No one tells you how crazy, and wildly rewarding, the first few years of entrepreneurship can actually be. In this special anniversary episode, Emma sits down to share the unfiltered lessons she’s learned in her fifth year of running Ninety Five Media full-time. These are the things she wishes someone had told her sooner, so she could’ve avoided a whole lot of stress, confusion, and late-night spirals – now, she’s doing just that for you. Emma opens up about the identity shift that happens when you leave corporate, the panic that can hit even when you know you made the right choice, and why growth almost always requires letting go: of habits, of roles, of clients, and sometimes of the version of yourself you’ve outgrown. She also gets candid about the messy middle of learning to rely on systems instead of sheer hustle, trusting her team to operate without her, and finally stepping fully into the role of visionary instead of operator. If you’re in your first few years of business or gearing up to take the leap, use these reflections to skip some of the painful lessons and move forward with more clarity, confidence, and calm.
Listen in as Emma explains:
- Why scalable systems – not more strategy – create momentum and freedom in your business
- How stepping into the visionary role accelerates growth more than endless “doing”
- The 3 business levers that profitability depends on
And much, much more!
Why Scalable Systems – Not More Strategy – Create Momentum And Freedom In Your Business
One of Emma’s biggest wake-up calls in year five was realizing that no amount of new strategy could solve problems that were actually rooted in structure. It was systems – not fresh ideas – that finally created consistency, clarity, and real freedom. Emma talks candidly about how bringing on a Creative Project Manager showed her just how much friction was happening behind the scenes. By building systems that were truly scalable, not just functional, the business started running smoother, faster, and with far less pressure on her shoulders.
How Stepping Into The Visionary Role Accelerates Growth More Than Endless “Doing”
Stepping into the visionary role was one of the most uncomfortable shifts Emma’s had to make, yet it’s the one that unlocked the most growth. She admits she actually enjoyed being involved in so much and resisted pulling back, even though she knew she needed to. But once she finally allowed herself to stop “doing” and start leading, she saw the business move forward faster than ever. When founders stay stuck in execution mode, they unintentionally cap their own growth because there’s no space to think bigger, innovate, or steer the company’s direction.
The 3 Business Levers That Profitability Depends On
Emma breaks down the three core levers she focused on this year to strengthen Ninety Five Media’s profitability: visibility into the right numbers, smarter pricing and packaging, and operational efficiency. While revenue is exciting, it’s profitability that brings security, confidence, and clarity, especially as a founder. Emma shares how understanding time usage, project margins, and retainer efficiency completely changed how she made decisions. She also highlights how refining packages, tightening deliverables, and improving internal processes helped them increase margins without sacrificing client experience.
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