I’m joined by Cameron Herold, aka “The COO Whisperer,” to discuss how to be a better CEO and choose the right second-in-command. He’s helped build three $100 Million businesses, including 1-800-GOT-JUNK, and is now dedicated to sharing his strategy for success. 

Not only do we dive into the takeaways from his latest book, The Second in Command, but we also touch on his current digital nomad journey and how traveling the world has transformed his approach to business leadership. Plus, Cameron shares his perspective on what it takes to be an entrepreneur and how to stay connected with your core purpose through all the ups and downs.

Episode Timeline & Discussion Questions:

(1:09) Welcome back to The Chris Harder Show. Today, Chris is joined by Cameron Herold. 

(3:38) Text the word ROUNDTABLE to 310-421-0416 if you want to be considered for the very first roundtable VIP business strategy session.

(5:48) Chris asks Cameron, “You are hitting the road, literally and metaphorically, and you’re just a free man out there in the world visiting countries. Shed some light on what you’re doing.”

(6:57) Chris asks Cameron, “What’s been the biggest lesson on the road so far?”

(8:54) Chris asks Cameron, “Do you wish that you would have done this at a different stage in your life? Or is this the perfect timing for you?”

(9:57) Chris asks Cameron, “I’ve got to assume that you picked up a lesson or two that’s made you the leader you are, is that a fair assumption?

(13:00) Chris asks Cameron, “You’ve helped build three different companies to multiple nine figures. And I’ve got to imagine that it took some kind of live-to-work grind to get there. How do you reconcile those two things?”

(14:40) Chris asks Cameron, “In a country where everybody seems to be running a rat race to grow these great big milestones, how do you hold on to the boundaries to be the healthy person that can still grow a large size company?”

(16:02) Chris asks Cameron, “I’ve seen and heard you say that your father kind of groomed you to be an entrepreneur. Could you explain that?”

(17:58) Chris asks Cameron, “What was your first successful business, however you want to define that?”

(19:11) Chris asks Cameron, “Do you think being an entrepreneur is a personality type? Is that nature or nurture? Or a little bit of both?”

(23:56) Chris asks Cameron, “Are you a fan of masterminds?”

(24:23) Chris asks Cameron, “You met your business partner for 1-800-GOT-JUNK at a mastermind, right?”

(25:40) Chris asks Cameron, “What would be your one piece of advice for them as they look to franchise?”

(28:04) Chris asks Cameron, “As the visionary, should I take a step back and defer to my business partner and become second in command? Or should he kind of be second in command being that he’s the more integrated minded one?

(30:28) Chris asks Cameron, “From a COO’s perspective, how do I be the best CEO to the second in command?”

(31:57) Chris asks Cameron, “What would be the most important chapter or lesson in your book?”

(32:48) Chris asks Cameron, “Was there a time in your career where you had a conflict?”

(33:50) Chris asks Cameron, “What main principles from your 1-800-GOT-JUNK journey made it into the new book?”

(34:12) Chris asks Cameron, “Was there a lot of fear around raising prices?”

(36:24) Chris asks Cameron, “What is something great you’ve been able to do along your journey that you wouldn’t have been able to do without means?”

(38:39) Chris asks Cameron, “What drives you at this point is to keep paying that forward?”

(40:08) Chris asks Cameron, “What keeps you writing?”

(41:30) Chris asks Cameron, “Pitch the book to the perfect person who’s listening right now.”

(43:26) Chris asks Cameron, “Where’s the best place for people to get it?”

(44:47) Chris asks listeners to share the podcast and leave a 5-star review.