Big Business Tiny Team

Each week I share deep-dive breakdowns and playbooks on building a big business with a tiny team.

Founder & Writer

The 20 Hour CEO

Named "Top 100 Course" by Maven. Entrepreneurs master the frameworks to turn their business into a machine that runs without them.

Founder

Christine Carrillo

Exclusive partner to top percentile CEOs helping them build resilience while leading successful big businesses.

CEO Coach

Alice

We help CEOs hire vetted executive assistants specifically trained to help CEOs scale.

Butlr Health

We match people with highly vetted therapists using a dating app framework.

JOANY

Alum Techstars NYC 2015. JOANY helps consumers buy and use health insurance.

Humanize Health

Kaiser Permanente

Director, Medicare Business Excellence

DestinationRx

Director of Professional Services

Capital Group Companies

Senior Business Consultant

You don’t have to burn yourself out to build a successful business.

I learned that the hard way.

On paper, everything looked great.
✔ Built three businesses to $200M in revenue
✔ Bootstrapped a service business to $25M with 25 people in five years
✔ Scaled a VC-backed tech company to $28M ARR in under two years with just 12 people
✔ Made a double-sided consumer marketplace profitable in three months with a five-person team
✔ Raised $30M in venture capital

But behind the scenes, I was exhausted, constantly putting out fires, and convinced the business would fall apart if I stepped away.

So I pushed harder, thinking that was the only way.

Then life forced me to stop.

I ran headfirst into a glass window. A concussion took me out for eight weeks. No emails, no meetings, no problem-solving. For the first time, I couldn’t step in to fix things.

And when I came back, I was shocked. The business hadn’t just survived. It had thrived.

That moment forced me to question everything.

I always thought the key to scaling was working harder and building better systems. And systems did help. But what really made the difference wasn’t the business. It was me.

I had built a company that depended on me, not because it had to, but because I didn’t know how to let go. I believed that stepping back meant losing control. That if I wasn’t involved in everything, things would fall apart.

That belief had to change.

Learning to trust my team, step back, and stop being the bottleneck wasn’t easy. But once I did, everything changed.

The systems worked because I let them. My team thrived because I gave them space. And the business grew faster than ever, not because I was in every decision, but because I wasn’t.

Now, I help founders do the same.

Most founders come to me because they feel stuck. They’re scaling, but at the cost of their time, health, and freedom. It doesn’t have to be that way.

If you’re ready to build a business that grows without you being in the weeds, join me for daily insights on scaling, leadership, and personal growth.

Let’s get started.
—--
Curious to know more?
⚫️ Join my newsletter – Get insights on building big businesses with small teams. 
https://bit.ly/4h4PJNK

⚫️ The 20 Hour CEO – My playbooks, systems, and frameworks to help you scale without burnout.
https://bit.ly/4hTrItY

⚫️ 1:1 CEO Coaching – If you want direct guidance to break free from the grind, let’s talk. 

Let’s connect:
Email: hello@christinecarrillo.com
Twitter: @ChristineCarril

Growth isn’t about being ready.

It’s about doing what scares you.

Listen, I've been there.

It's hard to believe in yourself at first.

I chased external validation and it was driven by fear.
→ "What if I lose control?"
→ "What if I let down the people counting on me?"
→ "What if I let myself down?"

I was so focused on doing things the right way I was holding myself back.

Then I realised: No one is ready.

The ones who grow fast:
→ Say yes before they have all the answers.
→ Trust that action beats overthinking.
→ Figure it out along the way.

The biggest risks don't come from failing.
They come from never starting.

What's one move you're making today that scares you? Share it below.

♻️ If this hits home, share it with your network.
🔔 Follow Christine Carrillo for more growth insights.
💡 Get my best insights weekly: https://lnkd.in/gQCveimB

The 20 Hour CEO. Built 3 businesses to $200M in revenue. Now helping entrepreneurs scale themselves, and their business, with less effort.

Helping Overwhelmed Managers Become Impactful Leaders - Faster | Mom, Entrepreneur & MGMT Co-Founder

Hi I’m Marsden.

Mom. Wife. Entrepreneur.

Building a modern “Mom & Pop Shop”: Co-Founding MGMT with my husband Dave Kline.

You might be asking yourself, “Marsden, what do you mean when you say Mom & Pop Shop”?

It’s simple really.

For the years, myself and my husband have dedicated ourselves to a singular goal:

To help leaders become the best versions of themselves through proven management tactics for leading high-performing teams.

