In this heartfelt episode, we dive deep into the real reasons behind why so many small business owners and entrepreneurs take the leap—often unintentionally—into the role of CEO. From building a business around family needs to redefine success with purpose and intention, this conversation explores what it truly means to live life and run a business on your own terms.

Our hosts reflect on their own journeys into entrepreneurship, the struggles of balancing parenting with business, and how the pursuit of presence—not just profit—can lead to a more fulfilling life and business.

💡 Key Topics Discussed:

🏠 Building a Business Around Family

• The catalyst for starting the business: being more present for children.
• The challenges of corporate life and the decision to prioritize family over career.
• Real stories of attending client meetings on the road while supporting children’s dreams.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 From Corporate to Coaching: A Personal Journey

• Transitioning from a traditional 9-5 to a remote, flexible business model.
• Designing work hours around kids’ schedules—and why that worked even better for clients.

💼 The Accidental CEO Phenomenon

• Why so many business owners never intended to become CEOs.
• How accidental CEOs build businesses out of a skill or need, not strategy.
• The importance of asking, “What do you want?”—and why so many struggle to answer it.

🎯 Purpose, Vision, and Mission Explained

• The danger of being “busy” without intention.
• Redefining vision as decision-making direction, and mission as daily action.
• Why your vision must drive your decisions, and your mission must align with daily actions.

🧠 Presence and the Trap of “Always Building”

• Why new entrepreneurs can’t stay present—and how to break free.
• The shift from building to running your business as a pathway to peace and clarity.
• Solving today’s problems so you can plan for tomorrow’s dreams.

🧱 Simplify to Scale

• How success often leads to overcomplication.
• The counterintuitive truth: doing less but better is the path to growth.
• Why the most successful entrepreneurs take on unreasonable effort to achieve simplicity.

💬 Limiting Beliefs & Relationship Shifts

• How societal and relational beliefs hold accidental CEOs back.
• The impact of friends and family projecting their limitations onto entrepreneurs.
• Personal growth often means changing who you spend time with.

🔦 Client Spotlight:

• A young man inheriting a $4M construction business struggling to find his “why.”
• A single mom esthetician transforming her business and motherhood by letting go of people-pleasing.

🛠️ Tools & Resources Mentioned:

• Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield – for navigating friendship shifts and leveling up.
• The Simple Focus System – a tool to align your vision, mission, and action.
• Free Tools and Resources from Atomic Business Coaching – including assessments, courses, and workshops to help you grow as a business owner.

🔁 Quote Highlights:

“Your vision is in your

In this episode, Tom and Adam dive deep into the messy reality of running a business in today’s rapidly evolving tech environment. From software updates disrupting workflows to business owners struggling with delegation, they explore why simplicity in business often gets lost in the search for optimization. The conversation flows through topics of technology overwhelm, the myth of the perfect system, the fear of failure, and the importance of embracing the journey—mess and all.

The hosts discuss why so many entrepreneurs create new problems after solving old ones, how technology functions like an employee, and why relearning is often the path to mastery. They also unpack the cycle of comfort → fear → learning → growth and why getting stuck in comfort zones kills progress. Throughout the episode, Tom and Adam challenge listeners to rethink their relationship with failure, focus on the process instead of the result, and use technology as a tool for meaningful growth—not just convenience.

Key Topics Covered

🔧 Technology: Friend or Frustration?

• The constant updates and changes in software and hardware.
• Technology as a delegation tool — but what are you doing with the time it frees up?
• Why finding the “perfect” software won't solve your business problems if you’re unclear on your purpose.

🧠 Delegation & the Problem with Free Time

• How new business owners often fill freed-up time with busy work instead of growth activities.
• The critical question: Are you improving your processes, or just trying to avoid them?

🚨 Choosing the Right Problems to Solve

• You will always have problems in business — but are they the ones you choose to solve?
• How to stop reacting to meaningless problems and start tackling the ones that drive your business forward.

