Scaling a business is every entrepreneur’s dream, but it often feels like an uphill battle. Add economic uncertainty, rising costs, and a competitive labor market to the mix, and the challenge becomes even more daunting. In a recent conversation, Jeremy Jenson, founder and CEO of Encore Search Partners, shared his journey of scaling his company while maintaining balance and purpose, providing invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs striving to thrive in challenging environments.
From Burnout to Breakthrough: A Personal Journey
Jeremy Jenson’s entrepreneurial story started like many others: long hours, financial rewards, but a strained personal life. "I thought I was successful until I realized that my family life was struggling because I was working all the time," he candidly admits. The turning point came in 2017 when he discovered the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). By implementing EOS and hiring an integrator, Jeremy transitioned from being a hands-on control freak to a strategic leader.
"Once I had the humility to say, hey, look, even though I can hire someone and put them responsible for doing something different than what I'm doing, they might do it differently than me, but as long as it gets done, that's perfectly okay," he reflects.
This mindset shift allowed him to scale his company 10x over seven years, providing him with the freedom to work less and enjoy life more.
Building a Performance Culture
Jeremy’s growth strategy goes beyond processes and systems; it focuses on people. At the heart of his success is a relentless focus on building a high-performance team and fostering a "sports-team" culture. "If you've been on the team for five years and you're not focused on growth and self-improvement, some new guy is going to come in and steal your starting spot," he explains.
This competitive mindset ensures that complacency and entitlement don’t take root within his organization. Instead, employees are encouraged to continuously hone their skills and embrace innovation. Jeremy’s approach also involves recruiting top talent from competitors during economic downturns—a bold strategy that positions his company to capture market share when conditions improve.
Thriving in Down Markets
Economic downturns can cripple businesses, but Jeremy sees them as opportunities to gain an edge. He shares how his company has navigated fee compression, rising costs, and shifting market dynamics by focusing on top-grading talent. "If we capitalize on a slow and depressed economic market and go out and steal other people's A players... that's going to allow us to steal a tremendous amount of market share," he states.
One critical insight Jeremy offers is the importance of hiring individuals with a fresh perspective.
"It’s important for entrepreneurs to recognize that if you want to grow another 3x, 5x, or 10x, you might need to bring in somebody that’s got a fresh set of ideas, new processes, new skills, and new technologies," he says.
Leading with Authenticity and Clarity
Leadership isn’t just about strategy; it’s about authenticity and clarity. Jeremy emphasizes the value of being transparent with his team, sharing both successes and struggles. "If we had a bad revenue month and we lost money, I disclose that to the team. If we were looking to do layoffs, I disclose that to the team," he explains. This level of vulnerability has fostered trust and loyalty among his employees, enabling them to stay aligned with the company’s mission and vision.
Jeremy also highlights the importance of clearly defining core values and hiring individuals who align with them. "When we had clarity around mission, vision, and core values, we had to turn over about 80% of the company," he recalls. While challenging, this decision allowed the organization to attract and retain individuals who were committed to its long-term success.
Giving Back and Finding Purpose
As his business reached financial stability, Jeremy turned his focus to philanthropy, addressing a sense of guilt tied to income inequality. Today, Encore Search Partners invests over $500,000 annually in charitable contributions, supporting causes like Autism Speaks and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This commitment to giving back not only benefits the community but also provides employees with a sense of purpose and pride.
"Working in the recruitment industry, we can be so hyper-focused on money, money, money," he acknowledges. "It’s important to take a step back, be grateful for what we have, and share our abundant resources with those who need it most."
Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs
Jeremy’s journey offers actionable lessons for business leaders aiming to scale and thrive in any market condition:
Adopt Systems for Growth: Implementing frameworks like EOS can help streamline operations, align teams, and enable scalable growth.
Top-Grade Talent: Continuously seek out A players who bring fresh ideas and capabilities, especially during economic slowdowns.
Foster a Performance Culture: Encourage employees to stay competitive and avoid complacency by framing the organization as a meritocratic sports team.
Lead with Authenticity: Build trust by being transparent about challenges and aligning hires with clearly defined core values.
Find Purpose Beyond Profit: Incorporate philanthropy into your business to foster a sense of gratitude and community impact.
Ready to Scale Your Business?
Jeremy Jenson’s story is a testament to the power of strategic leadership, intentional hiring, and a strong cultural foundation. Whether you’re facing economic uncertainty or seeking to take your business to the next level, his insights provide a roadmap for success.
For more actionable advice on scaling your business and top-grading your team, connect with Jeremy Jenson on LinkedIn. As he puts it, "If you like what you've heard and trust me as a subject matter expert in the headhunting space, I’d love to support your desire to go and poach people from your direct competitors."
Start building your A-team today and prepare your business to thrive—no matter what the market throws your way.
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