MSMP 71: Jan Cavelle on Scaling and Development

What Does MSMP 71: Jan Cavelle on Scaling and Development Talk About?

In this episode of Mads Singers Management Podcast, host Mads Singers and guest Jan Cavelle discuss the critical mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling their businesses beyond the first ten employees or the first million in annual revenue. The key insight is that what got them to their current level will not necessarily take them to the next. Jan Cavelle, drawing from her extensive experience and forthcoming book 'Scale for Success', emphasizes the need for personal development, delegation, and empowering employees. Mads adds his coaching observations, highlighting the dangers of consistently working 12-hour days and the importance of hiring from within to maintain team morale and retain top talent. The conversation covers practical steps for business owners to become more effective, such as delegating key processes and focusing on personal growth alongside sales and marketing.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when scaling their business beyond their first ten employees or beyond their first million in annual revenue is thinking that what got them here will get them to the next level.Mads Singers

Who Is Featured on MSMP 71: Jan Cavelle on Scaling and Development?

Jan Cavelle is a seasoned entrepreneur and author whose forthcoming book 'Scale for Success' from Bloomsbury delves into the hard lessons she has learned about scaling businesses. She has experienced all levels of business growth and shares her insights on the blind spots entrepreneurs often have, such as neglecting personal development. Jan advocates for prioritizing the right person over the right skills, noting that skills can be taught but the wrong person remains wrong forever. Her practical advice and real-world examples make her a valuable guest for any business owner looking to scale effectively.

What Are the Key Takeaways From MSMP 71: Jan Cavelle on Scaling and Development?

• The biggest mistake in scaling is assuming that past success strategies will work for the next level of growth.
• Entrepreneurs must invest as much in personal development as they do in sales, marketing, and technology.
• Consistently working 12-hour days is a sign of inefficiency and leads to poor decision-making and burnout.
• Business owners with companies under three years should delegate all current tasks within the next twelve months.
• Empowering employees to create and update key processes is essential, as owners are not in the trenches daily.

If you’ve had your business for under three years, everything that the business owner is doing now should be off his/her plate in twelve months.Mads Singers

Is MSMP 71: Jan Cavelle on Scaling and Development Worth Listening To?

This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and business owners who are in the scaling phase or planning to scale. The discussion provides actionable advice on avoiding common pitfalls, such as the failure to delegate and the neglect of personal growth. Mads and Jan offer a balanced perspective that combines practical strategies with real-world examples, making the content both relatable and immediately useful. Listeners will come away with a clear understanding of why personal development is as crucial as business development, and how to build a team that can drive growth without burning out the founder.

Who Should Listen to MSMP 71: Jan Cavelle on Scaling and Development?

• Entrepreneurs scaling their business
• Business owners with 10+ employees
• Startup founders seeking growth strategies
• Managers focused on team development

What Are Listeners Saying About This Episode?

One of the biggest mistakes people make when scaling their business beyond their first ten employees or beyond their first million in annual revenue is thinking that what got them here will get them to the next level.  My guest for this episode of Mads Singers Management Podcast, Jan Cavelle, knows better.  She’s experienced all levels of business and has learned many hard lessons about scaling, all of which will be going into her forthcoming book from Bloomsbury: Scale for Success. 

One of the key points Jan made during our discussion was the need for entrepreneurs to personally develop in order to scale up: they should be putting just as much time and effort into personal development as they are into sales, marketing, and technology for their business.  I agreed.  One of the things I’ve observed in coaching entrepreneurs is a failure to be effective.  I often say that if you’re consistently working 12-hour days, there’s something wrong, and then this becomes a snowballing problem: because you’re not rested, you’re not making good decisions, and then you have to stay at work longer to correct mistakes instead of being productive within a normal work day.  

A key part of being more effective and productive is delegation.  If you’ve had your business for under three years, everything that the business owner is doing now should be off his/her plate in twelve months.  If you don’t take these sorts of serious actions, and quickly, you won’t be able to grow and scale your company.  

One of those items to delegate should be key processes.  The business owner isn’t equipped to be updating key processes of the company, simply because he/she isn’t in the trenches, working on those each and every day.  Those processes need to be created and updated by empowered employees.

Part of empowering employees is giving them the impression that they can progress within the company.  I’ve frequently stated my preference for hiring from within, and the reason is clear: if you bring in talent from outside while not developing the talent inside, you can demoralize your team, and the best people will leave.

Jan agreed, and noted that when she’s looking at the right skills or the right person, she’ll always pick the right person, because, “skills can be taught, but the wrong person is the wrong person forever.”  

I enjoyed hearing about Jan’s lessons and I think you will too!

Key Learning Points: 

1. Jan talks about the biggest mistake people make when scaling - 2:50

2. Jan mentions her obvious choice when picking between the right skills and the right person - 8:17

3. Mads shares why developing from within is so important - 9:38

4. Mads talks about the one thing all business owners who have had their business under three years need to do in the next 12 months - 14:20

5. Mads hammers home that the business owner has absolutely no place updating processes of the company - 16:50

6. Jan shares a blind spot many entrepreneurs have in scaling up businesses: personal development - 19:01

7. Mads notes the problem of consistent 12-hour days - 20:50

8. Mads opines about the problem of “normal” people’s opinions - 25:11

9. Mads and Jan talk about the power of peer groups - 26:10

Connect with Jan Cavelle

Jan Cavelle

Jan’s forthcoming book