

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

Feb 3, 2025 • 24min
Who Should and Should Not Launch Their Own Startup with Cecile Peterkin - Ep. 254
In this distinguished episode, Cecile Peterkin, Founder of The Leadership Coaching Centre, shares how she helps aspiring entrepreneurs and Dissatisfied Employees find their best path to fulfillment.You will discover:- How to determine if you should find another job or create one as an entrepreneur- How to identify and eliminate the root cause of your frustration at work- Why your future hinges on your "why" and how to create clarity around it
Cecile Peterkin is the Founder & Chief Transformation Strategist at the Leadership Coaching Centre. She has 22+ years of expertise as a distinguished confidence coach & mentor, helping 1,000+ professionals & aspiring entrepreneurs unleash their unique strengths, pivot with purpose & craft legacy careers. She balances authority with compassion, cultivating a leadership style that is human-centric and dynamic. This not only guides her interactions but shapes the empowering & inclusive environments she’s committed to creating.
Want to learn more about Cecile Peterkin's work at The Leadership Coaching Centre? Check out her website at https://leadershipcoachingcentre.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

Feb 3, 2025 • 19min
The Surprising Cost of Ignoring Your Intuition with Fran Gallaher - Ep. 253
In this intuitive episode, Fran Gallaher, Owner of Really Flourish LLC, shares how she lost touch with her intuition and what it cost her. She also shares how she got it back and how she's now helped thousands of CEOs, executives, and leaders regain their intuition and weave it seamlessly into their individual and team-based decision-making.You will discover:- What intuition is and the severe cost of ignoring it- Why we lose touch with our intuition and how to get it back- How to exercise intuition in a healthy team environment
Fran Gallaher is an Intuitive Leadership Coach working at the intersection of spirituality, psychology, and the practical. Fran assists executives of 7-figure businesses in making better decisions using the power of intuition to access critical and otherwise inaccessible information, drive innovation, increase confidence—especially regarding their executive hires—and avoid leadership fails. Fran uses her intuition to bring information to her clients to establish rapport quickly, shorten the coaching process, and make it extraordinarily personal, powerful, and, most importantly, effective.
Want to learn more about Fran Gallaher's work at Really Flourish LLC? Check out her website at https://www.reallyflourish.com/ or connect with her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/frangallaher/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

Feb 3, 2025 • 20min
How to Master the Technologies You Need to Scale with John Burdett - Ep. 252
In this high-leverage episode, John Burdett, President & CEO of Fast Slow Motion, shares how he has leveraged his passion for helping businesses scale to help 1,000 companies implement game-changing technology to accelerate their growth rapidly. If you're frustrated with your CRM, if you've been running your company without one, or if you're thinking about building your own, DO NOT miss out on the wisdom he shares in this fantastic episode.You will discover:- When to implement a CRM and how to choose the right one- How to plan for an immediate implementation and improve it over time- Why almost no one should build their own CRM from scratch
John Burdett's entrepreneurial journey started with a pivotal realization: his passion lies in helping others build their businesses using scalable systems and processes. John's approach to entrepreneurship is grounded in practical wisdom. His current business, Fast Slow Motion, specializes in helping clients grow using scalable processes built on platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot. With over 1,900 projects completed for almost 1000 clients across various industries, John's journey is a treasure trove of practical wisdom, from bootstrapping businesses to achieving exponential growth without compromising quality.
Want to learn more about John Burdett's work at Fast Slow Motion? Check out his website at https://www.fastslowmotion.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

Feb 3, 2025 • 22min
The Best Way to Inspire and Persuade with Cesar Castro - Ep. 251
In this storied episode, Cesar Castro, Founder of Strategic Storytelling LLC, shares how teaching key communication principles and skills can help business leaders and professionals become great communicators and strategic storytellers!You will discover:- How to add strategy to your storytelling- Why and when to use stories as a leader- A simple 4-part framework for telling more effective stories
Cesar Castro was born in Chile. Professionally, Cesar is a psychologist with two master's degrees, one in organizational psychology and the other in professional communications. He is also an adjunct professor of interpersonal communications & public speaking at Weber State University in Utah. Cesar has founded three companies to help business leaders and entrepreneurs develop more influence and impact through the power of communication and strategic storytelling. He has had the opportunity to coach and train thousands of professionals and leaders from top companies like MasterCard, PepsiCo, Santander, Metlife & KIA.
Want to learn more about Cesar Castro's work at Strategic Storytelling LLC? Check out his website at https://www.cesarcastro.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

Jan 28, 2025 • 19min
The CEO Mindset Every Leader Needs with Lynell Green - Ep. 250
In this storied episode, Cesar Castro, Founder of Strategic Storytelling LLC, shares how teaching key communication principles and skills can help business leaders and professionals become great communicators and strategic storytellers!You will discover:- How to add strategy to your storytelling- Why and when to use stories as a leader- A simple 4-part framework for telling more effective stories
Cesar Castro was born in Chile. Professionally, Cesar is a psychologist with two master's degrees, one in organizational psychology and the other in professional communications. He is also an adjunct professor of interpersonal communications & public speaking at Weber State University in Utah. Cesar has founded three companies to help business leaders and entrepreneurs develop more influence and impact through the power of communication and strategic storytelling. He has had the opportunity to coach and train thousands of professionals and leaders from top companies like MasterCard, PepsiCo, Santander, Metlife & KIA.
Want to learn more about Cesar Castro's work at Strategic Storytelling LLC? Check out his website at https://www.cesarcastro.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

