548: How They Scaled: BTS with 4 Million Dollar Creative Business Owners

You can’t scale your creative business if you’re the bottleneck for everything. In this episode, we get real about why doing it all yourself feels “safe” but is actually the thing keeping you stuck, exhausted, and capped.If hiring feels scary, messy, or overwhelming, this conversation will change how you see capacity, delegation, and growth. What You'll Learn:The sneaky reason creatives wait too long to hire - and why it backfiresWhy “it’s easier if I do it myself” is a growth killerHow to increase capacity without hiring full-time or blowing your budgetThe real cost of poor hires - and when it’s time to let someone goSimple ways to get out of the Death Valley and create breathing room fast

If you’re heading into the holidays tired, frazzled, or feeling like this year happened to you, this reset is non negotiable.  I’m walking you through the exact three-permission ritual I use myself and with my clients to close the year strong, clear the mental clutter, and step into January with actual confidence. If you want the new year to feel like a clean slate instead of a repeat of last year, this episode is your reboot.What You'll Learn:The permission you must give yourself first so your brain can actually believe bigger goalsThe honesty audit that exposes what’s quietly burning you out (and what needs to go)Why aligned decisions create an easier year than “try harder” goals ever willThe truth about starting fresh - and why most creatives never actually do itThe Stop-Keep-Start ritual I use every December to create my biggest yearsHow to walk into January feeling calm, clear, and fully in CEO modeGet my free end-of-year AI reset tool here: https://tools.laurahiggins.com/reset

If your content feels invisible no matter how many times you post, this episode is the shift you’ve been missing. I sat down with JJ Peterson and we break down the storytelling mistakes that kill your engagement and shows you the exact way to make your audience see themselves in your message. If you want your marketing to finally land, this is your wake-up call. What You'll Learn:The simple story mistake that instantly disconnects your audienceWhy talking about “your story” often repels buyers instead of attracting themThe narrative principle that makes people feel seen, understood, and ready to take actionHow to position yourself as the guide, not the hero, so your content actually convertsThe empathy plus authority combo that makes your message magneticWhy starting with the problem is the fastest way to hook attention online

If you’ve ever wondered how to go from overwhelmed creative to confident CEO, this episode is a must-listen. Laura sits down with creative powerhouses Kate Lawrence, Matt Lakajev, Jay Wright, and Sophie Lea to unpack the real, raw journey of scaling a business without burning out. Expect unfiltered stories, hard-won lessons, and a refreshing take on what actually moves the needle right now. What You'll Learn:The surprising content shift that’s helping creators stand out onlineWhy “perfect” content is killing your reach - and what to post insteadThe mindset that turns scrappy side-hustlers into creative CEOsReal talk: charging what you’re worth when you’re a creativeHow to show up confidently online (even if you’re terrified)The one belief shift that helped these founders finally scale

Most business owners wait until January to start planning - but by then, it’s too late. In this episode, I’m walking you through the 5 exact end-of-year moves I use to set myself - and my clients - up for massive growth in the new year. If you want to start 2026 strong, this is your game plan. What You'll Learn:Why starting in January puts you way behind (and what to do instead)The 10x mindset shift that changed my entire businessHow to structure your year around your actual lifeA simple calendar strategy that will boost your cash flowThe unpopular truth about burnout (and how to avoid it)What most creatives never give themselves permission to do - but should

If your business has hit a ceiling and you're craving that next level of growth, strategy alone won’t fix it. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 3 silent blindspots that are quietly sabotaging your momentum-and how to smash through them so you can finally scale with more freedom, income and ease.What You'll Learn:Why your time is your most expensive resource (and how to treat it like one)The two ways to buy back time-without dropping the ball on qualityThe real reason your lead gen, sales or systems aren’t working (spoiler: it’s not your talent)The identity upgrade you need to become a 7-figure creative CEOHow to know which of the 3 bottlenecks is holding you back right nowThe mindset trap keeping creatives stuck doing $10 tasks forever

If you're posting consistently but not seeing clients come through the door, this one's for you. In this episode, I'm sharing my 5-minute content plan that helps you map out a full week of scroll-stopping, client-booking content - even when you feel stuck and creatively drained. You'll learn:Why how-to content isn’t working anymore (and what to do instead)The 3 pillars you need to cut through the AI noiseMy exact strategy to map out a week of content in under 5 minutesWhat most creatives get totally wrong about contentHow to go from ghosting your audience to building real connectionThe swipe file that gives you 120 hook ideas (and how to get it)

Think no one buys in December? Think again. If you're assuming clients are tapped out or distracted before Christmas, you're leaving money on the table. In this quick win episode, I'm sharing three simple strategies to help you land dream clients before the holidays - and start the new year booked and confident. What You'll Learn:The big money mistake creatives make every DecemberWhy “everyone’s on holidays” is killing your salesThe one mindset shift that will unlock pre-Christmas bookingsHow to repackage your offer to make it irresistibleWhat to say to retainers who want to pause over the breakThree things you must do to start 2026 with momentumClick the link here: https://tools.laurahiggins.com/plan-3

This one's personal. I’m answering your burning questions - from how I started on Instagram to whether everyone is actually cut out to run a business. I’m joined by my friend Rachel for a totally unscripted chat about the messy middle, the early days, and the moments that changed everything. If you’ve ever wondered if you’re ready (or if you’re just wildly unqualified), you need this episode. What You'll Learn:The real story of how I got started on Instagram (cringe filters and all)Why your content might be falling flat - and how to fix it fastFeeling like a generalist? Here’s why that might be your superpowerThe moment I knew I had to quit my job - and who gave me the pushThe truth about readiness (and why it’s a terrible business strategy)Not everyone should run a business - and that’s not a bad thingReady to scale your creative business? Book a FREE Scale Session with my team: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tools.laurahiggins.com/scale⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch my new training, THE SYSTEM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tools.laurahiggins.com/7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download my free guide: THE 6 FIGURE CREATIVE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://laurahiggins.com/scale-yt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/laurahiggins⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@laurahigginsofficial⁠⁠

What starts as a last-minute book cover turns into a million-dollar brand. In this episode, Georgia Norton Lodge of Georgia Draws a House shares how she went from side hustling in her bedroom to building a business that now runs without her. We’re talking viral moments, quitting the 9-5, launching digital products - and what really unlocked her biggest growth yet. What You'll Learn:The unexpected tantrum that sparked a million-dollar businessHow Georgia knew it was time to quit her 9-5 for goodWhat she did when her drawing drops blew up overnightThe mindset shift that unlocked a $700K programWhy she only works 4 days a week and still scalesHer honest take on money, motherhood, and creative freedomReady to scale your creative business? Book a FREE Scale Session with my team: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tools.laurahiggins.com/scale⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch my new training, THE SYSTEM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tools.laurahiggins.com/7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download my free guide: THE 6 FIGURE CREATIVE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://laurahiggins.com/scale-yt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/laurahiggins⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@laurahigginsofficial⁠⁠