If your workload is overflowing, your team is maxed out, and your pipeline’s heating up, it’s probably time to hire. With the right plan, it doesn’t have to be scary.

You know that feeling. Business has been ramping up. You’re doing well, but it’s also getting “a bit much”. You’re wondering if maybe, just maybe, it’s time to hire someone. 👀

But then your brain chimes in with, “Whoa there… are we sure about this? What if we jump too soon?”

Totally valid. Hiring feels like a big leap. 🪂
Because it is.

So how do you know when it’s time to stop doing everything yourself and start expanding your team?

Let’s talk it through. 🗣️

The “Am I Ready?” Stage 🧩

There comes a point in almost every small business where you hit a crossroads.🚦

Here’s how you know you might be standing at that intersection:

• You’re saying no to awesome projects because your calendar is bursting at the seams.
• Growth has stalled, not for lack of interest, but for lack of hands on deck.
• Admin, sleep, weekends, and your sanity are all taking a hit.
• Clients are starting to feel like they’re in a queue at the supermarket checkout.
• Freelancers are helping, but it still feels like duct tape on a leaky boat.

If any of this sounds familiar, guess what?
It might be time to hire. 🕒

Hiring = Exciting and Terrifying 😵💫🎉

Hiring someone is a big deal. You’re not just delegating. You’re becoming responsible for someone’s paycheck. 💸 That’s a lot.

Even if the numbers look good now, your inner critic might still be yelling, “What if this goes south in three months?” 😨

I hear you. I’ve been in business a long time, and it still gives me that fluttery nervous energy. 🦋 But here’s the thing:

You’ll never feel completely ready.

There’s a saying in business: “Don’t hire when you’re desperate.”
You hire before you think you’re ready.

That doesn’t mean wing it. It means plan it.

How I Decide When It’s Time to Hire 🧭

Let me walk you through how I make the call.

Continue to read my process here at: https://www.sandrajulian.co/podcast145

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You know that if you want different results, you have to do things differently! If you want to scale your business, increase your profits and crush your goals, your way, then private 1:1 Coaching (3 months) is for you. www.sandrajulian.co/coaching

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💰 Making money while you sleep sounds like the ultimate business dream, right?!

We’ve all heard the success stories: people selling templates, courses, or e-books and supposedly raking in cash while they’re out surfing 🏄‍♀️, sipping cocktails🍹, or living their best laptop-free life.

But is it really that simple? 🤔

Not quite.

Megan Elliott (also known as Megan Taylor), who runs a business selling both DIY copy templates ✍️ and fully done-for-you copy packages, knows firsthand that things are a bit more nuanced.

Her business, Copy Template Shop 🛍️ https://copytemplateshop.com, is all about helping her clients craft copy that’s both connection-driven 💬 and deeply strategic 🎯.

And here’s what she has to say about service vs. digital product business models and the myth of passive income.

The Myth of “Passive” Income

The idea that digital products equal easy money is widespread. But here’s the truth: selling templates may be scalable, but it’s far from hands-off.

💡 “Passive income isn’t as passive as the online business world wants us to believe.” – Megan Elliott

Even with automation, running a digital product shop still requires effort:

✅ Customer support: Answering questions and troubleshooting, which was so time consuming, Megan eventually decided to hire help.

✅ Keeping products updated: Content needs refreshing to stay relevant.

✅ Marketing: Driving traffic and sales isn’t automatic. It’s an ongoing job.

That doesn’t mean digital products aren’t worth it! They just require a different kind of effort than a service-based business.

Megan knows the ins and outs of service-based vs digital product-based business models so let’s compare the realities of each.

Service Vs. Digital Products Business: The Pros And Cons In A Nutshell

Both service and digital product business models have their perks and challenges.

Continue to read how they stack up in Megan’s experience here at: https://www.sandrajulian.co/podcast144

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Struggling to figure out what’s holding your business back? The Business Growth Snapshot dives into your marketing, sales, and delivery to uncover the roadblocks. You'll get a personalised video with clear steps to attract clients, boost profits, and grow. Grab yours at ​sandrajulian.co/snapshot

You know that if you want different results, you have to do things differently! If you want to scale your business, increase your profits and crush your goals, your way, then private 1:1 Coaching (3 months) is for you. www.sandrajulian.co/coaching

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Scaling your business isn’t about piling more onto your already full plate. It’s about stepping into your role as a leader; bringing in the right people and empowering them to take ownership.

But making that shift? Easier said than done.

Why Is It So Hard to Move from Doing to Leading?
Ever feel like you’re the glue holding everything together? You’re making every decision, overseeing every detail, and keeping the wheels turning. But instead of feeling in control, you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and stuck. It’s like if you take your hands off the wheel for even a second, everything might fall apart.

