In this episode, we dive deep into the real journey of building and scaling companies—from sleeping on the office floor to managing multiple businesses with clarity and purpose.

Connor Tomkies shares honest lessons on delegation, hiring, culture, EOS, and the mental shifts founders must make to avoid burnout and build smarter.

We talk about why fundraising isn't always the answer, how to spot the wave you should ride, and what it means to lead with systems—not stress. You’ll hear how small habits, like aiming to be just 1% better, can change the entire game.

This episode is packed with stories, strategies, and mindset shifts every entrepreneur needs to hear!

Key Topics:

-Building systems that scale

-Hiring people who’ve done the work

-Culture that keeps people around

-Choosing to bootstrap over fundraising

-Growing through 1% daily improvements

Quote From The Episode:

"Focus on getting 1% better — every day, every week, every month, every year."

- Connor Tomkies

Timestamp:

[01:32]: From Dorm Room Hustles to Running 6 Companies: How This Founder Outsmarted Burnout and Scaled Like a Pro

[12:42] What Scaling to 6 Companies Taught Me About Leadership, Burnout, and Remote Teams

[21:19] Why Most Startups Fail at Hiring—and What to Do Instead

[31:37] Why Most Founders Waste Time—and How Systems Thinking Can 10x Your Focus and Scale

[41:05] The Hidden Habits of High-Performing Founders: How to Think, Hire, and Scale Like a Pro

[1:00:33] Founder’s Edge: How to Spot Big Waves, Avoid the Fundraising Trap, and Build Smarter

[1:00:19] What Makes a Founder Great? The Real Lessons No One Teaches You About Building, Scaling, and Living Well

[1:23:56] Outro

Connect with - Connor Tomkies:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/connortomkies

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959

Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence