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CEO Hacks: App, Books, Resources & Habits

Be a more effective & efficient CEO, entrepreneur & business owner

During our I AM CEO Podcast, we ask each guest for a CEO Hack that makes them more effective and efficient. We decided to share some of our best hacks.

What are CEO Hacks? They are books, apps, habits, tools, platforms or things that we believe you should incorporate into your business that will make you more efficient, effective, or successful (and maybe save money) as a CEO, entrepreneur or business owner.

Take a look at some of the CEO Hacks that have been recommended below, check out a different CEO Hack on our daily, laser focused I AM CEO Podcast with Gresh and feel free to look through the CEO Hacks by categories or just browse the list. For CBNation members, you will find more “how-to” and deeper tricks and strategy for many of these hacks.

If you need help implementing these CEO Hacks into your organization contact Blue 16 Tech.

Lastly, don't forget to grab your free download.

– Gresh

Please note in the sake of transparency our sites do contain affiliate links that pay us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our Affiliate Disclaimer.

P.S. If you want to contact us or have any CEO Hacks to recommend, please let us know HERE.

Smartphone screen showing a navigation menu for CEO Hacks. Menu options include Free, Apps, Supplies, Books, Podcast, Web, Video, Deals, Habits, and Marketing.
A logo featuring a stylized geometric design above the text "fusebox" in lowercase letters. The design consists of two intersecting lines with dots at the ends.
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Formerly Smart Podcast Player

Encourage binge listening. Drive conversion to email. Reward fans with transcripts.
 That and more is possible with our toolbox of podcasting software.

We’re podcasters at heart who dare to build our own tools.

Back in 2015, our co-founder Pat Flynn had a problem. He wanted to delight visitors to his website with the ability to listen to any episode from his podcast. Right there, on the site. Options were sparse, ugly, and just not quite right back then. So we built one. That tool became Smart Podcast Player (SPP), and the podcasting world rejoiced.

We enhanced SPP in the years that followed. All the while, new pain points and innovative ideas emerged as the podcasting industry boomed. We sat on those pain points and innovative ideas for a while. But no more.

Today, we’re Fusebox—the same core team with a new name that embodies our expanded mission to build a toolbox of powerful software to empower podcasters with dynamic ways of energizing their audiences to drive engagement and results.

Our players will always be at our core. But there’s a lot more we can—and will—build to help all of us podcasters take control of our future.

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Filmora logo featuring a stylized geometric shape to the left and the word "filmora" in lowercase, white letters on a dark background.
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Wondershare Filmora is a simple video editor that empowers your stories, download the latest version 9 to transform precious moments into stunning videos for creatives.

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FreshBooks logo with the text "FreshBooks cloud accounting" in blue and black, accompanied by a green leaf graphic.
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FreshBooks is an accounting software package developed and marketed by 2ndsite Inc. FreshBooks products are geared mainly toward small to medium-sized businesses and offer cloud-based accounting applications that send invoices to clients to bill for time and expertise.

The all-new FreshBooks is accounting software that makes running your small business easy, fast and secure. Spend less time on accounting and more time doing the work you love.

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Fiverr is the world's largest freelance services marketplace for lean entrepreneurs to focus on growth & create a successful business at affordable costs.

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FollowUpThen logo on a blue background. The logo features the text "followupthen" in white with a light blue upward-pointing arrow below the text.
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FollowUpThen is a service (with free and paid versions) that works through your email account to send reminders to your inbox exactly when you need them.

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Logo displaying the text "fotolia" in lowercase letters, with "foto" in gray and "lia" in green, prefixed by a green icon resembling two interlocking rings.
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Search 214 million royalty-free stock photos, EPS vector art illustrations and HD video footage.

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Filmora logo with the text "Video Editing Simplified.
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Long Business Description

Filmora is the ideal video editing software for beginners on a low budget. You can download it free at filmora.wondershare.com. It's an easy and powerful video editing software that can do basic editing such as trimming, cropping, rotating and hue adjusting as well as advanced video editing such as green screen, split screen, picture and picture and more. Filmora is available specially designed for non-professionals, so using this software is painless and as easy as dragging and dropping. Filmora video editor is available on Windows and Mac.

