According to Dan Martel in his book “Buy Back Your Time,” your first hire should be an Executive Assistant who can manage you calendar and email. This frees up your time and helps your energy, both important for doing the work only you can do. I think your first hire should be for whatever frees up your time and energy. That may mean hiring a consultant to review your business and processes together to identify where you can improve. It may mean subscribing to an AI program to help with certain tasks. Think (what is your strategy) of how you can gain synergy in your business by improving or eliminating a process. What systems and automations make sense? What no longer serves you? What structure ties it all together? What support do you need at this time? Let’s start a conversation. What comes to mind? Where do you feel stuck right now?

I know you’ve discovered your “why” for having your own business. I have two questions for you today: 1. When is the last time you took thirty minutes to think about your why, to write it down and have a clear understanding? 2. Is your why vague? 3. Is your why big enough it scares you? Some examples of vagueness: To pay off debt To earn income To leave my job I’ve been thinking about my why and realized that it can change over time. I’m not where I was ten years ago. I now think in bigger terms. It’s not how can I pay off my car or how can I work full time from home. Now it takes on flavors like providing income opportunities for others. My why is big enough to scare me. Is yours big enough to scare you? When your why is big enough, nothing can get in the way. It’s you and the finish line. No excuses. You commit to showing up, engaging, learning, taking action, and investing in yourself both in time and money. You view your business as a business and work twice as hard for yourself as you ever have for someone else. Your turn. If we were sitting across from each other having coffee, what would you share? Comment below. 👇

Let’s congratulate @Marcia Williams on leveling up! Level 2: Visionary Owner.

I’m so glad to be here among other founders who are building businesses with heart and purpose. A little about me: I’m a licensed therapist turned CEO and founder of Passage to Peace, a healing brand that helps survivors of narcissistic abuse rebuild their identity, peace, and power. My work grew out of my own 30-year marriage to a narcissist and the transformation that followed — turning my pain into a platform for healing. Over the past few years, I’ve built a full ecosystem of therapy services, coaching programs, online courses, and a growing community of survivors. But if I’m honest, I’m now in that stretch season — the one where you shift from helping people one by one to building something bigger than you. That’s why I joined this space. I’m here to learn from other vision-driven CEOs who are scaling with intention — not hustle. I’m excited to share ideas, exchange wisdom, and connect with people who are just as passionate about purpose and transformation as I am. If you’ve also made that leap from practitioner to visionary, I’d love to hear what that transition’s been like for you. Looking forward to connecting with you all, Marcia

Let’s all welcome @Marcia Williams to the party! Welcome - Glad you’re here!