From Operator to Owner Mindset - with Mike DeJong

In this episode of the say86 Hospitality Podcast, Tim is joined by entrepreneur, keynote speaker and author Mike DeJong for a wide-ranging conversation around leadership, business ownership and the realities of scaling companies in today’s challenging operating environment. Drawing from more than 30 years of experience across multiple industries, including franchising, Mike shares the lessons learned from building businesses, turning around struggling operations and helping leaders create stronger, more sustainable organisations.The discussion explores one of Mike’s core philosophies — the difference between simply owning a business and genuinely developing an owner’s mindset. Mike explains what he calls the “operator trap”, where founders become consumed by day-to-day operations without ever creating the systems, structure and leadership required for long-term freedom and scalability. The episode also dives into why growing too quickly can often damage businesses, how effective leaders build accountable teams and why systems are ultimately what allow companies to scale successfully.Although many of the themes discussed apply across all industries, the conversation is particularly relevant to hospitality operators navigating operational pressure, staffing challenges, supplier complexity and rapid market change. Packed with practical insights, leadership lessons and real-world experience, this episode offers valuable perspective for entrepreneurs, founders and operators looking to build stronger businesses without losing control in the process.