Issue 129, Part Time CEO Newsletter
​(read on the website)​

Hey, it's Dhiren 👋,

You ever driven somewhere without Google Maps, relying on memory alone?

That’s my friend and fellow BNI member Zaid. No GPS, no Waze—just instinct.

When I rode with him, I thought, “How does he always know where he’s going?” Then it hit me: Zaid drives like he consults—clear direction, no distractions, straight to the destination.

In last week’s Part-Time CEO Council expert session, Zaid dropped a bombshell: most founders are driving their businesses blindfolded—and so are their teams.

Here’s why.

🧠 Bullet One: The KPI Blindfold

Imagine asking your team to park a car… but the car’s invisible.
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That’s exactly what Zaid had one of our members do in a live demo. Predictably, they crashed into uncertainty.

As founders, we know where the business is headed. The problem? Our teams don’t. They’re operating in the dark because we haven’t given them clear performance indicators—KPIs.

But here’s the twist: most founders either have no KPIs or have too many. We hear “KPIs” and think a laundry list of 40 metrics is the mark of a pro.

Zaid’s rule? Less is more.

KPIs are about the key in “Key Performance Indicators.” 10-15 max.

The founder mistake? Measuring what’s easy (because it’s in your CRM) versus what actually moves the needle.

🧠 Bullet Two: The Balanced Scorecard

Here’s where the lightbulb moment happens.

Zaid introduced a balanced scorecard that every Part-Time CEO needs. It’s not just about financials or sales targets (which most of us default to).

He laid out four essential categories:

1. Financial – Top line, bottom line, and cost ratios.
2. Customer – Retention, satisfaction scores, and % of sales from ideal clients.
3. People – Employee turnover, engagement, and productivity.
4. Internal Process – Lead-to-proposal time, project completion rates, and receivable turnover.

Why all four? Because if you only track revenue and ignore how engaged your team is or how fast you respond to leads, you’ll miss the early warning signs of deeper issues.

Think of this as your business dashboard. It tells you what’s working—and what’s quietly breaking beneath the surface.

Was this helpful? Forward it to a fellow founder — here’s the link​

Your Turn

Zaid left us with one phenomenal insight

“You can’t improve what you don’t measure.”

So here’s your challenge this week:

→ Audit your KPIs.

→ Slash the fluff.

→ Build a balanced scorecard across these four pillars.

Keep it simple. Keep it actionable. Your team and your business will thank you.

Want a copy of the KPI template Zaid shared?

[Hit reply and let me know]—I’ll send it straight over.

📢 Dhiren’s Updates

💡 Entrepreneur Basecamp Is Back: If you're tired of spending thousands on marketing that doesn't work, then join the next 3-day bootcamp for agency and consulting founders that is happening on May 20th, 2025. Reply to this email and I'll share more details.
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🚀 1:1 Coaching Now Open: I’m opening up a very limited number of 1:1 coaching slots for founders who want personalized guidance on building a business that runs without you. If that’s you, hit reply and let’s talk.

📌 Dhiren’s Pick of the Week

📚 Book : Measure What Matters” by John Doerr.

It’s a on setting OKRs (Objectives & Key Results), and it pairs perfectly with Zaid’s KPI framework from this week’s session.

Big takeaway?

Clear metrics don’t just align your team—they inspire them. If you’re serious about building a business that runs without you, this book is a no-brainer.

Have you read it? Reply and let me know what you think! 🚀

Much Love,

Dhiren Bhatia ​Founder, Elevated Entrepreneur ​ElevatedEntrepreneur.co​ ☎️ Book a 1:1 Clarity Call​

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