Scaling to 500 and Stepping Down with Mark Caswell

After the First Million

Imagine starting your career thinking you want to be an engineer and becoming a CEO instead.

This is Mark Caswell’s story. And in this episode, he shares how, during his time as CEO, Resultant acquired four companies, more than doubled its revenue, and expanded its team from 60 to nearly 500 employees nationwide. He walks us through his "messy middle" of scaling a business through multiple areas. His honest and raw answers offer a rare glimpse into the complex realities of managing a growing business and the personal growth that comes with it.

Tune in as we hear the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned while leading the company to new heights.

Key takeaways:

• Self-Care Equals Strong Leadership: Leaders often neglect their well-being in the service of their vision. Self-care and management are crucial for leaders to effectively take care of their team and organization.
• Adaptation is Critical for Growth: Whether it's personal development or managing a company through acquisitions, adapting to the changing landscape is crucial.
• Embrace the Rollercoaster: Career paths are non-linear, and sometimes, letting go can lead to greater achievements. Being open to learning from mistakes and being accountable are essential components of leadership growth.

Time stamps:

00:00 Meet Mark Caswell

03:26 The complexity of business and human dynamics

07:52 Entrepreneurship requires figuring things out with grit

10:09 Growth, challenges, and learning opportunities

16:15 Initial anger, immediate challenges, 100-hour weeks

19:42 Feel what you feel; no wrong feelings.

22:41 Relying on your talented team

24:52 Creating an organization requires delegation and self-care

29:11 How finding great partners transformed our small business

32:50 When you need to chart a new path forward

34:42 Considering an exit

39:11 Life spans a longer period than perceived

40:13 Private equity demands progress, not perfection