—  AUGUST 2ND, 2026  — 

THE PEOPLE WHO HELP YOU BUILD

About 11 years ago, I posted an ad on Craigslist. I was looking for someone to help me with my coaching practice and bring a little more order to what had become a very busy season of life.

Michelle Rose answered the ad. At the time, she had a young daughter and was looking for something flexible enough to work around her schedule.

Neither of us knew it then, but over the next year, the idea for Ninety began to take shape. Michelle was there from the very beginning, organizing, solving problems, and growing alongside the business as it evolved. Before long, she wasn't just supporting me as my assistant. She was helping me build a company from the ground up.

Hear more in Building Alongside a Founder — feat. Michelle Rose.

My conversation with Michelle reminded me that founders rarely build companies alone. The people who grow with your company shape it in ways you never expected. Those people don't just support us. They become part of the foundation.

PERSPECTIVES

“The job isn't done. There's so much more to do." — Michelle Rose

MARK MY WORDS

I didn't hire Michelle because I knew she'd help build Ninety. Ninety didn't even exist yet. We started working together because she was the right person for what I needed at that time.

As Ninety evolved, Michelle kept stepping up. And before long, I was trusting her with things I never imagined when I first hired her.

She learned the new business, took on new responsibilities, and cared about what we were building as if she were helping build something of her own. 

That's what we should all look for in the early days of building a company. You don't need someone who checks every box for the company you'll have five years from now. You need someone who's curious enough to grow with you, adaptable enough to take on new challenges, and humble enough to put the company ahead of their job description.

Those are true builders. And if you're fortunate enough to find one, they'll help shape your company in ways you never could have predicted.

ON THE CALENDAR

The Issues Your Team Won’t Talk About (But Should)

Live Webinar | August 3, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET 

Some of the most expensive problems in a company are the ones everyone sees but no one brings up. This webinar with Sue Hawkes, co-author of Issues and facilitator of more than 1,500 EOS® sessions looks at how founders can surface those issues earlier and create more honest conversations across the team.

[Save Your Seat]

ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD

In case you missed it, here’s more from Founder’s Framework:

Thin Air: Lessons from the World Cup on Altitude, Attitude, and Winning Well

The higher you climb, the more your character gets tested. In this reflection on the World Cup, rugby, and leadership, I explore why success isn't just about reaching the top. It's about earning your place there and choosing to win in a way you can be proud of.

[Read Now]

Building a company can feel impossible in the early days. But when you have a team that understands the vision and wants to build alongside you, it’s amazing what can be accomplished together.