All Episodes

Garrett Jestice has a framework for service businesses that is painfully simple: Discovery → Focus → Expansion. The problem is that a lot of founders skip the first two and head straight for expansion. New offer. New funnel. New hire. New marketing channel. New tech stack. More content. More networking. And sometimes the real issue is that the business still has not proven what people actually want to buy. In this episode, Garrett and I talk about how to find offer-market fit, why passive marketing takes longer than most founders want to admit, how to know when you are actually ready to scale, and why throwing more money at agencies, salespeople, or marketing rarely fixes a clarity problem. We also get into the less polished side of growth: working too much, hitting the fractional ceiling, getting distracted by vanity metrics, and building a business that gives you freedom of time instead of just more revenue. Garrett also shares a client story about spending more than $100K on marketing without getting results, and what actually had to change before growth started working. In this episode, we cover: Garrett’s Discovery → Focus → Expansion framework what offer-market fit actually means for a service business why founders jump into scaling too early active vs. passive marketing why networking does not automatically equal business development intro offers and when free work can actually make sense the fractional ceiling and the limits of selling your time why viral content and revenue are not the same thing what founders should own before blaming a salesperson, agency, VA, or contractor building a business around proof instead of assumptions One line worth remembering: Your business does not always need another offer. Sometimes it needs you to pay attention to what people are already trying to buy.

Joe Daniels thinks a lot of solo business owners are trying to solve the wrong problem. When business slows down, the instinct is usually to blame marketing. But if you had a "feast" before the famine, your marketing clearly worked at some point. The bigger question is why it stopped. In this episode of Can We Not?, Joe and Sam dig into the operational side of running a solo service business, including the parts founders often ignore because they'd rather focus on the work they're actually good at. Joe shares how his experience as the first employee at a marketing agency showed him the feast-and-famine problem firsthand, why he eventually realized he'd built a business he enjoyed talking about more than actually running, and the quarterly review that led him to change direction. They also get into: Why founders need both a visionary hat and an operator hat Joe's Direction, Demand, and Delivery framework Why feast and famine can be an operations problem rather than a marketing problem How Joe used the Odyssey Plan to rethink his own business Why "I don't have time" is often really "I didn't make time" Making uncomfortable business-development work small enough to actually do Designing an offer around the business and life you want Joe's Do, Delegate, Die approach to simplifying work Why telling prospects they're not a good fit sometimes makes them want to hire you even more If you're good at your actual work but occasionally wonder when exactly you became responsible for running an entire company around it, this conversation is for you.

What happens when your five-month onboarding plan suddenly becomes three months, your processes are outdated, you decide to launch an entirely new internal app, and then you leave the country for 10 days? Apparently, you onboard an operations manager. In this behind-the-scenes episode, Sam is joined by Auxo Operations Manager Sonia Narvaez to break down what actually happened during Sonia’s onboarding. And no, it did not involve handing her a beautiful binder of perfectly documented SOPs. They talk about the original plan, why it blew up, what they did instead, and how Sonia went from helping with a project to running point on the business while Sam was mostly offline. More importantly, they dig into why founders often focus on the wrong things when preparing to delegate. Documentation can help, but it cannot replace clarity, communication, trust, and giving someone enough context to understand how the business actually works. In this episode: Why Sam originally planned five months to onboard an Operations Manager What happened when that plan suddenly got cut almost in half Why outdated or nonexistent SOPs didn't derail the onboarding The communication cadence Sam and Sonia used during the first few months Why overcommunicating with a new team member is usually better than trying not to “bother” them How they handled trust, access, permissions, and decision-making The pre-vacation “everything in my brain” roll-up that helped Sonia take over What Sonia ended up handling while Sam was away for 10 days Why knowing the desired outcome matters more than prescribing exactly how someone gets there How healthy disagreement helped them build a stronger working relationship The difference between hiring someone to complete tasks and bringing someone into the business as a real team member If you've been telling yourself you'll hire an assistant, VA, or operations person after you get all your processes cleaned up, this episode may ruin that excuse.

