Service Based Business Society Podcast

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 00:00

Hello, and welcome to the Service Based Business Society podcast. I'm your host, Tiffany Ann Bottcher. I left the corporate world to build my own businesses. And along the way, I've learned that scaling isn't all highlight reels. It's messy.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 00:13

It's hard, and it's totally worth it. As a mom of three, the author of the data driven method, and a serial entrepreneur, I know firsthand what it takes to build something bigger than yourself. This show is where we get real about entrepreneurship. The good, the bad, the beautiful, and, yes, even the ugly. Each week, I'll pull back the curtain to share stories, lessons, and strategies that help ambitious entrepreneurs scale their success.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 00:38

So let's get started. Hello, and welcome back to another episode. You know, I'm going to be completely honest. Right from the start, this has been a brutal week. And when I say brutal, I mean the kind of week where you really question everything.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 00:54

I know as an entrepreneur, you've been there where you've, where you're putting out fires left and right. And where at the end of the day, just think, I might just crawl into bed and maybe I'm not coming back out for a while. But here's the thing about being an entrepreneur. We don't get to tap out when things get hard. And more importantly, the weeks like I just had, they're often where we learn the most valuable lessons.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 01:15

So today I'm going do something a little bit different. This is audio only. No fancy production. Just me and you having a real conversation about getting through the tough times and making hard decisions when opportunities knock at what might be the worst possible moment. So let me paint you a picture.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 01:34

A few weeks ago, an opportunity landed in my lap and I'm not talking about just any opportunity. This was a massive opportunity. The kind that makes your heart race a little bit, the kind that keeps you up at night, but in an excited possibility filled way. This was potentially the biggest investment I was ever going to make into any of my businesses. On paper, it was perfect.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 01:58

Everything about it screamed yes. The numbers looked incredible. The return on investment was solid. We're talking about positive return in less than a year with growth and returns that would continue well into the future. It was that kind of unicorn situation that could genuinely transform the trajectory of business.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 02:17

So who doesn't want that? Right? Who doesn't want the thing that's going to catapult them into the next level? But here's where it gets interesting. And here's why we're talking about it today.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 02:27

After all the excitement, after running all the numbers, after seeing how great it looked on paper, I said no. I said no to what could have been a game changing investment. And I want to break down exactly why, because I think this is one of the most important lessons I've learned in business. And it's one that I see so many service based business owners struggle with. So first let me break down what this investment actually looked like, because I think understanding the full picture is important.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 02:54

The investment itself was substantial. Like I said, the biggest investment I was considering making in my business. The projections showed that we would see positive returns in under a year and the growth wouldn't stop there. This is the kind of opportunity that would set up long term sustainable revenue growth. These are the things we talk about on the podcast.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 03:17

I mean, it sounds fantastic. Everything about the opportunity made sense from a numbers perspective. The market was there. The demand was there. The financial modelling was sound.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 03:27

And if this were just about spreadsheets and projections, it would have been an absolute no brainer. Sign me up. Let's go. Now, I wrote a book called The Data Driven Method. We all know I love a good spreadsheet and a financial model.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 03:43

But I talk about the most powerful thing being where data and intuition come together. So when I came to look at this investment, there was a massive but. There was one critical requirement that came with this opportunity to make this investment work to actually deliver on what would be this incredible opportunity. Our fulfillment capacity would need to double within three to five months. Let me say that again.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 04:14

Double in three to five months. And that's where the reality check came in. When I looked at our organizational capacity, when I got honest with myself and with where my team is at today, we were actually just not ready. And look, that's a hard pill to swallow. It's difficult to admit that you're not ready for something that could be so good for your business.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 04:38

There's this voice in my head that says, but this is an opportunity. You'll figure it out. You always do. And yeah, maybe we could figure it out. Maybe you could scramble, outwork the problem, hustle, and somehow pull it off.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 04:53

But the older wiser me says at what cost? Here's what I've learned about capacity and service based businesses. Without capacity investment doesn't equal ROI. It doesn't matter how good the opportunity looks on paper if you can't actually deliver on it. And this is where so many service based business owners get into trouble.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 05:15

We see the opportunity. We see the potential revenue and we convince ourselves that we'll just work harder, sleep less and figure it out on the fly. Here's the thing. You can do that in short periods, but that's not actually scaling. That's just controlled chaos and controlled chaos has a really fun way of becoming just plain chaos.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 05:38

All of the businesses that I own have a huge human component. And let me tell you, humans are harder to scale than anything else. Way harder. If I need more software licenses, I can buy them. If I need more storage space, I can rent it tomorrow.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 05:54

