When businesses are covered in the media, often there is a lot of focus on the initial idea, the genesis moment. Then they almost brush over the middle part – the scaling up part – and arrive at how big and awesome the business is today. It makes for a fun read or in the case of a movie or show an entertaining watch, but it’s also a missed opportunity. The middle part – the scaling up part is where so many small business owners get stuck. It’s the part so many of us need more guidance with and so we wanted to get conversations going on the topic of scaling up.

Jaila Rykse

Growth and change. Two words I never enjoyed, but when learned to embrace them, I encountered the most pivotal moments that got me to where I am today. No one goes from 5ft to 10ft and no seed goes from sown to harvest over night. You have to be willing to grow. With growth comes growing pains. Read more>>

Gilde Flores

I believe my scaling up as a music composer/producer came from strategic planning, followed by years of “bootstrapping” knowing that I had to prove my self, (really to myself), in this audio and visual media industry. Read more>>

Cassie Sellers

When I started Serendipity Doo’s, I had one key product. I worked tirelessly to formulate my hand & body lotion, but knew I had more to offer, I continued to expand my product catalog to include more items I knew my customers would love. In the beginning, I was participating in the occasional farm’s market and reaching out to local shops one by one. Read more>>

Akeem Loftin

I was always taught not to think I knew it all and to leave space to grow and learn different ways of doing things even if I knew how to do certain tasks. While in barber school, I always took pictures of the finish product so that way later down the line I can go back and look at my progress for how far I’ve come. Around that time was when social media platforms had started becoming an actual thing especially for the hair Industry. Read more>>

John & Terri Bilott

About 8 years ago we came across antique church pews that were for sale. John said ” let’s get them. Terri always flipped furniture for over 20 years but did not think that would sell. Well they did and fast. So we would seek out church pews. We ended up exploring up and down the eastern coast and inland for very ” special pews” ones that date back over 100 years. Read more>>

Aerial Austin

I love this topic because Real Estate is definitely a career where people assume you become a real estate agent and you make a lot of money and that is not the case AT ALL. Social Media plays a huge factor in this because we tend to post the house tours and the closing celebrations but there is so much that goes on behind the scenes that no one sees. One thing that I have learned is “nothing in business is overnight”, it has taken me years of hard work, being a student, many late nights and early mornings to get to where I am in my career today and I am still working every day to get to where I want to be. Read more>>

Voyo Popovic

We were able to grow quickly by delivering an unmatched moving experience for our clients. Most businesses strive to be the best, and in an industry like ours, if customers are satisfied or thrilled with the level of service, they’ll let their friends and family know, post reviews online, and share their experience on social media. For longevity and authentic brand equity, you have to deliver a service or product that your customers love for your growth to last. Read more>>

Lindsey White

Starting a business can be the scariest thing you’ve ever done, and also the most rewarding. I started photography at 15 years old. I’d take photos of friends and acquaintances and butterflies. I did it for fun and then when I got lots of requests, I would charge like $40 for a session. Read more>>

Allison McKenzie

We must certainly fumble around in the dark and make mistakes when starting a business. I was raised by two entrepreneurial parents who, from the early 80’s to present day, ran a myriad of small scale businesses (24 hour photo, gas station, convenience store, and tax preparation). They had a lot of knowledge to share with me, but, being in their 60’s at the time, they were drawing a blank on just what one does to be an illustrator selling their art. Read more>>