"I was so excited to get the contract—I didn’t read the fine print." Sound familiar? In this episode, Patrice Davis, founder of Grants Works, shares the painful but powerful lesson she learned about intellectual property when a contract misstep led to a cease-and-desist letter and thousands of dollars in losses.

Patrice opens up about how she built a scalable training offer from scratch, only to find out she didn’t legally own the product she created. Erin walks through exactly what went wrong—and how you can avoid making the same mistake with your high-value content.

This candid conversation is packed with practical insights on contractor agreements, NDAs, and how to protect your IP before you scale. Plus, Patrice shares how she turned things around—and the licensing play she’s launching now that could be her most impactful move yet.

Key Takeaways:

• The Mistake That Sparked a Cease & Desist - Patrice shares how one contract oversight with a client led to losing access to the training materials she created.
• The Cost of Vague Deliverables - Erin explains how unclear contract terms around “deliverables” can lead to clients assuming full IP ownership even when they shouldn't.
• Free to Paid: Building the Grants Works Academy - From webinars to a scalable online academy, Patrice reveals how she productized her consulting services with intention.
• Protecting Your IP from Client Hires - Patrice details how she shields her business from contractors or employees assigned by clients to “help” and potentially steal her systems.
• Rebuilding with Licensing in Mind - After losing her original materials, Patrice rebuilt her training with future licensing opportunities and legal clarity at the core.
• Ownership Differences: Employee vs. Contractor Work - Erin clarifies how IP rights shift depending on whether someone is a W2 employee or a 1099 contractor and why that distinction matters.
• AI, Otter & ChatGPT Cautions - Both Erin and Patrice share risks of using AI or transcription tools with confidential or proprietary content and how to safeguard it.
• A Resource for Consultants Ready to Scale - Patrice discusses her free eBook for professionals looking to turn their expertise into a multi-six-figure consulting firm.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

🔗 Visit Patrice Davis’ website

More About Our Guest:

Patrice Davis is the founder and CEO of Grants Works, a consulting firm based in Atlanta, GA, and lead trainer at Grants Works Academy. After transitioning from a senior nonprofit executive role, she launched her successful consulting business in 2020, leveraging her marketing expertise to serve universities, government agencies, corporations, and nonprofits worldwide. Patrice is a sought-after speaker and podcast guest, advocating for professionals to monetize their expertise through niche consulting. In 2022, she founded Ready Set Go Consult, a business accelerator guiding consultants to build thriving independent practices. She also hosts the Age Has No Limit podcast.

Connect with Patrice Davis:

• Website
• LinkedIn

In this episode of Scaling Expertise, I sit down with Jillian Dolberry, team and systems strategist and founder of Jillian Dolberry HQ, to talk about what it really takes to scale a business with integrity. Jillian shares why values are the compass for sustainable growth — and how mindset can either fuel or stifle your potential as a business owner.

We get honest about the emotional toll of leadership, the myth of perfect systems, and why grace — not grit — may be your best growth strategy. Plus, Jillian introduces her 90-day intensive, built to help you step into your CEO role with confidence and clarity.

Whether you're building your first team or rethinking your systems to scale, this episode will help you align your operations with what matters most.

Key Takeaways:

• Grace Fuels Growth - Jillian shares that giving yourself grace during setbacks is essential to scaling with confidence and authenticity.
• Decisions Shape Your Business - Poor delegation and disconnection often stem from reactive decision-making that isn’t grounded in your values.
• Delegation Requires Clarity - Understanding your business functions through tools like the Team Task Tracker makes effective delegation possible and scalable.
• Mindset Is the Real Obstacle - Many scaling challenges aren’t about resources—they’re about internal beliefs that need to be addressed with awareness, action, and accountability.
• Structure Enables Sustainability - Building systems that reflect your values and leadership style is key to running a business that grows without burning you out.

More About Our Guest:

Jillian Dolberry is a coach and business manager for women entrepreneurs, specializing in operations management and creative services. She's known for her work with virtual assistants and online business managers, guiding them on setting boundaries, developing systems, and navigating difficult conversations. Jillian also hosts the Grace-Filled CEO Podcast, further sharing her expertise in business management and leadership.