You're setting goals you're scared to miss and grinding through tasks you're bad at because asking for help still feels like failure. Sound familiar? Host Samantha C. Prestidge chats with Dr. Andrea Lowe, nonprofit consultant and founder of Social Impact Studio Consulting, who helps organizations expand their impact through strategic planning, program development, and community-centered leadership. Andrea went from 15 years in government and public health to running her own consulting firm — and hit the exact wall that most solo founders hit: trying to do everything herself, including the stuff she was genuinely terrible at. What changed wasn't a system. It was admitting she needed one. In this episode: Why the A+ student mindset actively works against you when you're running a business The difference between a strategic plan and an implementation plan — and why having one without the other is why nothing gets done How to set goals that are ambitious without becoming the standard you quietly beat yourself up for missing What collaboration over competition actually looks like in a saturated consulting market The moment Andrea realized doing it all herself wasn't discipline — it was a problem

Founders wasting money on the wrong coach, the wrong software, or the wrong hire almost always skipped one thing first: three basic questions about their own business.  Samantha C. Prestidge is back after a few months off content, sharing the exact three questions she asks clients before any hire, subscription, or program. She breaks down why more complexity usually feels more sophisticated but isn't — and why that instinct quietly drains profit and momentum. Why hiring a coach doesn't fix a business that hasn't answered its own basic questions The cooking-competition note that applies directly to your business: "learn to edit yourself" The three questions to ask before any hire, software signup, or coaching program How wrong services and wrong clients both trace back to skipped foundational clarity Why a vision statement isn't the same thing as knowing what you're building toward 00:00 Podcast Returns 00:04 Move Abroad Update 01:17 Why Business Gets Hard 01:58 Meet Sam And Auxo 02:58 Simplicity Wins 04:15 Restraint Like Chefs 05:11 Costly Overcomplication 08:07 Three Clarity Questions 08:24 Define Your Horizon 10:16 Choose What To Sell 11:34 Design Delivery Style 13:32 Wrap Up And Next

Growing community, conference, or business without losing your original vision — and your sanity — can be a picasso painting that easily gets distorted. Host Samantha C. Prestidge chats with Megan Shapiro, construction attorney and founder of the Converge Construction Summit, about strategic community growth, what sustainable business building actually looks like, and how to stop people-pleasing your way into something you didn't mean to create. Megan grew Converge from 13 people in Savannah to 55 in Chicago — and her most important work wasn't any of that growth. It was the months she spent figuring out why her best-reviewed event left her completely drained. In this episode: How to grow a community or event without losing what made it work Why strategic growth beats fast growth — and how to tell the difference What people-pleasing in business actually costs you, even when things look successful How to hear what your audience wants and identify what they actually need Why sustainable business growth requires knowing your vision before you scale it What months of business coaching, therapy, and a mastermind finally unlocked that a successful event couldn't

You’ve hired an assistant before. It didn’t stick. And if you’re honest, you’re not totally sure why. Host Samantha C. Prestidge of Auxo Business Services breaks down the three areas of clarity founders need to have in place before they bring on an assistant — and why skipping them is almost always what tanks the working relationship. This solo episode gets into why even strong assistants fail when founders aren’t ready, the difference between delegating tasks and delegating outcomes, and the Map It → Keep It → Delegate It framework Sam uses with her own clients. Topic Bullets Why building SOPs before you hire is the wrong starting point — and what to do instead The “cart before the horse” pattern that ends most assistant relationships early What “how you want to play in your business” actually means — and why founders who skip it become micromanagers How to write a value statement that ties your assistant’s work to real business outcomes, not just your to-do list When “I can’t grow because I’m at capacity” is actually a clarity problem, not a bandwidth one The Map It, Keep It, Delegate It framework Book a delegation strategy session: auxosvs.com/strategy Timestamps 00:00 Hidden Expectations 00:21 Podcast Mission 01:49 Delegation Failures 03:31 Skip The SOP Trap 04:52 Three Clarity Areas 05:08 Map What Youre Building 07:18 Keep Your Founder Role 09:13 Delegate Outcomes Not Tasks 11:49 Map Keep Delegate Framework 12:27 Book A Strategy Session

