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Welcome to Episode 9 of the Roadmap to Business Success series, and the final episode of Quadrant 2: Keep More | Profitable Operations!

You can't outsource chaos. Before you bring anyone into your business, you need systems, clarity, and a clear understanding of what you're actually handing off. In this episode, Kate and Sam get practical about the smartest way to automate, delegate, outsource, and hire — in that order.

"Systems before staff. You cannot delegate chaos."

In this episode, you will learn:

• The automate → delegate → hire framework: Why this is the right order , and what goes wrong when business owners skip straight to hiring before foundations are in place
• Zone of genius vs everything else: How to identify the tasks only you should be doing, the tasks AI can handle, and the tasks that need a human
• How AI is replacing the need for a VA: How Sam used the Claude Chrome extension to build detailed standard operating procedures while she played games on her phone
• Hire slow, fire fast: Why hiring should be a financial decision before a workload decision, and why desperation hiring almost always goes wrong
• Write your job ad for culture, not just skills: How to attract the right candidates from the first line, including Sam's hidden keyword trick that instantly filters out applicants who lack attention to detail
• Layla Hormozi's five C's: Compliance, clarity, culture, connection, and checkback, the framework Sam incorporated into her most recent hiring process
• Give people responsibility, not just tasks: Why the best hires want ownership and autonomy, and how a long-term vision keeps them loyal

This episode wraps up Quadrant 2. Next up — Quadrant 3: Grow Smart | Capacity.

Join the Workshop:

Kate and Sam are hosting Profit Unlocked on Wednesday 20 May, 9–10:30am AWST | 11am–12:30pm AEST

What is it? 90 minutes of live profitability coaching. Every participant walks away with a personalised report.

🐦 Early bird: $49 (until 10 May) | 🎟️ LIVE: $89 | 🎧 Replay: $49

👉 Register here

And save the date — Bali Business Retreat: 27 August - 1 September 2026. Secure your spot with a $200 deposit. Reach out directly to lock in your place.

00:00 Show Welcome
00:30 Roadmap Recap
01:49 Claude Extension Wins
06:09 SOPs Before Delegation
11:05 AI Reports Workflow
15:07 Back to Delegation
18:35 What to Outsource
23:28 Hiring Lessons
25:55 Hiring Framework Reel
26:52 Five Hiring Elements
29:33 Hire Slow Fire Fast
30:36 Values Over Skills
32:57 Write Better Job Ads
35:07 Easter Egg Screening
36:01 Job Market Reality Check
39:11 Ownership And Incentives
44:09 People Management Fit
46:04 Key Takeaways And Next Steps

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness ✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew ✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website: https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/