The Part-Time CEO

“Everyone needs that outside perspective, it's so beneficial if it's the person who loves you most in the world.” - Janelle Lara (45:25)

Janelle Lara

The Part-Time CEO

Juggling a business and a marriage can feel difficult at times. Your husband is your teammate, learn how to support each other well.

If you are an entrepreneur with a spouse, you know that business is best when it is a family affair.

If you are a woman running a business on your own, you know that the family dynamic often comes into play right at the start, when there are investments to be made.

So many women find it difficult to ask their husband to invest financially in their work as it begins to grow. This can be one of the biggest stumbling blocks for women. However, the key to asking for your husband's support is confidence. You should be sure of yourself, the program you're planning to use, and the research you've done. If you've done your prep work, you can approach your husband knowing that, if he invests in you, he'll see the fruits of his decision soon.

Marriage is, first and foremost, a team dynamic. That means that, from the husband's side, investing in you is a smart move. As you get stronger, he gets stronger, and vice versa. Not only that, but he'll be motivated to do his own research and give the decision to invest its due consideration simply because, if you did all that work, he'd better have a good reason for saying “no.”

In all this, it is important for wives to remember that, although your husband is by your side, he is not in your business. His mind is elsewhere, so be careful not to simply blindside him with a request that he invest in your endeavors without any information or time to think. This can often lead to resentment down the road, or just a resounding “no.”

On the subject of the word 'no,’ unfortunately, this is where a lot of husbands’ brains go into instinct mode when asked for a hefty investment. Wives, don't react too quickly. A negative answer may not be the end. In your husband's mind, 'no’ might be blurted out from a place of caution, inexperience, the desire to protect you from risks and disappointment, or he may simply want more time to think it over.

A great way to avoid this altogether is to sit down with your spouse when you first get wind of a coach or program you'd like to invest in. Ask your husband what he'd like to know about the program or the investment itself if you were to do it. Let him prepare before you ever get on a phone call with the coach in question.

“You’re in the trenches, your husband is not. His mind isn’t with you, he's doing his own thing.” - Roberto Lara (15:38)

It's a sad truth that, very often, men with entrepreneurial wives feel left out or even replaced by their spouse's work. With that said, ladies, it's important to find an appropriate way to incorporate your husband into your business. “Appropriate” means setting boundaries. Broadly speaking, men are problem solvers. If you ask your husband to pick up a task related to your work, he may accidentally end up way deeper in your business than either of you wanted. It’s important to regularly be mindful and communicate about the boundaries you both need.

A major factor driving all of these concepts is different energy dynamics men and women carry with them. They can feel opposing at times, but there is a need for balance between the two. Where men tend to be compartmentalizing go-getters, women are socialized to make decisions with everyone else in mind first, prone to asking permission and wanting to include their husband in everything.

While it can be challenging to find the balance, the entrepreneurial couple can be a powerhouse. Each partner has their own passions, skills, and roles to play, even if they do business together. When there is a balance in the combination of these energies and skills, the couple can become unstoppable and unbelievably successful.  

Redefine “power couple” by balancing your energies.

A great analogy for this dynamic can be found in the game of soccer. Different players serve different roles on the field. A business-owning wife is, in this case, the player who drives for a goal. Think of her husband like the goalie. If the wife is doing an amazing job, the husband might not ever need to play. Regardless, she needs him to be there. He has capabilities and perspectives that she doesn't have, but desperately needs.

“I’m investing in you as a partner, because the stronger you become, the stronger I can become. We're a team, we become stronger together.”

- Roberto Lara (11:30)  

After the investments and hills and uncertain moments are over, what matters is that each partner is committed to pushing their spouse to grow and improve. If that's the case, the investment is always worth it. But most importantly, remember that no business should ever jeopardize your marriage. Your family is worth so much more.

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!

• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me!

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“Everyone needs that outside perspective, it's so beneficial if it's the person who loves you most in the world.” - Janelle Lara (45:25)

Janelle Lara

The Part-Time CEO

Juggling a business and a marriage can feel difficult at times. Your husband is your teammate, learn how to support each other well.

