Diamond Effect - Strategies to Scale Your Service Business as a Sellable Asset
This podcast helps service-based entrepreneurs and business owners scale their businesses in any economy without overworking or overwhelm. The goal is to create an asset you can sell while enjoying life as you build it. Here, you turn your business into a client-attracting gem and become a high-performing CEO. About the Host: Maggie Perotin is the founder of Stairway to Leadership. As an international business and leadership coach, Maggie helps service-based business owners start, grow, and scale their businesses without overworking or being overwhelmed. With her DREAM-PLAN-DO coaching model, her clients scale while transforming into high-performing CEOs of their businesses. This is what USA Today wrote about this model in the article titled: "How Stairway to Leadership is turning small businesses into high-profit ventures." "(...) her DREAM-PLAN-DO coaching model, she helps her clients align their mindset, business strategy, and high-performance habits to transform their businesses from an unreliable source of income to a super-productive client-attracting gem. Maggie adds that she uses all her knowledge and experience to help her clients grow their businesses in a strategic and innovative way while supporting them in building a successful business that consistently attracts their ideal clients. She specializes in helping them build a brand that showcases their uniqueness to reach their full potential, becoming the powerful CEO they’re capable of being." Maggie has over 15 years of experience in corporate leadership in various business domains and coaching. She holds an executive MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute. Maggie lives in Toronto, Canada, with her blended family with four kids. She loves spending time in nature, traveling, reading, dancing, good food, and giving back. To learn more, head to www.stairwaytoleadership.com To work with Maggie and gain break-through clarity on why your business isn't scaling- schedule a free 50-min consultation https://calendly.com/maggie-s2l/discovery-call
Episodes
Ever wondered what it's really like to host your first business event?
In this candid behind-the-scenes episode, Maggie shares the raw, unfiltered lessons from organizing and leading her very first in-person retreat—the 10X Expansion Retreat. From last-minute planning to unexpected challenges, discover what worked, what didn't, and what she'd do differently next time.
What You'll Learn:
• How a ...
Struggling to stand out in a crowded market? The secret is letting clients try before they buy.’
In this episode, you’ll learn how to create irresistible free/low-cost offers for service businesses (like mini-workshops, service trials, or concierge audits) that convert leads into paying clients—without the hard sell.
Letting your potential clients "sample" your services first removes the risk on their part a...
Struggling with productivity guilt every time you try to take a break? You're not alone. In this candid episode, Maggie shares her personal journey from corporate hustle culture to sustainable business success, revealing why high achievers feel guilty about rest and how to break free from this destructive pattern.
What You'll Learn:
• The hidden cost of productivity guilt on your business and life
• W...
Summer mornings on the deck remind Maggie of the deeper reasons behind starting Stairway to Leadership. In this heartfelt 3-minute episode, she shares the four core "whys" that drive her business and challenges you to get crystal clear on yours.
In This Episode:
• Why summer flexibility sparked a gratitude moment
• The ripple effect of coaching real people who need it
• The power of creative agenc...
Ready to transform your relationship with sales and finally scale your service-based business? In this power-packed episode, Maggie reveals the 10 non-negotiable sales principles that separate struggling service providers from those who consistently grow and scale. Whether you're avoiding sales or ready to master it, these insights will change how you think about selling forever.
What You'll Learn:
✅ The ...
Feeling torn between growing your business and being present for your family this summer? You're not alone. In this quick bonus episode, Maggie tackles the "summer guilt" that plagues so many women entrepreneurs and shares the mindset shift that changes everything.
What You'll Learn:
✅ Why "summer guilt" isn't really about time - it's about the story you're telling yours...
Have you ever felt resistance to a business decision you knew would be good for growth? You're not alone. In this episode, Maggie delves into why our brains resist the very changes that could transform our businesses—and more importantly, how to overcome that resistance.
Using real examples from her own wellness journey and a client's staffing challenges, Maggie reveals the science behind why change can be so...
In today's Maggie's Moment, Maggie dives into the critical but overlooked skill of expanding your emotional capacity—the key to navigating uncertainty, avoiding self-sabotage, and achieving 10X growth.
Backed by neuroscience and 2023 studies, she reveals why traditional "hustle" fails and how to rewire your brain to thrive in the unknown.
