Curt Sassak

Curt Sassak's Coaching

So, you’ve got a life and career that looks great on paper, but no longer feels like a win.

If you’ve hit a point where the pressure’s high and the payoff is low, you’re not alone.
 You’ve outgrown the life you built.

That’s exactly who I work with.

If you're thinking you can just grind your way through it—good luck.
 I tried that.
 So did most of my clients.
 We all ended up at the same place: stuck, frustrated, spinning our wheels. 

Enter: The Recipe
 A high-performance framework built for high-achievers who want clarity, and momentum, fast.

It’s inspired by my 27-year chef career—because chefs don’t wing it.
 We follow structure.
 We refine.
 We execute with precision.

That’s what this is.

This isn’t a journal prompt and a pep talk.

 It’s a system—tested by fire—designed to help you:

 → Get clear on what’s next
 → Identify and eliminate the internal drag holding you back
 → Build momentum through customized strategy

This isn’t personal development.
 It’s personal execution.

We extract your core drivers, map them to your next chapter, and build a plan that makes sense for your ambition, standards, and lifestyle.

And I don’t take on everyone.

This is for people who have a track record of making sh*t happen,
 And are ready to channel that same energy into building the next version of themselves.

It requires honesty. Focus. Execution.

 You bring that—I’ll bring the clarity, speed, and accountability.

DM me “RECIPE” when you’re ready to move.

 And just know—I don’t work with spectators. Only builders.

Life and Career Strategist

Winetasters Choice: An Adult Beverage Promotional Agency

Key accomplishments:

👉Spearheaded the strategic growth of a B2B beverage promotion agency, elevating annual revenue from $300,000 to $1.4 million. 

👉Drove the company's revenue-generation engine as the principal revenue officer, by additional $221,000 in revenue within a five-month span in 2023 

👉Expanded operational footprint from 12 employees across four cities in Texas to a team of 250 employees spanning three states

👉Authored and enforced comprehensive standards, processes, and protocols, laying the foundation for scalable growth and operational excellence. 

👉Pioneered a remote work model, adeptly managing a dispersed team, fostering a culture of accountability and high performance. 

👉Spearheaded the development and execution of comprehensive social media campaigns, from conceptualization to content creation and audience engagement. 

👉Achieved a 4.6/5 star rating on Glassdoor, reflecting exceptional leadership and a positive organizational culture. Garnered a 90% approval rating from employees, underscoring effective management and employee satisfaction. 

👉Demonstrated deep understanding of market trends, and consumer behavior, enabling the development of targeted promotional campaigns. 

👉Regulatory Compliance: Ensured all promotional activities complied with industry regulations and standards, maintaining the agency's reputation and operational integrity. 

👉Achieved significant growth with a small team by  implementing new systems, automation and enhancing software utilization.

👉Problem-Solver: Excel at navigating ambiguous situations and making informed decisions with limited information. 

👉Founded and grew a successful YouTube channel, overseeing all aspects of content creation, video production, and editing. Utilized the platform to effectively drive new business opportunities

Company closed by the owner on 3/2/2024.

Testimonials:
https://winetasterschoice.com/testimonials-2/

President and Chief Revenue Officer

Executive Chef

Focused experience working in internationally renowned 5-star establishments.

USA, India, Dubai, Egypt, Australia and the Maldives

Previously employed at: Four Seasons Domestic, Four Seasons International, Hyatt Domestic, Hyatt International, One & Only, Marriott, independent restaurants


Key accomplishments:

👉 Distinguished by two guest chef appearances at the world-renowned James Beard House, a testament to culinary artistry and innovation.

👉 Engaged audiences with charismatic presence through 10 live TV appearances, enhancing brand visibility and personal brand as a culinary expert.

👉 Garnered 24 Best Restaurant/Hotel awards, affirming excellence in culinary delivery and guest satisfaction.

👉 Secured the prestigious Best New Restaurant Award from the iconic Washingtonian Magazine 

👉 Celebrated for exceptional culinary creations and service, reflected in numerous positive critiques and write-ups across esteemed culinary publications.

👉 Spearheaded the pre-opening phases of hotels and restaurants, demonstrating strategic foresight and operational excellence in establishing culinary ventures.

👉 Commanded teams of up to 200, fostering a culture of excellence, creativity, and teamwork in high-pressure environments.

👉 Managed multi-million dollar food and beverage operations, showcasing adept financial acumen and operational management to drive profitability and culinary excellence.

👉 Lowered food cost by $70,000 and increased the guest satisfaction rating for food quality by 1.4 points from 2 to 3.4 on a scale of 1-5 in my first year as Executive Chef

Teaching Mid-Career Leaders how to navigate life & career transitions using my Proven Recipe / Improve the quality of your life / Create your next chapter by design, not default / Former Chef

𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙃𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝘾𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙤𝙧.

You work your ass off, climb the ladder, got everything you want on paper, but feel empty. 

You ask yourself, "Is this it? What's next?"

You tell yourself it’s just a phase. That the feeling will pass.

It won’t.

