Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this episode, Derek Fredrickson sits down with Rocky Anderson, Founder of ADC Water, to share a candid behind-the-scenes look at how bringing on a fractional COO from The COO Solution transformed his engineering firm from a cash-burning, chaotic operation into a scalable, purpose-driven business.

Rocky opens up about the emotional toll of trying to scale alone, how he discovered the concept of a fractional Chief Operating Officer (COO)as his trusted second-in-command, and the massive operational and financial shifts that have occurred in just a few short months. From tripling revenue to reclaiming time with family, this conversation is a powerful case study on what’s possible when visionary CEOs get the right support.

In This Episode:

[01:25] From Lifestyle to Legacy: Why Rocky decided to scale—and how that decision almost broke the business.

[04:20] Discovering The COO Solution: How a conversation changed everything and led to a “no-brainer” decision.

[08:15] Visionary vs. Operator: The assessments that revealed Rocky’s true genius—and why stepping back was the key to moving forward.

[11:33] Systems, Structure, and Scaling: How Rocky’s team began hitting every project milestone with less of his involvement.

[13:22] The Financial Turnaround: From $65K to $350K/month and a projected 50% net profit—what changed?

[15:54] Scaling with Heart: Why this growth journey is more than numbers—it’s about serving more people and building deep relationships.

[20:43] Hiring & Team Clarity: The operational map that’s helping Rocky onboard the right people at the right time.

[24:17] Personal Wins: More peace, more presence, and a renewed sense of purpose as a leader and father.

[31:06] Advice to Entrepreneurs: Why every growth-minded business owner should consider fractional COO support—sooner rather than later.

📌 Why This Matters

This episode shows what happens when visionary entrepreneurs stop trying to do it all and start building the support structure their business needs to thrive. Rocky’s story is a blueprint for scaling smarter, not harder, while preserving the heart and mission behind the work.

✅ Action Steps for Listeners:

• What part of your business can’t run without you—and why??
• Explore the difference a fractional COO could make for your growth.
• Map out your visionary role—and start pulling back from the rest.

• Rocky Anderson’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wastewatermanagement/
• ADC Water website - https://www.adcwater.com/
• Free Quiz – Take the free 25-question quiz to see if your business is ready for the support of a Fractional COO: https://thecoosolution.com
• Podcast Page – https://thecoosolution.com/podcast

Let’s connect:

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👉 If you found this episode valuable, share it with a fellow business owner ready to scale smarter!

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