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

by Harley GreenScale Smart, Grow Fast PodcastPosted on Comments are Disabled

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:

  • Only applies to real estate
  • Has a tight 45/180-day timeline
  • Requires reinvesting in another property (even if market timing is poor)
  • Often forces buyers to overpay just to defer taxes

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 your buyer has removed contingencies.

Brett’s team can help business owners set up a plan in as little as five hours. If your deal is expected to have $1M+ in gain and net proceeds, it’s worth exploring this strategy early. Even better? You don’t need to fire your CPA. They partner with your advisor to handle the specialized work.

It’s Not Just Real Estate

DSTs work for:

  • Business exits
  • Bitcoin & crypto
  • Public/private stock
  • Land or asset-heavy portfolios
  • Even luxury primary homes

If you’ve been scaling your company and want to eventually enjoy the freedom you’ve built—without being dragged down by capital gains taxes—this is a strategy to seriously consider.

Ready to keep more of what you’ve earned—and scale smarter?
Schedule a free discovery call to learn how our executive support team can help you implement high-impact strategies without adding complexity.

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

by Harley GreenScale Smart, Grow Fast PodcastPosted on Comments are Disabled

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 time commitment? Alan’s advice: batch your content and delegate the logistics. An executive assistant can help with content planning, video uploads, commenting, and keeping you visible across the right platforms (LinkedIn, YouTube, Substack, etc.). Just one video per week—with solid distribution—can move the needle in a big way.

From Visibility to Growth

Real results follow when your personal brand is aligned and active. Alan has seen clients land speaking gigs, close big partnerships, and even launch new businesses—all because they showed up online consistently. And the beauty? You don’t need to “sell.” When people trust you, they reach out ready to buy.

Bottom line: Your personal brand isn’t a side project—it’s a growth strategy. Start small, stay consistent, and use support to keep showing up without adding to your plate.

Ready to stop doing everything yourself and finally scale with support? Schedule a discovery call to meet your Ultimate Executive Assistant.

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Are You the Bottleneck Holding Your Business Back?

by Harley GreenScale Smart, Grow Fast PodcastPosted on Comments are Disabled

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:

  • Acting like the expert instead of building a team that can operate independently.
  • Overworking instead of strategically delegating.
  • Hesitating to hire strong leaders because of control or trust issues.

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, your real job shifts from building products or services to building the organization itself.
That means focusing on:

  • Hiring for both skill and shared values.
  • Empowering people to innovate—not just follow orders.
  • Creating systems that allow the business to thrive without micromanagement.

Bottom line:
To scale smart, you must evolve from expert to strategic leader—and that starts with working on yourself as much as you work on your business.

Ready to free yourself from bottlenecks and finally scale with less stress and more impact? Schedule a quick discovery call with us today and see how the right support can transform your growth.

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

by Harley GreenScale Smart, Grow Fast PodcastPosted on Comments are Disabled

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 Mindsets

From using gratitude as a daily nervous system reset, to batching tasks and setting up automation, Amy shared tangible ways entrepreneurs can reduce overwhelm and reclaim their energy. Her advice: Stop reinventing the wheel. Use templates. Repurpose content. Build systems that support ease.

Bottom line: If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or questioning your next move—it may not be about the strategy. It might be time to take a deeper look within.

As Amy says, “You didn’t build your business to work 80 hours a week. You built it for freedom. So build it that way.”

Ready to stop doing everything yourself and finally scale with support? Schedule a discovery call to meet your Ultimate Executive Assistant.

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

by Harley GreenScale Smart, Grow Fast PodcastPosted on Comments are Disabled

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 longer serve your direction. Don’t wait until things break to optimize.

5. Don’t Burn Out Trying to Do It All

Leaders who try to be everything to everyone eventually stall. Delegation is a growth strategy, not a luxury. Whether it’s sales, admin, or client onboarding, outsource the right tasks so you can focus on high-impact decisions.

Final Thought:

If you’re stuck in the grind and not sure how to scale without burning out, it may be time to rethink your people, your systems, and your execution. Cameron’s approach is simple, strategic, and actionable—exactly what growth-minded entrepreneurs need to hear.