Connect with Jillian Dolberry:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Connect with Erin to learn how to Turn Your Expertise into Scalable Recurring Revenue.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/erinaustin/

Think Beyond IP YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVztXnDYnZ83oIb-EGX9IGA/videos

Music credit: Paphos by Mountaineer

A Team Dklutr production

What are you willing to do to stop playing small?

That’s the provocative question Gill Moakes asked herself—and it completely changed the trajectory of her coaching business. In this episode of Scaling Expertise, I welcome Gill to talk about what it really takes to grow a coaching practice into a business that makes real money and real impact—without selling your soul to the algorithm.

Gill shares her journey from corporate to virtual assistant to powerhouse business coach, how personal loss pushed her to take bold leaps, and how she codified her one-on-one coaching into a scalable, step-by-step framework. We also dive deep into mindset shifts around “playing big,” pricing as women, and protecting your IP in the age of AI.

If you’ve been on the fence about growing your business in a way that feels aligned and expansive, this conversation is your permission slip.

Key Takeaways:

• Redefine Playing Big: Scaling doesn’t always mean going bigger—it means getting clearer and braver about what success looks like for you.
• Codify Your Coaching Journey: Turning your client experience into a step-by-step framework isn’t just helpful—it’s the foundation of a scalable business.
• Speak Like a Human: Ditch the coach speak. Messaging that resonates starts with the language your ideal clients actually use.
• Protect What You’ve Built: Your ideas, frameworks, and voice are assets. Own and protect your IP before someone else does.
• Raise the Bar (and the Price): Playing small often hides behind low pricing. Charge like you believe in the value you create.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

🔗 Visit Gill Moakes’ website

🔗 Book a call for The Coaching Business Academy

More About Our Guest:

Gill is an award-winning, international business coach who specialises in helping great coaches build phenomenal businesses. Gill is the founder of The Coaching Business Academy, the co-founder of Unapologetic Retreats and the host of the Heads Together podcast where she delivers a weekly dose of entrepreneurial real talk to coaches on the grow.

Connect with Gill Moakes:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Charity: MicroLoan Foundation

Connect with Erin to learn how to Turn Your Expertise into Scalable Recurring Revenue.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/erinaustin/

Think Beyond IP YouTube Page:...

What if your most valuable asset isn’t your time, but your unique way of thinking?

In this episode of Scaling Expertise, I chat with business strategist and OG podcaster Jason Van Orden to talk about building a business that scales beyond your hours and your inbox.

Jason has been turning ideas into scalable assets since launching his first podcast in 2005 (yes, really). Today, he helps consultants and coaches package their knowledge into branded methods and systems that create real leverage—and real impact. We talk about why your signature method is more than just marketing—it’s your filter, framework, and freedom. How to detach your business from your presence and turn your ideas into repeatable assets. What traps to avoid when you serve too broadly, and how to position yourself to attract premium clients who buy into your method, not just your minutes.

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your expertise into intellectual property that can scale—without losing your voice or burning out—this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Create a Signature Method: Your method isn’t just a framework—it’s a strategic filter that helps you stay focused and aligned.
• Detach Value from Time: To scale, you must shift from selling access to you, to selling results through a system.
• Define Who You Serve Best: Narrowing your ideal client and solution makes growth simpler, not smaller.
• Systematize Your IP: Organizing your knowledge into processes allows for more impact with less burnout.
• Your Voice Matters: Even if your approach uses common tools, your perspective and values make it unique—and that’s worth branding.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

🎁 Free Worksheet: Signature Method Framework

📩 Join Jason’s newsletter (via website)

More About Our Guest:

Jason helps coaches and consultants grow their businesses by creating offers that scale without overloading their time and energy. Since 2004, Jason has worked with over 10,000 entrepreneurs and created more than 60 online courses and programs. In 2005, he launched the first-ever internet marketing podcast, Internet Business Mastery, which spent a decade as a top ten business podcast.

Connect with Jason Van Orden:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook

Charity: Girls Who Code

Connect with Erin to learn how to Turn Your Expertise into Scalable Recurring Revenue.

LinkedIn:

What if the biggest thing holding your business back… is you?

