In this episode of Rooted & Relentless, Steph Rubio gets to the root of why running your business in isolation can quietly make everything harder—from decision-making and creativity to planning, growth, and your ability to see what's actually happening in your business.

Because when you're the CEO, marketer, salesperson, strategist, client success department, and occasionally the person responsible for unclogging the metaphorical toilet… it's incredibly easy to become too close to the problem. And when you're too close to the problem, your assumptions can start sounding like facts.

One slow month becomes "this isn't working." One client objection becomes "nobody can afford this." One exciting idea becomes "I need to pivot my entire business." One frustrating offer becomes "this offer is dead."

That's where the right community can change everything. Not a room full of people who automatically tell you you're brilliant. A room full of people who can ask better questions.

Relevant to this episode:

If this episode hit home, chances are you need dedicated space to think like the CEO your business needs in community with others who can call the blind spots you cannot see. 

👉Map the future of your business in community at The Rooted Reset

https://www.stephrubio.com/rooted-reset-business-planning-retreat

The Rooted Reset is an intimate women's business planning retreat where we step away from the day-to-day, evaluate what's actually working, and build a clear plan for the year ahead. You'll leave with decisions made, priorities aligned, and confidence in where you're headed next.

💛 Come say what's up to Steph on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

In this episode, Steph talks about:

1. Why loneliness is the symptom, but isolation is the actual business problem
2. How working alone can create blind spots, slow decisions, and amplify fear
3. Why having the right people in the room can help you separate patterns from noise and make sharper decisions
4. Why reflection and planning aren't automatically objective when you're doing them entirely on your own
5. How the right community becomes a strategic business asset—not just a place to belong

A few memorable moments

"Loneliness is the symptom. Isolation is the actual business problem."

"Isolation gives every decision more authority than it actually deserves."

"Better decisions do not always come from someone giving you the answer. They often come from someone asking you more questions so that you come to a better decision yourself."

"The right community is also a strategic business asset."

"You are never supposed to carry every decision, question, fear, data point alone, close to your chest, by yourself."

If every decision is made while you're distracted, overwhelmed, or chasing urgency, you're not leading—you're reacting.

Steph shares why strategic planning isn't about predicting the future. It's about making better decisions with the information you already have, creating planning rhythms that support long-term growth, and finally leading your business instead of letting it lead you.

If you're tired of feeling like everything is urgent, this episode will completely change the way you think about planning.

💛 Connect with Steph on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

In this episode, we cover:

1. Why the quality of your business depends on the quality of your decisions.
2. The hidden cost of never creating space to think strategically.
3. How reactive leadership creates unnecessary chaos.
4. Why not making a decision is still making a decision.
5. The difference between urgency and importance.
6. How to build planning rhythms that actually support growth.
7. The four planning rhythms every CEO should have:
8. How to create a decision filter so you're no longer chasing every opportunity.

Memorable Moments

"The quality of your business is determined by the quality of the decisions you make."

"The quality of your decisions is determined by how much space you have to think."

"Not making a decision is still making a decision."

"We keep solving today's problems instead of preventing tomorrow's."

"Information without processing becomes noise."

"Space is where pattern recognition happens."

"Distance creates perspective."

"If thinking is part of your job, that time belongs on your calendar."

Because better businesses aren't built by people who simply work harder. They're built by CEOs who pause long enough to replace assumptions with evidence.

You'll learn how to evaluate where your time, energy, and money are actually producing results, identify what's quietly draining your business, and make confident decisions based on data instead of panic.

If you've been feeling like you're doing everything and somehow getting nowhere, this episode is your permission slip to zoom out before you sprint into another six months.

Mentioned in this Episode

🌿 The Rooted Reset

If this episode hit home, chances are you need dedicated space to think like the CEO your business needs.

The Rooted Reset is an intimate women's business planning retreat where we step away from the day-to-day, evaluate what's actually working, and build a clear plan for the year ahead. You'll leave with decisions made, priorities aligned, and confidence in where you're headed next.

👉 https://www.stephrubio.com/rooted-reset-business-planning-retreat

💛 Connect with Steph on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

In this episode, we cover:

1. Why activity compounds just as much as strategy
2. The hidden cost of staying "busy"
3. How reflection stabilizes your nervous system and your business
4. Questions every CEO should ask during a quarterly or mid-year review
5. How to know what to keep, stop, simplify, and start
6. Why data—not emotion—creates confident leadership

Memorable Moments

"Activity compounds just as much as strategy does."

"Reflection isn't about looking backward. It's about collecting evidence to make better decisions moving forward."

"Pausing to reflect is how we replace assumptions with evidence."

"Data is how you stabilize and act on reality instead of reacting on emotion."

"Reflection isn't something you've earned after the work is done. That's where you start and where you end as a CEO."

Melissa shares the exact strategies her clients use to average 50.7% email open rates and 6.64% click rates—far above industry averages.

Mentioned in the Episode:

Run to get Melissa's free email audit (are you kidding me): https://notanothervirtualassistant.com/offers-nav/free-audit/

Keep up with Melissa

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notanotherva

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@notanotherva

Need to start your email list or maybe just migrate to THE email marketing platform that makes design, connection, & conversion easy? Get 25% off your first full year of Flodesk.

Together, Steph and Melissa dive into:

1. Why your email list is more valuable than your social following
2. The welcome sequence mistake costing businesses thousands
3. How to write subject lines people actually open
4. Why funnels aren't dead—they just need to evolve
5. The Rule of Three that dramatically improves click rates
6. Why engagement matters more than list size
7. What happened when Melissa unexpectedly lost access to Instagram for five days

If you've been relying on social media to grow your business, this conversation might completely change the way you think about marketing.

In This Episode

✔ Why industry averages are misleading

✔ How to improve your email click rate

✔ The biggest welcome sequence mistakes

✔ Why list size isn't the metric that matters

✔ How to use segmentation to increase sales

✔ The dangers of building your business on rented land

✔ Why email is still the highest ROI marketing channel

Memorable Quotes

"I'd rather have a smaller list that's engaged than a bigger list that doesn't buy."

"Stop chasing the algorithm. Own your audience."

"Funnels aren't dead. Bad funnels are."

"People open emails because they know, like and trust the sender—not because of luck."

"Your business deserves an audience you actually own."

Continue the Conversation

Steph brings the realist of the real to help you grow in business and in life. Keep up with her Shenanigans via email:

https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Together, they unpack the realities of entrepreneurship beyond the highlight reel—the storms, the pivots, the growth pains, and the unexpected lessons that shape us into stronger leaders.

Stephanie shares the inspiration behind her book Seasons of a Soulpreneur, including the difficult decision to walk away from a decade-long business, the lessons she learned navigating uncertainty, and why some of the hardest seasons of business ultimately became her greatest gifts.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, behind, burnt out, or questioning your path, this episode is your reminder that growth isn't linear and you're probably doing better than you think.

Connect with Stephanie Ross

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanieleaross/

Grab a copy of her book: https://www.stephanieleaross.com/?page_id=1024

Continue the Conversation with Steph Rubio

Join Steph's email list to learn all you need to grow & scale your business:

https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Join The Rooted & Relenltess Mastermind:

https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

In This Episode, We Discuss:

1. Why entrepreneurship is often more difficult than social media makes it appear
2. The four seasons of business growth: planting, growing, storms, and harvest
3. How to recognize when a storm is actually an opportunity
4. The danger of isolating yourself during difficult seasons
5. Why community matters most when things feel hard
6. How motherhood changes the way we build businesses
7. The difference between sustainable growth and hustle culture
8. Creating rhythms, routines, and rituals that support resilience
9. Why your business journey shouldn't be compared to someone else's

Memorable Moments

"You're not failing. You're just in a different season."

"Do not isolate yourself in the storm."

"My storm became my superpower."

"The harvest is in glimmers."

"You are building in a way that makes sense for you."

"Something better has always opened on the other side of every storm."

From caregivers and parents to people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, financial limitations, and countless other responsibilities, not everyone has the same ability to travel, attend conferences, or spend days away from home.

That doesn't make them any less deserving of access to the information, relationships, and education that help businesses grow.

This episode explores:

1. Why in-person events are making such a strong comeback
2. The opportunities that happen through real-world connection
3. The hidden privilege behind "just get in the room"
4. Why protecting the integrity of online business matters
5. How accessibility impacts entrepreneurship
6. Why Steph created the Relentlessly Real Business Panel

Because building a healthy business community means making sure opportunity doesn't only belong to the people who can board the plane.

