

The Start, Scale & Succeed Podcast
Scott Ritzheimer
Scale Architects, founder, CEO and Secrets of The High Demand Coach podcast host Scott Ritzheimer has helped start nearly 20,000 new businesses and nonprofits and launched and sold his own multimillion-dollar business after leading it through an exceptional and extended growth phase (over 10 years of double-digit growth) all before he turned 35.
He realized the biggest secret to success is that there is not one secret to success. There are key strategies, tactics, skills, and mindsets needed at each stage of the journey AND they are different in each stage.
He launched the Start, Scale & Succeed podcast to help you know what you need to do RIGHT NOW to create the success you want. If you're a founder, entrepreneur, owner, or CEO or even if you'd like to be. You'll find episodes guiding you to success in all seven stages of your journey from pre-launch to post-exit.
He realized the biggest secret to success is that there is not one secret to success. There are key strategies, tactics, skills, and mindsets needed at each stage of the journey AND they are different in each stage.
He launched the Start, Scale & Succeed podcast to help you know what you need to do RIGHT NOW to create the success you want. If you're a founder, entrepreneur, owner, or CEO or even if you'd like to be. You'll find episodes guiding you to success in all seven stages of your journey from pre-launch to post-exit.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 4, 2025 • 21min
Why Your Profit is Really Struggling with Stas Sukhinin (stage 4) - Ep. 342
In this pecuniary episode, Stas Sukhinin, Founder of Sorso, shares how to master financial oversight and boost profitability at scale. If you struggle with unclear financials and profit leaks, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- How to regularly review financials to spot issues early- What proactive CFO insights can transform your strategy- Why hiring a fractional CFO prevents costly mistakesThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 4 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizStas Sukhinin has over 19 years of experience in the financial sector, where he played a key role in developing and launching mezzanine loan products that helped shape the Eastern European market. At just 29 years old, he became a senior partner at one of the region’s largest mezzanine loan providers, leading a team of 20 finance professionals and managing a $450 million loan portfolio. Today, Stas works as a Fractional CFO for business owners generating at least $3 million in annual revenue, helping them unlock greater value and profitability from their companies.Want to learn more about Stas Sukhinin's work at Sorso? Check out his website at https://thesorso.com/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Nov 4, 2025 • 19min
The Chess Master's Secret to Escaping the Doing-Everything-Yourself Trap with John Whitt (stage 2) - Ep. 341
In this engaging episode, John Whitt, Owner of BusinessWhitt, shares how to break free from the founder's trap and turn ideas into money. If you struggle with overwhelm and scaling, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- How to prioritize clarity to guide your business strategy- What team-building steps boost your growth potential- How to use testing to validate ideas before scalingThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 2 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizJohn Whitt is an experienced coach and the author of Checkmate!: Translating Ideas Into Money, a book that uses chess as a metaphor for business strategy. John brings over 30 years of experience helping both corporations and small businesses shift their culture, boost results, and improve profitability. As a leadership coach and business growth strategist, he specializes in assisting founders to move from high-stress hustle to structured, values-aligned scale.Want to learn more about John Whitt's work at BusinessWhitt? Check out his website at https://businesswhitt.com/Grab a copy of his book Checkmate!: Winning Tactics for Translating Ideas into Money at https://www.amazon.com/Checkmate-Winning-Tactics-Translating-Ideas/dp/1947341979You can follow John through his Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BusinessWhitt/ and connect in LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjohnwhitt/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Oct 28, 2025 • 24min
The Hidden Legal Time Bomb That's About to Explode Your Growing Business with Jeff Holman (stage 4) - Ep. 340
In this protective episode, Jeff Holman, Founder and CEO of Intellectual Strategies, shares fractional legal strategies for business protection. If you struggle with legal blindsides or IP risks as a startup, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- Why early legal audits prevent costly disputes in stage 2- How fractional teams deliver expert advice without overhead- What IP roadmap aligns with your growth goalsThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 4 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizJeff Holman, founder of Intellectual Strategies, is changing the way startups and scaling businesses access legal support. As the creator of the first Fractional Legal Team at Intellectual Strategies, he’s made it possible for companies to tap into expert legal advice at key points in their growth—without needing a full-time, in-house team. This innovative approach means businesses get exactly the help they need, when they need it, and without the hefty overhead. His Fractional Legal Team model is revolutionizing how companies access the legal support they need, empowering them to focus on their core business. At the same time, he handles the complexities in the background.Want to learn more about Jeff Holman's work at Intellectual Strategies? Check out his website at https://www.intellectualstategies.com/ to sign up for a free 30-minute consultation and learn more about how you can benefit from a fractional legal team.Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Oct 28, 2025 • 20min
