CEO Playbook Ep 20: Break the $3M Ceiling and Build a Business That Runs Without You

If you’ve ever felt trapped in your own business, unable to step away without everything grinding to a halt, this conversation will hit home. 

Jonathan Herps, four-time CEO and seasoned mentor, shares hard-won lessons on breaking free from founder bottlenecks, smashing through revenue plateaus, and building a business that thrives without you at the center of every decision. 

From overcoming the dreaded “valleys of death” to creating a culture and system that supports predictable growth, Jonathan gives practical strategies for CEOs ready to scale beyond $10M and reclaim their personal freedom.

In this episode of Stories of Scale with Jonathan Herps, you’ll discover:

• How to identify and fix the $3M growth ceiling (00:00)
• The leadership and structural shifts that allow your company to run smoothly when you’re not there (01:44)
• The “valleys of death” that stall most businesses and how to navigate these danger zones to achieve predictable, sustainable growth (02:40)
• The 3 pillars of a $10M self-sustaining company (04:21)
• Planning rhythms that connect your long-term vision to daily execution to keep your business scaling (04:49)

Key takeaways for CEOs and business owners:

• The $3M plateau often happens because the founder is still the hub for sales, delivery, and strategy. Replacing this with clear role ownership is the first step to breaking through.
• A truly self-sustaining business is built by empowering a leadership team with decision rights and aligning them through a shared operating system.
• Growth stalls (“valleys of death”) are predictable. They happen when team size outgrows informal management, and you need systems before you hit the threshold, not after.
• Scaling past $10M requires three non-negotiables: a self-managing team, a culture that drives performance without micromanagement, and processes that protect both profit and quality.

If you’re done being the bottleneck in your own business, this episode is your blueprint for building a company that scales and a life you don’t need a vacation from.

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN HERPS

Website: www.scaleupgrowth.co

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanherps

Facebook: www.facebook.com/scaleupgrowth

Instagram: www.instagram.com/scaleupgrowth

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@scaleupgrowth

Email: [email protected]

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