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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.
Udemy logo featuring a stylized red "U" shape on the left and the word "Udemy" in black on the right against a white background.
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Long Business Description

About Udemy

Udemy is an online learning platform aimed at professional adults and students, developed in May 2010. As of Jan 2020, the platform has more than 50 million students and 57,000 instructors teaching courses in over 65 languages. There have been over 295 million course enrollments.

Free Course

We understand things feel uncertain right now, and we’re all looking for ways we can help. At Udemy, our mission is to improve lives through learning. Sometimes that means new skills for a new career, and sometimes it’s as simple as realizing a lifelong passion.

To support you through this time, we’ve put together this collection of free courses from our learning marketplace.

Free Courses: https://cbnation.co/udemy-free

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Animoto logo featuring a geometric triangle with overlapping sections in beige, yellow, and blue, alongside the text "ANIMOTO.
Business Name
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Create and share videos for free with Animoto's video maker. Combine your photos and video clips with music to make professional videos that'll impress.

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The image shows the word "Gusto" in bold, lowercase, orange letters on a white background.
Business Name
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Long Business Description

Gusto: Simplify Payroll, HR, and Benefits So You Can Focus on Growing Your Business

Business Website Address : ceohack.co/refer/gusto

What Is Gusto?

Gusto is a cloud-based payroll, HR, and people management platform that helps businesses onboard employees, run payroll, manage benefits, track time, handle tax filings, and support their workforce from a single system. It simplifies people operations so entrepreneurs can spend more time growing their business instead of managing administrative tasks.

Gusto: Build a Better Team Without Building a Bigger HR Department

The Problem

Hiring your first employee is exciting.

Managing your tenth is different.

Payroll has to be accurate.

Taxes have to be filed.

Benefits need administration.

New hires need onboarding.

Time tracking needs organization.

Compliance requirements continue to grow.

As your team expands, people operations become increasingly complex.

Many founders discover they're spending more time managing employees than leading the business.

The challenge isn't hiring great people.

It's creating systems that help them succeed.

What Is Gusto?

Gusto is an all-in-one people platform that combines payroll, HR, benefits administration, onboarding, compliance support, and employee management.

Instead of using separate tools for payroll, HR, and employee records, businesses can manage their workforce from a centralized platform.

For Builders, Gusto simplifies the administrative side of growing a team so leadership can focus on building the business.

Why It Matters for Builders

Builders don't scale businesses alone.

They scale through people.

Great employees deserve great systems.

Late payroll creates frustration.

Complicated onboarding delays productivity.

Disconnected HR processes waste valuable time.

Gusto helps entrepreneurs create a smoother employee experience from the first day of work through ongoing payroll and benefits.

This creates leverage.

Instead of juggling spreadsheets, paperwork, and multiple HR tools, founders gain a streamlined people management system that supports both employees and the business.

The result is improved efficiency, better employee experiences, and more time for strategic leadership.

3 Practical Use Cases

Use Case #1: Running Payroll

Problem

Payroll processing can be time-consuming and prone to costly mistakes.

How Gusto Helps

Payroll, tax calculations, and filings are managed through one platform.

Business Outcome

Accurate payroll, reduced administrative work, and more confidence on payday.

Use Case #2: Onboarding New Employees

Problem

Manual onboarding slows productivity and creates unnecessary paperwork.

How Gusto Helps

Digital onboarding streamlines employee paperwork and setup.

Business Outcome

A faster, more professional onboarding experience.

Use Case #3: Managing Benefits and HR

Problem

Small businesses often struggle to manage benefits and HR processes efficiently.

How Gusto Helps

Benefits administration, employee records, and HR tools are integrated into one platform.

Business Outcome

Better employee support and simplified people management.

CEO Growth Hack

Most entrepreneurs think payroll is about paying employees.

The smartest entrepreneurs know payroll is about building trust.

Every paycheck.

Every onboarding experience.

Every employee interaction.

Shapes company culture.

The mindset shift Gusto encourages is moving from managing employees to supporting people.

Instead of asking:

"How do we process payroll?"

Ask:

"How do we create an employee experience people want to be part of?"

This is how Builders become Architects.

Builders hire people.

Architects build organizations.

Builders manage payroll.

Architects build systems that help people thrive.

The strongest businesses aren't built solely on great products.

They're built on great teams supported by great processes.

