Scaling Strategies for Lasting Business Growth

Hitting $10M isn't the finish line, it's where the real race begins. Most brands stall here, thinking what got you to 8-figures will surely get you to 9. After scaling dozens of brands past this critical threshold, I've cracked the code on how to break through: #1. Diminishing Returns - Diversify revenue streams to combat rising customer acquisition costs. - Optimize unit economics before scaling further to preserve profitability. #2. Product Expansion - Successful brands add complementary products around their core offering. - Growth comes from diversification, not diluting your core business. #3. Margin Focus - Elite brands optimize unit economics rather than just increasing spend. - Focus on cash efficiency, high-margin products, and post-purchase monetization. #4. Creative Investment - Allocate 5-10% of the budget to new creative or risk growth. - Divide spend: 50% proven, 30% variations, 20% experimental creative. #5. Team Evolution - Replace generalists with specialists who excel in specific areas. - Delegate control and increase overhead to enable efficient scaling. #6. Customer Retention - Your top 10% of customers drive nearly half your profit. - Build tiered VIP systems with exclusive access and personalized experiences. #7. Financial Rigor - Surface-level metrics lead to million-dollar mistakes at scale. - Don't just track metrics—interrogate them and question assumptions. #8. Strategic Leadership - Micromanaging founders become the bottleneck, preventing further growth. - Implement OKRs and frameworks that empower teams to decide. #9. Strategic Alliances - Form partnerships that accelerate reach without proportionally increasing costs. - Explore co-branding, distribution deals, and strategic licensing arrangements. #10. Long-Term Vision - It's okay to stay at $10M if that's your comfort zone. - Sustainable growth systems compound over time, not through quick wins.

Founders, I see you. You’re juggling it all: Revenue goals Growth and scaling Team management Product development Board expectations Hiring, firing, resignations... And somehow, you’re expected to do it all really well. But scaling your team comes with pitfalls that keep your business stuck: → Siloed GTM teams, no one unifies sales, customer success, and marketing → Asking your VP of People to define GTM strategy (Pro tip: That’s not their job) → Favoritism in reporting, some report to you, others to directors, creating confusion and cultural kryptonite → Key hiring decisions left to people who don’t know how → Crossing your fingers that the next hire will “fix” everything while repeating the same broken patterns Hard to hear, but sounds familiar? Here’s the fallout: → Endless meetings, no clear answers → Firefighting while strategic priorities stall → Decisions dragging for months, leaving your business in limbo → The same costly mistakes are scaling with your growth → A burned-out team craving clarity, structure, and support The fix is easier than you think Scaling isn’t about hiring more people It’s about hiring the right people driven by the work to be done and creating alignment Here’s where to start: 1️⃣ Audit Your Org Chart: Cut redundant leadership layers. A CRO could unify your vision and execution. 2️⃣ Clarify Roles: Focus on the work + measurable outcomes, not fluffy job descriptions. 3️⃣ Streamline GTM Hiring Decisions: If your hiring strategy requires 10–15 internal decision-makers, it’s broken. Use “disagree and commit” to move faster. 4️⃣ Strategize Hiring: Treat hiring like a growth strategy, not a gamble. Build a clear, repeatable process with expert guidance if you're flying blind. The hardest part of scaling isn’t growth. It’s unlearning what worked at $1M but breaks at $10M. Your churn, growth, and time issues all come back to this: treating hiring like a to-do list instead of a strategy. This is what I help founders do: turn hiring into a strategic advantage so your business scales faster, with fewer expensive mistakes. Help is just a DM away. #startups #hiring #GTM #BuildWithATP