Being an Entrepreneur Doesn't Mean You Have to be a Solopreneur with Renee Hastings (stage 2) - Ep. 339
In this practical episode, Renee Hastings, President and CEO of Executive Help Now, shares how virtual assistants free up time for growth. If you struggle with admin overload or productivity dips, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- Why delegating low-value tasks boosts stage 2 focus- How to identify admin for VA offloading- What systems ensure smooth VA integrationThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 2 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizRenee Hastings is the President and CEO of Executive Help Now, a premier virtual assistance agency. With over 15 years of experience, Renee and her team deliver expert administrative support, podcast production, and business consulting services to small business owners, content creators, and busy executives. Starting her entrepreneurial journey in 1996, Renee holds a degree in Business Management and has been a Dale Carnegie Leadership Training Coach. She’s appeared on NBC’s KCRA News 3. She now serves as an inspirational speaker, podcast host, philanthropist, and Small Group Bible Study Coach—her mission: freeing up time for life’s more important moments.Want to learn more about Renee Hastings' work at Executive Help Now? Check out her website at https://executivehelpnow.org/You're an entrepreneur or a Founder, but don't know what to assign to somebody? Text VA NOW to 1-866-943-3591 to get a freebie that will help you through that thought process.Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Oct 21, 2025 • 23min
The Four Elements of an Effective Executive Team with Jay Johnson (stage 5) - Ep. 338
In this bureaucratic episode, Jay Johnson, CEO of Coeus Creative Group, shares behavioral intelligence for team building. If you struggle with personality clashes or self-doubt as a startup founder, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- Why understanding behaviors boosts stage 2 team harmony- How to assess four elements for better hiring- What choosing behaviors empowers founder agencyThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 5 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizJay Johnson works with individuals and organizations to empower teams, drive growth, and enhance leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents.Want to learn more about Jay Johnson's work at Coeus Creative Group? Check out the behavioral assessment at https://behavioralelements.com and connect with Jay on LInkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Oct 21, 2025 • 19min
Stop Settling for Less as a Solopreneur with Stu McLaren (stage 2) - Ep. 337
In this guaranteed episode, Stu McLaren, Co-Founder of Membership.io, shares how memberships scale income without teams. If you struggle with time limits or growth ceilings as a solopreneur, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- Why memberships create recurring revenue in stage 2- How to launch a simple membership in 30 days- What AI automates content for effortless scalingThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 2 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizStu McLaren is the go-to expert for turning passion into profit through membership businesses. As the founder of The Membership Experience and co-founder of Membership.io, Stu has helped thousands of entrepreneurs create recurring revenue and thriving communities by leveraging his proven membership strategies. With over a decade of experience, he’s helped thousands scale their membership programs and grow their impact across the globe. Through his popular program The Membership Experience, Stu has taught actionable frameworks that consistently deliver results for entrepreneurs across industries.Want to learn more about Stu McLaren's work at Membership.io? Check out his website at https://membership.io/ or get a copy of his book Predictable Profits on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Predictable-Profits-Stu-McLaren/dp/1401977782/ref=sr_1_1Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Oct 14, 2025 • 22min
Don’t wait for the doctor to tell you it’s time with Brandon Woodward (stage 6) - Ep. 336