Key Benefits

  • Automates payroll processing
  • Simplifies employee onboarding
  • Manages benefits administration
  • Supports HR operations
  • Handles payroll tax filings
  • Improves employee experience
  • Centralizes people management
  • Reduces administrative workload

Best For

  • Entrepreneurs
  • Founders
  • CEOs
  • Small Business Owners
  • Startups
  • Growing Companies
  • HR Managers
  • Operations Teams
  • Professional Service Firms
  • Agency Owners

CEO Nugget

Your business grows when your people grow—and great people deserve great systems.

Ready to Simplify This?

If payroll, HR, and employee administration are taking time away from growing your business, Gusto can help you streamline your people operations so you can spend more time leading your team and less time managing paperwork.

Business Website Address
Grammarly logo with a green "G" and the text "Grammarly" on a background with various icons like checkmarks, books, and light bulbs.
Business Name
Business Genre
Long Business Description

Grammarly: Write Clear, Professional, and Confident Business Communication

Business Website Address : ceohack.co/refer/grammarly

What Is Grammarly?

Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps individuals and businesses improve grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, tone, and overall writing quality. It works across browsers, desktop applications, mobile devices, and popular business tools to help users communicate more effectively.

Grammarly: Write Clear, Professional, and Confident Business Communication

The Problem

Every business runs on communication.

Emails.

Proposals.

Contracts.

Blog posts.

Sales pages.

Social media.

Reports.

Presentations.

One poorly written message can create confusion.

Reduce credibility.

Delay a sale.

Or leave the wrong first impression.

Entrepreneurs don't need to be professional writers.

But they do need to communicate professionally.

The challenge isn't writing more.

It's writing clearly.

What Is Grammarly?

Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps improve grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, clarity, tone, and readability across a wide range of writing tasks.

Whether you're writing emails, marketing copy, proposals, reports, or social media posts, Grammarly provides real-time suggestions to help you communicate more effectively.

For Builders, Grammarly acts as a second set of eyes before important messages are sent.

Why It Matters for Builders

Builders make decisions through communication.

A proposal wins a client.

An email builds trust.

A job description attracts talent.

A sales page generates revenue.

Words matter.

Small writing mistakes can make a business appear less professional than it actually is.

Grammarly helps entrepreneurs polish their communication without slowing down their workflow.

This creates leverage.

Instead of spending extra time proofreading every document, founders can write with greater confidence while maintaining a consistent, professional brand voice.

The result is stronger communication, fewer misunderstandings, and increased credibility.

3 Practical Use Cases

Use Case #1: Improving Business Emails

Problem

Emails with grammar mistakes or unclear wording can reduce professionalism.

How Grammarly Helps

Real-time writing suggestions improve clarity and correctness before messages are sent.

Business Outcome

More professional communication and stronger client relationships.

Use Case #2: Creating Marketing Content

Problem

Marketing copy needs to be clear, persuasive, and error-free.

How Grammarly Helps

The platform reviews grammar, readability, and tone while content is being written.

Business Outcome

Higher-quality marketing materials and greater audience trust.

Use Case #3: Reviewing Important Documents

Problem

Contracts, proposals, and reports require careful proofreading.

How Grammarly Helps

Writing suggestions help reduce errors and improve readability.

Business Outcome

More polished documents and greater confidence before sharing them.

CEO Growth Hack

Most entrepreneurs think communication is about writing faster.

The smartest entrepreneurs know communication is about being understood.

Perfect grammar isn't the goal.

Clear thinking is.

Every message should reduce confusion.

Build trust.

Move the conversation forward.

The mindset shift Grammarly encourages is moving from simply writing to intentionally communicating.

Instead of asking:

"Did I write enough?"

Ask:

"Will the reader immediately understand what I mean?"

This is how Builders become Architects.

Builders send messages.

Architects build clarity.

Builders write.

Architects communicate.

The businesses that earn trust consistently are often the ones that communicate with the greatest clarity.

Key Benefits

  • Improves grammar and spelling
  • Enhances writing clarity
  • Adjusts tone for different audiences
  • Reduces proofreading time
  • Strengthens professional communication
  • Supports marketing and business writing
  • Builds confidence in written communication
  • Works across multiple platforms and applications

Best For

  • Entrepreneurs
  • Founders
  • CEOs
  • Marketing Teams
  • Sales Professionals
  • Consultants
  • Students
  • Content Creators
  • Remote Teams
  • Small Business Owners

CEO Nugget

Professional writing isn't about using bigger words—it's about making every word easier to understand.

Ready to Simplify This?

If you want every email, proposal, and piece of content to reflect the professionalism of your business, Grammarly can help you write with greater clarity and confidence so you can spend more time building relationships and less time worrying about writing mistakes.

