The Cybersecurity Recruiter talks to Chris Tjotjos, Co-Founder, Simvay & Promithia
The Cyber Security Recruiter PodcastShow Notes
Chris Tjotjos on building businesses through crashes, advisory boards, and compounding growth
Thomas chats with Chris Tjotjos on the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast about his career from sales to leading Logos Communications and later co-founding Promithia and Simvay Systems
Chris describes early entrepreneurial “full throttle” focus, reinvesting profits for years, and the power of compounding, including examples using pennies and leveraged real estate and recurring revenue.
He recounts major disruptions - post-1999 internet implosion after buying out his partner and the 2008 crisis, and how transparency, profit-sharing via an EBIT plan, and shifting customer concentration helped stabilize and grow. A key turning point was meeting entrepreneur Jack Kale, starting an advisory board, and using book-based learning to reshape culture.
Chris explains being approached to sell Logos to Black Box, scaling the division, and critiques lack of synergy in acquisitions. Book recommendations mentioned include "Financial Freedom" Mark Harrelson, "The Vital Difference," and "Leading From The Heart," by Jack Kale, "Rockefeller: The Titan," and "The 38 Letters Rockefeller Wrote to His Son."
00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:39 Meet Chris Tjotjos 01:58 Focus Then Scale 03:04 Early Entrepreneur Grind 04:34 Compounding Mindset 06:55 Leverage and OPM 09:27 Life After the Exit 13:22 Dotcom Crash Lessons 15:29 Open Books EBIT Plan 17:39 Jack Kale Book Club 22:26 Partnership Synergy 23:33 Faith Prayer Meditation 25:31 Perspective and Mortality 26:12 Greek Roots and Big Questions 27:20 Faith Over Wealth 27:50 Servant Leadership in Business 28:12 Why Logos Was Founded 32:26 Selling After the 2008 Storm 36:55 Acquisition Lessons and Synergy 38:54 Starting Again With Promethea 40:18 Advisory Boards That Scale 43:51 Building the Board and Jack Story 47:53 Closing Reflections and Thanks 48:27 AI as a Virtual Board 49:42 When to Form a Board
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00:00 Welcome and introductions 00:39 Lindsay career snapshot 01:41 Threat intel at Human 02:37 New book launch 03:33 Malware needs context 04:42 Spotting real people online 08:25 AI as attack amplifier 09:45 Phishing at scale 11:50 Democratized hacking risks 15:18 Path to VP leadership 20:00 AI proof risk communication 21:53 Time boxing MIT MBA grind 23:13 Writing a book discipline 23:49 Small wins and purpose 25:15 Book writing deepens mastery 26:39 Communication skills through practice 29:15 Behind the scenes struggles 32:02 Mentors versus sponsors 34:41 Security community collaboration 35:48 Whats next and book teaser 37:46 Boat go faster mantra 39:49 Final thanks and wrap up