How to Scale a Business

In this episode of How to Scale a Business, host Hector Santiesteban sits down with Nolan Bradbury founder of Bradfield Accounting & Advisory to uncover why so many entrepreneurs achieve their financial targets but still feel unfulfilled. Nolan introduces his Numbers for Freedom Framework, a practical system that helps business owners align their finances with the life they truly want. From the dangers of chasing the wrong goals to reorienting your business around freedom, Nolan shares actionable insights on scaling smarter, creating clarity, and avoiding the traps of growth that don’t serve you.Chapters:00:00:00 - Welcome to How to Scale a Business Podcast00:00:45 - Meet Nolan00:04:21 - Why business success doesn't always lead to personal fulfillment.00:05:58 - Introduction to the "Numbers for Freedom" framework.00:07:19 - Common blind spot: Misaligned personal and business goals.00:09:00 - Four common mistakes in traditional goal-setting.00:15:16 - Prioritizing the family's well-being over the business's.00:16:47 - Step 1: Quantify your current personal spending.00:19:43 - Step 2: Analyze the business's financial performance.00:23:01 - Step 3: Define your ideal lifestyle and its cost.00:24:00 - Step 4: Calculate what the business needs to fund that lifestyle.00:24:48 - Step 5: The critical role of accountability.00:26:05 - How to connect with NolanLinks And Resources:Nolan Bradbury on LinkedIn Bradfield Accounting Numbers for FreedomAmplafy MediaHector Santiesteban on LinkedInHector Santiesteban on TwitterThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Scale a Business? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

In this episode of How to Scale a Business, host Hector Santiesteban talks with Justin Rashidi, co-founder of SeedX, about why he hires for “smart problem solvers” over experience and how that philosophy fuels growth. Justin explains why many companies that think they have a marketing issue are actually facing problems with data, sales integration, or margins, and how understanding core metrics like CAC, LTV, and gross margin reframes decisions as investments. He shares why rigid frameworks fail compared to a flexible tool-belt approach, how cutting the wrong activities can literally save millions, and why AI—though often misunderstood—is transforming processes. Ultimately, he highlights that a company’s growth is often limited not by its market, but by the adaptability of its leadershipChapters: 00:00:00 - Welcome to How to Scale a Business Podcast00:00:54 - What SeedX Does: Business Consulting for Marketing, Sales, and Tech 00:02:11 - The Real Reasons Companies Aren't Growing 00:04:05 - A "Tool Belt" vs. "Recipe" Approach to Consulting 00:04:47 - The Importance of Understanding Core Business Metrics 00:06:29 - The Emotional "Therapy" Aspect of Business Consulting 00:07:33 - Balancing Bespoke Strategy with Flexible Processes 00:08:51 - Key Metrics Owners Overlook: CAC, LTV, and Margins 00:12:47 - Is AI Overhyped or Underhyped? 00:14:13 - The Power of Tightly Scoped AI 00:16:01 - A Practical Approach: Using AI for Tasks You Don't Want to Do 00:17:59 - How Resistant Organizations Can Start with AI 00:19:30 - Advice for Early-Stage Scaling: Prepare for People and Operations 00:21:06 - Where to Find Justin Rashidi Online 00:21:58 - Leadership Self-TransformationLinks And Resources:SeedX WebsiteJustin on LinkedInJustin on InstagramJustin on Twitter/XAmplafy MediaHector Santiesteban on LinkedInHector Santiesteban on TwitterThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Scale a Business? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Hector Santiesteban talks with Wilson Zehr, CEO of Cendix and Zairmail, about his career as a serial entrepreneur. Wilson shares his journey from software engineer to entrepreneur, driven by a desire for more control over the direction of his career. He discusses how he navigated challenges like the triple whammy of the dot-com meltdown, 9/11, and the anthrax scare. Wilson explains how his company's responsible financial management during these contractions allowed them to acquire their largest competitor. He also offers his perspective on AI, calling it an enabling technology rather than a single disruptive application. Finally, he reveals his secret to scaling a business: being passionate about using it to change the world rather than focusing solely on money.Chapters:00:00:00 – Introduction00:01:13 – Experience at Sequin Computer Corporation and first startup, Fusion00:01:38 – Launching and selling Zairmail00:02:10 – The “triple whammy”: dot-com meltdown, 9/11, and anthrax scare00:02:32 – Starting Cendix and reacquiring Zairmail00:02:51 – Raising capital and teaching career00:03:17 – Comparing current economic uncertainty to 200100:04:15 – High failure rates and the role of good fortune00:04:41 – Managing funds responsibly and acquiring a competitor00:06:05 – Strategy and business cycles00:07:29 – Opportunities during downturns: acquisitions and growth00:08:31 – Economic downturns as trailing indicators00:09:33 – Disappearing industries: paper checks and Yellow Pages00:10:24 – Are cycles accelerating?00:11:16 – Pace of innovation and rapid change00:11:54 – Technology compared to building road systems00:12:58 – Timeless advice for business owners00:13:32 – Downturns as a time to reset and prepare00:15:34 – How businesses secure funding00:16:16 – Venture capital as portfolio investing00:18:28 – How to connect with Wilson00:19:14 – The secret to scaling a business00:19:23 – Running out of capital as the #1 failure point00:19:42 – Why money should never be the sole motivatorLinks And Resources:ZairmailCendixWilson on LinkedInAmplafy MediaHector Santiesteban on LinkedInHector Santiesteban on TwitterThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Scale a Business? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

