That's the question we asked a handful of ACE Peer Group members this year. No ability to explain things away, just your fellow ACE Peer Group member and accountability partner, stepping in to run your company for three days straight.
The first reaction wasn't excitement. It was pushback.
"Originally, they were completely against it," says ACE Facilitator Vince Torchia. "They were like, 'Why would we do this?' And when we got that feedback, we knew we were onto something."
That's usually how it goes with the ideas that actually move the needle. Nobody signs up eagerly to have a peer see their business with no context and no chance to explain the messy parts. That discomfort is exactly the point.
Where the Idea Came From
The concept — the CEO Swap — traces back to a simple observation from the corporate world: companies that swap leaders between locations often find things that internal reviews miss. Fresh eyes see what familiar eyes can’t.
Applied to a green industry business, the idea gets sharper. Two owners who already know each other's challenges trade seats for three days, as the person actually running the show. They sit in on real meetings, walk the property, and stand in front of the host's team to give a fresh perspective.
The Results Surprised Even the Skeptics
One of the program's biggest skeptics going in called it the best thing he's done in over two decades as an ACE Peer Group member — and he liked it enough to bring the concept home, running his own version of the CEO Swap between his company's branch managers.
"Was it worth it? Worth a thousand percent," said one participant. "Would I do it again? Definitely."
Another put it simply: "Whether you liked it or not from the beginning — everybody liked it at the end."
Why It Works
What makes the CEO Swap different from a typical ACE Peer Group site visit is the accountability. There's no ACE facilitator running the agenda, no other members in the room to share the spotlight, and no owner around to soften the criticisms.
"There was no crutch," Torchia says. "You are literally running the meeting the whole time. You have to bring it."
That's also what makes the follow-through stick. When you've both stood in the other’s building and seen their business exactly as it is, walking away from what you learned isn't an option.
This Is What ACE Peer Group Membership Looks Like
The CEO Swap is part of ACE 2.0, the next chapter for tenured ACE Peer Group members ready to go deeper — and after its first run, it's now a permanent and annual event in the program. The only reason it works is because it's built entirely around the relationships, accountability, and trust members develop inside their group over years.
If that sounds like the kind of accountability you're missing as an owner, let's talk about whether ACE Peer Groups is the right fit for you.