Most companies don’t fail due to lack of vision. They fail because they lack execution. Here’s how to fix that ⬇️ Every stage of business growth demands a new operating strategy. What works at $3M will break at $13M. What works at $30M will bury you at $60M. You need new roles, new strategy, new perspective, new tech for each stage. I made this visual to show the 5 Operating Stages of Growth — from $1M to $100M — and what to prioritize at each stage. Let’s break it down: ➤ Stage 1: $1M to $5M ↳ Focus: Establish repeatable processes ↳ Challenge: Consistent delivery and cash flow ↳ Action: Document every process from sales to fulfillment. 💡 85% of companies that fail at this stage suffer from poor process management. (HBR) ➤ Stage 2: $5M to $10M ↳ Focus: Build a strong leadership team ↳ Challenge: Growing without losing your culture ↳ Action: Identify key roles. Hire for vision, not just skills. 💡 Companies that hire strategically see a 30% higher success rate. (Deloitte) ➤ Stage 3: $10M to $25M ↳ Focus: Implement scalable systems ↳ Challenge: Maintain efficiency as volume increases ↳ Action: Adopt ERP & CRM tools. Automate repetitive tasks. 💡 ERP cuts costs by 20% during this phase. (Panorama) ➤ Stage 4: $25M to $50M ↳ Focus: Scale operations ↳ Challenge: Maintain service quality as you grow ↳ Action: Standardize and document processes. Prioritize customer satisfaction. 💡 40% of companies struggle with quality during scaling. (Gartner) ➤ Stage 5: $50M to $100M ↳ Focus: Expand into new markets ↳ Challenge: Grow globally while staying profitable ↳ Action: Build a market entry plan. Localize distribution. 💡 75% of companies here invest in international growth. (KPMG) Every stage demands different tools, decisions, and leadership behavior. ✅ Map your systems to your size ✅ Invest in people before problems appear ✅ Treat operations as a competitive advantage ♻️Repost & follow John Brewton for content that helps. ✅ Do. Fail. Learn. Grow. Win. ✅ Repeat. Forever. ___ 📬Subscribe to Operating by John Brewton for deep dives on the history and future of operating companies (🔗in profile).

🚀 Rethink Scaling: A New Playbook for $40M Success Scaling from $20M to $40M demands a departure from the conventional. You've built something extraordinary, reaching $20M in sales, but to double that, it's time to rewrite the rules. 🎯 What to Focus On: Increase Productivity Spend Less 📘 Your Simple Guide: 1. Clean the House 🏠 Evaluate every process, contract, or deal. Slash at least 15% of operational inefficiencies. How? Embrace automation. Let technology carry the load, freeing you to strategize and innovate. 2. Renegotiate Contracts 💼 Empower your buying team to secure better deals with suppliers. Seek significant drops in the costs of acquiring goods and services. Smart negotiations fuel sustainable growth. 3. Upsell and Cross-sell 📈 Uncover ways to maximize sales with existing customers. Aim for a 20% increase in customer value. Your loyal customer base is a goldmine; extract its full potential. 4. Find Growing Markets 🌍 Expand your business by 25%. How? Tap into new customer pools in unexplored territories. Direct your focus to burgeoning markets ripe for exploration. 5. Cash is King 💰 Master the art of cash management. The target? Get paid 10 days faster. Improved cash flow is the lifeline to sustainable growth. 6. Trim the Inventory 📦 A leaner inventory is a more profitable one. Boost turnover rates by 20%. Sell faster without drowning in surplus stock. 7. Employee Retention 🤝 Commit to a 15% reduction in employee turnover. It's not just a goal; it's a promise to your team that you're on this growth journey together. Quality people stick around, eliminating the need for constant recruitment. 👊 Ready for the challenge? Rewrite the rules, redefine success. #BusinessScaling #GrowthStrategies #RedefineSuccess