In this episode of How to Scale a Business, Brianna Greenspan—author, genetics consultant, and CEO of Brianna Greenspan International—reveals how scaling with heart, integrity, and intentionality creates sustainable success. Born with a chronic illness and shaped by adversity, Brianna shares how self-leadership, conscious reflection, and asking the right questions became her ultimate growth tools. She discusses the real science behind wellness, how she “fails fast and pivots faster,” and why traditional hustle culture often leads to burnout. From skipping pop culture to leading a wellness village in a Las Vegas casino, Brianna brings a bold, evidence-based approach to growth mindset, leadership, and business evolution. If you’re looking for a soulful yet strategic roadmap to scale, this conversation is a must-listen.Chapters:00:00:00 - Kicking Off with Purpose and Presence00:00:32 - Why Scaling with Heart Actually Works00:01:24 - Success Starts on the Inside00:03:56 - From Chronic Illness to CEO00:06:28 - Protecting Your Time Like Your Life Depends on It00:10:17 - Self-Care Is the Strategy00:20:55 - The One Question That Changes Everything00:24:30 - Where to Find Me + A Final InvitationLinks And Resources:WebsiteBrianna Greenspan on LinkedInAmplafy MediaHector Santiesteban on LinkedInHector Santiesteban on TwitterThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Scale a Business? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Madi Waggoner, an operations strategist, shares her expertise in helping remote startups thrive. She introduces the L.I.F.T. Framework, focusing on Leadership, Infrastructure, Fuel, and Team. Madi highlights how KPIs can transform business clarity and performance. She discusses practical tools for enhancing team dynamics using platforms like Slack and Asana. Plus, she offers invaluable insights on overcoming founder bottlenecks and fostering a growth mindset to ensure operational success.

Eric Collett — CEO of A Mind For All Seasons — reveals how entrepreneurs can upgrade their operating system by mastering brain health fundamentals. Drawing on decades of experience reversing cognitive decline, Eric unpacks why your brain is your tool in the knowledge economy and how sleep, stress management, nutrition, and cognitive training sharpen your thinking like a hardware upgrade. Discover why neuroplasticity is your secret edge, what myths are sabotaging your performance, and how to scale smarter with a sharper mind.Chapters:00:00:00 - Meet Eric Collett and Kickoff00:00:26 - From Unexpected Beginnings to Brain Health00:02:38 - Founding the Company and Meeting His Partner00:03:15 - Creating Practical Tools for Sharper Minds00:03:48 - Why Brain Health Changes Everything00:07:01 - Busting Common Brain Health Myths00:09:47 - Simple Daily Habits for a Stronger Brain00:13:18 - How Food and Supplements Boost Your Brain00:20:39 - The Hidden Impact of Stress and Dental Health00:21:25 - Final Takeaways and Action StepsLinks And Resources:Amplafy MediaHector Santiesteban on LinkedInHector Santiesteban on TwitterThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Scale a Business? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

