Engineering Calmer Agencies & Consulting Firms: Calm is the New KPI

After 11 years, Tanya’s business hums. She's got warm leads, proven offers, talented contractors. And yet… projects that should take two weeks stretch to two months because she’s the translator between client and designer. In this live diagnosis, we map a transition from “Tanya-as-critical-path” to a productized, reliable service with automated coordination, a structured client-feedback loop, and clear handoffs. We also unpack the fear behind delegating client trust - and why productizing increases value rather than commoditizing it.What You’ll LearnHow to design a Coordination Offload System so delivery runs without you in the middleA simple, automated client-feedback flywheel (template email + form + status trigger)Why productizing raises reliability and margin without lowering priceWhere to add a copywriter or coordinator—and where automation beats headcountA tiny, 90-minute action that can save 3–4 hours every month (and unstick cash flow)Connect with TanyaConnect with Tanya on LinkedInCheck out Moushi & Co (00:00) - Introduction: The Bottleneck Dilemma (00:47) - Meet Tanya Moushi: The Expertise Trap (01:39) - Identifying the Bottleneck (04:24) - Strategizing the Transition (08:08) - Implementing Systematic Solutions (40:03) - Conclusion: Creating Reliable Systems Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Meetings don’t equal management—most of the time, they’re just control theater. Freelance project manager Kacie Brennell joins Susan to unpack how autonomy—not attendance—drives real outcomes. They dig into async accountability, why tools fail without culture shifts, and how perfectionism + codependency quietly sabotage calm. If you’ve ever looked up from a day of calls with a longer to-do list, this one’s for you.What you’ll learnHow to shift from presence-driven management to outcome-driven autonomyThe simple async cadence: owner → outcome → deadline → 3-bullet updateWhy software alone won’t save you (and what culture change must come first)Spotting perfectionism and codependency at work—and what to model insteadHow to use efficiency to create margin (and then actually keep it)Practical scripts for moving “quick calls” into written, visible decisionsConnect with KacieConnect with Kacie on LinkedIn (00:00) - Introduction: The Myth of Meetings (00:55) - Guest Introduction: Kacie Brenell (01:13) - The Importance of Autonomy in Work (03:16) - Challenges and Solutions in Modern Work Culture (05:50) - The Role of Technology and Tools (42:38) - Conclusion: Embracing CALM Management Check out the SOP Swap at ProcessDriven

What if your most important KPI wasn’t about revenue, leads, or efficiency—but about people? In this episode, operations strategist Layla Pomper shares the story of her Death List KPI: a surprisingly human metric born out of emergency planning that reshaped her entire approach to resilience.What started as a morbid exercise—writing down who her partner should call if she died—became a powerful reframe. It forced Layla to measure not just internal systems, but the strength of her external relationships. The result? A business that’s not only operationally sound, but relationally resilient.What You’ll LearnWhy a Death List KPI matters more than a perfectly documented SOP.How to structure your own list by category: legal, financial, operational, technical.The role of community as real business infrastructure.Why operators in particular need a stronger “village.”How one metric can cascade into redesigning your business model, marketing, and personal priorities.Learn More About Layla PomperCheck out ProcessDriven on LinkedInCheck out ProcessDriven on YoutubeProcessDriven.co (00:00) - Introduction: The Importance of a Death List (00:38) - Layla Pomper's Realization and Shift (01:43) - Defining the Death List (02:53) - Building a Resilient Business Community (05:08) - Implementing the Death List in Business Operations (35:29) - Conclusion: The Power of Community Check out the SOP Swap at ProcessDriven

When your signature skill is the thing clients line up for, it’s easy to accidentally build a beautiful trap. In this live diagnosis, Jeremy Enns, the founder of Podcast Marketing Academy, shares how his rave-review podcast audits started running his weeks (and energy) into the ground. We focus on Business Design and Margin Mindset to keep the magic intact while redesigning delivery so results scale and burnout doesn’t. Think: fewer audits, higher prices, phased delivery, and using your audit as a kickoff to a year-long, calm growth arc.What You’ll LearnWhy splitting “the thinking” across multiple people weakens synthesis - and what to do insteadA calm way to productize deep expertise: shorter delivery, phased implementation, clearer prioritizationHow to reframe audits from one heavy drop to a year-long outcomes programPricing and packaging tweaks that filter for fit and reduce overwhelmUsing “show, don’t tell” proof (full audit shares/teardowns) to communicate outsized valueLearn More About Jeremy EnnsConnect with Jeremy on LinkedInJeremy’s site: podcastmarketingacademy.comFree Podcast Marketing Audit: podcastmarketingacademy.com/auditNewsletter — Scrappy Podcasting: podcastmarketingacademy.com/scrappy-podcasting-newsletter (00:00) - Introduction: The Dream and the Trap (00:56) - Case Study: Jeremy's Podcast Audit Process (05:53) - Challenges and Solutions: Scaling Expertise (23:50) - Communicating Unique Value (27:55) - Structuring Value Delivery (35:09) - Optimizing Business Design Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

If you've been sharing the same ideas for years but still feel like you're reinventing the wheel every time you explain them, this episode is for you. Susan sits down with Melanie Deziel, creator of the IRON Framework, to explore how to transform raw, unstructured ideas into scalable, repeatable frameworks. Go behind the scenes of the Calmer Framework’s evolution, explore why naming comes last, and show how frameworks can become the backbone of your services, content, and operations. Whether you’re trying to clarify your IP or reduce your mental load, this episode will help you treat your ideas like infrastructure.What You’ll Learn:Why lack of structure - not lack of clarity - is holding your IP backThe four components of Mel’s IRON Framework for turning ideas into frameworksHow systematizing your thinking creates business leverage and marginThe difference between creativity and reinventionWhy framework development is more collaborative than you thinkLearn More About Melanie Deziel: Melanie Deziel is a keynote speaker, author of The Content Fuel Framework, and the founder of StoryFuel. She helps entrepreneurs and organizations transform their ideas into scalable content and IP.Website: https://www.melaniedeziel.comFramework Development Cheat SheetLinkedIn: Melanie DezielLearn More About Susan Boles + Beyond Margins:Website: https://www.beyondmargins.comLinkedin: Susan Boles (00:00) - Introduction: The Problem with Unstructured Ideas (01:19) - Frameworks as a System (02:29) - The Importance of Consistent Messaging (20:36) - The Evolution of Frameworks (24:33) - Collaborative Framework Development (31:13) - Implementing and Scaling Frameworks Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Susan sits down with leadership and culture consultant Melissa Carson to tackle a challenge so many entrepreneurs face: digital tool sprawl. Together, they unpack the overwhelm caused by scattered systems and explore how creating a single source of truth—your personal data warehouse—can unlock mental clarity and free up energy for more meaningful work.Melissa shares her struggles with multiple overlapping tools (Google, Microsoft, Airtable, and more) and the mental load of duplicated content workflows. Susan guides her through the process of consolidating tools, designing for ease, and building a system that actually supports her business rather than drains it.Whether you’re drowning in Google Docs, lost in Notion, or stuck juggling endless spreadsheets, this episode offers a roadmap to a calmer, more intentional business setup.What You’ll LearnHow a “personal data warehouse” can transform your content and client operationsWhy choosing the right tool isn’t about features, but about how it feels and supports your brainThe power of building a single source of truth to reduce decision fatigueHow to leverage automation to reclaim time and mental energyPractical first steps to start consolidating and simplify your systemsLearn More About MelissaCanopy Strategies WebsiteConnect with Melissa on LinkedIn Learn More About SusanBeyond Margins websiteConnect on LinkedIn (00:00) - The Power of a Centralized Digital Brain (01:51) - Meet Melissa Carson: A Case Study in Digital Overwhelm (02:30) - Diagnosing the Bottlenecks: Tools and Redundancies (04:37) - Strategies for Building a Personal Data Warehouse (21:20) - Consolidation and Efficiency: Steps to a Calmer Business Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

This episode is part 2 of a 2-part conversation with Joe Casabona, a systems architect for solopreneurs and a self-described automation geek. You can catch part 1 over on the Streamlined Solopreneur feed hereWhat if the difference between a chaotic, scope-creeping project and one delivered calmly, on time, and on budget wasn’t just better estimating - but a totally different approach? Joe shares how he used "vibe coding" - collaborating with AI as a coding partner - to rescue a complex nonprofit website project from spiraling out of control. You’ll hear how he navigated unexpected technical requirements, avoided burning weekends, and delivered a solution that protected both his business and his mental health.This isn’t about working faster. It’s about designing a system that supports calm, margin, and intentional business choices.What You’ll LearnHow "vibe coding" can help consultants keep projects on track without endless late nightsThe importance of deeply understanding client needs (and what happens when you don’t)Why AI is a better "rubber duck" than a magic wandHow to approach AI as a partner rather than a replacementPractical ways to use AI to reinforce your business values and protect your timeLearn More About JoeJoe Casabona’s websiteStreamlined Solopreneur podcastLearn More About SusanBeyond Margins websiteConnect on LinkedIn Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