Grab your ticket to the June panel:

https://www.stephrubio.com/relentlessly-real-business-panel

Continue the conversation - join Steph's email community:

https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Memorable Moments

"Ten minutes talking to you and I know more about you than six months online."

"Not everyone can get in the room physically. That doesn't make them any less deserving of the information."

"Working online and building virtual businesses has changed lives."

"If someone can attend fifteen events and I can attend two or three, the growth trajectory changes."

"We have to keep this information accessible to people who need it, want it, deserve it, and simply have different life circumstances."

"When we keep the online industry healthy, people stay in business. And when people stay in business, we all have business."

Key Takeaways

In-Person Connection Matters

Relationships often accelerate faster face-to-face than they do online.

Access Is Not Equal

Not everyone has the same freedom, resources, caregiving support, health, finances, or circumstances.

Online Business Changed Lives

Remote entrepreneurship created opportunities for parents, caregivers, and people who otherwise may never have been able to participate in traditional business environments.

We Need Both

The future isn't choosing between online and in-person experiences. It's creating both.

Accessibility Is a Business Issue

Making information available only through expensive or inaccessible channels limits who gets to grow.

In this episode of Rooted & Relentless, Steph shares an unexpected realization: somewhere along the way, she became a community leader. And with that comes responsibility.

As more business owners turn to trusted voices for recommendations, guidance, and perspective, Steph explores what it means to hold that trust carefully—especially in an online industry overflowing with conflicting advice, fear-based marketing, and constant noise.

This conversation digs into the weight of influence, the importance of discernment, and why nuanced conversations matter now more than ever. Steph also shares the vision behind her new quarterly virtual panel: a space where business owners can hear honest conversations from people actively building businesses, making decisions, and navigating a rapidly changing market in real time.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by contradictory advice or questioned who to trust online, this episode is for you.

Links Mentioned In the Show:

Join the panel on June 25th: https://www.stephrubio.com/relentlessly-real-business-panel

Live to the Event Series w/ Taylor Smith,Start with Episode 1

On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/event-series-part-1-tips-on-how-to-choose-events-that/id1821487374?i=1000752877055

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6HS9IWyjXy4UsrUwezG9xc?si=bxWDnNSBTRy44W0Z6TaTvQ

In This Episode

1. The responsibility that comes with influence and recommendations
2. Why online business owners keep getting pulled off course
3. The problem with fear-based marketing and guru culture
4. Why nuance is missing from many online conversations
5. How real conversations help business owners make better decisions
6. The vision behind Steph's new quarterly virtual panel
7. What it takes to build trust in a rapidly changing market

Memorable Moments

"One thing about me, baby. If I see something, I'm gonna say something."

"It's not only my money, time, and energy on the line anymore. It's my community's too."

"People are consuming content all day that makes them feel like they're falling short."

"Two people can be growing on the same trajectory while using completely different tactics."

"The goal isn't to fearmonger. The goal is to have real conversations about what's actually happening."

"You're going to stabilize your nervous system when you stop listening to every polarizing opinion online."

Key Takeaway

The businesses that thrive won't necessarily be the ones consuming the most information. They'll be the ones learning how to think critically, filter noise, and make decisions from a grounded place instead of reacting to every trend, headline, or hot take.

Continue the Conversation

📩 Join Steph's email list for strategic insights and behind-the-scenes leadership conversations:

https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

In this episode of Rooted & Relentless, Steph gets brutally honest about the comments, relationships, and experiences that shaped her self-worth for years — from being told she’d always be “white trash” to believing she wasn’t capable of more. But this isn’t a revenge story.

It’s a story about realizing the life you want is actually possible when you stop letting other people’s limitations dictate your future.

Steph shares:

1. The mindset shifts that changed everything
2. How survival mode fueled her growth
3. Why self-limiting beliefs usually aren’t yours to begin with
4. The importance of boundaries and support systems
5. What it looks like to step into the identity of the person you want to become
6. Why clarity is the first step toward creating the life you actually want

This one is raw, emotional, empowering, and probably going to make you want to burn your old belief system to the ground.

Memorable Moments

“A lot of the problems in your business and your life stem from your self-limiting beliefs… but they didn’t start as yours.”

“It was me all along.”

“You can do actually any freaking thing you want.”

“If you set this crazy big terrifying target and never reach it, you’ll still be happier marching toward it than pretending you never wanted it.”

“Don’t let the notions of insecure idiots dictate your life.”

Resources & Links

Access Your Terrifying Vision Experience. Because getting where you want to go starts with knowing where that is: https://www.stephrubio.com/your-terrifying-vision?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Connect on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio?utm_source=chatgpt.com

In this conversation, Steph sits down with now friend (who started as a client) and operations powerhouse Kendra Harris, a self-described “business doctor of organization,” to unpack the concept of stakeholder experience — and why your reputation might be your most powerful revenue engine. Kendra is one of the most intentional service providers I met and every time I get a thoughtful little something extra I know takes her time, I'm always left shocked how she can manage it while also managing a client load and living the life of a mother of 5 kids.

From leaving a 15-year teaching career to building a six-figure business in under two years, Kendra shares the real story behind sustainable growth: intentional relationships, thoughtful systems, and showing people they matter. This episode is equal parts strategy and humanity — because business growth isn’t just operational… it’s relational.

Work with Kendra

Aspiring new VA's:: Kendra is proud to offer affordable coaching to new and aspiring VAs:

https://www.kendraharris.co/coaching

Continue the Convo with Steph:

💌 Join Steph’s email list (Steph’s Shenanigans + The COO Edit):

https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

⚡ Work directly with Steph — Decision Intensive:

https://www.stephrubio.com/small-business-consulting

Key Takeaways

1. Why client experience alone isn’t enough — and what stakeholder experience really means
2. How thoughtful gestures create long-term referrals without constant marketing
3. The mindset shift required to leave security and bet on yourself
4. Why systems make personalization scalable
5. How being remembered turns into predictable revenue
6. The difference between transactional service providers and trusted partners
7. Why “extra effort” is actually elite business strategy

Memorable Moments

“When you’re remembered, you get referred.”

“Nothing comes without risk — but growth lives on the other side of belief.”

“I don’t just want clients. I want relationships.”

“Your reputation becomes your greatest revenue engine.”

“Being thoughtful isn’t fluff — it’s strategy.”

This isn’t just a conversation about parenting busy seasons. It’s about understanding the rhythms of your audience, planning your business around real human capacity, and creating strategy that actually meets people where they are instead of pretending everyone has unlimited time, energy, and brain space year-round.

Steph breaks down:

1. Why buyer behavior changes seasonally
2. How to anticipate summer slowdowns strategically
3. What service providers should actually focus on during slower seasons
4. Why backend operations matter more than flashy marketing during certain quarters
5. How calm leadership creates sustainable growth
6. The strategic planning framework most small business owners skip entirely

This episode is part business strategy, part reality check, and part permission slip to stop marketing like every month functions the same.

Memorable Moments + Soundbites

“You have to know the business rhythms of your ideal client just like you need to know yours.”

“Your audience isn’t ignoring you. They may just not have the brain space right now.”

“Stop selling like it’s March.”

“Summer isn’t the time to disappear. It’s the time to shore up your backend.”

“Stable calm leadership means knowing your people, knowing their rhythms, and planning accordingly.”

“Business has seasons. So do buyers.”

Key Takeaways

1. Seasonal buyer behavior affects engagement, sales, and decision-making
2. Parents of school-aged kids often experience “May-cember” and summer capacity shifts
3. Strategic planning should account for audience energy, not just business goals
4. Summer can be the perfect operational cleanup and preparation season
5. Q3 and Q4 momentum depends heavily on what gets prepared beforehand
6. Strategy is about timing, context, and market awareness — not just tactics

Mentioned in This Episode

Explore The Rooted Reset retreat

https://www.stephrubio.com/reverse-engineering-vip-day?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Connect on Instagram - Steph is a voice note Kween

https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio?utm_source=chatgpt.com

In this episode of Rooted & Relentless, Steph sits down with systems strategist and business coach Katelyn Hamilton to unpack the truth behind “scaling” and why so many entrepreneurs are burning out chasing it.

Here’s the reality: more clients, more offers, more revenue… isn’t scaling. It’s just more.

