Scaling Past 15 Employees: The Exact Hiring Order That Works

Scaling Past 15 Employees: The Exact Hiring Order That Works

Free Resources to build a sales pipeline: https://donemaker.vista.page/ --------------------------------- He scaled his agency to 15 people and stopped doing the work — here's exactly how he hired, let go, and found his role as CEO. In this episode, Zivko sits down with Erik Rubadeau, CEO of YeeBoo Digital — an agency that's spent 15 years helping non-profits raise revenue through digital marketing and technology. Erik breaks down the exact order he hired in to scale past the chaos of startup mode, why he stopped using recruiters after one expensive failure, and the mindset shift that happens when you go from player to coach. If you're a business owner still stuck in the day-to-day, this one hits different. In This Episode, You'll Learn:▸ Why Erik's first hires were specialists that replaced his own weaknesses — not generalists▸ How bringing in a project manager (now COO) at 5–10 employees created the structure that unlocked growth▸ Why hiring for personality and hunger matters more than skills — and how Erik screens for it▸ The "sink or swim" trap that drowns good employees and how to find the balance instead▸ How his team uses AI to save 20+ hours a week by turning website walkthroughs into client guides automatically▸ Why Erik still holds onto sales and brand as CEO — and what he let go of first▸ What "AI" actually is right now — a probabilistic tool, not intelligence — and why that distinction matters for your business Whether you're running a small B2B agency, building a sales pipeline through LinkedIn outreach, or trying to figure out when to stop being the doer and start being the leader — this episode is packed with real lessons from someone who's been through it. If you're a small business owner or entrepreneur scaling past your first few hires, Erik's approach to culture-first hiring and stepping out of daily operations is a playbook worth studying. #DoneMakerPodcast #LinkedInOutreach #B2BLeadGeneration #SmallBusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #ScalingAnAgency #CEOMinds #HiringForCulture #AIForBusiness #NonProfitMarketing #AgencyGrowth ---------------------------------Guest’s contacts:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikrubadeau/Website: https://yeeboodigital.com/ --------------------------------- ABOUT DONEMAKER:Make easy business decisions by filling your sales funnel with LinkedIn Organic Outreach. No data scraping, no outreach automations, no AI messages. The entire process is done manually + weekly strategy call with a dedicated account rep. Chapters:0:00 — How scaling past startup mode almost broke everything0:58 — Meet Erik Rubadeau, CEO of YeeBoo Digital1:22 — What YeeBoo Digital does for non-profits2:22 — Selling a feeling vs. selling a product3:44 — Copywriting across channels for non-profits5:06 — The tech stack every non-profit needs6:18 — Why WordPress still wins in 20268:31 — Can AI-built websites replace WordPress?11:04 — AI is probabilistic — that's why it's inconsistent14:09 — Where AI works and where it falls apart16:39 — "What we call AI now" — is it really intelligence?19:11 — AI is just a really good operating system23:06 — How Erik implemented AI inside his agency26:34 — Find a process that sucks and automate it28:48 — The order Erik hired to scale his agency31:08 — When startup mode stops working (5–10 people)33:52 — Hiring for personality and hunger, not just skills36:42 — Why recruiters failed and imposter syndrome in hiring40:25 — How Erik stepped out of day-to-day operations44:05 — The sink-or-swim balance with your team44:29 — What a CEO should never let go of47:16 — You built the boat — now where are you steering?51:01 — Where to find Erik

