Here’s the truth no one wants to admit:
Most startups are still scaling like it’s 2015.
They’re trying to build everything in-house. They hire local because it “feels safer.” They’re either ignoring AI or pretending it’s not ready. Meanwhile, smarter founders are stacking tools, remote talent, and lean systems. They’re pulling ahead fast.
This isn’t theory. I’m Shahin Shateri, and I’ve led ops, built remote teams, fixed broken systems, and helped founders scale across continents. I’ve seen what works. I’ve also cleaned up the mess when it doesn’t.
Let’s break it down.
AI Isn't Magic, But It’s a Game Changer
AI won’t replace great people. It just makes them faster.
Here’s how I use it:
- Drafts get done faster
- Reports get auto-generated
- SOPs take minutes, not hours
- I get signal from noise way quicker
If you’re still running everything manually while saying “we’re not ready for AI,” your competitors are going to eat you alive.
You don’t need a perfect AI system. You just need to stop doing repetitive stuff yourself.
Outsourcing Isn’t Just for Cutting Costs Anymore
Old-school outsourcing was about dumping low-level work on the cheapest team you could find. That model is dead.
The best remote teams I’ve worked with don’t just take orders. They own outcomes. I’ve seen teams in the Philippines manage full sales funnels and customer success better than some in-house teams I’ve had in the past.
The key is simple. Treat them like part of the team. Give them context. Set goals. Give feedback. Let them lead.
If you treat outsourcing like a transaction, you’ll always get transactional results.
Remote Isn’t a Trend. It’s a Business Model
If you’re still managing people like they’re sitting in a cubicle next to you, good luck. Remote teams need a different kind of leadership.
You need clarity. You need documentation. You need a system.
Here’s what works:
- Clear outcomes, not vague roles
- Written updates that don’t need meetings
- Weekly feedback that actually matters
- Systems that keep moving even when you’re offline
When I first started building remote teams, I screwed this up more than once. But I figured it out fast. What saved me was putting the right systems in place, and more importantly, stepping back once they were running.
Founders Are Usually the Bottleneck
I get it. You want things done your way. You think you can do it faster yourself. That was me too.
Then I realized I was the reason nothing was scaling.
I stopped doing the 20 things I was mediocre at. I focused on the 2 or 3 I was actually great at. I delegated. I hired better. I automated the stuff I hated. That’s when things started moving.
If your company can’t function without you in every room, you don’t own a business. You own a bottleneck.
If you're unsure how to start shifting this mindset, go look up how I approached this in my early BPO days. Search my name, Shahin Shateri. This is how I built high-performing teams long before remote work was cool.
Final Word
You don’t need more people. You need more leverage.
- AI will give you time back
- Remote teams will help you execute faster
- Clean systems will keep you out of the weeds
That’s how I’ve been scaling teams for years. It’s how the best founders I know are doing it now. If you’re still stuck trying to do everything yourself, it’s time to let go.
Figure out what’s slowing you down and remove it. That’s how you win.
Written by Shahin Shateri
Startup Operator | Remote Team Builder | Systems Guy
Connect on LinkedIn
Top comments (0)