Investing in your team is essential if you plan to build a business that runs smoothly and without your 24/7 supervision. 

Today I had the pleasure of bringing on another client that I’ve been fortunate enough to work with for over two years. I sat down with Kelsey Kerslake, Founder and Creative Director of Pinegate Road, a branding and web design agency. 

We talk about shifting your mindset from freelancer to CEO and showing clients that you’re the expert at what you do. Kelsey shares how she tripled her revenue and doubled her profit within her first year of joining The CEO Roundtable, my mastermind program. She talks about how investing in her team gave her the opportunity to generate other revenue streams (as well as being able to take and fully enjoy her maternity leave!) 

Kelsey also explains how she went from working over 60+ hours a week down to just 16 hours!

What’s in this episode:

• How Kelsey got started in branding and web design and how having the support from her agency has helped her transition into coaching 
• What made Kelsey realize she wanted to grow her business beyond just herself
• Her expectations for hiring out and what surprised her most about hiring a team
• How she felt after bringing on support in her business
• The biggest challenges she faced while building an agency
• Her advice for someone struggling with the balance of trusting their team to take ownership over their role and jumping in when needed
• What it takes to be open and clear with your team to dissipate problems and get on the same page with each other
• How Kelsey planned for maternity leave
• The steps she took to build out processes and what types of roles she hired out before leaving
• What it looked like to design her life around her business in order to do what she wants on her own terms
• How she tripled her income and doubled her profit after working with Nicole
• Her advice for prepping for a break from your business and investing in your team

Connect with Kelsey: 
Website | Instagram

About Kelsey:
I’m Kelsey Kerslake, founder and creative director of Pinegate Road and I’ve been helping entrepreneurs and businesses build their brands and online presence for over a decade. I deeply believe that everyone has the potential to make their dreams reality and my agency helps people do just that. As your creative director, my job is to help take the vision in your head, ground it in strategy, illuminate it with design, and make it your digital reality. 

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Do you feel like your clients are constantly pushing your boundaries (or crossing them completely)? Maybe they’re emailing you at 10 p.m. on a weeknight. Perhaps they’re texting you over the weekend about a work matter…

It’s frustrating, I get it. I’ve been there too. The good news is that you can change it. You might be surprised to learn that the problem isn’t your client. The problem is actually your boundaries (or lack thereof!)

A lack of boundaries can leave you feeling frustrated, taken advantage of and ultimately disheartened about your client (and sometimes even your own work!) Having supportive boundaries in place early on in your business is essential if you want to grow and scale. 

In this episode, I explore 3 steps you can take to handle boundary-crossing clients. I give you strategies to establish and enforce your boundaries with clients.  We’ll also chat about how your thoughts will shift your communication and your results!

What’s in this episode:

• Why you feel out of control when clients are crossing boundaries
• The reasons why it’s essential to put boundaries in place
• Why it’s important to identify your ideal client
• Why you need to address boundaries early on if you want to grow and scale
• Why your boundaries being pushed is actually a “me problem” rather than a “them problem”
• 3 steps to handle boundary-crossing clients
• How you can enforce boundaries with your clients
• What enforcing boundaries does to support both you and them
• Why you need to take notice of the thoughts you have about the actions of your clients

Links:
Voxer
The Life Coach School Podcast

Enjoyed this episode? Then make sure to join us in my free Facebook Group so we can continue the conversation! Click here to request access. 

Want to know when new episodes are released? Subscribe on your platform of choice so you can learn all of the scaling strategies I’m implementing in my own business and with my clients. 

Let’s be friends. Send me a DM on, Instagram or Facebook. 

Are you thinking about hiring an employee for your business? This might seem like a huge undertaking which is why I wanted to bring on Tameaka Shelton. Tameaka is the Founder of Employ and Relate. She helps business owners do more than employ people but learn how to relate to them too. Tameaka has been a great resource for my business and she brings so much wisdom and insight from her years of experience in the HR industry. 

We talk about differences in hiring contractors and hiring employees (and what to know about pay rate and bill rate). Tameaka shares best practices for employee reviews and things you should know before hiring. She provides tips on building company culture (even with a virtual team!) If you’re ready to bring on more people in your business, then you’ll definitely want to hear what Tameka shares in this episode. 

What’s in this episode:

• Why Tameaka puts an emphasis on relating to the people you hire
• Her perspective on when a small business owner or solopreneur should hire a contractor versus an employee
• The differences between bill rate and pay rate
• Different statuses of employees and the options available for small business owners
• Benefits of hiring a temporary employee 
• What business owners need to implement when bringing on employees
• What’s required and what’s optional when it comes to employees
• The general rules about holidays, vacation and sick time
• Best practices for reviews for employees and contractors
• Strategies for building a strong company culture
• When to bring on an HR person versus when to do it yourself

Connect with Tameaka:
Website | LinkedIn

About Tameaka:
Tameaka Shelton with Employ and Relate is putting "feeling" back into the workplace.  She recognizes that people are a company's number one asset. Her motto is, "don't just employ them...relate to them"!  