Creating something that we wish that we’d had as leaders earlier in our careers.

And to do that we knew that needed the following ingredients:

✅ Hustle
✅ Shared vision for a business AND family life
✅ Joy: If you know us, we laughed at/with one another
✅ A product shaped by years of hands-on experience
✅ A commitment to connecting with each person who walks in

The ingredients that make a modern “Mom & Pop shop”.

And with our combined 30+ years of leadership experience working for big names such as: Google, Moody’s, Goldman Sachs & Bridgewater Associates ↴

We saw the common problems managers and leaders were facing. 

And knew that we had the tools to create something that not only helped leaders, but transformed the way that they worked.

And that’s exactly what we’ve built with MGMT.

Today: We have over 1000 alums from our MGMT Accelerator & MGMT Fundamentals course.

And that number just keeps growing.

From new leaders, to those with years of experience, we’ve helped countless individuals:

→ Overcome common management challenges
→ Develop your Management OS's CODE (Coach, Operate, Delegate & Engage).
→ Refine their leadership Decision-Making System tailored to your individual approach.

The next leader we help could be you.

If you’re looking to change the way you manage your high-performing team in 2025, hit the follow button! ☝️

Or better yet, shoot me a DM 📥

Marsden Kline

It's easy to talk about being relentless.

But what does it look like?

I've watched this countless times since last night.
I've shown it to my kids.

You don't need to be a football fan to appreciate this.

Watch Cowboys rookie Alijah Clark (#30).
He never gives up.

Result?
Turnover.
Cowboys ball.

A lot is written about
↳ Actions over words
↳ Showing up for your team
↳ Finding a way, not an excuse

But this is what it actually looks like.

Clark wasn't drafted.

He was cut, resigned, and earned his way onto the field.

No guarantees. 
Just hustle.

Leadership isn't about your title.

It's about your effort
When no one expects you to give more.

♻️ Share to inspire someone
🔔 Follow Marsden Kline for more

-
Get inspired outside of the office
Join 56k+ leaders and subscribe
https://mgmt.beehiiv.com/

Attention is Currency

Your quiet presence speaks volumes.

You could choose to watch the recording.

What does it say when something is so important, 
you prioritize being there?

Uncommon effort stands out.

Drake Maye was a coveted high school football recruit.
There are 100s of hours of tape on his performance.

Anyone can watch those.

But what sort of football coach shows up to watch him play basketball?
One who leads differently.

In a world of endless distractions,
Give others your undivided attention.

We can all learn from this.

How did you show up this week?
• Camera on in the optional meeting?
• Fully present in that 1:1?
• Thoughtful dinner conversations?

Think about your best boss.
Think about your best teacher.
Think about your best mentor.

What do they have in common?
They showed up.
They paid attention.

So did it work out?

Maye initially committed to Alabama.
Then chose UNC to stay closer to home.
Alabama had recruited another quarterback, too.

And that's the deeper lesson:
The best leaders show up anyway.

Without guarantee.
Without condition.
Without immediate return.

Because this investment isn't transactional.
It's about being fully present:

Your attention says:

"I believe in your potential."

Not simply:

"I believe in what you can do for me."

The return on your time isn't certain.

Show up anyway.
Be present anyway.
Invest anyway.

♻️ Share to help someone 
🔔 Follow Marsden Kline for more

Photo credit: Scott Taylor/Myers Park High School

--
Join 50k+ leaders.
Get inspiration from outside the office.
https://lnkd.in/exr3TcKt

Helping Overwhelmed Managers Become Impactful Leaders - Faster | Mom, Co-Founder, Sports Fan

A KPI from last week: 0.

Zero playoff games missed.

Dave and I are partners in all things.

Parents, co-founders.
Carpool drivers, cooks.

There are endless shiny objects.
It's easy to covet someone else's success.

But, for us, one sentence quiets the noise:

"Remember what we are playing for."

Present for our partners. 
Present for our kids.

Ideas in the attached carousel were built over time.

Scribbled on whiteboards
Revisuted on long walks.
Sited at the end of long days

A few principles of a new playbook
(swipe throuhg the carousel for the full list):

Listen for the "Hell Yes"
↳ Stop grinding through other people's priorities
↳ Maximize time spent in your flow state

Prioritize Family Connection
↳ Stop saying, "I'll find time once I'm done"
↳ Default to "yes" when you are asked to play

Find Your Zone of Genius
↳ Stop getting rewarded for easy work you hate
↳ Start doubling down on what lights you up

Gift others your Undivided Attention
↳ Stop drifting into "what's next"
↳ Start being fully where your feet are

What's on your scoreboard?
What should be?

