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 foundational agreements that shape your culture, your identity, and your future.What you’ll learn:What Forever Agreements are and how they differ from everything elseThe four foundational commitments: Compelling Why, Core Values, Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), and Compelling Value PropositionWhy making these agreements explicit helps your company scale without losing its identityResources:→ Read more on Forever Agreements: 6 Ingredients Founders Use to Build Damn Good, If Not Great, Companies  → Explore Compelling Why: 7 Reasons Founders Need a Compelling Why → Learn about Core Values: Grow or Die #6: Culture Matters  → Subscribe to the Founder's Framework Newsletter: https://bit.ly/FoundersFrameworkNewsl... → Get the Founder Mode Workbook: https://bit.ly/FounderModeWorkbookConnect:→ Follow Mark on LinkedIn→ Follow Cole on LinkedInSubscribe 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!

Cole Abbott, a brand strategist focusing on leadership development, joins Mark Abbott to discuss the balance of strong convictions and adaptability in leadership. They explore how open-mindedness fosters growth and the importance of challenging biases. The conversation delves into personal ego development, emphasizing its role in effective decision-making. With anecdotes and insights, they highlight the evolution of leadership through understanding emotional dynamics and navigating personal growth stages, especially in the context of diversity and inclusion.

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 company.What you'll learn:Why being a founder requires more than just a great ideaThe mindset and resilience needed to build a lasting companyMistakes founders make and how to avoid themHow to use the Founder Mode Workbook to clarify your vision and strategyResources:→ Get the Founder Mode Workbook→ Download the Vision Builder’s Workbook→ Subscribe to the Founder’s Framework newsletterSubscribe 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!

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 Mark’s Founder’s Framework Newsletter→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  → Try Ninety free for 30 days!

Explore the nine essential traits that make companies truly great. Discover how a strong sense of purpose and trust can drive talent retention and stakeholder relationships. The importance of focus, feedback, and value propositions is highlighted for market success. Dive into the concept of the 'infinite game' and how resilient teams thrive on a clear vision and culture. Learn about the significance of agreements and communication in fostering growth. Lastly, find out how passion in work can lead to joy and collaboration.

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 ToolSubscribe 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!

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→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  → Try Ninety free for 30 days!

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 Newsletter→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  → Try Ninety free for 30 days!

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 Founder’s Framework Newsletter→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  → Try Ninety free for 30 days!

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 Framework Newsletter→ Subscribe to Ninety’s EOS Newsletter  → Try Ninety free for 30 days!