The CEO Project

06/15/2026

Thinking about buying a franchise?

The biggest mistake most people make isn't choosing a bad franchise—it's choosing the wrong franchise.

In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Jim Schleckser sits down with franchise expert Matt Stevens to discuss how to evaluate franchise opportunities, avoid costly mistakes, and find the right fit for your goals, skills, and lifestyle.

Listen now: https://theceoproject.com/why-most-people-choose-the-wrong-franchise/

06/09/2026

Maybe you’ve heard of the Dunning–Kruger effect. It’s one of those psychological concepts that are both fascinating and frustrating, especially when you’re a leader conducting performance reviews.

David Dunning and Justin Kruger discovered in 1999 that individuals at both extremes of performance have a hidden blind spot.

Low performers often overestimate their skills. They believe they are succeeding when they are actually falling behind.
High performers often underestimate themselves. They compare their work to the best in the field and end up feeling like they’re falling short.

Read on to learn about the performance review paradox:

Why your top performers underestimate themselves—and your underperformers think they're doing great. Maybe you've heard of the Dunning–Kruger effe ...

06/08/2026

Branding isn't just your logo or tagline.
It's the feeling customers associate with your business—and the reason they choose you over someone else.
In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Jim Schleckser talks with Kelly O'Neill about how CEOs can create stronger brand connection, uncover their real differentiator, and stand out in an AI-driven market.
What does your company stand for?
https://theceoproject.com/how-to-build-emotional-brand-connection-that-goes-beyond-symbols/

06/02/2026

I recently asked a CEO candidate a deceptively simple question: What have you learned and applied to improve your business in the last six months?
It wasn't a trick question, but it could have been. How a leader responds reveals a lot. Are they transparent? Are they curious? Are they still learning?
Because here's the thing: curiosity isn't just a soft skill. It's a superpower. And especially for CEOs, it might be the one trait that decides long-term success.
Let me explain.
Here are five simple ways the best CEOs stay sharp:

Curiosity keeps your mind flexible. A curious CEO doesn't just adapt to the future; they shape it. Here are five simple ways the best CEOs stay sharp.

06/01/2026

Most companies compete within a category.
The most successful companies create one.
In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Mike Damphousse shares why category leaders capture the majority of market value and why your leadership team should align around a single category story.
Read more: https://theceoproject.com/your-leadership-team-should-align-around-one-category-story/

05/26/2026

A great strategy isn't about having the boldest vision or the slickest PowerPoint; it's about having the most accurate map of reality and the interrelations.
That may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many leaders depend on outdated assumptions or flawed mental models of the world around them. And when your mental model is wrong, your strategy will be too.
Let's break this down.

Whether you're running a startup or a multinational, strategy is essentially your best effort to succeed, based on how well you understand your environment. That includes your capabilities, competitors, customers, constraints, and the pace of change in your industry.
If your understanding of any of those factors is incorrect, you'll make poor decisions—sometimes with deadly consequences.

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05/25/2026

The best CEOs don’t negotiate to overpower the other side.
They negotiate for alignment over conflict.
In the latest episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Jim Schleckser and Stanford negotiation expert Stan Christensen break down how great leaders create better outcomes through fairness, preparation, and relationship-building.
Listen now: https://theceoproject.com/why-do-smart-ceos-choose-alignment-over-conflict-in-every-big-negotiation/

05/20/2026

Most companies are still optimizing for Google.

Meanwhile, AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are already influencing how customers discover brands, evaluate credibility, and make buying decisions.

In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Jim Schleckser talks with Gilad Bechar of Moburst about what businesses need to do now to stay visible in an AI-first marketing landscape.

A smart conversation on AI marketing, LinkedIn strategy, content authority, and the future of digital growth.

Listen here:
https://theceoproject.com/how-proven-ai-marketing-methods-transform-companies-into-unstoppable-category-leaders/

05/19/2026

Let's be honest—your business might be thriving. But you? You're struggling to sleep because all your resources are tied to the company's success. This overreliance on wealth is common: a founder establishes a successful business, and over time, that business accounts for 90% or even 100% of their net worth. This isn't unusual. It makes sense, particularly in the early years, when your primary focus is on reinvesting everything back into the company.

But eventually, you begin to wonder: Is there a way to take some money off the table without losing control or walking away completely?

Read to find out how to take cash out of the business without selling it:

Leveraging a "Lever-Up, Cash Out" Strategy Let's be honest—your business might be thriving. But you? You're struggling to sleep because ...

05/18/2026

AI marketing is rewriting the rules of customer acquisition.

In the latest episode of The CEO Project Podcast, Jim Schleckser talks with Gilad Bechar of Moburst about how ChatGPT, LinkedIn, YouTube, and AI-driven search are changing the way companies build authority and attract customers.

If you want to understand where digital marketing is headed next, this episode is worth your time.

Listen now:
https://theceoproject.com/how-proven-ai-marketing-methods-transform-companies-into-unstoppable-category-leaders/