In this episode of Scaling Expertise, I sit down with Jill James, founder of The Jill James, a fractional COO firm that helps expert founders scale without burning out or staying stuck in operator mode. Jill built her firm by asking one powerful question: “How can I help people do the work they love without being buried in admin?”

We dig deep into the invisible costs of overwork, the identity shift from doer to leader, and the moment Jill realized she needed to break her own rules to scale. If you’re feeling like your business can’t run without you, this episode is your wake-up call.

Jill shares hard-earned wisdom from scaling businesses to $10M+ and offers actionable ways to reclaim your time, build operational clarity, and let go of control—without compromising your vision.

Key Takeaways:

• Founders can be the bottleneck. If your business can’t function without you, it’s not scalable.
• Don’t sell your time—sell your thinking. Experts grow when they stop doing and start designing systems.
• Scaling isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing less, better. Create space so the business can operate without you.
• You don’t need to be a “visionary.” You just need to be clear about where you want to go.
• Resist the "fixer" urge. Let your team solve problems so they can grow into their roles.
• Fractional leadership. This can help expert founders transition out of operator mode with structure and sanity.

Jill is a featured author in The Wisdom Collection: Stories That Transform How We Live, Connect, and Lead—an anthology of powerful insights from business leaders who’ve built, failed, and figured things out the hard way so you don’t have to. Each chapter is practical, quick to read, and full of hard-won wisdom.

The book launches June 24 and will be available for just $1.99 during its first 24–48 hours.

Want the launch link or more details? Check out Jill’s announcement post on LinkedIn.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

🔗 Check out Jill’s firm: The Jill James

📬 Get her insights: Subscribe to the newsletter

🤝 Connect via Beehiiv

More About Our Guest:

Jill James is CEO & Founder of The Jill James. As a recent client summed up, she is what would happen “if you could hire Sallie Krawchek, Dany Garcia, and Mackenzie Scott to run your company.” Jill started her career in New York City as an investment banking analyst with J. P. Morgan and personal wealth planner with AXA Financial (now Equitable). She moved to tech start-ups and held nearly every non-programming job in early stage companies, including product, marketing, sales, and...

What if scaling your consulting business wasn’t just about making more money—but about making it work for you?

In this episode of Scaling Expertise, I am joined by Jessica Fearnley, a business consultant and expert in sustainable growth strategies, to discuss the real challenges consultants face when scaling their businesses. Too often, we chase bigger revenue numbers, assuming that more clients and higher earnings automatically lead to success. But Jessica reveals why that’s not always the case—and how growth can actually hurt your business if it’s not intentional. We dive into why traditional scaling strategies don’t always work for consultants, the common pitfalls of hiring and expansion, and the mindset shifts necessary for building a profitable, sustainable, and enjoyable consulting business.

If you're a consultant looking to scale without burning out, this conversation is for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Bigger revenue ≠ bigger success. Many consultants increase their revenue but see little to no profit growth. Jessica explains why revenue isn’t the ultimate measure of success.
• The hidden costs of scaling. More clients, more staff, and bigger contracts can sound great—but they often come with increased stress and complexity.
• Hiring isn’t always the answer. Scaling doesn’t mean immediately building a huge team. Jessica shares how to assess whether hiring is the right move for your business.
• Intentional growth is key. Sustainable success comes from a business model that supports your goals, lifestyle, and energy—not just higher numbers.
• Mindset shifts for scaling success. Jessica discusses the biggest mindset blocks consultants face when trying to grow—and how to overcome them.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

🔗 Visit her website at jessicafearnley.com

🔗 Avail her book - Too Much: How To Thrive Being More Instead of Settling for Less

More About Our Guest:

Jessica Fearnley is a business coach who helps women build seven figure consulting firms. She specializes in the transition from six to seven figures in turnover, and is an advocate for earning more by working less. Jessica has bachelor's and masters degrees from Nottingham University, and a career background in project management, business planning and business development in both the public and private sector. In December 2019 she was named as one of the LinkedIn Top Voices for Entrepreneurship and Small Business, and is passionate about closing the gender pay gap for women in consulting.

