What if the CEO’s job isn’t to run the company?

In this episode of The Untrapped Entrepreneur, Derek Fredrickson, founder and CEO of The COO Solution, challenges one of the most common assumptions entrepreneurs make as their businesses grow: that because they can do everything, they should keep doing everything.

Derek explains why founders should spend more time thinking and less time doing, why entrepreneurs often become trapped as the operator inside their own company, and how getting out of the day-to-day can unlock greater clarity, confidence, growth, and freedom.

We also discuss Derek’s journey from fractional COO to founder and CEO, how he built a seven-figure business in his first year, why he had to overcome his own resistance to sales, and the mindset shift that allowed him to step out of the room and trust his team to deliver results without him.

Thank you to our sponsor Forja:

https://www.forjaanalytics.com/en

https://www.linkedin.com/company/forjaanalytics/

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(Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/untrapped-entrepreneur/

Website: https://untrapped.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untrappedpod/

Buying a business is supposed to create freedom. But what happens when you spend your money, take the risk, and end up creating another job for yourself?

In this episode of The Untrapped Entrepreneur, Greg Mohr, founder of Franchise Maven and bestselling author of Real Freedom, breaks down one of the most common traps he sees franchise owners and entrepreneurs fall into: doing everything themselves.

Greg has helped hundreds of people invest in franchise territories, but he has also helped thousands realize that franchise ownership was not the right fit for them at that point in their lives. In this conversation, he explains the difference between a founder and a franchisee, how to evaluate whether a franchise actually fits your skills and goals, and why following a proven system matters.

Thank you to our sponsor Forja:

https://www.forjaanalytics.com/en

https://www.linkedin.com/company/forjaanalytics/

What happens when you achieve the success you thought would make you happy, and it still doesn’t feel like enough?

In this episode of The Untrapped Entrepreneur, Steve Barton, founder of Steve Barton Coaching and creator of the Game of Ten, shares lessons from more than four decades in business, including growing his family’s floral company from $200,000 to more than $2 million in annual revenue before moving into leadership and performance coaching.

Steve breaks down some of the most common beliefs he sees holding entrepreneurs and high achievers back: “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t do enough,” and “I don’t have enough.” We explore why successful people can become trapped chasing more, what happens when your business or achievements become your identity, and why reaching the next financial or professional milestone may not solve the underlying problem.

Thank you to our sponsor Forja:

https://www.forjaanalytics.com/en

https://www.linkedin.com/company/forjaanalytics/

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(Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/untrapped-entrepreneur/

Website: https://untrapped.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untrappedpod/