Breaking the Legacy Pattern | Why You're still Enslaved to Your Business

Get clients from LinkedIn: https://tidycal.com/donemaker-sales/donemaker-referall-call Free Resources to build a sales pipeline: https://donemaker.vista.page/ --------------------------------- Working harder isn't the problem; here's what's actually keeping you stuck. In this episode of The DoneMaker Podcast, Zivko sits down with Razmig Malkhassian, CEO of BDH Growth Strategies, to break down why most entrepreneurs plateau, not because they're lazy, but because they're running on legacy patterns that were never built for freedom. You'll discover the 5 levels every entrepreneur moves through on the way to real financial and time freedom, why effort without the right system just creates a better-dressed version of your old job, and what it actually takes to stop being a slave to your own business. In This Episode, You'll Learn:- Why "working harder" is the most dangerous trap in entrepreneurship- The 5 levels of entrepreneurial growth, and which one is silently keeping you stuck- What legacy patterns are, and how your upbringing is running your business decisions today- How to reframe every complaint into a revenue opportunity- Why school trains you to fail at entrepreneurship (and what to do instead)- The negotiation mindset shift from Chris Voss that changes how you close deals- How to build a vision so clear that setbacks become fuel instead of stop signs Razmig brings a rare combination of mindset depth and business development precision that applies directly to B2B lead generation, LinkedIn strategy, and building a business that doesn't require you to be in it every hour. This is the kind of CEO advice that changes the way you show up. Chapters:00:00:00 - Intro: Why Entrepreneurs Lose Everything After They Win00:00:58 - Guest Introduction: Razmik Malkhasian, BDH Growth Strategy00:01:18 - A Problem Without a Solution Is a Complaint (Or Is It?)00:02:43 - Why Business Leaders Run Away From Challenges00:04:30 - The Trap of Accepting "Q1 Is Going to Be Slow"00:05:12 - Carol Dweck's Growth vs. Closed Mindset in Business00:06:25 - The Real Difference Between a Job and Entrepreneurship00:08:03 - The 5 Stages Every Entrepreneur Goes Through00:11:39 - The Inner Game Architect: What That Actually Means00:12:05 - Zivko's Personal Story: Becoming a Slave to the Job00:16:00 - Legacy Patterns: Why Your Parents' Advice Is Holding You Back00:19:06 - How AI and the Industrial Age Are Reshaping Identity00:20:44 - When You Achieve Everything and Still Feel Lost00:25:44 - The Framework for Finding Your Path in Chaos00:27:35 - Life Is a Balance Between Destruction and Creation00:30:19 - How to Know You're on the Right Path (Not Just Pivoting)00:31:48 - How Razmik Used AI to Build a System That Runs Without Him00:33:24 - The Hidden Cost of Every New Tool We Adopt00:35:02 - Complaints Are an Opportunity to Make Money00:37:50 - How One Question Turned Into a 6-Figure Multi-Year Deal00:40:02 - Chris Voss, Never Split the Difference, and B2B Sales00:43:07 - Why Chris Voss Tactics Don't Directly Apply to B2B Committees00:44:55 - The Cost of Inaction: How to Sell Without Sounding Salesy00:48:14 - How to Deploy Cost of Inaction Without Triggering Resistance00:49:33 - How to Work With Razmik + Where to Find Him00:50:43 - Closing Thoughts: Living on the Edge of Your Comfort Zone#DoneMakerPodcast #LinkedInOutreach #B2BLeadGeneration #SmallBusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #EntrepreneurMindset #ScalingYourBusiness #CEOAdvice #BusinessDevelopment #LeadGeneration #SalesStrategy --------------------------------- Guest’s contacts: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razmigmalk/ --------------------------------- ABOUT DONEMAKER: Make easy business decisions by filling your sales funnel with LinkedIn Organic Outreach. No data scraping, no outreach automations, no AI messages. The entire process is done manually + weekly strategy call with a dedicated account rep.