😨 Fear of Failure and the Comfort Zone Trap

• Why leaving your comfort zone triggers fear—and why fear is actually your gateway to learning.
• The four stages of growth: Comfort → Fear → Learning → Growth.
• The difference between those who stay “stuck” and those who achieve mastery.

⏳ The Myth of Instant Success

• Why unrealistic timeframes crush motivation.
• Using technology (like AI) to help set realistic expectations for learning curves and project timelines.

🔍 Relearning vs. Learning Something New

• Success often comes from reminding yourself of what you already know, not constantly chasing new skills.
• Reconnecting with your foundational skills instead of constantly searching for the next shiny object.

🧩 Vision, Mission, and Missing the Point

• Most people confuse their mission (what they do daily) with their vision (what they aspire to become).
• Why clarity on your mission helps you build your future vision more intentionally.

💡 The Accidental CEO Mindset

• Business owners who accidentally find themselves leading a company without realizing it.
• Shifting from doing everything yourself to building processes, teams, and tools that drive growth.

Key Quotes

“Success starts with suck. You can’t have success without sucking at it first.”

“Technology is like an employee. But what do you do with the free time it gives you?”

“Fear is the gateway between comfort and learning. Most people stop at fear instead of pushing through.”

“The real failure isn’t doing...

In this powerful and reflective conversation, Tom and Adam unpack the experience of transitioning from running a business by chance to intentionally leading one as a CEO. They reflect on their recent morning workshop, the dynamics of energy in virtual versus in-person sessions, and the importance of intentional leadership. They also dive into how mindset shifts around leadership, hiring, and personal healing influence business growth.

Throughout the episode, they discuss the themes of awareness, permission, and evolution in both business and personal relationships, sharing real-life coaching examples and their own leadership journeys.

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Key Topics Covered

☀️ Morning Energy & Virtual Workshop Reflections

• Tom and Adam share insights from their recent morning online workshop, observing how time of day and participant energy shape the session’s dynamics.

• They discuss the difference between morning and evening attendees — morning participants often being more intentional, sacrificing other commitments like family or fitness to show up.

🧭 From Accidental to Intentional CEO

• The duo opens up about how they both stumbled into their CEO roles, initially treating their business as a side hustle before realizing they had built something real.

• They emphasize the journey of accepting leadership roles and defining their responsibilities as CEO and COO.

• The transition from doing everything themselves to building a team and defining the business intentionally took 3–5 years.

🔑 The Power of Permission & Intention

• Many accidental CEOs struggle with giving themselves permission to succeed, lead, and delegate.

• One client example: an architect who became an intentional CEO by investing in his team, advertising, and trusting the process of cause and effect.

• Healing from past limiting beliefs and stepping into the CEO mindset is a key part of the transformation.

❤️ Healing Through Relationships

• Tom shares the importance of the relationship with oneself and how personal healing impacts leadership and team relationships.

• A powerful coaching example highlights a client who worked through past relationship wounds to show up fully in a new, healthier relationship.

• The conversation explores how unresolved past experiences resurface until they are addressed and integrated.

🧰 The "What Went Right, What Went Wrong, What Do You Need Help With?" Framework

• Adam explains how this simple three-question framework, inspired by his mentor, helps CEOs reflect on their wins, challenges, and areas where they need support.

• This tool encourages business owners to actively ask for help rather than staying stuck in their own heads.

🛠️ Building and Managing a Team

• The 40/60/80% employee competency model:

o 40% competent: Task-doers who free up the CEO’s time but require training.

o 60% competent: Core team members who perform well independently.

o 80% competent: High performers who may eventually outgrow the role and need to be challenged or promoted.

• When to hire specialists and how to ensure hires are aligned with business needs rather than personal gaps.

🔄 Letting Go of Misaligned Team Members

• A real-world coaching story where a client made the difficult but necessary decision to shift a misaligned employee to a different role or release them.

• The key lesson: act in the best interest of the business, not personal comfort.

