How to Build a Self-Sustaining Business

When I hosted my recent masterclass, The Secret to Working ON Your Business, Not IN It, I knew I was stepping into a room filled with driven, ambitious business owners. What I didn’t expect was the overwhelming resonance of a simple truth: most entrepreneurs feel trapped in the daily grind, unable to focus on the strategies that lead to sustainable growth.

This masterclass wasn’t about abstract theories—it was a hands-on session designed to unlock tangible business growth, reclaim time, and provide clarity on scaling efficiently.?

Here’s what we learned together:

1. Recognize The 3 Drivers of Business Transformation

A pivotal moment in the session was introducing the Three Operational Levers framework:

• Foundational Levers: Build the systems and processes (like SOPs and workflows) that ensure your business runs predictably and efficiently. These are what allow you to "buy back" time.
• Preservation Levers: Focus on mitigating risks—like dependency on key personnel or financial inefficiencies—to safeguard your business's value.
• Growth Levers: Scale your business by improving margins, expanding recurring revenue, or strategically hiring for long-term success.

As one attendee put it, “The three-lever approach gave me clarity on exactly where to focus next.”

?? Which lever needs your attention most right now? Foundational, Preservation, or Growth?

2. Small Changes, Big Impacts

A recurring theme was the power of incremental improvements. For example:

• A 5% increase in Operating Margin can mean the difference between needing to scale top-line revenue by millions—or not at all.
• Prioritizing Recurring Revenue builds financial stability and significantly increases valuation.?

One participant noted, “A small change in the bottom line has a massive impact on the value of a business.”

3. Operational Efficiency a Surprising Key

Improving workflows and cutting unnecessary costs aren’t just “nice-to-haves”—they’re critical levers for profitability.

Consider this:

• Automating routine tasks freed up nearly 400 hours annually for one business owner, which they reinvested into high-value growth activities.
• Auditing expenses revealed $50,000 in annual savings for another participant, funds they redirected into a marketing campaign that increased customer acquisition by 12%.

?? What inefficiencies could you address in your business before year-end?

4. Data-Driven Decisions Lead to Growth

Key financial metrics like Operating Margin and Recurring Revenue are the heartbeat of a business. Yet, many small business owners either misunderstand these numbers or fail to leverage them strategically.

One attendee reflected: “Breaking down gross margin versus operating margin helped me understand where to focus for growth.”

Take Action Today

Transformation starts with a single step. Reflect on your business:

• Are you ready to focus on the levers that will make the biggest impact?
• Can you identify inefficiencies to improve profitability?
• Are you using your financial metrics as a strategic compass?

If you’re looking for tools to unlock growth or want to dive deeper into the strategies we discussed, I’d love to continue the conversation. Let’s make 2025 your most strategic year yet.

Head over to our website to start your journey today: www.scalinggrp.com/s4s

We'll be doing another class in January to set us up for a great 2025 - stay tuned!

As a CEO or business owner of a $3M+ company, are you:

?? Looking to streamline operations for smoother scaling? ?? Frustrated with profit leak, bottlenecks & constant firefighting in your business? ? Interested in a fresh perspective on maximizing your business value?

DM me—I’d be happy to share one clear solution to any operational or efficiency challenge you’re facing right now. Let’s connect and discuss how to drive impactful results.

Visit our website to learn more: www.scalinggrp.com