Here’s the good news: this is a normal phase. Every service business owner reaches this point, the moment when working harder is no longer the answer. But (and this is a big but!) you can’t stay here. If you don’t make the transition from doer to leader, your business growth will stall.

The challenge? Being a great business owner doesn’t automatically make you a great leader. The skills that got you here aren’t the same ones that will take you forward.

That’s why I want to share 2 game-changing books that helped me navigate this transition:
📖 Who Not How by Dan Sullivan
📖 Radical Candor by Kim Scott

These books will help you:
✅ Find the right people so you’re not doing everything yourself.
✅ Lead with confidence, clarity, and care (without micromanaging or feeling guilty!).

The Shift: Going From Business Owner to Business Leader
Ready to stop being the bottleneck in your business? Here’s where to start:

✅ Step 1: Identify What to Delegate
Download my System Creation Toolkit (includes a Delegation Checklist & Time Audit Resource). https://sandrajulian.co/SystemToolkit to help you figure out which tasks you should be handing off.

Once you have done this, it’s time to get the books out to help you transition from doing to leading.

✅ Step 2: Shift from How to Who
Instead of asking, How do I do this?, start asking, Who is the best person to take this on?

✅ Step 3: Lead with Clarity and Care
Set clear expectations, give honest feedback, and build a thriving team.

Continue to read here at: https://www.sandrajulian.co/podcast143

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Struggling to figure out what’s holding your business back? The Business Growth Snapshot dives into your marketing, sales, and delivery to uncover the roadblocks. You'll get a personalised video with clear steps to attract clients, boost profits, and grow. Grab yours at ​sandrajulian.co/snapshot

You know that if you want different results, you have to do things differently! If you want to scale your business, increase your profits and crush your goals, your way, then private 1:1 Coaching (3 months) is for you. www.sandrajulian.co/coaching

Website: www.sandrajulian.co
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Karen King, founder of Gold Star Pro, shares her journey of building a business while embracing the digital nomad family lifestyle.

Meet Karen King, the adventurous entrepreneur behind Gold Star Pro!

An Aussie, a mum of two, and a full-time traveller for nearly a decade, Karen traded the 9-to-5 grind for a business that lets her work from anywhere. 🏝️

The spark that ignited her digital nomad family lifestyle were the words “location independence” from “The Four-Hour Work Week” book by Tim Ferriss.

From there, Karen didn’t just adapt to the digital nomad family life. She built a business to make it easier for others too (if that’s what they dream of). Enter Gold Star Pro.

Let’s talk about Gold Star Pro

Gold Star Pro is the ultimate business tool for talented but not-so-tech-savvy entrepreneurs who want efficiency, automation, and more freedom. Instead of juggling multiple platforms, Gold Star Pro brings everything into one place with (and this is important!) lots and lots and lots of support. 🙌

In Karen’s words, “the platform offers everything a small service business needs apart from ZOOM”. From the website to course creation, email marketing, bulk social media scheduling, contact management and much, much more. It’s all there. (To find out more about Gold Star Pro, head over to https://www.usegoldstar.com)

Tips For Running A Business While Travelling With Kids

But about that digital nomad parenting life. In a lot of ways, it’s “same-same but different”.

For Karen’s kids, the world is their classroom! 🌎 They learn through experience: counting subway steps, converting currency, and exploring historic sites in real life.

Equally, as any parent will contest, running a business with kids isn’t easy. Doing it while travelling takes it up a notch. But Karen has mastered the art.

Here are her top 5 strategies to make it work:

1. Time Blocking is a Game-Changer ⏳ In the early days of their life as a digital nomad family, Karen loved the freedom of working whenever she wanted. But soon, she realised she wasn’t as productive as she could be. It was the trigger to engage a business coach who encouraged her to time-block.

Continue to read here at: https://www.sandrajulian.co/podcast142

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Struggling to figure out what’s holding your business back? The Business Growth Snapshot dives into your marketing, sales, and delivery to uncover the roadblocks. You'll get a personalised video with clear steps to attract clients, boost profits, and grow. Grab yours at ​sandrajulian.co/snapshot

You know that if you want different results, you have to do things differently! If you want to scale your business, increase your profits and crush your goals, your way, then private 1:1 Coaching (3 months) is for you. www.sandrajulian.co/coaching

Website: www.sandrajulian.co
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We explore 4 easy ways to strengthen your proposals by avoiding some key project proposal mistakes that confuse clients and delay decisions.

