From Chaos to Freedom: How Systems Help You Scale Without Working Harder | Derek Fredrickson

Most business owners start their companies for freedom, but end up becoming prisoners of their own success. They spend every day putting out fires, managing people, and juggling tasks that drain their energy. What if the secret to growth wasn’t working harder—but working less? In this episode of The Better Than Rich Show, Mike Abramowitz sits down with Derek Fredrickson, founder of The COO Solution, who helps entrepreneurs scale by installing systems, empowering people, and freeing up owners to lead instead of do. Derek’s story of moving his family to France while building a thriving remote business is proof that operational excellence creates life freedom.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Meet Derek Fredrickson.

[02:00] The evolution of the show and audience focus.

[04:00] What a COO really does for business owners.

[07:00] From doer to operator to owner.

[12:00] Case study: The shed builder who scaled to $4M.

[19:00] The investment mindset shift.

[25:00] Fixing broken systems before hiring.

[29:00] Real-world operations audit.

[37:00] Building trust with your team.

[43:00] How to sustain accountability.

[46:00] The power of transparency and feedback.

[52:00] Defining “Better Than Rich.”

Key Quotes:

• “Good people don’t fix broken systems; broken systems break good people.”
• “To grow, you actually need to work less.”
• “Trust isn’t given; it’s built through clarity, accountability, and small wins.”
• “You can’t scale chaos. You can only scale what’s clear and consistent.”
• “Being better than rich means having time for what matters most.”

Key Takeaways:

1. Shift from Doer to Owner.
2. Delegate with Trust.
3. Fix the System First.
4. Redefine Success.

Links Mentioned:

TheCOOSolution.com

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