Episode 139

139 Jeff Mains - Flip the Compass: Inside the Mind of the Captain

Today's episode is all about turning the tables and we're calling it "Team Takeover”. We’ve got the dynamic duo, Blake Browning and DJ Richards, Client Growth Strategists from Champion Leadership Group, grilling Jeff Mains with some off-the-cuff questions.

Ever wondered who the guy behind the mic really is? Today is your chance to find out. Jeff shares his remarkable journey through various business ventures and the lessons learned from each experience. From the challenges of building successful SaaS companies to the crucial milestones and growth barriers, Jeff's insights are a treasure trove for any entrepreneur aiming to scale their business.

And of course, we'll be shining a spotlight on his current ventures, Intelligent Contacts, and Champion Leadership Group. Expect some laughs, a few twists, and maybe even a lesson or two as we uncover the man behind the podcast.

So buckle up for a Team Takeover like no other – where the host becomes the guest, and we dive deep into the world of SaaS, leadership, and everything in between. It's candid, it's insightful, and, dare I say, a little bit cheeky. Stay tuned, and let's fuel up together! 🚀

Key Takeaways

00:00 Adaptation and change are key to success.

06:46 Failed year leads to strategic focus for success.

13:33 Mortgages sold to Fannie Mae, seeking alternatives.

18:19 Using tools unintentionally led to intentional usage.

26:16 Founders struggle to delegate and hire the wrong people.

28:54 Inadequate management skills hinder team performance.

34:01 Focus on sales and marketing, prioritize telling the world.

39:19 Taking responsibility for budget decision; regretful.

43:34 Transitioned to a results-focused mentor group.

48:54 Building epic lives: family, relationships, coaching.

57:49 Seeing both sides; ambiguous, anti-guru approach

01:02:28 Recommendation to read Geno Wickman's book, potential drawbacks mentioned.

01:07:44 90-day founders program with in-person meetings.

01:09:43 Plan, join us for the founders' gathering in Florida.

Tweetable Quotes

Confidence is Pushing Through the Unknown: "Wouldn't that be confidence? Because you have you're like, listen. I don't know what I'm doing, I'm gonna do it anyway. I'm gonna do what I can to move forward." — DJ Richards 00:09:36

Creating a Successful Career as an Entrepreneur: "Why even Be an Entrepreneur. I know there's a lot of good reasons, but for you like, you decided to do it because a lot of people would decide to have a career." — Blake Browning 00:07:45

"Mentors are good, But, you really gotta figure it out on your own." — Blake Browning 00:54:52

Finding Success Through Trial and Error: "The only thing you have to do is to try a whole bunch of stuff, and one of those things will work and some of them won't." — Jeff Mains 00:07:12

"Maybe if we shift that and put more focus on telling the world about what we have, then we'll build smarter, we'll stop building a bunch of stuff that's never gonna be used." — Jeff Mains 00:34:33

Building a Supportive SaaS Community: "And it's like, a rising tide lifts all boats, and we want everybody to do really well." — Jeff Mains 00:36:09

SaaS Leadership Lessons

1. Embrace Failure and Adapt: Entrepreneurship often involves navigating through failures and successes. It's important to recognize when to pivot or pull the plug on ventures that aren't performing well.

2. Entrepreneurial Drive: Recognize unmet market needs and cultivate a sense of responsibility to solve problems, which can be a driving force behind entrepreneurial endeavors.

3. Confidence in Founders: Building and leading a SaaS company requires a willingness to step into the unknown, take chances, and make bold decisions.

4. Building and Nurturing Teams: Challenges in team building can arise when a company reaches specific revenue milestones. It's important to hire the right people and allow them to take ownership to facilitate company growth.

5. Delegating Tasks: Founders often struggle with letting go and delegating tasks to new hires, impacting company growth and leadership.

6. Leveraging Companies for Increased Opportunities: Combining smaller companies into a larger entity can create synergies and provide growth opportunities.

7. Synergy and Growth Pains: Simultaneously launching multiple services can lead to growth pains, but it can also create a synergy between services that ultimately benefit the company.

8. Intentional Implementation of Unique Ideas: Implement unique ideas intentionally, aligning company goals with customer success, and billing models that add value to the customer.

9. Sustainable Growth: Focus on reasonable and sustainable growth, as indicated by the "rule of 40," where the growth rate plus profit should equal 40.

10. Quality of Life and Balance: Building an amazing business and creating an epic life extends beyond financial success. It's important to prioritize family, relationships, and personal fulfillment while balancing ambition with fulfillment.