If you are an entrepreneur with a spouse, you know that business is best when it is a family affair.

If you are a woman running a business on your own, you know that the family dynamic often comes into play right at the start, when there are investments to be made.

So many women find it difficult to ask their husband to invest financially in their work as it begins to grow. This can be one of the biggest stumbling blocks for women. However, the key to asking for your husband's support is confidence. You should be sure of yourself, the program you're planning to use, and the research you've done. If you've done your prep work, you can approach your husband knowing that, if he invests in you, he'll see the fruits of his decision soon.

Marriage is, first and foremost, a team dynamic. That means that, from the husband's side, investing in you is a smart move. As you get stronger, he gets stronger, and vice versa. Not only that, but he'll be motivated to do his own research and give the decision to invest its due consideration simply because, if you did all that work, he'd better have a good reason for saying “no.”

In all this, it is important for wives to remember that, although your husband is by your side, he is not in your business. His mind is elsewhere, so be careful not to simply blindside him with a request that he invest in your endeavors without any information or time to think. This can often lead to resentment down the road, or just a resounding “no.”

On the subject of the word 'no,’ unfortunately, this is where a lot of husbands’ brains go into instinct mode when asked for a hefty investment. Wives, don't react too quickly. A negative answer may not be the end. In your husband's mind, 'no’ might be blurted out from a place of caution, inexperience, the desire to protect you from risks and disappointment, or he may simply want more time to think it over.

A great way to avoid this altogether is to sit down with your spouse when you first get wind of a coach or program you'd like to invest in. Ask your husband what he'd like to know about the program or the investment itself if you were to do it. Let him prepare before you ever get on a phone call with the coach in question.

“You’re in the trenches, your husband is not. His mind isn’t with you, he's doing his own thing.” - Roberto Lara (15:38)

It's a sad truth that, very often, men with entrepreneurial wives feel left out or even replaced by their spouse's work. With that said, ladies, it's important to find an appropriate way to incorporate your husband into your business. “Appropriate” means setting boundaries. Broadly speaking, men are problem solvers. If you ask your husband to pick up a task related to your work, he may accidentally end up way deeper in your business than either of you wanted. It’s important to regularly be mindful and communicate about the boundaries you both need.

A major factor driving all of these concepts is different energy dynamics men and women carry with them. They can feel opposing at times, but there is a need for balance between the two. Where men tend to be compartmentalizing go-getters, women are socialized to make decisions with everyone else in mind first, prone to asking permission and wanting to include their husband in everything.

While it can be challenging to find the balance, the entrepreneurial couple can be a powerhouse. Each partner has their own passions, skills, and roles to play, even if they do business together. When there is a balance in the combination of these energies and skills, the couple can become unstoppable and unbelievably successful.  

Redefine “power couple” by balancing your energies.

A great analogy for this dynamic can be found in the game of soccer. Different players serve different roles on the field. A business-owning wife is, in this case, the player who drives for a goal. Think of her husband like the goalie. If the wife is doing an amazing job, the husband might not ever need to play. Regardless, she needs him to be there. He has capabilities and perspectives that she doesn't have, but desperately needs.

“I’m investing in you as a partner, because the stronger you become, the stronger I can become. We're a team, we become stronger together.”

- Roberto Lara (11:30)  

After the investments and hills and uncertain moments are over, what matters is that each partner is committed to pushing their spouse to grow and improve. If that's the case, the investment is always worth it. But most importantly, remember that no business should ever jeopardize your marriage. Your family is worth so much more.

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!

• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me!

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“People assume that, being a business owner, we need to have a professional, nonchalant, corporate air. Which is opposite of the way we need to be.”

• Janelle Lara (9:27)
  
  

To write effective copy, you have to put yourself in your client’s shoes.

Would your clients trek through three feet of snow to get to you?

Let's back that up. Put another way, how interested are your clients in your offer? Are you telling a story that compels your dream client to beat your door down, even if it takes them out of their comfort zone?

