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...