What if the reason you're stuck isn't mindset—or even procrastination? What if you're just solving the wrong problem?In this episode, I’m talking with Cat Mulvihill, creator of the Momentum Framework—a diagnostic tool that helps you figure out exactly why you’re stalled out in your business and what to do about it. Whether the block is a skills gap, an energy mismatch, or a lurking fear, Cat’s approach helps you pinpoint the true cause so you can move forward without forcing it.We explore why momentum doesn’t need to be forced—and how understanding your method, mode, and mindset can make everything feel a whole lot easier.What You’ll Learn:The three core bottlenecks that block momentum—and how to diagnose themWhy systems that work with your brain create more sustainable progressThe surprising downside of perfectionism and "Cadillac" toolsHow fear masquerades as procrastination (and how to call it out)Practical examples for redesigning your systems to match your energy and contextLearn More About Cat: WebsiteFollow Cat on LinkedInThe Momentum FormulaMore from Susan:Follow Susan on LinkedIn 💌 Get weekly calm business insights at beyondmargins.com/newsletter 🛠 Explore services: beyondmargins.com Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

What if your brand voice didn’t live solely inside your head? What if it was a system—a tool that helped you write faster, delegate confidently, and create calm across your business?In this episode, I share how I took my brand voice from “just a vibe” to a repeatable, documented system with the help of voice strategist Justin Blackman. We dig into how building a voice guide changed the way I write, collaborate, and scale. If content creation feels like a bottleneck—especially when you're not the one doing the writing—this episode is for you.We’re not just talking about voice—we’re pulling two big levers from the CALMER framework:→ Efficiency, by turning intuition into reusable tools → Management Style, by empowering your team with clarity instead of correctionsThis is a behind-the-scenes look at the system that helped me put my voice on autopilot—and made content creation calmer, faster, and more fun.What You’ll Learn:Why “no one can write like me” is a sign you need a system, not more effortThe three components of a brand voice (and why most guides get it wrong)How defining the difference between you and your brand prevents burnoutWhy “authenticity” doesn’t have to mean writing everything yourselfLearn More About Justin BlackmanWebsite: justinblackman.comGrab Justin's Feelings WheelLinkedIn: Justin BlackmanLearn More About the Host – Susan BolesWebsite: beyondmargins.comLinkedIn: Susan BolesSubmit your Calm KPI or System: Send it here (00:00) - The Subjective Nature of Brand Voice (00:50) - The Challenge of Maintaining a Consistent Brand Voice (01:51) - Building a Scalable Voice System (04:41) - The Science Behind Brand Voice Guides (09:11) - Balancing Personal and Brand Identity (29:17) - Leveraging AI for Authentic Brand Voice Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Most advice about scaling a service business means giving up the work you love or cranking your rates until clients walk away. But what if you could grow your revenue with your clients—without adding more to your plate? In this episode, Susan revisits a standout 2019 interview with business coach Lacey Sites, who doubled her revenue without taking on a single new client.Lacey did it by shifting to a revenue-sharing compensation model—one that ties her income directly to her clients’ success. In this re-edited version, we dive into how that shift happened, what she tested first, how she vets clients to make the model work, and why it changed everything about how she runs her business.What You’ll Learn:Why default pricing models for service businesses often lead to misaligned incentivesHow Lacey experimented with and validated her revenue-sharing structure before going all inWhat criteria she uses to select high-commitment, high-potential clientsWhy adding a base rate created a healthy balance between risk and rewardHow this model enabled Lacey to scale with her clients—and why it feels more equitable for everyone involvedLearn More About Lacey Sites:A Lit Up LifeWant to design your own calm-aligned pricing model? 📁 Grab the Calmer Service Design Swipe File with 60+ examples 💬 Or check out Susan’s 1:1 support options (00:00) - Introduction: The Problem with Traditional Pricing Models (01:01) - A New Approach: Revenue Sharing Model (01:30) - Case Study: Lacey Sites' Success Story (02:51) - Lacey's Journey to Revenue Sharing (05:30) - Implementing the Revenue Sharing Model (08:03) - Client Selection and Vetting Process (14:45) - Balancing Risk and Reward (21:31) - Scaling and Future Plans (29:05) - Conclusion: Designing a Calmer Business Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Tired of hitting a wall with your client-based business? You don’t have to build a course or start a membership to scale. In this episode of Calm is the New KPI, host Susan Boles talks with Janet Alexandersson—an international licensing lawyer and founder of Piggy Bank Legal—about how licensing can become a powerful, margin-creating revenue stream for service-based business owners.If you've ever wondered how to productize your existing client work without burning out or shifting your entire business model, this episode is your permission slip. Janet walks us through the practical, strategic, and protective aspects of licensing, and shares how this often-overlooked business lever can change how you earn, design, and rest.What You’ll LearnWhat licensing actually is—and why it's not just for tech or big corporationsThe step-by-step process to start licensing your existing IPCommon pitfalls to avoid in licensing deals (and how to protect yourself)Why pricing should reflect their value, not yoursHow licensing can support a hybrid model with clients and passive incomeLearn More About JanetPiggy Bank LegalLinkedInLearn More About SusanBeyond MarginsLinkedIn (00:00) - Introduction: The Struggles of High-Touch Client Work (01:21) - Exploring a New Revenue Stream: Licensing (02:16) - Understanding Licensing with Janet Alexander (05:35) - The Licensing Process: Step-by-Step (10:18) - Protecting Your Intellectual Property (19:58) - Real-World Licensing Examples (38:49) - Final Thoughts on Licensing and Business Design Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

You’ve duct-taped your service business together with tools and automations. But now things are breaking, you’re chasing Zapier errors, and client delivery is starting to feel like a drag. What if the next step wasn’t hiring a team or flattening your services—but turning your system into the service?In this episode, we're geeking out with Dylan Kinder, founder and CEO of DataCose, about how service-based businesses can scale by transforming parts of their delivery into software. We explore how to spot the signs that you’re ready to make that shift, where to start, and why automation and AI don’t have to mean less human work—just less draining work.Whether you’re dreaming of fewer tabs, smoother client onboarding, or a more proactive delivery experience, Dylan brings a thoughtful, non-spammy approach to scaling with tech. We’re diving deep into internal vs. client-facing tools, the role of AI in small business, and how to avoid building a digital Frankenstein.What You’ll Learn:The two biggest signals it’s time to turn part of your service into softwareWhy internal automation is the best starting pointHow to think like an engineer (even if you're not one)The role of client portals in scaling calm service deliveryWhy AI should be used with human oversight—not instead of itConnect with Dylan:LinkedIn DataCoseConnect with Susan: LinkedInBlueSkyWork With Susan: Explore how we can build calm systems together → https://beyondmargins.com/services (00:00) - Introduction: The Struggles of Scaling a Service Business (00:43) - Reimagining Service Delivery with Smart Systems (02:12) - Exploring Automation and AI with Dylan Kinder (03:06) - The Two Paths to Scaling a Service Business (10:28) - Real-World Examples of Successful Automation (24:33) - The Role of AI in Modern Service Businesses (34:35) - Conclusion: Building Margin and Calm with Technology Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Eliminate Sales Calls? Yes, Really.What if your entire sales process could feel human, high-touch, and not require a single call?This week on Calm is the New KPI, I’m joined by Becky Pierson Davidson, founder of Affinity Collective, a product strategy agency for community-driven businesses. Becky shares how she’s turned the traditional, time-consuming sales process on its head—closing $15K+ client engagements with zero sales calls.Instead of long proposal timelines, back-to-back Zooms, and ghosted bookings, Becky uses a thoughtful, asynchronous process: pitch decks, Loom videos, and warm DMs. The result? A system that respects her time, delights clients, and converts beautifully.We talk about:Why she ditched the “book a call” CTA after one too many no-showsHow to build a sales process that mirrors your service deliveryCreating personalized-but-repeatable Loom videos that sell for youBuilding referral relationships that actually workThe key role productized services play in making async sales possibleWhether you're an introvert, hitting a capacity ceiling, or just curious about doing sales differently, this episode is a must-listen.Learn More about Becky Pierson DavidsonAffinity Collective WebsiteConnect on Instagram or LinkedInSubscribe to her newsletter for community-driven strategy insightsLearn More about Susan BolesBeyondMargins.comCheck out the Services GuideFollow Susan on LinkedIn✨ Want a sales process that works while you sleep? We can design and implement your asynchronous sales system in a single-day intensive. Learn more at beyondmargins.com/services. (00:00) - Introduction: The Sales Call Dilemma (01:39) - Scaling a Client-Based Business (02:04) - Eliminating Sales Calls: Is It Possible? (03:16) - Guest Introduction: Becky Pearson Davidson (05:12) - Becky's Asynchronous Sales Process (11:57) - Building Trust and Customization (37:43) - Final Thoughts and Takeaways Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Business is personal—so why do we so often separate relationships from our work? In this episode, Tara Robertson, leadership coach and DEI consultant, shares why she set a KPI around the number of new friends she makes this year. We explore how measuring relationships impacts not only joy but also business sustainability.Tara realized that working alone was draining her energy, so she made a bold decision: she would never go into an organization alone again. Instead, she’d co-lead, collaborate, and focus on working with values-aligned people who light her up. Now, she’s tracking new friendships as a key measure of success.Together, we dig into:Why business and friendship aren’t at odds (despite what the corporate world tells us)How Tara defines friendship vs. business collaborationThe impact of connection on work quality, creativity, and sustainabilityHow setting a friendship-based KPI brings more joy and alignment to business decisionsDifferent ways to track and measure relationships in your own workWhether you're an extrovert looking for more collaboration or an introvert like me, figuring out how to intentionally create relationships in business can be a game-changer.Connect with Tara: WebsiteLinkedInConnect with Susan: Beyond MarginsLinkedInBlueskyResources & Related EpisodesKaren Sargent on Client Report Cards (00:00) - EDIT 2 / Final E114 Tara Robertson (00:49) - The Importance of Friendships in Business (01:28) - Setting KPIs for Friendships (03:59) - Defining Friendships vs. Collaborations (06:23) - Tracking and Measuring Friendships (10:24) - Incorporating Friendships into Business (15:01) - Balancing Professionalism and Authenticity (25:40) - Conclusion: The Power of Connection Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

