Libsyn Directory

E261 | How Future Casting and Strategic Hiring Set Your Business Up for Success in 2026

Release Date: 12/30/2025

E292 | What the Things That Trigger You Are Trying to Tell You

Scale Differently

Have you ever been triggered by something and wondered why you couldn't quite let it go? We experience minor triggers all the time. Whether someone does or says something that annoys you or you have a frustrating experience, most of the time you are able to move on with your day without a second thought. But every once in a while, something sticks with you far longer than it should and replays in your mind on repeat. When that happens, that is usually a sign to look beneath the surface because there is often an important takeaway. In this week's episode of the Simplify to Scale Show,...

E291 | Building An Aligned Thought Leadership Approach With Macy Robison

Scale Differently

Does creating thought leadership content leave you feeling drained or energized? If you find yourself dreading content creation or even avoiding it altogether, that's a sign that the framework you're using may not be aligned with your natural strengths and wiring. In this week's episode of the Simplify to Scale Show, I sit down with Macy Robison, a thought leadership strategist who helps people build a platform around how they're naturally wired. We dive into how to build a thought leadership approach that sounds and feels like you, including: Why copying a "proven" playbook doesn't always...

E290 | Recognizing When You’ve Fully Embraced An Evolved Identity

Scale Differently

Ever feel like you've outgrown who you used to be, but haven't fully settled into who you're becoming? That space between the two can feel destabilizing, where you've outgrown the old version, and the new one hasn't fully settled in yet. Most people don't recognize that discomfort for what it is. They assume something is off when really they're just in the middle of an identity evolution that hasn't completed yet. In this week's episode of the Simplify to Scale Show, I share an example of what full embodiment looks like and what to do when you're still in the middle of a change, including: ...

E289 | The Subtle Ways We Compromise What We Want for Others

Scale Differently

Ever look back at a decision or compromise that felt small in the moment only to realize how far it took you away from the path you wanted to be on? Founders make so many decisions every day, and even ones that don't feel 100% aligned rarely look dramatic on the surface. They look practical, like the sensible choice given everything on your plate at the time, and it's usually only later when you look back that you can see the magnitude of the impact. In this week's episode of the Simplify to Scale Show, I share a few of my own stories about decisions that inadvertently pulled me off course,...

E288 | How to Get Talked About When You’re Not in the Room with Michael Roderick

Scale Differently

How do you get people talking about you (in a good way) when you're not in the room? We all know that person whose name pops up everywhere, often before we've ever met them. Or when you ask for a referral and everyone recommends the same person to you. If you're curious what makes them so memorable and referable, and better yet how you become that person yourself, that's what we break down on this week's episode of the Simplify to Scale Show. I am joined by Michael Roderick, the CEO of Small Pond Enterprises and an expert in thought leadership, brand positioning, and relationship building,...

E287 | Creating Freedom of Choice in Your Business

Scale Differently

What would it feel like to make every decision in your business based on what you 'want to' do instead of what you feel like you 'have to' or 'should' do? When business owners think of freedom, they often think in terms of financial freedom or freedom of time, and those are important, but there’s an even more impactful kind of freedom... Having the 'freedom of choice' and being able to make decisions from a place of alignment instead of obligation. The challenge is that most business models and scaling and growth frameworks create the opposite. In this week’s episode of the Simplify to...

E286 | Showing Up as All of You in Your Business (Here's What I'm Changing)

Scale Differently

Most of us hit a point where the current version of our business no longer aligns with what we want or who we're becoming next. Or when we realize we've compartmentalized the different facets of who we are and we want a business that reflects ALL of us instead of strategic parts of us. Growth isn't only tied to your revenue or numbers. I find the biggest seasons of growth occur during identity evolutions, whether personally, within your business, or both. In this week's episode of the Simplify to Scale Show, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at my own personal and business identity...

E285 | How to Create Wealth Beyond Your Business with Amelia Misenheimer

Scale Differently

Are you ready to think bigger than just business revenue? Have you wondered how to turn your profits into lasting wealth? What if your investments could truly align with your values and lifestyle? In this episode, I speak with Amelia Misenheimer, a Wealth Building Strategist who supports entrepreneurs in growing personal wealth beyond their core businesses. We explore how to shift your mindset from focusing purely on profit to building long-term personal wealth. Amelia shares her experience in real estate and investing to share practical strategies tailored to different risk profiles, life...

E284 | Why Your Business Needs a Visionary Operating System

Scale Differently

Are you ready to finally step into your true role as a visionary founder? Have you wondered how to keep your business running at top quality without everything depending on you? Are you looking for a way to combine human expertise and AI capabilities while staying true to your brand? In this episode, I share the importance of building a visionary operating system for your business, a foundation that helps both people and technology understand exactly how you want things done. I talk about the components that make up this system: your business’s universe, your personal genius, and your...

E283 | How to Handle Business Identity Evolution

Scale Differently

Are you feeling the call to step into a new version of yourself or your business? Are you interested in how AI can truly support your next chapter? In this episode, I share a special behind-the-scenes look into my private podcast, revealing honest insights about identity evolution in business. I talk about how many business owners and right-hand partners are navigating not only shifts in their services but also deep internal changes. From embracing AI as a strategic asset to rethinking roles and client communication, I offer guidance on making these transitions thoughtfully. You’ll hear...

More Episodes

Have you ever wondered how to plan for a thriving year in your business? Do you know what future casting is and how it can impact your growth? Are you hiring the right people to help your business grow? In this episode, I invite you behind the scenes of my strategic planning retreat, sharing powerful strategies to set your vision for the next decade, reflect on big milestones, and map out actionable steps for the coming year.

I reveal how future casting helps you reimagine your goals and spot next steps you might not have considered, along with practical advice for building a strong support structure. If you’re thinking about growing your team, I share how to identify and hire at the strategic execution level, so your business isn’t just checking boxes but actually achieving real outcomes.

Ready to take your planning further? You can catch the replay of the strategic planning workshop by joining SOL Collective or sign up for the Scale Smarter, Not Harder interactive workshop to ask your questions live and uplevel your strategy. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you enjoyed the show, I would love if you leave a rating or review to help even more businesses scale with confidence!

In this episode, I break down:

Future Casting for Strategic Planning
The Importance of Vision
Mapping Out Milestones Early
Building the Right Support Structure
Hiring at the Strategic Execution Level
Interview Techniques for Strategic Thinkers
Ownership of Outcomes Over Tasks

Here are 2 other podcast episodes to support you if you are still envisioning next year:

Ready to get out of the day-to-day operations of your business?

A SOL (Strategy + Operations Leader) is the missing link between your vision and results that aren’t dependent on you! Certify your existing right-hand or get support in hiring the right person: https://www.strategicopsinstitute.com/sol

Looking to go deeper and learn how to scale your business sustainably?

SIMPLIFY TO SCALE will help you to reclaim your time, increase your impact and profit, and simplify your business as you scale to multiple-7 figures and beyond so you finally get to enjoy the success you worked so hard to achieve. Find out more at: https://www.leanoutmethod.com/scale

Ready to become a strategic leader who understands how to balance sustainable and scalable growth with operational efficiency?

Join our SOL Collective, an elite and private community for Business Strategists and Operational Leaders who advise and support founders in scaling their businesses. Learn more at https://www.strategicopsinstitute.com/collective

Have questions? Want to explore partnering together to scale your business? Connect with me on my personal Instagram @cristagrasso or LinkedIn and let’s start a conversation.

If you loved this episode, please help us spread the word and reach more business owners like you by leaving a 5-star rating and review. Hit subscribe to be the ﬁrst to listen to new episodes each Tuesday.

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