Hiring operations help for your small business is harder than it should be — and most founders are looking at the wrong things when they do it. Ashley Connell, CEO of Prowess Project, has spent seven years matching small business owners with operations partners. She's learned that the skills on a resume tell you almost nothing about whether someone can actually run your business alongside you. In this episode: Why hiring for tech stack and job titles fails service-based business owners How to find the right operations partner for your small business The four-step framework Ashley's ops partners use from day one Why delegating outcomes doesn't work — and what to communicate instead How to know if you need an operations partner or if your processes need fixing first What a two-week time study reveals that no hiring process can 00:00 The Need for Management 00:41 Welcome to Can We Not 01:41 Meet Ashley Connell 02:22 What is an Ops Partner 04:46 Meeting Leah 05:42 Flexible and Fulfilling Careers 06:59 The 97 Percent Statistic 07:38 The Matching Algorithm 10:47 Proven Results and Success Stories 13:14 Overcomplicating the Journey 15:38 Niching Down to Accounting Firms 17:22 Testing and Experimentation 19:22 Naming the Ops Partner 21:20 Experimentation With Intent 22:35 Accountability and Feedback 26:06 Four Step Delivery Method 29:03 Setting Clear Expectations 32:24 Behaviors Over Outcomes 34:28 Practical AI Integration 36:29 Time Study to Simplify 38:40 Closing Thoughts

Most sales training teaches you to push harder when a prospect hesitates. Aleasha Bahr teaches you to get curious instead — and the results are hard to argue with. Host Samantha C. Prestidge chats with Aleasha Bahr, author of Black Sheep Sales and founder of a sales coaching practice that helps service business owners build strategies designed around how they actually think and communicate — not a pushy script that never fit them in the first place. They dig into what it looks like to simplify your message down to outcomes people actually want (hint: it's not your list of deliverables), why defining your anti-audience is as important as defining your ICP, and how knowing when to walk away from a sale is the thing that actually brings clients chasing you. LINKS Aleasha Bahr on LinkedIn  Black Sheep Sales book Aleasha's website Catch more episodes: canwenotpodcast.com Apply to be a guest Have Sam as a guest on your podcast: info@auxosvs.com

You're not running seven apps because you're disorganized. You're running seven apps because each one solved a real problem at the time and nobody ever stopped to ask if the pile still made sense. Host Samantha C. Prestidge chats with Bryant Solomon, co-founder of ControlQore, who did something most founders skip — he went and worked inside his customer's business before building anything. What he found was a back office held together with workarounds, and a team trained on tools that were never designed for them. They get into how chasing the wrong kind of growth poisons an entire industry's relationship with technology, and why the founders who build slow and stay profitable are the ones still standing when the VC-fueled competitors burn out. Links: Bryant Solomon on LinkedIn  ControlQore website  Converge Summit  Josh Luebker (fractional CFO mentioned) on LinkedIn More episodes at canwenotpodcast.com Apply to be a guest Have Sam on your podcast: info@auxosvs.com