Jan 28, 2025 • 18min
Build People, Build Business with Matthew Sanjari - Ep. 249
In this practical episode, Matthew Sanjari, Founder and Strategic Consultant of PRIME Consulting, shares how he discovered where one of his passions truly lies - helping other leaders and entrepreneurs live their best lives and seeing their businesses thrive, not just survive.You will discover:- Why is it not enough to do the right things? You must also do them in the right order.- The four steps to industry-leading profitability- The crucial differences between success in the Fun stage and success in Predictable Success.
As the founder of PRIME Consulting, Matthew Sanjari leverages over 15 years of business ownership and public speaking experience to empower entrepreneurs and business leaders through coaching and consulting, focusing on pragmatic strategies for scaling businesses and achieving personal growth. With a track record of helping brands surpass their limits and a successful exit to his name, Matthew's holistic approach blends operational strategy with personal development, aiming to elevate clients from day-to-day operations to executive roles; he stays true to his motto: build people, build business.
Want to learn more about Matthew Sanjari's work at PRIME Consulting? Check out his website at https://consultingbyprime.com/ or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-sanjari/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

Jan 21, 2025 • 19min
How to Fight Capital Gains Tax Using Opportunity Zones with Ashley Tison - Ep. 248
In this tax-advantaged episode, Ashley Tison, Founder and President of OZPros, shares how he discovered the biggest economic development incentive offered by Congress and how you can use it to dramatically reduce your tax impact. If you are thinking about selling your business, if you're looking to buy or start a business, or if you're looking for an efficient way to put your money to work for you, you won't want to miss this episode.You will discover:- What an Opportunity Zone is and how you can use it to defer and even dramatically reduce your capital gains taxes.- How to structure a Qualified Opportunity Fund and Qualified Opportunity Zone Business for maximum tax impact.- Why you don't need to be an accredited investor to take advantage of these great opportunities.
Today’s guest, Ashley Tison, is an attorney, professional speaker, and the Founder of OZPros - A full-service Opportunity Zone advisory firm. Ashley has worked in real estate, mergers & acquisitions, business growth and management. He brings his breadth of experience in these areas to help educate and guide investors to navigate Opportunity Zones. He has built a team uniquely positioned to handle the acquisition and securities, real estate, and tax nuances inherent in Opportunity Zone deals.
Want to learn more about Ashley Tison's work at OZPros? Check out his website at https://ozpros.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

Jan 21, 2025 • 21min
How to Double Your Revenue by Charging the Right Price with Robin Waite - Ep. 247
In this immensely practical episode, Robin Waite, Founder of Fearless Business, shares how he empowers coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs to double their income and happiness while significantly reducing their client load.You will discover:- how you can double your income without doubling your workload- how to find the right price for your services- how to boost your confidence when selling
Robin Waite is the Founder of Fearless Business, an expert on pricing, a regular keynote speaker at business events, and bestselling author of several books, including Online Business Startup, Marketing Machine, and the recent popular release Take Your Shot. His expertise is productizing services and helping people articulate the fantastic results these products deliver so they can confidently charge more. He believes crafting a successful business isn't about working harder, it's about working smarter.
Want to learn more about Robin Waite's work at Fearless Business? Check out his website at https://www.robinwaite.com/ and get a copy of his book at https://amzn.to/4eQja5P.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

Jan 14, 2025 • 20min
How to Stop Being a Solopreneur with Jeremy Shapiro - Ep. 246
In this liberating episode, Jeremy Shapiro, Founder and Facilitator of Bay Area Mastermind, shares how he and his mastermind groups have helped solopreneurs achieve the freedom to do what they want when they want, and with whom they want by becoming business owners. If you're tired of being tied down by your business, you won't want to miss this episode.You will discover:- a simple test you can do right now to find out if you’re a solopreneur or a business owner- how to ensure your team delivers consistent quality for your customers- who to hire first and how to dial in your ideal team
In his role as a mentor and coach to entrepreneurs, serial entrepreneur Jeremy B. Shapiro helps small business owners make the transition from “solopreneur” to “business owner” – an important distinction that many entrepreneurs can easily miss when working “in” their business instead of “on” their business. Since 1998, through structured masterminding, one-on-one coaching, and consulting work, Jeremy has been helping entrepreneurs discover the core strengths in themselves and their businesses and realize their true potential, combining passion and expertise to grow their businesses and attain the freedom they deserve.
Want to learn more about Jeremy Shapiro's work at Bay Area Mastermind? Check out his website at https://bayareamastermind.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

Jan 14, 2025 • 22min
The Faster Way to $5M with Charles Gerencser - Ep. 245
In this entrepreneurial episode, Charles Gerencser, Partner of RELENTLESS Venture Studio and Founder of linkedVAnow.com, shares how he has taken his background in enterprise sales and put it to work helping founders and SaaS entrepreneurs go from startup to success with over $5M in annual recurring revenue.You will discover:- How to avoid the complacency that often accompanies the early wins of SaaS companies- Why a few big losses may be just the thing you need to break through and scale up- Why LinkedIn may be the best place for you to generate your next wave of new sales
Charles Gerencser is a Partner at RELENTLESS Venture Studio, focused on sales initiatives, new business, acquisitions, and exits. He is also the Founder of several current RELENTLESS portfolio companies, including LinkedVAnow.com, a full-service managed LinkedIn lead generation system. An accomplished expert in sales and marketing, Mr. Gerencser has held executive and director positions at various media and technology companies, including GANNETT, The McClatchy Company, and iHeartMedia. Mr. Gerencser graduated Cum Laude from The Anderson School of Business at The University of California, Riverside.
To learn more about Charles and his work and to get your free 10-point LinkedIn Profil Audit, visit https://www.linkedvanow.com/audit/ 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


