What if your most valuable asset isn’t your time, but your unique way of thinking? In this episode of Scaling Expertise , I chat with business strategist and OG podcaster Jason Van Orden to talk about building a business that scales beyond your hours and your inbox. Jason has been turning ideas into scalable assets since launching his first podcast in 2005 (yes, really). Today, he helps consultants and coaches package their knowledge into branded methods and systems that create real leverage—and...
Jun 24, 2025•32 min•Season 9Ep. 114
What if the biggest thing holding your business back… is you ? In this episode of Scaling Expertise , I sit down with Jill James, founder of The Jill James, a fractional COO firm that helps expert founders scale without burning out or staying stuck in operator mode. Jill built her firm by asking one powerful question: “How can I help people do the work they love without being buried in admin?” We dig deep into the invisible costs of overwork, the identity shift from doer to leader, and the momen...
Jun 10, 2025•30 min•Season 9Ep. 113
What if scaling your consulting business wasn’t just about making more money—but about making it work for you ? In this episode of Scaling Expertise , I am joined by Jessica Fearnley , a business consultant and expert in sustainable growth strategies, to discuss the real challenges consultants face when scaling their businesses. Too often, we chase bigger revenue numbers, assuming that more clients and higher earnings automatically lead to success. But Jessica reveals why that’s not always the c...
May 27, 2025•36 min•Season 9Ep. 112
In this episode of Scaling Expertise , I sit down with business growth strategist Maiko Sakai to dive into the key strategies expert-preneurs need to scale their businesses sustainably. Maiko shares her insights on finding the right balance with delegation—avoiding both hesitation and premature delegation—while emphasizing the crucial role that intellectual property (IP) plays in creating a leverageable business. We explore how to develop unique frameworks, test and protect your IP, and transfor...
May 13, 2025•25 min•Season 9Ep. 111
In this episode of Scaling Expertise , I am joined by Anjel B. Hartwell, a seasoned business development strategist, to uncover the secrets of sustainable growth through authentic sales and relationship-building. Anjel shares her journey from corporate sales to helping businesses scale through strategic partnerships and personalized outreach. We discuss how business development differs from traditional sales, the importance of cultivating genuine connections, and why a long-term mindset is key t...
Apr 29, 2025•30 min•Season 9Ep. 110
In this episode of Scaling Expertise , I sit down with business coach and consultant Liz Wolfe to dive into the mindset and strategies essential for scaling a business. Liz shares powerful insights on overcoming business roadblocks, understanding value and profit, and optimizing resources for sustainable growth. She also introduces her CEO Entrepreneur Leadership Style Quiz, a tool designed to help business owners identify and leverage their unique leadership strengths. We explore the importance...
Apr 15, 2025•26 min•Season 9Ep. 109
Scaling a business isn’t just about growth—it’s about maximizing profit, optimizing systems, and positioning yourself as the go-to expert in your field. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Cheryl Texeira, founder of the S.O.O Advantage, to discuss the strategies she uses to help businesses break through plateaus and reach the next level. Cheryl has a background in IT, project management, and marketing, and she specializes in helping businesses—from startups to multi-million-dollar companies—...
Apr 01, 2025•28 min•Season 9Ep. 108
I had the pleasure of chatting with Melanie Herschorn, founder of Big Impact Books, about how professionals—especially attorneys—can use books to build their reputation, attract clients, and scale their businesses. Melanie has a background in journalism, PR, and entrepreneurship, and she now helps experts turn their knowledge into powerful, reputation-building books. We talked about how writing a book can be a game-changer for thought leaders, the biggest mistakes people make when approaching th...
Mar 18, 2025•29 min•Season 9Ep. 107
Marketing strategist and author Veronica Romney joins me to discuss how entrepreneurs can scale their expertise while building a brand that truly connects with their audience. With 17 years in marketing—from corporate roles to consulting and speaking—Veronica has seen firsthand what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to scaling a business. Key Takeaways: ✅ The Power of Identity Marketing – Veronica’s book, Identity Marketing , shifts the focus from selling products to aligning with the ident...
Mar 04, 2025•26 min•Season 9Ep. 106
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Celi Arias, an entrepreneur, business strategist, and creator of the Grown Ass Business Method. Celi has spent her life building, running, and fixing businesses—from launching her first venture as a kid to working as a COO in the startup world and coaching business owners to scale with confidence. She’s passionate about helping entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes, condense time, and build businesses that truly work for them. Key Takeaways from Our Conversa...