In this strategic episode, Brandon Woodward, Managing Partner of Woodward, Kelley, Fulton & Kaplan, shares legal insights for building wealth management teams. If you struggle with exit planning or asset protection, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- Why a knowledgeable attorney maximizes stage 6 exit value- How to reduce personal spending to boost business profit- What external advisors align for seamless wealth transitionsThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 6 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizBrandon V. Woodward, Esq., has been an expert business attorney for over 25 years. Brandon has closed hundreds of millions of dollars of business acquisitions and is the current President of the Martin County Bar Association. In his career, he has earned the “AV-Preeminent” peer rating (top 7% nationwide) and taught business law at the university level for many years. He is passionate about business and aiding others in the success of their business(es).Want to learn more about Brandon Woodward's work at Woodward, Kelley, Fulton & Kaplan? Check out his website and get a free copy of his Whitepaper at https://www.wkfklaw.com/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Oct 14, 2025 • 20min
Make Friends with Your Imposter with Daphne Dickopf (stage 2) - Ep. 335
In this investing episode, Daphne Dickopf, Founder and Owner of Change Matters Coaching LLC, shares shares tools to overcome imposter syndrome. If you struggle with feeling out of depth as a startup founder, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- Why imposter feelings signal growth in stage 2- How to reframe imposter as an ally for progress- What daily practices build authentic confidenceThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 2 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizDaphne Dickopf owns a consulting, coaching, and training company and is an ICF-certified executive coach, facilitator, and trainer, specializing in individual, team, and organizational development. Her background in international project management and her own leadership experience underpin her belief in every person's innate ability to find the best solutions and chart their path. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Marketing from the Regents Business School in London, United Kingdom, and a dual Master of Business Administration from ESSEC Business School in Paris, France, and the Mannheim Business School in Germany.Want to learn more about Daphne Dickopf's work at Change Matters Coaching LLC? Check out her company website at https://www.change-matters.com/ and her personal website at https://www.daphnedickopf.com/ and get a copy of her book at https://www.amazon.com/Make-Friends-Your-Impostor-Superpower-ebook/dp/B0DZ6H1QPX/ref=sr_1_1Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Oct 7, 2025 • 20min
The One Person You Need to Scale Your Business with Jen Goldman (stage 3) - Ep. 334
In this feasible episode, Jen Goldman, Founder of My Virtual COO, shares operational strategies for scaling teams. If you struggle with team frustration or management overload, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- Why hiring aligned talent prevents management headaches in stage 3- How to implement lean processes for efficient scaling- How to implement lean processes for efficient scalingThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 3 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizJen Goldman brings 30 years of experience as a Business Transformist for Small Businesses. She has transformed hundreds and trained thousands of service businesses on how to scale up teams, profits, and clients through operational, skill, and mindset improvements. Jen’s expertise includes strategic business planning, staff and provider recalibration, change acceleration, tech integration optimization, Lean® process creation, and implementation and high adoption of operational efficiencies. Her philosophy includes Visualization, Productive Collaboration, 4W and 4Ps Purpose Documentation, and IDEOS ™.Want to learn more about Jen Goldman's work at My Virtual COO? Check out her website at https://myvirtualcoo.com/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Oct 7, 2025 • 21min
The Most Overlooked Tool for Success at Scale with Deborah Heiser (stage 5) - Ep. 333
In this instructive episode, Deborah Heiser, Founder and CEO of The Mentor Project, shares strategies for effective mentorship in organizations. If you struggle with leadership development or succession planning, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- Why mentorship fosters generativity for stage 5 legacy- How to implement hierarchical mentoring for team growth- What lateral mentoring enhances cross-functional collaborationThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 5 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizDr. Deborah Heiser is an applied developmental psychologist, the CEO/Founder of The Mentor Project, and author of The Mentorship Edge. She is a TEDx speaker, a member of Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, Thinkers 50 Radar List, an expert contributor to Psychology Today, and is also an Adjunct Professor.Want to learn more about Daphne Dickopf's work at The Mentor Project? Check out her website at https://www.deborahheiser.com/ and get a copy of her book The Mentorship Edge: Creating Maximum Impact through Lateral and Hierarchical Mentoring on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Mentorship-Edge-Unlocking-Potential-Nurturing/dp/1394267118/ref=sr_1_1You can also connect with her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-heiser-phd/ or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deborah_heisertmp/
Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz


