Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast

The Playbook for Scaling, Leadership & Business Growth

Scale Smart, Grow Fast is the podcast for executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to scale smarter—without the burnout. Each episode delivers proven strategies for leveraging your team, optimizing processes, and driving growth without getting stuck in the weeds. Hit play and start scaling today.

🎧 Where to Listen:

✅ Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast – Apple Podcasts
✅ Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast – Spotify
✅ Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast – YouTube

Marketing Isn’t Broken—It’s Misunderstood

June 18, 2025

Marketing Isn’t Broken—It’s Misunderstood In today’s crowded digital space, marketing fatigue is real. You’re pouring effort into campaigns, chasing leads, and tweaking CTAs—but still not seeing the ROI you hoped for. The problem? Your marketing is likely rooted in logic, not behavioral science. In our latest Scale Smart, Grow Fast podcast episode, Harley spoke with Gee Ranasinha, CEO of Kexino and behavioral marketing expert. His message was clear: Marketing fails not because it’s broken—but because it forgets how people actually buy. Listen to the full conversation on your favorite platform:[Spotify] | [Apple Podcasts] 🧠 System 1 vs. System 2: Why Emotion Wins Gee explains that effective marketing must appeal to both fast, emotional thinking (system 1) and slower, rational decision-making (system 2). Most campaigns today over-index on logic and under-deliver on emotional resonance. Think of your strongest memories—they’re tied to emotion. That’s how branding works too. 🎯 The 95-5 Rule: A New Lens on ROI Only 5% of your audience is actively ready to buy. The other 95%? They’re passively absorbing brand signals. The lesson? Stop focusing all your effort on the “right now” buyer. Build memory structures with brand awareness so you’re top-of-mind when that 95% enters the market. 🔻 Bland Marketing Is the New Epidemic AI-generated content is making everything look the same. Gee warns that in a sea of sameness, brands that zag while others zig will win. If you don’t stand out, you’re just helping your competitors by reinforcing their message. 📈 The Real Job of Marketing Marketing isn’t just about features and funnels—it’s about emotional positioning and psychological relevance. When you blend empathy with strategy, your marketing doesn’t just attract. It sticks. 👤 Connect with Gee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranasinha/ 🌐 Learn more at: https://kexino.com 🔹 Want to market with impact—and lead with clarity? Stop chasing tactics and start focusing

6 Habits Every CEO Needs to Scale Without Burnout

June 11, 2025

6 Habits Every CEO Needs to Scale Without Burnout Scaling a business isn’t about grinding harder—it’s about leading smarter. In this episode of Scale Smart Grow Fast, operations strategist and host of the CEO Amplify podcast, Donna Dube, breaks down six powerful habits that help business owners step into true CEO mode, reclaim their time, and grow sustainably. Listen to the full conversation on your favorite platform:[Spotify] | [Apple Podcasts] 1. Protect Your CEO Power Hour Set aside one non-negotiable hour each week to review metrics, define top priorities, and align your calendar accordingly. This ritual turns reactive chaos into proactive leadership. 2. Know the Difference: Maintenance vs. Growth Maintenance tasks (bookkeeping, social posts, admin work) keep the wheels turning. Growth tasks (sales, partnerships, visibility) drive revenue. Your calendar should reflect that difference—with you focused on growth. 3. Measure Your Time ROI with the CEO Score Determine your ideal revenue goal, divide it by the weeks you’ll work, and assign values to your tasks. The goal? Spend more time in $1K and $10K-level activities—not $10 jobs. 4. Start Delegating Before You Feel Ready Even if you’re bootstrapping, you can start small. Audit your tasks to eliminate what’s unnecessary, automate what you can, and delegate what requires a human touch. Five hours a week can make a massive difference. 5. Trust Through Systems, Not Guesswork Document key processes, provide clear expectations, and let your team run with it—even if it’s 80% “your way.” Progress beats perfection every time. 6. Build Scalable Systems Your business needs 3 core systems: Marketing, Sales, and Client Delivery. Create rinse-and-repeat workflows with templates, assets, and checklists to reduce friction and grow with ease. “If you insist on doing everything yourself, you’re also agreeing to stay where you are.” – Donna Dube 📥 Download Donna’s CEO Power

From Hustling to Scaling: How Betsy Pepine Built 6+ Businesses Without Burning Out