Feeling overworked, overloaded, or like you’re the only one holding everything together in your business? You might be stuck in the trap that catches so many founders and high performers: confusing self-sufficiency with strength. In this episode of Strategy, Solutions, and Sanity, Samantha shares the one mindset shift that helps founders stop being the bottleneck in their own business. Through personal stories, real-life examples, and practical delegation insights, you’ll learn: why asking for help feels uncomfortable how over-functioning secretly drains your time and energy the difference between being capable and overcompensating how to make delegation simple (and not feel like letting go of control) why receiving support is the unlock for scaling without burnout If you’re an overwhelmed founder or small business owner trying to grow without losing your sanity, this episode gives you the clarity and permission you didn’t know you needed. 00:00 Mom’s lesson that sparked the mindset shift 00:58 Why asking for help feels so hard 02:32 What happened when Samantha tested “helping” 04:15 The hidden plague of over-self-sufficiency 07:17 How to stop being the bottleneck in your business 09:52 The mindset shift that makes delegation simple

Creative hiring for executive assistants and office managers: learn how to define day-to-day tasks, map soft skills, and find great candidates in unexpected places. We cover transferable skills, small-town recruiting, and why PTA leaders, teachers, and restaurant team leads can shine in admin and EA roles. If job boards are failing you, this will help you think outside the resume. What you’ll learn How clarity in tasks reveals the right soft skills Where to look beyond resumes: PTA, education, and hospitality When “hire for character, train the tech” makes sense Cost trade-offs and how to train new hires well Chapters 00:00 Intro: creative interviewing and recruiting 01:02 Why job clarity matters 02:04 Unconventional places to find talent 03:32 Leveraging non-traditional candidates 05:53 Cost benefits and training 06:43 Wrap + how to get help Need help? Comment with the role you’re hiring. Connect with Samantha C. Prestidge on LinkedIn or email info@auxosvs.com

In this episode, we diverge from the scheduled content plan to address a critical business principle: simplicity. Spurred by early Christmas setups in stores, I discuss the importance of simplicity in both business and personal life. You'll learn three practical strategies to maintain simplicity: 1) Stop being oversubscribed with information, 2) Get to the root cause of problems, and 3) Embrace the boring but profitable tasks. These steps will help you stay aligned with your business goals and avoid unnecessary complications. Tune in next week for some creative tips on interviewing and recruiting. 00:00 Introduction and Content Overview 00:39 Holiday Decorations and Business Insights 02:22 Embracing Simplicity in Business 03:44 Strategy 1: Avoid Being Oversubscribed 05:26 Strategy 2: Identify the Root Cause 06:56 Strategy 3: Embrace the Boring 09:22 Conclusion and Next Week's Preview

In this episode, we delve into four essential interview questions designed for the final round of our four-stage hiring process, specifically targeting virtual administrative, executive, and operations assistant roles. The goal is to assess soft skills, character traits, and personality beyond technical competencies. I explain the rationale behind each question and the insights they provide into a candidate’s ability to navigate client relationships, self-reflect, take initiative, and balance confidence with humility. If you're looking to hire an assistant without the hassle of interviewing, visit our website and book a call with us. Learn how to uncover the real potential of your next team member! 00:00 Introduction to Interview Questions 00:19 Understanding the Interview Process 01:10 The Importance of Conversational Interviews 01:41 Favorite Interview Questions 04:22 Evaluating Initiative and Confidence 07:30 Conclusion and Next Steps

In this episode, we tackle a common piece of advice given to business owners: 'Just hire an assistant.' While it sounds great on the surface, many find that hiring without a clear plan often leads to frustration and wasted resources.  Learn why it's essential to understand your business functions and desired involvement before bringing an assistant on board. We share practical insights on how to define your role, identify tasks to delegate, and ensure a seamless integration of a virtual assistant.  Need personalized help? Consider a delegation strategy session with us to streamline this process. Visit AUXOSVS.COM/BOOK to schedule a call. 00:00 Introduction: The Problem with Common Advice on Hiring Assistants 00:27 The Flaws in 'Just Hire an Assistant' Advice 01:37 A Better Approach: Defining Your Role and Tasks 01:54 Practical Steps for Effective Delegation 02:40 Conclusion and Further Assistance