Business Website Address
Business Tags
Logo for Help 4 Podcasts, powered by Blue16Media, with a red and blue microphone graphic.
Business Genre
Long Business Description

Podcast Equipment: Sound Professional Without Building a Recording Studio

Business Website Address : ceohack.co/refer/help4podcasts/podcast-equipment

What Is Podcast Equipment?

Podcast equipment includes the microphones, headphones, audio interfaces, cameras, lighting, accessories, and recording tools used to create professional-quality podcast content. The right setup helps entrepreneurs improve audio quality, enhance audience experience, and strengthen the credibility of their content.

Podcast Equipment: Sound Professional Without Building a Recording Studio

The Problem

Many entrepreneurs have valuable ideas.

But poor production quality often prevents those ideas from making the impact they deserve.

Background noise.

Low-quality audio.

Inconsistent volume.

Technical distractions.

Unclear communication.

These issues create friction for listeners.

And friction reduces engagement.

The reality is simple:

People may come for your expertise.

But they stay for the experience.

Even the best content can lose effectiveness when audio quality makes listening difficult.

The challenge isn't becoming a professional audio engineer.

The challenge is creating a setup that allows your message to be heard clearly and consistently.

What Is Podcast Equipment?

Podcast equipment refers to the tools used to record, monitor, and produce podcast content.

This can include microphones, headphones, recording devices, audio interfaces, lighting, cameras, boom arms, acoustic accessories, and other supporting equipment.

For entrepreneurs, podcast equipment is not just technology.

It's infrastructure.

It creates the foundation for a professional content experience that supports credibility, trust, and audience growth.

Why It Matters for Builders

Most founders focus on what they want to say.

Smart founders also focus on how it is received.

A podcast is often someone's first interaction with your brand.

The quality of that experience influences perception.

Professional production signals professionalism.

Clear audio communicates credibility.

Consistent quality builds trust.

The goal isn't perfection.

The goal is reducing distractions so the audience can focus entirely on the value you're providing.

This creates leverage.

Because every episode becomes more effective when listeners stay engaged longer and consume more content.

3 Practical Use Cases

Use Case #1: Launching a Business Podcast

Problem

Entrepreneurs want to start podcasting but are unsure which equipment matters most.

How Podcast Equipment Helps

The right setup creates a reliable foundation for recording and publishing content.

Business Outcome

A smoother launch experience and stronger first impressions.

Use Case #2: Building Thought Leadership

Problem

Poor production quality can undermine credibility even when expertise is strong.

How Podcast Equipment Helps

Professional audio and video quality improve the audience experience.

Business Outcome

Increased authority and stronger audience trust.

Use Case #3: Creating Long-Term Content Assets

Problem

Entrepreneurs invest significant effort into content creation that may not perform as well because of technical limitations.

How Podcast Equipment Helps

Higher-quality recordings create more valuable content assets.

Business Outcome

Better engagement and greater long-term content ROI.

CEO Growth Hack

Most entrepreneurs think content quality starts with ideas.

The smartest entrepreneurs understand content quality starts with delivery.

A great idea poorly delivered creates limited impact.

A great idea clearly delivered creates influence.

The mindset shift podcast equipment enables is moving from content creation to audience experience.

Instead of asking:

"What do I want to say?"

Ask:

"How can I make this as easy as possible to consume?"

This is how Builders become Architects.

Builders focus on content.

Architects focus on content systems.

Builders publish episodes.

Architects create experiences.

The businesses that build loyal audiences understand that every detail contributes to trust.

And trust compounds over time.

Key Benefits

  • Improves audio quality
  • Enhances listener experience
  • Builds professional credibility
  • Supports audience growth
  • Reduces technical distractions
  • Increases content effectiveness
  • Creates stronger first impressions
  • Improves long-term content ROI

Best For

  • Entrepreneurs
  • Founders
  • CEOs
  • Coaches
  • Consultants
  • Agency Owners
  • Podcasters
  • Content Creators
  • Educators
  • Thought Leaders

CEO Nugget

People can't benefit from your expertise if poor production quality prevents them from hearing it.

Ready to Simplify This?

If you're serious about podcasting and want your content to sound as professional as the expertise you're sharing, investing in the right podcast equipment can help create a stronger audience experience so you can spend more time building authority and less time worrying about technical limitations.

Screenshot of a content detection tool indicating 91% human-generated content. The screen shows fields for adding a URL and custom text, followed by an analysis section. Text in the field discusses AI content detection.
Business Name
Long Business Description

AI Content Detector: Protect Your Brand Before Publishing AI-Generated Content

Business Website Address : ceohack.co/refer/writer-ai-content-dector

What Is AI Content Detector?