Feb 25, 2025•37 min•Season 9Ep. 105
In this episode of Scaling Expertise, I’m sitting down with Suzanne Tulien, founder of Brand Ascension and a self-proclaimed "brand clarity expert." With a deep passion for helping professionals uncover and articulate their unique value, Suzanne shares how she empowers businesses and solopreneurs to harness the power of authentic branding to stand out and scale. Key Takeaways from the Episode: Branding vs. Marketing: Branding is about defining how others perceive you, while marketing is how you ...
Feb 18, 2025•25 min•Season 9Ep. 104
This week I’m joined by Katie Nelson, founder and CEO of Sales Uprising. Katie is a sales expert who helps solopreneurs scale their businesses, break revenue ceilings, and build sustainable, community-driven growth. Key Takeaways from the Episode: Why Niching Matters: Katie explains how narrowing your focus boosts profitability and positions you as an expert. Scaling Smart: Learn Katie’s strategies for leveraging time, refining pricing, and packaging services effectively. Protecting Your IP: Dis...
Feb 11, 2025•32 min•Season 9Ep. 103
I recently had the pleasure of hosting the inaugural episode of my rebranded podcast, Scaling Expertise, with a remarkable guest, Jenn T. Grace, the passionate force behind Publish Your Purpose. We had an in-depth conversation about scaling her business, hybrid publishing, and the transformative power of AI. Here are three key takeaways from our chat: 🔑 Scaling Your Expertise Group Programs Jenn first successfully scaled her business by creating group writing and publishing programs, demonstrat...
Feb 04, 2025•25 min•Season 9Ep. 102
I’m Erin Austin, an intellectual property lawyer passionate about helping experts like you turn your knowledge into scalable, recurring revenue. Scaling Expertise is the evolution of Hourly to Exit, and I’m thrilled to dive even deeper into building sustainable businesses rooted in expertise. In this first episode, I’ll cover: The mission behind Scaling Expertise—helping consultants, coaches, and entrepreneurs protect their IP while creating profitable, repeatable revenue. Why contracts and copy...
Jan 28, 2025•8 min•Season 9Ep. 101
I am thrilled to announce that the Hourly to Exit Podcast has reached its 100th episode! As I take a step back for the summer to revamp and rebrand, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been a part of this incredible journey. When the podcast returns in the fall, expect a fresh title and renewed focus on what matters most—protecting your expertise for scalable and profitable growth. Here are three key takeaways from this episode: Importance of Legal Protection for Leverage...
Jul 02, 2024•18 min•Season 8Ep. 100
Enjoy this reminder about why copyright protection and contracts are key to growing legally, safely and profitably. 💡 Here are the 3 key takeaways: Copyrights are Essential : You cannot scale your expertise-based business without copyright protection. To maximize the value of the materials that your clients actually pay for, such as your trainings, workshops, and custom deliverables, you need the protections provided under copyright law. Legal Benefits of Copyright Registration : Registering yo...
Jun 25, 2024•22 min•Season 8Ep. 99
Excited to share the latest episode of the Hourly to Exit podcast featuring our exceptional guest, Heidi Araya! 🚀 Heidi's transformative journey into the world of AI is nothing short of inspirational. With over 25 years of experience in leading enterprise transformations, Heidi recognized the limitations in her previous roles and pivoted to immerse herself in artificial intelligence. From taking a data science program at MIT to founding an AI agency focused on empowering solopreneurs and small ...
Jun 18, 2024•29 min•Season 8Ep. 98
Recently, I had the chance to weigh in on a fascinating LinkedIn post discussing whether using AI-generated content without giving credit constitutes plagiarism. As many of you know, my focus is on copyright infringement and protection, not plagiarism, but I thought it would be a great opportunity to clarify the differences between the two and share my perspective. 💡 Here are 3 key takeaways from my deep dive: - Distinguishing Copyright Infringement from Plagiarism: - Copyright infringement inv...
Jun 11, 2024•21 min•Season 8Ep. 97
No protection → No leverage. I cannot overstate the importance that legal protection plays in scaling in your business. Recorded as a LinkedIn Live session, this episode is packed with essential insights for safely and profitably scaling your expertise-based businesses by owning and controlling intellectual property (IP). Three Key Takeaways: Legal Agreements for Growth: As you transition from one-to-one services to one-to-many offerings, specific legal agreements such as client agreements, cont...
Jun 04, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 96
Are you confident in the origins of your AI training data? In this episode, we unravel the complexities of generative AI with IP attorney Joy Butler, delving into data provenance, liability, and the transformative role of diversity in AI. We discuss the importance of verifying your AI training data to avoid copyright issues, the need to avoid inputting confidential information in AI prompts and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations, and how AI companies are offering indemnification an...
