Navigating the Competing Forces of Leadership

As a CEO, the things you focus on—and perhaps more importantly, the things you should focus on—can feel like a constant tug-of-war. Competing priorities become the norm, and balancing them often defines the trajectory of your business.
 
Whether you’re tracking cash positions, monitoring sales run rates, analyzing marketing channels, or managing inventory levels, it all starts to boil down to one key idea: clarity through information.
 

 

Building the Ultimate CEO Dashboard

One of the most impactful tools in my career has been what I call a “CEO Dashboard” or, in simpler terms, a deserted island report. Imagine this: you’re stranded on a deserted island with no access to your business except for one email. What data would you absolutely need to feel confident that your company is running smoothly?

 
For me, it’s an automated daily report delivered every morning. It highlights critical metrics—sales, cash flow, inventory, and even year-over-year comparisons. This tool transforms guesswork into certainty, saving time and effort previously spent hunting for answers.
 
If you don’t have this level of clarity yet, consider building it. Having access to key data at your fingertips is a foundational element for scaling from the $5-10 million range to the next level.
 

 

The Role of Standards Over Goals

But having data isn’t enough. The real shift happens when you transition from goals to standards.
 
Keith Cunningham, a master of simplifying complex business concepts in books like The Road Less Stupid, emphasizes this distinction. Goals are future-focused and aspirational—they tell you where you want to go. Standards, on the other hand, anchor you in the present. They define the behaviors and benchmarks required to guarantee outcomes.
 
For years, I relied too heavily on goals, without articulating or enforcing the standards that would help my team achieve them. It wasn’t until I took the time to create clear, measurable standards and hold people accountable to them that I saw the needle move consistently in my business.
 

From Firefighting to Strategic Thinking

If you’re a CEO in the $5-10 million revenue range, you’re probably familiar with the balancing act between tactics and strategy. In the early days, it’s natural to spend most of your time firefighting—solving immediate problems, tracking numbers, and managing day-to-day operations. I call this the accidental entrepreneur’s phase.
 
You likely didn’t start with formal training; instead, you had a great idea and the passion to execute it. You’ve been “building the plane as you’re flying it.” And while that’s a necessary stage, it’s not a sustainable one.
 
The key driver for scaling to higher revenue levels is shifting from a tactical mindset to a strategic one. This doesn’t mean abandoning the operational side but gradually allocating more of your time to strategy—thinking about the next phase of growth, identifying opportunities, and creating frameworks for your team to succeed without constant oversight.
 

 

The Power of New Inputs

Another critical component of CEO growth is exposing yourself to new inputs. Whether it’s attending a Tony Robbins Business Mastery seminar or reading books by experts like Cunningham, surrounding yourself with
fresh ideas and perspectives is invaluable. Even when you disagree with a concept, the friction it creates can spark new thought processes that lead to breakthroughs.
 

Your Journey, Your Growth

Scaling a business from $5 million to $50 million is less about doing more and more about doing differently. It requires a mindset shift, a commitment to clarity, and a willingness to evolve as a leader.
 

• Start with a dashboard. Know your numbers without hunting for them.
• Define and enforce standards. Don’t just set goals—create the framework for success.
• Shift from tactics to strategy. Move from reacting to proactively shaping the future.

This isn’t an easy journey, but as someone who has “built the plane while flying it” countless times, I can tell you this: it’s worth it.
 

Do You Want to Work with Ryan?

If you’re ready to take the leap from firefighting to strategy and transform your leadership style, Ryan Niddel can help. As the CEO of MIT45 and a mentor to countless entrepreneurs, Ryan is dedicated to helping you achieve clarity, growth, and success. Learn more at ryanniddel.com.