Ever sent a proposal bid and heard … nothing? Or maybe you got a response, but it was full of questions instead of a clear yes? Or how about the “I’ll think about it”?

If that sounds familiar, your proposal might be creating doubt instead of confidence.

There’s a real art and also a bit of a science to writing a good proposal.

Keen on making it easy for clients to say YES to your proposal, but need a simple proposal template for small business to get you on your way? I’ve got you!

Download my “Irresistible Proposal Blueprint” https://sandrajulian.co/irresistible-proposal-blueprint/ and start improving your project proposals today! 🎉

So, here are four common project proposal mistakes, AND how you can fix them.👇

4 Proposal Mistakes That Crop Up Again And Again

Project Proposal Mistake 1: DON’T Skip the Client’s Pain Point Or Desire

Often, I see businesses copy and paste text directly from the client’s website into the proposal bid. But that doesn’t show deep understanding of the problem, something your client really desires.

Instead: show your client you understand their unique problem.

✅ Ask plenty of clarifying questions before you start writing the proposal and then acknowledge the challenge in their own words.
✅ Explain what’s at stake if they don’t fix it.
✅ Paint a picture of success after working with you.

Project Proposal Mistake 2: DON’T Offer A Menu Of Services As The Solution

Listing multiple service options leaves it to the client to figure out what they need. One of the most common project proposal mistakes is failing to recognise that confused clients don’t say YES.

Instead: It’s your job to offer the solution in your project proposal.

✅ Provide a clear solution for their problem.
✅ Explain why it’s the right approach.
✅ Show how it leads to their desired result.

Project Proposal Mistake 3: DON’T Be Vague In Your Pricing

Continue to read here at: https://www.sandrajulian.co/podcast141

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Struggling to figure out what’s holding your business back? The Business Growth Snapshot dives into your marketing, sales, and delivery to uncover the roadblocks. You'll get a personalised video with clear steps to attract clients, boost profits, and grow. Grab yours at ​sandrajulian.co/snapshot

You know that if you want different results, you have to do things differently! If you want to scale your business, increase your profits and crush your goals, your way, then private 1:1 Coaching (3 months) is for you. www.sandrajulian.co/coaching

Website: www.sandrajulian.co
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Clunky business processes create chaos, waste time, and cause missed opportunities. In this episode, I will explain how to streamline your business in simple steps.

Is your business paddling smoothly—or are you splashing around?

Running a business is like paddling a waka (canoe). When your team is in sync, you move forward with speed and purpose. But if everyone is paddling at their own leisure—or worse, if you don’t even have a paddle—you won’t have that same propelling force. Or worse, you’ll go in circles, drift aimlessly, or work way too hard just to stay afloat.

That’s exactly what happens when your business processes aren’t clear. Instead of efficiency, you get chaos, wasted time, and missed opportunities. But don’t worry—fixing this isn’t as overwhelming as it sounds!

4 Steps To Streamline Your Inefficient Business Processes in 2025

✅ Get Clear on Your Objectives
All business processes should have a purpose. Ask yourself: Why does this task matter? What’s the best way to do it? How will I know it’s working? Clarity = success.

✅ Standardise Your Way of Doing Things
If you’re making things up as you go, it’s time to document what works best. Create repeatable steps so you (and your team) don’t waste time figuring things out every time. Remember, your business processes should reflect what makes your business unique!

✅ Automate Where Possible
Automation isn’t just a fancy extra—It’s a game changer. Tools can handle scheduling, invoicing, follow-ups, and more, freeing you up to focus on strategy and growth.

✅ Keep Tweaking & Improving
What works today might not work next year. Regularly review your business processes and ask, How can I make this more efficient? Small improvements add up fast!

Make Business Easier with My Systems Creation Toolkit!

Struggling with clunky business processes? I’ve got you! My Systems Creation Toolkit is packed with templates, checklists, and workflows to streamline your operations.

Grab your copy now at https://sandrajulian.co/SystemToolkit and start building systems that work for you, not against you!

Continue to read here at: https://www.sandrajulian.co/podcast140

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Struggling to figure out what’s holding your business back? The Business Growth Snapshot dives into your marketing, sales, and delivery to uncover the roadblocks. You'll get a personalised video with clear steps to attract clients, boost profits, and grow. Grab yours at ​sandrajulian.co/snapshot

You know that if you want different results, you have to do things differently! If you want to scale your business, increase your profits and crush your goals, your way, then private 1:1 Coaching (3 months) is for you. www.sandrajulian.co/coaching

Website: www.sandrajulian.co
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In this episode, we'll explore essential business tools with AI integration and how they can help you in your business. You'll also get practical advice on how to choose the right tools, ensuring they meet your needs, integrate seamlessly, and grow with you.