Key Takeaways:
1️⃣ Why Emotional Capacity Matters
- The ...
In this episode, you'll discover:
- The critical difference between fast action and rushed decisions that separates successful entrepreneurs from those who get left behind
- Why taking 3 months to decide on a business name is costing you more than you think
- The two powerful business concepts that will transform how you launch new services: MVP and LVC
- How to make strategic decisions with courage while being willing t...
Key Points Covered in Today's Maggie's Moment
1️⃣ The Motivation Hack You’re Missing
- Why discipline alone fails (and what Stanford research says works instead).
- Hershfield’s finding: People connected to their future selves 2X success rates.
2️⃣ How to “Meet” Your Future Self
- The VR study reported a 42% reduction in procrastination.
- Why most entrepreneurs see their future self as a stranger (and h...
Here's the reality: Most business owners are trapped in their own success.
You've built something that depends entirely on you being present, available, and "on" all the time. But what if I told you that the most successful, scalable businesses are designed to run seamlessly whether the owner is in the office or on a beach in Bali?
In this episode, I'm sharing the framework that transforms own...
In today's Maggie's Moment, You'll Learn:
- The real reason women scale back their dreams (hint: it's not lack of drive)
- Why fear of being seen as "greedy" or "mean" holds us back from success
- How going big actually inspires others and creates a ripple effect
- Why you can build the business you want while staying true to your values
Key Takeaway:
When women stop playing sma...
EPISODE OVERVIEW:
Marketing brings clients in, but what if your business is like a leaky balloon?
No matter how much water (leads) you pour in, it keeps leaking out. In this episode, Maggie reveals 10 non-marketing ways service-based businesses lose clients and leave money on the table, especially crucial for businesses scaling past six figures.
KEY TOPICS COVERED:
The 10 Ways You're Losing Clients:
- Not Offe...
Today, Maggie shares a powerful reminder about staying connected to your business's core purpose. When we're constantly firefighting and focusing only on immediate tasks, we lose sight of what truly matters - our Mission and Vision.
Key Takeaways:
• Why successful entrepreneurs lose track of their WHY
• The difference between Mission (how you help people) and Vision (your 10-15 year legacy)
• How ...
Today's episode is a replay of the training Maggie ran.
If lately you have been feeling:
- Exhausted and overwhelmed (or)
- Demotivated and purposeless (or)
- Questioning your current professional path
Then this episode is for you.
Outside of hearing more of Maggie's burnout story, you'll learn:
- Why you can't "just push through" burnout (and how to start recovering your energy first)
- 3 ...
We're halfway through 2025 - time for your most important business review yet. While most entrepreneurs focus on improving their numbers, the real breakthrough comes from upgrading the CEO within themselves first.
Maggie shares why your first six months don't determine your success and reveals the one question that can transform your second half.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Why being "behind" on your 2025 ...
How to spot red flags early, set boundaries, and turn challenging clients into growth opportunities
Episode Summary:
Do you dread working with certain clients but can’t tell if they’re demanding (good for growth) or difficult (bad for business)?
In this episode, Maggie breaks down the critical differences between the two and shares her proven 3-step process to identify, manage, and—when necessary—part ways with hig...
Discover 4 zero-cost strategies that separate true professionals from their competition and build lasting client trust. These foundational practices transform how clients perceive your business and create the credibility needed for premium positioning.
Key Topics Covered:
• Honor Your Commitments - From punctuality to project delivery, consistency builds credibility
• Regulated Emotional State - Show up with ca...
In this episode of the Diamond Effect Podcast, Maggie Perotin dives into a critical challenge many business owners face: the limitations of trying to grow your business completely on your own.
Inspired by a conversation with a client who recently moved her beauty service business from a home-based operation to a commercial location, we explore why seeking expert help isn't a sign of weakness—it's a strategic...
You’re doing all the right things… except THIS.
In today's Maggie’s Moment, discover the silent killer stalling your business (hint: it’s not the economy) and the mindset shift to unlock growth, even when it feels impossible.
Key Takeaways:
✅ The #1 myth solopreneurs believe (that’s holding them back)
✅ Why “hard work” isn’t enough in a shifting economy
✅ How to spot if you’re stuck in “old ways” think...
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