From Hairstylist to 8-Figure CEO: Scaling Lessons for Every Entrepreneur ft. Terra Harvell

Oct 1, 2025

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If your income stops the moment you stop working, you don’t own a business - you own a job. Too many entrepreneurs stay trapped in this cycle, mistaking hard work for wealth. The truth is, hustle will never scale.

Terra Harvell broke out of that game. Once “just a hairdresser,” she went from standing behind the chair to scaling Harper Ellis Hair Co. into an 8-figure brand. Now, she’s rewriting the rules for hairstylists everywhere, teaching them how to scale their business, build lasting wealth, and create not just their dream life, but their legacy.

In this episode, Emily sits down with Terra to uncover the exact principles that transformed her journey. If you’ve ever felt capped by your time, your income, or your industry, this conversation will show you what’s possible when you choose to build differently.

What You’ll Learn:

Why hustle and hard work alone can’t create scalable wealth
The truth about wealth vs income
Leadership standards that unlock scaling
Branding as the hidden multiplier in business growth
How to align your business with your deepest calling

Timestamps:

(02:09) - When Terra discovered her worth
(03:25) - The shift to CEO thinking
(04:14) - The trap of trading time for money (and how to escape it)
(05:39) - The first move to scale
(08:11) - How to scale by doing what you do best
(13:16) - Breaking limiting beliefs as a leader
(15:41) - Leadership standards that create a lasting culture
(21:56) - Scaling with conviction
(29:24) - Who should you hire first to truly scale your business
(31:54) - Simplifying your financials
(34:38) - Maximizing income-producing activities
(38:10) - The Stop, Start, and Delegate Strategy
(44:53) - Personal branding: the foundation for influence
(54:15) - Real stories of stylists growing beyond the chair
(58:31) - How faith guides you to your true calling

Discover Harper Ellis Hair Co.

Website | https://www.harperellishair.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/harperellishairco/
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@harperellishairco
Facebook | https://www.tiktok.com/@harperellishairco
Pinterest | https://www.pinterest.com/harperellishairco/

Connect with Terra:

Website | https://terraharvell.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/theterraharvell/
Podcast | theterraharvell.komi.io
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@TheTerraHarvell