This content was created by Pete Alexander. This content was uploaded by Pete Alexander. This is a podcast episode titled "Episode 55: Winning at Business and Life with Jessica Yarbrough" (PODCAST) recorded May 29, 2020. It is a short interview in a “6 questions in 7 minutes” format hosted by Professor Pete Alexander with guest Jessica Yarbrough, a business strategist and growth expert. They discuss scaling businesses, marketing and simple systems, work–life balance and self-care, practical advice for leaders (use strategic partners/mentors, simplify and focus), a referral for another guest (Kathy Carabetto), and Jessica’s first job managing Charlotte City Ballet. Platforms mentioned include LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and iTunes.
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This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast, where business leaders share their insights. It is 6 questions in 7 minutes because successful business leaders are busy and rarely have more time to spare. So let's get to it. Question number 1: In a few sentences, please tell me who you are and what you do.
Well, my name is Jessica Yarbrough. I am a business strategist and growth expert, and entrepreneurs come to me when they are ready to scale scale their impact and their influence through sophisticated marketing and simple systems.
Jessica, it's great to have you on the show. Question number 2: What's the best thing about working in your industry?
It's really helping people shine. You know, we go in and we help extrapolate that genius within entrepreneurs and help them show what's possible, uncapping their potential, really increasing their impact, their influence, and their income.
I love how you phrase that as tapping into their genius. That's really powerful. Question number 3: I hear from other business leaders that staying in a good work-life balance for them and their team members is a challenge. What are your thoughts?
It is a challenge if you don't make it a priority. So it really comes back to understanding what is the vision you want for your life. It's not just about more money, more success, but it's about actually being able to enjoy that. And you can't do that if you're not taking care of yourself. So it's essential that you build in self-care routines, whether that's yoga, massage, hiking, time off to reflect, and even just be present with your children if you want to have a successful business without the burnout.
Absolutely. And I assume it's just you have to make the time in your schedule to do that self-care.
Yes. If you don't put it in your schedule, it's not going to happen. We all know that as business owners, we'll fill that space with some other work.
Absolutely. Question number 4: What other successful business leader like yourself should be on my podcast?
I want you to talk to Kathy Carabetto. She's the CEO of QCSS. She has over 200 employees operating in 3 locations, and she is a phenomenal powerhouse mother of 7 who started a multimillion-dollar business.
Oh, sounds fantastic. Thank you for that referral. I'll reach out to her. Question number 5: What insight or advice would you like to give to other business leaders?
Well, a couple of things. Number 1, absolutely don't try to figure things out on your own. Time is your most valuable resource. So if you can find strategic partners or consultants, mentors, coaches that can help full-time for you, you're going to see a return on that investment and it's going to save you a lot of time, heartache, frustration that otherwise you'd— you'd lose. And then the other thing is simplify. One of my favorite quotes by Steve Jobs is focus and simplicity. When you get there, you can move mountains. So keep it simple. If it's not serving you, get rid of it, whether that's on your to-do list, whether that's a product that you're offering, whether that's a team member. Like, keep it simple. That is the way to truly scale a company.
I really like how you're talking about that. It applies to so many different aspects of your business, not just one area. So it could be truly powerful. Question number 6, please tell me about your first job.
One of my first jobs was actually managing this company called Charlotte City Ballet with Claudia Foltz. She was a master seamstress and she sewed tutus for ballet companies all around the world. She had multiple businesses that I helped her run and she launched tutu.com. And if you can imagine, I had world-renowned dancers practicing while I was working and I had total little beginner ballerinas coming in. So it was just a really cool environment. To, yeah, like run the business of a ballet organization.
Oh, how neat! That sounds great. So Jessica, thank you so much for being on the show. How can people find you?
You can find me at JessicaYarbrough.com or come find me on LinkedIn and let me know you heard, heard me on Pete's show.
Perfect. This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast. For more insights and ideas, please go to LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, or iTunes and search for the Winning at Business and Life podcast. Thanks for listening.