From Startup to Scale-Up: The 3-Step Growth Blueprint Every Business Needs Struggling to scale your business beyond the startup phase? You’re not alone. 70% of startups fail before reaching sustainable growth, often because they lack a clear strategy to transition from early traction to long-term scalability. But here’s the truth: Scaling isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what works, better. Why Most Startups Struggle to Scale At first, your focus is survival: getting customers, refining your product, and proving your model. But growth brings new challenges—operational bottlenecks, inconsistent revenue, and team inefficiencies. Without a system to scale, you’ll hit a ceiling fast. The 3-Step Blueprint to Scale Smart 🚀 Step 1: Optimize Before You Expand Growth doesn’t fix inefficiencies—it magnifies them. Before scaling, streamline your operations, automate processes, and eliminate what’s not working. (Example: Slack scaled by focusing on user engagement first, not just acquisition.) 📈 Step 2: Build Repeatable Revenue Streams Scaling without predictable cash flow is like running a marathon without water. Prioritize subscription models, long-term contracts, or high-retention strategies to create sustainable growth. (Example: HubSpot transitioned from a one-time software purchase to a subscription model, fueling its $1B+ growth.) 🤝 Step 3: Strengthen Leadership & Systems Your business can’t outgrow its leadership. Invest in delegation, culture, and operational systems to remove yourself from day-to-day bottlenecks. (Example: Airbnb scaled by empowering local hosts and standardizing operations.) The Desire vs. The Conflict Every founder wants rapid growth, financial stability, and industry authority, but many get trapped in burnout, cash flow gaps, and operational chaos. The difference? Those who scale successfully follow a structured business growth roadmap—instead of winging it. Your Next Step: Free Growth Audit Want a breakdown of where your business might be stuck—and how to fix it? DM me “SCALE” and I’ll send you a free Cheat sheet on Business Growth Audit. ⏳ Scaling is a process, not a leap. Take the right steps today, and your business won’t just grow—it’ll thrive. ♻️ I hope you found this valuable, please share with your network. 📌As a seasoned finance and operations leader with years of experience, I am passionate about organizational leadership and developing future leaders. I am currently seeking my next opportunity and welcome connections to discuss how my expertise can add value to your organization. Click "Follow" and 🔔 #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset #ScalingStrategies #StartupSuccess #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #GrowYourBusiness #StrategicLeadership #CEOLeadership #BusinessCoaching #ScaleUp

My business grew 2x in 30 days, by simplifying our strategy. We scaled faster by focusing only on high-impact moves. These 5 strategies saved us from shutting down. 1. We focused on ONE growth channel Instead of juggling social media, ads, SEO, and cold outreach, we doubled down on what was already working. When we stopped chasing every opportunity, growth became predictable. 2. We eliminated 80% of our daily tasks Most tasks don’t directly impact revenue. We audited our workflow, cut low-impact activities, and automated repetitive work. This freed up time to focus on real growth levers. 3. We simplified our offer Confused buyers don’t convert. We streamlined our services into one clear, compelling solution that customers instantly understood. Sales cycles shortened, and conversions increased. 4. We built scalable systems Scaling without processes leads to burnout. We documented repeatable workflows for marketing, sales, and operations, removing guesswork and inefficiencies. This made growth sustainable. 5. We said NO more often Distractions disguised as opportunities were holding us back. We started rejecting projects, clients, and ideas that didn’t align with our long-term vision. This gave us clarity and speed. The result? ✔ 1,200% revenue growth ✔ More efficiency, less stress ✔ A business that runs smoothly without constant firefighting The lesson? Scaling isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what matters. If your business feels stuck, where can you simplify? Let’s discuss. ♦️ I work with early-stage founders who feel stuck. → Not sure what’s next → Can’t get past the plateau → Ready to grow, but not sure how If your finances feel foggy, or your biz feels flat... Let’s talk. I help you build clarity and momentum.

