Before we get into it this week, a quick poll! I’m busy at work planning for next year, and part of that means thinking about how to make The Empower Edit more useful and actionable for each one of you.
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Which section of this newsletter keeps you reading?
Our featured article either offers a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re up to at Empower or provides a fresh lens on how to grow, operate or think differently about business.
BUILT TO SCALE: LESSONS FROM A ROOM OF CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS
A little over two weeks ago, I led my last in-person workshop of 2025 (I think) for a group of entrepreneurs in partnership with the Arts and Business Council of Greater Nashville.
The topic?
Built to Scale: Streamlining Operations to Power Creative Business Growth
The content was geared toward creative entrepreneurs, with a goal of providing a strong framework for how to understand and audit foundational business systems. I also aimed to instill the message that structure within a business isn’t a mechanism for stifling creativity.
The three questions
At the start, I asked three warm-up questions to get a feel for who was in the room.
Q1: What’s the #1 reason you attended this event?
The answers ranged from:
I hate Ops (my favorite).
Supporting ME (my second favorite).
Juggling multiple businesses and looking for guidance.
Trying to scale.
I was just put into a brand new role, don’t have experience and don’t know where to start.
To bring learnings back to my team.
Q2: How long have you been in business?
This one surprised me the most. A handful had launched just a couple of years ago, while one attendee had been building since the 1970s.
Q3: What’s the #1 challenge in your business today?
The answers sounded familiar: scaling ceilings, forecasting, growth, structure, focus, repeatability, streamlining.
I share those highlights (especially from Q3), in part, to say: If you’re staring at your screen thinking you would respond similarly, you’re in good company. You’re not alone.
Most businesses hit these walls at various points in the journey. They’re not signs of failure. Instead, signals of growth and evolution, and a “soft” nudge that it’s probably time for a system audit and tune-up.
Where the conversation took shape
I shared a framework I’ve found helps emerging entrepreneurs stay grounded, break down their business into more manageable component parts and better grasp the key systems powering the work. I call it The Core Five.
In short, the structure helps owners and founders:
Develop a common language around business systems.
Identify and understand The Core Five (Core Operations, Sales & Marketing, Customer Relationship Management, Communications and Financial Management).
Assess where you stand today using prompts from my System Scorecard to see which areas need focus next.
If you want the full workbook that explains all this in more detail, you can reply to this newsletter and I’ll share a copy.
After the first 20 minutes or so of setting the stage, the room came alive. I gave people the opportunity to score their systems, reflect, recognize patterns and share with others.
Each entrepreneur sat with their business and ran through a short version of the System Scorecard exercise, reviewing various prompts for each system and rating their business.
The end result
It took me a couple of tries on the mic to quiet the conversation when it was time to come back together. A solid marker of an engaged audience.
When we shared as a group, the takeaways poured out:
The importance of reinventing, even after decades in business.
Frustration with tech setup, but acknowledgment that infrastructure matters.
Sometimes starting simple (like a Google Sheet vs. a complex CRM) is the perfect way to get going.
The tension between creating and running a business.
Excitement about exploring automation.
A shared feeling that “I’ve never had time to stop and think about this before.”
“My friends need this.”
How do you eat an elephant?
One piece at a time.
An attendee shared that line during the discussion. I immediately jotted it down, and it stuck with me.
Building a business is overwhelming. There will always be more to do than hours in the day. Progress comes from taking one intentional bite at a time.
‘Built for Scale’ isn’t always about speed. It’s about architecting the foundations smarter and leveraging key systems well, so you can build more intentionality and with sustainability in mind.
A peek into another entrepreneurial journey. The wins, challenges, pivots and lessons.
MEET JILLIAN FORMAN, CO-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PAWSABILITY DOG CLUB
Q: When did you know you were destined to build a business?
A: “I truly didn't think it would be a reality up until the day we opened in April 2022.“
Q: What’s the most unexpected thing (+/-) that’s happened along your entrepreneurial journey?
A: “We've evolved and expanded our programs from one to three. With our three diverse programs, we are now able to provide programs for three groups: neurodivergent adults who are eager to work in the pet care industry (Flagship Vocational Training Program), young adults who want to build foundational canine skills while receiving more personalized support from our team (Canine Connections), high school students from special needs schools in NYC who are preparing for the transition into young adulthood and want to learn about pet care careers (Paws & Pizza).“
Q: When did you hit your first scaling challenge, and how did you overcome it?
A: “In 2024, I sat down with our board and founders to discuss phase 2 of Pawsability--we reached a point, just two years in since we opened our doors, where we needed to grow our impact and make Pawsability a more sustainable charity OR stay the same year over year, which would require relying heavily on our founders for large donations. We all agreed to proceed with phase 2, which included three goals over three years: 1) grow impact 2) increase fundraising channels (e.g., start networking with foundations) and 3) expand responsibility base (promote from within so that someone could run Pawsability's programs while Jillian leaned more into her ED role to focus on fundraising and grant writing.“
Q: If you were starting all over, what’s one piece of advice you would give yourself?
A: “Don't have imposter syndrome; be more confident because your concept is unique, revolutionary and life changing for autistic and neurodivergent people...people are going to love Pawsability and its mission.“
Q: Do you have one ask or offer you would like to share with the Empower community?
A: “You don't have to be a non-profit to do what we do--you can and should prioritize neurodiversity in your workplace. Studies have shown time and time again that neurodiversity has several key advantages, including enhanced innovation and creativity, improved employee engagement and culture and so much more. It's smart business!“
Q: A fun one, what’s your all-time favorite restaurant and where is it located?
A: “Red Farm in the West Village!“
Want to learn more?
Check out Pawsability and learn more about its impact. You can also follow along on Instagram. Drop in to check it out if you have a furry friend and live around Bushwick.
An approachable tip designed for incremental improvement with outsized impact.
A (VERY) BRIEF NOTE ON GRATITUDE
We’re approaching the season of thanks and giving. It’s a good time to reflect on those people who’ve impacted you or your business positively. Make a game plan for how you can share your gratitude before the end of the year.
I’m not talking grand gestures. The act of writing a simple email acknowledging your appreciation and making the person at the other end of the inbox feel seen can go a long way.
Start this week by making a list. Then, start chipping away.
Curated reads or listens to spark new ideas or expand your thinking.
THE SECRET INGREDIENTS OF GREAT HOSPITALITY FROM TED
TL;DR
Former owner of Eleven Madison Park and author of Unreasonable Hospitality, Will Guidara, shares how he’s created the extraordinary out of ordinary moments. Proof that surprise and delight doesn’t have to be extravagant; it only needs to reveal that you listen, you care and you see the person on the other side of the transaction.
Playful and purely for enjoyment.
50 STATES IN 50 DAYS
Sounds like a combination of ambitious, tiring and fun. This summer, two people did it. They visited all 50 states in 50 days and raised >$11 million for St. Jude. Pretty impressive.
The following video highlights the final spots and recaps the whole trip. If you’re into unique travel adventures, have a watch.
LOOKING FOR MORE EMPOWERMENT?
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There are four primary ways Empower can partner with you to support getting your business to the next level. Click the image below to learn more about our core offerings.
If you’re ready to take the step, reach out to discuss how we can support your goals.
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