Growing and scaling a business is hard and we wanted to hear from business owners who have successfully scaled a business. Below, you’ll find our conversations on scaling with some very talented and insightful folks.

Sarah Jabbour.

I knew I wanted to own my own boutique in high-school, and after college I attempted to do just that but financially, I was not ready. So I worked full-time at a marketing firm and started my boutique on a smaller scale inside of a co-opt that had central checking and staffing. I took PTO and would go to market and would bring in merchandise over my lunch break and on the weekends. Read more>>

Brian Worley

When I first started in the event planning and design business, there was not a thing called instagram or social media other than websites, but I did know that people don’t read and we are all visual. We take in the world making mental photos of everything we see, so I knew that it was important to have really visually well done photos on my website to sell what I was doing. Read more>>

Jim Stewart.

I took the more traditional studio route early in my career by being an intern at a commercial facility and working my way up. Unfortunately, Cleveland is not a major music city so the larger studios that I interned and then worked at could not survive and ultimately closed down. This forced me to start small on my own, purchasing whatever equipment I could afford and working wherever possible. Basements, rehearsal spaces, the living room of my apartment. Anywhere my clients wanted to work. Read more>>

Amie Migirova

A lot of small business owners, especially in the salon industry, do not see the value in having a “non-producer” on the payroll. Can one person do it all? Yes. But, for how long without getting burnt out, and how effectively can they do all of it? I think that having a great management team is not only important, but essential, especially if you are wanting to scale your business. I have never used a consultant in my business, but I have amazing support via my salon manager and my husband who left his corporate management position to come onboard at the salon and help me put things into place. Read more>>

Rob Hamilton.

Our gym started as a small classroom that offered group training classes. We focused on providing classes that were new to the area and easily adjusted to challenge all fitness levels. Our goal was (and still is) to put all of our focus on providing our clients with the best experience possible and LISTENING to what they wanted. Read more>>

Laura Ryan

Pup Patrol Walkers has always been the story about passion which is like many other successful businesses. We are a family owned business mainly myself, Laura and my husband, Tom. But, so many of our family members have chipped in and that is a huge part of our growth. When we decided that we wanted to “walk dogs for a living”, it was literally just a leash, lots of puppy love and long walks. Read more>>

Danielle Jeter

My life changed in 2009. I was 19 years old, a student at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, the #1 HBCU in the world for women of color. At that time, one of the biggest things in the news was the great recession which hit close to home for so many college graduates. Thinking ahead and being strategic I knew that there was an opportunity I would graduate from college with a well-earned degree but no job offer to match. Read more>>

Kevin Alvarez

It all started when i was just 12. Using a mac in a computer class to put together loops and now fast forward I own a professional recording studio of my own, performing at shows and slowly becoming a solidified figure in my home town for the things that i do. Never did it come easy to get here and i am nowhere close to done so I cant imagine the obstacles coming up but im up for it. Read more>>

Rosai

My modeling journey has definitely had it’s trials and tribulations. When I first started, I really didn’t even know what to do or where to start. Luckily I had some great people guiding me and helping me network but that didn’t last forever . Eventually , I hit a point where it felt I was not active enough to achieve where I desired being. That really took me to the next level, changing my mindset. After that shift in my mental, I started going harder . Read more>>