From Bottleneck to Breakthrough: My Transformation from Operator to CEO

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how I went from being my business's biggest roadblock to the CEO my business needed me to be. Picture this: yours truly, swamped in the day-to-day of running my retail store, believing that being ultra-involved in everything was the key to success. The reality was starkly different. I was the bottleneck, and my 'all-in' approach was leading me straight to burnout.

Now don't get me wrong, my business was profitable and would be described as successful, even back then.  What wasn't successful was the life I had created for myself. The 25/7 working.  The zero boundaries,  The exhaustion.  

The wake-up call came loud and clear. I wasn’t just the heart and soul of my business; I was stifling its growth. This realization sparked a journey of transformation—not just in my role but in my entire approach to business and life.

Here’s a deeper dive into the 3 pivotal shifts that turned everything around:

1. Rediscovering My 'Why' and Redefining My Role: The first step was a heartfelt return to the basics—my 'why'. Why did I start this business? What was my vision, and had it become blurred in the chaos? This reflection was crucial. It wasn’t just about stepping away from day-to-day tasks; it was about embracing my role as the CEO with a renewed sense of purpose. My job was to take my why, based on my vision, and focus  on growth and strategy while allowing myself the space to breathe and live.  I definitely wouldn't say I ran a business void of strategy, but it wasn't as intentional at it needed to be.  I definitely worked IN my business far more than ON my business and it was completely unnecessary.  It just took me awhile to see it clearly.

2. Strategically Building the Right Team: Realizing I didn’t have all the right people in the right positions was tough. It was evident I needed more hands on deck, but more importantly, I needed hands that filled the specific gaps in our business structure. This meant taking a hard look at our operations, identifying where we were lacking, and then bringing in individuals who could own those areas. Accountability became key. Each team member had to understand their roles and responsibilities clearly, and I had to hold them (and myself) accountable for fulfilling them. This shift towards a more structured and accountable team dynamic was a game-changer.

3. Investing Wisely for Sustainable Growth: The fear of financial investment in these changes was real, but I learned that strategic investment, especially in people, was essential. This part did not start out smoothly. Now I realize that I should have started small, hiring part-time to mitigate financial risks.  I dove in and spent way more than my business could afford.  A hard lesson learned.  I went back to the drawing board  and focused on bringing in experts who could offer more than just an extra pair of hands—they were investments in our growth. These were people who filled our structural gaps and brought expertise that I didn’t have, turning potential expenses into invaluable assets for our business.  Not all of these roles were filled with additional employees, I also outsourced in areas that made sense.

The journey was peppered with mistakes, sure, but each misstep brought invaluable lessons learned.