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

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

How High-Performing Entrepreneurs Scale Without Burning Out

March 26, 2025

How High-Performing Entrepreneurs Scale Without Burning Out What if scaling didn’t mean sacrificing your health, sanity, or time? That’s the question Nathan Baws—entrepreneur, Shark Tank Australia alum, and Guinness World Record holder—answers in his conversation with Harley Green on the Scale Smart, Grow Fast podcast. After building and scaling 15+ businesses (many to 7 figures), Nathan shares how business owners can grow sustainably by mastering two core disciplines: smart delegation and dopamine-driven leadership. Listen to the full episode on your favorite platform:👉 Spotify | Apple Podcasts Here’s what stood out for growth-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to scale without burnout: 1. Growth Follows Energy—Not Just Strategy Most entrepreneurs burn out because they obsess over revenue and neglect their energy. Nathan breaks his day into two categories: High performance is a function of health. If your body and mind are depleted, your business will be too. 2. The First Hire? Someone Who Frees Up Your Energy One of Nathan’s biggest turning points came from hiring team members he could trust to take ownership. But he emphasized that delegation only works if you: Workergenix’s Ultimate Executive Assistants were built for this exact challenge: giving founders back time without compromising quality. 3. AI & Automation Are Not Job Killers—They’re Force Multipliers Nathan is clear: he didn’t replace his team with AI—he empowered them. With automation handling repetitive tasks (like LinkedIn outreach or email follow-ups), his team can focus on high-value work. Result? More output, less cost, and no burnout. 4. Stop Hiding Behind Product Development—Start Selling One of Nathan’s biggest mistakes early on? Spending too much time perfecting his product and not enough on marketing. Revenue solves most business problems—so focus on sales, lead generation, and consistent outreach. 5. Leadership is Contagious High-performing leaders create high-performing teams. When Nathan optimized his own

The Systems That Give You More Time and Freedom

March 18, 2025

The Systems That Give You More Time and Freedom Most entrepreneurs start their businesses for freedom—freedom of time, financial independence, and the ability to work on what they love. But as your business grows, so does the workload. Instead of gaining time, many business owners find themselves buried in tasks, stuck managing operations instead of leading growth. In a recent episode of the Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast, we sat down with Stephanie Cabral, a former attorney turned real estate entrepreneur, to discuss how she scaled her business efficiently without sacrificing quality or control. Listen on the go! Catch the full episode on your favorite podcast platform: 🎧 Spotify🍏 Apple Podcasts The Mindset Shift: Treating Your Business Like a Business One of the biggest mindset shifts Stephanie made was realizing that real estate investing—or any business—is not a side hustle, it’s a company. If you want to scale, you can’t run your operations manually forever. ✅ She stopped managing everything herself and implemented automation and delegation.✅ She focused on systems that could scale, not just processes that worked in the moment.✅ She prioritized high-impact work instead of getting stuck in daily tasks. How Systems and Delegation Transformed Her Business Stephanie knew she couldn’t scale while handling every invoice, repair call, and tenant request. So she built a structured system for efficiency by: 🔹 Using automation tools to manage communication, invoicing, and workflows.🔹 Hiring a dedicated assistant to take over administrative tasks, freeing her time for strategy.🔹 Implementing SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to ensure consistency and eliminate micromanagement. This shift allowed her to focus on growing her portfolio, securing better deals, and expanding her impact—all while working less. How You Can Apply This to Your Business No matter your industry, these principles apply. If you’re feeling stuck in daily operations, ask

The Financial Blind Spots Holding Your Business Back (And How to Fix Them)

March 12, 2025

The Financial Blind Spots Holding Your Business Back (And How to Fix Them) As a business owner, you’re focused on growth, delivering results, and keeping your customers happy. But if you’re not keeping a close eye on your finances, you could be leaving money on the table—or worse, losing it without realizing it. In a recent episode of the Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast, we sat down with Cheryl Heller, founder of Pillar One Consulting, to discuss how entrepreneurs can take control of their financial health, eliminate hidden inefficiencies, and make smarter business decisions. Listen to this episode on the go! Tune in on your favorite services and never miss valuable insights to help you scale smarter and grow faster. 🎧 Cash Flow Mistakes That’s Costing You – Spotify 🎧 Cash Flow Mistakes That’s Costing You – Apple Podcasts Why Most Business Owners Struggle with Finances Many entrepreneurs avoid their financials, only checking in when tax season rolls around. But waiting too long can lead to poor cash flow management, unexpected expenses, and missed opportunities for growth. Cheryl’s advice? Start by removing the emotion from your numbers. “Your financials are just data—use them to inform your next steps, not as a source of stress.” By regularly reviewing financial reports, you can spot unnecessary expenses, optimize pricing, and create a long-term strategy for scaling your business. Key Financial Mistakes (and How to Fix Them) ✅ Pricing Without Data – Too many business owners set prices based on competitors instead of their own costs and profit margins. Calculate your true costs before setting a price. ✅ Cash Flow Neglect – Profit on paper doesn’t always mean money in the bank. Understanding cash flow ensures you have the funds needed for growth, payroll, and unexpected expenses. ✅ Ignoring Receivables – A slow-paying client