Ready to build a people-first, profit-smart business that runs with clarity and purpose? Schedule a discovery call to see how our Ultimate Executive Assistants can help you scale without the burnout.

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

by Harley GreenScale Smart, Grow Fast PodcastPosted on Comments are Disabled

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 Risk Bad Decisions

Revenue and expenses are obvious metrics—but understanding profit margins, industry benchmarks, and per-client cost-to-serve can drastically improve decision-making. In Swart’s firm, they even track internal hours spent per client to improve efficiency and prevent burnout.

Smart Scaling Tip: Leverage data to right-size your team, justify hiring support, or eliminate low-ROI activities.

5. Use Bookkeeping as a Strategic Growth Tool

Bookkeeping shouldn’t be treated as an afterthought. When done well, it becomes your roadmap for smarter budgeting, forecasting, and scaling.

Turn It Into a Win: Partner with someone who doesn’t just report numbers—but analyzes them with you and flags problems before they cost you.

Final Thought: You Can’t Scale in the Dark

Whether you’re running lean or rapidly expanding, understanding your financials is non-negotiable. Delegating operational tasks to an expert—like an ultimate executive assistant—frees up your time to focus on strategic financial oversight and growth.

Want a financial system that supports your scaling goals?
Schedule a free discovery call with our team and see how a dedicated executive assistant can help streamline your finances, reclaim your time, and drive profitable growth.

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

by Harley GreenScale Smart, Grow Fast PodcastPosted on Comments are Disabled

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 admin.

3. The Fear That Holds Us Back

It’s natural to feel overwhelmed when scaling. However, Pamela calls out that the feeling of overwhelm is often rooted in fear. Fear of failure, fear of making mistakes, and fear of letting go. Yet, as Pamela points out, growth happens when you step into discomfort and push through the fear. Business owners must learn to face those fears, stop procrastinating, and take action, even when the next step seems daunting.

4. Understand Your Client

Pamela’s method for attracting high-value clients boils down to knowing who they are and what they truly need. The first step in growing your business is talking to your customers. Understand what they want, what problems they’re solving, and what solutions they value most. This clarity allows you to craft offers that resonate deeply with your target audience and lead to sustainable growth.

5. Leverage Technology and Automation

Another crucial aspect of scaling is leveraging technology. Pamela emphasizes the importance of systems and automation in business operations. Whether it’s automating your lead generation or using tools to streamline your workflows, embracing technology can multiply your output without requiring more time and effort. By investing in the right software and automating processes, you can work smarter—not harder.

The Bottom Line: Focus on Systems, People, and Simplicity

Scaling doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By simplifying your offers, delegating effectively, addressing your fears, and embracing technology, you can build a business that grows with ease. Whether you’re a solopreneur or a growing business, Pamela’s insights are crucial for avoiding burnout and accelerating growth without losing your freedom.

Want to learn more about scaling smartly without the burnout? Tune into the full episode of the Scale Smart, Grow Fast Podcast with Harley Green and Pamela Dale to hear more actionable insights for scaling your business the right way.

Ready to scale without the overwhelm? Book a discovery call today and let us help you delegate, streamline, and grow faster!

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How High-Performing Entrepreneurs Scale Without Burning Out

by Harley GreenScale Smart, Grow Fast PodcastPosted on Comments are Disabled

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:

  • Business Growth Activities (3+ hours/day): Lead generation, PR, team building.
  • Dopamine-Boosting Habits: Ice baths, fasting, gym, sun exposure—designed to optimize energy, focus, and execution.

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:

  • Hire people with proven performance and the right attitude.
  • Let go of perfection and micromanagement.
  • Focus on building systems and structure so your team can succeed without constant oversight.

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 lifestyle and mindset, his team followed. As he puts it: “Leadership by example wins every time.”

If you’re a business owner stuck working in the weeds, overwhelmed with day-to-day operations, and ready to scale without sacrificing your life—this episode is a masterclass in what it takes.

Ready to scale without burning out? Schedule a discovery call today and let’s build the systems and support your business needs to grow smarter.

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