We all want our work to resonate—but how do we know if it actually does? In this episode, I sit down with storytelling and speaking expert Jay Acunzo to explore the concept of resonance over reach and how we can track something that feels inherently unmeasurable. Jay shares his Unsolicited Response Rate (URR) framework, a KPI designed to measure whether your ideas truly connect with your audience. If you're tired of vanity metrics and want to focus on making an impact, this conversation is for you.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What a KPI actually is—and why anything (even calm or resonance) can be oneHow to measure audience engagement beyond likes and followsJay’s URR (Unsolicited Response Rate) framework for tracking meaningful interactionsThe importance of putting in the reps before expecting resultsConnect with Jay: jayacunzo.comHow Stories HappenLinkedInBlueskyConnect with Susan: Beyond MarginsLinkedInBluesky (00:00) - Introduction to KPIs and Calm as a KPI (01:07) - Understanding Resonance with Jay Acunzo (04:18) - Measuring Resonance: The URR System (08:18) - Applying the URR System in Practice (26:45) - Becoming Your Own Data Repository (29:53) - Developing Resonance in Business (34:13) - Embracing the Creative Process Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Managing client relationships is one of the biggest challenges of running a service-based business. Expectations, boundaries, and communication all play a role in whether an engagement runs smoothly or goes off the rails. So, how do you actually know if you're doing a good job?Karen Sergeant has a solution: a Client Report Card. This system helps her measure and manage client relationships proactively, identifying potential issues before they become problems. As a fractional COO, Karen has spent years refining this process to keep her work feeling calm—even when working inside chaotic businesses. In this episode, we break down her weekly client evaluation system—what metrics she tracks, how she uses the data, and how you can implement a similar approach in your own business. If you’ve ever struggled with scope creep, unclear expectations, or misaligned client relationships, this conversation is packed with insights that will help you create a calmer, more intentional business.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why Karen created her Client Report Card—and how it helps her businessThe 10 criteria she evaluates weekly to measure client relationshipsHow tracking qualitative vibe-based data helps prevent burnoutHow you can build your own Client Report Card to keep your business running smoothlyLearn more about Karen Sergeant: Karen's WebsiteConnect on LinkedinConnect on BlueSkyLearn more about Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInConnect on BlueSky We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes. (00:00) - (00:36) - Managing Client Relationships (02:06) - The Importance of Boundaries and Scope (08:31) - Karen's Report Card Criteria (14:35) - Applying the Report Card in Business Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

In this episode of Beyond Margins, we explore the concept of calmer KPIs with guest Kendall Cherry, founder of The Candid Collective. Kendall shares her innovative metric, “Fresh Content Inked,” and how it has transformed her content creation process, business systems, and sales cycle—all while doubling her income. We geek out about how to build sustainable systems that create spaciousness in your business, reduce overwhelm, and prioritize what truly matters.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:  • What “Fresh Content Inked” is and why Kendall set a goal of writing six or fewer new pieces of content each month. • How building a content library can create a “maintenance mode” for your marketing and free up time for other priorities. • The benefits of an asynchronous sales process and how it aligns with calmer business principles. • Why posting less—and strategically repurposing content—can lead to better results and higher-quality client connections. • Kendall’s personal practices for staying creatively and emotionally balanced as a business owner.Learn more about Kendall CherryCheck out Kendall's NewsletterConnect on LinkedinLearn more about Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInConnect on BlueSky We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes. (00:00) - Introduction to Calmer KPIs (02:04) - Exploring Fresh Content Inked with Kendall Cherry (11:15) - Building a Content Library (18:01) - Impact on Sales and Business Strategy (23:51) - Communicating Your Value Effectively (24:47) - Building a Content Ecosystem (26:58) - Leveraging Email Newsletters (29:22) - Streamlining Sales and Client Management Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

In this episode of Beyond Margins, Susan dives into the heart of goal-setting, breaking free from default metrics and focusing on what truly matters to your business and life. She shares her own approach to prioritizing calm as a core business metric and gives a behind-the-scenes look at how she set and tracked a single impactful goal in 2024—taking 12 weeks off to rest (spoiler: she surpassed it).Susan explores:Why default metrics like revenue targets may not align with your values.How to set meaningful goals rooted in your priorities.A practical framework for choosing Calm KPIs that guide your decisions.Why setting fewer goals—or none at all—can work for demand-avoidant or overcapacity business owners.Stay tuned for the rest of the series, where Susan will share insights from other business owners about their Calm KPIs, including an upcoming live workshop to develop a custom KPI for one business.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The pitfalls of measuring default metrics that don't serve your goals.How Susan structures her business to prioritize rest and calm.Tips for evaluating and tracking your progress towards intentional goals.Real-world examples of unconventional metrics driving success in calmer businesses.Support the Show:Love Beyond Margins? Support the podcast by leaving a rating and review wherever you listen. Your feedback helps others discover the show and empowers us to continue sharing valuable insights. Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

How do you reduce urgency in a world where urgency is so deeply embedded? How do you market yourself and your work in a way that is anti-oppressive? We're continuing in our mini-series on my calmer framework for a calmer business. This week, we're focused on reudcing urgency and techniques for anti-oppressive marketing. We're joined by Natalia Sanyal, an anti-oppressive copywriter and brand messaging strategist. She’s worked with billion-dollar businesses like Apple and Lululemon, New York Times bestselling authors like Layla Saad & Deepak Chopra, and award-winning marketing agencies. Now, she teaches high-integrity personal brands to use marketing as a force for good so they can sell better and harm less.On this episode, we learn some techniques to reduce urgency in our work, align actions with values to foster a calmer atmosphere for you, your team, and your business. Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:How can you move away from the default urgency-driven model?How can you reduce client emergencies and create more flexibility?What are the real-world applications of aligning business actions with values?How does embracing vulnerability play into the human aspects of entrepreneurship?Learn more about Natalia SanyalCheck out Natalia's newsletterConnect on LinkedinLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInConnect on Threads We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes. (00:00) - Introduction to Human-Centered Entrepreneurship (00:55) - The Elements of a Calm Business (01:40) - Reducing Urgency in Business (03:03) - Anti-Oppressive Marketing with Natalia Sanal (24:51) - Embracing Anti-Oppressive Marketing (26:20) - Taking the Leap: Transitioning to Value-Aligned Clients (31:19) - Deconstructing Urgency in Business (37:47) - Building a Calmer, Sustainable Business Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

We live in a society obsessed with productivity and working more, so how can we lean into rest? What are the benefits of building rest into our businesses? And how can we begin to do that? We're continuing in our mini-series on my calmer framework for a calmer business. This week, we're focused on rest. Rest is often a challenge for us go-getters, solopreneurs, and entrepreneurs. But, it's essential to stop burnout, stay creative, and have a truly calm and sustainable business. We're joined by Jordan Maney, a Radical Joy Coach™ and creator of the Radical Joy Collab who shares how we can build a rest ethic alongside our work ethic. She coaches others to learn the radical practice of rest so they can bring their visions to life. She’s been featured in New York Magazine, Yahoo, Attn, Oprah Magazine, and Martha Stewart Living.On this episode, we learn how to design our work systems to include rest in a way that works for each of us, how to push back on scoetal pressure to not rest, and how our work lives and personal lives can be transformed with the power of rest. Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:How can rest be intentionally designed and built into a business to make it calmer and more sustainable?Why is rest a critical element of productivity and how does it contribute to better creative work?What does a rest ethic look like and how can it be developed alongside a work ethic?Learn more about Jordan Maney:Check out Jordan's WebsiteConnect on InstagramConnect on LinkedinLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInConnect on Threads We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes. (00:00) - Introduction to Rest Ethic (00:51) - Exploring the Importance of Rest (01:44) - Challenges and Personal Experiences with Rest (05:42) - Developing a Rest Ethic (22:21) - Understanding Your Needs and Accommodations (25:36) - Challenges of Implementing Rest in Work (29:44) - The Importance of Rest and Its Impact (37:58) - Practical Steps to Incorporate Rest Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Why are efficient systems so essential for building a calmer business? And how do you go about finding the right systems and processes for yourself? We're continuing in our mini-series on my calmer framework for a calmer business. This week, we're focused on my favorite aspect of my CALMER framework -- efficient systems. We dive into the importance of understanding our own processes before building systems, and then explore some of the many ways our individual systems can look. We're joined by Amelia Hruby, a writer, educator, and podcaster with a PhD in philosophy. She is the founder of Softer Sounds, a feminist podcast studio for entrepreneurs and creatives. And sheʼs the host of Off the Grid, a podcast about leaving social media without losing all your clients.On this episode, we learn how to create systems that work fo rus, our teams, and our clients. We also learn what the transition from work without efficient systems to efficient systems can look like, and how it all fits into creating a calmer business for everyone involved. Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:How do you create autonomy through systems?What impact can an efficient system have on business and team members? How can you operate through a lens of care using systems? Why do you need to start with a process before building systems? Learn more about Amelia HrubyCheck out Amelia's WebsiteCheck out Softer SoundsConnect on LinkedinLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInConnect on Threads We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes.  (00:00) - Introduction to Building a Calmer Business (00:51) - The Importance of Efficient Systems (02:40) - Guest Introduction: Amelia Ruby (04:45) - Challenges Before Implementing Systems (17:01) - Developing and Implementing the System (30:13) - Impact and Benefits of the New System (42:58) - Final Thoughts and Encouragement Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

