Podcast | If I Were Starting A Business In 2026... This Is What I'd Do

If I were starting a business in 2026, I wouldn’t start with a logo.I wouldn’t even start with an offer.In this episode of Notebook of a COO, I share what I would do first if I were starting over—with everything I know now—and why most founders unknowingly build businesses that turn into very stressful jobs.The mistake isn’t lack of effort.It’s building motion before structure.Early success hides operational debt, and by the time founders feel it, it’s already expensive.In this episode, we cover:Why most people start businesses backwardsThe difference between being the creator and the operatorWhy every business needs a clearly defined operator roleHow repeatability makes delegation and growth possibleWhy removing yourself from a process early is essentialThe one question that reveals exactly where your business will breakThis isn’t theory.This isn’t hype.It’s operator thinking—the systems, decisions, and trade-offs that determine whether a business grows cleanly or collapses under its own weight.Wherever you are, that is exactly where you’re supposed to be—but that does not mean you have to stay there.