The Growth Signal

This Field Notes episode was inspired by my conversation with Gabrielle Mills. She shared the idea that your business can’t grow bigger than you’re willing to grow yourself — and it got me thinking about what that really means for me this year.Back in January, I set my 2025 theme as focus: choosing the things that are right, not just the things that are good. That sounds simple, but if you’re wired like me — an early adopter who loves shiny new ideas and the thrill of the solve...focus can be one of the hardest disciplines.In this short reflection, I talk about:The difference between good opportunities and the right onesHow Truvue has forced me to build with a team, not just brute force it aloneWhy I’m looking for fellow early adopters to help us test, shape, and build what’s nextIf you’re the kind of person who loves to try something new before it hits the market, this one’s for you.

In this episode of The Growth Signal, Alyssa Nolte sits down with entrepreneur and business owner Gabrielle Mills for a candid conversation on why your business can only grow as much as you are willing to grow yourself.Gabrielle shares her journey of building a company with her mother, the lessons learned from hard seasons, and the practical framework she uses to help leaders scale without burning out. Alyssa and Gabrielle dig into the balance between confidence and complacency, why systems matter more than expansion, and the power of asking instead of assuming.This episode is for anyone who wants to lead with more clarity, build a business that lasts, and stop hitting invisible ceilings.3 Key Takeaways:Your personal growth sets the ceiling for your business growth. If you stop developing, so will your company.Scaling starts with systems, not expansion. Without strong processes, growth will break you.Asking for feedback and exposing yourself to new ideas is the fastest way to find what really works.

In this episode of The Growth Signal, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Emily Jackson to talk about what it really takes to lead in sales. Emily’s hot take is simple but powerful: you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to make an impact.Together, Alyssa and Emily dive into why quiet leadership matters, how introverts can thrive, and what leaders can do to create space for every voice to be heard. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit the stereotype of a “natural salesperson,” this episode will change the way you see your strengths.Why listen? Because the best sales and leadership lessons don’t come from the loudest voice...they come from consistency, listening, and trust.3 Key Takeaways:Quiet leadership can be more effective than being the loudest voice in the room.Consistency and follow-through build stronger trust than any polished pitch.Leaders must create space and give permission for introverts to speak up—or risk missing out on powerful contributions.

In this episode of The Growth Signal, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Kathy Makranyi to talk about bold leadership, AI, and what it really takes to move organizations forward. Kathy’s hot take is simple but powerful: AI isn’t the biggest threat to your business...fear of change is.This conversation is for leaders who want to cut through the hype and focus on what really drives impact.What you’ll learn in this episode:Why change management is often harder than the technology itself.How bold leaders can use AI to create real customer impact, not just buzz.What it takes to help teams embrace transformation instead of fearing it.Listen in for a fresh take on AI, leadership, and the future of customer relationships.

Sometimes real life feels a little too much like The Good Place.In this Field Note, I share how a simple product issue turned into a customer support spiral...where process mattered more than people, rules mattered more than trust, and leadership failed the very customers they were trying to retain.It’s funny on TV, but in real life it’s maddening. And it’s a reminder that the best customer experience isn’t defensive or bogged down in procedures. It’s proactive. It empowers people. It protects trust.Field Notes are my raw observations from the messy middle of building, learning, and testing what it means to create something better.

This reflection was inspired by my conversation with Andy Halko on The Growth Signal. Andy’s hot take (that personas are dead) pushed me to look hard at some of the assumptions I made when starting TruVue.In this Field Notes episode, I pull back the curtain on what it felt like to realize we were building for an audience that wasn’t actually ready for what we thought they needed. I talk about why solving a problem nobody is begging you to solve is a dead end, how painful it is to admit when you’ve gotten it wrong, and why narrowing your focus feels scary but creates momentum.It’s a messy, unpolished voice note about pivoting, listening harder, and remembering that sometimes the most “revolutionary” move is the simplest one: actually talking to your customers.Why listen:If you’ve ever bet on the wrong ICP, wrestled with the fear of narrowing, or wondered why customers aren’t “clamoring” for your solution, this reflection will hit home. It’s about honesty, traction, and finding the courage to choose who you’re really for... and who you’re not.

In this episode of The Growth Signal, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Andy Halko to talk about why traditional marketing personas no longer work and what should replace them. Andy’s hot take is clear...static personas are a waste of time. Instead, he makes the case for “buyer twins” powered by AI that evolve, interact, and give real feedback.If you’ve ever created a persona that ended up buried in a Google Drive and never used again, this conversation will hit home. Alyssa and Andy dig into how leaders can shift from a one-and-done persona mindset to an agile, customer-centric approach that actually drives results.Why listen: This isn’t just theory. Andy shares a framework you can use to pinpoint your real ICP, test campaigns before launch, and avoid the common traps that make marketing generic and ineffective.3 key takeaways:Static personas get outdated fast and they rarely influence real decisions.Buyer twins give you interactive, candid feedback before you spend time and money on campaigns.Narrowing your focus to the right ICP is essential if you want marketing that converts.

This Field Notes reflection was inspired by my conversation with Drewbie Wilson on The Growth Signal. His hot take was simple but sharp: Sales is easy...the hard part is just calling the damn leads.That hit me harder than I expected, because I’ve been carrying that same hesitation in my own business lately, not with cold calls, but with how I talk about Truvue. For too long, we’ve been building quietly, waiting for someone else to ask before we share what we’re excited about.In this episode, I pull back the curtain on that shift from waiting to be asked, to starting the conversation. From chasing polish, to chasing momentum.If you’ve ever caught yourself overthinking, holding back, or waiting for the “perfect moment” before putting yourself out there, this one’s for you.

In this episode of The Growth Signal, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Drewbie Wilson, the man behind the “Call the Damn Leads” movement. Drewbie’s hot take is bold: Sales is easy. Most people just aren’t doing the work. Together, Alyssa and Drewbie dig into why fear of rejection holds so many back, how to build real confidence, and why serving beats selling every time.This is a must-listen if you’ve ever avoided picking up the phone, struggled to connect with prospects, or felt stuck in your sales process. Drewbie’s no-nonsense approach will make you rethink what it really takes to grow your business.3 key takeaways:Why the fear of rejection is really about a lack of confidence and how to fix it.How to ask better questions that build trust and uncover real opportunities.Why not all business is good business and how saying no can create more room for the right clients.

In this episode of The Growth Signal, Alyssa Nolte sits down with sales leader and consultant Lindsay Rios to challenge a common CEO reflex...firing sales leaders over bad forecasts. Lindsay’s hot take is clear: the real problem isn’t the leader, it’s the lack of training, tools, and support they’ve been given.They unpack why forecasting is part math, part art, and part gut instinct, and why fixing the process is more valuable than replacing the person. You’ll hear real-world stories, hard truths about “poopy pipelines,” and practical ways to get forecasting right.If you’ve ever sat in a forecast meeting thinking “there has to be a better way,” this episode is for you.3 key takeaways:How CEOs can diagnose forecasting problems and support leaders instead of replacing themWhy bad data and “poopy pipelines” ruin forecasts and how to clean them upPractical ways to build a culture of accurate, honest forecasting across the organization