Nick Russo is the co-founder of Dunzo, a boutique executive assistant agency designed to help business owners reclaim their time and focus on what truly moves their business forward. Rather than placing generic help, Dunzo pairs business owners with assistants who complement their personality, skill set, and way of thinking.
In this conversation, Nick and Tim explore delegation, hiring, and the mindset shifts required to build a business that supports both performance and personal life.
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Why Most Business Owners Are Overloaded
Many business owners reach a point where they are doing everything themselves. Administrative work piles up, decisions bottleneck, and energy gets drained by tasks that technically need to be done but do not drive the business forward.
Nick explains that this phase is common, especially for founders who built their company through grit and self-reliance. The very traits that helped them succeed early on can eventually limit growth if they are not willing to let go.
The Executive Assistant as a Strategic Partner
At its core, Dunzo treats the executive assistant role as one of the most important hires a business owner will ever make. The goal is not to duplicate the owner, but to find the complementary opposite.
Visionary founders tend to thrive in big-picture thinking and relationship building. Operationally minded assistants bring structure, organization, and follow-through. When paired intentionally, both people are able to stay in their strengths rather than fighting their weaknesses.
Delegation Is a Skill, Not a Shortcut
Nick emphasizes that delegation is not about offloading random tasks. It requires clarity, systems, and an honest assessment of what actually belongs in the owner’s genius zone.
Through tools like the delegation matrix and clearly defined processes, business owners begin to see where their time is being wasted and where it creates the most value. Delegation becomes a forcing function that improves the entire business, not just the owner’s schedule.
Business, Family, and the Cost of Doing Everything Yourself
A recurring theme in the conversation is the connection between business decisions and personal life. Nick shares how building systems and delegating responsibilities allowed him to show up better for his family, protect his health, and sustain long-term performance.
Rather than seeing delegation as a loss of control, he frames it as an act of responsibility. When owners free themselves from low-value tasks, they create space to lead their business, support their team, and be present at home.
Community, Connection, and Circulating Value
The discussion expands beyond delegation into the role of community in business. Nick reflects on the power of local relationships, masterminds, and intentionally circulating value within a place like Bozeman.
Strong businesses are built on trust, shared values, and genuine connection. When business owners support one another intentionally, the entire community benefits.
To learn more about Dunzo and Nick Russo’s work, visit getdunzo.com.
To learn more about Mountain Mule Media and upcoming episodes, visit www.mountain-mule.com.
Mountain Mule Media is a production of Mountain Mule Transportation, connecting Montana businesses through authentic storytelling.