In this episode of How to Scale a Business, Dr. Lani Jones—clinical psychologist, executive advisor, and founder of HBL Advisory Group—joins host Hector Santiesteban to explore how internal growth fuels scalable success. Drawing from her transition out of corporate healthcare and into entrepreneurship, Dr. Jones unpacks the powerful role of emotional intelligence, communication, and self-leadership in building high-performing teams. She challenges the notion that employee wellness is just “corporate fluff” by showing its direct impact on retention, productivity, and profitability. Whether you’re leading a small team or scaling a growing company, this conversation reveals how investing in yourself and your people is not just good practice—it’s smart business.Chapters:00:00:00 - Kicking Off: Meet Dr. Lani Jones00:00:24 - From Burnout to Bold Business Moves00:01:39 - Blending Psychology with High-Impact Leadership00:02:05 - Why Team Wellness Is a Profit Strategy00:02:32 - Inner Work That Drives Outer Growth00:03:34 - Scaling Pains: What’s Holding You Back00:07:30 - Letting Go of Control to Grow00:20:16 - Communication and Clarity: The CEO Superpowers00:22:11 - Final Wisdom and Where to Learn MoreLinks And Resources:Amplafy MediaHector Santiesteban on LinkedInHector Santiesteban on TwitterThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Scale a Business? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Hector sits down with Cassie Shea, a somatic business coach who helps high-performing founders collapse time and expand their businesses by re-engineering the one thing most people overlook: identity. Instead of leading with tactics, Cassie shares why scaling sustainably demands a transformation from within. She explains how heartache, burnout, and boredom are often signs that a founder’s identity story is misaligned with their next level. Whether you’re a $500K founder stuck in overwhelm or a $2M CEO looking for more presence and fulfillment, this episode dives deep into the inner architecture of success. Plus, Cassie reveals how she’s using AI as her co-founder to scale with soul, and offers three powerful questions to help leaders rewrite their story and unlock exponential growth.Chapters:00:00:00 - Meet Cassie & the Real Reason You’re Stuck00:01:10 - What It Means to Be a Visionary Guide00:03:27 - Your Next Level Requires a New Identity00:06:03 - The Subtle Signs You’ve Outgrown Your Current Role00:07:21 - When Business Growth Demands Personal Evolution00:09:29 - Why Identity Is Your Greatest Business Lever00:15:17 - The 3 Questions That Transform Everything00:19:12 - How Cassie Uses AI as Her Creative Co-Founder00:23:31 - Final Sparks of Insight for Scaling with SoulLinks And Resources:WebsiteCassie Shea on LinkedInAligned Freedom Assessment: Available via homepage ("Ready to Get Aligned" prompt)Amplafy MediaHector Santiesteban on LinkedInHector Santiesteban on TwitterThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Scale a Business? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Hector sits down with Jon Logan, founder of Green Lit Growth Strategies, to unpack what’s really stopping small businesses from scaling. With a diverse background in food service, cybersecurity, and full-scale marketing, Jonathan shares how he grew a company from $3M to $25M using his proprietary G.R.O.W.T.H. Framework. He reveals why most brands “talk about themselves backwards,” how to build emotional resonance, and what it takes to create a “marketing machine” that scales. Learn the power of positioning, community-building, and nurturing relationships for real bottom-line growth.Chapters:00:00:00 - From Food Service to $25M00:01:03 - The Accidental Marketer00:03:06 - Launching a Purpose-Driven Agency00:04:29 - The #1 Marketing Mistake00:05:43 - How to Build a Brand Tribe00:11:44 - Proven Frameworks That Actually Work00:17:07 - The G.R.O.W.T.H. Formula Revealed00:23:53 - Scaling Secrets & Final TakeawaysLinks And Resources:WebsiteJon Logan on LinkedInAmplafy MediaHector Santiesteban on LinkedInHector Santiesteban on TwitterThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Scale a Business? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!

Wes Chyrchel—fractional COO, consultant, and author—joins Hector to unpack the real operational backbone behind successful scaling. With over 27 years of experience turning vision into execution, Wes breaks down how founders can escape the chaos of doing it all and move into their zone of genius. From crafting goal-driven strategies to choosing the right KPIs and daily actions, Wes reveals how small, consistent reps—just like in fitness—build scalable, sustainable companies. He also explores how AI is reshaping organizational structure and why creating multiple income streams is no longer optional. Whether you're a startup founder stuck in the weeds or a seasoned CEO preparing for acquisition, Wes delivers practical, battle-tested insights for building the systems that make big ideas actually work.Chapters:00:00:00 - Meet Wes: The Scaler Behind the Curtain00:00:27 - Why Every Visionary Needs a Bulldozer00:02:04 - From Laid Off to Launching 7-Figure Systems00:03:28 - The Pain Points Founders Don’t Talk About00:05:46 - Scale Math: Goals + KPIs = Growth00:08:20 - The Founder’s Greatest Obstacle: Control00:19:58 - When the Economy Shifts, Do You?00:25:18 - Your Org Chart Is About to Be Replaced by AI00:27:29 - Wes’s Book & the Mindset Shift That Changed EverythingLinks And Resources:WebsiteWes on LinkedInBook (Coming Soon): Create Your Own JobAmplafy MediaHector Santiesteban on LinkedInHector Santiesteban on TwitterThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to How to Scale a Business? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!