This conversation breaks down what sustainable growth actually looks like, how to build systems that give you your time back, and why your capacity—not your ambition—is the real constraint in your business.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted, resentful, or like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this is a cannot miss episode because we'll reframe the way you think and leave you with actionable takeaways to know better then do better.

If you enjoyed this conversation, why step here.

Continue the Conversation

Take Katelyn's Leadership Assessement: https://katelynhamilton.myflodesk.com/leadership-self-assessment

✨ Join the waitlist for The Rooted Reset so you can plan ahead like a Leader:

https://www.stephrubio.com/reverse-engineering-vip-day

💌 Join Steph’s email list (aka the good stuff):

https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Key Takeaways

1. Scaling ≠ adding more. It’s increasing efficiency and capacity without increasing effort.
2. Burnout isn’t just being tired—it’s losing interest, energy, and clarity.
3. Systems and automations are not “nice to have”—they’re how you buy back your time.
4. Sustainable growth means your business supports your life—not competes with it.
5. Capacity isn’t fixed—it’s hidden in inefficiencies.
6. Pausing to evaluate your business is not failure—it’s leadership.

Memorable Moments & Soundbites

“You don’t scale by adding more—you scale by doing what you already do better.”

“Burnout is when you wake up and think… what am I even doing this for anymore?”

“You can’t scale adding more manual work to your plate.”

“Sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is pause.”

“Your business should support your life—not the other way around.”

“Capacity isn’t gone—it’s hidden in inefficiency.”

If this episode hit, here’s where to go next:

1. ✉️ Get on Steph’s email list because it's the real real about life & business in a way that you can actually absorb & implement like all the time:

   https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

2. The place to start is getting crazy clear on what you actually want (and why it feels terrifying):

   https://www.stephrubio.com/your-terrifying-vision

After powerful conversations at Power Table Live, one truth kept surfacing—most women are building businesses that rely on them… while completely neglecting themselves. Steph breaks down what it actually looks like to treat yourself as a stakeholder in your business, why “self-care” isn’t fluffy—it’s foundational—and how prioritizing yourself directly impacts your revenue, relationships, and long-term sustainability.

This is the episode that will challenge how you think about productivity, success, and what it really means to build a business that lasts.

Key Takeaways

1. Why your reputation = your revenue (and how your experience shapes both)
2. The concept of stakeholder experience—and why you belong in that category
3. How neglecting yourself quietly sabotages your business growth
4. Why 30 minutes a day can radically change your life (and business)
5. The real reason you struggle to prioritize yourself (hint: it’s not time)
6. How to communicate your needs without guilt—and actually stick to them
7. Why boundaries aren’t selfish—they’re protective

Memorable Moments

“Your reputation is your revenue.”

“If you can’t sustain, the business can’t sustain.”

“I give my kids what they need 23 and a half hours a day. The other 30 minutes? That’s mine.”

“Boundaries aren’t the point. They protect what you value.”

“You’re not lacking time—you’re lacking permission.”

In this episode, Steph pulls back the curtain on what actually makes collaborations work—and why most people are leaving massive opportunities on the table.

We’re talking about:

1. Why borrowed trust is more valuable than new eyeballs
2. How collaborations shorten your sales cycle (yes, really)
3. The systems that make you easy to work with (and rebooked)
4. And the secret sauce that turns a one-time collab into referrals, intros, and bigger rooms

Because getting invited into the room is one thing…But what people say after you leave? That’s the game changer.

Continue the Conversation

If this episode hit—don’t just nod your head. Let's do something with it.

💥 Audit your collaboration workflow or build one that actually converts:

👉 https://www.stephrubio.com/small-business-consulting

🧠 Want more strategic thinking like this in your inbox (without the fluff)?

👉 https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Key Takeaways

1. Collaborations = credibility exchanges, not just visibility
2. Borrowed trust gives you instant authority by proximity
3. Warm leads from collaborations convert faster than cold audiences
4. Being “easy to collaborate with” is a system, not a personality trait
5. Reliability gets you invited back—but intentional EXTRA makes you unforgettable

Memorable Moments (Soundbites)

“Collaborations aren’t just about visibility—they’re about borrowed trust.”

“When someone collaborates with you, you’re being introduced, not discovered.”

“Being easy to collaborate with isn’t a personality trait. It’s a process.”

“Reliability gets you invited back… but it doesn’t make you unforgettable.”

“It’s not about getting in the room. It’s about what people say after you leave it.”

Because your clients should be your best marketers, easiest sales, strongest social proof and most reliable revenue stream. Instead, most business owners are stuck chasing new leads while ignoring the goldmine sitting right in front of them.

We’re talking about how to:

1. Turn client experience into a referral engine
2. Re-engage past clients (aka the easiest money you’ll ever make)
3. Create “extra” moments that make you unforgettable
4. Build a business where your reputation walks into rooms before you do

If you’re tired of spinning your wheels with marketing, this episode will change how you think about growth—completely.

And if you want the original episode introducing this entire concept, you can listen in here:

On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/22-introducing-stakeholder-experience-your-client-experience/id1821487374?i=1000745924692

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Udhvkv2383IHqPlaVCe5j?si=yqw97TgqQPOXQraB9YhBfQ

Key Takeaways

1. Client retention is 5–25% more cost-effective than acquisition
2. Referrals are free, high-converting marketing
3. Your current clients are your most powerful social proof
4. Past clients are one of the most overlooked revenue opportunities
5. “Delivering what you sold” is the baseline—not the differentiator

Memorable Moments (Soundbites)

“Delighting the hell out of your clients makes your marketing easier—and cheaper.”

“Your clients should be saying your name in rooms you’re not even in.”

“Delivering what you sold is the bare minimum.”

“Your reputation is your revenue.”

“You have a pool of people who already trust you… just sitting there.”

“People that are remembered get referred.”

Strategic Links & Next Steps

If this episode lit a fire under you, here’s where to go next:

✨ Decision Intensive (BEST FIT for this episode)

If you’re sitting on too many ideas and not enough clarity, this is your move.

→ https://www.stephrubio.com/small-business-consulting

✨ Your Terrifying Vision (Lead Magnet)

Get clear on what you actually want to build—and stop playing small.

→ https://www.stephrubio.com/your-terrifying-vision

✨ Join My Email List (Steph’s Shenanigans + The COO Edit)

For strategic thinking + unfiltered insights twice a month.

→ https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Because the truth is, you don’t scale by working more. You scale by working differently, more efficiently.

In part two, Fran Moore and I break down what it really looks like to grow from VA to agency owner without becoming the bottleneck in your own business. We’re talking niching (ew, yeah, I know), systems, delegation, and the hard (but necessary) shift out of “everything queen” energy into something that’s actually sustainable.

If you’ve been feeling stretched, stuck, or like your business can’t grow without you… this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.

What You’ll Walk Away With

1. Why being an “everything queen” is blocking your ability to scale
2. How to choose a niche that actually supports growth (not just trends)
3. What makes a business repeatable—and why that’s the key to scaling
4. How to delegate without overcomplicating it
5. The difference between growing a business and scaling one
6. What it really takes to build an agency that doesn’t rely on you

Memorable Moments & Soundbites

“If it’s not repeatable, it’s not scalable.”

“You can’t be an everything queen and build an agency.”

“Delegation is a skill—you just have to practice it.”

“Nobody dies. Everyone is fine.”

“Your business does not have to be your hobby.

Missed Part 1? Start There

Apple:

Spotify:

Ready to Build This for Real?

If you’re sitting there thinking, “okay… but how do I actually do this?”—this is exactly the work we do inside my Mastermind so join us & let's do this shall we?

https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

Stay in My World

Twice a month, I send out what I’m loving, learning, and what’s actually working behind the scenes in business:

👉 https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Connect with Fran

1. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fransmoore
2. Podcast: Franly Advice

Loved This Episode?

Hit that SSR:

Subscribe. Share. Review.

And if you know someone stuck in “everything queen” mode… send this their way.

We’re talking about what it actually means to step into a CEO role, why delegation feels so hard (even when you know you need it), and the leadership standard most people are getting completely wrong.

This episode isn’t just about VAs, it's about identity. Because the biggest bottleneck in your business isn’t your systems, your offers, or your clients—it’s the version of you that still thinks your value is tied to doing the work.

And until that shifts:

1. You’ll struggle to delegate
2. You’ll stay stuck in execution
3. You’ll cap your own growth

Part one is about breaking that pattern. Part two? That’s where we build. And it's dropping tomorrow.