At first, it’s a nagging thought. Then it’s an ache. 

You're wondering how you went from feeling like a confident badass knocking out your goals to just tolerating your life and career. 

Now, you dread waking up and you're just going through the motions daydreaming about the way things used to be. 

You know you want a change. You have something more to offer the world. 

But fear is holding you back. 

I know this feeling. It cost me 4 years of my life. I was depressed, and it cost me my confidence, my drive, and over $250,000.

Until I decided to take back control.

𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐈 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 & 𝐇𝐎𝐖

I work with career-driven, successful professionals 40 and up who feel stuck and want more out of life.

You’re not lost. You’re not broken. You’re just at a crossroads.

Your problem isn’t knowing you need a change. 

Your problem is knowing HOW to do it—without wasting years stuck in limbo like I did.

Your clarity is just like a five-star dish—if you’re missing key ingredients or following the wrong process, it won’t turn out right.

That’s where I come in.

I help high-performers get the exact recipe they need to figure out what’s next.

Here’s the recipe:

𝙄𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨:

🔥 Sharpen Your Mindset: REGAIN your CONFIDENCE and break free from self-doubt and second-guessing.
🔥 Regain Balance: Stop just surviving—start actually living.
🔥 Get Crystal Clear Clarity: Know exactly where you're headed and how to get there.
🔥 Remove Mental Roadblocks: Identify and eliminate what’s keeping you stuck.
🔥 Design Your Next Chapter: Not by accident. Not by default. But with intention.
 
𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙚:

Follow a proven and tested real-world process built on precise ingredients that puts you back in control.

𝘾𝙇𝙄𝙀𝙉𝙏 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙐𝙇𝙏𝙎

The real success stories? My clients.

"Curt didn’t just help my career—he helped me take back my life. His approach forced me to get real about what I wanted. The clarity I gained was priceless."
— Matt Lunny

𝙉𝙀𝙓𝙏 𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙋𝙎

If you're done settling and want to wake up excited about your life again, let’s talk.

Message me: "I want the Recipe" to learn more. 

That’s it. No fluff. No B.S. Just results.

— Curt

Founder

So, you’re career driven, have had success, and now you feel like there are no more mountains to climb.

You got to the top of the “mountain,” and achieving your goals only to find you don’t feel fulfilled or happy. It’s like, WTF?

Your life/career no longer serves you. All you know is that you feel stuck and see no way out. You need to make a change. But doing what?

Then fear creeps in. You have questions.  “What do I do now?”  “I don’t know what else to do” 

“If I change careers how will I make enough to pay my bills?” and so on

These are the same questions (and more) I asked myself when I did a career change after 27 years as a chef and started over at 41 from zero.

Did you know a New York Times study found that 75% of Americans don’t have a clear sense of purpose?

And, there are serious health risks associated with a lack of purpose

A lack of purpose affects your self-worth, self-confidence, and self-esteem.
Which, in turn, can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other health issues.
I experienced all of those.

The good news is this: You’re only 5 steps away from finding the purpose, fulfillment, and new career you so desperately want.

They are the same 5 steps I used to go from feeling lost/stuck and finding a purpose and fulfillment

All it requires from you is self-honesty and a commitment to change

I coach people through one-to-one sessions

You think asking for help is equivalent to failure? Yep, I used to think the same, but that’s your ego talking

Consider: If you’ve been stuck, and the steps you’ve taken have not yielded results, what makes you think anything will change by repeating what you’ve done?

What got you here will not get you THERE.

Just like a car needs realignment from time to time, our personal and professional vision needs realignment from time to time

So, you can remain stuck and lost, or you can send me a DM

Systematik Labs

Systematik Labs empowers startup founders to achieve their full potential through our supportive community, innovative learning, and consistent transformative experiences. Our unique value lies in providing tailored leadership and operational strategies, enabling founders to navigate the complexities of business growth with courage and creativity. We emphasize adaptability, agility, and a visionary approach to solving problems and scaling startups.

Charles Schwab

In my role, I led a team in managing the operations for cutting-edge automated investment platforms, including both a robo-trader and a robo-advisor. 

My focus expanded from my previous role to include enhancing our risk management strategies resulting in a 52% improvement in risk capacity, upholding the firm's integrity in the digital wealth management space.

I actively identified and implemented system improvements and advanced automation, leading to a +40% efficiency gain and diminished risk exposure.

Additionally, I initiated and nurtured strategic partnerships, playing a key role in launching major programs that ensured the robust and seamless performance of our automated investment services.

Director, Wealth and Advice Risk Management and Platform Operations

I led a team focused on the operation of advanced automated investing platforms, serving a diverse client base that included both retail and institutional. 

I introduced a comprehensive objective-setting initiative within the team and established measurable performance metrics. Notably, increasing the teams accuracy rate from 70% to over 95% consistently. 

Through system enhancements and automation, I drove the minimizing of system and process errors by over 50%.

Director of Digital Wealth Management Platform Operations

In this role, I pioneered an integrated digital experience strategy, leading cross-functional teams to implement over 200 web enhancements each week. 