Writing compelling copy is a skill that requires an understanding of human psychology. Experts like Sarah Temte approach copywriting armed with the knowledge that humans would almost always rather stay where they are than take a risk.

It's a common pitfall for entrepreneurs who are in love with their offer. You know you're offering something brilliant and you know it's tremendously valuable. With that in mind, you start to feel indignant when your clients aren't falling at your feet. So what's the cure?  

“People are chasing feelings a lot more than we think they are.” - Sarah Temte (11:35)

First of all, understand what it is that you're asking from your client. No matter how much your offer helps, in accepting it, your client is taking a leap of faith and taking action - even if they're only clicking a link. That's a very hard place for people to be, and it's important for you to be cognizant.

Second, it’s important to remember that you're situated in a noisy marketplace with a lot of other people who present similar offers and skill sets. Your clients could invest their money anywhere, and it is your responsibility to get their attention and communicate what sets your offer apart from others.

Once you've got a firm grasp on the concepts, it's time to position your offer. Your priority should be understanding the client experience you offer. How do you make people feel? What is your promise at every stage of the buyer journey?

Understanding why your client makes decisions will set you ahead of the curve.

All humans chase feelings. We make our decisions based on a complex mixture of emotions, goals, and internal narratives. We are especially driven by the fear of missing out. If you can delve into the meaning of a purchase that goes beyond the product itself, you will be able to craft stories on a much deeper level. It is your responsibility to communicate to your customers all the amazing things your offer can do.

The best copy in the world is, at its core, a captivating story. And that's exactly what it should be - a story, not a narrative that boosts your ego. Inspire your clients to buy from you, rather than demanding the result you want.

“Are you paying attention to why people won’t read your email, but they’ll spend an hour watching The Bachelor?” - Sarah Temte (23:55)  

The last consideration you should make in your copywriting journey is that of your own storytelling tendencies. Are you an extroverted over-sharer? Or maybe you are a taciturn introvert who prefers the bare bones. Either way, get into the habit of writing down the stories that interest you, and editing them towards the opposite tendency. If you give a lot of detail, trim the fat. If you only give the basics, elaborate a little.

No matter which way you lean, you have to put in the work. Write every day, about every headline that interests you. Open your eyes to the things that captivate your peers and emulate the trends you find. No one starts out as an expert. It's ultimately about your effort. Captivate your audience, learn to better understand their wants and needs, and they will trudge through the snow, no matter how deep, to get to your offer.

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!

• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected].
• Visit sarahtemte.com for a special offer.

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“People assume that, being a business owner, we need to have a professional, nonchalant, corporate air. Which is opposite of the way we need to be.”

• Janelle Lara (9:27)
  
  

To write effective copy, you have to put yourself in your client’s shoes.

Would your clients trek through three feet of snow to get to you?

Let's back that up. Put another way, how interested are your clients in your offer? Are you telling a story that compels your dream client to beat your door down, even if it takes them out of their comfort zone?

Writing compelling copy is a skill that requires an understanding of human psychology. Experts like Sarah Temte approach copywriting armed with the knowledge that humans would almost always rather stay where they are than take a risk.

It's a common pitfall for entrepreneurs who are in love with their offer. You know you're offering something brilliant and you know it's tremendously valuable. With that in mind, you start to feel indignant when your clients aren't falling at your feet. So what's the cure?  

“People are chasing feelings a lot more than we think they are.” - Sarah Temte (11:35)

First of all, understand what it is that you're asking from your client. No matter how much your offer helps, in accepting it, your client is taking a leap of faith and taking action - even if they're only clicking a link. That's a very hard place for people to be, and it's important for you to be cognizant.

Second, it’s important to remember that you're situated in a noisy marketplace with a lot of other people who present similar offers and skill sets. Your clients could invest their money anywhere, and it is your responsibility to get their attention and communicate what sets your offer apart from others.

Once you've got a firm grasp on the concepts, it's time to position your offer. Your priority should be understanding the client experience you offer. How do you make people feel? What is your promise at every stage of the buyer journey?