🕰️ The Value of Reflection Time

• The workshops provide business owners a rare space to pause, reflect, and strategize away from the daily grind.

• Creating intentional space is essential for leadership growth.

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Key Quotes

"Many accidental CEOs are just waiting for permission to succeed."

"You’re packing...

In this deeply honest episode, Tom and Adam pull back the curtain on their recent frustrations with content creation and the overwhelming noise of so-called expert advice. They get real about what it means to remain authentic while building a successful business and coaching practice—especially as they navigate their own commitment to the Method of One framework: one product, one channel, one market, one conversion tool, one year.

They discuss the struggle of balancing perfection with progress, and how hard it can be to stay true to your voice amidst industry noise. More importantly, they reflect on the unique value they bring through deep, trusting relationships and the safe spaces they create for clients—whether it's in one-on-one coaching or live workshops.

This episode is a raw, heartfelt reflection of what truly matters in business: connection, vulnerability, and purpose.

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🧠 In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The trap of content overwhelm and how to push back against external pressure to “be everywhere.”

• How the Method of One brings clarity and direction to entrepreneurs trying to hit their first million.

• Why vulnerability and confidentiality are cornerstones of powerful coaching relationships.

• The difference between giving advice and holding space—and why most people need both.

• How Tom and Adam’s backgrounds in healthcare and finance shape their coaching approach.

• Why people open up to them so easily, and how empathy + boundaries drive transformation.

• The power of intentionality and emotional safety in unlocking real change.

• The role of “Brooklyn Tom”—the decisive, no-BS side of coaching that helps clients finally take action.

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💬 Memorable Quotes

“We know what we should be doing, but then we hear what we could be doing—and it just gets noisy.”

“We treat every client like an adult, a peer. Not because we’re better, but because we’ve been there—and we’re here with you.”

“Vulnerability thrives in safety. That’s what we create—every client, every session.”

“Sometimes people just need permission to go after the life they really want. We give them that.”

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💎 Highlight Moment

Adam shares a powerful story about a med spa owner who had a breakthrough moment—not from advice, but from finally surrendering to her truth. She stopped waiting for validation and started taking real, bold action. That moment embodies everything Atomic stands for: purposeful transformation led by intuition, trust, and execution.

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🎯 Who Should Listen

• Business owners feeling overwhelmed with content and direction

• Coaches and consultants struggling with imposter syndrome

• Anyone navigating the transition from practitioner to CEO

• Parents balancing family life with entrepreneurial ambition

• Entrepreneurs ready to trade perfectionism for purposeful progress

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📲 Connect With Us

Ready to step into your purpose and build a business that fits your life?

🔗 Visit AtomicBusinessCoaching.com

📱 Follow us on LinkedIn for updates, insights, and live workshops

💥 Start your transformation—free and paid options available

In this episode, we open with a story about wanting to use Nas’s track "Spicy" as our theme music—and what happens when audio hits differently depending on where you hear it. From there, we dig deep into the challenges and transformations that every accidental CEO faces. From financial freedom to micromanagement, to finding clarity and trusting your intuition, this conversation is packed with candid insights and practical strategies to help you lead your business with intention.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

🎵 When Dreams Meet Copyright Laws

• Why “Spicy” by Nas almost became our theme song.

• How sound can move you—especially in a Bose surround system.

• The difference between radio and podcast licensing rules.

💰 Redefining Rich

• The moment you know you're rich: when more money doesn’t change your life.

• Financial freedom as a mindset, not a number.

• Why explaining this to others might feel awkward, but is worth it.

🧭 Finding Clarity as an Accidental CEO

• Why flexibility and freedom are the true goals of most entrepreneurs.

• The identity shift from employee to business owner.

• How to uncover your true intention behind starting your business.

⚖️ Making Choices That Align with Vision

• How lack of clarity leads to overwhelm and paralysis.

• The importance of decision-making in business evolution.

• Choosing based on vision, not pressure.

