The Founder’s Evolution

The Founders Evolution is conceptually brilliant, and it’s practically a necessity for me to walk through, particularly the steps of being a “Star Player” into the role of a “Captain on the Field” and then a “Coach on the Sidelines” and truly coaching the team. Having worked in the frame work for years, I recently found myself coming back to the book as I found myself needing to evolve my leadership once again as a “General Manager in the Box Seats” and truly becoming the CEO I’ve wanted to be. Walking through those steps and knowing what it means to the team and what their actions would be, as I adjust my style leadership has been hugely impactful. If you haven’t checked out The Founder’s Evolution and really dug into the model, I think it will challenge you and help you change your leadership style so you can carry your organization farther, much faster, and with a lot less blood, sweat and tears.

Andy Cook, CEO of Promise686

The Founders Evolution has the authority of a reference manual in the size of a comic. Great truths simply stated and easily understood comes from people who have mastered their subject. It is clear that Scott Ritzheimer has mastered the growth and transformation of founders and visionary leaders. I found myself nodding in agreement at placed I’ve been and lessons I’ve learned. I also found myself rushing through “The Founders Evolution” to find out where this great adventure leads. I recommend the reading and rereading of this great work. It’s deceptively potent and extremely helpful and I guarantee you will laugh out loud to find yourself in its pages. Knowledgeable, perceptive and skillful are often words used to describe Scott, his books and seminars, and The Founders Evolution is no exception. I highly recommend it!

Greg Haswell, Senior Pastor of Northlands Church

Having known you for several years now, I have come to have high expectations, but The Founder’s Evolution is truly your best yet. So grateful for your contributions to our teams.

Bud Handwerk, Convene Chair

The Founder’s Evolution gives you wisdom and insights for entrepreneurs or those about to embark on the journey. Scott takes you through and helps you understand the dynamics of each of the seven stages stage. 

For current entrepreneurs, Scott creates a reflection of the past or a chance to look into a crystal ball and see your future challenges and opportunities, with Scott whispering in your ear, rooting for you and ensuring you can do it. It’s reassuring to know that you’re not alone.

Scott writes from his experience as a serial entrepreneur and from the knowledge and insights of what he has seen and learned helping others.

The essential message is, “You must transform yourself and your role at every stage, and Scott shares with you a blueprint for what’s required, why it’s essential, and what it takes to make it happen.

Scott forces you to ask yourself tough questions at each growth stage to either do what it takes to get to the next level or stay right where you are. 

In each new phase, there are new paradigms that demand entering, leaving an old comfort zone to create a new one. He reassures you that it’s all part of the journey and the dynamics of growth, so embrace it.

 Scott writes, “To do so means to walk away from almost every skill you’ve gained at each stage and replace them with a whole new skill set, a whole new set of tools you don’t know how to use, with instructions written in a language you don’t speak. At every stage, you must decide whether to leave or lead.”

He makes it clear that there are no wrong answers. 

He nails it when he shares that as you grow from doing everything to creating a team where people can do things better than you, you must:

• Focus on your leaders
• Build systems
• and finding a guide or coach

Scott warns us against the temptation to walk away from the journey. “Absenteeism isn’t leadership. Walking away isn’t delegation. To succeed you must be at the game, right there on the sidelines for every minute and every play.”

Scott helps you find the courage as you grow from one stage to the next to resist the temptation to go backward for all the right reasons.

In an incredibly quick and delightful read, he takes you through the journey of the dissatisfied employee in stage one who starts a business to a visionary founder who creates a legacy. The book is full of excellent analogies that make it easy to understand every principle.

Scott shares the importance of embracing every stage along the way – what the challenges are and staying there and enjoying it as if you were in a five-star restaurant dining on a seven-course feast.

He does it with uncanny insights and wisdom. It is a book written by someone who has been there, not an academic but a player who has created and helped others design their legacy.

As any founder who has achieved this, you know it’s a wild ride with challenges and obstacles at every stage. 

Please read this book, savor its wisdom, and let it be your guide and inspiration to create your own legacy. 

Rich Russakoff, coachtothebest.com