What if you could build in more space to your business? An extra day off? More time to strategize? Less urgency and more rest? We're continuing in our mini-series on my calmer framework for a calmer business. This week, we're diving into margins -- financial margins, capacity margins, and energetic margins -- to decrease urgency and burnout and create calmer, more sustainable businesses. We're joined by Nathalie Lussier, an award-winning entrepreneur who has been making websites since she was 12 years old. She graduated with a degree in Software Engineering. She was the founder and recently exited AccessAlly, the digital course and membership solution for industry leaders. Nathalie has been featured in Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Success Magazine, Entrepreneur, Venture Beat, and Mashable.On this episode, we learn how we can rethink our work so that we build in margins, and dive deep into one founder's journey to transitioning to a 4-day work week for their entire company -- with exceptional results. Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:How to build in margins, beyond profit margins, to your businessWhat the transition to a 4-day work week can look like in practice How to experiment with and build comfortable margins for your business Learn more about Nathalie Lussier Check out Nathalie's websiteSubscribe to The Momentum MemoConnect on LinkedinLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInConnect on Threads We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes. (00:00) - E106 - Nathalie Lussier - FINAL EDIT (00:52) - Understanding Margins in Business (02:03) - The Importance of Building Margins (03:21) - Challenges of Traditional Work Culture (04:59) - Introducing Natalie Lucier and the Four-Day Work Week (07:18) - Experimenting with Flexible Work Schedules (08:57) - Transitioning to a Four-Day Work Week (13:06) - Implementing the Four-Day Work Week (18:22) - Addressing Concerns and Feedback (20:17) - Cultural Impact and Future of Work (22:01) - The Impact of Overworking (23:08) - Improved Team Cohesion and Communication (23:49) - Efficient Work Processes (28:38) - Prioritizing Feature Requests (30:24) - Embracing a Slower Pace (32:36) - The Influence of Environment on Work Pace (36:11) - Selling the Business and Maintaining Values (39:48) - Global Work Culture Comparisons (41:21) - Building Comfortable Margins Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Taking care of people in or around your business isn't the default when it comes to business and what we're taught business should be. How is this way of doing business actually hurting us? And, how can we change our systems to be more authentically people-first? We're continuing in our mini-series on my calmer framework for a calmer business. This week, we're diving into lens of care and how operating with a lens of care can decrease panic and urgency in our daily work. We're joined by Heather ONeill, the anti-capitalist business coach for tech and service businesses, and founder of UX consultancy, Pixels for Humans. She puts people over profits and believes that you can make money while doing good.On this episode, we learn how businesses can prioritize people over profits, especially during challenging times; how to find and build community in an authentic way; and the impact of white supremacy on our default way of doing business. Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:How businesses can measure success beyond revenue and longevityHow care-centric practices contribute to a calmer business environment.What an anti-capitalist approach can look like in business Learn more about Heather ONeill:Pixels for HumansConnect on LinkedinLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInConnect on Threads We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes.  (00:00) - Introduction: Building a Supportive Business Community (00:28) - Exploring the Elements of a Calm Business (01:04) - Operating Through a Lens of Care (02:03) - Challenging Traditional Business Norms (11:50) - Building Systems of Care in Business (24:40) - The Power of Community and Relationships (39:14) - Conclusion: Designing a Sustainable and Calmer Business Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Can we create calm workplaces that are not only remote, but also asynchronous? And can we do it while avoiding micromanaging from afar? We're continuing in our mini-series on my calmer framework for a calmer business. This week, we're diving into autonomy. Why is autonomy essential for a calmer business? What does an autonomous work environment even look like? And how can you apply some of the best systems and tips for creating an autonomous environment into your own business. We're joined by remote-work expert, Marissa Goldberg. Marissa has managed distributed team members across 20+ countries and in 2018 founded Remote Work Prep. Remote Work Prep offers Fractional COO services and courses to help companies successfully create healthy, effective remote work environments.On this episode, we learn how to set up employees to be their best selves and do their best job in an autonomous work environment. Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:What autonomy in a work culture means and why it is essential for building a calm company.The importance of clear communication, clear expectations, and the need for documentation to support autonomous decision-making.The necessity of intentional onboarding and training to help employees adapt to an autonomous work environment.Marissa's tips for managing 'overwhelming freedom' through self-management skills.Learn more about Marissa Goldberg:Remote Work PrepWork Forward Society CommunityRemotely Interesting newsletterWhen to choose asyncLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInConnect on Threads We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes. Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

How can defining your business values and success more clearly lead to a calmer operation?This episode kicks off our miniseries on deconstructing the common elements that all calm businesses share. We're starting with the most foundational element: clarity. Clarity in business is often summarized by a simple yet powerful term: "freedom from ambiguity." In today’s discussion, Susan Boles explores how achieving clarity in your business's values, goals, and communications can lead to more engaged employees, less turnover, and ultimately, a calmer business environment.Understanding what success looks like and making sure everyone in your organization is on the same page can transform your business operations. Clarity reduces confusion and aligns your team's efforts towards common goals.Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:Why clarity is crucial in defining business success and aligning actions with values.The impact of clear communication on employee engagement and satisfaction.Practical tips for enhancing clarity within your team, from onboarding materials to daily communications.How clarity in roles, expectations, and the bigger company vision can lead to more effective and autonomous decision-making.Steps you can take today to start improving clarity in your business, including sharing your vision of success and refining internal documentation.Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here (00:00) - E103 - CALMER Solo - Clarity (00:33) - The Importance of Clarity (01:52) - Benefits of Clear Communication (02:59) - Challenges of Achieving Clarity (05:33) - Steps to Build Clarity (07:12) - Gradual Process of Improving Clarity

What if you could design a business that inherently operates on calm, not chaos? What are the essential elements to make this possible, and how can they be systematically incorporated into your business model?As we dive into our new series on creating calmer businesses, we explore the foundational elements that make businesses serene and sustainable. Each episode of this series will deconstruct a key component, starting today with an overview of what it takes to design a business for calm.So, how do you start engineering a calmer business with limited resources? Using the CALMER framework, we'll look at how these elements function as the building blocks to a less stressful and more effective business model, providing actionable insights that can empower business owners to make intentional, strategic decisions.Listen to the full episode to hear:How clarity in roles and goals reduces stress and confusion, leading to more effective operations.Why autonomy in decision-making can prevent bottlenecks and enhance job satisfaction.The importance of a Lens of Care in prioritizing well-being over profits, affecting every aspect of business operations.How building in margins—financial, time, and emotional—can prepare your business for unexpected challenges.Why efficient systems are crucial for maintaining calm and how they can be implemented to support overall business health.The role of rest and reducing urgency in avoiding burnout and sustaining long-term productivity.Learn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedIn (00:00) - Introduction to Calm Businesses (01:20) - Understanding Default Decisions (02:44) - Engineering Calm into Your Business (05:11) - The CALMER Framework (09:05) - Deconstructing the 6 elements of a calmer business Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Can grants really fund your service business? This episode wraps up our deep dive into unique funding options for service businesses, exploring an often overlooked resource—grants.Meet Danielle Desir Corbett. She's a former grants administrator turned 4x grant-funded creative entrepreneur. She curates a monthly newsletter called "Grants For Creators," which shares funding opportunities for U.S. creatives and small business owners like grants, accelerators, pitch competitions, and more. Danielle believes creative projects should get the funding they deserve and she takes pride in handling the challenging task of locating the funds, so all you have to do is apply. How do you navigate the complexities of the grant application process without getting overwhelmed? In this episode, we break down the steps to streamline your approach, making it more accessible and effective.Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:Danielle’s journey from discovering grant opportunities to becoming a seasoned grant winner.Detailed discussions on the pros and cons of incorporating grants into your business funding strategy.Effective strategies for identifying and applying to grants that align with your business objectives.Danielle’s top tips for maximizing your time and effort when dealing with grant applications.Learn more about Danielle Desir Corbett:Grants For CreatorsConnect on InstagramConnect on ThreadsLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInConnect on Threads (00:00) - Introduction to Business Funding (00:43) - Exploring Grants as a Funding Source (04:08) - Understanding Grants and Their Benefits (06:27) - Efficient Grant Application Strategies (16:08) - Finding the Right Grants (19:49) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

