Libsyn Directory

239. Scaling with Simplicity with Ryan Koral

The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork

Release Date: 06/18/2025

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

More Episodes

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 brand
✅ How to use strategic downsizing to unlock sustainable growth

Ryan opens up about the challenges of running a creative business for 20+ years and the internal conflict between delivering a “10/10” product and providing scalable, accessible solutions.

Adrienne and Emily help Ryan shift his mindset, focusing on how to provide exceptional value without overdelivering — and why simplifying can be the key to long-term success.

If you’re ready to simplify your business model, while still maintaining high value and client satisfaction, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Hit play and let’s get into it! 🔥

Top 5 Takeaways:

1. Define Your “Ready-to-Wear” Offer – Just like luxury brands offer both high-end and accessible products, you can create scalable solutions without sacrificing quality.

2. Client Perception Matters More Than Your Own Standard – Your 5/10 might be a 10/10 for your client. Focus on the result, not perfection.

3. Simplification Leads to Scalability – Streamlining your offerings can help you serve more clients without increasing your workload.

4. Measure Success by Results, Not Perfection – If your work drives client results, it’s a win — even if it’s not “perfect” in your eyes.

5. Use Downsizing as an Opportunity – Losing team members or simplifying your offerings isn’t a setback — it’s a chance to create a leaner, more effective business model.

Chapters:

01:52 – Feeling Like Burning It All Down – Why business owners feel like starting over
03:11 – Scaling vs. Simplifying – How to make your business more scalable
05:25 – Client Perception vs. Reality – Understanding what clients actually care about
13:28 – “Runway vs. Ready-to-Wear” Model – Why offering different tiers can drive growth
18:34 – Pricing and Positioning – How to communicate the value of different offers
24:44 – Creative Constraints – How to thrive with limited resources
29:44 – Mindset Shifts – Overcoming the fear of simplifying
34:38 – Sustainable Business Growth – Why less can be more
36:11 – Long-Term Success – Building a business model that supports future growth
39:30 – Take Action – Ryan’s next steps to simplify and scale

Links Mentioned:

🔗 Grab Ryans free resource to make your video marketing easier: tellstudios.com/easy
🔗 Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn: Ryan Koral

Connect with Adrienne: @adriennedorison
Learn more about Run Like Clockwork: www.runlikeclockwork.com

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