A YouTube thumbnail featuring two business experts with the text "Why Niching Down is the Secret to Wealth!" in bold yellow and white font against a blue background.

Niche to Be Rich: The Secret to Sustainable Business Growth

March 4, 2025

Niche to Be Rich: The Secret to Sustainable Business Growth Success in business isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things. On the latest episode of the Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast, we sat down with the legendary Ann McNeill, a trailblazer in the construction industry and a Napoleon Hill-certified coach, to break down the framework behind her philosophy: Niche to Be Rich. Ann’s journey from corporate life to building a multimillion-dollar business didn’t happen by accident. It started with a simple realization—generalists struggle, but specialists thrive. She shares how business owners and entrepreneurs can apply this principle to scale faster, work smarter, and achieve financial freedom. Listen on the go! 🎧 Catch this episode of Scale Smart, Grow Fast on your favorite services: 🎧 Why Niching Down is the Secret to Wealth! – Spotify 🎧 Why Niching Down is the Secret to Wealth! – Apple Podcasts The Five Niches That Drive Wealth & Success According to Ann, building a thriving business (and life) requires focusing on five critical areas: 1. Niche in Your Craft Become the best at what you do. Whether you’re in construction, finance, or tech, master your skillset so that people recognize you as the go-to expert. When you dominate your craft, competition becomes irrelevant. 2. Niche in Business Operations A great craft doesn’t guarantee success—knowing how to run a business does. Many entrepreneurs struggle because they lack systems for hiring, finances, and operations. Ann emphasizes that understanding the mechanics of your business prevents burnout and creates scalability. 3. Niche in Your Industry Not all industries offer the same growth potential. Ann strategically chose construction because it allowed for higher revenue potential and long-term contracts. Finding the right industry to apply your craft gives you a competitive edge and financial leverage. 4. Niche in Your

Fractional COOs: The Key to Scaling Your Business Without Burnout

February 26, 2025

Fractional COOs: The Key to Scaling Your Business Without Burnout As a CEO, founder, or business owner, you understand the constant challenge of balancing daily operations with big-picture growth. You didn’t build your business to get stuck in the weeds—but without the right operational support, that’s exactly where you can end up. Enter the fractional COO: the strategic solution for leaders ready to scale without burnout. Mallory Smith, entrepreneur and fractional COO, shared her journey on the Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast. With experience in biotech, cosmetic chemistry, sales, and entrepreneurship—where she built and sold a seven-figure sign company—Mallory now helps seven-figure businesses streamline operations and scale sustainably. 🎧 Prefer to listen on the go? ✅ How a Fractional COO Helps You Scale – Spotify ✅ How a Fractional COO Helps You Scale – Apple Podcasts What is a Fractional COO? A fractional COO (Chief Operating Officer) provides high-level operational leadership on a part-time basis. Instead of hiring a full-time executive, you get access to experienced leadership without the long-term commitment or cost. Who Needs a Fractional COO? Fractional COOs aren’t for startups still finding their footing. They’re ideal for: How a Fractional COO Adds Value What the Engagement Looks Like According to Mallory, fractional COOs typically work 5–8 hours per week with business owners. The relationship is designed for long-term transformation—most engagements last around two years. The goal? Build a business that no longer depends on the owner’s daily involvement. Overcoming Common Challenges The biggest obstacle? Mindset. Business owners are often deeply attached to how things have always been done. A fractional COO challenges these norms, bringing fresh perspectives and new strategies. While change can be uncomfortable, it’s necessary for growth. As Mallory puts it, “You’ll never get somewhere new by doing the same old things.” Advice for Businesses