What You’ll Walk Away With

1. Why “I just…” language is quietly limiting your growth
2. The real difference between a doer and a CEO
3. How to start letting go of how without losing control
4. What it actually means to lead a team (hint: take the fall, pass the praise)
5. Why your ego might be the thing keeping you stuck in execution
6. The mindset shift required before you ever scale into an agency

Memorable Moments & Soundbites

“You take the brunt and you pass the praise—that’s leadership.”

“At some point, it becomes none of your business how it’s getting done.”

“I just… statements will ruin you.”

“You don’t get to be the CEO and the doer forever.” (paraphrased from discussion)

“You put the right butts in seats—that’s the win.”

Ready for your Next Level?

If this episode hit a nerve—in the best way—it might be time to stop figuring this out on your own. Because that's costing you time, energy, and money, three things I bet you'd love more of.

Inside The Mastermind, we go beyond mindset and into real strategy:

1. Leadership development
2. Scalable systems
3. Decision-making at a CEO level
4. Building a business that doesn’t depend on you doing everything

👉 Apply here:

https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

Stay Connected

Get on the email list for behind-the-scenes strategy, honest insights, and the occasional chaos:

👉 https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Connect with our girl Fran

1. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fransmoore
2. Podcast: Friendly Advice

Loved This Episode?

Hit that SSR:

Subscribe. Share. Review.

And if this made you rethink how you show up in your business—send it to someone who needs to hear it too.

In this episode, I’m joined by Erin Wiley, a client experience strategist, and creator of the DREAMY Client Experience Framework. We break down where trust is actually being lost in your process—from inquiry to onboarding—and how small fixes can make your business easier to run and more profitable.

We’re talking:

1. Where trust is lost (before you even start working together)
2. Why speed matters more than you think
3. How friction is quietly killing your conversions
4. The systems that save time and increase revenue

Key Takeaways

1. Why great deliverables does not equal great client experience
2. The silent way you’re losing trust (and referrals)
3. How slow response times are costing you ready-to-pay clients
4. The exact moments where friction kills conversions
5. Why your onboarding process is either building trust or breaking it
6. How automation can save hours without sounding robotic
7. The underrated strategy that increases client lifetime value exponentially

Memorable Moments & Soundbites

“If it sucks working with you, they’re not going to refer you, even if your deliverables are great.”

“When someone is ready to buy, they’re ready yesterday. If you’re slow, you’re losing them.”

“Your systems should support the experience, not replace it.”

“Silence creates stories. And those stories are rarely in your favor.”

“You don’t need more leads, you need a better experience for the ones you already have.”

Who This Episode Is For

1. Service providers who feel overworked and under-referred
2. Creatives with inconsistent client pipelines
3. Entrepreneurs ready to scale without burning out
4. Anyone tired of doing everything manually

Connect with Erin Wiley

1. Instagram & Threads: https://www.instagram.com/wileystrategicsolutions
2. Website (coming soon): https://www.wileystrategicsolutions.com

Keep the Momentum Going

If this episode hit a nerve (in the best way), here’s where to go next:

1. Join my email list for strategic insights + unfiltered thoughts:

   https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

2. Clarify your next move with my Decision Intensive:

   https://www.stephrubio.com/small-business-consulting

3. Get eerily honest about where you want to go by defining Your Terrifying Vision:

   https://www.stephrubio.com/your-terrifying-vision

This episode covers:

1. How your support system might be quietly sabotaging your growth
2. Why protecting your energy is directly tied to your revenue
3. The difference between being busy and being a self-led CEO
4. How to stop abandoning yourself while building a business you love
5. Practical ways to systematize your capacity, energy, and decision-making

Because the truth is, you cannot build a sustainable business while draining the person responsible for carrying it.

Memorable Moments

1. “You cannot build a sustainable business while constantly draining the very person responsible for carrying it.”
2. “Avoiding a decision is not making a decision. That’s not leadership.”
3. “Protect your energy like it impacts your revenue—because it does.”
4. “No one should hold the responsibility for your happiness more heavily than you.”
5. “I’m not living to live—I’m living to sell at that point. And that’s not the goal.”
6. “Set the stretch goal to care about yourself.”
7. “Your business is not separate from you—it’s an extension of you.”

Catch up on part 1 --

On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/34-the-missing-stakeholder-in-your-business-strategy/id1821487374?i=1000755989653

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7znW6n0CdracR2Z3p54Fm4?si=eOnr1EexQNKpOyST_wo1JA

Continue the Conversation

✨ Clarify your vision before you try to scale it:

https://www.stephrubio.com/your-terrifying-vision

✨ Ready for deeper support in your leadership & business strategy?

https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

✨ Get Steph’s Shenanigans + The COO Edit (aka the emails you actually read):

https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

This episode is a sharp, honest conversation about self-leadership for entrepreneurs, what it actually looks like in real life, and why it’s a non-negotiable part of sustainable business growth. Steph breaks down how to define your real capacity, make cleaner decisions, protect your energy, build better rhythms, communicate your needs, and stop building your business around a life you don’t actually live.

If you’ve been craving more clarity, better boundaries, and a business that supports your life instead of swallowing it whole, this one is for you.

In this episode, Steph covers:

1. Why your business is an extension of you
2. How burnout affects leadership, consistency, and reputation
3. What self-leadership actually looks like as a founder
4. Why defining your real capacity changes everything
5. How boundaries protect your values and reduce resentment
6. Why indecision is expensive in business
7. How to build decision hygiene and cleaner CEO rhythms
8. The role your support system plays in your business growth
9. Why “me time” is not fluff, it’s part of the strategy
10. How to create a sustainable business around your real life

Memorable moments

“Your reputation is your revenue.”

“Your business is not separate from you, it’s actually an extension of you.”

“You don’t just run your business, you model it.”

“Indecision is expensive.”

“Structure creates freedom, not the other way around.”

“You don’t outgrow your business. You grow into it.”

Catch up on the Series:

START HERE - Introducing Stakeholder Experience

On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/19-introducing-stakeholder-experience-making-your-reputation/id1821487374?i=1000744890010

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2D4ttT7uIJ1OjK01Tsbp4W?si=zm1n6RNwSy-RL247WkNsPw

Continue the conversation

Get clear on the life and business you actually want with Your Terrifying Vision:

https://www.stephrubio.com/your-terrifying-vision

Want support building better decisions, stronger rhythms, and a more sustainable business? Check out The Mastermind:

https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

Join Steph’s email list for strategic insights and a little chaos in the best way:

https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

In this episode of Rooted & Relentless, Steph continues her Stakeholder Experience series and tackles one of the most overlooked stakeholder groups: your team.

Whether you have employees, contractors, or a single VA supporting you, they are not just vendors — they are stakeholders in your reputation and growth.

Steph breaks down why caring for your team isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s a smart business strategy that saves money, builds referrals, and increases the quality of work happening inside your business. If you want your reputation to sell for you instead of constantly chasing new clients, add this episode is your playbook.

Key Takeaways

1. Your reputation is your revenue. Everyone connected to your business carries your reputation — including your team.
2. Contractors are still teammates. A CPA, VA, OBM, designer, or social media manager all have a stake in your business success.
3. Retention saves serious money. Replacing team members costs time, energy, and lost institutional knowledge.
4. Great leadership increases ROI. People who feel valued produce better work.
5. Communication is the foundation of team culture. Direct, respectful feedback prevents bigger problems later.
6. Little extras build loyalty. Celebrating milestones, offering growth opportunities, or sharing profit creates long-term advocates.
7. If someone outgrows you, celebrate it. Ending relationships with integrity keeps your reputation strong.

Memorable Moments & Soundbites

“In business, your reputation is your revenue.”

“Your teammates carry your name into rooms you’re not even in.”

“Candor is kindness.”

“If people feel valued, they’ll give you their best work.”

“If they outgrow you, be happy for them.”

“Your relationships become your growth engine and your reputation becomes your marketing.”

Action Steps from This Episode

If you want to improve the experience your team has inside your business:

1. Communicate directly and clearly.

   Don’t avoid uncomfortable feedback.

2. Value their expertise.

   Your way isn’t the only way.

3. Show appreciation regularly.

   A simple thank-you goes a long way.

4. Remember they’re human.

   Mistakes and life happen.

5. Refer them to opportunities.

   Support their growth the way they support your business.

6. Add a little “extra.”

   Celebrate milestones, give bonuses, or offer education opportunities.

