Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Susan Goebel, Founder and CEO of Scaling Management Consulting Group, Inc., located in London, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Business owners want to be successful in growing their business but get stuck struggling with resource limitations and chaos until they access our COOS and rediscover their passion.

Our Fractional Operations Leaders - COOs, Integrators, and Operations Managers help businesses between $1 Million and $10 Million in annual revenue who run remote or mostly remote teams in Canada or the USA meet their goals and continue to grow. To ensure you hit your business goals, you need someone to help you take the vision in your head and make it a reality. Someone who can help you manage the day-to-day operations so you can focus on the higher-order strategic decisions that only you can make - that someone is us.

We've just launched our newest product to expand that help to smaller businesses in the $250K - $2 Million in annual revenue with Scaling Resources where business leaders are able to access tools and templates as well as our vetted, seasoned leadership to help with their challenges!

Tell us about yourself

I have spent two decades helping top entrepreneurs and business owners turn their ideas into scalable businesses. As an entrepreneur and founder of multiple companies, I have first-hand experience with CEOs' unique challenges in building scalable businesses. My team and I support ambitious and progressive firms and entrepreneurs as they take their operations to the next level. What's my superpower? Turning chaos into clarity.

I started my career as a scientist who specializes in animal health and reproduction. I hold a Master's Degree from the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London. I worked in the pharmaceutical world and found myself wearing different hats as I moved throughout organizations. I had the chance to touch many different roles in R&D, project management, export, contract negotiation, the export division, mergers and acquisitions, as a government lobbyist, and more.

One day my manager brought me two gifts. On the one hand, a plaque commemorating the noteworthy results my efforts had produced for the company. On the other hand, a 'pink slip'- the entire division was shutting down, and I was out of a job. From that experience, I decided I wanted to control how I worked and with whom.

Entrepreneurs and business owners have great ideas, but they get stuck once they grow to a certain point. Some business owners are stuck wearing all the hats - in charge of all the roles. Others get stuck in a business they no longer enjoy running; the circumstance is different for each person.

To better support business owners, I launched Scaling Management Consulting Group, Inc in 2017, believing economic stability fosters a more stable society. In addition, I found that people tend to be happier when adding value and being valued in return.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, my work has been even more meaningful. I facilitate robust economic engines that gainfully employ talented individuals by working with entrepreneurs and business owners to scale their operations. Our team's unique partnering of a Fractional COO with an Operations Manager provides necessary redundancy that allows the COO to focus on strategy. At the same time, the Operations Manager can concentrate on tactical items.

SMCG's goal is to elevate the team’s skill set, focus on implementation, and leave your business with the skills and processes to run itself. All at a fraction of the cost of having a full-time operations executive. We want you to give us a 'pink slip' once we have done our jobs, leaving your business growth profitably on track.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We celebrate our clients reaching their goals. Our team is made up of servant leaders - your success is our success.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Balance is the biggest challenge! I'm a mom, a runner, an entrepreneur, and passionate about new experiences. The most challenging is the ability to set boundaries and then maintain balance. Blocking time for a year out has been one of the biggest tools in that arsenal. Of course, it only works if you respect your own calendar!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. What problem do you solve? Entrepreneurs are optimists and love solving big problems. Being able to tell that story to your customer about the problem you solve that is so obvious to you is a game changer. Ensuring that you solve the challenge they are having (and not the one you think they have) provides product-market fit. Talk to them!
  2. Turn Clients Into Raving Rans! Add value everywhere you can. Talk to them!
  3. Systems, Systems, Systems. As you grow, take the time to implement systems, as it will allow you to scale as your raving fan base grows. Ask for expert help to do this - it will lower your stress, increase your profits and skyrocket your passion!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Don't forget to enjoy the journey. Every day comes with choices. When you lose (and we all do at some point), don't lose the lesson. Lastly - Keep going! Find that person you can share the journey with. If you need help, we are here to assist with free resources!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.scalingresources.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scaling-for-Success-104342488427614
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3cuVUiI

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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