Understanding why your client makes decisions will set you ahead of the curve.

All humans chase feelings. We make our decisions based on a complex mixture of emotions, goals, and internal narratives. We are especially driven by the fear of missing out. If you can delve into the meaning of a purchase that goes beyond the product itself, you will be able to craft stories on a much deeper level. It is your responsibility to communicate to your customers all the amazing things your offer can do.

The best copy in the world is, at its core, a captivating story. And that's exactly what it should be - a story, not a narrative that boosts your ego. Inspire your clients to buy from you, rather than demanding the result you want.

“Are you paying attention to why people won’t read your email, but they’ll spend an hour watching The Bachelor?” - Sarah Temte (23:55)  

The last consideration you should make in your copywriting journey is that of your own storytelling tendencies. Are you an extroverted over-sharer? Or maybe you are a taciturn introvert who prefers the bare bones. Either way, get into the habit of writing down the stories that interest you, and editing them towards the opposite tendency. If you give a lot of detail, trim the fat. If you only give the basics, elaborate a little.

No matter which way you lean, you have to put in the work. Write every day, about every headline that interests you. Open your eyes to the things that captivate your peers and emulate the trends you find. No one starts out as an expert. It's ultimately about your effort. Captivate your audience, learn to better understand their wants and needs, and they will trudge through the snow, no matter how deep, to get to your offer.

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!

• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected].
• Visit sarahtemte.com for a special offer.

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“Provide a good price, good service, and keep customers happy, and everything else will fall into place.”

- Timothy Dick (27:59 - 28:07)

Janelle Lara

The Part-Time CEO

The fundamentals don’t change. Relationship will always be the ultimate key to building a successful business.

Creating genuine relationships with customers is one of the biggest keys to building a business that is successful and sustainable. In today’s world of online marketing, many entrepreneurs are taught that automation is the ultimate goal. We are taught that we don’t need to communicate directly with our customers, and if we have the right systems in place the profits will roll in.

While automation can be a valuable tool, it can be detrimental to your business when applied to communication with clients. When direct communication is eliminated, business owners are forced to operate solely on assumptions of the client’s preferences, rather than gaining validation from clients. Feedback is a vital component to make improvements in your company. Companies that achieve massive success take the time to learn about their customer’s needs, create products and services to meet those needs, and provide excellent customer service.

“Facebook ads have blown up and a lot of us are scrambling wondering where we should put our money and how we should leverage paid traffic.” - Janelle Lara (2:30 - 2:48)

There are some necessary fundamentals that must be in place in every successful business.

In order for your business to achieve long-term, sustainable success, you must first build a great product. What you’re offering needs to solve a problem or to add value to your potential customers. Your product needs to have the right market fit, which will vary depending on if you’re serving a small business or a Fortune 500 company.

Once you have a viable product, you need to give your customers an excellent experience during all stages of their customer journey. That includes providing fantastic customer service, listening to feedback, and periodically checking in with clients after they’ve made a purchase. Customers don’t expect perfection, but they do value when you make intentional effort to show you care.

Sustainability is best achieved through businesses that create repeat purchases. Many entrepreneurs fail to provide the best customer service because they devote most of their energy trying to acquire new customers. Focusing efforts on your customer experience will build relationships that foster trust in your brand. This trust equity will make it more likely for you to receive repeat business.  

“Before acquiring customers, the absolute most important thing is to have a solid product that solves a real problem or provides value.”

- Timothy Dick (35:02 - 35:14)

Before you start marketing your product, you need to make sure that the fundamentals of your business are strong. If you try to scale without them, you won’t be able to sustain the growth, and it will impact your business negatively.

With the fundamentals in place, you can start thinking about the best way to market your product or service. Paid traffic is likely to be an essential part of your overall strategy, but there are also other elements of success when it comes to marketing.

Three tips for marketing success.

Track your marketing efforts as much as possible using analytics software. Google Analytics is a great tool to help you analyze your business’ metrics. You never know which one of your campaigns are bringing you the best results until you look at the data. Knowing what’s working and what’s not will allow you to allocate your resources more effectively.