If I need new equipment, I can order it and have it shipped. But people are different. Training takes time. Even for skilled people, even for people who come to you with years of experience and expertise, training still takes time. You can't just double your team and expect them to perform at the same level as your existing team right out the gate.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 06:15

They need to learn your systems, your processes, your culture, your client preferences. They need to make mistakes and learn from them. They need to ask questions and get guidance. And here's the tricky part. They need to feel comfortable enough to ask those questions.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 06:33

And here's what happens when you try to skip this part and rush through it. You grow quickly and then realize you have holes in your game. Big ones. The kind that clients notice. The kind that leads to disappointment, negative reviews, and damage to the reputation you've worked so hard to build.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 06:51

It leads to high stress, not just for you as the owner, but for your entire team. Your existing your existing team is trying to cover the gaps while also trying to train new people. Your new team is drowning and doesn't know how to ask for help Yet. And you, you're the one lying awake at night, wondering how you're ever going to hold it all together. Those sleepless nights, they're not just inconvenient.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 07:17

They're warning signs that your business is operating beyond its organizational capacity. We've talked a lot on the podcast this season about sleepless nights, reflecting back on the fact that when the podcast started, we talked about scaling your business without losing sleep. And then if we fast forward to season five, episode one, I shared that oftentimes I do lose sleep and I'm okay with it because I'm losing sleep for the right reasons, for things that excite me, for new opportunities, for growth. That is different than losing sleep out of stress. So even though I believed and still believe that this investment could have set us up for incredible growth, even though the numbers look great, even though the opportunity was real, I had to say not right now.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 08:09

Not never. Not this is a bad opportunity, but I did have to say not right now. Because here's the thing, taking an opportunity that you're not ready for can actually set you back further than if you had just waited. There's definitely two different philosophies when it comes to growing your business. It's the build it and they will come or it's they arrived, we better build it.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 08:32

I've seen both work. I've seen both work well, but I think it really depends on the team. It depends on the people you can count on. It's very hard to build it after the fact if you don't have a skilled team that you know and that they know your way. If we had taken this investment, tried to double our capacity in three to five months and then failed to deliver the quality that our clients expect, that doesn't just cost us one client or one contract that costs us reputation.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 09:05

That costs us the trust we've built. That costs us existing clients who start to wonder if we're stretched too thin. And then what? Then we've made this massive investment. We're stuck in a contract or commitment we can't fulfill, and we've damaged the very foundation that makes our business valuable in the first place.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 09:24

That's not growth. That's gambling with everything. But here's where it gets interesting and here's the strategic part that I think really is important for anyone listening who might be facing a similar decision. Just because I said no to this particular opportunity right now doesn't mean I'm giving up on growth. It doesn't mean I'm being timid or playing small.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 09:45

It means I'm being strategic. So what am I doing instead? How am I getting closer to being ready for an opportunity like this in the future? Well, smaller investments in building capacity now, knowing that we can then work on scaling to fill it as phase two. Instead of trying to go from zero to 60 in three months, what if we went from zero to 30 in six months to make sure that's running smoothly and then we went from 30 to 70 in the six months after that?

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 10:17

Yes, it's slower. Yes, it means potentially missing out on this exact particular opportunity, but it also means we're building a foundation that can actually support the weight of the growth we're trying to achieve. We're investing in building capacity, training systems, hiring intentionally, developing team skills, refining processes so they can scale, really leaning into all of the tech opportunities that are coming and growing so quickly in the current day. We're doing the unsexy work now so that when the next big opportunity comes along, we're not scrambling, we're ready. And here's what I've learned.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 10:57

There will always be another opportunity. Always. But there's only one chance to build your business on a solid foundation. I think the bigger lesson here that applies to so many decisions that we make as business owners is we live in a culture that celebrates hustle, That celebrates saying yes to everything. That celebrates growth at all costs.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 11:19

And look, I'm all for ambition. I'm all for big goals. And I'm also here for all the hustle. But I'm also here for sustainable growth. We have to hustle, use the ambition, celebrate the growth to build a sustainable business.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 11:39

We can't just go faster up the same length of runway. If the runway does not get longer, we can't go any faster. All we'll do is hit the end. I'm for building businesses that don't require you to sacrifice your health, your relationships, or your sanity. One of the hardest things to do as an entrepreneur is to say no to a good opportunity.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 11:58

It feels counterintuitive. It feels like you're missing out. It feels like you're not being ambitious enough. But sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is to say, this is a great opportunity, but the timing isn't right for me. And let me be clear.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 12:13

This is not about being risk adverse. This is not about playing it safe. This is not about playing small. It is about being honest about where you are today and what you can actually handle in a way that will be successful. This is about protecting what you already built while you work towards what comes next.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 12:33

Just because you want to try and outwork the problem, just because you want to have sleepless nights at a, on a growth at all costs model doesn't mean that your team wants that. And it's harder and harder to grow and scale when you're losing team members along the way, it's just moving into that just chaos instead of controlled chaos. If you're facing a decision like this, here are the questions I think you need to ask yourself. First, does this opportunity align with where my business is going in the long term? Or is it just shiny and exciting?