Connect with Jessica Fearnley:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

In this episode of Scaling Expertise, I sit down with business growth strategist Maiko Sakai to dive into the key strategies expert-preneurs need to scale their businesses sustainably. Maiko shares her insights on finding the right balance with delegation—avoiding both hesitation and premature delegation—while emphasizing the crucial role that intellectual property (IP) plays in creating a leverageable business.

We explore how to develop unique frameworks, test and protect your IP, and transform your expertise into scalable assets. Maiko also breaks down how service-based business owners can structure their offerings to move beyond one-on-one work while still maintaining profitability. If you're looking to scale your business without burning out, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss!

Key Takeaways:

• The Delegation Sweet Spot: Avoid being too hesitant or too aggressive in hiring; instead, build systems that allow for smart, sustainable delegation.
• IP as Your Growth Engine: Your intellectual property is your most valuable asset. Develop, test, and secure your frameworks before scaling them.
• Testing Before Scaling: Ensure your methodologies and frameworks are robust by stress-testing them before rolling them out widely.
• Creating Scalable Offers: Keep your 1:1 services as a stable revenue source while developing both a gateway product for new clients and a high-ticket offer for deeper transformation.
• Quizzes as a Lead Generation Tool: A well-structured quiz can help filter ideal clients and boost engagement.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

🔗 Visit her website at MaikoSakai.com

📩 Free Quiz Blueprint: Download Maiko’s 10-Step Quiz Creation Blueprint on her website.

More About Our Guest:

Maiko Sakai is a quiz alchemist and business consultant who helps service providers attract ideal clients with psychology-driven quizzes—without the overwhelm. Using her Quiz Creation 10-Step Blueprint, Maiko transforms quiz-building into an inspiring, creative process that boosts email lists, builds trust, and delivers rave-worthy results. Her mission? To help small business owners turn their expertise into a scalable marketing tool that grows their visibility and revenue effortlessly. Originally from Japan and now a proud New Yorker, Maiko has an MBA from Cornell University, a love for ethnic cuisine, and a weakness for ultra-modern design and exotic houseplants.

Connect with Maiko Sakai:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• X

Connect with Erin to learn how to Turn Your Expertise into...

In this episode of Scaling Expertise, I am joined by Anjel B. Hartwell, a seasoned business development strategist, to uncover the secrets of sustainable growth through authentic sales and relationship-building. Anjel shares her journey from corporate sales to helping businesses scale through strategic partnerships and personalized outreach.

We discuss how business development differs from traditional sales, the importance of cultivating genuine connections, and why a long-term mindset is key to success. Anjel also breaks down actionable steps for entrepreneurs and experts looking to expand their reach without feeling pushy or transactional.

If you're ready to rethink sales and build a business that thrives on meaningful connections, this episode is for you!

Key Takeaways:

• Business Development vs. Sales: Business development is about fostering long-term relationships, not just closing deals.
• The Power of Personalization: Generic outreach doesn’t work—craft messages that show you’ve done your research.
• Follow-Up is Key: Persistence and consistency build trust and increase conversion rates.
• Networking with Purpose: Focus on quality connections rather than mass outreach.
• Value-First Approach: Lead with value before asking for anything in return.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

🔗 Be Heard By Millions & Live Your Destiny: A Creative Age Leader's Guide To Speak, Sell, Serve & Succeed – Get it on Amazon or download the free eBook.

🔗 Wealthy Life Readiness Quiz – Take the quiz here.

More About Our Guest:

Anjel B. Hartwell is an internationally known author, artist & evolutionary alchemist. A Be The Change “Movement To Watch” Award Winner and one of America’s Premier Experts, she’s appeared multiple times in major media. Creator, Executive Producer & Host of 14X Award Winning & Apple #1 Internationally ranked Wickedly Smart Women Podcast, 3X Award Winning Top 50 Internationally ranked Leading Visionaries Podcast, International Impact, Global Book & BookFest Award Winning author of Be Heard By Millions & Live Your Destiny, she's hired to consult with high achieving visionary leaders who are called to be the Vanguard of the Creative Age.

Connect with Anjel Hartwell:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Connect with Erin to learn how to Turn Your Expertise into Scalable Recurring Revenue.