AI Content Detector by Writer.com is a content analysis tool designed to identify text that may have been generated by artificial intelligence. It helps businesses, marketers, educators, and content teams evaluate content and maintain quality standards before publishing or distributing written material.

AI Content Detector: Protect Your Brand Before Publishing AI-Generated Content

The Problem

AI has made content creation dramatically easier.

Blog posts can be generated in minutes.

Marketing copy can be drafted instantly.

Emails can be written automatically.

Social media content can scale faster than ever.

But speed introduces a new challenge.

Authenticity.

As AI-generated content becomes more common, audiences increasingly expect businesses to maintain originality, credibility, and trust.

Entrepreneurs face a difficult balancing act.

Use AI to improve productivity.

Without sacrificing quality.

Without sounding robotic.

Without damaging brand credibility.

The challenge isn't using AI.

The challenge is using AI responsibly.

What Is AI Content Detector?

AI Content Detector is a content analysis tool offered by Writer.com that evaluates text and identifies the likelihood that content was generated using artificial intelligence.

The tool helps businesses review written materials before publication and assess whether content aligns with organizational quality standards.

For Builders, it provides an additional layer of review within AI-assisted content workflows.

Why It Matters for Builders

Most entrepreneurs focus on content production.

The smartest entrepreneurs focus on audience trust.

Content drives visibility.

Trust drives conversions.

If audiences believe content lacks authenticity, credibility suffers.

And credibility is one of the most valuable assets a business can build.

AI Content Detector helps entrepreneurs maintain awareness of how AI-generated content may appear to readers and stakeholders.

This creates leverage.

Because businesses can use AI to accelerate production while implementing processes that help preserve quality and brand reputation.

The result is more confident publishing and stronger content governance.

3 Practical Use Cases

Use Case #1: Reviewing Marketing Content

Problem

Businesses use AI-assisted writing but want to ensure content meets brand standards.

How AI Content Detector Helps

Content can be reviewed before publication as part of the editorial process.

Business Outcome

Improved quality control and stronger brand consistency.

Use Case #2: Managing Team Content Workflows

Problem

Content teams need visibility into how AI is being used across projects.

How AI Content Detector Helps

The tool provides additional insight during content review workflows.

Business Outcome

Better content oversight and improved governance.

Use Case #3: Maintaining Audience Trust

Problem

Businesses risk losing credibility if content appears generic or overly automated.

How AI Content Detector Helps

Teams can review content before publishing and make improvements where needed.

Business Outcome

Stronger audience confidence and greater content quality.

CEO Growth Hack

Most entrepreneurs think AI is a content creation tool.

The smartest entrepreneurs understand AI is a productivity tool.

There's a difference.

Content should still reflect your expertise.

Your perspective.

Your experience.

Your voice.

The mindset shift AI Content Detector enables is moving from AI dependence to AI oversight.

Instead of asking:

"Can AI write this?"

Ask:

"Does this still sound like us?"

This is how Builders become Architects.

Builders use tools.

Architects build systems around tools.

Builders automate blindly.

Architects implement quality controls.

The businesses that win with AI won't be the ones generating the most content.

They'll be the ones maintaining the most trust.

Key Benefits

  • Supports content quality review
  • Helps maintain brand authenticity
  • Encourages responsible AI usage
  • Improves editorial oversight
  • Supports content governance
  • Enhances audience trust
  • Creates stronger publishing workflows
  • Balances productivity with quality

Best For

  • Entrepreneurs
  • Founders
  • CEOs
  • Marketing Teams
  • Content Creators
  • Agencies
  • Consultants
  • Publishers
  • Educators
  • Brand Managers

CEO Nugget

AI can accelerate content creation, but trust is still built by authenticity.

Ready to Simplify This?

If you're using AI to create content and want to ensure quality remains high, AI Content Detector can help create a stronger review process so you can scale content production without sacrificing credibility.

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A digital calendar interface featuring an AI-powered scheduling graphic, with a brain and microchip icon, under the title "AI-powered scheduling for your workweek".
Business Name
Business Genre
Long Business Description

Reclaim.ai: Protect Your Time Before Your Calendar Takes Over Your Business

Business Website Address : ceohack.co/refer/reclaim.ai

What Is Reclaim.ai?

Reclaim.ai is an AI-powered calendar and scheduling platform that helps individuals and teams automatically organize meetings, tasks, habits, and priorities. It integrates with existing calendar workflows to help users protect focus time, improve productivity, and ensure important work doesn't get crowded out by meetings.

Reclaim.ai: Protect Your Time Before Your Calendar Takes Over Your Business

The Problem

Most entrepreneurs don't have a time management problem.

