Episode 004: The Real Constraint in Your Shop Isn’t What You Think | Mike Payne

Most shops don’t have a systems problem. They don’t have a workload problem. They have a leadership problem. In this episode of the Threaded Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Mike Payne to break down what it actually takes to lead and scale a manufacturing business. Mike came into manufacturing from private equity and M&A, then stepped into ownership himself when he acquired Hill Manufacturing. That outside perspective shows up in how he thinks about leadership, systems, and growth. We get into: * The mistake most owners make when trying to “work on the business” * Why delegating too early can break your company * The identity shifts required to go from operator to owner * What actually keeps shops stuck under $1M, $3M, and beyond * How poor hiring and promotions destroy culture * Why the owner is almost always the bottleneck * Practical ways to fix cash flow (including the 13-week model) * How to think about hiring when you “can’t afford it” * Real shop floor scenarios around leadership, accountability, and growth This isn’t theory. This is what actually happens inside real shops. If you’re an owner, a leader, or someone trying to step up, this conversation will hit home. Keep up with Mike: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/growingvalue/ Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCP68uEoZKc_2z2dBjlZ1Vug Hill Manufacturing: https://hill-manufacturing.com/ ---------------------------------------- 👉 If this resonates, this is exactly the kind of work we focus on inside Threaded Leadership. Join the Threaded Leadership community: https://www.skool.com/threaded-leadership-4135/about?ref=2aab8ad499fa48799c2fc591045c86ca