At the start of a new year, Joy shares how structure, not more effort, is often the key to real business growth. In this episode, she breaks down how Aligned CPA uses EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating System, to create clarity, focus, and accountability through vision, quarterly priorities, and scorecards. If you are feeling busy, overwhelmed, or stuck despite working hard, this episode will help you understand how the right operating system can help your business scale without chaos. 

In this episode, we’re calling out the bullsh*t we’re not taking into 2026. From winging our days and doing everything ourselves to tolerating bad clients, weak leadership, and unclear goals. This isn’t about New Year’s resolutions; it’s about raising standards, leading with intention, and making disciplined decisions that actually move the business forward. If you’re ready to stop playing small and start upleveling for real, this episode is for you. 

Before you set bigger goals, you need to ask one important question: did last year actually work? In this episode, we explore why reflection is the missing link between recurring business problems and meaningful growth—and how answering three simple questions can bring clarity, alignment, and smarter decisions for the year ahead. 

At the end of every year, business owners rush to set new goals — bigger revenue, better margins, more time back. But most small businesses don’t have a goal problem… they have an issues problem. In this episode, we break down why traditional goal-setting often fails and why issues-based planning is a far more powerful approach for growing businesses.

You’ll learn the real difference between goals, issues, and projects, how to uncover the root causes holding your business back, and a simple 90-day framework to finally create momentum. If you’ve ever set goals that went nowhere, this episode will show you what to focus on instead — and how to build a business that can actually support your big vision.

Scaling from $1M to $2M requires a total shift in how you lead, manage your time, and run your business. In this episode, we break down the key changes every CEO must make—from tightening focus and building systems to upleveling leadership and mastering sales. If you’re ready to grow without losing your mind (or your profit), this episode gives you the roadmap. 

Taxes shouldn’t blindside you every April—and if they do, it’s time to fix the process. In this episode of Upleveling, we dive into the mindset shifts and simple strategies that will help you avoid tax surprises, protect your cash flow, and make confident financial decisions year-round. From building a tax-saving cadence to why $0 tax bills might actually be hurting your long-term goals, this episode is a must-listen for growth-minded business owners. 

How do you keep your best people? In this episode, we dive into why retention is your real growth engine—and how to build a workplace A-players don’t want to leave. We’ll cover the 5 keys to a great culture, how to create calm, and what top talent needs to stay. If you’re tired of starting over, this one’s for you.

Great teams don’t happen by accident—they’re built through intentional onboarding, clear expectations, and continuous development. 

In this episode, we break down how to design a 30/60/90-day plan, instill your company culture, build strong systems, and use KRAs and KPIs to guide performance. Learn how to equip your team with the tools and clarity they need to thrive—because when your people grow, your business grows. 

Hiring the right person for the right role isn’t luck—it’s a system. In this week’s episode of Upleveling, we continue our People Framework series by walking you through a proven hiring playbook. From building a written hiring plan to screening for values and using a final decision checklist, you’ll learn how to stop winging it and start running a repeatable process that ensures you hire once, right. 

If you’ve ever struggled with bad hires or rushed decisions, this episode is your roadmap to building a team that fits your culture, delivers results, and helps your business grow. 

This week we kick off our People Framework series with Part 1: Attracting – How to Get the Right People to Notice You. If you’ve ever said, “I just can’t find good people,” this episode is for you. We break down why great candidates do exist—and how you can position your business so they actually notice you. 

From shifting your mindset about hiring, to building an employer brand that stands out, to practical tactics like creating a Careers Page that sells, we’ll walk you through how to attract A-players before you even need them.