They have a calendar management problem.

Every week starts with good intentions.

Time for strategy.

Time for content creation.

Time for planning.

Time for business development.

Then the meetings arrive.

A client call here.

A team meeting there.

An unexpected request.

A last-minute opportunity.

Before long, the calendar is full and the most important work never happens.

The founder stays busy but the business doesn't necessarily move forward.

The issue isn't a lack of effort.

The issue is that urgent activities constantly replace important ones.

What Is Reclaim.ai?

Reclaim.ai is an AI-powered scheduling and calendar management platform designed to help individuals and teams automatically organize their work.

The platform helps users balance meetings, tasks, routines, priorities, and focus time by intelligently managing calendar availability.

For entrepreneurs, Reclaim.ai serves as a scheduling system that helps ensure important work receives dedicated time before the calendar becomes overloaded.

Why It Matters for Builders

Builders often become victims of their own accessibility.

The more successful they become, the more people want access to their time.

Customers need support.

Employees need direction.

Partners need conversations.

Opportunities require meetings.

Without a system, calendars become reactive.

And reactive calendars create reactive businesses.

Reclaim.ai helps entrepreneurs create intentionality around time allocation.

Instead of allowing meetings to consume every available hour, founders can proactively protect time for strategic priorities.

This creates leverage.

Because growth rarely happens inside meetings.

Growth often happens during focused work.

When entrepreneurs protect their attention, they improve their ability to solve problems, create systems, and make better decisions.

3 Practical Use Cases

Use Case #1: Protecting Deep Work Time

Problem

Founders struggle to find uninterrupted time for strategic work.

How Reclaim.ai Helps

The platform automatically reserves time for important priorities.

Business Outcome

Greater focus and improved execution on high-impact projects.

Use Case #2: Balancing Tasks and Meetings

Problem

Meetings often consume available calendar space, leaving little room for meaningful work.

How Reclaim.ai Helps

Scheduling automation helps balance commitments and priorities.

Business Outcome

Improved productivity and reduced overwhelm.

Use Case #3: Managing Team Calendars

Problem

Growing teams often experience scheduling conflicts and fragmented availability.

How Reclaim.ai Helps

Calendar coordination becomes more efficient and intentional.

Business Outcome

Better collaboration and stronger operational efficiency.

CEO Growth Hack

Most entrepreneurs manage tasks.

The best entrepreneurs manage attention.

Time is not your most valuable asset.

Focused attention is.

The mindset shift Reclaim.ai enables is moving from reactive scheduling to strategic scheduling.

Instead of asking:

"How do I fit everything into my calendar?"

Ask:

"How do I ensure the most important work always has space?"

This is how Builders become Architects.

Builders allow calendars to dictate priorities.

Architects design calendars around priorities.

Builders fill every available slot.

Architects protect time for leverage.

Because the activities that grow a business are rarely the ones screaming for attention.

They're the ones quietly waiting for dedicated focus.

Key Benefits

  • Protects focus time
  • Automates calendar management
  • Improves productivity
  • Reduces scheduling conflicts
  • Supports better work-life balance
  • Helps prioritize high-impact activities
  • Improves team coordination
  • Creates intentional scheduling systems

Best For

  • Entrepreneurs
  • Founders
  • CEOs
  • Consultants
  • Coaches
  • Agency Owners
  • Remote Teams
  • Executives
  • Project Managers
  • Knowledge Workers

CEO Nugget

Your calendar is a reflection of your priorities. If it doesn't protect what matters, neither will your results.

Ready to Simplify This?

If you're constantly fighting an overloaded calendar and struggling to find time for meaningful work, Reclaim.ai can help create a smarter scheduling system so you can spend more time growing the business and less time reacting to every meeting request.

Business Website Address
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Business Name
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Your All-In-OneWordPress Platform

Super-powered hosting, support, site management, and plugins!

For site owners, developers, freelancers, and agencies. We make you the hero when it comes to WordPress security, performance, SEO, marketing, and more.

Business Website Address
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MyCorporation logo featuring a blue diamond design on the left and the text "MyCorporation entrepreneurs welcome" on the right.
Business Name
Business Genre
Long Business Description

MyCorporation makes starting and maintaining a business easier. We'll help you form a corporation or limited liability company online in just a few minutes.

Business Tags
Text reading "Excited to be an Amazon Influencer" with the Amazon logo featuring a curved arrow forming a smile under the word "Amazon".
Long Business Description

We are Amazon Influencers. Check out our CEO Hack recommendations that you can get directly on Amazon. You will see the following:

  • Books
  • Audiobooks
  • Products
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