Founder Independence
The podcast for founders that focuses on one core question:
How to build a SME company that runs and grows profitably without you being the bottleneck?
Why Should You Listen?
Each episode dives into the systems, structures, and leadership mechanics that allow companies to operate independently of their founders.
No theory. No corporate BS.
Just practical thinking for leaders who want their business to scale without burning themselves out.
Different formats. Same mission.
If your company still depends on you, you don’t have a leadership problem.
You have a system problem.
This podcast exists to fix that.
Latest Episodes
Founder Independence is for founders and business owners who feel their company depends on them for every decision, every escalation, and every problem. As the business grows, that dependence gets worse—and so does the stress. This show focuses on one question: how do you build a company that runs professionally without you being the bottleneck? This isn’t motivation or quick tips. It’s practical systems work: removing decision bottlenecks, stopping problems from always traveling upward, and building consistent execution that doesn’t require the founder to be involved in everything. We’ll also break down why “just hire better people” and “just delegate more” fails when the sequence and structure are wrong. You’ll hear a mix of formats: deep-dive conversations with Bernd Geropp and Brian Creager (moderator and sparring partner), interviews with founders and experts who have solved parts of the puzzle, and occasional solo episodes when a topic demands it. Each episode aims to move you one step closer to true founder independence—system by system.
In this episode, Kelly Costello and Bernd Geropp discuss effective leadership, hiring strategies, and the importance of attitude over skills in building a motivated team. They explore practical approaches to testing potential employees and the costs associated with training, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs and managers.
Key Topics
Promoting employees based on potential and attitude
Using project assignments to test leadership skills
The cost and emotional toll of training employees
Hiring B players and training them into A players
The importance of clear, black-and-white job roles
Challenges of hiring in niche markets like e-commerce
Deciding whether to grow or maintain a lean operation
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Puppy Cake and Kelly’s Journey
00:33 Navigating Growth and Team Dynamics
04:33 Training and Developing Employees
10:57 Deciding on Business Growth and Employee Models
15:31 FI023 Outro.mp3
Links Mentioned in the Show:
AI and Leadership Course: https://fipodcast.vip/ai
Checklists for Leaders: https://berndgeropp.com/check
Leadership Crash Course: https://fipodcast.vip/crashcourse
Weekly Actionable Leadership Tips: https://fipodcast.vip/xbzv
Kelly Costello – Puppy Cake – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellycostello
Puppy Cake – https://www.puppycake.com
Credits:
Host: Bernd Geropp
Moderator: Brian Creager
Producer: Brian Creager
Editor: Brian Creager
Executive Producer: Bernd Geropp
To catch the great episodes coming up on Founder Independence, please follow us on Bernd’s YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
If you would like new episodes emailed directly to you, subscribe at https://www.berndgeropp.com/subscribe/
