

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

Jun 3, 2025 • 26min
How to Turn Words into Wealth with Aurora Winter (stage 2) - Ep. 292
In this transformative episode, Aurora Winter shares how you can turn your story into a powerful brand to grow your business. If you’re struggling to stand out, or if you feel stuck in a job instead of a business, you won’t want to miss it.You will discover:- Why your brand is the story others tell to build trust and credibility- How to use a book to scale beyond local limits and attract clients- What neuroscience tips cut through noise to share your story effectivelyThis 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/quizAurora Winter, MBA, is an award-winning, bestselling author. She is a successful serial entrepreneur, media trainer, creator of the Spoken Author™ method, and founder of Same Page Publishing. Aurora left her lucrative career as a TV executive decades ago to become a full-time author, trainer, and entrepreneur. Using storytelling for business, she created a life of freedom, creativity, and contribution. Now, she helps her clients turn their words into wealth, wisdom, and wonder.Want to learn more about Aurora Winter's work at www.aurorawinter.com/? Check out her website at https://www.aurorawinter.com/ and get a copy of her book, Turn Words into Wealth, at turnwordsintowealth.comMentioned 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

Jun 3, 2025 • 25min
Traditional Strategic Planning Doesn't Work with Lee Benson (stages 4,5) - Ep. 291
In this clarifying episode, Lee Benson, CEO of Execute to Win, takes aim at two enormous problems founders face (especially when they hire coaches or consultants).You will discover:- Why traditional strategic planning never works sustainably (leading to Treadmill)- Why your operating system, no matter what it's called or how much you love it, will grow your business (and what will)- A clear definition of success for every CEOThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stages 4,5 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/quizLee Benson is a value creation expert and CEO of Execute to Win, a firm that helps organizations of all sizes to accelerate the value they create. He founded and led seven companies, including Able Aerospace, which grew from 2 to 500 employees and a 9-figure exit in 2016. He is also a 2x Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Your Most Important Number and Value Creation Kid, which helps parents teach their kids about money and value-creation tactics.Want to learn more about Lee Benson's work at Execute to Win? Check out his website at https://etw.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

May 27, 2025 • 23min
The Secret to Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur with Pia Silva (stage 2) - Ep. 290
In this BS free episode, Pia Silva, Owner of No BS Agency Mastery, shares how she went from struggling as an entrepreneur to making $40k+ per month, by doing less things for fewer people. If you are looking to boost your profits as an Entrepreneur (in stage 2) without giving up your time, you won't want to miss this episode.You will discover:- How do overcome the fear of niching down- The one thing that separates the most successful stage 2 entrepreneurs from those that barely scrape by- The most important word in businessThis 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/quizEntrepreneur, speaker, and author Pia Silva is a small branding agency coach, a partner, and a brand strategist at Worstofall Design. She helps small branding agencies go from drained & stretched thin to in-demand specialists with total control over their process. In 2021, she founded No BS Agency Mastery, a training program where she teaches 1-2-person branding agencies how to scale to $30-50k months while reducing their workload by up to 80% without employees. Pia has delivered a popular TED Talk on cultivating true confidence.Want to learn more about Pia Silva's work at No BS Agency Mastery? Check out her website at https://www.nobsagencies.com/. You can get a audio version of her book "Badass Your Brand: The Impatient Entrepreneur's Guide to Turning Expertise into Profit" for free at https://www.nobsagencies.com/secrets or buy a copy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Fb4cKEMentioned 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