Continue the Conversation

Hit Steph with a voice-note on IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

🧠 Want high-level strategy and leadership conversations? Join The Mastermind: https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

📬 Join Steph’s email list for leadership-level strategy and real-life shenanigans packed with "aha's" and action: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Instead of focusing only on marketing or client experience, Steph introduces a broader lens: every person who interacts with your business is a stakeholder—and their experience shapes your reputation. And in business, your reputation is your revenue.

Steph also shares a candid reflection on grief, leadership, and what it actually looks like to care for yourself while running a business and serving others. Sometimes the most powerful example of stakeholder care is how you show up for the stakeholder that gets ignored the most: you.

In This Episode

1. What Stakeholder Experience really means and why it’s bigger than client experience
2. The five stakeholder groups that shape your business reputation
3. Why “your reputation is your revenue” isn’t just a cute phrase—it’s a business reality
4. How every interaction with your brand either strengthens or weakens your ecosystem
5. Navigating business leadership during personal loss
6. The role of self-leadership and personal care in sustaining a business long term
7. What to expect from the rest of the Stakeholder Experience series

Memorable Moments:

“Your reputation is your revenue.”

“Every person who has a stake in your business defines your reputation.”

“We either care for our stakeholders intentionally… or we neglect them. Both approaches have consequences.”

“You are the ripple effect for everything around you.”

“Knowing someone won’t live forever and experiencing their absence are two very different things.”

Need to catch every episode in the series? Start with the introduction:

On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rooted-relentless/id1821487374?i=1000744890010

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2D4ttT7uIJ1OjK01Tsbp4W?si=8520dbe2ca23469d

On YouTube: https://youtu.be/H3CBt1Jjikg

Want more from Steph?

Join the Rooted & Relentless Mastermind if you're also on a relentless journey of living a real life while also scaling and sustaining a business. We have strategies for both: https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

Get strategies, tips & trips on leading your business straight to your inbox every few weeks: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

And subscribe to this podcast, duh! We try to keep it straight masterclass style around here so you'll leave with actionable ways to improve OR at least some belly laughs, but the goal is both.

We talk communication, long-term planning, project management, boundaries + deadlines, and what to do when something inevitably goes sideways.

Key takeaways

1. Communication is queen. Anticipate what people will ask/need and answer it before they have to chase you.
2. Stakeholder experience isn’t just attendees. Speakers, sponsors, vendors, volunteers all need clear expectations + direction.
3. Clarity kills chaos. Agenda, logistics, dress code, where to go, what to bring, what happens next—spell it out.
4. Add “a little extra.” Simple touches (hotel recs, food spots, post-event follow-up tips) make you memorable and referable.
5. An event is a project. Treat it like one. If it has more than 10 steps, it needs a project plan (and this has… a lot more than 10).
6. When you mess up: own it + solution it. Acknowledge it, communicate clearly, explain what happened (when helpful), and make it right.
7. Use the 5x5 rule. If it won’t matter in 5 years, don’t spend more than 5 minutes spiraling—just handle it with care.

LISTEN IN ORDER:

Part 4 NEXT on The Power Table Podcast: Protect Your Safety & Sanity at Events

🔗 On Apple: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-table-with-taylor-smith/id1775769731⁠⁠

🔗 On Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4q9nlArV18b80rwqtIV2ik?si=6ca4396028474f22⁠⁠

MORE:

Join the Rooted & Relentless Mastermind: https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

Get in THE room to be in: Power Table LIVE ! It's April 22-23, 2026 in Destin, Florida. Get your ticket here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://20132019--thepowertable.thrivecart.com/the-power-table-live/

Send me a DM on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio/⁠⁠⁠

TAYLOR:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorsmithonline/

Website: https://www.taylorsmithonline.com/

This episode lays the foundation for everything that follows.

Key takeaways

1. If the math doesn’t math, pay attention. Big attendance promises with chaotic marketing and short runway are a red flag.
2. Clarity isn’t a transformation. If the event promise is a pile of buzzwords, you’re allowed to be skeptical.
3. You should know who the room is for. If the host can’t clearly answer “who is this event for?”… that’s your answer.
4. Social proof matters (even for first-time hosts). Green flag: smaller in-person iterations before going “big conference.”
5. Set your goal before you go. Education? Connections? Exposure? Your goal determines what “worth it” looks like.
6. Sometimes the smartest move is not attending. FOMO and “mutual support” aren’t business strategies.
7. Aspirational vs operational events: Look at content + structure (workshops, networking, hot seats) and even how VIP is built.

LISTEN IN ORDER:

Part 2 NEXT on the Power Table Podcast: How to Be a Standout Attendee & Actually Realize A ROI

🔗 On Apple: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-table-with-taylor-smith/id1775769731⁠⁠

🔗 On Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4q9nlArV18b80rwqtIV2ik?si=6ca4396028474f22⁠⁠

MORE:

Join the Rooted & Relentless Mastermind: https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

Book your 1:1 Decision Intensive: https://www.stephrubio.com/small-business-consulting

Get in THE room to be in, Power Table LIVE, April 22-23, 2026 in Destin, Florida: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://20132019--thepowertable.thrivecart.com/the-power-table-live/

Send me a DM on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio/⁠⁠⁠

TAYLOR:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorsmithonline/

Website: https://www.taylorsmithonline.com/

In this Clarity Coven feature, Steph sits down with Alisha Bean, a long-time client turned mastermind member, to talk about what actually breaks when a business grows—and why most founders don’t realize the real problem until they’re already overwhelmed.

This conversation digs into the moment where things are technically “working,” but everything feels harder: communication is messy, systems are duct-taped together, the founder is back in the weeds, and the business starts pulling more instead of giving freedom.

Steph and Alisha unpack the difference between growth and scaling, the danger of 20-step workflows that require constant founder approval, and why hiring support doesn’t magically remove responsibility—it changes how leadership shows up.

In This Episode, We Cover

1. What “leaks” look like in a growing business—and why patching them stops working
2. The most common presenting problems (communication + systems) vs. the real root causes
3. Why your 20-step process is quietly sabotaging your ability to scale
4. The difference between growth (more volume) and scaling (more efficiency + stability)
5. How to delegate without losing awareness—and why that’s the actual CEO move
6. Why hiring an executor isn’t “magic” (and what to expect when you do)
7. The identity shift Alisha experienced going from “the shoes are too big” to fully owning her expertise
8. Alisha’s best advice for service providers building in a noisy, comparison-heavy online space

Key Takeaways

1) “It’s working” isn’t the same as “it’s built to scale.”

Most businesses do work… until they don’t. If your systems were set up for one level of volume, they’ll start breaking when you grow. That’s not a personal failure—it’s a systems mismatch.

2) Duct tape is not a long-term strategy.

When your backend is 15 tools “kind of” talking to each other, leaks are inevitable: missed handoffs, duplicated work, rising software costs, and team confusion.

3) Simplifying is scaling.

If a process takes 20 steps and 10 approvals from you, you don’t have a workflow—you have a founder chokehold. Cutting it down (and pre-approving decisions) is how you stop being the bottleneck.

4) Delegation doesn’t mean “checking out.”

Stepping out of execution doesn’t mean you stop knowing what’s happening. You keep awareness, build trust, and create clear lanes so your team can move without you micromanaging.

5) Confidence changes your marketing.

Alisha shares how proving the concept (to herself and the right clients) changed how she showed up—no more “hoping” people believe in her… just telling the truth about what she’s already doing.

Connect with Alisha

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisha.bean.obm/

Keep up with Steph:

Pop into my DM's on IG and tell me what you're up to: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Join the Mastermind and grow with us: https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

This conversation is about far more than operations and management. It’s about choice, sustainability, leadership, and the luxury of designing a business that supports your life, not the other way around.

Alissa shares her journey into entrepreneurship, the realities behind “effortless” online success, and why care, presence, and authenticity are the foundation of any business that’s meant to last.

In this episode, we cover:

1. The pivotal moment that pushed Alissa out of corporate and into entrepreneurship
2. Why social media makes business look easier (and faster) than it actually is
3. The misconception that CEOs need to do everything themselves
4. Choosing your “hard” instead of defaulting to burnout
5. Delegation as a leadership skill—not a weakness
6. Letting go of perfection and building a brand rooted in care and humanity
7. Why authenticity beats polish every single time
8. Redefining luxury as choice, not aesthetics

A moment that hits hard:

Alissa opens up about realizing her business isn’t just about skills or services—it’s about making sure no one feels alone while building something meaningful. That clarity reshaped not only her brand, but how she shows up as a leader, a mom, and a human.

