The Systems Professor

Welcome to the very first episode of The Systems Professor Podcast! In this kickoff episode, I’m walking you through one of the most common questions I hear from creative entrepreneurs: “Do I need a coach… or do I need someone to just get the dang thing done?”

If you’re overwhelmed, stuck in indecision, or not sure what kind of help your business really needs right now—this one’s for you. I’m sharing how to make the right hire based on your current stage of business, the most common mistakes to avoid, and how I personally transitioned from doing it all to fully stepping into my Systems Professor Era. Whether you're in clarity-seeking mode or you need someone to take the reins and execute, this episode will help you decide what kind of support to bring into your business next.

01:17 Coach vs. contractor: what’s the difference?

02:09 Your business stage matters when hiring

02:58 Signs you need strategic support first

03:35 Why I stopped doing implementation

04:13 Signs you need a doer instead

04:56 Behind the scenes of my delegation

05:19 Questions to ask before you hire

06:06 Common hiring mistakes I see often

06:13 Hire intentionally—not from desperation or chaos

06:51 What’s coming next on the podcast

Mentioned in this Episode

Client Experience Audit

The Systems Shop from Colie James

Want to dive deeper into the hiring and delegation topics mentioned in this episode? Check out these past conversations from my first podcast:

Hiring a Team Series Overview

Explore the full series on building a team and making strategic hires

Knowing What Your Business Needs Based on the Stage You’re In with Jessica Dornieden

The Role of Hiring in the Journey to Becoming a CEO with Angelica Pompy

Successfully Delegating to Your Team with Selina Johnson

Introducing The Systems Professor, a podcast for creative entrepreneurs who are ready to stop duct-taping their business together and start building systems that actually support their life (and their income).

Your host is Colie James, a Disney-loving family photographer turned Systems Strategist and Airtable nerd who helps creatives simplify, automate, and organize the back end of their business—without burning it all down. Whether you're drowning in post-it notes or sick of doing everything manually, Colie’s here to help you streamline your systems and finally feel like the CEO you are.