About Filmora

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Screenshot of the FATJOE FATRANK tool interface featuring options for Rank Checker, Session Report, Useful Links, a keyword entry field, and location selection, with social media icons below.
Long Business Description

FatRank Chrome Extension: Check Keyword Rankings Without Complicated SEO Software

Business Website Address : ceohack.co/refer/fat-rank-chrome-extension

What Is the FatRank Chrome Extension?

The FatRank Chrome Extension is a browser-based SEO tool that allows users to quickly check where a website ranks in Google for specific keywords. It helps entrepreneurs, marketers, agencies, and SEO professionals monitor keyword performance without logging into complex SEO platforms.

FatRank Chrome Extension: Know Where You Rank Before You Change Your SEO Strategy

The Problem

SEO is full of assumptions.

"I think we're ranking."

"I think this page is improving."

"I think our optimization worked."

Thinking isn't a strategy.

Measurement is.

Many entrepreneurs invest weeks writing content, improving pages, and optimizing websites—but never verify whether those efforts actually improve rankings.

Without visibility, it's impossible to know:

What's working.

What's declining.

What deserves more attention.

The challenge isn't doing SEO.

The challenge is measuring SEO consistently.

What Is the FatRank Chrome Extension?

The FatRank Chrome Extension is a lightweight SEO tool that allows users to check a website's Google ranking for a chosen keyword directly from their browser.

Instead of navigating multiple dashboards or enterprise SEO platforms, users can quickly evaluate keyword positions while reviewing a webpage.

For Builders, FatRank offers a simple way to monitor search visibility without adding unnecessary complexity.

Why It Matters for Builders

Builders often focus on creating content.

The smartest entrepreneurs also measure its performance.

Publishing is only half the job.

Optimization requires feedback.

If rankings improve, you know you're moving in the right direction.

If they decline, you know where to investigate.

FatRank makes that feedback loop faster.

This creates leverage.

Instead of guessing whether SEO efforts are working, entrepreneurs can make informed decisions based on actual search rankings.

The result is more confident optimization and smarter allocation of marketing resources.

3 Practical Use Cases

Use Case #1: Tracking SEO Progress

Problem

Businesses struggle to determine whether optimization efforts are improving rankings.

How FatRank Helps

The extension provides quick visibility into keyword rankings for individual pages.

Business Outcome

Clearer insight into SEO performance and better optimization decisions.

Use Case #2: Auditing Existing Content

Problem

Entrepreneurs don't know which pages are close to ranking on the first page of Google.

How FatRank Helps

Keyword position checks help identify content with growth potential.

Business Outcome

Smarter prioritization of SEO improvements.

Use Case #3: Supporting Client Reporting

Problem

Agencies and consultants need a quick way to verify rankings during audits and meetings.

How FatRank Helps

Rank checks can be performed directly within the browser.

Business Outcome

Faster SEO reviews and more informed client conversations.

CEO Growth Hack

Most entrepreneurs think SEO is about publishing more content.

The smartest entrepreneurs know SEO is about continuous improvement.

You can't improve what you don't measure.

Every ranking is feedback.

Every movement tells a story.

The mindset shift FatRank enables is moving from assumption-based SEO to measurement-based SEO.

Instead of asking:

"Are we doing SEO?"

Ask:

"Is our SEO actually improving our visibility?"

This is how Builders become Architects.

Builders publish and hope.

Architects publish, measure, and improve.

Builders focus on activity.

Architects focus on outcomes.

The businesses that dominate search aren't always creating the most content—they're consistently improving the content that already exists.

Key Benefits

  • Checks Google keyword rankings quickly
  • Simplifies SEO monitoring
  • Supports content optimization
  • Reduces SEO guesswork
  • Improves performance tracking
  • Helps prioritize optimization efforts
  • Enables faster website audits
  • Supports data-driven SEO decisions

Best For

  • Entrepreneurs
  • Founders
  • CEOs
  • SEO Professionals
  • Digital Marketers
  • Agency Owners
  • Bloggers
  • Content Creators
  • Ecommerce Businesses
  • Small Business Owners

CEO Nugget

SEO success doesn't come from publishing more—it comes from measuring, learning, and improving consistently.

Ready to Simplify This?