If you’re building a service-based business, wrestling with imposter syndrome, or feeling the pressure to have it all figured out already—this episode is a deep exhale and a reality check in the best way.

Follow along with Alissa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theluxemomager/

Keep up with Steph's Shenanigans and keep your business game sharper than an Iron's Chef's favorite know:

Tons of free, strategic advice from Steph's over two decades of experience straight to your inbox: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

And please, make yourself comfortable in my IG DM's. I love a good voice note ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

These are the people who have never paid you, never hired you, and never collaborated with you—yet still recommend you, refer you, and do not hesitate to associate their reputation with yours.

This episode is a quick, grounded reminder that your reputation is doing more selling than your marketing ever will. And mad encouragement to give a little extra love and care to the people who support you even when it's not directly monetary, sending you referrals and opportunities like it's their job.

In This Episode, We Cover:

1. What “Biz Buddies” actually are (and why they matter)
2. How referrals from Biz Buddies convert faster than cold leads
3. Why trust—not transactions—is the foundation of these relationships
4. Simple, human ways to care for Biz Buddies without making it weird
5. How reputation quietly becomes your most powerful growth engine

Key Takeaways:

1. Biz Buddies lead people to you without being asked
2. Trust is pre-built when someone drops your name
3. These relationships save time, energy, and emotional labor
4. You don’t manufacture them—you earn them
5. How you move matters more than what you sell

Notable Quotes:

1. “Your reputation is your revenue.”
2. “Biz Buddies exist because of how you move, not what you sell.”
3. “You don’t manufacture these relationships—you earn them.”

What’s Coming Next:

The Stakeholder Experience series continues with:

1. Your Team — contractors, W-2s, and support roles
2. Yourself — because yes, you are a stakeholder too

Loved This Episode?

Support ya girl by subscribing, sharing, and leaving a review. That Biz Buddy support, ya feel me?

Then, shoot me a message on IG and tell me how I can do the same for you: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Oh and..

This pod isn't the only place I drop this good good. Get on my email list where I send two emails per month: Steph's Shenanigans all about what I'm loving, loathing, learning, and all the good stuff and The COO Edit where we get strategic and practical about staying one step ahead in your biz. https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

This episode is a masterclass in becoming impossible to ignore online—without burning yourself out, reinventing the wheel every week, or sanding down your personality to fit an algorithm.

It’s also a powerful behind-the-scenes look at what stakeholder experience looks like in action: spotlighting clients, honoring their growth, and letting their work speak for itself.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

1. Why finding (and refining) your brand voice is less about being “revolutionary” and more about repetition and consistency
2. The biggest misconception in content marketing—and why saying the same thing over and over is actually your competitive edge
3. How getting to know yourself again is the key to a happier life and more fulfilling business
4. Why repurposing isn’t lazy—it’s strategic (and saves your sanity)
5. The difference between creating from fear vs. creating from joy
6. How clarity in your vision expands your identity—and your capacity
7. Why letting people dislike you is not a branding problem, it’s a branding strategy
8. What happens when you stop building from survival mode and start designing intentionally

Memorable Moments & Mic-Drop Lines

1. “Repetition is how people know you know your stuff.”
2. “You don’t need every post to be revolutionary—consistency builds authority.”
3. “It’s wild to see what’s possible when I’m not terrified.”
4. “You’re not just cutting people out—you're cutting the wrong people out and the right people in.”

About Jaci

Jaci Schreckengost is a writer, marketer, and speaker focused on helping brands find (or refine) their voice, effectively tell their stories, and become impossible to ignore online. She is also the author of a her debut poetry collection, Housewarming Parties.

Connect with Jaci

1. Instagram: @schreckengostcreative
2. Website: jacischreckengost.com
3. Book: Housewarming Parties

Steph’s Takeaway

This conversation is a reminder that clarity creates expansion. When you stop building from fear and start building from intention, your work gets better, your messaging gets clearer, and your business finally feels like it fits.

Come grow with Jaci and Steph inside Rooted & Relentless Mastermind: https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

Because collaborations don’t just get you seen. They get you trusted.

And when you manage these relationships intentionally, they become a growth engine: warmer leads, shorter sales cycles, referrals, and opportunities flowing to you — without the constant hustle.

✨ In this episode, Steph covers:

1. Why collaborators and brand partners matter (and how they either pay you directly or get you paid)
2. The different types of collaborators you should treat as stakeholders:
3. Visibility & content collaborators

   (podcast guests, IG Lives, newsletter swaps, co-created resources)

4. Events & education partners

   (workshop hosts, speakers, retreats)

5. Brand & revenue partners

   (sponsors, affiliates, UGC, software/tool partnerships)

6. Why collaborations create instant trust — and how that accelerates credibility and conversions
7. The difference between being discovered vs introduced (and why it changes everything)
8. How collaborators become informal salespeople when you follow through
9. Why you don’t need a bad reputation to lose opportunities — you just need an uncertain one
10. How collaborators validate your thought leadership publicly and help your positioning land faster

🧠 The 5-part framework: How to create a great collaborator experience

1. Define the scope

   Roles, ownership, timelines, expectations, and boundaries

2. Communicate everything

   Silence breeds uncertainty — and uncertainty erodes trust

3. Execute with boring reliability

   This is where your reputation is actually built

4. Add intentional EXTRA

   Voice notes, gratitude, sharing impact — without burning out

5. Follow through + future loop

   Close the loop, share results, and plant seeds for repeat opportunities

This episode isn’t about doing more collaborations. It’s about doing fewer, aligned opportunities, better.

Because people pay (and refer) the ones they trust to execute, not just teach. And your collaborators are the ones saying your name in rooms you’re not in.

🔗 Want to step deeper into my world?

Join the Rooted & Relentless Mastermind

High-touch group coaching meets mastermind roundtable style for service-based business owners ready to stabilize, scale, and lead with steadiness and discernment:

👉 https://www.stephrubio.com/themastermind

Book a Decision Intensive

A 90-minute intensive to stop reacting on emotion and start building strategically, by design:

👉 https://www.stephrubio.com/small-business-consulting

Connect with me on Instagram → @virtually_stephrubio

👉 https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

In This Episode:

1. Kat’s evolution from VA → OBM → Tech Solutions Architect
2. Why most business owners end up with too many systems—and worse experiences for their clients, themselves, and their teams
3. The difference between having a CRM and actually managing client relationships
4. Why human-centered systems matter more than trendy tools
5. When spreadsheets stop working—and how to know you’re ready for a CRM
6. Kat’s FEWA Framework for choosing the right CRM:
7. Flexibility
8. Experience
9. Workflows
10. Analytics
11. The real danger of industry-specific tools that box you in
12. Why analytics matter way earlier than most service providers think
13. How poor systems quietly break your client experience (and your sanity)
14. The mindset shift that unlocked Kat’s clarity, confidence, and momentum inside the mastermind
15. Why alignment and passion directly affect your marketing and growth
16. Advice for women building service-based businesses: removing self-imposed limits and letting yourself go full “delulu” (on purpose)

Key Takeaways:

1. You are the CRM. The tool just supports how you build relationships.
2. Systems should bend to your business—not the other way around.
3. Custom workflows > one-size-fits-all tech stacks.
4. If you don’t love the work, your audience can feel it.
5. Most limitations aren’t logistical—they’re inherited beliefs you’ve outgrown.

Connect with Kat Jackson:

1. Website: https://kopilotkat.com/contact/
2. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kopilot.kat/?hl=en
3. YouTube: Tech breakdowns, CRM education, and system deep dives: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVy6ctueaIM0gc3LRCV_m7A

Join Steph & Kat:

Want the same kind of clarity, confidence, and grounded decision-making you heard in this episode? Join me and Kat inside of the Rooted & Relentless mastermind. Where breakthroughs happen on any given Tuesday: https://www.stephrubio.com/groupcoachingwaitlist

What starts as a conversation about content creation quickly turns into something much deeper: grief as a catalyst, motherhood as a driver, boundaries as a business skill, and why relationships—not hacks—are the real growth strategy.

Rachael shares how losing her father sparked her passion for documentation and storytelling, eventually leading her to build a business that helps founders create content that feels good and performs—while saving clients an average of 60 hours a month. (Yes, sixty. Go ahead and mentally spend that time however you want. Reading fantasy novels is encouraged.)