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 13:09

Shiny and exciting is commonplace in 2025. It's so easy to get pulled down a rabbit hole of shiny and exciting because it is all around us. And every once in a while, and exciting turns into legitimate, crazy, amazing opportunity. But how many rabbit holes do we have to explore when we don't really have time or capacity to find the just right situation? Do I have capacity?

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 13:36

Not just theoretically, but actually realistically to deliver on what this opportunity requires. Third, what would I have to sacrifice to make this work? And are those sacrifices worth it? Fourth, if I can't do this now, what would need to change in my business for me to be ready for something like this in the future? And fifth, is there a way to face this to test it on a smaller scale or to build up to it rather than diving in all at once?

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 14:08

These questions aren't about talking yourself out of opportunities. They're about making sure that when you do say yes, you're saying yes to something you can actually execute on. I want to come back to something I mentioned earlier because I think it's so important, especially of those of you running service based businesses. The human element of scaling is real. Your team is not interchangeable parts.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 14:30

They're people with learning curves, different skill sets, and with lives outside of work. No one will care about your business as much as you do. When you scale too quickly, here's what happens. Your existing team gets burned out, trying to keep everything running while also training new people. Your new team feels overwhelmed and unsupported, which means they're more likely to make mistakes or quit.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 14:51

Your clients start to notice the cracks in the service and you as the leader are trying to hold it all together with duct tape and sheer willpower. I've seen it happen. I've even experienced versions of this myself. And I can tell you from experience that it's way harder to recover from growing too fast than it is to grow a little slower with intention. Yes, it might take slightly longer.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 15:13

Yes, you might have to pass on some opportunities, but you'll build something sustainable. You'll build something that doesn't require you to be in crisis mode at all times. So where does that leave us? Where does that leave me? Well, I'm making that smaller investment in capacity.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 15:30

I'm focusing on building systems that can scale. I'm hiring intentionally, training thoroughly, and making sure that every person we bring on is set up for success. We can still have incredible success without doubling in size in the next three months. I'm documenting processes. I'm creating training materials.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 15:48

I'm identifying what needs to be in place so that we can take that step at the right time. It's not always glamorous. It's not the kind of growth story that makes for exciting social media posts, but it's real and sustainable. And when the next big opportunity comes along, because it will, I'll be able to evaluate it, not from a place of FOMO, but from a place of clarity about what we can actually handle. As for getting through tough weeks like this one, here's what I've learned.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 16:18

Give yourself permission to not be okay all the time. Entrepreneurship is hard. Some weeks are going to kick your butt and that's totally normal. Make decisions based on what's right for the long term health of your business, not just what feels exciting in the moment. Your capacity is your capacity.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 16:36

You can push it. You can stretch it, but you can't ignore it. A chain is only as strong as your weakest link. So although many parts of your business might have more capacity, there will always be something that is the ceiling. There will always be other opportunities.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 16:55

I promise you missing one doesn't mean you've missed your shot. I feel confident that another opportunity of equal or better value will come along at the right time because we are the manufacturers of our opportunities. This opportunity did not fall out of the sky. It's not a lottery ticket that I didn't buy and just found on the street. It is, it is part of the journey.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 17:18

We create our own journeys. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is just say no. I do know that by making strategic decisions and looking at not just the data, but also using my intuition and looking at what is best for the long term health of my business. It's really all I can do. If you're going through a tough week, if you're facing a difficult decision, if you're wondering whether you should take an opportunity that feels just out of reach, I hope this episode helps.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 17:45

I hope it reminds you that it's okay to be strategic. It's okay to say no. And it's okay to build your business in a way that doesn't require you to sacrifice all of the success you've built to date. Until next time, have a great week. And remember sustainable growth beats flashy growth every single time.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 18:08

That's all the time we have for today. But the conversation doesn't stop here. Be sure to subscribe to the Service Based Business Society podcast on all of your favorite apps. And if you're hanging out over on YouTube, search for Tiffany and Bottcher. Your likes, comments, and shares don't just help the show, they help more entrepreneurs find the real stories and strategies that they need to scale.

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher: 18:28

Until next time, keep pushing, keep building, and I'll catch you in the next episode.