May 28, 2024•36 min•Season 8Ep. 95
🎙️ In our latest episode, Erin uses the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on copyright infringement to explore the intricacies of copyright damages. Whether you're a creator, a business owner, or an enthusiast of intellectual property law, this episode has invaluable insights for you! 🔍 Three Key Takeaways: Statutory vs. Actual Damages: Understand the difference and application of statutory and actual damages in copyright infringement cases. Supreme Court's Stance: The recent ruling affirms t...
May 21, 2024•19 min•Season 8Ep. 94
In this episode, I used the example of a parent recording Little Johnny’s play to walk through all of the IP issues–and the trouble we can get in. Here are 3 Key Points we cover in this episode: 1. Understanding Copyright Rules: - Most plays and their adaptations, like the ones performed in high schools, are protected by copyright laws, meaning you can't record or share them without permission. - Always check if you need permission before recording or sharing a play. 2. Music Rights Are Tricky: ...
May 14, 2024•14 min•Season 8Ep. 93
Let’s dive into the critical role ownership of intellectual property plays in scaling your business. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or an established business owner, this episode is packed with invaluable insights into securing and leveraging your intellectual assets. 🚀 Here are 3 Key Takeaways for all you innovators and creators: Legal Due Diligence is Crucial: Understand the importance of tracking the ownership of IP from creation to its current holder. Ownership clarity prevents futur...
May 07, 2024•27 min•Season 8Ep. 92
In our latest episode, hosted by Erin, we dive deep into the complexities of AI training data, exploring its sources, legal ramifications, and evolving landscape. A must-listen for anyone curious about how generative AI models like ChatGPT are trained and the ethical and legal debates they stir. Here are three key takeaways from the discussion: Diverse Data Sources: AI platforms are now shifting from relying on web scraping to purchasing licensed data sets, including private archives from major ...
Apr 30, 2024•19 min•Season 8Ep. 91
In our latest episode, host Erin dives into the intersection of artificial intelligence and copyright law. This insightful conversation unravels the nuances pivotal for entrepreneurs leveraging AI for business growth. Here are your 3 Key Takeaways from the episode: - Copyrightability of AI-Generated Content: Understand the distinction between content facilitated by AI and content solely generated by AI for proper copyright protection. - Human Element is Crucial: The necessity of human creativity...
Apr 23, 2024•22 min•Season 8Ep. 90
Attention, content creators and business innovators! I'm thrilled to share some insights from the latest episode of Hourly to Exit. We had the pleasure of hosting Nate Hecker, CEO of Big Idea, as he unveiled the future of intellectual property management. This episode was jam-packed with valuable takeaways for anyone looking to protect and monetize their creations. Here’s a glimpse of what we covered: - Innovative IP Management: Big Idea’s platform revolutionizes how creators handle their intell...
Apr 16, 2024•35 min•Season 8Ep. 89
Check out the latest episode of the Hourly to Exit podcast where we dissect unintentional collaborations and their legal repercussions. This insightful episode covers how joint ownership of copyrighted work can arise when we don’t use written agreements with our contractors. Available on all major podcast platforms. Key Takeaways: - Joint ownership of copyrighted work can occur when your contractor makes copyrightable contributions to your materials. - Avoid unintentional collaborations by havin...
Apr 09, 2024•20 min•Season 8Ep. 88
If you are creating a licensing program, you need to be confident that you have the right to use all of the content in your materials. If you are using any content you did not create, you need to listen to this episode. Dive into Episode 87 where host Erin unpacks the essentials to securing the right permissions with confidence. Here's a sneak peek! 🔑 Key Takeaways: Get permission: Unless you have 100% certainty that the content is in the public domain, get permission. Permission Precision: Alw...
Apr 02, 2024•29 min•Season 8Ep. 87
In this episode, Part 2 of 3, we dive into another edge case for licensing your expertise. What to do when you don't have a large enough audience to support a traditional licensing program? I use a real-life example to demonstrate how leveraging other people's audiences (OPA) can be a game changer for reaching a wider audience with your licensed materials. Key takeaways from this episode: - Understand the concept of leveraging other people's audiences (OPA) to amplify your reach and engage with ...
Mar 26, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 86
Are you a high-value service provider looking to leverage your expertise without a traditional licensing or certification program? Tune in to the latest episode of Hourly to Exit, where we explore innovative ways to create leverage in your business through licensing. In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of licensing bespoke custom services, drawing inspiration from the origins of Microsoft and the shift from ownership to access in today's economy. I share examples and insights on how y...
Mar 19, 2024•23 min•Season 7Ep. 85
