How to Tell If You’re Running Your Business Like a CEO or an Employee

You started your business for more freedom, right? But somehow, you’re busier than ever, drowning in tasks, and stuck in the weeds. That also right?

That’s because right now, you’re running your business like an employee, not a CEO.

And if you don’t make the shift, you’re going to stay in hustle mode forever.

Today, I’m breaking down how to spot the difference between an employee mindset and a CEO mindset — and more importantly, how to step into your CEO role so you can finally build a business that works for you (not the other way around). Let's dive in.

The Employee Mindset vs. The CEO Mindset

Most entrepreneurs start as employees in their own business — because, honestly, they have to. You’re doing all the things: client work, admin, marketing, sales. It’s survival mode.

But at a certain point, if you don’t shift to CEO mode, your business will hit a ceiling.

So, let’s break down the difference between the two:

🚩 Here are some Signs You’re Stuck in Employee Mode:

• You’re busy all the time but never feel like you’re making real progress
• You’re constantly putting out fires instead of executing a strategy
• You do everything yourself because ‘it’s just faster that way’
• You don’t have time for big-picture planning because you’re drowning in daily tasks
• You hesitate to delegate because you think no one can do it as well as you

So if you see yourself in any of those situations, you’re probably stuck in employee mode.

💡 Here are the Signs You’re Stepping Into CEO Mode:

• You prioritize high-impact work (not just what’s urgent)
• You make decisions, not just react to problems
• You have systems in place that allow you to step away without everything falling apart
• You delegate effectively so your business doesn’t need you in every role
• You spend more time on strategy, vision, and growth — not just client work

If that second list doesn’t sound like your business right now — don’t worry. That’s what we’re going to fix.

This Shift Didn’t Happen Overnight For Me

When I started my first business, I was doing everything. I was running the website, handling customer service, managing inventory — you name it.

And you know what? I felt productive because I was busy all the time. But I wasn’t actually growing.

That was my wake-up call. I wasn’t acting like a CEO — I was stuck in task mode.

The minute I started thinking strategically, setting up systems, and delegating things that weren’t my job to do, my business finally started growing and scaling.

I was able to form high-performing strategic partnerships while someone else handled the daily operations.

And the best part? I got my time back.

That’s the shift we’re going to work on today.

The CEO Prioritization Framework

Here’s a simple but powerful way to shift from employee mode to CEO mode — without overcomplicating it.

Step 1: Align with Your Big Business Vision

CEOs make decisions based on their vision. Employees make decisions based on what’s urgent today.

So ask yourself: Does this task actually move my business toward its long-term goals? Or am I just keeping myself busy?

A lot of my Structure to Scale clients come to me saying they don’t really have a "vision" — they just want to make money.

But here’s what I’ve found: The vision is always there. It’s just buried under the day-to-day chaos that makes it feel impossible to think beyond survival mode.

That’s why this is one of the first things I help them uncover. Because once you have that clarity, every decision you make becomes easier. You’ll stop reacting and start leading with purpose.

Step 2: Identify High-Impact vs. Low-Impact Work

Scaling isn’t about doing more — it’s about making sure you’re doing the right things.

🔹 High-impact work → Strategy, growth, partnerships, revenue-generating activities.

🔹 Low-impact work → Admin tasks, customer support, social media scheduling.

If most of your day is spent on low-impact work, that’s a problem. Because every hour you spend on tasks that someone else could handle is an hour you’re not spending growing your business.

Step 3: Delegate & Automate

If you want to scale, you need to start removing yourself from everything that doesn’t require your expertise.

Ask yourself:

• What can be automated? (Invoices, client onboarding, social media posts)
• What can be outsourced? (Admin, email management, bookkeeping)
• What actually needs you? (Vision, decision-making, relationship-building)

Your time should be spent on the CEO-level work that moves the business forward — not on the tasks that keep you stuck in the weeds. And that’s exactly what I help my clients build inside Structure to Scale.

How to Start Shifting into CEO Mode

Here’s how you can start shifting into CEO mode — starting today.

Step 1: Audit Your Workload

Before you can delegate or automate anything, you need to know where your time is actually going.

Take a look at everything you do in a typical week. Then ask yourself:

• Which tasks are actually growing my business?
• Which tasks could someone else handle?
• What’s draining my time but not moving the needle?

If you’re doing low-impact work (like inbox management, admin tasks, or social media scheduling) instead of high-impact CEO work, that’s the first red flag.

Step 2: Create a Weekly CEO Schedule

If you don’t carve out time for CEO-level work, it’s never going to happen.

That’s why I want you to block off dedicated time each week (I call it a CEO Day) for:

✔ Strategic planning

✔ Reviewing business performance (not just checking emails)

✔ Decision-making & goal-setting

✔ Big-picture projects that move the business forward

Think of this as your "non-negotiable CEO time" — because if YOU don’t prioritize it, no one else will.

Step 3: Automate or Delegate ONE Task This Week

You don’t have to do a full delegation overhaul overnight — just start with one thing.

Pick one task that doesn’t require you and do one of two things:

🔹 Automate it (set up an invoice system, schedule content in advance, use email templates)

OR

🔹 Delegate it (hand off admin work, customer support, or repetitive tasks.)

The goal here isn’t to make some massive change all at once — it’s to build the habit of removing yourself from tasks that don’t need you.

Because every small step you take toward acting like a CEO compounds over time—and before you know it, you’re running your business like a real CEO, not just the hardest-working employee in it."

So, are you running your business like a CEO, or are you stuck in employee mode? Drop a comment and let me know!

And if you’re serious about stepping into your CEO role — the kind where your business actually runs without you being in the weeds every day — that’s exactly what I teach inside Structure to Scale. It’s designed to help you build the systems, workflows, and leadership structure that turn your business into a well-oiled machine.

Because being the CEO isn’t about doing more — it’s about making sure the right things get done without you doing all of them.

Join my free Time Freedom Formula training to learn more!