June 4, 2025

From Hustling to Scaling: How Betsy Pepine Built 6+ Businesses Without Burning Out What if the key to scaling your business wasn’t working harder—but choosing what only you should be doing? That’s exactly what Betsy Pepine, founder of Pepine Realty, shared on the Scale Smart, Grow Fast podcast. She didn’t just build a successful real estate brokerage—she launched multiple complementary businesses including title, mortgage, property management, a real estate school, and a nonprofit. Her secret? Letting go of the how, and finding the right who. Listen to the full conversation on your favorite platform: [Spotify] | [Apple Podcasts] 🎯 Key Takeaways: 1. Start Where You Know, Then Build Out Betsy expanded into services that aligned with her core business—title, mortgage, property management—not random ventures. Each business solved a specific need for her existing clients and agents. 2. Embrace the ‘Who Not How’ Mindset Instead of doing everything herself (as many entrepreneurs do), Betsy shifted her focus: “There are people who love to do what I don’t like to do. That changed everything.” She stopped trying to master every role and started hiring people who already thrived in those areas. 3. Hire Before You’re Desperate Waiting until you’re overwhelmed to bring in help is a recipe for burnout. Betsy recommends proactively forecasting hiring needs each quarter—especially for roles like executive assistants or operators. 4. Culture Is Strategy From personalized recognition to peer-to-peer shoutouts using tools like Motivocity, Betsy has built a workplace culture that retains top talent. Core values like growth mindset and family are deeply woven into daily operations. 5. Let Go to Grow Stepping out of daily operations wasn’t easy—Betsy admits to emotional challenges and team turnover. But putting an operator in place gave her the space to focus on vision, strategy, and doing what she loves. Her advice?

Want to Scale Smarter? Start With Your Metabolism

May 28, 2025

Want to Scale Smarter? Start With Your Metabolism If you’re constantly chasing more productivity, clearer thinking, and stronger leadership—your calendar isn’t the first place to look. It’s your metabolism. On the Scale Smart, Grow Fast podcast, fitness and performance coach Nate Palmer dropped a game-changing truth: your energy is your greatest scaling tool. And it’s built in the first hour of your day. Listen to the full conversation on your favorite platform:[Spotify] | [Apple Podcasts] Here’s the problem: Most entrepreneurs push health to the back burner. They think fitness costs too much time. Nate disagrees—and proves the opposite. When your body performs at a high level, so does your business. Period. The Energy-First Framework Nate coaches high-performing founders using his Million Dollar Body Method. It’s simple, repeatable, and designed for people who don’t want to track calories or live in the gym. Here’s the foundation: 1. Rethink BreakfastSkip the sugar spikes and start your day with protein + healthy fats. A low-carb, high-protein breakfast helps stabilize blood sugar and eliminate that mid-afternoon crash. (Think whey protein shake + peanut butter instead of oats or cereal.) 2. Win Your First 10 MinutesNate’s 4-minute routine to boost metabolism, mindset, and momentum: It’s not about optimization. It’s about ownership. 3. Shift Your IdentityTired of starting and stopping? Nate emphasizes identity over motivation. You don’t need to “get motivated.” You need to become the kind of person who does what they say they will. Start small. Build trust with yourself. 4. Drop the All-or-Nothing ThinkingYou don’t need a cold plunge, a sauna, and a 90-minute workout. You need momentum. Walking, sleeping better, eating smarter—these aren’t fluff. They’re the fundamentals. Why It Matters for Founders When you feel good in your body, everything else sharpens. Sales calls. Team meetings. Strategic thinking. And yes, even how

How Founders Can Keep More of Their Profits (and Stress Less About Taxes)

May 21, 2025

How Founders Can Keep More of Their Profits (and Stress Less About Taxes) Most business owners work too hard building their company just to hand a massive chunk of it to the IRS when they exit. But that’s exactly what happens when there’s no proactive tax strategy in place. On a recent episode of the Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast, Brett Swarts, founder of Capital Gains Tax Solutions, broke down how entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and even crypto holders can legally defer 20–50% of capital gains taxes—and redirect that money into new investments or passive income. Preferred listening on-the-go? Catch the full podcast episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know. The Problem: Great Exit, Huge Tax Bill Whether you’re selling a company, real estate portfolio, or large investment position, you could be handing over half your gains in taxes. And many founders don’t know this until it’s too late. Most are only familiar with the 1031 Exchange, which: Brett calls this “a shotgun wedding for your money.” It may work sometimes, but rarely when flexibility matters most. The Better Tool: Deferred Sales Trust (DST) The Deferred Sales Trust offers a smarter way to defer taxes with more flexibility. ✅ Works for real estate, business sales, crypto, stocks, etc.✅ No like-kind restrictions—you can move from real estate to stocks, Bitcoin, or private lending✅ No tight timeline—you can sit in cash until the right opportunity✅ Eliminates debt pressure and reduces risk✅ Creates passive income or funds your next big venture Real-world example: One client sold a $17M digital billboard company and used the DST to diversify into Nvidia stock at the perfect time—avoiding capital gains taxes and unlocking exponential growth. When Should You Plan for This? The best time: now.The worst time: after

Why Founders Can’t Afford to Ignore Their Personal Brand (and What to Do About It)

May 14, 2025

Why Founders Can’t Afford to Ignore Their Personal Brand (and What to Do About It) In today’s hyper-connected world, your personal brand isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s one of your company’s most valuable growth assets. In a recent episode of the Scale Smart, Grow Fast podcast, executive brand strategist Alan McLaren shares why CEOs and founders of professional service firms must lead from the front—and how building a clear, authentic personal brand can unlock growth you never knew you were missing. 🎧 Want to hear the full conversation? Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Your Personal Brand Is Your Business For service-based entrepreneurs, you are the business. Clients and partners buy into you before they buy into your offer. If you’re not actively shaping your reputation, you’re leaving opportunity on the table. According to Alan, most leaders don’t even realize how many people in their own network don’t fully understand what they do. That lack of clarity stifles referrals, partnerships, and visibility. Branding Isn’t Ego—It’s Leadership Alan makes a key distinction: personal branding isn’t about ego. It’s about finding your unique voice and sharing it in service of others. When leaders lean into what they’re truly great at and share stories that reflect their real values and expertise, trust builds naturally—and trust is the currency of growth in the professional services world. The Power of Storytelling and Simplicity You don’t need to go viral or become a content machine. You just need to show up consistently with content that’s simple, valuable, and real. Alan recommends a structure: pick a topic, make a clear point, and tell a story. That’s it. He also emphasizes video as the most powerful and authentic format—people feel like they already know you before they ever speak with you. Getting Started Without Burning Out Worried about the

How Growth-Minded Leaders Are Using AI to Scale Smarter—Not Harder

May 7, 2025

How Growth-Minded Leaders Are Using AI to Scale Smarter—Not Harder In today’s fast-changing business world, ignoring AI isn’t just risky—it’s costly. On the latest Scale Smart, Grow Fast podcast, Mike Todasco, former PayPal innovation leader and visiting fellow at SDSU’s AI Research Center, broke down how business owners can future-proof their companies by embracing AI now, not later. Want the full breakdown and real-world strategies? Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and hear how AI is transforming executive support. Why AI Is a Business Advantage—Not Just a Buzzword AI isn’t just hype—it’s giving non-engineers executive-level leverage. Mike explains that tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini offer what used to cost companies six figures per employee. Now, for just $20/month, any business owner can streamline operations, get instant brainstorming support, automate workflows, and make better decisions faster. The problem? Too many leaders dabble. “If you’re just playing around with AI occasionally, you’re falling behind,” Mike says. True leverage comes when AI is embedded into everyday processes—from note-taking and email to decision support and strategic planning. Overcoming the #1 Barrier: Leadership Buy-In Most business owners delay adoption due to fear, complexity, or not knowing where to start. Mike’s advice? Don’t overthink it. Pick one tool and start using it daily. Create a culture where your team is encouraged to test AI, share wins, and improve together. At Workergenix, for example, our virtual executive assistants not only understand AI—they use it to triple productivity for our clients. If your team isn’t integrating AI, you’re leaving massive ROI on the table. How to Make Smarter Decisions with AI One practical example Mike shared: using AI as a devil’s advocate. Feed your strategy doc or sales plan into ChatGPT and ask it to challenge your thinking. It’s a fast way to

Are You the Bottleneck Holding Your Business Back?