In this special 100th episode of Beyond Margins, host Susan Boles delivers her first solo discussion on utilizing debt thoughtfully to fund service businesses. Drawing from her experience as a fractional CFO, she explores the benefits and strategic uses of debt, shares real-world examples, and provides practical tips for business owners facing cash flow challenges or looking to seize growth opportunities. (00:00) - Introduction to Business Funding Options (00:37) - Celebrating 100 Episodes: A Solo Special (01:51) - Understanding Debt as a Strategic Tool (03:28) - Real-Life Examples of Strategic Debt Use (04:57) - Mid-Roll Ad (06:25) - Choosing and Managing Debt Wisely (08:16) - Planning and Managing Debt Repayment (10:10) - Final Thoughts and Upcoming Topics Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Do you need funding for your business but loathe the idea of giving up a piece of your company to someone else?I get it. You built this baby with your own two hands, most likely giving up nights, weekends, early mornings, and time with your friends and family to do it. So the idea of handing over part of that to someone who wasn’t sweating it out with you might make you feel pretty uncomfortable.The good news is, you don’t have to. There are other funding options that can provide the financial support you need without compromising your ownership. Today, I’m talking with Lena West, founding director of CEO Rising, about non-dilutive funding, which is funding where you don’t give away any equity or ownership stake in your business.Specifically, we’re going to dig into crowdfunding. As an agency or consulting firm owner, you might think crowdfunding could never be for you. But Lena has walked multiple clients through successful crowdfunding campaigns, and you might be surprised how applicable it could be to your business. Join us as we dig into the ins, outs, how-tos, and bewares of crowdfunding for service-based businesses.Listen to the full episode to hear:How crowdsourcing changes the conversation about incentives, growth, and rewards from traditional investment sourcesHow traditional VC or angel investor models actually harm businesses owned by marginalized peopleWhy you should think of crowdfunding as a large-scale marketing project and develop high-quality assets accordinglyHow to develop a campaign when you’re not selling a tangible productEssential considerations before, during, and after your campaignOther potential avenues for non-dilutive funding for your businessLearn more about Lena West:CEO RisingCEO Rising RISE Overviewhttps://bit.ly/CEORisingRISEOverviewConnect on LinkedInLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInWe value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes. Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Cash is only easy to come by when you don't really need it. When things are going well, banks are happy to finance loans and lines of credit, and investors are easy to find when you're profitable and growing quickly. But we all know things aren’t always going well.For service-based businesses, where our products aren’t widgets but more often the intangible value of our brains and experiences, we tend to think that outside funding just doesn’t apply to us and our business model.But the truth is that you have more options than you think. And that’s what we’ll geek out about over the next few episodes, empowering you with the knowledge and tools to explore these alternative funding avenues.To start, I’m talking to Eda Henries, founder and managing principal of Henries & Co., a capital advisory firm. We’re digging into the ins and outs of bringing equity investment into your business, including a behind-the-scenes look at how that process unfolded for Eda in her own business.Listen to the full episode to hear:How your long-term goals for your business inform which funding options might be suitable for youThe different forms equity can take for a service-based businessWhy Eda says the first step to going from employee to partner is to get clear on how your goals and values alignWhat projections and documents does your business need to have to seek investmentA relatively unknown resource for small business fundingWhy you need to take the time to build relationships with the people or institutions investing in your businessConsidering acquisitions as part of growth and scaleLearn more about Eda Henries:Henries & Co.Connect on LinkedInLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInGrab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Consider this scenario: a key employee unexpectedly needs to take an extended leave. Is your business financially and structurally prepared to handle that without a hitch? This is a challenge many small businesses face, and it's crucial to be prepared.As we wrap up our series on sabbaticals, leaves, and breaks, we will examine the policies and financial planning that underpin them. To guide us through this topic, we have the privilege of hearing from Kate Tyson, a seasoned professional from Wanderwell, a consulting and bookkeeping practice focused on small businesses and innovative business models. Kate, who has recently navigated the planning for paid parental leave for one of her team members and is preparing for a sabbatical later this year, brings a wealth of experience and insights to the table. So, how can a small business with limited resources effectively offer comprehensive benefits like paid parental leave? Kate, drawing from her practical experience, delves into the myriad of considerations she faced while developing her company’s policy and planning for her team member’s absence and her own upcoming break, providing actionable insights that can empower small business owners and managers. Listen to the full episode to hear:How the wide variability in state-level leave programs can complicate creating an equitable policy when you have employees in multiple statesHow Kate and Wanderwell planned for coverage of clients and ongoing projects as her team member went on leaveWhy Kate says that overcommunication about transitions might be more about you than what your clients need or wantThe delicate balance between wanting to provide benefits and not overcommitting financially to the detriment of the businessWhy Kate has moved away from an hourly wage model for her team membersHow Kate is planning for her own sabbatical and how it will impact the businessLearn more about Kate Tyson:WanderwellWanderings NewsletterWhiskey Fridays PodcastConnect on LinkedInLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInWe value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes. Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

What happens when you unexpectedly need to step away from your business's operations? How can you prepare your business not just to survive but to thrive, even when key team members are away?In our continuing series on planning for leaves, sabbaticals, and breaks from your business, we’re shifting our focus from the personal side to the backbone of any business: operations.Layla Pomper, creator of Process Driven, joins me to delve into the empowering process of building operational resilience in your business. This process not only allows you to take a break more easily but also ensures your business runs more efficiently day to day, putting you firmly in control of your business's future.Layla shares a range of practical strategies, tactics, and systems you can implement now. These will not only prepare you for a break but also instill confidence and peace of mind in your business operations.Listen to the full episode to hear:Why clearly defining each team member’s “what, who, when” is the crucial first step to managing an absenceHow your business model impacts your options for taking leaveHow lazy training gives team members exposure to and familiarity with your processWhy you should be using shorter absences and vacations as fire drills for your systemsSteps business owners can take to remove themselves as bottlenecksHow to build a network that you can lean on during a breakLearn more about Layla Pomper:Process DrivenYouTube: @laylapomperConnect on LinkedInLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedIn Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

How do you step away from your business for a necessary break without losing momentum or compromising your values? Deciding to take a leave or sabbatical, and then figuring out the best approach for you, how to maintain client relationships while you're away, or even ensuring you have enough financial security during your break are all complex challenges that many of us face.As part of my exploration of breaks, leaves, and sabbaticals and all of the different ways you can plan for them, I’m talking to Erica Courdae and India Jackson, the partners behind Pause on the Play, a resource library, podcast, and consultancy committed to guiding individuals in defining their values, diversifying their networks, and disrupting systems of oppression.India has just returned from parental leave after having her first child. Together, she and Erica have navigated the operational and financial complexities of planning for leave, including their decision to shut down the Pause on the Play Community.While the context of Erica and India's experience is parental leave, the strategies they employed are universally applicable. Their unique approach to planning and managing their leave can be a practical guide for anyone considering a break from their business.Listen to the full episode to hear:How a desire for openness, simplicity, and sustainability shaped their conversations about the business even before planning for India’s parental leaveHow Erica and India went about simplifying processes and closing loops with their clients and community leading up to going on leaveHow the business maintained some revenue during leave, and how they planned an on-ramp for India’s return How joy and ease are informing their decision-making as they return to full operationsWhy they have clear containers around what platforms they use to discuss work and personal lifeHow they are building opportunities to connect with their communities as people without always making it about workLearn more about Erica Courdae and India Jackson:Pause on the PlayInstagram: @pauseontheplayLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedIn Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Sometimes, you just need a break. I know I did. What was meant to be a quick breather turned into a transformative journey of two and a half years. The show (and my company) emerged with a new name, a new look, and a new perspective on what truly sustains a business—and a life.I say that I took a break from my business. But the reality is that I broke. I realized that I was burnt out to the point where I was physically, psychologically, and emotionally impaired. In this episode, I share the whole story—the behind-the-scenes of what went wrong, what went right, and why I’m back. Today’s episode kicks off a series on, appropriately, taking a break. Whether you need a break because of burnout like me, you or someone you love got sick, you're getting ready to have a kid and need to plan for parental leave, or you just want to take a sabbatical to refresh, big breaks are hard to prepare for. How do you figure out how to pay yourself (and your team) during a break? What systems and procedures need to be in place to make sure things run smoothly? How do you handle managing and serving your clients while you're away? And, if the break is unexpected and unplanned, what then? After all, running a business is a marathon—not a sprint. If we’re going to be in it for the whole 26.2 miles, we better learn how to rest. And that starts with making calm your KPI.Listen to the full episode to hear:The challenges of pausing work and the reality of burnout recoveryWhy I made the counterintuitive decision to take a full-time job to restThe importance of building a business with comfortable margins and a focus on sustainability rather than relentless growthWhy I’m using calm as a key performance indicator (KPI) in business and advocating for a model that values space, margin, and a personalized definition of successLearn more about me, Susan Boles:Beyond MarginsConnect on LinkedInLearn more about Sean McMullin:YellowHouse.Media Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Break the Ceiling is now Beyond Margins. I’m excited to bring back the show and introduce you to people thinking about operations, finance, and business-building with calm as their top KPI. Do you know someone who could use a little more calm in their business? Someone who wants to think beyond margins? Share the show with them! And make sure you follow or subscribe in your favorite podcast app.***Honestly, I don’t really want to 10x my business. There. I said it. I want interesting work, enough revenue to be comfortable, and 10x the time spent riding my bike or paddling in my kayak. Maybe that’s how you feel, too. When you set out to build your business, I bet you wanted to build something you loved that made you money, supported your family, created great jobs for other folks, and gave you freedom and flexibility. You knew it wasn’t going to be easy… but this?!You've worked weekends, early mornings, and late nights around your kids' soccer practices, and you've been exhausted and overworked. You've worn all the hats and done all the jobs. Maybe you’ve been through burnout or burnt it all down (maybe more than once). Now you just want a business that works for you, that feels fun, comfortable, and calm.. Your goals are similar to mine: you want to take Fridays off, chaperone your kids' field trips, or hang out in the sunshine on a Tuesday afternoon, but still know that the work you’re doing matters. For all the talk of entrepreneurship leading to more freedom and flexibility, you and I know those things don’t just happen.But we all want to be financially secure, to build something meaningful and important, to make the right decisions, the smart decisions. And when things aren’t going all that well, or there are just a million decisions to make, or we don’t really know what to do next, you make the choices you see others making.I call these default decisions.These are choices we make in our business, based on what everyone else is doing, without really ever thinking about them or whether they're the right choice for you and your business. Default decisions sound like "best practices," or "what's working right now," or "my step-by-step method to X."The defaults are hard to escape. They're caused by something deeper - this culture that you probably started your business heavily influenced by, even if you wish you weren't - productivity and achievement culture.That's where it's about outlasting, out-hustling, growth = success, profit doesn't matter, reinvesting in the business, growth, growth, growth, 10x everything.And by following these default decisions, you can build a business that is technically "correct" by all external definition. But those default decisions end up anchoring you to a business that's only focused on your sales, your output, your efficiency, your productivity - because, well, that's the default.Default decisions are based on assumptions—that your idea of success is a permanent island getaway or a Lamborghini in the driveway, or maybe that “doing more” or “crushing it” is the key to overcoming any challenge.Those assumptions can lead you astray when they are absolutely not the things you want from your business. Remember, calm? Fun? Comfortable?Relying on default decisions might boost your bank account for a month or juice your social media following, but they won’t get you the calm, comfy business you crave.Here’s what I’ve learned over 15 years of building my own companies and acting as CFO for others:Your company is going to end up being whatever your top priority is. If your top priority—is growth - the default? Well, your company will end up focusing on growth — potentially at the expense of your profit margins, your team's well-being, and sometimes even your ethics. If you want to build something different, you have to solve for something different. Instead of solving for growth, what if you solved for calm? You can’t build a calmer business unless you design it that way. It has to be built into your business's DNA. It has to be your overriding priority, the thing that you’re solving for, the touchpoint you’re always coming back to. To build a calmer business, you need to make calm your new KPI. I’m your host, Susan Boles, and this is Beyond Margins – the show where we geek out about how to build a calmer business with comfortable margins. I’m a speaker, podcaster, and consultant with more than 15 years of experience as both a CFO and COO in a variety of industries. I’ve worked with major universities, small retail shops, and software companies, just to name a few, and now I focus on working with agencies, consultants, and creatives.  Each episode, we’ll explore: Financial strategies that help you build towards something calmerNew ways to think about your operations to build more comfortable margins Team management and leadership strategies to help you support your team’s wellbeingCountering default decisions and unpacking productivity & achievement cultureBuilding more margin into your business – not just profit margins, but capacity margins, energetic margins, and emotional margins. You’ll walk away from each episode thinking more deeply about your decisions - and some strategies to help you build more margin and calm into your business.Join me as I explore what it looks like when you make calm your new KPI.

