Are you at a point in your business where you feel maxed out, but you can still see so much potential ahead?
Maybe you’ve thought, “I can’t do any more, I don’t want to hire any more, but I know there’s another level I want to reach.”
This is the moment where the way you run things needs to shift if you want to scale without piling on more work or chaos.
The truth is, most scaling advice out there wasn’t built for online service-based businesses and misses what actually works for the stage you’re in.
If you are leading or supporting an online service-based business, the real question is not just "how do I grow?" It is "how do I scale sustainably, simply, and strategically?"
There is a massive gap in the market when it comes to systems that truly support small online businesses as they move from multiple six figures to seven figures and beyond.
That gap is exactly why I developed my Lean Scaling System and why I train and certify others to use it, too.
Some of the key teachings of this system are as follows:
- What scaling actually looks like (not just adding systems) :small_blue_diamond: The role of a Scalable Ops Manager vs. “just” an OBM or VA
- Why strategic operations are becoming more important as AI changes teams
- The five core levers (SPSCI) every scaling business needs
- How to avoid the trap of scaling yourself into burnout or debt
- Supporting operational roles to step into bigger leadership roles
There’s a smarter, more sustainable way to grow and protect what matters most to you, and our certification programs enable you to do just that.
I also unpack this episode 226 of the Simplify to Scale Show.
Tune into Episode 226 of the Simplify to Scale Show or keep reading below.
Why Most Scaling Systems Fall Short for Online Businesses
Most scaling models available today were built for large corporations or brick-and-mortar operations.
While their frameworks have value, they rarely address the nuances of online service-based businesses working with a remote and global client base.
The result is that founders and their teams often find themselves trapped in complexity, wasting time and resources trying to adapt systems that were never designed for them in the first place.
The Lean Scaling System was created specifically to serve online coaches, consultants, and service providers who want to grow smartly without burning out or losing sight of their original mission.
The Critical Pivot Points in Scaling a Business
As businesses grow, they encounter distinct pivot points that require more than just doing "more of the same."
I have identified two key phases:
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Growth to Scale: Moving from multiple six figures to seven or multiple seven figures demands operational shifts, not just sales and marketing increases.
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Stabilization After Scale: Once growth is achieved, the focus shifts to stabilizing systems, preventing burnout, and keeping passion and performance high.
Without adjusting operations, leadership, and systems at each pivot, businesses risk either plateauing or reaching a point where founders feel disconnected from their vision.
Closing the Gap: Introducing Strategy and Operations Leadership
Founders often seek to get out of the day-to-day by hiring an assistant, project manager, or OBM.
These roles alone are not enough when scaling to the next level.
What is needed is a hybrid leader, someone who is equally strong in strategy, scaling, and operations.
I call this role a Strategy and Operations Leader (SOL), available in two forms:
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Scalable Ops Manager (SOM): Ideal for businesses aiming to scale from multi-six to seven figures. They manage the ecosystem of the business, recognizing how systems, strategy, and team dynamics need to evolve together.
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Chief Strategy and Operating Officer (CSOO): Best suited for businesses operating beyond seven figures. They can operate the business almost entirely on behalf of the founder
Why Operational Roles Must Shift in the AI Era
With AI rapidly transforming how businesses operate, execution-based roles are at risk.
What is needed now is strategic operational thinkers who can:
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Leverage AI and automation
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Lead teams composed of fractional, remote, and varied members
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Anticipate market and team changes before they happen
Those who deepen their leadership and strategic skills will become indispensable partners to founders navigating the future of business.
The Five Essential Levers for Scaling Simply and Sustainably
At the heart of our Lean Scaling System are five levers businesses must continuously tune, namely:
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Strategy: Having a clear and aligned strategic vision
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Planning: Setting short- and long-term priorities intentionally
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Systems: Building scalable, not just documented, systems
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Team: Cultivating a team that leads, not just executes
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Insight: Using data and intuition to adjust quickly and wisely
If you are not actively adjusting at least one of these five, you risk falling into stagnation or needing a full business reinvention later.
How to Access the Lean Scaling System
The Lean Scaling System is not just theory.
It is a fully developed, teachable, and licensable ecosystem.
For founders, it means partnering with someone trained and certified to think and lead at a strategic level.
For operational leaders, it offers the opportunity to step into one of the most needed and future-proof roles in a small business.
The options for you to get involved include:
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Certification Programs: Where you can become a certified Scalable Ops Manager (SOM) or Chief Strategy and Operating Officer (CSOO) through the Strategic Ops Institute.
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Hiring Certified Professionals: Where you can find a right-hand leader who already understands and can implement the Lean Scaling System inside your business.
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Attending an Open House: Where you can learn about the program entails (visit strategicopsinstitute.com/openhouse).
Scaling Your Business, the Smart and Sustainable Way
If you are serious about scaling your business, it is time to move beyond hiring task-takers and chasing the latest systems.
Instead, focus on the following:
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Building a strategic leadership role into your business
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Recognizing when you have hit a pivot point and need operational upgrades
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Tuning your Strategy, Planning, Systems, Team, and Insight regularly
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Preparing for the future by embracing the strategic shifts that AI and technology are bringing
The Lean Scaling System offers a clear, sustainable path forward.
Whether you invest in getting yourself certified, level up a team member, or hire someone trained in the system, you are setting yourself up to scale smart, not harder.
Ready to explore how the Lean Scaling System could transform your business?
Join me for an upcoming Open House (visit strategicopsinstitute.com/openhouse) or schedule a consult today at strategicopsinstitute.com/consult.
by Crista Grasso
Crista Grasso is the go-to strategic planning expert for leading global businesses and online entrepreneurs when they want to scale. Known as the "Business Optimizer", Crista has the ability to quickly cut through noise and focus on optimizing the core things that will make the biggest impact to scale a business simply and sustainably. She specializes in helping businesses gain clarity on the most important things that will drive maximum value for their clients and maximum profits for their business. She is the creator of the Lean Out Method, 90 Day Lean Out Planner, and host of the Lean Out Your Business Podcast.