April 29, 2025

Are You the Bottleneck Holding Your Business Back? As your business grows, the same strengths that helped you start it may be the very ones stalling your next level of success. On the latest episode of the Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast, Harley Green sits down with Sumit Gupta, serial entrepreneur and strategic leadership coach, to uncover why so many entrepreneurs unknowingly become their company’s biggest bottleneck—and how to break free. Listen to the full conversation with Sumit Gupta on the Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast on your favorite platform and unlock the leadership shifts that will drive your next level of growth. 👉 Spotify | Apple Podcasts The Hidden Leadership Trap Sumit shares that 95% of our daily behavior is subconscious or habitual. The leadership habits that got you to $1M in revenue won’t be the ones that get you to $5M, $10M, or beyond. Growth demands new leadership behaviors—and if you’re feeling stuck, it’s often because you haven’t upgraded your leadership operating system. Biggest blind spots entrepreneurs face: The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything If your growth has plateaued, you are likely part of the problem—but that’s not a bad thing. It means you have control to change it. Sumit’s advice is to stop asking, “How do I fix this?” and start asking, “Who can help me fix this?” Strategic delegation isn’t about giving up control—it’s about amplifying your impact. The Importance of Slowing Down One powerful tactic Sumit shares: Pause and breathe.Taking intentional pauses helps leaders listen better, think more clearly, and create space for courageous conversations—something most businesses desperately need to grow. When you slow down, you become a better listener, spot hidden opportunities, and create a culture where problems are addressed early—before they become emergencies. Building an Organization That Scales Without You As you grow,

Is Unhealed Trauma Blocking Your Business Growth? Here’s What Every Entrepreneur Should Know

April 22, 2025

Is Unhealed Trauma Blocking Your Business Growth? Here’s What Every Entrepreneur Should Know In this episode of the Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast, host Harley Green is joined by trauma recovery coach and business mentor Amy Lloyd, who breaks down a topic not often discussed in the boardroom—but crucial for sustainable success: the link between unresolved trauma and business performance. Whether you’re leading a team or running solo, how you show up every day is influenced by what you’ve experienced—and what you haven’t addressed. 🎧 Want to hear the full conversation? Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Here’s what stood out from the conversation and why it matters to growth-minded entrepreneurs: 1. Trauma Doesn’t Always Look Like Trauma Amy shared her personal journey of realizing that trauma doesn’t always mean extreme, visible harm. Subtle messages from childhood, like “successful people are greedy” or “asking for help is weakness,” can quietly drive how you show up in leadership, marketing, and decision-making. 2. Self-Sabotage Wears Many Hats Undercharging, overworking, procrastinating, or struggling with visibility? These aren’t just strategy issues—they’re signs of deeper emotional patterns. Amy explained how imposter syndrome and burnout are often rooted in these hidden beliefs. 3. Boundaries Are a Business Growth Strategy Entrepreneurs often stretch themselves thin believing it’s “just part of the job.” But without healthy boundaries, burnout is inevitable. Amy emphasizes that learning to say no, delegate, and protect your energy isn’t selfish—it’s what allows you to scale sustainably. 4. Delegation Is Emotional Work, Too Hiring help—especially for the first time—can be deeply emotional. Amy highlights how resistance to delegation often stems from past programming around control, trust, or worth. But letting go of the small things is often the first big leap toward working on the business, not just in it. 5. Practical Tools Help Rewire

People, Profits, and Progress: A Business Owner’s Framework for Sustainable Growth

April 15, 2025

People, Profits, and Progress: A Business Owner’s Framework for Sustainable Growth Growing a business isn’t just about increasing revenue—it’s about building the right foundation to support it. In this episode of the Scale Smart, Grow Fast podcast, host Harley Green sits down with Cameron Montgomery, Principal Consultant at Equipricity, to talk about how successful leaders scale without compromising team alignment, profitability, or execution. 🎧 Prefer to listen on the go? Catch this episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Cameron’s 3-part framework—Align People, Amplify Profits, Accelerate Execution—is built for businesses that want to grow with intention. Here are the key takeaways for business owners ready to scale: 1. Align the Right People Your growth depends on the people you hire. Surround yourself with team members who believe in the mission and bring skills you don’t have. Hire for strengths. Don’t wait to find the “perfect” candidate—start by identifying passion and potential. Interns, apprentices, or fractional help can be a powerful way to delegate as you grow. 2. Amplify Your Profits by Expanding Your Market Too many entrepreneurs get stuck selling to just one segment. Instead, look at the multiple levels where your product or service solves a problem—B2C, B2B, and even government. Diversify your revenue streams and make your offer work harder without adding complexity. 3. Accelerate Execution with Systems & Automation Don’t let the work bury your vision. Use tools like CRMs, automated dialers, and AI (strategically) to simplify operations. Cameron warns: automation should support your quality, not replace the human element. Know when to lean into tools, and when to delegate to a real person. 4. Revisit Your Business Plan Quarterly Scaling requires regular recalibration. Cameron recommends reviewing your business plan every quarter to stay aligned with your mission and performance goals. What worked 6 months ago may no