🚀 The DOs and DON'Ts of Scaling 🚀 DOs: ✅ Focus on Customer Success: Happy customers are the backbone of sustainable growth. Prioritize their needs and satisfaction at every stage. ✅ Keep Unit Economics Healthy: Ensure that every new customer brings more value than the cost to acquire them. Healthy unit economics lay the foundation for long-term success. ✅ Invest in Key Technologies: Embrace tools and platforms that streamline operations, enhance productivity, and enable seamless scalability. ✅ Adopt Data-Driven Decision-Making: Let insights guide your actions. Data-driven decisions minimize risks and maximize opportunities for growth. ✅ Prioritize Talent Management: Your team is your greatest asset. Invest in hiring, training, and nurturing talent to drive innovation and excellence. ✅ Hire Globally: Talent internationally is much more cost-effective than in the US and for most functions in GTM, output metrics and KPIs are the same if managed effectively. DON'Ts: ❌ Ignore Customer Feedback: Listen to your customers. Their insights are invaluable for refining products, services, and overall customer experience. ❌ Sacrifice Quality for Growth: Quality should never be compromised, even in the pursuit of rapid expansion. Maintain high standards to build trust and loyalty. ❌ Overlook Churn: Retaining existing customers is as important as acquiring new ones. Address churn proactively to sustain growth momentum. ❌ Neglect Scalability in Product Development: Build products with scalability in mind from the outset. Anticipate future needs and design solutions that can evolve with your business. ❌ Scale in Isolation: Collaboration is key to successful scaling. Engage with stakeholders, industry peers, and experts to gain insights, share best practices, and foster innovation. #BusinessScaling #CustomerSuccess #UnitEconomics #DataDriven #GlobalHiring #CustomerFeedback #QualityControl #ChurnReduction #CollaborativeGrowth #GTMStrategy #Scalability #Exordiom #ExordiomTalent

Most founders never break $10m. Not because they aren’t smart or hardworking. They just don’t know how to scale. I took AppSumo from $3m to $84m in six years. Bootstrapped. Here’s the exact framework I used to do it: ~~ Before we dive in—this post is just a preview. I broke down these frameworks in depth with Greg Isenberg on his podcast. I'll share the link to watch in the comments. == 1. The "9 Steps to 9 Figures" Framework Scaling happens in three phases: • Startup ($0-$1M): Find product-market fit. • Scale-up ($1M-$100M): Build a machine. • Grow-up ($100M+): Protect the legacy. Each phase requires a different skillset, mindset, and strategy. == 2. The Triple, Triple, Double, Double Formula Triple your business three years in a row. Double your business twice in a row. Here’s is the roadmap: Year 1: $1M → $3M Year 2: $3M → $9M Year 3: $9M → $27M Year 4: $27M → $54M Year 5: $54M → $108M == 3. Find Product-Market Fit first You don’t have product-market fit until it feels like you're wearing a meat suit in a dog park. If you’re still convincing customers to buy, you aren’t there yet. When you can’t keep up with demand, now you’re scaling. == 4. Retention before growth Building a business without fixing churn is like building a skyscraper on sand. Every 3% increase in net revenue retention DOUBLES your company’s valuation. Before you scale, fix retention. Otherwise, you’re filling a leaky bucket. == 5. The 80/20 Growth Rule • 80% of your resources on what’s already working. • 20% on new experiments. At AppSumo, one small test—switching from credits to cash payments for referrals—became an 8-figure revenue channel. Test small. Scale what works. == 6. You only have two bottlenecks If you're stuck, your problem is either: • Sales – Not enough leads? You don’t have a marketing problem. You have a product problem. • Delivery – Selling more than you can fulfill? You’re scaling chaos, not a business. Fix these first. == 7. Hire to scale revenue, not to discover it. Most founders hire too soon. Your job is to find the gold vein. Your team’s job is to mine it. Hiring too early = You burn cash. Hiring too late = You burn out. Hire only when scaling becomes the bottleneck. == 8. The Shield vs. Sword Framework for decision-making Rate every decision 1-5 on: • Impact (Sword) – How big is the upside? • Effort (Shield) – How much work is it? Only pursue 8+/10 ideas. If it’s not a clear win, it’s a distraction. == 9. Build an executive team that replaces you Your business only has two core functions: • Sales (CRO) – Gets Customers • Delivery (COO) – Keeps Customers Pro tip: Hire first in your zone of genius. Why? Because you’ll know what excellence looks like. == 10. The founder is the hardest worker. The CEO is the laziest. If your calendar is full, you're still a founder. A CEO’s job is to think 3-5 quarters ahead while the team executes. If you’re in meetings all day, you aren’t running the company.

