Building the Next Chapter of Melissa Swink & Co.
IN A HURRY? HERE’S THE BOTTOM LINE
The Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses Program pushed me to think bigger about the future of Melissa Swink & Co., resulting in an ambitious 100-page growth plan. From sunsetting our podcast to investing in AI automation, I’m making bold moves to build my company’s future. Keep reading as I pull back the curtain on our transformation process, sharing both the victories and the challenges of implementing strategic change.
GOT A MINUTE? HERE ARE THE DETAILS TO CONSIDER
There's something powerful about pulling back the curtain on how we're running things behind the scenes at Melissa Swink & Co. My behind-the-scenes updates always seem to resonate with my audience – because let's face it, we're all trying to figure out this business thing together!
Now that my Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses journey is winding down, it’s time to move from planning into action. The program taught me that sustainable growth means prioritizing ruthlessly, building the right team, and staying focused on what truly matters – relationships and providing value.
As my team moves forward with the messy and overwhelming (but also exciting!) process of implementing my 100-page growth plan, I’m going to share some behind-the-scenes updates with you, and I hope they inspire you to take intentional steps forward in your own business.
Over the past few months, I've been sharing pieces of what I’m learning, and I'm so grateful for the encouragement and curiosity many of you have shown. So today, I want to share what's happening right now, and give you a few takeaways you can implement in your own business.
Finishing Up the Goldman Sachs 10KSB Program
In December, I submitted my 100-page growth plan to the Goldman Sachs 10KSB program. Yes, you read that right – 100 pages!
This wasn't just a surface-level business plan. It touched every single area of my business, leaving absolutely no stone unturned. Each week of the program focused on a specific topic, and we examined it from every possible angle: financials, operations, marketing, team structure, competitive positioning, and so much more.
I can't overstate how grateful I am for this experience. It's been truly life-changing, not just professionally but personally as well. The program pushed me to think bigger and more strategically about where Melissa Swink & Co. is headed.
But completing the program doesn't mean I'm done! From January through May, I'll be participating in ongoing workshops and meetings with other participants and my growth group. There are still final learning modules to complete, growth opportunity pitches to prepare, and an in-person graduation in May that I'm really looking forward to. Beyond that, I'll have access to an incredible alumni network and programming that will continue to support my growth for years to come.
If you're interested in learning more about the Goldman Sachs 10KSB program or thinking about applying, I'm always happy to chat. It's an amazing opportunity, and I'd love to help others access it.
From Planning to Action: The Reality of Implementation
Here's the thing about completing a growth plan: It feels like a massive achievement at the moment, but it means absolutely nothing without implementation.
Key Takeaway: A plan is just words on paper until you actually do something with it.
So I turned to ChatGPT to help me figure out how to execute everything in that 100-page document!
At first, it felt empowering. I was organizing initiatives, setting timelines, and assigning priorities. But then reality hit, and building the plan quickly became overwhelming. I found myself staring at this enormous list of action items and feeling completely paralyzed.
I had to take a step back and get real with myself. I asked:
What needs to be done now?
What comes next?
What can wait until later?
That simple framework helped me start prioritizing all the initiatives in a way that felt manageable rather than impossible.
One of the biggest realizations I had during this process was that I need to add some key leadership roles to my team sooner than I originally planned. I cannot be the person moving this entire plan forward on my own. That's not sustainable, and it's not smart.
Key Takeaway: Growth requires letting go and trusting others to carry pieces of the vision alongside me.
A Refined Marketing Strategy for 2026
As I worked through my growth plan, one area that needed some serious attention was our marketing strategy. After a lot of reflection and input from my growth group, I've decided to refocus our efforts on what really matters: Building and nurturing relationships.
This means you'll see a lighter online presence from us this year, but one that's much more intentional about providing value. We're stepping back from the constant content hamster wheel and instead showing up when we have something truly helpful to share.
This shift also led to one of the hardest decisions I've made in a while: Sunsetting the Make Space for More podcast.
We'll continue releasing new episodes through early February, and the podcast will remain active so that all past episodes can be accessed anytime. But moving forward, we're choosing to invest our time and energy in other ways that better align with where the business is headed. It wasn't an easy call, but it was the right one.
Diving into AI: Automation Cohort
One of the unexpected gifts of the 10KSB program was the relationships I built with other business owners. I met Alane Boyd, co-CEO of Biggest Goal, through the program, and her company has been an incredible resource as I explore AI and automation.
Right now, one of our Senior VAs and I are participating in a 4-week AI automation cohort that Alane’s team is leading.
And I'll be honest. This has been a bit of a stretch for me! I have a strong operations background, but I'm not particularly techy. Still, I'm excited about what's possible.
Even though I own a VA company, I'm passionate about reducing manual work for my team. The goal isn't to pile on more tasks. It's to automate what we can so that my team members can focus on higher-level, more meaningful work.
Key Takeaway: More isn't better or cost-effective for anyone. Smarter is better.
Team Trainings: Starting with the Fundamentals
In the past, we've hosted online workshops for our clients, but this year we're switching things up. Instead of external training, we're investing in our internal team first.
I sent out a one-question survey to both my clients and my team. The wording varied slightly, but the core question was: What can our team learn to do that will benefit our clients' businesses? The two most popular answers were leveraging AI and building marketing campaigns – no surprise there.
But before we dive into those advanced topics, I decided we need to start with some fundamentals. Our first team training of the year will focus on how our VAs can best support high achievers, anticipate their needs, and provide world-class service. We want to reduce as much friction as possible when it comes to delegating, because I know firsthand how hard it can be to let go of control.
When our team is equipped with these foundational skills, everything else we build on top will be that much stronger.
Life After 10KSB
As I look at everything happening right now, a few themes keep rising to the surface:
Growth requires intentionality. It requires letting go. And it requires investing in the right people and systems, even when it feels uncomfortable.
I'm learning to prioritize ruthlessly, to ask for help, and to trust that the plan I've built will unfold in its own time.
Key Takeaway: I don't have to do everything at once. I just have to keep moving forward.
If you're in a season of growth in your own business, I hope some of these behind-the-scenes insights are helpful. You're not alone in feeling overwhelmed or uncertain. We're all figuring this out as we go.
If you'd like to chat about how Melissa Swink & Co. can support you as you grow and scale, I'd love to hear from you. Book a consultation and let's talk about what's possible for your business this year.