♻️ Share to inspire someone
🔔 Follow Marsden Kline for more

--
Challenge your default metrics
Join 50k+ leaders and subscribe
https://mgmt.beehiiv.com/

10 Full Life Metrics

"Tell the truth. For 3 days."

The results were unexpected.

We avoid hard conversations.
We justify this as being kind.

But what if our instinct is wrong?

Researchers at Chicago Booth and Carnegie Mellon tested it.

"Be completely honest in every conversation for 3 days."

The findings revealed a painful truth:

Our "kindness" isn't kind at all.
It's creating hidden costs that damage our teams.

Here is what the team observed:

Expected impact:
• Damaged relationships
• Permanent social costs
• Losing connection

Reality:
• Social bonds strengthened
• Trust deepened faster
• Communication improved

It is easy to say "clear is kind."

But, in practice, we can delay honesty.

The Hidden Cost of "Nice"

1. The Meeting Trap
• Attend pointless meetings "to be nice"
• Real Cost: 4 hours/week of team drain

2. The Feedback Loop
• Soften crucial feedback "to protect"
• Real Cost: Problems compound silently

3. The Performance Dance
• Hint at issues indirectly
• Real Cost: Top performers leave

4. The Culture Cover
• Allow poor behavior "they're valuable"
• Real Cost: Good people disengage

5. The Weight of Waiting
• Delay tough news "waiting for right time"
• Real Cost: Trust erodes slowly

Instead:

Start With Stakes
• "This matters because..."
• "I care enough to be direct"

Name The Reality
• "Here's what I'm seeing..."
• "The impact is..."

Build The Bridge
• "What support do you need?"
• "Let's solve this together"

Remember:

Don't say anything about someone
That you wouldn't say to them.

♻️ Share to help someone
🔔 Follow Marsden Kline for more.

Research Note:
Based on research by Emma Levine (Chicago Booth) and Taya Cohen (Carnegie Mellon University).

--
High-performing teams embrace feedback.

Here is one of our most shared playbooks to help:
https://lnkd.in/e5UX24WZ

There are two types of managers we remember.

The person who built you up.
And the one who broke you down.

One accelerated your career.
One crushed your confidence.

Each leader has their own style.
Here's how to be remembered for all the right reasons:

Courage: Own Their Failures
↳ Their first response to failure: "That's on me"
↳ Their second response: "Here's what we'll fix"
↳ Their consistent message: "We learn and grow"

Purpose: Care Enough to Be Clear
↳ They replace confusion with direction
↳ They make the implicit explicit
↳ They'd rather be clear than comfortable

Vision: Hold High Standards
↳ They don't negotiate with mediocrity
↳ They know potential grows at the edge of comfort
↳ They make excellence feel achievable

Leadership: Make Order From Chaos
↳ They don't just survive chaos - they simplify it
↳ They build systems that scale
↳ They create calm in complexity

Foresight: Proactively Anticipate What's Needed
↳ They see around corners
↳ They prevent fires, not just fight them
↳ They play chess while others play checkers

Character: Never Compromise Values
↳ They choose right over easy
↳ They live their standards daily
↳ They show integrity isn't situational

Recognition: Give Credit to Those Who Earned It
↳ They shine spotlights, not take them
↳ They celebrate progress, not just outcomes
↳ They make success visible

Wisdom: Balance Accountability & Understanding
↳ High standards + deep empathy
↳ Push for growth + provide support
↳ Drive results + develop people

We remember great managers like coaches.

They saw your potential before you did.

Who accelerated your career?
Tag them. 
Thank them.

♻️ Share to inspire someone
🔔 Follow Marsden Kline for more
📌 Save this for reference

--
Become the leader you would follow.
Faster.

Our top-rated programs are 25% off through Monday.

For new managers: MGMT Fundamentals
https://lnkd.in/eTsWu5FH

For experienced managers: MGMT Accelerator
https://lnkd.in/et8sS2M4

taplio

The Battle

Christine Carrillo

Marsden Kline

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreChristine Carrillo's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMarsden Kline's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Christine Carrillo

Marsden Kline

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Christine Carrillo's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMarsden Kline's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreChristine Carrillo's LinkedIn Performance