Growth Without Compromise: The Founder’s Choice

Scaling Without Losing Yourself: Founder-Led Sales Explained

 

Episode 72

 

About the Host: 

Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets.

 

About the Guest:

Sam Vandervalk is the Founder of Salmon Eye Fishing Charters and a seasoned entrepreneur with ventures in vacation rentals, digital marketing, and business coaching. Passionate about strategic growth and personal fulfillment, he also co-founded Active Atoms, promoting health and wellness through functional nutrition. Sam shares insights on entrepreneurship, mindset, and sustainable business scaling.

 

Guest Info: 

Name: Sam Vandervalk 

Designation: Founder 

Organization: Salmon Eye Fishing Charters 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samvandervalk/?originalSubdomain=ca

 

Episode Summary: 

In this episode, host Jamie Shanks sits down with serial entrepreneur Sam Vandervalk to challenge one of the most common narratives in business scaling—should founders step away from sales? Jamie, drawing from his own experience scaling agencies, explores the risks of blindly following the venture capital playbook and the importance of keeping a founder’s unique strengths in the business. Sam shares his journey of building multiple businesses across industries, from sport fishing to vacation rentals and digital marketing, while staying deeply involved in sales. He explains why some founders thrive by staying in sales rather than delegating too soon and how he strategically replaced himself in other roles to focus on what he loves. Jamie and Sam dive into the pitfalls of rapid delegation, the importance of passion-driven growth, and the key factors that determine whether a founder should remain in sales or step back. Whether you’re scaling your company, managing investor expectations, or debating your role in sales, this episode will help you make an informed, strategic, and passion-driven decision about your role as a founder.

Key Takeaways

• Founder-Led Sales Isn’t Always a Weakness
• The Venture Capital Playbook Isn’t Absolute
• Passion Drives Long-Term Success
• Delegation Should Be Strategic, Not Rushed
• Replacing Yourself the Right Way
• Revenue Growth Matters More Than Structure
• Avoid Doing What Drains You
• Freedom Over Formulaic Scaling

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