Experiment with running ads on different platforms. Try diversifying with Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn, instead of relying heavily on any one of them. Great marketing is about communicating your offer effectively and building trust with your audience. As long as you can do that, you’ll be successful regardless of which platform you use.

Remember, you don’t have to restrict yourself to online marketing. You can build relationships offline through your local Chamber of Commerce groups, or you can reach out to your market through direct mail. The more your potential customers get familiar with you, the more they’ll trust you, increasing the likelihood they’ll buy from you when the time is right.

Yes, building an empire requires strategy, effective marketing, and tenacity. However, the strongest empires are built upon the sturdiest foundations. Devote your energy to building the fundamentals of your business, and the growth and success will follow!

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!

• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected].
• Connect with Tim on Facebook, or visit www.profitlayer.com to improve your business marketing.

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“Provide a good price, good service, and keep customers happy, and everything else will fall into place.”

- Timothy Dick (27:59 - 28:07)

Janelle Lara

The Part-Time CEO

The fundamentals don’t change. Relationship will always be the ultimate key to building a successful business.

Creating genuine relationships with customers is one of the biggest keys to building a business that is successful and sustainable. In today’s world of online marketing, many entrepreneurs are taught that automation is the ultimate goal. We are taught that we don’t need to communicate directly with our customers, and if we have the right systems in place the profits will roll in.

While automation can be a valuable tool, it can be detrimental to your business when applied to communication with clients. When direct communication is eliminated, business owners are forced to operate solely on assumptions of the client’s preferences, rather than gaining validation from clients. Feedback is a vital component to make improvements in your company. Companies that achieve massive success take the time to learn about their customer’s needs, create products and services to meet those needs, and provide excellent customer service.

“Facebook ads have blown up and a lot of us are scrambling wondering where we should put our money and how we should leverage paid traffic.” - Janelle Lara (2:30 - 2:48)

There are some necessary fundamentals that must be in place in every successful business.

In order for your business to achieve long-term, sustainable success, you must first build a great product. What you’re offering needs to solve a problem or to add value to your potential customers. Your product needs to have the right market fit, which will vary depending on if you’re serving a small business or a Fortune 500 company.

Once you have a viable product, you need to give your customers an excellent experience during all stages of their customer journey. That includes providing fantastic customer service, listening to feedback, and periodically checking in with clients after they’ve made a purchase. Customers don’t expect perfection, but they do value when you make intentional effort to show you care.

Sustainability is best achieved through businesses that create repeat purchases. Many entrepreneurs fail to provide the best customer service because they devote most of their energy trying to acquire new customers. Focusing efforts on your customer experience will build relationships that foster trust in your brand. This trust equity will make it more likely for you to receive repeat business.  

“Before acquiring customers, the absolute most important thing is to have a solid product that solves a real problem or provides value.”

- Timothy Dick (35:02 - 35:14)

Before you start marketing your product, you need to make sure that the fundamentals of your business are strong. If you try to scale without them, you won’t be able to sustain the growth, and it will impact your business negatively.

With the fundamentals in place, you can start thinking about the best way to market your product or service. Paid traffic is likely to be an essential part of your overall strategy, but there are also other elements of success when it comes to marketing.

Three tips for marketing success.

Track your marketing efforts as much as possible using analytics software. Google Analytics is a great tool to help you analyze your business’ metrics. You never know which one of your campaigns are bringing you the best results until you look at the data. Knowing what’s working and what’s not will allow you to allocate your resources more effectively.

Experiment with running ads on different platforms. Try diversifying with Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn, instead of relying heavily on any one of them. Great marketing is about communicating your offer effectively and building trust with your audience. As long as you can do that, you’ll be successful regardless of which platform you use.

Remember, you don’t have to restrict yourself to online marketing. You can build relationships offline through your local Chamber of Commerce groups, or you can reach out to your market through direct mail. The more your potential customers get familiar with you, the more they’ll trust you, increasing the likelihood they’ll buy from you when the time is right.

