Welcome to The COO Solution Podcast, the go-to resource for business owners, CEOs, and visionary entrepreneurs looking to scale smarter, lead better, and build businesses that run without bottlenecks. I’m your host, Derek Fredrickson, and today’s episode tackles one of the biggest game-changers in business leadership: knowing the difference between the visionary and the operator—and owning your zone of genius.

In This Episode:

[00:58] Why You Can’t Be Both – The common mistake visionary entrepreneurs make when they try to manage everything themselves.

[01:47] Visionary vs. Operator, Defined – A breakdown of the strengths, roles, and responsibilities of each—and why trying to be both stalls your growth.

[04:37] Why Most Visionaries Struggle Without an Operator – From bottlenecks to burnout, staying in the weeds drains your energy and slows your scale.

[07:57] What Changes When You Fully Embrace Your Role – How stepping into your visionary power unlocks freedom, revenue, momentum, and team alignment.

[10:36] Action Challenge – A step-by-step exercise to help you clarify your role and delegate like a pro.

Why This Matters

If your business still depends on you to function, it’s not a business; it’s a job. And the longer you play visionary and operator, the more you stay stuck in survival mode. This episode clarifies your role as a leader and gives you the permission and framework to focus on what you do best.

Action Steps for Listeners:

✅ List 10–15 tasks you’ve done in the last 3 days.

✅ Circle what only you, the visionary, can do.

✅ Underline what an operator (or team member) could take over.

✅ Stay focused on what’s in the circle. That’s your lane. That’s your edge.

Resources & Links:

• 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

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Let’s connect:

➡️ LinkedIn: https:/linkedin.com/in/derekfredrickson

➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecoosolution/

➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecoosolution/

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