Together, Steph and Rachael unpack:

1. Why most people struggle with content (and it’s not because they’re “bad at it”)
2. The mindset shift that instantly quiets comparison and imposter syndrome
3. Why connection > conversion in today’s marketing landscape
4. How interest-based media is changing the way we build audiences
5. What it actually looks like to edit your business when growth starts to feel heavy
6. The rarely-talked-about loneliness of entrepreneurship—and why safe rooms matter
7. How Rachel made hard decisions, cut misaligned clients, and landed more aligned ones
8. Why relationships will take your business farther than any funnel, giveaway, or gimmick

Connect with Rachael

Follow Rachael and keep up with her brilliance on Instagram

👉 @chateaumarigold

Hang with Steph

Want the same kind of clarity, confidence, and grounded decision-making you heard in this episode? Join me and Rachael inside of the Rooted & Relentless mastermind. Where breakthroughs happen on any given Tuesday: https://www.stephrubio.com/groupcoachingwaitlist

Get the deets straight to your inbox for what Steph's currently loving, learning, loathing along with a COO edit to sharpen your strategy & bite-sized business tips that keep you scaling without selling your soul: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Your support helps this community grow—and keeps these conversations happening.

This conversation reframes client experience as a leadership responsibility, not a customer service task.

Because when you truly lead your client relationships, the ripple effect shows up everywhere: retention, referrals, reputation, revenue — and the kind of impact your business has beyond you.

In this episode, Steph covers:

1. Why client experience is a strategic ripple effect, not a “nice to have”
2. How dazzling your clients fuels retention, referrals, and easier marketing
3. The real difference between managing clients and leading the relationship
4. Four practical ways to elevate your client experience without overgiving:
5. Clear communication & expectation setting
6. Proactive leadership (anticipating needs, not waiting for direction)
7. Being EXTRA on purpose (without burning out)
8. Evolving alongside your clients as they grow
9. Why silence creates stories — and how unspoken expectations quietly erode trust
10. How to normalize feedback early and often (and turn it into better offers)
11. The overlooked power of re-engaging past clients
12. Why your work enables your clients’ impact — and how that responsibility compounds

This episode is about more than client satisfaction.

It’s about building a reputation that carries you into rooms you’re not in.

Because when people feel held, guided, and genuinely cared for — they stay, they buy again, and they tell everyone.

🔗 Want to step deeper into my world?

If this episode had you nodding along, you’ll love these next steps:

Join the Rooted & Relentless Mastermind Waitlist. High-touch coaching for service-based business owners ready to stabilize, scale, and lead with clarity
https://www.stephrubio.com/groupcoachingwaitlist

Book a Decision Intensive to Nail Your Client Experience Strategy. A 90-minute intensive to make Client Experience a priority, design your path to doing so, walk away with a clear, actionable plan to make it happen
https://www.stephrubio.com/small-business-consulting

Connect with me on Instagram → @virtually_stephrubio: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio
Come tell me how you’re being EXTRA for your clients.

Alissa is one of the founding members of the Rooted & Relentless Mastermind, and in this conversation, we dig into what it actually looks like to build a sustainable virtual support business — both as an OBM serving established clients and as a mentor helping women step into the their own virtual support business with confidence.

This episode is a candid, practical conversation about operations, hiring, boundaries, authenticity, and avoiding the comparison spiral that derails so many capable entrepreneurs.

What We Cover in This Episode

1. What an Online Business Manager really does (and doesn’t do)
2. The biggest misconception about OBMs and virtual support roles
3. Why hiring “one person to do everything” isn't the move
4. Why being honest about budget and expectations matters
5. Alissa’s biggest recent shift: stepping into authentic, unfiltered messaging
6. How comparison quietly stalls progress in service-based businesses
7. Curating your social media feed to support your growth, not sabotage it

Key Takeaways

1. Clarity in hiring starts with clarity in roles. Know what you’re hiring for before you post the job.
2. OBMs are ops specialists, not marketing unicorns. Different roles exist for a reason.
3. Burnout is often a systems problem, not a motivation problem.
4. Authenticity converts better than perfectly polished content.
5. Following competitors too closely fuels self-doubt & setbacks, not confidence.
6. You don’t need to manage everyone — you need the right leadership structure.

Connect with Alissa

Want backend brilliance and top-tier OBM wisdom? Or thinking of starting your own Virtual Support Business? 

1. Instagram: @thegoldenobm
2. Newsletter: https://thegoldenobm.myflodesk.com/newsletter

This episode is part of the Clarity Coven series — spotlighting the founding members of the Rooted & Relentless Mastermind and what stakeholder experience looks like when done right.

Want the same kind of clarity, confidence, and grounded decision-making you heard in this episode? Join me and Alissa inside of the Rooted & Relentless mastermind. Where breakthroughs happen on any given Tuesday: https://www.stephrubio.com/groupcoachingwaitlist

This conversation is a masterclass in simplification, execution, and impact — especially for business owners who know they have something powerful to teach but feel stuck at the idea stage.

Kara shares her journey from years of doing tech behind the scenes to becoming the go-to for helping entrepreneurs launch courses that actually get finished — and talked about — not forgotten.

Together, Steph and Kara unpack what really matters when building and marketing digital offers, why perfection is slowing people down, and how clarity is created through action, not overthinking.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Why most people overbuild courses — and how that hurts results
2. The real goal of a course (hint: it’s not proving how much you know)
3. How faster transformations lead to stronger referrals and reputation
4. Why marketing has to start before your offer is live — and continue after
5. The biggest misconceptions about tech, production quality, and “doing it right”
6. How iteration beats perfection every time
7. What it looks like to run your business like a business — even with limited hours
8. Why data beats disappointment when things don’t land the first time
9. Kara’s best advice for service-based business owners stuck waiting for clarity

This episode is a reminder that:

You don’t need more content.

You need cleaner execution, clearer transformation, and the courage to move.

Because results change lives — and finished work builds reputation.

🔗 Connect with Kara

If you’re thinking about launching a course, digital product, or offer — or you’re stuck in tech paralysis — Kara is someone you want in your corner.

1. Instagram: @helpmekara - https://www.instagram.com/helpmekara/
2. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kara-williams-04b94ba

🔗 Want to go deeper into this work?

This Clarity Coven feature is one example of how stakeholder experience comes to life inside the Rooted & Relentless Mastermind.

1. Join the Mastermind Waitlist
2. High-touch coaching for service-based business owners ready to stabilize, scale, and lead with clarity
3. https://www.stephrubio.com/groupcoachingwaitlist
4. Get the deets straight to your inbox for what Steph's currently loving, learning, loathing along with a CEO edit to sharpen your strategy & bite-sized business tips that keep you scaling without selling your soul: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Reflection Prompt:

Where are you waiting to feel “ready” — when action would give you the clarity you’re looking for?

What if the fastest way to grow your business wasn’t more content, better hooks, or another launch strategy?

What if it was your reputation?

In this episode of Rooted & Relentless, I’m officially introducing a concept that’s been quietly shaping my work for years—and I’m finally naming it out loud: The Stakeholder Experience.

Most conversations in online business stop at client experience. And yes—client experience matters. It’s non-negotiable.

But it’s also too narrow.

Because in business, your reputation isn’t just carried by your clients. It’s carried by everyone who has a stake in your business—and whether you’re managing that intentionally or not, it’s already working for (or against) you.

In this episode, I'm giving you a sneak peek on the concept of Stakeholder Experience, including:

1. Why your reputation is your revenue
2. The difference between client experience and stakeholder experience
3. The four stakeholder groups that quietly shape your growth, referrals, retention, and opportunities
4. How this managing every relationships moves you from hustling for dollars to building a reputation that compounds

This episode also marks the beginning of the Stakeholder Experience Masterclass Series, where over the next several weeks I’ll break down each stakeholder group—why they matter and how they affect your business.

And because I don’t just teach theory—I show receipts—I’m kicking off this series by spotlighting The Clarity Coven, the founding members of the Rooted & Relentless Mastermind.

This is stakeholder experience in action.

If you’re done chasing visibility and ready to build something that lasts—

If you want your name being said in rooms you’re not even in—and said well—

If you’re ready to lead your business like the ecosystem it actually is—

Welcome to Steph Rubio land. Pull up a seat and stay awhile.