May 20, 2025 • 26min
How to Only Market to Your Best Customers with James Hipkin (Stages 2, 3) - Ep. 289
In this successful episode, James Hipkin, CEO and Founder of Inn8ly, shares how he helps founders achieve extraordinary success, by mastering digital marketing.You will discover:- Why every startup entrepreneur needs to excel at digital marketing- How to figure out which digital channels you should be on- The biggest mistake brands make when defining who they market toThis episode is ideal for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stages 2 and 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/quizJames Hipkin is a seasoned marketing expert with over 40 years of experience helping brands build meaningful, lasting connections with their customers. Starting his career with global giants like Apple, Visa, and Toyota Today, as the CEO of Inn8ly, he empowers small and medium-sized businesses with AI-driven marketing tools and website solutions designed to simplify digital growth. His innovative tool, Marketing Sage, enables business owners to create detailed customer avatars and journey maps, transforming data into actionable insights for targeted, customer-centric marketing.Want to learn more about James Hipkin's work at Inn8ly? Check out his website at https://inn8ly.com/ VIPChatWithJames.com or MarketingSageAdvantage.com. You can also get a copy of his book "Journey to Success: Digital Marketing for Small Business Owners" on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4bA1F8JMentioned 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

May 20, 2025 • 25min
The Blue Collar of Scalable Success with Ritavan (stage 5) - Ep. 288
In this transformative episode, Ritavan shares how you can reignite growth by leveraging your data-driven edge with the SLASOG framework. If you’re struggling with stagnant growth despite past success, or if you feel left behind by tech-driven competitors, you won’t want to miss it.You will discover:- Why your legacy business gives you an unfair edge to outshine tech competitors- How to stop spray-and-pray data strategies to focus on what works- What scarcity mindset shift unlocks new growth in a data-driven worldThis 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/quizRitavan is an entrepreneurial technology leader with a decade of experience focused on data-driven business impact. He has authored peer-reviewed papers, given invited talks at global conferences, and holds an international patent. Known for his first principles approach to building and scaling data-driven solutions across industries, Ritavan combines deep technical expertise with strategic vision and an execution-focused mindset. His latest book offers actionable insights to accelerate data-driven value creation for non-software native businesses.Want to learn more about Ritavan's work at www.ritavan.com? Check out his website at https://www.ritavan.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

May 20, 2025 • 26min
Becoming a True Owner with Mark L. Vincent (Stage 5) - Ep. 287
In this elite episode, Mark L. Vincent, Executive Advisor of Teall Vincent Enterprises, shares how he has helped hundreds of founder/CEOs become True Owners so they can own their business without having to run it!You will discover:- How to find a new CEO to replace you- A clear sign you're waiting to long to start planing your succession- How much you should be involved as an ownerThis 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/quizChad E. Cooper is a renowned author, speaker, and coach recognized for empowering individuals and organizations to achieve legendary lives. A retired Fortune 500 executive, his expertise spans leadership, philanthropy, and personal development. His mission is to help people align their actions with their values, fostering a legacy of impact and excellence. Through his engaging workshops and coaching, Chad inspires others to lead purposeful lives and create meaningful change.Want to learn more about Chad Cooper's work at chadecooper.com? Check out his website at https://www.chadecooper.com/ where you can get the audio versio of his book for free. If you'd like to support Chad you can also pick up a copy of his book Time Isn't the Problem, You Are and leave him a 5 star review at https://amzn.to/4brrlo5.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

May 13, 2025 • 26min
The Legendary Life of Founders with Chad Cooper (stage 1) - Ep. 286
In this legendary episode, Chad Cooper, owner of chadecooper.com, shares how he has used his strategies to retire from Microsoft at age 35 and shared them with others who want to lead a legendary life. If you're frustrated with your job or feel like you're on your way to a dead end, check out this episode where Chad shows us how to find our purpose, lead a legendary life, and, if it's right for you, start a thriving business or nonprofit as well!You will discover:- The legendary life your were called to live- What genius is and how to find it in yourself- how to break free of the myth of balance with a "3rd mover"This episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 1 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/quizChad E. Cooper is a renowned author, speaker, and coach recognized for empowering individuals and organizations to achieve legendary lives. A retired Fortune 500 executive, his expertise spans leadership, philanthropy, and personal development. His mission is to help people align their actions with their values, fostering a legacy of impact and excellence. Through his engaging workshops and coaching, Chad inspires others to lead purposeful lives and create meaningful change.Want to learn more about Chad Cooper's work at chadecooper.com? Check out his website at https://www.chadecooper.com/ where you can get the audio version of his book for free. If you'd like to support Chad you can also pick up a copy of his book Time Isn't the Problem, You Are and leave him a 5 star review at https://amzn.to/4brrlo5.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

May 13, 2025 • 24min
How the Smartest People Win with Bill Barnett (stages 1,2,3,4,5,6,7) - Ep. 285
In this relational episode, Bill Barnett, CEO of Smarter Minds Network, shares how he has leverage the power of meaningful relationships to build multiple wildly successful business across industries from film to ed tech. If you're a founder who wants to learn how to get more done with less effort by building powerful relationships, you want want to miss this episode!You will discover:- The single biggest quality in building relationships- Why you need to unlearn everything you know/believe about networking- The strategic relationshipsThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stages 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 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/quizBill Barnett's distinguished career encompasses the entertainment and communications sectors, with significant achievements in television, film, radio, and digital technologies. With a track record as CEO and President of over a dozen companies, Bill possesses deep insights into the psychology of business networking, the art of strategic relationship-building, and the nuances of effective communication. His expertise includes identifying and capitalizing on investment opportunities and fostering entrepreneurial ventures.Want to learn more about Bill Barnett's work at Smarter Minds Network? Check out his website at https://www.smartermindsnetwork.com/ and get a copy of his book Smarter Minds: Recruit and Leverage Others for Sustainable Success https://amzn.to/3XmFdKAMentioned 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

May 6, 2025 • 23min
Breakthrough for Female Entrepreneurs with Lezly Kaye (stages 2,3) - Ep. 284
In this powerful episode, Lezly Kaye, Founder of Grounded Leadership, shares the lessons she's learned about how our personal pain holds us back from entrepreneurial breakthroughs. There's incredible truth in this episode for every Reluctant Manager listening, but it's at a whole different level for women in business with a vision for more!You will discover:- How entrepreneurial success is found at the intersection of psychology and strategy- Who is really running your business (and it's not the current you)- How simple and powerful delegation can be for Reluctant ManagersThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stages 2,3 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/quizLezly Kaye, Australia’s leading CEO Architect, mentors multi-six-figure leaders looking to scale their businesses quickly without sacrificing who they are. Drawing on her experience building a $60 million empire, Lezly partners with high-achieving women to elevate their business strategies and leadership styles, guiding them through the critical growth stages with clarity and confidence. Lezly assists her clients in overcoming obstacles, tackling self-sabotage, and achieving sustainable growth while preserving their sense of fulfillment and connections.Want to learn more about Lezly Kaye's work at Grounded Leadership? Check out her website at https://www.groundedleadership.com/ or connect with her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lezlykaye/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

May 6, 2025 • 23min
You Can't Define A Culture with Words Alone with Laura Buckley (stages 4,5,6) - Ep. 283
In this whole human episode, Laura Buckley, Owner of Laura Buckley Coaching and Consulting, Inc., shares how she has taken the lessons she's learned as an Army Officer, A Registered Dietician, and a Leadership Consultant to help her clients build strong cultures they are proud to call their own! If you're frustrated that your culture isn't as strong as it once was, or if you're curious to know how vital your physical health and well-being are to maintaining a strong culture, you won't want to miss this episode.You will discover:- Why you can't build a strong culture with words (and what you CAN use instead)- How to assess the strength of your culture- When you can no longer build it yourself (AND why it can't be built without you)Laura Buckley is a former Army Officer and Registered Dietitian turned leadership consultant. She spends her days helping leaders create more engaged and empowered teams and shift their cultures so people can thrive. Laura has extensive experience in leadership development, culture change, and organizational assessments. She works with private companies, federal agencies, and non-profit organizations. Laura highlights a shift in workplace dynamics from "command and control" to leadership through personal impact to attract top talent and achieve excellent results. She dedicates herself to helping clients develop systems and strategies for success in the modern work environment.Want to learn more about Laura Buckley's work at Laura Buckley Coaching and Consulting, Inc.? Check out her website at https://www.laurabuckleycoaching.comMentioned 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