If you're investing time in SEO but aren't regularly checking where your pages rank, the FatRank Chrome Extension can help you monitor keyword performance quickly so you can spend more time improving results and less time navigating complicated SEO software.

Logo of Freshdesk with a green stylized speech bubble containing a white headset icon on the left, next to the company name in gray lowercase letters.
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Freshdesk: Deliver Faster, Smarter Customer Support With an AI-Powered Help Desk

Business Website Address : ceohack.co/refer/freshdesk

What Is Freshdesk?

Freshdesk is a cloud-based customer support and help desk platform from Freshworks. It helps businesses manage customer inquiries across email, chat, phone, social media, and self-service portals through a centralized ticketing system. Freshdesk also includes automation, AI-powered assistance, reporting, knowledge base management, and collaboration tools to improve customer service efficiency.

Freshdesk: Turn Customer Support Into a Competitive Advantage

The Problem

Customers expect fast answers.

Not tomorrow.

Not next week.

Now.

As your business grows…

So do support requests.

Emails pile up.

Messages get missed.

Tickets fall through the cracks.

Customers become frustrated.

The challenge isn't getting more customers.

It's continuing to serve them well as your business scales.

What Is Freshdesk?

Freshdesk is an AI-powered customer support platform that centralizes customer conversations from multiple channels into a single help desk.

Teams can manage support tickets, automate repetitive tasks, collaborate internally, create self-service knowledge bases, and monitor customer service performance from one platform.

For Builders, Freshdesk transforms customer support from a reactive process into a scalable system.

Why It Matters for Builders

Builders earn customers through great products.

They keep customers through great service.

Every unanswered email.

Every delayed response.

Every unresolved issue.

Can damage trust.

Freshdesk helps entrepreneurs organize customer support so every request is tracked, prioritized, and resolved efficiently.

This creates leverage.

Instead of relying on scattered inboxes and manual follow-ups, businesses build a structured support operation that scales alongside customer growth.

The result is faster response times, happier customers, and stronger customer retention.

3 Practical Use Cases

Use Case #1: Managing Customer Support Tickets

Problem

Support requests arrive through multiple channels and become difficult to track.

How Freshdesk Helps

A centralized ticketing system organizes every customer inquiry in one dashboard.

Business Outcome

Faster responses and improved support efficiency.

Use Case #2: Automating Repetitive Support Tasks

Problem

Support teams spend valuable time handling routine requests.

How Freshdesk Helps

Automation routes tickets, sends updates, and manages repetitive workflows.

Business Outcome

Reduced workload and more time for complex customer issues.

Use Case #3: Creating a Self-Service Knowledge Base

Problem

Customers repeatedly ask the same questions.

How Freshdesk Helps

Knowledge base articles allow customers to find answers without contacting support.

Business Outcome

Lower ticket volume and improved customer satisfaction.

CEO Growth Hack

Most entrepreneurs focus on customer acquisition.

The smartest entrepreneurs obsess over customer retention.

Exceptional support isn't a cost.

It's a growth strategy.

Every great customer experience creates loyalty.

Referrals.

Positive reviews.

Repeat business.

The mindset shift Freshdesk encourages is moving from answering support requests to designing customer success systems.

Instead of asking:

"How do we respond faster?"

Ask:

"How do we make it easier for customers to succeed?"

This is how Builders become Architects.

Builders solve problems.

Architects build trust.

Builders close tickets.

Architects build relationships.

The businesses with the strongest reputations aren't always the ones with the biggest marketing budgets.

They're the ones customers know they can rely on.

Key Benefits

  • Centralized help desk and ticket management
  • Omnichannel customer support
  • AI-powered automation
  • Knowledge base creation
  • Team collaboration tools
  • Customer service analytics and reporting
  • SLA and workflow management
  • Scalable support operations

Best For

  • Entrepreneurs
  • Founders
  • CEOs
  • Customer Support Teams
  • Ecommerce Businesses
  • SaaS Companies
  • Digital Agencies
  • IT Support Teams
  • Service-Based Businesses
  • Growing Companies

CEO Nugget

Customers may forget your marketing—but they'll always remember how you treated them when they needed help.

Ready to Simplify This?

