistent quality.
Ben Schmidt
8 min