Yes, building an empire requires strategy, effective marketing, and tenacity. However, the strongest empires are built upon the sturdiest foundations. Devote your energy to building the fundamentals of your business, and the growth and success will follow!

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!

• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected].
• Connect with Tim on Facebook, or visit www.profitlayer.com to improve your business marketing.

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“The way you can tell who is truly a genius, or an expert, is that they know how much they have left to learn.” - Janelle Lara (5:40)

Janelle Lara

The Part-Time CEO

Serving simply and from a mindset of abundance is the highest and most successful state for an entrepreneur.

When smart people live and serve simply, magic happens.

In fact, the smartest among us, the experts and teachers, are the people who have committed themselves to being lifelong students. Instead of seeking answers to questions, they just learn how to ask better questions, and then pass their wisdom along to others.

Nic Peterson is one such person. A successful entrepreneur, Nic's primary role for his clients is, and ever has been, to trim away the mindset issues and layers of complexity in order to figure out the small percentage of work they actually should be doing.

“With complexity comes unreliability. The more  complex something is, the less reliable it is.” - Nic Peterson (18:43)

One of the most important parts of constructing a business this way is figuring out, as the entrepreneur, what do you want your life to look like? Not what your revenue goals are or your perfect bottom line, but what makes you happy? Do you want more time with your family, or the freedom to pursue a favorite hobby? Your work should ultimately give you the life you want, while allowing you to serve others joyously.

To that end, adopting a mindset of scarcity - or just failing to leave one behind - can lead to a lot of unnecessary complications. When you worry and strategize about casting your net wide instead of serving your people, your business becomes every complex, and therefore unreliable. Instead, cultivate the thing you love to do and do well, and wake up every day, happy to do it. Fall in love with the process, not with your idea of the results.

The people you surround yourself with will have an indelible effect on your growth and your journey. Be sure to choose wisely.

Finally, humans generally work best surrounded by other humans. Entrepreneurs thrive when they intentionally put themselves into a diverse environment of peers who provide both a challenge and a much-needed perspective check.

It is entirely natural to normalize the progress you make towards your goals. Think back: maybe there was a time when all you wanted was to work steadily and work hard, and make a decent amount of money. As you progressed to that point and beyond, it's very likely that you're still pushing and pushing to reach your goals - not realizing that you're miles away from where your first checkpoints were. This is exactly why we need good people around to say, “Look behind you, look where you've been”.

“You have to understand your strengths, build your business around that, and then just show up and do it.” - Nic Peterson (53:47)  

Janelle Lara refers to this state of ecstatic, perpetual drive as “blissful discontentment”. Stripping away the tactics, politics, and insecurities to function as a service provider in love with serving is simply the best way to do business.

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!

• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected].

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“The way you can tell who is truly a genius, or an expert, is that they know how much they have left to learn.” - Janelle Lara (5:40)

Janelle Lara

The Part-Time CEO

Serving simply and from a mindset of abundance is the highest and most successful state for an entrepreneur.

When smart people live and serve simply, magic happens.

In fact, the smartest among us, the experts and teachers, are the people who have committed themselves to being lifelong students. Instead of seeking answers to questions, they just learn how to ask better questions, and then pass their wisdom along to others.

Nic Peterson is one such person. A successful entrepreneur, Nic's primary role for his clients is, and ever has been, to trim away the mindset issues and layers of complexity in order to figure out the small percentage of work they actually should be doing.

“With complexity comes unreliability. The more  complex something is, the less reliable it is.” - Nic Peterson (18:43)

One of the most important parts of constructing a business this way is figuring out, as the entrepreneur, what do you want your life to look like? Not what your revenue goals are or your perfect bottom line, but what makes you happy? Do you want more time with your family, or the freedom to pursue a favorite hobby? Your work should ultimately give you the life you want, while allowing you to serve others joyously.