How to Stop Leaking Profits: Financial Strategies Every Business Owner Needs

April 8, 2025

How to Stop Leaking Profits: Financial Strategies Every Business Owner Needs Are your finances holding back your growth?Many business owners unknowingly bleed money due to inefficient processes, scattered systems, and lack of clarity around financial data. In a recent episode of the Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast, host Harley Green sits down with Ali Swart—Partner and Managing Director at Waldron Private Wealth—to unpack the most common financial blind spots and practical strategies to help entrepreneurs scale without financial strain. 🎧 Prefer to listen on the go? Catch the full episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for expert insights. Here are the top takeaways every business owner should know: 1. You Can’t Scale What You Can’t See One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is not knowing where their money is going. Many operate without clear insight into expenses, profitability, or customer lifetime value. Swart explains that having clean, segmented data across your personal and business finances is essential to making informed growth decisions. Pro Tip: Use tools like QuickBooks or industry-specific software—and ensure your financial team (accountant, attorney, advisor) is actually communicating. 2. Stop Mixing Business and Personal Finances Too many owners blend personal and business transactions, creating confusion, inaccurate reporting, and missed tax-saving opportunities. Clear separation enables smarter forecasting and helps identify unnecessary spending or duplicate payments. Solution: Delegate your bookkeeping to a trained professional or virtual assistant who understands how to track and categorize every expense. 3. Catch Profit Leaks Before They Hurt Swart shared real stories where clients lost money from unchecked expenses, like pool leaks or excessive aircraft costs. Regular account reviews—even monthly—can prevent minor issues from becoming major financial drains. Simple Fix: Schedule recurring financial reviews with your VA, CFO, or bookkeeper. Look for discrepancies, track expenses, and reconcile accounts proactively. 4. Know Your Numbers—or

Scaling Without the Burnout: Secrets to Simplify and Delegate for Sustainable Growth

April 1, 2025

Scaling Without the Burnout: Secrets to Simplify and Delegate for Sustainable Growth Scaling your business is supposed to bring freedom—not overwhelm. Yet, for many entrepreneurs, the more successful they become, the more they’re bogged down with operations, burnout, and constant stress. If that’s you, it might be time to rethink your approach. In this episode of the Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast, host Harley Green speaks with business strategist Pamela Dale, who shares her expertise on scaling businesses without sacrificing time, energy, and profit. Pamela, creator of the Client Code, dives into the myths surrounding business growth and explains how strategic delegation and simplifying offers can lead to more revenue with less work. Listen to the full episode on your favorite platform to dive deeper into these strategies and start scaling your business smarter.👉 Spotify | Apple Podcasts Key Takeaways: 1. Stop Overcomplicating Your Offers A common mistake that many business owners make is overcomplicating their offers. Instead of trying to create multiple packages or chasing every new trend, Pamela advises focusing on one offer, one channel, to one person. Mastering one offer allows you to refine and perfect it, leading to higher conversions. “Simplify and focus,” Pamela says. When you target the right client with a specific, well-defined offer, you’ll see higher value clients flock to you, ready to invest. 2. Delegate to Scale Most entrepreneurs are stuck in the day-to-day grind because they haven’t figured out how to delegate effectively. Pamela highlights how delegation is key to breaking free from the bottleneck of business operations. Entrepreneurs should stop trying to do everything themselves. Instead, they should invest in building the right team and leveraging their expertise. When you delegate, you free yourself up to focus on higher-level tasks, like strategy and growth, instead of bogging yourself down with