S2 Ep7 | Succession Planning: 3 Proven Mistakes Every Entrepreneur Must Avoid with Dave Bulloch

Most entrepreneurs think about succession planning when they're ready to leave. Dave Bulloch says that's already too late. In Season 2, Episode 7, host Mark sits down with Dave — fractional executive, former CEO, and one of the most experienced business operators in the room — to launch a brand new series on the business life cycle. This first episode covers the foundational questions every entrepreneur needs to answer early: Where are you taking this business? Who do you need to get there? And what are the costly mistakes that quietly brake your growth for years? In this episode, you'll learn: • Why business succession planning starts on day one, not exit day • The three exit paths every entrepreneur should know about • How to build a team that fills your gaps, not mirrors your strengths • The red flag vs. yellow flag system for data-driven hiring decisions • Why psychometric assessments matter for key roles • The title inflation trap — and its hidden cost to people and businesses • The "working lead" model as a smarter alternative to premature promotion • Why the right person for A to B is not always right for B to C Key Moments: • 00:05:11 — Dave's background and fractional leadership work • 00:09:55 — Begin with the end in mind: succession planning from day one • 00:13:19 — Hiring to complement your weaknesses • 00:19:29 — Red flags vs. yellow flags in hiring • 00:28:06 — The value of psychometric tools • 00:34:43 — Title inflation: why titles are not free • 00:39:27 — The working lead model • 00:44:16 — Closing thoughts and what's next in the series 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode:    / @traitstoolsstudio   🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn:   / traits-tools   #BusinessSuccessionPlanning #Entrepreneurship #BusinessLifeCycle #FractionalLeadership #HiringStrategy #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #PeopleStrategy #TalentManagement #BusinessPodcast #OrganizationalCulture