I wanted to give you an update on what's going on with Break the Ceiling. Over the last two years, I've released almost a hundred episodes of Break the Ceiling. I've put out so many episodes that I'm really proud of, and I've talked to a ton of really amazing business owners. Thank you so much for listening and hanging out here with me, geeking out on the backend of running a business.I wanted to let you know that we're going on hiatus, so we won't be releasing any new episodes for a while. I want to take some time to think about how I want the show to evolve, and I'd like to reimagine it a bit. So I'm taking a break from recording and releasing episodes here so that I can take this space.And to be honest, it's been a heck of a year and a half for me and I need a little bit of a break.Stay tuned to this feed and hit subscribe if you're not already a subscriber so you don't miss it when we come back with a new updated and improved show. We have some really exciting things planned, both for the podcast and for the business.In the meantime, there's almost a hundred episodes in the feed so definitely catch up on the ones you’ve missed. I'd love to connect with you and hear what you'd like to see for the show going forward and I'm looking forward to being back in your podcast feed and your ears soon.Learn more about Susan:Scalespark.coTwitter @theSusanBolesLinkedIn @thesusanboles Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Boundaries are all about setting guidelines for how you work.From your very first interaction with a client or a prospect, you're giving them hints about how you work or even explicitly setting expectations for how you'll work together.So if you take four days to respond to their request for information, they might have the impression that you're a little slow. React immediately, and they'll think you're always available.What choices we make about where our boundaries are–or aren't–can have a huge effect on our overall capacity and how much time it takes to actually serve each client.Boundaries can be a really powerful tool when we're talking about streamlining or increasing your operational capacity.Today we're going to dig into them with my guest, Brittany Berger. She's the founder of Work Brighter, which is a digital media company that helps productive unicorns go beyond working smarter to a version of productivity that makes room for “unproductive” things like rest, self-care, and fun.She started Work Brighter after five years running content marketing in really high-stress startups that prioritized hustle, growth, and scaling over self-care and mental health. Now that she's changed her own mindset, she spends her time helping other high achievers find balance for themselves and advocating for mental health awareness.Let's just say her boundary game is strong.Listen to the full episode to hear:How Brittany uses boundaries as guardrails for habits and routines that protect her mental and physical healthHow adding a little extra friction around things like email and social media can help reinforce your boundaries and keep you from breaking them yourselfWhy building boundaries to manage your energy rather than pushing through leads to sustainable productivityHow Brittany has redefined success in a way that respects her health and wellbeing and not just the bottom lineLearn more about Brittany:BrittanyBerger.comWork Brighter@workbrighter on Instagram@thatbberg on TwitterThe Slackification of the Family Home–The Atlantic MagazineLearn more about Susan:Scalespark.coTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanboles Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

You are not your business.Your business is something you are creating, which means you have a relationship with it.Like any relationship that we are in, the relationship that we have with our business can be complex and takes understanding, consideration, and work. And as with our personal relationships, the ones that we have with our businesses are shaped by our past experiences, for better or worse.We might have been told that we’re supposed to leave our baggage at the door when we come into work–we might even think we succeed–but that’s not how humans work. And when we ignore how our pasts affect our present, we set ourselves up to repeat unhealthy relationship patterns everywhere in our lives.In today’s episode, we’ll talk about how your foundational experiences might show up in your business and create limitations to your growth, especially when it comes to perfectionism and control.Nicole Lewis-Keeber is a business therapist and mindset coach who works with entrepreneurs to create and nurture healthy relationships with their businesses. She's a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Masters in Social Work and she writes and speaks about the impact of small-t trauma on businesses. Her biggest, most important work is in combining therapeutic processes with business coaching to help entrepreneurs build emotionally sustainable and financially stable businesses.Listen to the full episode to hear:How your business is not you, but a thing you’re in relationship withHow control relates to trust and its impacts on your ability to lead and growHow perfectionism is a safety mechanism and tools to help you begin to lower that shieldWhy when you’ve tried all the systems and none of them worked, it’s probably not the systemsLearn more about Nicole:Trauma and Its Impact on Business - Free CourseNicole Lewis-Keeber CoachingInstagram: @nicole.lewiskeeberFacebook: Nicole Lewis-Keeber CoachingLearn more about Susan:Scalespark.coTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanboles Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