And consider joining us in the mastermind where making our experience our growth engine is just another day: https://www.stephrubio.com/groupcoachingwaitlist

This Series Is For You If:

1. You’re a service-based business owner or founder
2. You care deeply about how you do business—not just how fast you grow
3. You’re tired of chasing attention and ready to build authority
4. You believe relationships are strategy (because they are)

What’s Coming Next:

Each week in this series, we’ll zoom in on one stakeholder group and break down:

1. Why managing this relationship matters
2. How it impacts every other part of your business
3. Actions and systems that elevate the experience

Get Steph's Shenanigans straight to your inbox twice a month. Aside from this podcast, it's the most valuable free advice you can get on the internet: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Follow Steph on IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Get the deets straight to your inbox for what Steph's currently loving, learning, loathing along with a CEO edit to sharpen your strategy & bite-sized business tips that keep you scaling without selling your soul: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Steph dives into the a fave topic of love & hate as we close another year = goal setting. She shares her journey from goal-hater to goal-setter. She emphasizes the importance of SMART goals and offers practical examples for different business functions. With a mix of humor and insight, Steph encourages listeners to set achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals, while also considering their business rhythms and personal motivations.

Book Your Decision Intensive, aka Quarterly Business Review HERE ——→ https://www.stephrubio.com/small-business-consulting

Let's hang on IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Get the deets straight to your inbox on what I'm currently loving, learning, or loathing, along with a CEO edit to sharpen your strategy & bite-sized business tips that keep you scaling without selling your soul: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Takeaways

1. I used to hate goals, but now I see their power.
2. Reverse engineering helps in setting and achieving goals.
3. SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
4. Set goals for each business function: marketing, sales, operations.
5. Quarterly goals help in tracking progress and adjusting strategies.
6. Revenue goals should be realistic and based on past performance.
7. Break down annual goals into quarterly targets for better management.
8. Use past data to set achievable sales and marketing goals.
9. Understand your business rhythms to set effective goals.
10. Review and adjust goals quarterly to stay on track.

For me straight up shenanigans from Steph:

Follow along on IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Get the deets straight to your inbox - what Steph's currently loving, learning, loathing along with a CEO edit to sharpen your strategy & bite-sized business tips that keep you scaling without selling your soul: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Takeaways

1. Hiring offshore can be cost-effective but raises ethical questions.
2. Aligning business practices with personal values is crucial.
3. Globalization impacts local and international communities differently.
4. Outsourcing can offer significant scaling potential for businesses.
5. Ethical considerations include fair wages and community support.
6. Steph emphasizes the importance of women's empowerment globally.
7. There's no one-size-fits-all answer to offshore hiring.
8. Understanding cultural differences is key in global business.
9. Steph advocates for supporting local communities through business.
10. The conversation on globalization is nuanced and ongoing.

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Get Steph's Shenanigans straight to your inbox: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Takeaways

1. Make the ask as soon as there's a need.
2. Build rapport before pitching.
3. Pre-qualify leads to ensure readiness.
4. Use discovery questions to uncover needs.
5. Sales is about problem-solution matching.
6. Overcome objections by understanding them.
7. Remove emotion from sales interactions.
8. Content can nurture potential leads.
9. Sales is more than a numbers game.
10. Be convicted in your offering.

Keep up with Steph:

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Get more of Steph's shenanigans & seriously useful tips straight to your inbox: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Join us at The Power Table LIVE Personal Branding & Marketing Conference for Female Founders April 22–23, 2026 Destin, Florida 2 days to learn the strategies, land the collaborations, and build the personal brand that gets you seen and paid!

https://stan.store/affiliates/8032e3fc-7522-4607-8e6a-0c063451411f

Connect with Taylor online:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorsmithonline/ https://www.instagram.com/taylorsmithonline/ https://www.taylorsmithonline.com/

Hang with Steph:

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Get Steph's Shenanigans straight to your inbox: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Keep up with Steph's Shenanigans on IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Get Steph's Shenanigans straight to your inbox: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Takeaways

1. Qualifying clients is crucial for successful client relationships.
2. Clear messaging helps attract the right clients.
3. Pricing should reflect the value and transformation offered.
4. Client readiness is key to achieving desired outcomes.
5. Understanding client needs leads to better service.
6. Aligned clients lead to social proof and business success.

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Get Steph's Shenanigans straight to your inbox: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect'
Find out where you're blocking your own business growth: https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/6810432a8fa23ab768307116

In this episode, Steph Rubio weaves together tales of a sparkly H&M jacket, a local window tinting business, and the unsung heroes in scrubs to make it clear just how crucial your client's experience is. Discover how these seemingly unrelated stories prove that client experience can be the difference between repeat business and a total flop—without you ever knowing why. Buckle up, because we're diving into the art of being "extra" with a dash of snark and a whole lot of heart.

Takeaways:

1. Being "extra" will set you apart and make you memorable.
2. Thoughtful actions will lead to client retention and referrals which is free marketing
3. Anticipating client needs enhances user experience.
4. Small gestures can lead to brand loyalty & brand recognition. People will start to remember you for being THAT girl.
5. Effective communication is key in service industries.
6. Building relationships through kindness can have lasting effects.
7. Sharing personal stories can inspire others to be "extra."

Chapters:

1. 00:00 - Introduction: The Power of Being Extra
2. 03:15 - Story of the Jacket: Sustainability and Impact
3. 06:30 - The Window Tinting Experience: Communication Matters
4. 10:45 - Healthcare Heroes: Compassion in Action
5. 14:00 - Conclusion: How to Be Extra in Your Life

Connect with Steph: Follow Steph on Instagram @virtually_stephrubio and share your favorite snacks or stories of being "extra." Perks if it's healthy, but let's be real, all snacks are welcome!

https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Get Steph's Shenanigans straight to your inbox: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Whether you are just starting to build your own brand, have a successful one already, or are wondering what the heck we mean when we say personal brand, this episode will clear it all up & get you lit to keep growing.

Also, come hang with us September 26th & 27th at Build Your Own Brand, Payton's very own conference all about personal branding: https://buildyourownbrandconference.com/

I'll be leading a breakout session all about systematizing growing your personal brand to keep it simple & safe.

Keep up with Payton: 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/paytonmoran__/

Keep up with Steph

IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

website: https://www.stephrubio.com

keep up: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Don't forget to DM on IG and tell me what you're reading!

This example refers a lot to Coaches & Company, a legal company I value and have happily purchased my own legal contracts from.

If you need any sort of legal support or contracts to cover your own butt, highly recommend.

Coaches & Company links:

Get your contract & protect your biz: https://www.coachesandcompany.com/ref/stephrubio/

Keep up w/ Coaches & Co: https://www.instagram.com/coachesandcompany/

Keep up with Steph

IG: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

website: https://www.stephrubio.com

keep up: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

Don't forget to DM on IG and tell me what you're reading!

P.S. sometimes the fear is actually all in your head and they were not judging you at all - listen in to figure out where you fall!

Links:

1. Taylor Smith recommended the book: https://www.taylorsmithonline.com/
2. Tell me what you're currently reading: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Book a Strategy Sesh & Boost Your Biz Power: https://www.stephrubio.com/small-business-consulting

Follow me on IG & say "hi!": https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Connect with me in IG DM's: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_stephrubio

Hang with Steph: https://www.stephrubio.com

Never miss a good azz email: https://stephrubio.myflodesk.com/letsconnect

#ImposterSyndrome #Empowerment #Mentorship #BusinessGrowth #OnlineBusiness #SelfDoubt #SelfLimitingBeliefs

In this inaugural episode of 'Rooted and Relentless', Steph Rubio shares how Rooted & Relentless was born, a peek behind the curtain of her journey of becoming a business strategist, starting with a history of her entering the workforce at the ripe old age of 16, emphasizing the importance of mindset, personal growth, and the relentless pursuit of your dream life - because you only get one. She discusses her experiences in sales and operations, the significance of understanding business strategy, and how personal identity plays a crucial role in success as an entrepreneur. The episode invites listeners to embrace their unique paths while remaining true to themselves.

Takeaways

• Real change happens when you bet on yourself.
• You're building a life, not just a business.
• Growth is possible on your own terms.
• I've been working since I was 16 & found my love of operations over many years in the workforce.
• Strategy is the why and the what.
• Mindset is a necessary component for many years to come.
• Being rooted means staying true to who you are.
• Your roots can be moved, they can change with you.
• You have a front row seat to my journey.