In this episode of Strategy Solutions, Sam explains the importance of delegation for business owners and consultants. By effectively delegating tasks, you can reduce chaos, improve processes, and free up mental space, allowing you to focus on creative and strategic thinking. Sam also offers resources and personalized strategies to help you begin the delegation process and reclaim your role as a confident, visionary CEO. 00:00 Introduction: Seeing the Forest for the Trees 00:15 Welcome to Strategy Solutions 01:37 The Importance of Delegation 02:47 Benefits of Delegation 04:41 Getting Started with Delegation 05:25 Conclusion: Book Your Call Book your call at auxosvs.com/book

In this episode, we delve into what it takes to trust someone enough to hire them as an assistant. We'll explore past discussions on delegation strategy and the essentials for onboarding an assistant. The focus will be on overcoming trust issues—fear of poor performance or exposing personal work details—and what to look for during the hiring process. Key points include establishing initial trust, solidifying it in the first two months by assessing competence and chemistry, and nurturing it through assigning more challenging tasks and observing proactive, adaptive behavior. Join us to learn how to confidently trust your assistant and effectively delegate tasks. 00:00 Introduction: Trusting an Assistant 00:07 Delegation Strategy and Hiring Essentials 00:34 Overcoming the Trust Hang-Up 01:09 Building Chemistry and Competence 02:15 The Growth Journey to Trust 03:38 Challenging Tasks and Proactive Support 04:23 Adapting and Innovating for Success 05:17 Conclusion: Flourishing Trust with Your Assistant

In this week's Quick Cast, we discuss how to create better clarity and ownership within your team. We'll tackle common issues like unclear job descriptions and undefined processes. Learn the simple, actionable steps to visualize your team's tasks and responsibilities using a process flowchart and swim lanes. This method helps you map out tasks, assign ownership, and ensure accountability. Perfect for small business owners and team leaders looking to improve efficiency and team dynamics. 00:00 Introduction to Clarity and Ownership 00:08 Identifying the Problem 01:06 Creating a Process Flow Chart 02:19 Using Swim Lanes for Clarity 04:04 Assigning Ownership and Accountability 04:48 Addressing Concerns and Encouraging Implementation 06:10 Conclusion and Practical Steps

In this episode of Strategy Solutions and Sanity Today, we dive deep into the journey and insights of Adriana, an ER nurse turned public speaker and leadership coach. Adriana shares her evolution from a healthcare career to coaching, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability, setting boundaries, and integrating personal passions into professional life. We discuss her unique events like Boundaries and Bubbly, the challenge of networking, and practical advice for maintaining work-life balance. Get inspired by Adriana's authentic approach to business growth and her commitment to meaningful connections. 00:00 Introduction and Warm Welcome 00:28 Adriana's Journey: From Nursing to Entrepreneurship 01:37 The Evolution of Adriana's Coaching Career 03:24 Balancing Nursing and Coaching 04:31 The Art of Humor in Public Speaking 06:16 The Importance of Feedback and Boundaries 16:43 Integrating Fun and Work-Life Balance 26:45 Networking Insights and Personal Boundaries 27:40 Authenticity in Networking 30:00 Balancing Work and Personal Life 32:39 Challenges in Leadership and Entrepreneurship 38:17 The Importance of Vulnerability 49:57 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Feeling like every task in your business is heavier than it should be? You might not be burned out in the way people typically imagine — but for high achievers, burnout looks different. It shows up as procrastination, losing motivation, brushing off wins, or even resenting small parts of your business. In this QuickCast, I’m breaking down 5 subtle red flags that signal you’re starting to lose motivation in your business — and how to address them before burnout steals your creativity, vision, and momentum. 👉 You’ll learn: The everyday frustrations that reveal deeper cracks in your business Why “just pushing through” actually stalls growth How resentment and comparison creep in quietly What to shift so you can get back to enjoying your role as CEO If you’re starting to feel stuck, overwhelmed, or less excited by your business, this episode is for you.