When was the last time you crossed off everything on your to-do list? Have you ever? Does even glancing at it make you feel overwhelmed and maybe a little bad about yourself?Hustle culture tells us that working 24/7, 365 will bring us success, that we have to grind it out to gain ground.But not only is that not realistic for real people with families and friends and lives we want to live, it’s not even true.There’s a ton of research out there that says resting actually increases your productivity, your effectiveness, your problem-solving skills and your creativity.We need rest to do our best work and to be able to bring our best selves to our businesses.But those to-do list items still need to get crossed off. How do you create the space for rest? For your family and friends and for your best work?There's no shortage of “helpful information” out there about personal and business productivity.We all know those blog posts about some millionaire’s morning routine or the latest hack or a new software tool that will magically solve all of your problems with getting things done. But those so rarely work for the average person, let alone if you’re adding neurodivergence, chronic illness or disability to the mix.So what do you do? How do you tackle the overwhelm and miles-long to-do list?Tanya Dalton says the key is to get crystal clear on your priorities and then use that as a filter for everything else.Tanya is a productivity expert, speaker, and best-selling author of the Joy of Missing Out. She serves as a growth strategist for female leaders and hosts the Intentional Advantage Podcast. Tonya is also the founder and CEO of inkWELL Press Productivity Co., which provides tools that work as a catalyst to help women do less while achieving maximum success.Listen to the full episode to hear:How getting clear on your mission, vision and core values and leading from them creates a priorities filterFive questions to ask yourself when you’re prioritizing a taskHow to create a priority list, or a “to-do list with intention”Why implementing priority systems at home too creates space for rest and empowers everyone in your householdWhy a perfectly even work-life balance is not only unachievable, but undesirable, and a new way to think about balanceLearn more about Tanya:TanyaDalton.cominkWELL Press Productivity Co.the Intentional Advantage PodcastThe Joy of Missing Out BookFacebook: @Tanya.i.DaltonInstagram: @Tanya.i.DaltonLearn more about Susan:Scalespark.coTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanboles Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Maintenance mode as a topic for the podcast actually came out of a personal capacity crisis.Like a lot of people, since March of 2020, I've been without child care. With my son in hybrid school all year long, I gradually started having less and less time to devote to ScaleSpark.I lowered the bar on my expectations for myself and what I could accomplish again and again and again, but there was still stuff that just wasn't getting done.Don't get me wrong, I wasn't sitting around doing nothing. I executed a big business model shift that included piloting my first group program and creating my Not Rocket Finance course.I got a TON done. But it was a lot less than I normally would have.Then at the beginning of 2021, I reached a bit of a crisis point.I couldn't keep trying to shove a full-time business and being a full-time stay-at-home mom/homeschooler into the same hours. Something had to change.I really started to take a look at what I could stop doing, what needed to change, and what systems I needed to build to take my business from one-to-one client services to a scalable business that could operate in maintenance mode.And I've spent the last 16 episodes interviewing founders about maintenance mode and consistency, exploring capacity, business model, and techniques to prepare and execute maintenance mode in your business.So to wrap up the theme, I wanted to take you behind the scenes and talk about what I learned from all my interviews over the last few months and what I experimented with and tried out in my own business.So I brought my executive producer, Sean McMullin, on the show to interview ME about maintenance mode.Listen to the full episode to hear:How shifting from big picture problem solving to treating the process of being consistent as a series of small experiments satisfied the need to break things in the businessWhy you need to figure out how you’re self-sabotaging, then why you’re doing it in order to create effective systems and supports that keep you from itWhy maintenance mode isn’t about finding the perfect system but stacking systems that are good enoughSteps to start looking for what you can automate, delegate, or make more efficient in what you do every dayLearn more about Sean:Yellow House MediaLearn more about Susan:Scalespark.coTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanboles Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Sometimes the challenges to consistency come from self-sabotage, things like distraction, boredom, imposter syndrome.But especially for folks who are neurodivergent or dealing with chronic issues or disabilities, consistency comes with additional challenges that require you to figure out how to manage unpredictable energy levels, or how to cope with executive function issues.Most common productivity advice centers on the idea of trying to do more work, to shove more into the day, to force yourself to change your behavior so you can do more.But what if you don't want to do more? What if you just want to make it easier on yourself to do the work you love?Or what if your brain or energy levels just don't work the same way that the productivity bros hawking the advice do? Then a lot of that advice is just downright useless.The real key is figuring out how your brain works and creating an environment that supports you in doing your best work. And that may take some experimentation, but it probably won’t happen following someone else’s hacks.Marie Poulin, of Notion Mastery, helps ambitious business owners level up their digital systems, workflow, and productivity, so they can spend more time on what matters. She's been an influential voice in the Notion community, has a big following on her Notion Youtube channel, and has created a lot of the Notion resources available today.Marie also recently discovered that she has ADHD, so her brain works a little differently and things like consistency, scripting or executive functioning–like deciding what to prioritize working on–can be extra challenging.Marie and I talk about consistency and how critical it was to her success with Notion and her course and community Notion Mastery. We also talk about how discovering she was neurodivergent explained so much about how her brain worked and has helped her figure out how to set up systems that work the way she does.Listen to the full episode to hear:How Marie uses making public commitments as an external motivator to keep herself consistentWhy she learned to build in opportunities for later iteration and improvement to projects so she can be finished enough for nowHow Marie stumbled into her ADHD diagnosis and how she gave herself permission to accept that her brain works differentlyTools for noting when and how you work best so you can minimize resistance in your scheduleLearn more about Marie Poulin:Mariepoulin.comNotion Masteryyoutube.com/c/mariepoulinHow to Run Your Life Inside of NotionInstagram: @mariepoulinTwitter: @mariepoulinLearn more about Susan:Scalespark.coTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanboles Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

It's ok to quit.Consistency can be critical to success, but knowing when to quit is an equally valuable skill.So, how do you know when to quit and when to just push through the hard parts?You've heard me talking to business owners who credit being consistent as the key to their success.But failure is also a part of being an entrepreneur and one we talk about a lot less because it's not as pretty. Most successful business owners have at least a few failures in their rearview mirror.I had 2 businesses that were marketing and branding successes and abject financial failures before I started ScaleSpark.Failing sucks, there's no doubt about that. But those failures are a big part of what motivates me to teach financial skills and why I believe that your numbers tell you a story about what to do next in your business.Deciding to quit something is so hard and emotionally wrenching. I also wish I'd listened to the story my numbers were telling me on both those businesses and quit earlier.But you don't always know if you're failing. Maybe you're just stuck in what Seth Godin calls "The Dip:" that point in every project where you have to figure out if something is genuinely not working or if you have to push through.Today my guest and I are talking about how to know when you should quit.Margo Aaron is the cohost of the YouTube show Hillary and Margo Yell at Websites and the author behind That Seems Important. She's a psychologist turned accidental marketer and she's fantastic at getting to the heart of the entrepreneurial mindset. Her email newsletter consistently gets right to whatever mindset fog I'm in at that point in time and always manages to encourage me to keep going.Margo and I have both quit businesses. And in this interview that we originally recorded in September of 2019, we explore what it meant to quit and how we each realized it was time to let go.Listen to the full episode to hear:The client call that made Margo realize she had a major disconnect between what she was getting paid to do and what she wanted to be doingWhat questions to ask yourself to assess if you’re in “the Dip” or if it’s time to let goWhy product-founder fit is as important as product-market fitHow to build a business that aligns with your values and defines success on your termsWhy you need creativity, intuition, and experimentation in your business, not dogmatic models and rulesLearn more about Margo Aaron:That Seems ImportantHillary and Margo Yell at WebsitesLearn more about Susan:Scalespark.coTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanboles Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Consistency is the underlying premise behind maintenance mode, behind working the system, behind the mantra of "don't break it". It's the opposite of shiny object syndrome.When you're consistent with your offers and your messaging, people know who you are, what you stand for, and what you sell.When you're consistent in your operations, your team and your clients know exactly what to do next.When you're consistent, you're efficient and you don't waste time, effort, or money.Consistency means that you don't get exhausted by decision fatigue - because a lot of your daily decisions have already been made and you're just following the process you decided on a while ago.Consistency builds resilience. Even when you're operating at 10%, having built habits and processes means that you can keep the ball rolling.In order to become more consistent in your business, there are two things you have to figure out.First, you have to get your mindset wrapped around being consistent and prioritizing it. That sounds simple, but in my experience, it's just not. It's so easy to self-sabotage by getting distracted or bored or prioritizing other things.Second, once you know that consistency is an important value to you, you have to build habits and design your environment so that being consistent is actually the easiest path for you to take.If consistency is the goal, building habits is how you accomplish it.Meet Sarah. Sarah Von Bargen is a writer, coach, and educator who helps people spend their time, money, and energy on purpose. And she uses habits to make sure they're sticking to that purpose. Habits have been a critical component in her own business success and in the success of her students, too.Listen to the full episode to hear:How the stress of flying by the seat of her pants turned Sarah into a data-driven plannerHow changing your exterior circumstances–like charging your phone in another room–supports the interior work that builds lasting habitsHow Sarah uses a “think about it later” list to help keep herself from productive procrastination and shiny object syndromeWhy you should test shiny new ideas on social media or your blog to gauge interest before you spend time or money developing themLearn more about Sarah Von Bargen:Yes and YesInstagram: @yesandyesblogMoney & Happy Facebook GroupFree Workbook: How To Rescue The Time & Energy To Go After What You WantLearn more about Susan:Scalespark.coTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanboles Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

The point of maintenance mode is to give you time and space to take a REAL break. Not a vacation where you're checking your email or you're stuck on your laptop kind of break. But a real, genuine break.That step back can feel kinda scary. It might feel like you're standing at a precipice, trying to figure out if you'll trip and fall over the edge, or if it's just a tiny step down to a solid surface. That step means that you have to trust that the systems you've built and the team you've trained can handle whatever comes up. That's the goal, to allow you to be able to take a break from your business without breaking your business. And what does that look like in a real business? To go through the process to prepare for maintenance mode, build the systems, and then trust them to work and step away? That's what we're talking about today.Claire Pelletreau is a Facebook and Instagram ad expert and conversion optimization expert. Claire also LOVES talking about money–profit, loss, the whole shebang. She asks her guests how much they charge–and how much they earn–on her show, the Get Paid Podcast.Claire recently took a break from her business while on maternity leave for several months. She knew it was coming, so she prepared, she planned and she got her business ready to operate in maintenance mode. And then she walked away. For months. During a pandemic. Listen to the full episode to hear:How Claire changed her content strategy and schedule for her podcast to cover her maternity leaveHow she budgeted for her leave and unforeseen expenses in her absenceThe process of mentally and emotionally checking out from her business and what it was like to come back to work in a vastly different world after summer 2020Letting go of selling herself as part of the package and giving her team ownershipLearn more about Claire Pelletreau:ClairePells.comInstagram: @clairepellsFacebook: @absoluteclaireThe Get Paid PodcastLearn more about Susan:Scalespark.coTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanbolesResources:You Need a BudgetClockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself, Mike MichalowiczRachel Rodgers Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

