John Hittler

C0-Founder Insperis, the premier CEO community for scaling CEOs. 9x Founder and CEO. 2 great exits. 3x author. Urban farmer. Competitive athlete.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

It’s been a while, and here’s the update.

I’m John Hittler (yes, that really is my name). I co-founded @Insperis with 4 great cofounders--a private CEO community for leaders scaling real companies.

After 17 years of coaching CEOs, one thing became obvious: Founders don’t need more frameworks or tips — they need a trusted room of CEO peers who get it.

So together, we built that room.

Rap Sheet:

9x founder/CEO (2 nice exits) • FT CEO coach since 2007 • 3x published author • former Forbes contributor

Happily married, 7 kids between my wife and myself. Foodie (especially paired with wine), athlete, urban organic farmer, "Gramps" to my grandkids.

If you’re scaling and want real conversations with real operators — welcome.

No AI slop on my feed. CEO Scaling Hacks, politics, economics, humor, and contrarian takes.

Relax, you’re in the right place.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

@SteveLovesAmmo Never watched Game of Thrones, nor did I watch the Sopranos.

People are shocked when I disclose this grave error in judgment.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

@rossiadam I have spoken to each of my grown kids about having kids of their own.

Their take is that they might raise the kid who could solve a big problem, like climate change.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

@drgurner @FedEx A bit surprised that they did not leave the new rug in the full spray of the sprinklers!

Did they even stop at the house, or just dump it out the window while driving by?

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

For CEOs and decision makers, do you keep a decision journal for key decisions?

It's any simple notebook, and when you made a decision, you simply list the decision made, the assumptions used to make it, and then you check back to see how the decision turned out.

It allows you to see how often your assumptions led to a great outcome, or wheether random luck did.

My most effective CEOs also are happy to list "gut feel" as the reason for the decision. This is super valuable, and most have found that those decisions lead to good outcomes more often than heavily resarched decisions.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

@ShannonJean @girdley I as well.

The day I don’t have a challenge to take on is the day I’m probably dead.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

@maiab You'll fit quite nicely in Healdsburg in that outfit.

Have a blast!

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

The worst performer is often surprising.

Think of your last project with your team.

There are those who contribute nothing and you don't count on them.

There are those who play full out. Yeah!

The worst performer?

The one who takes on roles and then does not complete them.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

I have coached 200+ CEOs in the last 17 years.

Here's the most reliable metric for who performs best:

A CEO's willingness to play with discomfort separates them from the pack.

The job is full of uncertainty and uncomfortable situations.

Great CEOs lean into that uncertainty.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

@itsmarcosruiz Thanks Marcos.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

CEO Productivity Hack:

Does your team hold a Top ONE every single day?
Does each team member hold a Top One?
How about you, as the CEO? Do you hold a Top ONE?

Consider the compounding effects when every member of your team works on the ONE most important thing, rather than the 12 trivial tasks.

Progress come from making meaningful steps forward ever day, not massive gains twice a year.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

Concerned that your career is not turning out the way you want it to?

Try this simple exercise:

List your habits....all of them.

Place + next to those habits that grow your career.

Place - next to all of those habits that derail your career.

Quickest way to get a real assesesment on what you are actually doing.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

@Liathetrader Such a simple powerful life hack—chose a great partner.

Congratulations and all the best for continued happiness together!

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

I hear struggling CEOs whom I coach complain about bad luck.

I never allow that form of pity for too long. Not because I am mean, but because it becomes true after a while.

Good luck appears when you're in motion towards your goal.
Luck tends to even out over time.

If you notice yourself complaining about bad luck, chances are you are not moving fast enough.

Create some good luck with your forward progress.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

Yup.

True.

[CooperBaggs 💰🍞 @edgaralandough]

The parenting advice that I’ll be sitting with for a VERY long time:

You either face your demons or they raise your children.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

For CEOs, consider this simple assessment of team members.

It's not the Team Leader's job to slow the pace so people can keep up.

It's every team member's job to keep up or even accelerate the pace of progress.

Every team member is clearly in one camp or the other.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

CEO Pop Quiz:

Reflect for 3 minutes quietly and then write down what people can count on you for.

Now do this again, with the knowledge that you will share it with your spouse and your C-Suite.

Does your narrative change?

The language we use with ourselves holds power.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

@PeacefulFathers @JoshuaLisec Corporal punishment has never made sense to me….

Unless children get to hit their parents when they make mistakes.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

The most effective CEOs I work with make their own rules--in life and in business.

Their rules are almost always better for society as a whole, but too scandalous for most to consider.

An example: "Stoptional" traffic lights.

When you approach a stop light, and you know the metering pattern, come to a stop, and then proceed safely.

- This is for moving ahead (yes, directly through the red light).

- This is for the left turn lane (which shows red, but there is no oncoming traffic)

He has never been in or caused an accident by creating his own rules for driving and red lights.

He has also never been stopped by a police officer.

Meanwhile, he eases traffic by having one less car stack up at a red light, and he gets to his destinations faster.

Make your own rules!

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

@PantsToTravel Moving on from people who envy you is always a healthy move.

[John Hittler @EvokingGenius]

The more financial success you create for yourself and your family, the more people stop relating to you.

Odd to experience, if you are not clear it's happening.

Here are some trappings:
- You're not invited to social functions you used to be.

- You're the first call to sponsor most local charitable events.

- You realize that you have outgrown some friends you used to hang out with.

No one will send you the memo.

Congratulations! You have changed lanes in life.