How much time do you spend on manual, repetitive computer tasks in your business? The answer may surprise you. In today’s episode of “Make Space for More,” Melissa Swink discusses the third step of the Make Space for More framework, which is to simplify and automate your business.

Melissa highlights the negative impact of manual work on business owner productivity and teaches how to use tools and resources to streamline and automate repetitive tasks. Work smarter - not harder! Listen to hear examples of how apps, software, checklists, templates, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) can be used to simplify and automate business processes, setting you up for successful delegation down the line. Don’t miss this episode if you want to learn how to buy back hours of your time by identifying repeatable processes and making them more efficient!

Key Highlights:

• Manual work reduces your ability to make an impact on your business.
• Simplifying and automating business processes can save time and increase efficiency.
• Tools like apps, software, checklists, templates, and SOPs can be used to streamline and automate tasks.
• Making a list of repeatable processes and finding ways to simplify and automate them is a crucial step in growing and scaling a business.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Do you feel like your business is too much? Too many offers, too much busy work, too many projects that aren’t really aligned with your greater vision? In this episode, Melissa Swink discusses step two of the Make Space for More framework, which is decluttering your business. Tune in for real-life examples and success stories of decluttering in business, including products/services, clients, team members, and unnecessary meetings. This is a must-listen for business owners who need to declutter and streamline!

Key Highlights:

• Decluttering your business is essential for growth and alignment.
• Trust your gut and consider what is draining your time and energy.
• Say no or change direction when something is not aligned.
• Gracefully transition out of relationships or services that are no longer serving you.
• Focus on your highest priorities and eliminate or delegate the rest.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

As the leader of your company, you should control your calendar - not the other way around! In this episode, Melissa Swink discusses the first step of the “Make Space for More” framework, which is redesigning your role as the CEO of your company. She emphasizes the importance of dividing your time between working IN your business and working ON your business. Melissa guides listeners through three steps to redesign their role: identifying personal non-negotiables, sorting and prioritizing tasks, and structuring their calendars with these priorities in mind. This is a must-listen episode for any entrepreneur who feels overwhelmed and wants to gain control of their time!

Key Highlights:

• Redesigning your role as CEO is crucial for business growth and scalability.
• Identify your personal non-negotiables to set boundaries and prioritize self-care.
• Sort and prioritize tasks into categories: generates new business soon, generates new business eventually, business management, and other miscellaneous tasks.
• Structure your calendar with your highest priority tasks in mind, then designate times for email and meetings, and leave open space for miscellaneous work time.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Join Melissa Swink as she addresses common objections that she hears from business owners about hiring a team and investing in systems to streamline their operations. Most say that they can’t afford to hire team members or invest in systems, and they don’t have time to train or implement! You’ll learn from real-life stories of business owners who took the leap, including how they made it work from a financial standpoint. Melissa also reveals her strategic approach to financial management using the Profit First system, which enabled her to invest profits wisely back into her business, prioritizing team growth over personal salary temporarily. This episode also touches on practical tips for those preparing for significant life changes, like maternity leave, highlighting the importance of documentation, process sharing, and leveraging experienced hires to maintain business operations. Tune in to discover how structured financial planning and embracing systemized operations can lead to sustainable business growth and personal peace of mind.

Key Highlights:

• Business owners need to overcome financial fears and invest in growth tools like software and essential team members.
• Implementing a centralized project management system enhances team productivity and ensures alignment on deliverables.
• Learn how Melissa uses the Profit First system for effective cash flow management, enabling reinvestment in team growth.
• Documentation of processes and using tools like Loom aids in consistent training and efficient task delegation.
• Strategic financial planning, including setting aside funds for taxes and expenses, supports sustained business expansion.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Join Melissa Swink in the latest episode of “Make Space for More” as she delves into the challenges and triumphs of scaling a business. Melissa discusses her initial hesitation to build a team and empathizes with other entrepreneurs who face the same fear. She then covers the importance of making investments so you can scale, putting effort into areas like team building, technology upgrades, and business coaching. Going deeper into her team-building process, Melissa shares how to delegate tasks, starting small with as little as an hour per day, so business owners can focus on strategic business responsibilities. Tune in to get practical insights on outsourcing and creating team efficiencies, so you can expand your business while achieving time freedom!

Key Highlights:

• Overcoming resistance to hiring and prioritizing client needs are central to scaling a business.
• Essential growth steps include investing in a team, advanced software, and expert coaching.
• Starting small with outsourcing disliked tasks can lead to significant business autonomy.
• Building a reliable team is vital for distributing workload and enhancing client response times.
• Focusing on 'golden eggs'—key profit-generating aspects of the business—ensures sustained growth.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

This is a must-listen episode for any entrepreneur who is feeling overworked and overwhelmed! Tune in as Melissa Swink introduces her Make Space for More framework, which focuses on strategies for growing and scaling a business. She discusses the concept of making space for what we want and shares her own journey as an entrepreneur. Prepare to take notes as Melissa outlines the five-step framework, which includes redesigning your role, decluttering, simplifying and automating, building a team, and growing and scaling the company. She also highlights the consequences of not implementing these steps, such as feeling stuck, wearing too many hats, and experiencing a “feast and famine” cycle. Melissa also addresses common obstacles to growth and scaling.

Key Highlights:

• The Make Space for More framework focuses on strategies for growing and scaling a business.
• This five-step framework includes redesigning your role, decluttering, simplifying and automating, building a team, and growing and scaling the company.
• Not implementing these steps can lead to feeling stuck, wearing too many hats, and experiencing a feast-and-famine cycle with sales.
• The most common obstacles to growth and scaling include fear of success and unwillingness to give up control.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Dive into the inaugural episode of “Make Space for More”! In this episode, Melissa Swink shares her journey of starting and growing her Virtual Assistant Services company, Melissa Swink & Co. She explains the challenges she faced as a solopreneur starting out, as well as the limitations any business owner faces when they operate all on their own. Melissa then walks listeners through how she transitioned to working with a team and the BIG benefits it brought to her business! She highlights the opportunities created for clients and team members, the ability to focus on her role as a CEO, and the scalability of her business. Melissa also gives a teaser of future episodes, where she will discuss her growth framework and overcoming obstacles in business. Don’t miss it!

Key Highlights:

• Many small businesses in the United States are solopreneurs, operating without staff.
• Operating solo can limit income and time freedom.
• Working with a team can create more opportunities for clients and team members.
• Transitioning to a team-based model allows the CEO to focus on growing the business.
• Investing in systems and team members can lead to financial rewards and time freedom.

About Melissa:

Melissa Swink, Founder & CEO of Melissa Swink & Co., has a team of virtual assistants who provide administrative and marketing support for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2012, Melissa and her team have helped more than 100 businesses grow through the services they offer, and she is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable businesses they love.

Her work is all about doing what works (and eliminating what doesn’t) and driving real, measurable results. Visit www.melissaswink.com to learn more!

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are really valuable and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.

Join us to learn about our host, Melissa Swink, and what the Make Space For More podcast is all about!