The Fractional Operator

In this episode of The Fractional Operator, Mike Nelson sits down with Todd Bailey, Owner of Todd Bailey Photo Video & Marketing, to discuss building a successful fractional marketing business, leveraging AI, mastering sales, networking for growth, and adapting to rapid changes in marketing. Todd shares lessons from his journey from photographer and videographer to trusted fractional CMO, including pricing strategies, client relationships, and why trust is becoming more valuable than ever in the age of AI. If you're a fractional operator, consultant, marketer, or business owner looking to grow your business, this episode is packed with practical insights.

Connect with Todd Bailey on social media or through his website at tbphotopix.com.

Learn More about Hourglass SaaS at hourglasssaas.com 

00:00 Introduction to The Fractional Operator

00:47 Why the Fractional Economy Is Growing

02:31 Todd Bailey's Background & Career Journey

04:16 Sales Leadership and Corporate Experience

05:20 Entering Marketing and Early Business Lessons

07:00 How Todd Operates as a Fractional CMO

08:43 Building Teams and Leveraging Specialists

12:00 Marketing Emergencies and Client Support

13:11 AI's Impact on Fractional Businesses

15:05 Lifestyle Business vs Building an Agency

18:26 Adapting to Rapid Changes in Marketing

21:31 Why Human Relationships Matter More Than Ever

22:13 The Value Proposition of Fractional CMOs

28:35 Sales, Networking, and Growing a Business

37:42 The Power of Pivoting and Raising Prices

46:30 AI Tools, Productivity Gains and Future Opportunities

49:36 Where to Find Todd Bailey Online

Follow Mike Nelson:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaelnelson2 

Facebook: facebook.com/michael.rgh.nelson 

Instagram: instagram.com/5tmichael 

X/Twitter: x.com/5tmichael 

What does a Fractional COO actually do, and when should a business bring one in? In this episode of The Fractional Operator, Michael Nelson sits down with Bill Tansey Jr., Owner of The OpEx Shop, to discuss operational excellence, leading organizational change, pricing fractional services, managing scope creep, and helping companies solve complex business challenges. Bill shares lessons learned from Fortune 50 leadership roles, consulting engagements, and more than a decade of helping organizations improve performance and profitability. Whether you're a fractional executive, consultant, business owner, or operator, this conversation offers practical insights into building trust, delivering ROI, and scaling through change.

Connect with Bill Tansey Jr. and learn more about The OpEx Shop at theopexshop.com.

00:00 – Introduction to The Fractional Operator & Bill Tansey

01:31 – What The OpEx Shop Does and the Fractional COO Role

03:10 – Why Companies Hire Fractional Leaders During Change

05:47 – Bill's Background: Engineering, Startups & Fortune 50 Leadership

08:08 – Learning the Danaher Business System & Lean Operations

09:12 – Transitioning into Fractional Consulting

10:11 – Two Service Models: Hourly vs Fixed-Fee Engagements

13:03 – Demonstrating ROI and Justifying Consulting Investments

15:17 – Real-World Client Example: Solving a Cost Crisis

17:19 – Defining Problems Before Solving Them

20:19 – The Multi-Phase Fractional Engagement Process

21:07 – Building Trust During the Sales Cycle

24:09 – Managing Scope Creep in Fractional Work

30:23 – Client Relationship Management Lessons Learned

32:49 – Advice for New Fractional Operators & Finding Success

36:15 – Pricing Fractional Services and Choosing the Right Clients

38:58 – How to Connect with Bill Tansey & Closing Thoughts

Hourglass SaaS: https://hourglasssaas.com/

Follow Michael Nelson:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/michael.rgh.nelson

Instagram: https://instagram.com/5tmichael

X: https://x.com/5tmichael

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/michaelnelson2

#FractionalOperator #FractionalCOO #BusinessOperations #OperationalExcellence #FractionalLeadership

Welcome to the first episode of The Fractional Operator, a knowledge-share podcast built specifically for the fast-growing community of outsourced professionals. Host Mike Nelson introduces the show's mission to help COOs, CTOs, CFOs, and agency owners scale their operations and overcome industry challenges through peer-to-peer conversations. Whether you are focused on a growth play or optimizing a lifestyle business, this show provides the tools and software insights you need to get more done while working less.

Discover more episodes, subscribe to our companion newsletter, and learn about the first operations platform designed for this community at hourglasssaas.com.

0:02 - Introduction to the podcast and Hourglass SaaS

0:53 - The explosion of the fractional industry and the need for a community space

1:54 - What to expect from future peer-to-peer knowledge sharing episodes

2:43 - Supporting both growth-focused scaling and efficiency for lifestyle businesses

3:24 - Release schedule, newsletter details, and finding the episode archive

Connect with host Mike Nelson on social media using the links below to join the conversation.

Facebook: facebook.com/Michael.RGH.Nelson/ 

Instagram: instagram.com/5tmichael 

X: x.com/5tmichael

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michaelnelson2/