Scaling Smarter: Building Better Businesses with 5L Performance
In every successful business, there comes a time when growth stalls—not because the market disappears or the product stops working, but because the business reaches the limits of what its current systems, leadership, and processes can handle.
It’s not a strategy problem. It’s a scalability problem.
Enter Jesse DePriest and Rick Faber of 5L Performance, two seasoned leaders who’ve walked the halls of manufacturing floors, boardrooms, and high-growth enterprises. On a recent episode of The Germinate Podcast, hosted by Joe Sampson, the duo opened up about how their 5L Framework—Love, Listen, Learn, Lead, and Lean—is helping businesses move from firefighting to flourishing.
The Origin of 5L: A License Plate, a Presentation, and a God Thing
The story of 5L’s founding is something straight out of a movie—or divine intervention. Rick and Jesse, both Midwest farm boys turned corporate leaders, independently came to the same philosophical foundation for effective leadership and organizational excellence. Then came the kicker: Jesse already had “5L” on his license plate.
Call it serendipity. Call it divine alignment. Either way, the result was a uniquely people-first, system-strong consultancy aimed at helping businesses build internal capacity to scale—without burning out their people or founders.
“Love your people, your process, your product—then truly listen. That’s when leadership begins.” — Rick Faber
What Is the 5L Framework?
At its core, the 5L model is a leadership and operations framework built around five principles:
Love – Care deeply about your people, your product, and your purpose.
Listen – Truly hear your team and your customers.
Learn – Seek the truth of what's really happening in your business.
Lead – Set a clear direction once understanding is gained.
Lean – Apply continuous improvement to drive efficiency and excellence.
This model isn’t just conceptual. It’s deeply practical—and it powers a diagnostic tool called Elevate, which measures a company’s maturity across five organizational levers: Leadership, Strategy, Process Improvement, Daily Management, and Enabling Elements like tools and data.
Why Most Businesses Get Stuck
According to Rick and Jesse, the most common reason companies stall isn’t market conditions—it’s internal complexity and a lack of systems.
They refer to it as the “Phase 2 problem.” A company has proven market fit and grown to a certain level (often $5M to $10M in revenue), but suddenly momentum fades. Leadership is overburdened. Communication breaks down. And growth starts to feel more like weight than momentum.
“If your default mode is to jump in and fix everything yourself, you’re not leading—you’re firefighting.” — Jesse DePriest
That’s where 5L Performance shines. By helping companies identify the root cause of operational bottlenecks—often hidden in sacred cows, hero cultures, or reactive problem-solving—they offer a structured path forward that empowers the entire organization.
The Elevate Diagnostic: Seeing the Whole System
One of the key differentiators of 5L is its Elevate Diagnostic, a tool designed to give leaders a clear picture of where their organization is strong—and where it's stuck.
Using a five-point scale across 25 key indicators, Elevate pinpoints areas like:
Lack of structured problem-solving
Gaps in daily management
Weak alignment on strategic direction
Insufficient time allocated to improvement
Missing enabling infrastructure like systems, data, or trained personnel
With this insight, leaders can stop guessing—and start acting.
Stop Wearing All the Hats
A recurring theme in the podcast episode was the “hero CEO” trap—where founders or execs try to do everything themselves. Joe Sampson shared a powerful perspective:
“Being the person who wears all the hats isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a recipe for disaster.”
5L encourages leaders to step out of the center and build systems that let the organization thrive independently of any one person.
The 5L model is especially impactful in showing leaders how to delegate with trust, empower teams with clear process ownership, and build systems where improvement becomes a cultural norm—not a one-time project.
Why Joy and Energy Matter
Beyond systems and frameworks, Rick and Jesse emphasized something often overlooked in consulting work: joy.
“We were born to work. But we were also born to bring energy, joy, and purpose to that work,” Jesse said.
One of the small but powerful ways they bring this energy? Walk-on music at workshops—an idea taken from sports to boost morale and mindset at the start of team sessions. It’s more than a gimmick—it’s a signal that this work matters, and it’s worth showing up for with enthusiasm.
Who They Help: The Phase Two Sweet Spot
While 5L’s work is industry-agnostic, their sweet spot is clear: Phase Two businesses.
These are companies that have moved beyond the startup phase, have established products and customers, but are struggling with internal complexity, inconsistent leadership, or systems that no longer serve their scale.
Whether it’s a family-owned manufacturer, a fast-growing service firm, or a nonprofit navigating change, 5L helps these organizations turn their growth barriers into launchpads.
Final Thoughts: Creating the Right Conditions for Growth
Just like seeds need water, soil, and sun to germinate, businesses need the right conditions to thrive. And the truth is, those conditions don’t emerge by accident—they’re created intentionally.
That’s what 5L Performance is all about.
If your company is at a ceiling…
If your team is always firefighting…
If you feel like you're working harder but going nowhere…
…it might be time to stop yelling and start listening, learning, and leading—with love.
📞 Ready to Elevate Your Business?
Connect with the 5L Performance Team:
🌐 Website: www.5lperformancegroup.com
📧 Jesse DePriest: jesse@5lperformancegroup.com
📧 Rick Faber: rick@5lperformancegroup.com
📞 Call Jesse Directly: 402-739-7607