🧠 Trusting Your Intuition

• Why intuition is one of your greatest tools.

• A bad plan > no plan: the value of learning through action.

• How trusting your gut creates momentum.

🏃‍♂️ The Power of the Sprint

• Introducing “The Sprint”: a 2–6 week challenge to spark innovation.

• How short bursts of intensity lead to big wins or powerful lessons.

• Staying inspired when growth becomes “business as usual.”

🎯 Milestones vs. Destination

• Why reaching your goal can feel anti-climactic.

• Reframing the “end point” as just another step.

• The work is the goal. Always.

🧱 Transitioning from Doer to CEO

• Understanding that delegation isn’t just outsourcing—it’s reclaiming your time to create.

• Letting go of the Controller Saboteur and its micromanagement habits.

• The CEO’s real job: create revenue, products, processes, and people.

💡 Staying Unique in a World of Gurus

• Don’t copy someone else's “winning lottery numbers.”

• Remaining innovative and authentic to your original business vision.

• Customizing strategies for your business, your way.

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🧪 Free Tool: Accidental CEO Assessment

We’ve created a FREE 5-minute assessment to help you understand what phase of the CEO journey you’re in—and what your next steps should be. Perfect for anyone who’s transitioned from employee to entrepreneur and is ready to lead with purpose.

👉 https://atomicbusinesscoaching.online/assessment-main

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🧑‍🏫 Join Our Weekly Workshop!

Check out our Accidental CEO Workshops—live sessions designed to help business owners just like you reframe their thinking, develop leadership clarity, and grow sustainably.

📍Available both virtually and in-person on Long Island

🗓 Held every Wednesday

🔗 https://atomicbusinesscoaching.online/accidental-ceo-workshop

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👋 Final Thoughts:

you,If you’ve ever felt stuck after achieving a major milestone or are unsure what being a CEO really requires of you then...

In this episode, Tom and Adam explore what it truly means to evolve as a business owner—emotionally, mentally, and strategically. Starting with a nostalgic nod to Nas and how music takes on new meaning as you grow, they unpack the transformative journey of moving from being an accidental CEO to an intentional CEO.

They share candid stories and insights about how learning the “language” of business—just like learning a foreign language—requires immersion, repetition, and resilience. Whether you’re a solopreneur or scaling a company, the mindset shift from simply generating income to building a sustainable business is both confronting and empowering.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Music & Perspective: How revisiting the lyrics of Nas through the lens of fatherhood and entrepreneurship reflects deeper truths about mindset and maturity.
• Hearing vs. Listening: Many entrepreneurs hear advice, but only listen when they’re ready. Growth phases dictate when lessons truly land.
• Business as a Language: Running a business is like learning a new language. When stress hits, most default back to their “native language” — old habits, fears, and limiting beliefs.
• No Such Thing as Timing: Growth isn’t about timing, it’s about readiness and translation. You’ve probably heard what you need before—it just didn’t click until now.
• Intensity Over Comfort: Too many new business owners get soft after early success. Adam reminds listeners: building a business requires relentless intensity and “violent” commitment.
• Celebrate, Then Move On: Wins and losses both require short-term memory. Be a “goldfish”—acknowledge it, then move forward with purpose.
• Vision and Intention: Success stems from a clear vision and intentional decisions. Your strategy must align with whether you’re building a lifestyle business or a scalable company.

💬 Notable Quotes:

“You don’t need to hear something new—you just need to hear it in a new way.” — Adam Hurd

“Stress makes you default to your native language. If that language is self-doubt or sabotage, you won’t grow your business.” — Tom Marino

“If you’re getting soft after a few wins, you’re in trouble. Business takes aggression and clarity every day.” — Adam Hurd

🚀 Resources Mentioned:

• 🎓 Accidental CEO Interactive Workshop – Join Tom & Adam live to work through your current business challenges and start learning the real language of leadership.
• Explore their brand-new, revamped website to learn more about the programs and mindset tools that help entrepreneurs thrive.

