Episode 53: Chase Damiano - Helping entrepreneurs get out of the weeds

Today’s guest is Chase Damiano. Chase helps get entrepreneurs out of the weeds. He works as a business advisor, consultant, and coach to founders and CEOs and more specifically, helps them clarify their vision, building scalable operational strategies, and executing alongside their team. Few people truly understand the entrepreneurial mindset and journey, but Chase certainly does. Prior to his current consulting and coaching work, Chase served as the Chief Operating Officer for 5 years at Commonwealth Joe, a venture-backed beverage technology start-up in Arlington, VA. He partnered with the founder to accelerate annual revenue from $60,000 to a 7-figure ARR, grow from 1 to over 500 regional customers, and scaled the team from 2 to 70 employees. It was through all of the highs and lows of this experience that inspired him to help entrepreneurs in their journeys. In this interview, we get into Chase’s original path to become a chemical engineer, the shift to business and working in management consulting, his time at Commonwealth Joe and lessons learned, and his current work helping entrepreneurs get out of the weeds.

Timestamps

00:02:28 Growing up in Mechanicsville, VA and early career ambitions

00:08:07 Is entrepreneurship something you're born with?

00:09:42 Majoring in chemical engineering and economics in college

00:13:10 Career ambitions in college and the birth of his son

00:16:13 Path to working at Accenture

00:19:10 His role at Accenture

00:21:25 When he caught the entrepreneurial bug

00:23:26 Biggest takeaways from working at Accenture

00:26:08 Opportunity to join Commonwealth Joe

00:28:42 Overview of Commonwealth Joe

00:30:21 Transitioning from a global consulting firm to a startup

00:33:04 Mindset shifts in order to thrive in a startup environment

00:37:02 Biggest takeaways from working at Commonwealth Joe

00:38:59 How he built himself out of Commonwealth Joe

00:43:16 The spark to start his own venture and taking a sabbatical

00:52:50 His current venture and how he helps founders

00:57:38 His ultimate vision for his business

00:58:51 How he lives a principled life

01:00:53 What he wants to accomplish 5 years from now

01:01:52 His daily routine

01:05:13 His driving force

01:06:56 Parting words of wisdom for the aspiring entrepreneur