If you're looking to organize customer support, automate repetitive tasks, and deliver faster, more consistent service, Freshdesk gives your team the tools to build exceptional customer experiences that strengthen loyalty and support long-term business growth.

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Logo of Fiverr Business with white text on a dark blue background.
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Fiverr Business: Scale Your Business With Trusted Freelance Talent On Demand

Business Website Address : ceohack.co/refer/fiverr-business

What Is Fiverr Business?

Fiverr Business is a freelance talent platform that helps companies hire vetted freelancers, manage projects, collaborate with team members, and streamline the outsourcing process. Businesses can access professionals across design, marketing, writing, development, video production, AI, and hundreds of other specialized services.

Fiverr Business: Scale Your Business With Talent Instead of Payroll

The Problem

Every growing business eventually needs more expertise.

A logo.

A website.

SEO.

Content writing.

Video editing.

Software development.

Advertising.

The problem?

Hiring full-time employees for every skill isn't practical.

Recruiting takes time.

Payroll increases overhead.

Workloads fluctuate.

Many entrepreneurs delay important projects simply because they don't have the right talent available.

The challenge isn't finding skilled professionals.

It's accessing them when you need them.

What Is Fiverr Business?

Fiverr Business is a business-focused version of Fiverr that helps companies source freelance professionals, manage outsourced work, and collaborate with internal teams.

Businesses can hire experts for short-term projects, ongoing support, or specialized work across hundreds of professional categories, all from one centralized platform.

For Builders, Fiverr Business provides flexible access to talent without the long-term commitment of traditional hiring.

Why It Matters for Builders

Builders shouldn't do everything themselves.

Nor should they hire full-time employees for every task.

The smartest entrepreneurs build flexible teams.

Some employees.

Some contractors.

Some freelancers.

The right person for the right project.

Fiverr Business makes that possible.

This creates leverage.

Instead of delaying projects while searching for permanent hires, founders can quickly bring in specialists to solve specific business challenges.

The result is faster execution, lower overhead, and greater operational flexibility.

3 Practical Use Cases

Use Case #1: Hiring Specialized Experts

Problem

Businesses need professional skills that don't justify a full-time position.

How Fiverr Business Helps

Freelancers can be hired for specialized projects across numerous industries.

Business Outcome

Access to expert talent while controlling hiring costs.

Use Case #2: Scaling Marketing Efforts

Problem

Marketing campaigns require multiple creative and technical skills.

How Fiverr Business Helps

Businesses can hire designers, writers, marketers, video editors, and other specialists as needed.

Business Outcome

Faster campaign execution and improved marketing quality.

Use Case #3: Managing Multiple Projects

Problem

Growing businesses struggle to coordinate outsourced work efficiently.

How Fiverr Business Helps

Project management and collaboration features help organize freelance work.

Business Outcome

Improved visibility and smoother project delivery.

CEO Growth Hack

Most entrepreneurs think growth requires hiring more employees.

The smartest entrepreneurs know growth requires building the right team.

Not every role belongs on payroll.

Not every project requires a permanent hire.

The mindset shift Fiverr Business encourages is moving from workforce ownership to workforce flexibility.

Instead of asking:

"Who should we hire?"

Ask:

"Who is the best expert for this project?"

This is how Builders become Architects.

Builders add headcount.

Architects add capability.

Builders hire for availability.

Architects hire for expertise.

The businesses that move fastest aren't always the largest.

They're the ones that can access the right talent at the right time.

Key Benefits

  • Access to skilled freelance professionals
  • Flexible hiring without long-term commitments
  • Supports project-based work
  • Simplifies outsourcing
  • Reduces hiring costs
  • Accelerates project completion
  • Centralizes freelancer management
  • Expands business capabilities on demand

Best For

  • Entrepreneurs
  • Founders
  • CEOs
  • Startups
  • Small Business Owners
  • Marketing Teams
  • Agency Owners
  • Ecommerce Businesses
  • Consultants
  • Growing Companies

CEO Nugget

You don't need to hire everyone—you just need access to the right expertise when it matters most.

Ready to Simplify This?

If your business needs specialized talent without the cost and commitment of full-time hiring, Fiverr Business can help you build a flexible team of experts so you can complete projects faster, control costs, and keep your business moving forward.

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