237. Running a $5M Business with a Lean Team with Denise Duffield-Thomas
The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork
Release Date: 06/04/2025
248. The Illusion of Letting Go
The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork
After , Adrienne and Emily are back to debrief the conversation — and dig into what it really takes to evolve from a hands-on founder to a strategic leader. If you’ve stepped out of the doing but still find yourself making all the decisions, this debrief will hit home. Here’s what we cover: ✅ The illusion of being “out of the weeds” — and why decision fatigue proves otherwise ✅ How to train your team to spot problems and solve them ✅ Letting go of control… without letting go of clarity ✅ Navigating leadership with a co-founder who sees the world differently ✅ Why...
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247. Leading Beyond the Day-to-Day with Ben and Cody from 5 Star Interpreting
The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork
In this coaching episode, Adrienne Dorison and Emily Doyle sit down with Ben and Cody, co-founders of , to tackle a challenge many visionary founders face: What does your role become when the business runs without you? If you’ve ever felt unsure of how to stay involved at a strategic level without slipping back into the day-to-day, this one’s for you. Here’s what we cover: ✅ Why “letting go” doesn’t mean disappearing ✅ How to build metrics that matter (and get your team to own them) ✅ Navigating partnership dynamics when your working styles clash ✅ Identifying the...
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246. Fear-Based Decisions Cost Your Business Too Much
The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork
After coaching Lisa Whitehouse on her team and scaling challenges, Adrienne and Emily are back to debrief the conversation — and get honest about how fear, beliefs, and untested assumptions shape our most critical business decisions. If you’ve ever delayed a hire, undercharged for your work, or jumped back into client delivery because “it’s just easier,” this debrief is a must-listen. Here’s what we cover: ✅ Why journaling and mindset work alone won’t help you scale ✅ The numbers that make hiring decisions feel safer ✅ How to calculate your onboarding runway + caseload...
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245. Scaling a People-Powered Sales Team with Lisa Whitehouse
The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork
In this coaching session, Adrienne Dorison and Emily Doyle sit down with Lisa Whitehouse, founder of Clever Vine — a UK-based outsourced business development agency — to unpack the mental and operational roadblocks keeping her from hiring and scaling with confidence. If you’ve ever second-guessed whether it’s safe to grow your team, this one’s for you. Here’s what we cover: ✅ What “team trauma” looks like — and how it lingers in your decision-making ✅ Why Lisa keeps jumping back into client work (and what it’s costing her) ✅ The challenge of hiring for soft skills and...
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244. Building Trust After Big Changes In Your Business
The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork
In this debrief session, Adrienne Dorison and Emily Doyle break down the key takeaways from their about managing a fast-growing team and handling the challenges of an acquisition. If you’ve ever faced pushback from your team during a big change, this episode is for you! Here’s what we cover: ✅ Why resistance to change is normal — and how to work through it ✅ How to create user manuals to improve team communication ✅ Why you need to frame change around the benefits to your team ✅ How to present new systems in a way that creates buy-in ✅ When saving money isn’t worth the team...
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243. Managing Fast Growth and Change with Robert Gauvreau
The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork
In this coaching session, Adrienne Dorison and Emily Doyle sit down with Robert Gauvreau, CEO of Gauvreau CPA, to tackle a major challenge — navigating a fast-growing team and a recent acquisition. If you’ve ever struggled with managing change, integrating new teams, or setting clear expectations, this one’s for you! Here’s what we cover: ✅ How to lead through acquisitions without creating friction ✅ The power of curiosity in change management ✅ Building trust with a newly acquired team ✅ Why user manuals are the key to working better together ✅ How to clarify roles and...
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242. Quality Over Quantity When It Comes to New Clients
The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork
In this follow-up episode, Adrienne Dorison and Emily Doyle reflect on . Danielle shared how she solved one business challenge — needing more stylists — by purchasing a hair school. But with every solution comes a new bottleneck, and now Danielle is focused on recruiting high-quality students to keep her business thriving. Here’s what we cover: ✅ Why buying a school created a new business challenge ✅ How Danielle is rethinking her recruiting strategy for long-term success ✅ Why focusing on high-quality students is more important than filling seats ✅ The role of social media and...
