scalr - 18-Month Update

Not to sound cheesy but in the last 18 months, after starting scalr , it definitely feels like I've been on a journey. One of self-discovery and learning, that has led to significant personal and professional growth. At times, though, I've questioned my next steps, wrestling with procrastination and facing burnout head-on.

I'm not huge on looking back, preferring to focus on what's ahead. In the spirit of 'building my business in public', though, I wanted to share some experiences and key learnings during this time.

So, to start with, here are the highlights so far:

• Travelled around Australia to deliver TA strategy training programmes for Talent Table .
• Delivered some bespoke webinars for Monash Talent, alongside the wonderful Laura Johnson .
• Hired key roles for companies in a variety of industries including wholesale optical, financial services, education, legal tech, start-ups and even offshore wind farm software!
• Started my podcast, scalr sagecast , where I have the privilege of interviewing more than 20 fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders to explore their journeys and identify lessons learnt along the way.
• Joined Steve Gard on The Circle Back Initiative as co-organiser. We're excited to soon be announcing a raft of new offerings and growth plans for 2025.
• Rebranded the Melbourne Talent Meetup to better reflect the changing market and create an even more inclusive talent community in Melbourne.
• Created and delivered another TA strategy training session for Strivin just last week!
• Did some professional filming, thanks to the very patient Francis Y. , to highlight CBI's new offerings - official release coming soon!
• Supporting the Benchmarcx stand at the upcoming ATC event.

All of these things have, or will have, in their own way brought challenges and opportunities to continue that growth. I count myself very fortunate I've been able to build such great relationships and deliver some great outcomes for my clients so far. I'm grateful for the support and trust every organisation has placed in me.

Over and above all of this though, the flexibility scalr affords me is a big reason I want to continue doing this work for as long as I can. As a kid growing up in the 80s and 90s with a Dad who worked nights, I didn't get to spend as much time with him as I'm able to now with mine. As much as they drive me crazy at times, it's something I know I'm fortunate to be able to do ??

Key lessons:

On scalr sagecast, I ask my guests to provide some key pieces of advice or wisdom that have served them well on their own journeys. Reflecting on my own, these resonate most:

• Always say 'yes' to a coffee. Craig Watson alluded to this in episode #2 of the podcast. He's absolutely right as you never know where one conversation could take you.
• Put your hand up for anything that could be interesting and has the potential to add value to your business. There have been times when I have had multiple options all fall by the wayside (in quick succession) over the last 18 months. I have gone from worrying about how to deliver all of the work to wondering where the next engagement will come from. That's start-up life! I will remain curious and open to conversations as these will ultimately lead to exciting new opportunities.
• Find your cheerleaders and support crew. This is essential. I have found a small group of people on similar journeys: people who understand the challenges and frustrations you're facing, having experienced similar themselves. They will be your champions when you succeed and your support structure when things turn to sh*t. Keep them close.
• It takes time to build a new brand. Having been known as a TA leader for a long time, I have spent a large part of my time building scalr's brand and community of contacts. Building awareness now as a provider of hiring and TA strategy takes time but I have loved the chance to engage with so many new and incredibly passionate people.
• Burnout is very real. At times, I have felt incredibly drained, both physically and mentally. The pressure solo founders place on themselves is significant so I've needed to stop, reflect and be kinder to myself by remembering Rome wasn't built in a day. Still not the easiest thing to do at times!
• Set systems and strategies to manage your time. Factor in time for regular breaks, and daily exercise and be laser-focused on where, and on what, you spend your time. I have sometimes been overwhelmed with the amount of conflicting priorities I've had to manage to the point where procrastination had become my best friend. Prioritising and time-boxing my day to focus on the most value-adding tasks was a game-changer.
• Engage a coach to help accentuate your strengths and address gaps. One of the most eye-opening aspects of doing my own thing is the sudden realisation that my gaps of knowledge when it comes to running a business are varied and broad! Find people who will help you identify and address those gaps, it's an important thing to do. Shoutout to the fantastic Belinda Fairfax .
• Being authentic in everything you do is critical. Until you start hiring a team, you are the business and companies want to engage with people they can build trust and confidence in. I have never tried to do anything other than be my authentic self, tattoos and all. I have found my niche working with fast-paced scaling businesses and that environment allows me to play my strengths and do my best work.
• Resilience is key. Not having the safety blanket of a regular monthly pay cheque is as confronting as it is motivating. When numerous ideas, collaborations or initiatives don't materialise you become stronger, thicker-skinned and more determined to persevere until you ultimately uncover the right opportunities.
• Learn to embrace imperfection. I am my own biggest critic and have often delayed an action for fear of failure or negative feedback. This was holding me back so I'm now being bolder and learning to fail fast, reflect and improve.

Re-positioning scalr:

The most humbling lesson I have learnt since starting scalr, however, is that my original service offering wasn't hitting the mark as much as I had assumed, and hoped, it would.

It has been a tough time to start a new business, that much is true, especially in a market where companies are making more redundancies than new hires, over the last two years. Demand for consulting services is much lower but the desire to hire key talent remains.

So, having taken the time to reflect, I'm excited to announce that scalr is evolving. We're shifting our primary focus to hiring solutions, with consulting services as a complementary offering. This strategic pivot aligns with these market demands, as well as scalr's core strengths.

Having been a TA leader in many scaling businesses for over a decade, I have a deep understanding of the challenges faced. I'm confident this experience will be of huge benefit to organisations seeking to scale their own functions.

I've recognised that progress isn't always linear and I'm excited about the path forward as scalr evolves with a sharper focus.

Despite the challenges and ongoing learning curve I'm on, there's nothing else I'd rather be doing with the prime of my career. After all, we only get one shot at this, and I'm confident I'm following the right path.

Thanks to everyone who has been part of this adventure so far, and here’s to what comes next!

P.S - The website's updated and ready to go so jump on, have a look and let me know how scalr can help your business grow ??