Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this episode, Derek Fredrickson sits down with Rocky Anderson, Founder of ADC Water, to share a candid behind-the-scenes look at how bringing on a fractional COO from The COO Solution transformed his engineering firm from a cash-burning, chaotic operation into a scalable, purpose-driven business.

Rocky opens up about the emotional toll of trying to scale alone, how he discovered the concept of a fractional Chief Operating Officer (COO)as his trusted second-in-command, and the massive operational and financial shifts that have occurred in just a few short months. From tripling revenue to reclaiming time with family, this conversation is a powerful case study on what’s possible when visionary CEOs get the right support.

In This Episode:

[01:25] From Lifestyle to Legacy: Why Rocky decided to scale—and how that decision almost broke the business.

[04:20] Discovering The COO Solution: How a conversation changed everything and led to a “no-brainer” decision.

[08:15] Visionary vs. Operator: The assessments that revealed Rocky’s true genius—and why stepping back was the key to moving forward.

[11:33] Systems, Structure, and Scaling: How Rocky’s team began hitting every project milestone with less of his involvement.

[13:22] The Financial Turnaround: From $65K to $350K/month and a projected 50% net profit—what changed?

[15:54] Scaling with Heart: Why this growth journey is more than numbers—it’s about serving more people and building deep relationships.

[20:43] Hiring & Team Clarity: The operational map that’s helping Rocky onboard the right people at the right time.

[24:17] Personal Wins: More peace, more presence, and a renewed sense of purpose as a leader and father.

[31:06] Advice to Entrepreneurs: Why every growth-minded business owner should consider fractional COO support—sooner rather than later.

📌 Why This Matters

This episode shows what happens when visionary entrepreneurs stop trying to do it all and start building the support structure their business needs to thrive. Rocky’s story is a blueprint for scaling smarter, not harder, while preserving the heart and mission behind the work.

✅ Action Steps for Listeners:

• What part of your business can’t run without you—and why??
• Explore the difference a fractional COO could make for your growth.
• Map out your visionary role—and start pulling back from the rest.

• Rocky Anderson’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wastewatermanagement/
• ADC Water website - https://www.adcwater.com/
• 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

Let’s connect:

➡️ LinkedIn

➡️ Instagram

➡️ Facebook

👉 If you found this episode valuable, share it with a fellow business owner ready to scale smarter!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 addresses one of the most critical mindset and strategy shifts in entrepreneurship—how to stop being the bottleneck and start building a self-managing business that can run (and grow) without you.

In This Episode:

• [01:05] Why Businesses Stall – How businesses outgrow their systems, leadership styles, and operations.
• [03:20] The Bottleneck Truth – Why the same strategies and systems stop working at scale.
• [04:43] Scaling with Leadership – The need to shift from doing it all to leading strategically.
• [06:08] Operator to Visionary – Why founders must become CEOs, not Chief Everything Officers.
• [07:28] Hiring a Second-in-Command – How a fractional COO or senior OBM can take the reins.
• [08:13] Leadership Culture – Empowering leaders to manage teams and drive accountability.
• [08:57] Operational Systems – SOPs, project management tools, and CRMs to streamline growth.
• [11:54] Living Systems – Why adoption and usage matter more than tools.
• [12:45] Accountability Culture – Establishing clear roles, KPIs, and performance reviews.
• [16:00] Bottlenecks to Break – Identifying operational, leadership, and system bottlenecks.
• [20:14] Evolving Business Models – Shifting models, pricing, and processes to scale smarter.
• [23:22] Summary of Growth Essentials – Six core areas to structure your business for the next level.
• [23:57] Action Assignment – Audit your time, identify bottlenecks, and revise your model for scale.

📌 Why This Matters

If your business can’t grow without you, you’re not scaling—you’re surviving. This episode guides you through the mindset shifts, structural changes, and leadership strategies needed to grow your business beyond your current ceiling truly.

✅ Action Steps for Listeners:

• Audit your calendar, emails, and tasks: What can be delegated?
• Identify where your business model feels stuck and why.
• Explore what systems and support (like a COO) you need for the next level.
• Reflect: “Where am I the bottleneck—and how can I systematize or delegate it?”

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

Subscribe & Stay Connected

New episodes drop soon—subscribe to The COO Solution Podcast so you don’t miss an episode! Let’s connect:

➡️ LinkedIn

➡️ Instagram

➡️ Facebook

👉 If you found this episode valuable, share it with a fellow business owner ready to scale smarter!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to another episode of The COO Solution Podcast! This week, Derek Fredrickson is joined by marketing strategist and CEO of Duct Tape Marketing, Sara Nay. With over 15 years of experience helping small businesses simplify and succeed with smarter marketing strategies, Sara offers a candid look at how business owners can navigate today’s noisy marketing world with clarity, purpose, and efficiency.

In this episode, Sara breaks down why “less is more” is the new marketing mantra, how AI is reshaping execution and creativity, and why the most effective marketing teams are structured around clarity, not chaos.

In This Episode:

• [00:44] The Marketing Strategy Pyramid: How to align business strategy, marketing execution, and team roles for seamless growth.
• [03:24] AI’s Role in Elevating Team Capacity: Why AI isn’t replacing humans—it’s empowering them to lead and think more strategically.
• [12:09] Strategy First, Tactics Second: Why jumping to funnels, ads, or content before mapping a strategy is a costly mistake.
• [15:01] The Entrepreneur’s Role in Marketing: Sara shares how founders can stay involved without micromanaging every campaign.
• [20:50] From Intern to CEO: Sara’s journey through Duct Tape Marketing and how her all-hands experience makes her a better leader.
• [25:53] Marketing Horror Stories & Ownership: Why so many small businesses get burned—and how to protect yourself by owning your strategy.
• [28:57] Building Internal Marketing Assets: How to stop outsourcing everything and start taking control with the right guidance.
• [33:05] Sara’s Final Insight: “Do less, but do it better”—why human connection is the competitive edge that still matters most.

✅ Action Steps for Listeners:

• Audit your current marketing efforts—are they aligned with your business strategy?
• Involve your leadership team in building a customer journey map.
• Consider where AI can enhance—not replace—your team’s productivity.
• Focus on marketing activities that actually build relationships.

Resources & Links:

• Sara Nay LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saranay
• Duct Tape Marketing Free Resources: DTM World Growth
• 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

Subscribe & Stay Connected

New episodes drop soon—subscribe to The COO Solution Podcast so you don’t miss an episode! Let’s connect:

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

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

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

👉 If you found this episode valuable, share it with a fellow business owner ready to scale smarter!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.