As tech scaleups evolve, so does the complexity of understanding your customer. In a recent Wisdom...
In the founder world, there’s a common aspiration: build the machine, then step away from it. But what if stepping out of the day-to-day isn’t the right move for every CEO?
In a recent episode of Wisdom From Wizards, I sat down with Justin Smith, CEO at Contractor+, to explore this very tension. When asked whether he’d prefer leading a company from the strategy seat or staying hands-on in operations, Justin’s answer was refreshingly candid.
“For a long time, I aspired to get out of the daily operations and become mostly strategic. But I’ve realized I have a knack for operations. I like making sure things are done properly. So I’m an operations guy through and through.”
This isn’t just a personal preference — it’s a strategic edge. Justin knows his strengths, and instead of forcing a textbook evolution into a high-level overseer, he leans into where he adds the most value: ensuring execution aligns with vision.
It’s a helpful reminder for CEOs of scaleups. The goal isn’t to blindly delegate. It’s to figure out where you create the most leverage — and then double down.
Wisdom From Wizards is brought to you by Caribou Strategic, helping tech scaleups stand out and succeed. Every week, we sit down with bold decision-makers to unpack the real choices behind the scenes of scaling companies.
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