381 | Sam Goodner | Like Clockwork: Run Your Business with Swiss Army Precision

The Greatness Machine

What separates companies that stall from those that scale?

In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius sits down with Sam Goodner, entrepreneur, author of “Like Clockwork: Run Your Business with Swiss Army Precision,” and former CEO of Catapult Systems, one of the fastest growing tech consulting firms in the U.S. Sam shares decades of wisdom from building and scaling businesses, breaking down the systems and disciplines that drive sustainable growth.

From creating clarity across your organization to codifying best practices and delegating decision-making, Sam explains how leaders can step out of the weeds and empower their teams to thrive. He also reveals the number one barrier he has overcome on his own path to greatness and how mastering the use of time is key to building the life you want.

In this episode, Darius and Sam will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction and Background

(02:51) Sam Goodner's Entrepreneurial Journey

(05:47) The Importance of Military Service

(11:33) The Swiss Army Experience and Its Impact

(17:20) Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

(22:59) Building Successful Partnerships

(28:44) Acquisition Strategies and Insights

(34:40) Writing the Book: “Like Clockwork”

(40:24) Execution and Business Growth

(46:13) Creating a Culture of Accountability

(51:41) Final Thoughts and Greatness Question

Sam Goodner is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and mentor recognized for turning bold ideas into thriving businesses. A dual citizen of Switzerland and the U.S., his career spans from serving as a Swiss Army mountain infantry officer to being named an Inc. 500 CEO and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He founded Catapult Systems in 1993, growing it into the world’s top Microsoft Systems Integrator before its 2013 acquisition, and later built and sold multiple tech ventures. As president and chief strategy officer of FlashParking, he helped scale the startup into a billion-dollar global leader. Today, Sam devotes his time to advising and mentoring entrepreneurs while pursuing his passion for lifelong learning and global exploration.

Sponsored by:

Brevo: Head over to brevo.com/greatness and use the code greatness to get 50% off Starter and Business Plans for the first 3 months of an annual subscription.

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Shopify: Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/greatness.

Connect with Sam:

Website: https://samgoodner.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samgoodner/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Like-Clockwork-Business-Swiss-Precision/dp/B0FLQK1Y8S

Connect with Darius:

Website: https://therealdarius.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine

Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708

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