EP 210: The Day I (Almost) Fired Everyone...

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In this episode, I’m sharing a feeling every CEO knows all too well — the moment when you want to fire everyone and just do it all yourself.

I woke up frustrated, anxious, and ready to blow things up after realizing things in the business weren’t getting done the way they should. Communication broke down. Excuses started flying. And like many leaders, my first instinct was simple: clean house and start over.

But over nearly 30 years in business, I’ve learned something important — firing everyone isn’t the solution. Becoming a better CEO is.

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the real emotional and operational pressure of running companies with employees, vendors, clients, and moving parts everywhere. From wanting to snap on your team, to realizing the real problem might actually be leadership structure, systems, and accountability.

I also explain why trying to handle everything yourself is one of the biggest mistakes business owners make — and why asking for help, bringing in experts, and building the right support systems is the only way to scale.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, frustrated with your team, or questioned whether it would be easier to just burn it all down and rebuild — this episode will hit home.

Show highlights include:

  • Why every CEO eventually feels like firing their entire team [00:02]

  • The dangerous cycle of excuses and lack of accountability in organizations [04:55]

  • What actually happens after you fire someone (and why it’s rarely what you fear) [06:20]

  • The emotional pressure CEOs face behind closed doors while leading their teams [09:02]

  • Why most companies get into trouble when things are going well [11:45]

  • How hiring fractional experts (HR, CFO, etc.) can save you thousands in stress and mistakes [15:03]

  • The hidden cost of trying to run your entire business yourself [20:08]

  • Why inefficiency in teams is usually a leadership and systems problem [24:09]

  • The truth about building real businesses vs. online “easy money” hype [30:33]

  • The leadership mindset shift required to build million-dollar businesses [31:49]

  • Why the first person you may need to “fire” from your company… is yourself [34:22]

Running a company isn’t easy. It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s stressful.

But the solution isn’t burning everything down.

The solution is getting the right help, building stronger systems, and becoming the leader your business actually needs.

Welcome to The Making of a DM Podcast, where real estate, entrepreneurship, and deal making collide. Hosted by Mark Evans DM — the "DM" stands for Deal Maker — a 12X bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, and family man, this podcast offers you a front-row seat to the strategies and mindset that help entrepreneurs scale their businesses for maximum profitability and freedom. Mark’s journey began in the blue-collar world, running a gutter business before transitioning into real estate, where he flipped over 5000 deals. Now, as the owner of multiple successful businesses, Mark shares the lessons he’s learned along the way to financial independence. Whether you're flipping properties, building business empires, or seeking ways to stop trading time for money, this podcast will show you how to level up your business and your life.

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EP 209: 95% Talk Big. 5% Execute. Which One Are You?