About this episode
In this episode of Founders Story, Allison Maslan—an entrepreneur with over forty years of experience and the founder/CEO of Pinnacle Global Network—shares her journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to building ten companies across diverse industries. Allison dives deep into the challenges of scaling a business, the importance of transitioning from an operator to a visionary leader, and her proven five-phase model for scaling. Along the way, she reveals how she’s helped over 150,000 entrepreneurs overcome the pitfalls of micromanagement, burnout, and operational overwhelm to create sustainable, team-managed businesses. Key Discussion Points The Entrepreneurial Spark Family Influence: Inspired by her grandfather’s and father’s ventures in the retail space, Allison developed a passion for business from an early age. Early Beginnings: She launched her first business at nineteen, setting the stage for a lifelong entrepreneurial journey. Transitioning from Operator to Visionary Overcoming Early Challenges: She faced significant stress and burnout in the early days of managing every aspect of her businesses, including a near-fatal car accident due to overexertion. Mindset Shift: Realized the need to move away from being the “end-all” operator to becoming a visionary CEO who empowers a team. The Pinnacle Global Network Solution Solving Common Entrepreneurial Issues: Identified that 95% of business owners struggle with similar challenges—overwhelm, micromanagement, and lack of a clear growth roadmap. Building a Supportive Ecosystem: Founded Pinnacle Global Network in 2010 to provide a community and strategic roadmap that helps CEOs build sustainable, team-managed companies. Premier CEO Network: Currently supports over 150,000 entrepreneurs, offering guidance, mentorship, and a strategic framework for growth. Scaling Phases and Leadership Evolution Five Phases of Scaling a Business: Startup Phase: The early stage where everything revolves around the founder. Pioneer Phase: Transition into mid six-figures with initial team building—often hindered by fear of delegation. Ringleader Phase: Overcoming the pitfalls of micromanagement and clarifying what success looks like. Co-Creator Phase: Developing a collaborative culture where leadership is shared and team members drive initiatives. Visionary Phase: Achieving a founder-independent business model, allowing the CEO to focus on strategic growth and personal well-being. Real-World Example: Shared the transformative journey of Marshall Doyle, who moved from exhaustive day-to-day management to achieving nine-figure revenue and reclaiming his personal life. The Importance of Personal and Company Branding Building a Dual Brand: Emphasizes the need for both a strong personal brand and a champion company brand that resonates with team culture and client values. Attracting the Right Talent: Focuses on promoting company culture, vision, and mission in recruitment to ensure alignment and foster growth. Embracing AI & The Future of Business Integrating Technology: Discusses how AI is being incorporated to enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and support creative decision-making. Maintaining Human Connection: Despite technological advancements, underscores the importance of human connection, team collaboration, and leadership development. Practical Takeaways Embrace Delegation: Transition from being an overbearing operator to a visionary leader by empowering your team and establishing clear roles. Adopt a Proven Growth Roadmap: Utilize the five-phase model to identify which stage your business is in and apply targeted strategies for each phase. Invest in Branding: Build a strong personal and company brand to attract the right talent and create a culture that fuels growth. Leverage Technology: Embrace AI and other innovative tools to streamline operations, but remember that human connection remains key. Focus on Work-Life Balance: Scaling a business should also mean reclaiming your time and energy to lead a fulfilling life. How to Connect Learn More About Pinnacle Global Network: Visit pinnacleglobalnetwork.com to discover more about their services, CEO strategies, and community. Our Sponsors: * Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/FOUNDERSSTORY * Check out Northwest Registered Agent and use my code FOUNDERS for a great deal: https://northwestregisteredagent.com * Check out Plus500: https://plus500.com * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.