Hi, I'm Mike Hardenbrook

Fractional COO with 15 years of executive experience helping CEO's with operations management, growth strategy, and process improvement. Author of No Willpower Required.

"Mike is a wonderful person and effective CEO capable of delivering influence that creates results and drives positive change”

Adam Contos

fmr CEO of RE/MAX

Give-first philosophy

My philosophy is simple, give first and provide value.

Leadership

Operations

Growth Marketing

Habits & Neuroscience

Fitness & Health

Wholeness & Well-being

About

As a COO, I oversee day-to-day operations and execute on the company’s long-term goals.

Co-founded and sold 4 bootstrapped and VC-funded businesses
Over 60K enrolled in my online courses
Alumnus & guest mentor at Techstars Chicago
Author of No Willpower Required
Lived in Spain, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and England
Featured in Techcrunch, Fox, NPR, & Entrepreneur

The goal of this site is to share my experiences. To connect with CEO's who need a second in-command to be the driving force behind a successful brand.

Projects

Over the past 15 years, I've started and grown bootstrapped and VC-funded companies, many with exits. Here are a few of them.

ResponseEngine

(Current) Patent-pending technology bridges the gap with direct mail and SMS marketing

SaaS

Marketing

Funded

GrowthHackerTV

(Acquired) Growth Hacker TV was the first educational platform dedicated to growth hacking.

Membership

Growth Hacking

Bootstrapped

Growth Geeks

(Acquired) Growth Geeks was a marketplace to hire vetted marketers, on-demand.

Marketplace

Services

VC funded

Workify

(Acquired) Workify empowered agencies to sell services without having to do fulfillment.

Services

Whitelabel

VC Funded

Knowledgely

(Acquired) Knowledgely was an online educational marketplace to learn from expert marketers.

Marketplace

Education

Bootstrapped

Words from people I've worked with.

Contact me

“He has that critical mix of tenacity and creativity that makes for a great entrepreneur.”

Troy Henikoff

Math Ventures, Techstars

"Mike is a wonderful person and effective CEO capable of delivering influence that creates results and drives positive change”

Adam Contos

fmr CEO of RE/MAX

“I've done business with countless people over the past 40+ years in over 60 countries, I can tell you I have met and worked with some incredible people in that time. However, I can count on both hands the 10 or so that have been extremely impressive and just stand head and shoulders above the rest. Basically, they have to exude greatness as a complete individual. Mike Hardenbrook is one of those few in 40+ years I can say I have had the honor to get to know. You owe it to yourself to get to know Mike also.”

Sammie Knight

Corporate Executive

No Willpower Required

The Science of Habit Change: Understand the neuroscience behind alcohol cravings and habit formation, giving you the knowledge to break free from the cycle.

‍In-between Drinking Demystified: Gain insights into the unique challenges faced by in-between drinkers who don't necessarily have an addiction but still experience negative consequences due to alcohol consumption.

‍Practical Strategies for Effortless Control: Learn powerful, science-backed techniques to help you gain control over your alcohol consumption without relying on willpower.

‍The Path to Personal Growth and Improvement: Uncover how taking control of your alcohol habits can lead to a more fulfilling, balanced, and optimized life.