6 hard truths that helped me break revenue ceilings

After 17 years of building businesses, here are the 6 counter-intuitive lessons that helped me finally break through the ceiling:

1. “Hire a CEO and walk away” is a fantasy.
You can’t just hand over the keys.
Founders care more than anyone ever will, and that’s how it should be.
You’ll always need to be more involved than you want.

2. Running multiple businesses ≠ success.
Inexperienced operators love to juggle 3–4 ventures.
Seasoned ones focus relentlessly.
Focus compounds.

3. Bootstrapping something big takes decades.
If you're building to 8–9 figures, expect 10–30 years.
Everyone talks about overnight wins—reality looks a lot more boring (and consistent).

4. Hire for “been there, done that.”
Early on, it’s fine to bet on potential.
But as you scale, flip the ratio:
80% proven operators, 20% high-potential hires.
I had it reversed before. It was a mess.

5. Be deeply involved in what’s new or broken.
Founders see the whole board.
Your superpower is knowing where the leverage is.
Get your hands dirty, especially when the stakes are high.

6. Micromanagement is a tool, not a sin.
Forget what business books say.
Micromanage when something is risky and the person’s inexperienced.
Step back when the risk is low or the person knows the game.
It's not about control. It's about judgment.

Most people hit a wall and assume they need better tactics.
What they actually need is a better perspective.

To long games and deep focus,
Eric Siu

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