The Secrets to Scaling a Business Without Going into Debt

In episode 265, Lance sits down with Ashley McCarney, the founder and president of Involvi, an HR consulting firm. With a background in people operations, Ashley is passionate about improving employment relationships and helping leaders become better people leaders. 

In this interview, Ashley shares her insights on what every entrepreneur needs to know, including the importance of valuing your time, being flexible and innovative, and understanding “your why” as an entrepreneur. She also discusses the services offered by Involvi, which include HR support, customized learning and development, and recruitment. Ashley emphasizes the importance of trust in her industry and how Involvi differentiates itself by providing customized solutions and working with clients to navigate the gray areas of compliance and legislation. She also shares her experience of scaling the business and the key factors that contributed to its success, including a strong team, intentional networking, and a focus on building trust with clients.

To learn more about Involvi, visit https://involvi.ca/. 

0:00:00 - Intro 

0:00:47 - Three things every entrepreneur needs to know

0:02:36 - Overview of Involvi and the problems it solves

0:03:56 - How Involvi stands out from other HR companies

0:06:35 - Ashley's motivation to start her own business

0:07:47 - Challenges and support during the early stages of the business

0:09:54 - Factors contributing to the success of Involvi

0:11:09 - Importance of networking and building relationships

0:12:49 - Focus on providing value and solutions to clients

0:14:44 - Advice for building a great team

0:16:01 - Importance of transparency and flat hierarchy within the team

0:17:45 - Challenges of maintaining open communication as the business grows

0:20:11 - Imparting vision and values through personal interactions

0:21:19 - Involving the team in creating the company's vision and values

0:22:26 - Intentionally separating the business from personal brand for scalability

0:24:02 - Considering options for future growth as an entrepreneur

0:25:09 - Transitioning from being the practitioner to scaling the business

0:29:37 - Building a business without going into debt

0:30:02 - Self-funding and wise spending to avoid unnecessary costs

0:32:28 - Advice for her younger entrepreneurial self

0:34:41 - Outro