The #1 Mistake Killing Your Search Rankings in 2026

Get clients from LinkedIn: https://tidycal.com/donemaker-sales/donemaker-referall-callFree Resources to build a sales pipeline: https://donemaker.vista.page/ --------------------------------- In this episode of The DoneMaker Podcast, Zivko sits down with Nicholle Stacy, CEO of Altitude B2B, to dismantle the myth that AI is replacing SEO. You'll discover why Google is actively de-ranking AI-generated content that sounds like everyone else, how to optimize for Google's AI Overviews without abandoning traditional SEO fundamentals, and the exact content planning framework that turns your website into a qualified lead machine, not just a traffic counter. In This Episode, You'll Learn:- Why 80% of searches still run through Google — and what that means for your B2B growth strategy- How AI tools like Perplexity and Gemini still source from SEO — and which platforms prioritize which content- Why asking AI to "write in your tone" is the #1 mistake killing your search rankings- What Google's E-E-A-T framework actually requires — and how to use it to outrank competitors- How to optimize for Google AI Overviews using fresh, structured, factual content with clear data points- The Local SEO basics most businesses ignore: Google Reviews, Google My Business, and strategic CTAs- How to find your highest-converting page and turn it into a landing page before spending a dollar on ads If you're a small business owner or entrepreneur trying to generate B2B leads without burning budget on ads, SEO done right is still your highest-ROI channel in 2026. This episode gives you Nicholle's full framework, from content planning to site performance to social media integration, so your organic LinkedIn strategy and website are working together, not in silos. Whether you're building a sales pipeline from scratch or fixing a site that's getting traffic but not converting, this is the episode to send to your entire team. --------------------------------- Guest’s contacts:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholle-stacey/Website: https://www.altitudeb2b.com/ --------------------------------- ABOUT DONEMAKER: Make easy business decisions by filling your sales funnel with LinkedIn Organic Outreach. No data scraping, no outreach automations, no AI messages. The entire process is done manually + weekly strategy call with a dedicated account rep.

Your onboarding sucks ( and it's not about training )

Get clients from LinkedIn: https://tidycal.com/donemaker-sales/donemaker-referall-call Free Resources to build a sales pipeline: https://donemaker.vista.page/ --------------------------------- Did you know that over 50% of the time, an employee struggling at work doesn't actually need more training? In this episode of The DoneMaker Podcast, we sit down with Marci Araki to uncover why traditional job shadowing fails, why "forced fun" is ruining remote culture, and the 4-step feedback framework every leader needs to know In this highly actionable episode of The DoneMaker Podcast, I am joined by Marci Araki, the Chief Learning Officer at Clearest Course Consulting. She helps companies align learning strategies with business and performance needs. We break down the massive difference between onboarding and training. We also explore why watching someone do the work is a passive activity that leaves new hires overwhelmed and lacking context. Whether you are a business owner, a manager, or building a remote team, this episode gives you the exact blueprint to stop relying on videos as a one-size-fits-all solution and start giving feedback that actually drives results In this episode, you will learn: - Why the best onboarding is about relationship building and organizational culture, not just knowledge and skills.- The negative impact of scheduled informality and "forced fun" in a remote workplace.- How to work backwards from your vision of success to design effective training.- A powerful 4-step framework for delivering constructive feedback: Empathy, Specificity, Impact, and Positivity.- The immense value of letting your team make mistakes and how to properly debrief their thought process. First impressions count, especially when it comes to employee onboarding. Making new hires feel excited and valued from day one is crucial for their long-term satisfaction and integration into the workplace culture. This goes beyond typical employee training, focusing on a positive initial experience that sets the tone for their journey. Learn how to create an engaging process that makes your new team members eager to contribute. 👇 --------------------------------- Guest’s contacts: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marci-araki-8b588b/ Website: https://www.clearestcourse.com/ --------------------------------- ABOUT DONEMAKER: Make easy business decisions by filling your sales funnel with LinkedIn Organic Outreach. No data scraping, no outreach automations, no AI messages. The entire process is done manually + weekly strategy call with a dedicated account rep.

Most high-achieving men are living a story they didn't write ( and it's costing them everything)

Free Resources to build a sales pipeline: https://donemaker.vista.page/ Get clients from LinkedIn: https://tidycal.com/donemaker-sales/donemaker-referall-call --------------------------------- Curtis Brooks reveals why successful men still feel trapped, disconnected from their families, and the critical role of core values in guiding our life choices and preventing us from being swayed by external pressures. He emphasizes that a strong faith foundation and clear moral values are essential for character development and maintaining integrity. This approach helps create an intentional living, ensuring our actions align with our deepest beliefs. #AuthenticLeadership #MensCoach #IntegratedLeadership #RelationshipHealth #BusinessOwners #DoneMaker --------------------------------- Guest’s contacts: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookscurtis/ Website: https://integratedleadership.manus.space/ ---------------------------------ABOUT DONEMAKER: Make easy business decisions by filling your sales funnel with LinkedIn Organic Outreach. No data scraping, no outreach automations, no AI messages. The entire process is done manually + weekly strategy call with a dedicated account rep.