Founder's Framework

In a world of constant change, great companies stay grounded by knowing what should never change. In this episode, Ninety Founder & CEO Mark Abbott and Brand Strategist Cole Abbott dive into the concept of Forever Agreements—the core commitments that define who you are as a company and act as the throughline across every stage of growth. These aren’t strategies or tactics. These are the founda...

Great founders hold strong opinions, but they also know when to change their minds. In this episode, Ninety Founder & CEO Mark Abbott and Brand Strategist Cole Abbott explore how high-performing leaders evolve their thinking, challenge their biases, and refine their decision-making over time. They break down the balance between conviction and adaptability — and why staying too rigid can hold y...

Not everyone is built to be a founder. It takes more than a great idea — it requires resilience, self-awareness, and the ability to make tough decisions every day. In this episode, Ninety Founder & CEO Mark Abbott and Brand Strategist Cole Abbott break down what it really takes to be a founder and how the Founder Mode Workbook helps you develop the mindset and strategies to build a lasting com...

Explore the challenges of aligning vision, leadership, and organizational growth in a scalable way. Mark and Cole discuss the importance of building an agreements-based culture, fostering the right kind of communication, and strategically timing key leadership hires to ensure your shared vision is executed effectively. Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week. → Subscribe to...

In this episode, Mark and Cole discuss common attributes of truly great companies. These include the importance of leveraging agreements in favor of expectations, the need for a passionate commitment to the work, and more. The conversation stresses the significance of continuous learning, resilience, and cultivating strong relationships with the people on your team. For more on this subject, check...

This episode reflects on the challenges and milestones of the past year, specifically the importance of scaling thoughtfully, maintaining team alignment, and preparing for the next phase of growth. The conversation wraps up with Mark and Cole sharing their excitement surrounding some upcoming initiatives for 2025. Ninety's Assessment Tool Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every o...

Mark shares how the laws of physics also apply to business: If you’re not growing, you’re dying. The conversation touches on balancing ambition with practicality as well as the importance of strategic planning so founders can avoid entropy and build lasting, impactful companies. Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week. → Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter →...

As the Founder Mode series continues, Mark and Cole discuss the importance of recognizing and scheduling time for different modes to leverage productivity and minimize inefficiencies. They also highlight the value of empathy and self-awareness for founders of companies at any stage. Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week. → Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newslette...

This episode digs into the importance of trust and transparency in the annual planning process, specifically how these elements support alignment and accountability across all levels of an organization. The conversation highlights how teams benefit from assessing core competencies and addressing uncertainties.  Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week. → Subscribe to Mark’s...

Explore the delicate nature of leadership transitions, particularly surrounding the role of a visionary within an organization. Learn about the challenges founders may face when stepping back from leadership roles and the importance of owning responsibilities while nurturing team relationships. Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week. → Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framewo...

Learn more about the trending topic of "founder mode” as Mark and Cole explore the distinctions between visionary and legacy founders and the various mindsets that all founders must navigate. The conversation highlights how chaotic leadership can result when founders aren't self-aware and the importance of being adaptable to build fluidity and reduce anxiety. Subscribe for more founder-f...

Dive into the key concepts of Stratified Systems Theory (SST), which describes how organizations create structured hierarchies as they grow more complex. Mark Abbott emphasizes that each stratum requires distinct competencies and problem-solving approaches, with leaders in higher strata focusing on integration, system development, and long-term market foresight.  Subscribe for more founder-first c...

In the final installment of our Stages of Development series, Mark and Cole cover the challenges of leadership transitions in Stage 5 companies, particularly when moving from a visionary founder to a new leader. The hosts share insights on the importance of finding a successor who understands the company's long-term vision in addition to having a point of view for the future, ideally looking...

Learn about the challenges companies face when transitioning into Stage 4, particularly around leadership structure and organizational alignment. The conversation touches on the complexities of maintaining company culture and the importance of knowing when to invest in the right people and systems for sustainable growth. Referenced materials (PDF download): Guide On Stages of Development Stages of...

Continuing our Stages of Development series, today’s focus is on Stage 3, where companies begin to get serious about scaling. The hosts introduce a framework for understanding these stages based on revenue projections and organizational confidence, from 90 days to 10 years. This episode also touches on the mindset necessary for founders to guide their organizations effectively. Referenced material...

Mark and Cole discuss the first transition within the Stages of Development. They also explore how core competencies evolve during this stage, which can encourage behaviors such as refining your company's vision and starting to think more intentionally about company culture and long-term goals. Referenced materials (PDF download): Guide On Stages of Development Stages of Development Brief   S...

This episode kicks off a new series on the Stages of Development, one of Ninety’s foundational frameworks for measuring a company’s progress and charting its growth. Mark and Cole share an overview of this framework before diving into the specifics of Stage 1, emphasizing the importance of establishing product/market fit to attract both customers and investors. Referenced materials (PDF download):...

This episode is all about the framework of Competency, Commitment, and Capacity (CCC). Learn how CCC is used to assess whether a person is well-suited for their role in an organization, a concept Mark calls "right person, right seat." He also highlights how understanding these factors can lead to more effective, objective hiring conversations. Subscribe for more founder-first conversatio...

Learn more about the concept of "Exit," one of the 9 Core Competencies formerly known as "Enterprise Value." Mark goes over the importance of planning and preparing for a smooth, successful exit as a business owner or leader, touching on various aspects such as succession planning, investor expectations, and the disciplines necessary for running a business effectively.  Subscri...

In this episode, Cole and Mark delve into the crucial topic of identifying and serving your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). Their conversation covers how defining an ICP helps align a company's vision, culture, and Compelling Value Proposition. Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week. → Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter → Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsle...

It’s time to dive into the complexities of data management and its significance in business operations. Mark and Cole discuss how data, while often perceived as straightforward, is actually a powerful and intricate tool that requires careful handling. They also explore the need to balance quantitative insights with qualitative understanding to drive lasting success. Subscribe for more founder-firs...

Discover the importance of processes in organizations, especially as they grow. Mark and Cole emphasize the need for clear, documented processes to prevent chaos and ensure that everyone in the organization is on the same page. By mastering Core Processes and implementing effective KPIs, companies can improve their overall efficiency and trust throughout teams. Subscribe for more founder-first con...

Cole and Mark explore the concept of goals and their relationship to an organization's vision. They discuss how every goal you set (quarterly, annually, and beyond) should work together to guide progress and maintain focus. The conversation also touches on the importance of maintaining a thriving culture that aligns with the company's overall vision. Subscribe for more founder-first conv...

In this week’s episode, Mark and Cole are pivoting to the importance of finding great people once your company structure is in place. Their conversation unpacks why having the right people in the right roles is crucial for creating enduring value and success and touches on the significance of trust, character, and connection in building a cohesive and resilient team.  Subscribe for more founder-fi...

On this episode, we discuss the fundamentals of a BOS and what makes EOS work. Subscribe for more founder-first conversations every other week. → Subscribe to Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter → Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter   → Try Ninety free for 30 days !