Not Another CEO Podcast

What does it take to build and scale a successful company? In this episode of Not Another CEO Podcast, David Politis sits down with Zac Smith, Co-Founder and Former CEO of Packet. 

Zac discusses the importance of structured execution, hiring for passion, and balancing long-term vision with short-term execution. Whether you're a founder, leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with valuable insights on leadership, company building, and decision-making.
 
Takeaways:
  • The Power of a 10-Year Vision: Zac believes that thinking long-term is critical for building meaningful businesses. He explains how setting a bold 10-year goal helps guide decision-making and prioritization in the short term.
  • Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) for Success: One of Zac’s most impactful lessons was implementing EOS to create structure and accountability within his companies. He shares how this system helped him move from gut-driven decisions to a scalable business framework.
  • Execution is the Differentiator: Most companies operate at a 3 or 4 out of 10 in execution. Zac explains how simply executing at a 7 or 8 puts businesses ahead of the competition and increases the likelihood of success.
  • Hiring for Passion & Curiosity: Beyond skills, Zac prioritizes candidates who show genuine interest and curiosity. He shares how small actions, like trying a product before an interview, can reveal whether someone is truly invested in a company’s mission.
  • Lessons from Leading Through Crisis: From navigating financial challenges to making tough leadership decisions, Zac reflects on some of the hardest moments of his career, including when he and his co-founder decided to replace themselves as leaders to save the company.
  • Building a Personal Brand in B2B Sales: In enterprise sales, people buy from people, not just companies. Zac shares how investing in personal brand-building—through speaking, blogging, and community engagement—was key to winning customers at Packet.


Quote of the Show:
  • “ I don’t need to run a 10 out of 10 for a company. Most companies are operating at a 3 or a 4. I just want to be a 7 or an 8.” - Zac Smith

Links:

Ways to Tune In:

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #Packet

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:25 What You’d Do Again As CEO
3:18 Deep Dive into EOS and Its Benefits
7:41 Building a Passionate and Accountable Team
9:50 The Importance of Vision and Long-Term Goals
13:20 Effective Interview Techniques and Identifying Passion
19:57 Communicating Vision and Values
29:33 Go-to-Market Strategies and Early Customer Acquisition
34:38 Early Users and Initial Challenges
39:22 New York Tech Scene Evolution
45:25 Biggest Challenge Faced
51:41 Rich’s Background
1:05:49 Advice to Younger Self
1:02:21 Outro

Creators and Guests

Host
David Politis
Producer
Alex Fischer
Guest
Zac Smith

What is Not Another CEO Podcast?

Our mission is to bend the curve for Founders and CEOs.

At Not Another CEO, we know there’s no formula for running a business. Leadership is forged through unique journeys, real challenges, and hard lessons. Our exclusive content showcases unfiltered stories and practical guidance from those who’ve crawled through the trenches. Our platform offers the largest library of CEO insights and how-to guides, sourced directly from a diverse community of leaders.

Find our full video library, detailed playbooks, deep dives, and lessons learned on our Substack here ➡️ https://notanotherceo.substack.com/