🙌 Join the Community:

✅ Visit: AtomicBusinessCoaching.com

📧 Sign up for our newsletter

💬 Book a discovery call

🎙️ Subscribe & Review the podcast on your favorite platform

Hosts: Tom Marino & Adam Hurd

Presented by: Atomic Business Coaching

🔍 Episode Summary:

Tom and Adam reveal how they—and many of their clients—became accidental CEOs: people who never planned to run a business but ended up building one. They share personal stories, client examples, and insights into how they coach entrepreneurs through chaos to clarity by focusing on both business strategy and personal growth.

🔑 Highlights:

• What is an Accidental CEO?

Skilled professionals who turn their craft into a business without realizing the full scope of being a CEO.

• The Dual Approach:

Adam focuses on business systems; Tom helps with mindset and personal development. Together, they support clients holistically.

• From Chaos to Clarity:

Most struggle due to lack of systems and self-awareness. Atomic helps simplify and stabilize both business and life.

• Mindset Shift Required:

Growth means becoming the person capable of running a successful, million-dollar business—not just building one.

• No More Band-Aids:

Clients often stack temporary fixes. Tom and Adam guide them to rebuild with solid foundations.

• You Can’t Do It Alone:

True growth comes with the right support—be it a partner, coach, or team.

• Health, Relationships & Harmony:

Success requires attention to physical health, relationships, and personal well-being—not just profits.

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🎯 Join the Accidental CEO Workshop

A free, interactive experience with 6–8 entrepreneurs to tackle challenges and gain clarity.

🔗 atomicbusinesscoaching.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Adam Hurd | Tom Marino

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Quote of the Episode:

“Becoming the CEO is not just about growing the business—it’s about growing you.”

In this heartfelt and empowering episode, Tom Marino and Adam Hurd dive deep into what it really means to face the end of one chapter—and how to embrace the beginning of the next. Using the emotional close of Tom’s son’s high school baseball season as a launching point, the duo draws profound parallels between sports, life, and entrepreneurship.

This episode explores how business owners often hit plateaus, experience burnout, or feel stuck after achieving a milestone. The key message: your “ending” is never the end—it’s the beginning of your next opportunity. Whether you’re shifting from solo operations to building a team or struggling with letting go of control, Tom and Adam offer a blueprint for sustainable growth, mindset transformation, and scaling through smart decisions and strategic help.

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• The Agony of Defeat as a Launchpad: Tom reflects on his son’s final school baseball game and relates the emotional weight of endings to the natural seasons of business ownership.
• Every Sales Call Is a New Beginning: Adam highlights how no one knows your past failures—each client interaction is a fresh start.
• From Skillset to CEO Mindset: Discover how most entrepreneurs start businesses based on one core skill and why scaling requires stepping beyond that initial comfort zone.
• Why C-Students Make Great CEOs: An unexpected insight into how knowing your limits and hiring the right people can be more powerful than trying to master everything.
• Revenue, Development, and Delegation: Learn the two primary roles of a CEO and how to structure your business for growth without burnout.
• Investment vs. Expense: Understand the mindset shift required to see hiring as a necessary investment, not a financial burden.
• The Power of Partnerships: Tom and Adam share how their complementary strengths created Atomic Business Coaching—and how others can build similar synergy.
• Mastermind Collaboration: A call to tap into the power of community, like their F1R$T M Club, where peer feedback and shared experiences fuel exponential growth.

🔥 Quote of the Episode

“Do you want to be a business owner—or did you just create a high-paying job for yourself?”

🍏 Special Offer for Loyal Listeners

Still listening? DM “🍎 apples” to @AtomicBusinessCoaching on Instagram or message Tom Marino or Adam Thomas on LinkedIn for a FREE coaching session. This one’s for the 1% who stick around till the end—how do you like them apples?

💬 Join the Conversation

Connect with us on:

• Instagram: @AtomicBusinessCoaching
• LinkedIn: Tom Marino | Adam Thomas

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