I recently went one-on-one with Lior Pozin, co-founder and CEO of AutoDS.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Lior: I didn’t come from a business background. My mom worked at a grocery store, my dad was an AC technician. I grew up in a small town in Israel and started experimenting with online selling at 14. I remember realizing I could buy a product from one site and sell it for more on another – it blew my mind. That first $40 profit felt like a fortune.
But I made a lot of mistakes. I once ran into major issues with VAT simply because I didn’t know it existed. We were almost shut down because of it. And early on, I had a hard time delegating. I thought I could do everything better myself, which held me back. Eventually, I learned to adopt the “70% rule” – if someone can do something 70% as well as I can, I delegate. That mindset shift changed everything for me.
What helped most was seeing every challenge not as a blocker, but as the next problem to solve. I treat business like a game. Each level has a new challenge, and you just keep playing.
Adam: How did you come up with your business idea and know it was worth pursuing? What advice do you have for others on how to come up with and test business ideas?
Lior: I never sat down and said, “I want to build a company.” I was trying to solve my own problem. I had built some internal tools to automate parts of my online store, and when I shared them at a conference, people kept asking how they could use them too.
That was my signal. I listened to potential users before I ever called it a business. They were my first testers and gave me all the feedback I needed. I didn’t raise money. I didn’t build some fancy pitch deck. I just kept solving problems and improving based on what people actually needed.
If you’re looking for an idea, start by looking at your own problems or the problems of people around you. Then build something small. Test fast. Don’t wait until it’s perfect.
Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?
Lior: Growth came from three things: listening, processes, and people.
First, we made listening a habit. We didn’t just collect reviews – we read every one. We called customers to ask why they joined and why they left. That feedback shaped our roadmap.
Second, we built clear internal processes. Early on, we were just running around putting out fires. Once we implemented things like OKRs per department and aligned on long-term goals, execution improved dramatically.
Third, hiring the right people changed the game. Not just talented people – but people who aligned with the vision. And we learned the hard way that setting clear expectations from day one is crucial. A great hire can still fail if you don’t align on what success looks like.
To others: don’t look for hacks or shortcuts. Invest in your team. Create structure. And always zoom out to see if you’re building for the long-term or just chasing short-term wins.
Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips?
Lior: Don’t chase vanity metrics. Focus on trust and relevance.
The best marketing is education. If you teach something valuable, people remember you. We created hundreds of educational resources and gave them away for free. That built long-term trust.
For sales, timing and context are everything. Understand where your customer is in their journey and meet them there. Don’t sell like everyone is ready to buy today.
Also, partnerships were huge for us. Instead of fighting for the same traffic, we asked: Who already has our audience’s trust? And how can we create value together?
Adam: What are the most important trends in technology that leaders should be aware of and understand? What should they understand about them?
Lior: The biggest shift is AI – but not just in the obvious ways. AI is changing how users discover things. We’re moving from keyword-based search to AI-driven understanding and personalized answers.
This means your product, content, and value proposition need to be understood by algorithms, not just by people. That changes how you build, how you measure success, and how you show up online.
Leaders should also watch the no-code and low-code movement. It’s leveling the playing field. You no longer need a huge tech team to build powerful tools.
And lastly, data privacy and user trust are becoming more important. People are more aware than ever. Build with transparency in mind.
Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Lior: Great leaders are great listeners. That’s number one. You can’t lead if you’re not listening – to your team, your customers, your market.
They also think long-term. It’s tempting to chase every shiny opportunity, but the best leaders say no more than they say yes.
And they lead by example. I don’t ask my team to do anything I wouldn’t do myself. That builds trust fast.
To level up your leadership, work on your self-awareness. Understand your strengths, your blind spots, and your impact on others. And get feedback often. The best leaders I know constantly evolve.
Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?
Lior: First, show people they’re part of something bigger. No one wants to feel like they’re just executing tasks. When people understand the mission and feel trusted, they go beyond their job description.
Second, don’t micromanage. I believe in macro-management. Give clear direction, but let people own their work. It’s the only way to scale.
Third, invest in the hiring process. Set expectations early. Hiring someone talented but misaligned is worse than not hiring at all.
And finally, celebrate progress. Even small wins. Momentum fuels teams more than pressure.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Lior:
- Focus on the next problem, not the end goal. The finish line keeps moving. Solve the next challenge in front of you. Then the next.
- Simplicity wins. Overly complex strategies usually fail. The best solutions are often the most obvious ones.
- Personal development is business development. If you want your business to grow, you need to grow too. Read. Reflect. Learn. Repeat.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Lior: “If someone else did it, you can do it too – and maybe even better.” That stuck with me. It erased the fear of competition. Whenever I faced something that seemed impossible, I reminded myself: someone else figured it out. So can I.
Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Lior: Just this: Most people overthink the start. They wait for the perfect plan, the perfect product, the perfect moment. But nothing starts perfect. Just start. Get feedback. Adapt fast. Momentum beats perfection every time.