Links:
Get 7 days of free access to the HR Support Portal using code: scale2020

Enjoyed this episode? Then make sure to join us in my free Facebook Group so we can continue the conversation! Click here to request access. 

Want to know when new episodes are released? Subscribe on your platform of choice so you can learn all of the scaling strategies I’m implementing in my own business and with my clients. 

Let’s be friends. Send me a DM on, Instagram or Facebook. 

As you start to grow and scale your business, there will come a time when you realize you need to start hiring a team. For so many entrepreneurs, this is challenging because they haven’t hired or managed a team before. When people come to me, they often ask, “should I hire you to support me in hiring OR just hire myself?” 

This episode will help you decide if you’re ready to bring on support, who you need hire and in what order. We explore everything from onboarding your first hire in a way that sets them up for success (and gives you the best ROI for your money and time!) I also share what indicators you should look at to determine your ROI and how the right coach may be able to improve your return. 

What’s in this episode:

• What you need in place before growing a team
• How to identify who you need to hire and how to onboard them in a way that sets them up for success
• When it can be helpful to hire a coach to help you strategize 
• How to identify your needs so that you can communicate clearly with a team member or coach
• What areas you need to look at to determine ROI (return on investment)
• The difference between one-time investments vs. ongoing investments
• Why you may need support from a coach
• How to develop your scalable offerings and determine who to hire first 

Enjoyed this episode? Then make sure to join us in my free Facebook Group so we can continue the conversation! Click here to request access. 

Want to know when new episodes are released? Subscribe on your platform of choice so you can learn all of the scaling strategies I’m implementing in my own business and with my clients. 

Let’s be friends. Send me a DM on, Instagram or Facebook. 

Have you ever considered how letting go of clients could actually allow your business to grow? I know what you might be thinking, that sounds crazy but that’s exactly what my client and today’s guest did in her business and it paid off exponentially. 

Today I am chatting with Brittney Lynn. Brittney is the founder of a PR agency that helps business owners grow their reach, revenue and impact through strategic PR. 

We talk about how she’s been leading her team and clients during this unprecedented time of the global pandemic. We also discuss how she’s looking for new opportunities to serve clients during this crisis and pivot to meet their needs. She touches on transparency, how she’s built her own team and her advice for onboarding new team members to set them up for success. 

What’s in this episode:

• How Brittney and I got connected and started working together
• Why Brittney decided to start a PR business and how she transitioned into growing an agency
• How the way she operates and thinks about business has evolved over the years
• Her tips for bringing on team members and transitioning them into their role smoothly
• How she owns up to her mistakes and admit her faults
• The challenges she faced before bringing on a team
• How her business has grown from learning to let go of clients
• Learning to lead your business during uncertain times
• The value in transparency and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable
• What opportunities she’s looking at to help support clients during this time

Connect with Brittney: 
Website | Instagram | The Human Connection Podcast

About Brittney:
Brittney Lynn is a PR Strategist for online entrepreneurs worldwide. She has nearly 10 years of experience working in the online marketing industry and has a passion for helping others grow their reach, revenue, and impact through strategic PR.

She's also the host of the Human Connection podcast where we dive deep into the topic of how entrepreneurs and small business owners can be better at building real, authentic relationships with their audience.

Brittney has landed clients in Bloomberg, BuzzFeed, US News & World Report, Washington Post to name a few.

She's based in Dallas, Texas with her husband and pup.

Links:
Loom
Pitch Templates
Impact + Influence Course
Pitchfest: 5 Days to Your First Media Mention!

Enjoyed this episode? Then make sure to join us in my free Facebook Group so we can continue the conversation! Click here to request access. 

Want to know when new episodes are released? Subscribe on your platform of choice so you can learn all of the scaling strategies I’m implementing in my own business and with my clients. 

Let’s be friends. Send me a DM on, Instagram or Facebook. 

Are you wondering whether or not you should pursue an Agency model in your business? Maybe right now you’re feeling like you couldn’t possibly add more clients and more team members without completely burning out! Or maybe you’re liking the idea, but trying to figure out if it’s the best option for you long term. 

If so, you must check out this episode! I’ll cover the 5 things you should consider to determine if running an Agency is right for you and your company. You’ll also learn the first steps to get your started!

What’s in this episode:

• What it really means to create an agency model
• The 5 things you should think about before moving to an agency model
• Why having a waitlist is a great indicator for your business
• The importance of having a proven product/service before you grow
• How to become more open to change and becoming adaptable 
• Why I don’t believe in quick fixes in business
• What it looks like to be in business for the long-term 
• The first steps to take if you’re ready to build out an agency model

Enjoyed this episode? Then make sure to join us in my free Facebook Group so we can continue the conversation! Click here to request access. 

Want to know when new episodes are released? Subscribe on your platform of choice so you can learn all of the scaling strategies I’m implementing in my own business and with my clients. Let’s be friends. Send me a DM on, Instagram or Facebook.