There is no denying that AI is shaking up the business world.

Increasingly, AI is integrated into our favourite tools, promising to save time, helping us make more insightful decisions, and tackle tasks more efficiently. Which is all fine and well, but it’s also easy to get lost in or intimidated by this new world.

From automating workflows to analysing data, in this episode, we explore AI powered features in business tools. More importantly, we also look at how they can help us do things smarter and faster.

BEST AI FEATURES IN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS TOOLS

• Project Management Tools: Essential for tracking projects, deadlines, and tasks. AI is enhancing productivity, and my favourite is Monday.com. Try a free 14-day trial at http://www.sandrajulian.co/monday.com to see why! 📅
• AI-Powered Communication Tools: ChatGPT drafts emails, creates social media content, and handles simple inquiries. Grammarly uses AI for smarter proofreading, ensuring polished, brand-aligned communication. ✉️ ✨
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tools: AI-driven CRMs like HubSpot analyse client data, suggest follow-ups, personalise messages, and predict customer needs. 💼🤝
• Meeting Management Tools: Tools like Fathom record, transcribe, and summarise Zoom meetings. AI ensures you capture key points so you can focus on strategy. 🕒📋
• Financial Management Tools: AI in Xero or QuickBooks categorises transactions, forecasts cash flow, and offers insights to support informed decisions.💰📊
• Automation Tools: AI-powered Zapier or Make connect platforms and automate tasks, with AI suggesting workflows. 🛠️ 🤖
• Analytics Tools: AI in Google Analytics 4 predicts trends, monitors performance, and surfaces insights. 🎯📈

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Continue to read here at https://www.sandrajulian.co/podcast139

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Struggling to figure out what’s holding your business back? The Business Growth Snapshot dives into your marketing, sales, and delivery to uncover the roadblocks. You'll get a personalised video with clear steps to attract clients, boost profits, and grow. Grab yours at ​sandrajulian.co/snapshot

You know that if you want different results, you have to do things differently! If you want to scale your business, increase your profits and crush your goals, your way, then private 1:1 Coaching (3 months) is for you. www.sandrajulian.co/coaching

Website: www.sandrajulian.co
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The Main Takeaway

Quarterly business plans are the bridge between your annual goals and daily tasks. They turn intentions into actionable steps that drive meaningful progress.

Ready to Make 2025 Your Best Year? Let’s Talk PLANNING 🚀

Planning isn’t tedious—it’s your secret weapon for achieving the “impossible.” Years ago, I avoided planning, consumed by client demands. Everything changed when I embraced structured planning. Now, I break my year into quarterly business plans, monthly tasks, and weekly progress tracking.

Here’s the magic formula: ACCOUNTABILITY + ACTION = SUCCESS! 🏆

Why You Need Quarterly Business Plans

1. Essential for Growth
   To achieve new results, you must shift your approach. Quarterly business plans connect long-term goals to daily actions, ensuring intentions lead to tangible results.
2. Consistency is Key
   Schedule quarterly planning sessions at the start of the year. Make these non-negotiable, dedicating four hours during the last or first week of each quarter.
3. Team Collaboration Matters
   Involve your team to gain insights, avoid blind spots, and align everyone with your goals.

The Four-Step Process for Creating a Quarterly Business Plan

1. Celebrate Wins
   Start with positivity by acknowledging achievements. 🎉
2. Make Adjustments
   Apply the KISS quadrant—Keep, Improve, Stop, Start—to refine processes and boost efficiency.
3. Reflect on the Previous Quarter
   Review what worked, what didn’t, and carry over tasks that align with your goals.
4. Plan the New Quarter
   Choose up to four focus areas and break them into monthly tasks with clear deadlines.

Stay Accountable to Your Plan

Turn your plan into actionable tasks with clear accountability. Use tools like Monday.com to track progress and keep on course.

Final Thoughts

Start simple and adapt as needed. Quarterly planning can set the foundation for an epic year, whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or managing a team. 🌟

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Struggling to figure out what’s holding your business back? The Business Growth Snapshot dives into your marketing, sales, and delivery to uncover the roadblocks. You'll get a personalised video with clear steps to attract clients, boost profits, and grow. Grab yours at ​sandrajulian.co/snapshot

You know that if you want different results, you have to do things differently! If you want to scale your business, increase your profits and crush your goals, your way, then private 1:1 Coaching (3 months) is for you. www.sandrajulian.co/coaching

Website: www.sandrajulian.co
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Facebook: www.facebook.com/sandrajulian.co
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