To that end, adopting a mindset of scarcity - or just failing to leave one behind - can lead to a lot of unnecessary complications. When you worry and strategize about casting your net wide instead of serving your people, your business becomes every complex, and therefore unreliable. Instead, cultivate the thing you love to do and do well, and wake up every day, happy to do it. Fall in love with the process, not with your idea of the results.

The people you surround yourself with will have an indelible effect on your growth and your journey. Be sure to choose wisely.

Finally, humans generally work best surrounded by other humans. Entrepreneurs thrive when they intentionally put themselves into a diverse environment of peers who provide both a challenge and a much-needed perspective check.

It is entirely natural to normalize the progress you make towards your goals. Think back: maybe there was a time when all you wanted was to work steadily and work hard, and make a decent amount of money. As you progressed to that point and beyond, it's very likely that you're still pushing and pushing to reach your goals - not realizing that you're miles away from where your first checkpoints were. This is exactly why we need good people around to say, “Look behind you, look where you've been”.

“You have to understand your strengths, build your business around that, and then just show up and do it.” - Nic Peterson (53:47)  

Janelle Lara refers to this state of ecstatic, perpetual drive as “blissful discontentment”. Stripping away the tactics, politics, and insecurities to function as a service provider in love with serving is simply the best way to do business.

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!

• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected].

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“Most entrepreneurs start a business because they have a desire to make an impact. But we forget that in the whirlwind of seven-figure launches.” - Katya Sarmiento (1:00:22-1:00:37)

Business systems can improve your efficiency, productivity, and bottom line. But investing in systems too early is a mistake that many entrepreneurs make. They prioritize using the latest automation tools instead of focusing on building a team that’s aligned with the goals and vision of the organization.

This causes entrepreneurs to lose sight of their goals while burning themselves out in the process. Understanding the difference between growth and scale—and knowing when you’re ready to use systems in your business—can help you overcome the pitfalls that today’s entrepreneurs face.

Katya Sarmiento helps entrepreneurs use technology better while avoiding the costly mistakes that impact their ability to generate leads, fulfill orders, and build a lasting and profitable business.

”Progress is the continual realignment of what you want and making sure that what you’ve created is still in line with your vision.” - Katya Sarmiento (55:47-56:01)

It’s easy to fall victim to “shiny object syndrome,” chasing the latest and greatest automation tools in an effort to scale your business. You can overcomplicate things when trying to build your website, email marketing, or sales funnel. Entrepreneurs struggle with technology and often lack the necessary education around the systems and processes they think they need to grow. As a result, they encounter confusion, frustration, and even a loss in revenue.

Even the most successful businesses can paint a pretty picture on social media while struggling to keep it together behind the scenes. They make preventable mistakes, fail to see challenges ahead of time, and just don’t know what they don’t know.

Business owners don’t always understand the difference between growth and scale. Growth is getting more leads, clients, and revenue. Scale is your capacity to handle that growth. Many entrepreneurs focus on using automation tools to grow their businesses. But in many cases, they aren’t able to handle the new clients they get. They soon find themselves struggling to fulfill orders and address client needs, leading to a spike in refunds and negative reviews.

“Running a business is a lot like parenting. No one else knows what’s best for your kid besides you. You, as the CEO, know what’s right for your business.” - Janelle Lara (36:12-36:27)

Before you scale your business, you must be able to take on more clients with the same amount of resources. This comes down to restructuring how you manage your organization and building your business around a lifestyle that supports your productivity and wellbeing over time.

Only after you find yourself taking on more work than you can handle, is it time to consider the systems that help you scale in order to serve more customers. Avoid creating a “struggle story” around your business. Instead, revisit the reasons why you started the business in the first place. Get clear on your vision and communicate it to your entire team.

Define the structure of your organization and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to measure its success. Focus on how you can take care of yourself throughout the process. When you build a business that’s aligned with your goals, dreams, and desires, you reach new levels of growth and success while making the experience more enriching, fulfilling, and profitable.