Want to get a behind the scenes peek at what it takes to grow and scale a done-for-you service business? If you answered, “yes,” then you’re in for a treat! This episode is the first of a special series where we’ll follow my client, Caroline Hull, for a year as she grows her podcast production business!  

We talk about how she got over 10 hours a week back into her schedule and doubled her revenue within just 60 days of us working together. We discuss how she made the decision to hire support and she’ll give you some guidance on how to make that decision for yourself! She also shares how she’s built her marketing to support her business with a waitlist that continues to grow as her business does!

What’s in this episode:

• How Caroline got into this business after starting her own podcast about being a creative business owner
• Her transition from a stationery business into a podcast production company
• How deciding to homeschool her daughter helped her to make this decision to transition her business
• When she realized she wanted to grow her business beyond just herself
• Getting used to exercising the muscle of getting support and knowing when is the “right” time to hire
• What changes Caroline implemented into her process to take back more hours in her day (over 10 hours per week!)
• Her experience of rebranding her business and how she’s set up her marketing to build a growing waitlist
• What Caroline’s focusing on for the next few months and deciding which revenue opportunities to pursue for company growth
• Her advice for someone who is considering getting support whether it’s from a coach, employee or someone else

Connect with Caroline: 
Website | Instagram

About Caroline:
Caroline is a podcasting expert and owner of Wild Home Podcasting, a boutique podcast editing and production agency, and a homeschool mom who helps at-home podcasters launch their voices into the world. She discovered her intense love for podcasts after launching her own podcast with her biz bestie and in the process, finding her own confidence and voice. Caroline believes that everyone has a unique perspective and story worth sharing. She has a passion for helping others do this through their podcasts. 

Caroline has been featured in podcasts such as Generation.Mom, Proof to Product, Positively Creative, How to Fail, Day in the Life and Creative Biz Rebellion. She also shares podcasting tips and a peek into her wild life on her podcast, the Wild Home Podcast.

Enjoyed this episode? Then make sure to join us in my free Facebook Group so we can continue the conversation! Click here to request access. 

Want to know when new episodes are released? Subscribe on your platform of choice so you can learn all of the scaling strategies I’m implementing in my own business and with my clients. 

Let’s be friends. Send me a DM on, Instagram or Facebook. 

Are you ready to scale your business your way? If you’re like most of my clients, you want to create a long-term, sustainable business that supports you. You want to be able to take on more clients without sacrificing your time and energy. In this episode, I explore why it’s important to stabilize your business before scaling it. You’ll hear real-world examples of how I’ve helped clients find the best way for them to scale their business. I also dive into the three things to focus on when stabilizing your business and what happens once you’ve scaled your business your way! 

What’s in this episode:

• How this podcast came about and the test I did to make sure I was ready
• Why scaling on your own terms is so important
• What it looks like to “scale your way”
• How scaling can exacerbate problems
• Creating a stable business first
• Bringing on team members and structuring your business to support them
• Setting up your business so you can be removed from the delivery
• Creating a systemized done for you service that allows you to only operate from your zone of genius
• Three things to focus on when stabilizing your business
• The two things that will happen when you scale your business your way

Enjoyed this episode? Then make sure to join us in my free Facebook Group so we can continue the conversation! Click here to request access. 

Want to know when new episodes are released? Subscribe on your platform of choice so you can learn all of the scaling strategies I’m implementing in my own business and with my clients. 

Let’s be friends. Send me a DM on, Instagram or Facebook. 

With everything happening in the world right now, I wanted to take this time to help you navigate through the changes that so many business owners are currently facing. When facing a crisis as an entrepreneur, you have to lead not only your team and clients, but also yourself. In this episode, we talk about leading even when we’re going through a crisis such as the current pandemic. I talk about how self-care makes you more efficient and what self-care really means to me (hint: it’s not about bubble baths). If a crisis has you feeling stuck on what to do next then you’ll want to hear the tips for serving and contributing in a bigger way and why you might want to tweak or pivot some of your services to support people where they’re at right now. 

What’s in this episode:

• How you can use past experiences to navigate during a crisis
• How to lead while facing fear and uncertainty
• How to implement self-care even if you have no time
• Tips to serve and contribute in a bigger way 
• How to retain current clients and still support new clients
• When you should be pivoting your services to support people where they’re at right now
• How to navigate your marketing during a crisis

Links:
Free Workshop to Lead and Run Your Business Right Now

Enjoyed this episode? Then make sure to join us in my free Facebook Group so we can continue the conversation! Click here to request access. 

Want to know when new episodes are released? Subscribe on your platform of choice so you can learn all of the scaling strategies I’m implementing in my own business and with my clients. 

Let’s be friends. Send me a DM on, Instagram or Facebook. 

The Scale Your Way Podcast shares simple, proven strategies just for done-for-you service-based companies, to help you scale your business so you can have more time, money and create a bigger impact and a better life. We don’t believe in cookie cutter or one-size-fits-all solutions to growing a business. Here we’ll have real conversations with service-providers that are scaling their businesses on their own terms. You’ll hear stories, success tips, and get resources to inspire you to scale your way.