Written by
Interested in getting started in consulting? Subscribe to our newsletter
I recently sat down with Ty Hammond on the True Leadership podcast to talk about the leadership lessons, mindset shifts, and hard-won wisdom that have shaped my journey from early Uber operator to founder and CEO of Mylance. Below, I've distilled the most valuable insights for fractional executives and consultants looking to grow sustainably.
The Leadership Lesson That Changed Everything
Before building Mylance, I spent years at Uber during its hypergrowth phase - launching markets across Rides, Eats, and Freight. But the single biggest lesson in leadership didn't come from scaling a billion-dollar business unit. It came from my first boss.
She was so invested in my growth and success that it felt like that was paramount - more than the business performance. Early on, I made a mistake that cost the company $20,000. My third week. I came clean, expecting the worst. Her response? "Cool. Did you learn your lesson? Are you good?" And we moved on.
That experience created fierce loyalty and ownership in me. I treated my market - Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill - like it was my own company. I was answering 500 to 1,000 driver emails a week and parked in front of my computer on Friday and Saturday nights because that's when the business needed me most.
The takeaway for fractional leaders? When you lead with genuine care for the people around you - your team, your clients, your partners - you unlock a level of commitment and performance that no KPI dashboard ever will.
Stop Selling What You Want. Start Solving What They Need.
One of the most pivotal moments of my career was a crossroads at Uber. After successfully launching Uber Eats in Miami in just six weeks, I was invited to interview for the GM role. I crushed the interviews - but was ultimately disqualified for not having an MBA (something they knew going in). Frustrated, I pitched other leaders on what I wanted: more launch experience, a path to GM, a stepping stone to CEO.
Their response? Crickets. Or worse.
Then I shifted my approach entirely. I saw Uber launching Eats across Europe and reframed my pitch: "You need help here. I have launch experience. I will do whatever it takes to make these markets successful." The response was immediate - get on a plane to Amsterdam. Within weeks, I was leading the launch of Uber Eats Milan, living in Italy, managing an Italian team. It still gives me chills talking about it.
This lesson has become foundational to how I think about business development, and it's one every fractional executive needs to internalize: stop leading with what you want to sell and start leading with what they need solved.
When I eventually left Uber and landed my first consulting client, I used this exact framework. I spent 30 minutes asking about their challenges, identified exactly where my experience could help, and pitched a solution from their perspective. The result? A $25,000-per-month engagement working 20 hours a week - double my Uber salary.
Understanding What Actually Motivates People (Hint: It's Not Always Money)
I want to share a story about my former CTO, who was based in South America. At one point, I sent him an unexpected bonus - a nice check with a heartfelt note. Months later, at an offsite in Mexico, I asked how it felt to receive it.
His answer surprised me: "Bradley, your letter meant so much to me." The check? Nice. But the letter - the acknowledgment of his value - that's what truly mattered to him.
For fractional executives building teams, managing subcontractors, or leading client engagements, this is gold. People aren't all motivated by the same things. Some want recognition. Some want creative ownership. Some want growth opportunities. The leaders who take time to understand what actually drives the people around them are the ones who build lasting, high-performing relationships.
My approach is refreshingly simple: just ask. In one-on-ones, skip the project updates (that's what ops meetings are for) and go deeper. "Scale of 1 to 10, how much do you enjoy working here? What tasks do you hate doing? Where do you want to be in three years?" Most leaders don't ask because it takes time. But it's the highest-ROI time you'll ever spend.
The Best Investment You'll Ever Make Has Nothing to Do with Software
When Ty asked me about my most valuable investment, I didn't talk about a tool, a course, or a marketing strategy. I talked about working on myself.
Coaches, therapists, coaching programs, masterminds - I've invested heavily in understanding my blind spots and how I hold my own business back. My core belief is that every founder is the limiting factor to their own business, and if you don't work on yourself, your business won't grow.
The return? I can't quantify the comfortability I have in myself now. I can walk into a room and be confident in my own skin. There's not a dollar amount I can put on that.
This isn't woo-woo talk. For fractional executives, the inner game directly impacts the outer results. Imposter syndrome keeps you from charging what you're worth. Fear of judgment keeps you from posting on LinkedIn. Perfectionism keeps you from shipping your offer. The founders who invest in their own growth - not just their business tactics - are the ones who build something sustainable.
Ship the Damn Thing: The 80/20 Rule for Fractional Founders
And here's where it gets real. I'm a self-admitted perfectionist. I recently spent 20 minutes going back and forth with Claude on a piece of copy - tweaking, adjusting, perfecting. Until Claude essentially told me: "Bradley, you're making micro improvements. Ship the damn thing."
It was a wake-up call, and it's one most fractional executives need to hear.
You don't need the perfect website to launch. You don't need the perfect LinkedIn post to publish. You don't need the perfect proposal to send. You need the 80% version, shipped today, so you can learn, iterate, and move forward. Perfectionism disguised as "high standards" is often just fear wearing a nicer outfit.
The same applies to focus. With AI tools launching every hour and new shiny objects constantly pulling for attention, it has never been easier to get distracted from actually building your business. Less is more. One offer. One audience. One platform. Nail those before you add complexity.
Take the One Step
I'll leave you with something I feel strongly about:
I see so many people held back by fear - fear of judgment, fear of rejection, the stories they make up in their mind. And here's the thing: you can have the fear and do it anyway. Every one person that judges you, there's a hundred you're probably helping.
Launch the podcast. Write the LinkedIn post. Put your offer out there. Go solve a problem you actually care about, in your zone of genius, that funds your life and lights you up all week.
The fear? You can handle it. The judgment? You'll survive. The worst-case scenario? You cry to your spouse, get back up the next day, and keep building.
Take the one step.
Want help building your fractional practice with clarity, consistency, and authentic visibility? Check out Stratus to learn how we help fractional executives attract the right clients through credibility-driven content on LinkedIn.
Mylance
This article was written by Mylance, the LinkedIn content system built for founders and experts who want consistent, high-quality posts that attract clients. We help you lock in your positioning, clarify your ideal customer, and build a content strategy that actually resonates. Then our system gives you a content calendar, drafts posts in your authentic voice, and keeps you accountable - so you stay visible and attract the right clients while saving hours each week!If you’re ready to grow your presence and pipeline on LinkedIn, sign up at Mylance.co.
