I didn’t set out to run an agency.

I was pushed there by bad hires, unclear roles, broken systems, and the quiet frustration of still doing the work I hired people to take off my plate.

In this episode, I walk through the five hiring mistakes that completely changed how I build teams and lead a business. These aren’t theories. These are real lessons learned the hard way mistakes I see business owners repeat every single day.

You’ll hear:

• Why hiring before defining the role sets everyone up to fail
• The difference between assigning tasks and giving real ownership
• How staying involved turns you into the bottleneck you’re trying to escape
• Why blaming people is usually a systems problem in disguise
• The leadership mistake that quietly kills team performance

At the end of it all, one truth became clear: most business owners don’t need more people they need better structure and shared accountability.

That realization is what led us to move from simple VA placement to an agency model built around systems, clarity, and execution.

If you’ve been burned by hiring if you feel like you’re still stuck in the weeds or if building a team has felt harder than it should, this episode will change how you think about leadership.

Listen in, learn from my mistakes, and start building a team that actually works.

🌐 Learn more about what I do at: https://www.refinedva.com/

🎙️ Audio Podcast : https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/1964444/dashboard

Let’s stay connected across all platforms:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/iamphilipsessions/?hl=en
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@philipsessions
Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-sessions-b2986563/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/therealphilipsessions
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/user/philipsessions

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Trying to be everything to everyone is one of the fastest ways to stall your growth.

In this episode, I break down one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in business: why niching down changed everything from our messaging and content to our sales process and profitability.

Early on, we talked about virtual assistants in general. Social media. Admin. “Anything you need help with.” The result? Confused prospects, unclear messaging, and endless conversations explaining what we actually did.

Once we narrowed our focus to helping home remodelers using JobTread, the business finally clicked.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why being a “jack of all trades” quietly limits your growth
• How niching down makes your marketing clearer and your content easier
• Why specialists win trust faster than generalists—especially in high-ticket work
• How narrowing your scope simplifies pricing and speeds up sales
• Why faster quotes and better speed-to-lead help you win more jobs
• How standardization creates confidence, profit clarity, and scalability
  
  

Whether you’re a home remodeler, contractor, or service-based business owner, this episode will challenge you to rethink how broad your offer really is—and why focus is the real growth strategy.

If you want to scale smarter in 2026, this conversation is where it starts.

Listen in, take notes, and start building a business known for one thing and known for it well.

🌐 Learn more about what I do at: https://www.refinedva.com/

🎙️ Audio Podcast : https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/1964444/dashboard

Let’s stay connected across all platforms:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/iamphilipsessions/?hl=en
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@philipsessions
Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-sessions-b2986563/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/therealphilipsessions
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/user/philipsessions

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Ever wondered what a virtual assistant can actually do for your business and if it’s really worth it?

In this episode, I break down exactly how I use five different virtual assistants to run, scale, and streamline my business without being buried in daily tasks. This isn't a theory. It’s a real, behind-the-scenes look at what delegation looks like when it’s done right.

I share how I:

• Delegated video editing, SEO, thumbnails, and podcast production
• Built a dedicated social media and content strategy team
• Use email marketing, funnels, and lead nurturing to drive growth
• Transitioned a VA into a full operations manager
• Removed myself from payroll, HR, recruiting, onboarding, and offboarding
• Learned to trust systems instead of trying to control everything

More importantly, I explain how to decide what to delegate first even if you’re only ready for one virtual assistant, not five.

If you’re overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck doing tasks you hate, this episode will help you see how delegation actually creates freedom instead of more work.

To help you take the next step, I’m also sharing a free resource:
The Busy Entrepreneur’s Guide to Delegation
👉 https://www.refinedva.com/the-busy-entrepreneurs-guide-to-delegation

This guide walks you through identifying the tasks that drain your time, grouping them into the right buckets, and delegating in a way that gives you the highest return on investment.

Listen in and learn how to reclaim your time, focus on growth, and build a business that doesn’t rely on you for everything.

🌐 Learn more about what I do at: https://www.refinedva.com/

🎙️ Audio Podcast : https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/1964444/dashboard

Let’s stay connected across all platforms:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/iamphilipsessions/?hl=en
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@philipsessions
Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-sessions-b2986563/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/therealphilipsessions
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/user/philipsessions

Support the show