EPISODE · Dec 24, 2025 · 1H 11M
EP 142 | How I Built A 200-Person Company With ZERO Systems - Graeme Holm
from Bothsides Podcast · host Bothsides Podcast
Graeme Holm reveals why he built a 200-person empire with NO systems, the 3 external CEOs who all failed, how his team stays 8+ years when the industry average is 18 months, and the brutal truth about scaling that business coaches won't tell you. Graeme Holm runs a mortgage business with 189 staff, created a "treasure chest" of award-winning leaders, and refuses to sell despite massive offers.He exposes:◼️ Why the 3 external CEOs he hired over 18 months all failed—and what that taught him about ownership◼️ The "no systems" approach that kept his best people for 8-9 years (rare in any industry)◼️ How his head of finance won Broker of the Year while working FOR him, not competing against him◼️ Why "no one will ever treat your business like their own"—the truth about hired leadership◼️ The difference between owners and operators—and why most business coaches were "failed employees"◼️ How Rachel now runs his masterclasses after he built a "treasure chest of people" who can replace him◼️ Why he's manic, unstructured, and ignores every business guru—yet scaled to nearly 200 staff going global◼️ The real secret to long-tenure staff: competent people, not perfect systems◼️ Why he refuses to sell for any amount—because "bean counters would run it and the community would suffer"◼️ What 12 years of blood, sweat and tears bought him: "Now I can spend the rest of my life however the f*ck I want"
What this episode covers
Graeme Holm reveals why he built a 200-person empire with NO systems, the 3 external CEOs who all failed, how his team stays 8+ years when the industry average is 18 months, and the brutal truth about scaling that business coaches won't tell you. Graeme Holm runs a mortgage business with 189 staff, created a "treasure chest" of award-winning leaders, and refuses to sell despite massive offers.He exposes:◼️ Why the 3 external CEOs he hired over 18 months all failed—and what that taught him about ownership◼️ The "no systems" approach that kept his best people for 8-9 years (rare in any industry)◼️ How his head of finance won Broker of the Year while working FOR him, not competing against him◼️ Why "no one will ever treat your business like their own"—the truth about hired leadership◼️ The difference between owners and operators—and why most business coaches were "failed employees"◼️ How Rachel now runs his masterclasses after he built a "treasure chest of people" who can replace him◼️ Why he's manic, unstructured, and ignores every business guru—yet scaled to nearly 200 staff going global◼️ The real secret to long-tenure staff: competent people, not perfect systems◼️ Why he refuses to sell for any amount—because "bean counters would run it and the community would suffer"◼️ What 12 years of blood, sweat and tears bought him: "Now I can spend the rest of my life however the f*ck I want"
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EP 142 | How I Built A 200-Person Company With ZERO Systems - Graeme Holm
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