Why “Cult-Like” Cultures Drive MASSIVE Business Growth (And How To Build One) (LST #123)

Learn Speak Teach Episode #123 with Cameron Herold.

When is the right time to hire a COO for your company?

Ben Albert sits down with the legendary Cameron Herold, a business growth guru known for his expertise in building high-performance company cultures and the founder of COO Alliance. Cameron unpacks what makes the world’s best workplaces tick, revealing how “cult-like” cultures, when built right, can drive team alignment, energy, and extraordinary results.

Cameron shares advice for businesses at every stage from solopreneurs just getting started to $50 million enterprises ready to scale. He also walks through practical hiring strategies, explains when to bring on that crucial second-in-command, and shares the morning routines that keep leaders at their peak.

Grab your notebook and pen, you’ll want to take notes.

During this episode, you will learn about:

[01:25] How to start a cult-like company culture

[02:59] Companies that Cameron has helped build culture in

[04:25] Understanding the four corners of the jigsaw puzzle

[04:57] The essence of core values

[11:30] The importance of having clear vision statements

[14:31] What it looks like when a company gets its vision wrong

[17:58] How to find the best employees

[19:11] The cost of a failed hire

[21:44] When is the right time to hire a COO?

[23:59] Cameron’s book, Second in Command

[25:37] When businesses decide to bring in a COO

[27:42] Hiring a COO for a $1 million company

[28:37] Hiring a COO for a $50 million company

[29:23] How to handle a $50 million company

[30:11] How to access Cameron’s mentorship

Leadership program: https://investinyourleaders.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVxhPgUCzGQQw0XuT9EeAFg

Podcast: https://cooalliance.com/podcasts/

[31:23] Cameron’s miracle morning

[34:20] Cameron’s nomadic lifestyle

Key Takeaways: 

• The best companies to work for on the planet have a vivid vision of what their company looks like, acts like, and feels like in the future and everybody can see what they're building. ~ Cameron Herold [04:05]

• “My core purpose is to help entrepreneurs make their visions come true.” ~ Cameron Herold [06:55]

• A vivid vision is a four- or five-page description of what your company looks like, acts like, and feels like three years in the future. ~ Cameron Herold [11:56]

• “A lot of people will overpay to have average people.” ~ Cameron Herold [17:59]

• If a COO was coming into your company, you wouldn’t be delegating anything to them. They would be telling you what needs to happen. ~ Cameron Herold [22:54]

• The best employees are usually working somewhere, knocking the cover off the ball, working for a great company. Your job is to entice them into your company culture. ~ Cameron Herold [24:20]

• The first key hire for every entrepreneur is to get an executive assistant or a fractional EA to take a bunch of the admin work off your plate freeing you up to do the stuff you’re really good at and love doing. ~ Cameron Herold [25:51]

• “Whatever is in your vivid vision that you don’t have the time, energy, or skills to execute, hire someone who does, and you win.” ~ Cameron Herold [28:57]

• “There’s not a single problem that exists inside your company that writing a check can’t solve.” ~ Cameron Herold [29:32]

People Mentioned and Other Resources:

1. Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Morning-Entrepreneurs-Elevate-BUSINESS/dp/1942589123

2. Double Double: https://www.amazon.com/Double-Your-Revenue-Profit-Years/dp/1608320995

3. A Little Bit Culty Podcast: https://alittlebitculty.com/ 

Keep In Touch with Cameron Herold:

Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@secondincommandpodcast  

YouTube: https://cameronherold.com/watch-cameron/   

COO Alliance Website: https://cooalliance.com/    

Personal Website: https://cameronherold.com/   

—