In order to be completely away from your business for any length of time, you probably need to hire someone. Or maybe a few someones.In the last episode, I talked to Jason Staats about how he uses technology to help him keep his 4 different ongoing projects in maintenance mode, but hiring is also part of his maintenance strategy. He comes up with the ideas, figures out the tools, then hires someone to monitor and maintain. Technology and Team are the two most powerful resources you have when it comes to operating your business in maintenance mode.Technology allows you to make sure your team is doing only the most high-value tasks and having that team in place means that someone is there to monitor the autopilot, make decisions on the fly, and keep the trains rolling. Having a team you can turn to, and someone you can trust to monitor the autopilot can be the last, very critical, piece of maintenance mode. And it's the piece that allows you to truly step away, and know that things are taken care of, even if you aren't there to be the one to take care of them.Meet India Jackson. She's the CEO of Flaunt Your Fire, a brand visibility agency, and co-founder of Pause on the Play, a podcast and community dedicated to visibility and vulnerability for inclusive leaders. India started off her career as a model and bodybuilder and evolved that into an agency where she now leads a team. We talk about her evolution as a leader and how hiring and finding the right fit was critical to the growth of her agency and for her to be able to step back from doing all the things. Listen to the full episode to hear:How India began building a team to fill in gaps in her skill sets, and how her mindset on delegation has changed in her 10+ years in business Why she hires client support staff for their empathy and not just their resume How India approaches partnerships and hiring with a values mindset, from full transparency in job listings to explicitly asking about values in interviewsWhy your brand or company values have to be broken down into actions you take every day, with clarity on what impact you want to have Learn more about India Jackson:Flaunt Your FirePause on the PlayFlaunt Your Fire PodcastPause on the Play PodcastInstagram: @flauntyourfire @pauseontheplayConnect with India on LinkedInLearn more about Susan:Scalespark.coTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanbolesResources:Erica CourdaeBreak the Ceiling Episode 83: Leveraging People, Processes and Technology with Jason Staats Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

You can't step away and do something else if everything's going to come to a screeching halt when you do. To be prepared for maintenance mode, you have to figure out how to get the behind-the-scenes systems to operate, consistently, without you.In order to get your business into maintenance mode–and build a stronger business while you're at it–you have to answer the question, "What if I'm not here?"Ideally, the answer is that nothing changes. Invoices still get sent on time, your products and services still get delivered, and the wheels on the bus keep going round and round. That's the goal of maintenance mode, to me. There are some tasks that really don't lend themselves to having a computer do it. But MOST back-end administration of a business can be automated. And for me, automating that back-end tasks means my business won't break if I'm not here for a bit.The other payoff is that even if I AM working in my business, I have time to do other, more interesting things. I could even start another project like my friend Jason did.Jason Staats is a CPA in Salem Oregon. He's principal at Brenner LLP by day, and an accounting tech enthusiast by night. In addition to his CPA firm, he has also started Launch for Accountants, which is a newsletter and website with all the latest software launches. He's built Realize, a community for accountants and he is launching a software product. All those projects he's started and continues to run? He used technology to make that work and keep them all running, even if he's not IN that business all the time. Listen to the full episode to hear:Why creating a single space to gather opportunities and priorities across projects fights overwhelmHow knowing what his “anti-goals” help Jason choose which projects to pursueHow considering new projects in terms of skills development keeps distraction and shiny object syndrome in checkHow getting to maintenance mode lets you choose to pursue side projects and shiny objects Learn more about Jason Staats:Launch for AccountantsRealizeFollow Jason on TwitterLearn more about Susan:Scalespark Dollars + Decisions RoundtableTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanboles Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Sales are the lifeblood of any business.So when you're thinking about maintenance mode in your business, you need to think about how to make sure sales still come in, even if you're not around.Last week we talked about the first step in preparing for maintenance mode by being consistent with your messaging and your offers. If you haven't listened to Episode 81 with Michelle Mazur, go check that one out.This week, I want to talk about step two in preparing for maintenance mode and that's your sales process.In order to put your business into maintenance mode, you have to understand how sales come in, how you make sales, and how you're going to continue to make sales, even if you aren't actively working in your business for the momentWhile sales are one of the first things business owners seem to want to outsource, sales are probably one of the very last pieces of your business operations that you should be handing off to people.And that means that figuring out how to put sales on maintenance can be a challenge.And my friend, Allison Davis, is my go-to when it comes to sales and creating sustainable sales processes.Allison is a sales trainer and coach who ignites growth in small business owners and mission-driven organizations. I've done a TON of sales training–it's one of my weaknesses so it's something I've tried hard to develop.Allison was the person who finally made it "click" for me that I don't have to do ALL the things when it comes to sales, I just have to build a sustainable system and stick with it.Listen to the full episode to hear:How to pull yourself out of overwhelm by actively choosing what you can do consistentlyWhy using buyer types to modify your sales approach doesn’t have to be inauthenticWhy Allison started the Sales Roundtable and why it’s an effective and efficient way to connect with potential clientsLearn more about Allison Davis:Allison-Davis.comSales RoundtableLearn more about Susan:Scalespark Dollars + Decisions RoundtableTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanbolesResources:Break the Ceiling Episode 81: Work on a Consistent Message and Marketing System to Prepare For Maintenance Mode with Michelle MazurDani Johnson’s GEMS® Mastery Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

No one is bored with your business but you.The last month or two, we've been talking about maintenance mode–the idea that you can create a business that can kind of run itself. There are systems and processes set up, so everyone knows exactly what they need to do.The same kinds of systems and tools that you would use to prepare your business for maintenance are the SAME ones that you would use to free up capacity and prepare your business to scale.And that means that spending time setting up repeatable processes and checklists and automation has a HUGE return on your investment of time and effort.But, what, PRECISELY, do you need to DO to get your business prepared for maintenance mode?The first step is to zoom out and look at the end goal–what your business will look like, feel like and run like IN maintenance mode.The second step of preparing for maintenance mode requires you to think about your business as an ecosystem. In order for you to step away, every part has to operate smoothly.SO how do you prep each PART of your business for maintenance? What do you need to consider and what are some tactics that you could use to help you get there?Michelle Mazur is the founder of Communication Rebel, a Messaging Coach and Author and she's the voice in my head when it comes to my own marketing and messaging, telling me that consistency is the key to success.Consistency in your messaging means that you don't have to reinvent the wheel every quarter. It means you know what you need to say and you know to whom and how you need to say it. And it’s the first part of being able to prepare your business for maintenance mode.Listen to the full episode to hear:How to build your company’s communication bible: the Brand Message GuideWhy consistency and repetition aren’t boring to your audienceHow to experiment in order to optimize and minimize, so you’re marketing where it countsWhat to do when you hit a dip in sales or engagementLearn more about Michelle Mazur:Communication RebelInstagram: @drmichellemazurThree Word RebellionThree Word Rebellion (book)Learn more about Susan:LinkedIn @thesusanboles Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Sometimes we end up building a business that just doesn't fit our lives. Not intentionally. Sometimes it just happens that way.Maybe you don’t have the freedom you thought you’d have. Maybe you’re doing group courses but you really want to be 1 on 1 with clients, or vice versa. Sometimes when you step back and examine what it'll take to get to maintenance mode or what it will take to scale or grow, you realize that you don't actually have the capacity to grow this thing you built. The business you built isn't designed for that.In order to get to maintenance mode, you need to shift. Ryan Lazanis and I talked about this in Episode 75 - we'd each built businesses that didn't fit how we wanted to live our lives and so we ended up starting new businesses and specifically building them for maintenance mode.But you don't have to burn the whole thing down. Meet Mark Butler. He's the founder of the accounting startup Let’s Do the Books, as well as a freelance CFO for life coaches. And instead of shutting his business down and starting over when he realized that something needed to change for him, he created a complementary business with a different business model–one that was designed for maintenance. Listen to the full episode to hear:How Mark makes two very different business models work under one roofWhy his team is always empowered to tell him noHow side projects sustain his creativity and generate new opportunities for the businessWhy every entrepreneur needs to ask themselves what they really want to be when they grow upLearn more about Mark Butler:Let’s Do the BooksMoney SchoolLearn more about Susan:Scalespark Dollars + Decisions RoundtableTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanbolesResources:Break the Ceiling Episode 75: Starting with the End in Mind: Reverse-Engineering the Plan with Ryan LazanisBreak the Ceiling Episode 79: The Maintenance Mode Mindset: Stop Breaking Your Business with Racheal Cook Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Don't break it, stay the course, work the system. Don't break it, stay the course, work the system. That's the refrain that's in the back of my head all the time now. One of the biggest challenges of getting your business into maintenance mode is your mindset. It's not that it's so difficult to build systems or design your business model to be sustainable and resilient. It's that we, as entrepreneurs like breaking stuff and we LIKE shiny new things–shiny things are FUN! Breaking your business over and over with new offers, new messaging, new technology tools, new business models is not the path to creating a lasting, sustainable business. In fact, it’s how too many business owners burn out. The real answer might seem boring, but it's actually kind of freeing.It’s consistency, working the system, staying the course. Once you figure out what works for your business, the key is not to break it and not to get in your own wayBut... HOW? HOW do I get out of my own way? HOW do I stop getting distracted by every new idea that pops into my head? How do I keep myself from breaking it? What am I supposed to DO all day if my business doesn’t need me to shop up and deliver?That's exactly what I'm talking about today with Rachael Cook. She's a business strategist, author, and the host of the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast. And she helps business owners figure out how NOT to break their businesses.Listen to the full episode to hear:Why redefining your role and asking yourself what are the jobs only YOU can do is an essential mindset shiftHow treating your systems and your team as assets and not just your content can prevent launch burnoutLeaving hustle culture behind so you can enjoy the fruits of your laborHow getting to maintenance mode before a crisis or major life event hits safeguards your business against the unpredictableLearn more about Racheal Cook:RachealCook.comPromote Yourself to CEO PodcastInstagram: @racheal.cookLearn more about Susan:Scalespark Dollars + Decisions RoundtableTwitter @ScaleSparkLinkedIn @thesusanbolesResources:Break the Ceiling Episode 07: Why Streamlining Your Effort Pays Off with Business Strategist Michelle Warner Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't by Jim Collins Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here