Built by Founders, For Founders
We've been where you are—moving at 120mph and hitting the wall. Now, we help you build the systems to pull the chute and scale safely.
From 120mph to Clarity
In 2000, I was falling at 120mph. Literally and figuratively.
I had just launched FreeDrive, a pioneer in cloud storage. It would eventually grow to 28 million users with a $1.2 billion exit on the horizon, and I felt on top of the world. But like a skydiver in freefall, the ground was coming up fast. I realized that speed without control isn't flying—it's falling.
"You have to stabilize before you can land the target."
The "Pull the Chute" Moment
It took a literal jump from a plane to teach me the most important lesson of my career. In skydiving, you pull the chute not to stop, but to stabilize. You pull it to gain perspective, to see the horizon, and to control your descent to the target.
I realized founders and executives are addicted to the "freefall"—the chaos of 120mph growth. They fear slowing down means failing. But the truth I discovered at MITA and Encore is that you cannot scale chaos. You have to pull the chute to build the systems, culture, and teams that allow you to actually land the plane.
The New Mission
Today, I don't just build companies; I build leaders. Pull the Chute isn't just a catchy name; it's a methodology. It's about helping founders pause the chaos, identify their true north, and build the infrastructure—both human and technical—to scale without crashing.
— Jeff Sesol
Beyond Coaching: What to Expect
This website isn't just a brochure. It is a resource hub designed to help you solve specific scaling problems right now.
1. Methodology & Frameworks
We publish deep dives into our core concepts—like the "Founder's Trap," the "Monday Meeting Shift," and switching from "Expert Mode" to "Leader Mode"—so you can implement them before you even hire us.
2. Podcast Analysis
We don't just provide transcripts. We highlight key concepts and expand on ideas that weren't fully covered in the episode itself, adding new context and actionable value to every conversation.
3. Culture as an OS
Forget ping-pong tables. We break down the exact accountability protocols and "Operating Systems" you need to build a high-performance team that runs without you.
30+ Years of Building, Breaking & Scaling
Jeff isn't a career coach. He's a career builder. He learned leadership by navigating real business chaos.
Harris Bank (Operations Officer)
The Lesson: Authenticity matters. I started in the Trust Fee department and eventually automated it. But the biggest lesson came when the Bank President sat at my desk and asked me, an entry-level clerk, for my opinion. That moment taught me that no matter your title, you must remain approachable. "They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like you."
Student Works Painting
The Lesson: You can't just hand over the keys. I built this business from a weekend side-hustle to a full operation. When I left to pursue other ventures, I handed it to my foreman. It failed in 6 months. Why? Because I hadn't truly equipped him to lead; I just delegated tasks. I learned that empowerment requires preparation, not just permission.
New Logic (Director of E-Commerce)
The Lesson: Process drives profit. I took a struggling practice earning $50k and turned it into a $1M operation in 9 months. The secret wasn't magic; it was implementing a rigorous project management methodology. Structure isn't a constraint; it's the safety net that allows you to move fast without falling.
FreeDrive (Co-Founder / CTO)
I had just launched FreeDrive, a pioneer in cloud storage. It would eventually grow to 28 million users with a $1.2 billion exit on the horizon, and I felt on top of the world. But like a skydiver in freefall, the ground was coming up fast. I realized that speed without control isn't flying—it's falling.
SonMedia Holdings (COO/CTO)
The Lesson: Infrastructure is the engine of growth. We scaled a sales team from 1 to 3,500 people in just 9 months. That kind of hyper-growth destroys companies that aren't ready. We succeeded because we built the operational infrastructure before the flood of customers arrived.
Corporate Broadcast Co. (Acting COO)
The Lesson: Clarity creates velocity. Consulted for an internet TV startup. My role was to cut through the noise and establish the operational roadmap. When everyone knows exactly where the ship is sailing, you can navigate even the choppiest waters of a new industry.
Encore Marketing (Director of Tech / COO / CTO)
The Lesson: Efficiency is a growth strategy. Designed and implemented a nationwide Cloud-based system that integrated with Fortune 100 companies. This reduced operational costs by 45% while increasing throughput by 200%, allowing the company to grow from $2M to $24M in 10 months with zero infrastructure growth.
MITA Partners (COO/CTO)
The Lesson: Tech must serve the business. Supported 45-65% year-over-year growth by designing technology that served the sales process, not the other way around. Whether dealing with the NFL or the military, the technology had to be invisible and seamless.
JSA (VP Operations)
The Lesson: Grow your people, grow your company. This is where the philosophy solidified. By focusing on culture and employee development, we didn't just improve morale; we drove significant revenue growth. A supported team supports the bottom line.
Pull the Chute
The Lesson: It's time to give back. Packaging 30 years of wins, failures, and lessons into a system for founders who are stuck. My mission now is to help others avoid the walls I hit, and to build companies where people love to come to work.
The Systems That Scale Us
We practice what we preach. This isn't a one-man show; it's a team of experts running a system designed for scale.