I guided my team to deliver more than 10,000 user stories annually, while fostering a culture of excellence through regular performance reviews and coaching. 

Additionally, I restructured the team to boost efficiency and strategic content management, which significantly enhanced quality control and production support.

Senior Team Product Manager, Digital Experience Management

In this position, I was in charge of Digital Content Publishing across more than 40 web properties, where I boosted productivity by implementing advanced quality initiatives and tools. 

My role involved facilitating cross-functional collaboration, which significantly sped up our business and marketing projects. 

I also established and closely monitored key performance indicators (KPIs), and I'm proud to have achieved a 15% increase in team efficiency in just six months.

Senior Team Manager, Digital Content Management

Hart InterCivic

In this role, I led strategic election projects, focusing on the logistics and training essential for large-scale election operations. 

I directed a dedicated team through major election cycles, ensuring the flawless deployment and comprehensive training on voting systems. 

Our efforts were pivotal in maintaining the integrity and smooth execution of the election process.

Project Manager

Agent2Agent

The company:
Agent2Agent transformed the real estate industry by offering a cutting-edge platform for property listings. 

Unlike traditional methods, we provided a captivating, professionally curated experience that engaged a vast network of real estate professionals. 

Our unique value was in enhancing the agent's ability to serve clients and accelerate property sales by showcasing listings with unmatched appeal.

Co-Founder

Design Shaman

The Company:
Design Shaman was a web development and graphic design agency that specialized in crafting customized digital solutions for small to medium-sized businesses. 

What set us apart was our hands-on approach, as we leveraged cutting-edge technologies to bring visions to life while ensuring seamless project management. 

We didn't just create websites; we transformed businesses by marrying technical expertise with strategic insights and offering comprehensive digital marketing strategies to enhance online presence and drive success.

Thinkwell

I managed educational video productions, where my main responsibilities included coordinating schedules and overseeing the creative aspects. 

My focus was always on ensuring we produced high-quality content that was both informative and engaging.

Production Manager

Smooth Fusion

At Smooth Fusion, I took on the dual roles of Project and Account Manager, where I skillfully led complex web development projects. 

A highlight of my time there was working on-site with Microsoft's marketing teams in Seattle to launch the 2007 Small Business Summit website. 

I was responsible for creating detailed project timelines, marking key milestones to monitor progress and guarantee on-time delivery. 

My role really excelled in managing a diverse range of projects, from startups to big industry players. 

I acted as the essential link between marketing, design agencies, and development teams, translating complex requirements and ensuring everyone was on the same page regarding project goals and expectations.

Project Manager / Account Manager

Texas Tech University

At Texas Tech University, I led the charge as the Senior Front-end Developer, driving transformative digital projects that greatly improved user engagement and experience. 

One of my key projects was leading the migration of the university's website to a cutting-edge Content Management System (CMS). 

This move not only made content management more efficient but also allowed individual departments to independently manage their content. 

Pushing the envelope of innovation, I also developed a dynamic campus map. This project combined UX/UI design, advanced web development, and photography to create an interactive tool that offered valuable insights about the campus to visitors, staff, and students.

Senior Frontend Developer

Consumer and enterprise hosting provider (acquired)

The company:
Founded in 2000, our company was a distinguished web hosting provider catering to consumers and enterprises. Our mission was to offer top-notch web hosting services, facilitating a robust online presence for businesses and individuals alike. What set us apart was our commitment to reliability and customer satisfaction. Our data centers ensured seamless website performance and security, complemented by our 24/7 expert support.

We took pride in providing a range of hosting solutions, from shared hosting for startups to dedicated servers for large enterprises, all customizable to meet diverse needs. Our competitive pricing made us a trusted partner for businesses of all sizes, helping them thrive online. Several years after our inception, we were acquired by a larger competitor, a testament to our service quality and industry trust.

My story:
As a college freshman with a background in web development, I embarked on an entrepreneurial journey. Initially founding a web development company, I gained insights into the digital landscape and honed my technical skills. However, I spotted a unique opportunity in web hosting, driven by growing demand for reliable services. Inspired by mentors, I pivoted the business, leveraging my technical expertise and tapping into the hosting industry's potential.

As founder and CEO, I navigated a dynamic role, rapidly adapting to various facets of business management. Guided by invaluable mentors, I successfully overcame entrepreneurial challenges. Our company's growth culminated in its acquisition by a larger competitor. My journey, from a college freshman with web development skills to the CEO of a thriving hosting firm, exemplifies the power of innovation, adaptability, and mentorship in business. While the company may be gone, its lessons and experiences continue to shape my entrepreneurial spirit and drive for success.

Founder and CEO

4x founder | 9 years Fortune 200 leader | Writing about leadership and personal growth

Over the past twenty years, I've founded four companies, with one of them starting in my college dorm room. 

I also spent 9 years as a leader at a Fortune 200 company creating high-performance teams and running operations for a robo trader platform.

taplio

The Battle

Curt Sassak

Jonathan Butterworth

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?