Scaling my business was, and continues to be, one of the most exciting and overwhelming times of my career. There have been many lessons learned, mistakes made, and the occasional bout of luck that has helped me bring Becker Logistics to where it is today.
The thing is, scaling a business isn’t the same as starting one. It’s not just about getting bigger, it’s about building something sustainable, with the right people, processes, and leadership in place. And if I could go back, there are a few things I’d tell myself before diving into the chaos of growth.
If you’re a business owner thinking about scaling your business, or you’re already in the thick of it, these lessons will help you avoid the mistakes I made and build smarter, not harder.
Scaling My Business: What I Wish I Knew
When I first started scaling my business, I thought growth would be simple. Work harder, hire more people, land bigger clients, that’s the formula… right?
Not exactly.
What I quickly learned is that scaling my business multiplied everything, the good, the bad, and the stressful. Here’s what I wish I knew before scaling:
1. Delegation Is the Only Way to Grow
One of the biggest mistakes I made while scaling my business was trying to do too much myself. I believed I was delegating, but in reality, I was holding onto too many decisions. Everything stopped at my desk which resulted in huge bottlenecks in too many areas of the business.
If you want to scale successfully, you need to hire great people and trust them. Delegate decisions, not just tasks. When leadership bottlenecks every decision, growth slows down and the team loses momentum.
2. Company Culture Needs to Be Intentional
Early on, our culture happened naturally, there were only a handful of people so it was easy to make sure everyone was working with integrity. Everyone knew the mission and shared the same energy. But as we grew, I realized that culture doesn’t scale on its own.
Scaling my business forced me to define our values and communicate them clearly. Your team won’t absorb the culture by accident, you have to build it intentionally, talk about it often, and model it every day.
3. Processes Aren’t the Enemy
When I started scaling Becker Logistics, I thought formal processes would slow us down. I believed agility and flexibility were the keys to success. But without structure, growth turns into confusion and inconsistency.
Processes give your team clarity and consistency. They help maintain quality and efficiency as you grow. Strong processes create a solid foundation that supports creativity and scalability.
4. Not All Growth Is Good Growth
One of the biggest misconceptions I had while scaling my business was believing that more was always better. More clients, more markets, more revenue.
But I learned that growth without alignment to your mission can stretch your resources too thin and lead to the wrong partnerships. Strategic focus matters more than size or speed. Sustainable growth is more valuable than rapid, uncontrolled expansion.
5. Lead Like the Business You Want to Become
The most valuable lesson I learned while scaling my business is simple: act like the company you want to be, not the one you are today.
That means building systems, hiring leaders, and setting a clear mission before you think you need them. Don’t wait for growth to force you to change. Prepare for it by leading proactively and thinking ahead.
Conclusion
Scaling my business taught me lessons that no book or course could have prepared me for. It tested my leadership, my patience, and my ability to evolve.
If you’re in the process of scaling your business, focus on these five areas: delegate effectively, build and protect your company culture, create strong and flexible processes, say no to growth that doesn’t align with your mission, and lead today like the business you want to become tomorrow.
The sooner you put these foundations in place, the smoother and more sustainable your growth will be.