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241. The Recruiting Challenge: How to Attract Top Talent with Danielle Cherewyk
The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork
In this coaching session, Adrienne Dorison and Emily Doyle dive deep with Danielle Cherewyk, a former client and successful salon owner, to tackle a major challenge — recruiting high-quality students for her newly purchased hair school. If you’ve ever struggled to create a consistent talent pipeline, this one’s for you! Here’s what we cover: ✅ How purchasing a school created new opportunities (and new challenges) ✅ Strategies for recruiting top-tier students and building a long-term talent pipeline ✅ The power of partnerships with local businesses and high schools ✅ Creating...
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240. How to Deliver Value at Any Price Point
The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork
In this follow-up episode, Adrienne Dorison and Emily Doyle reflect on their conversation with Ryan Koral, founder of Tell Studios, about the challenges of scaling creative businesses without losing quality. If you've ever felt torn between delivering high-end results and making your services more accessible, this one’s for you! → Missed Ryan Koral’s episode? Here’s what we cover: ✅ How to create tiered offers without lowering your brand standards ✅ Why your “6/10” might be your client’s “10/10” ✅ The importance of protecting your QBR (Queen Bee Role) at every price...
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239. Scaling with Simplicity with Ryan Koral
The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork
In this episode, Adrienne Dorison and Emily Doyle sit down with Ryan Koral, founder of Tell Studios, to tackle a common challenge among creative entrepreneurs — scaling without losing quality. If you've ever felt like you need to burn it all down and start over, this one’s for you! Here’s what we cover: ✅ How to simplify your business offerings without sacrificing quality ✅ The difference between premium vs. ready-to-wear product models ✅ Overcoming the mindset blocks that stop you from scaling ✅ The power of meeting clients where they are — without compromising your...
info_outlineIn this episode, Adrienne Dorison and Emily Doyle sit down with best-selling author Denise Duffield-Thomas to explore how she and her husband built a $5M business with a small, part-time team — and how they’ve structured their lives to work less without sacrificing income or success.
Denise opened up about the strategies and mindset shifts that allowed her to create a thriving business while maintaining balance and freedom. If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your business without overloading your schedule, this one’s for you!
Here’s what we cover:
✅ How Denise built a $5M business with a part-time team
✅ Why focusing on one core offer creates more growth (not less)
✅ The mindset shift around seasons of business and life
✅ Why building assets outside the business creates freedom
✅ How to avoid the trap of constantly launching new offers
Adrienne and Emily also dig into:
👉 The power of simplifying your business model
👉 How Denise maintained revenue while stepping back from the business
👉 Why saying "no" is crucial for sustainable success
👉 The importance of having personal goals and wins outside of work
👉 Why perfectionism and identity shifts are holding you back
If you’re ready to scale your business without working more, this episode will give you the inspiration and tactical advice you need. Hit play and get ready to simplify and grow! 🔥
🔑 Top 5 Takeaways:
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Lean Growth is Possible – Denise built a multimillion-dollar business with a small team by staying focused on her core offer.
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Focus on One Offer – Scaling happens more easily when you focus on improving and selling what’s already working.
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Seasons Matter – Your business (and life) will have different seasons — understanding and respecting them creates longevity.
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Build Outside the Business – Investing in assets and real estate created more financial freedom for Denise's family.
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Set Personal Goals – Achievements like winning a ballet trophy or succeeding at cross-stitch can give you fulfillment beyond business success.
📚 Check Out Denise’s Book:
Denise is the author of Get Rich, Lucky Bitch!, and Chillpreneur — must-reads for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to break through money blocks and grow their wealth.
👉 Grab your copy here: https://www.denisedt.com/books
⏰ Chapters:
01:24 – How Denise built a $5M business with a lean team
04:50 – The decision to keep the team small and efficient
06:46 – Why staying focused on one core offer creates more growth
10:42 – Understanding seasons of business and life
14:44 – Personal wins and why hobbies matter
18:31 – The freedom that comes from building assets outside the business
22:34 – Overcoming identity shifts and perfectionism
29:44 – How Denise simplified her business model
34:38 – Saying "no" to protect personal time and energy
39:30 – Lessons from taking a sabbatical
📲 Links & Resources:
👉 Connect with Denise: denisedt.com
👉 Follow Denise on Instagram: @denisedt