All small businesses WANT to scale. <10% do it well. Scaling isn’t just about growth. It’s about efficiency. I've had the privilege of scaling several businesses over the past 2 decades. Here’s how to make your business leaner, faster, and more effective. 1. Document your processes.  ➜ Build SOPs (standard operating procedures) for new employees.  ➜ Create step-by-step guides for routine tasks.  ➜ Consistency reduces errors and saves time. 2. Automate repetitive tasks.  ➜ Let technology handle what doesn’t need a human touch.  ➜ Use tools like Zapier to sync data across platforms.  ➜ Automation frees your team for high-value work. 3. Outsource strategically.  ➜ Focus on your strengths. Delegate the rest.  ➜ Hire freelancers for design, content, or bookkeeping.  ➜ Outsourcing reduces overhead without sacrificing quality. 4. Invest in project management software.  ➜ Keep everyone on the same page.  ➜ Use Asana or Monday.com to track progress.  ➜ Clear workflows prevent delays and miscommunication. 5. Centralize communication.  ➜ Too many tools create chaos.  ➜ Streamlined communication keeps everyone aligned.  ➜ Consolidate to a platform like Slack or Microsoft Teams. 6. Simplify your tech stack.  ➜ Too many tools slow you down.  ➜ Simplicity boosts efficiency and cuts costs.  ➜ Replace overlapping software with all-in-one solutions like HubSpot. 7. Conduct regular audits.  ➜ Know where your time and money go.  ➜ Review expenses quarterly to cut unnecessary costs.  ➜ Audits identify inefficiencies and hidden opportunities. 8. Cross-train your team.  ➜ Versatility prevents bottlenecks.  ➜ Cross-training ensures work continues seamlessly.  ➜ Teach team members how to handle adjacent roles. 9. Batch similar tasks.  ➜ Grouping work saves time.  ➜ Batching reduces context switching and boosts focus.  ➜ Dedicate Monday mornings to writing emails or scheduling posts. 10. Focus on your core offering.  ➜ Don’t spread yourself too thin.  ➜ Focusing on what you do best drives long-term growth.  ➜ Eliminate side projects that don’t align with your primary goals. Scaling is a journey. Efficiency is your roadmap. ❓Which hack will you implement first? Share your thoughts below. Let’s build smarter, not harder. ♻️ Repost to help your network with scaling. ➕ Follow Nathan Crockett, PhD for daily actionable insight.

You’ve hit that magical $100K milestone (congratulations! 🎉) but now you’re staring at the next mountain: how do you scale to $2M without burning out or losing your soul in the process? Here’s the truth most “gurus” won’t tell you: scaling isn’t about working harder—it’s about working strategically. ✨ THE 5-STEP TRANSFORMATION: 1️⃣ REFINE YOUR OFFERS Stop recreating the wheel for every client. Your custom solutions are killing your scalability. Create high-value, repeatable packages that deliver transformation without draining your energy. 2️⃣ AMPLIFY CLIENT ACQUISITION Referrals are beautiful, but they won’t get you to $2M. Build a marketing funnel that works while you sleep. Focus on your IDEAL clients—not everyone with a wallet. 3️⃣ BUILD YOUR DREAM TEAM If you’re still doing $15/hour tasks, you’re blocking your own growth. Delegate strategically and invest in systems that scale without you. 4️⃣ OPTIMIZE FOR PREDICTABLE GROWTH Data > hunches. Track your metrics, protect your profit margins, and make decisions based on facts, not feelings. 5️⃣ GET EXPERT GUIDANCE You can’t see the forest for the trees when you’re IN the business. Sometimes you need someone who’s been there to show you the way. The shift from $100K to $2M isn’t just about revenue—it’s about becoming the CEO your business needs, not just the hustler who got you here. It’s about creating harmony between scalable offers, repeatable systems, and sustainable operations. What’s your biggest scaling challenge right now? Drop it in the comments—I read every single one. 👇 #BusinessScaling #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessStrategy #ScalableSuccess #BusinessGrowth #7FigureBusiness #BusinessCoaching #SystemsAndProcesses #ProfitableGrowth #BusinessMindset #CEO #ScaleUp #BusinessTransformation #GrowthStrategy #BusinessOwner