# #249 I Helped Build a 9-Figure Business... Here’s What Actually Helped Us Grow

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/click-convert-with-maria-sparagis-1375413/249-i-helped-build-a-9-figure-business-here-s-what-actually-helped-us-grow
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/click-convert-with-maria-sparagis-1375413/249-i-helped-build-a-9-figure-business-here-s-what-actually-helped-us-grow.md
Podcast: [Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis](https://stenobird.com/podcast/click-convert-with-maria-sparagis-1375413)
Published: 2026-08-20T20:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://directpaynet.com
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/a3f8c911-315b-4b24-81c3-28dd77016b08.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/click-convert-with-maria-sparagis-1375413/episodes/249-i-helped-build-a-9-figure-business-here-s-what-actually-helped-us-grow
Duration seconds: 532

## Resource

What happens to your business when you step away? If every important decision still needs your approval, growth eventually becomes harder — no matter how talented your team is. In this episode, I share what I learned helping grow a company from roughly 10 employees into a 9-figure business, where I helped hire the first 90 employees — and what I later learned when I became a founder myself. I break down why capable teams can become overly dependent on the founder, how we unintentionally train employees to bring us problems instead of solutions, and the simple shift I use to encourage independent thinking and better decision-making. We’ll cover how to: Build a team that can make good decisions without you Hire for judgment and problem-solving, not just task completion Stop becoming the approval point for every decision Develop employees who bring solutions instead of problems Create the leverage you need to scale without working more The goal isn't to make yourself unnecessary. It's to build a stronger business that can keep growing even when you step away.

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## Transcript

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