Some Topics we talk about in this episode:

• Introduction - 0:52
• Why Katya Got into Systems in the First Place - 4:28
• Systems Challenges That Businesses Face - 11:20
• Defining Growth vs. Scale - 13:58
• Katya’s Transition to Coaching Clients - 19:38
• Developing a Healthy Hustle Mentality - 28:02
• When is the Right Time to Scale? - 35:08
• Business Foundations Everyone Should Know - 41:01
• The “F.R.E.E.D.O.M. Ladder” for Progressing in Your Business - 48:05
• Wrap-up and Takeaways - 1:00:55

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!

• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected].
• You can learn more about Katya Sarmiento and the ways she helps businesses grow and scale their businesses at reachandmakemillions.com.

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

“Most entrepreneurs start a business because they have a desire to make an impact. But we forget that in the whirlwind of seven-figure launches.” - Katya Sarmiento (1:00:22-1:00:37)

Business systems can improve your efficiency, productivity, and bottom line. But investing in systems too early is a mistake that many entrepreneurs make. They prioritize using the latest automation tools instead of focusing on building a team that’s aligned with the goals and vision of the organization.

This causes entrepreneurs to lose sight of their goals while burning themselves out in the process. Understanding the difference between growth and scale—and knowing when you’re ready to use systems in your business—can help you overcome the pitfalls that today’s entrepreneurs face.

Katya Sarmiento helps entrepreneurs use technology better while avoiding the costly mistakes that impact their ability to generate leads, fulfill orders, and build a lasting and profitable business.

”Progress is the continual realignment of what you want and making sure that what you’ve created is still in line with your vision.” - Katya Sarmiento (55:47-56:01)

It’s easy to fall victim to “shiny object syndrome,” chasing the latest and greatest automation tools in an effort to scale your business. You can overcomplicate things when trying to build your website, email marketing, or sales funnel. Entrepreneurs struggle with technology and often lack the necessary education around the systems and processes they think they need to grow. As a result, they encounter confusion, frustration, and even a loss in revenue.

Even the most successful businesses can paint a pretty picture on social media while struggling to keep it together behind the scenes. They make preventable mistakes, fail to see challenges ahead of time, and just don’t know what they don’t know.

Business owners don’t always understand the difference between growth and scale. Growth is getting more leads, clients, and revenue. Scale is your capacity to handle that growth. Many entrepreneurs focus on using automation tools to grow their businesses. But in many cases, they aren’t able to handle the new clients they get. They soon find themselves struggling to fulfill orders and address client needs, leading to a spike in refunds and negative reviews.

“Running a business is a lot like parenting. No one else knows what’s best for your kid besides you. You, as the CEO, know what’s right for your business.” - Janelle Lara (36:12-36:27)

Before you scale your business, you must be able to take on more clients with the same amount of resources. This comes down to restructuring how you manage your organization and building your business around a lifestyle that supports your productivity and wellbeing over time.

Only after you find yourself taking on more work than you can handle, is it time to consider the systems that help you scale in order to serve more customers. Avoid creating a “struggle story” around your business. Instead, revisit the reasons why you started the business in the first place. Get clear on your vision and communicate it to your entire team.

Define the structure of your organization and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to measure its success. Focus on how you can take care of yourself throughout the process. When you build a business that’s aligned with your goals, dreams, and desires, you reach new levels of growth and success while making the experience more enriching, fulfilling, and profitable.

Some Topics we talk about in this episode:

• Introduction - 0:52
• Why Katya Got into Systems in the First Place - 4:28
• Systems Challenges That Businesses Face - 11:20
• Defining Growth vs. Scale - 13:58
• Katya’s Transition to Coaching Clients - 19:38
• Developing a Healthy Hustle Mentality - 28:02
• When is the Right Time to Scale? - 35:08
• Business Foundations Everyone Should Know - 41:01
• The “F.R.E.E.D.O.M. Ladder” for Progressing in Your Business - 48:05
• Wrap-up and Takeaways - 1:00:55

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!

• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected].
• You can learn more about Katya Sarmiento and the ways she helps businesses grow and scale their businesses at reachandmakemillions.com.

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!