How to Scale Your Business Without Burning Out

Discover expert strategies to scale your business with productivity hacks, goal-setting techniques, and networking tips from Kimberly Borgens.

Building and scaling a business is no small feat, especially when juggling numerous responsibilities, tight deadlines, and personal commitments. In a conversation with seasoned entrepreneur Kimberly Borgens, who has over 30 years of experience and has grown a multi-million-dollar business while raising four children, we uncover transformative strategies for scaling your business without compromising your well-being.

Borgens, known for her bold leadership and ability to mentor entrepreneurs, shared actionable insights on productivity, goal-setting, networking, and staying consistent in your entrepreneurial journey. In this article, we’ll break down her wisdom into actionable steps to help you take your business to the next level while maintaining balance.

The Foundation of Success: Daily Routines and Productivity

A key highlight of Kimberly’s success lies in her daily routine, which she describes as practical yet transformative. Her approach ensures that her time and energy are directed toward essential activities that drive results.

Start Your Day with the Hard Tasks

Kimberly emphasizes the importance of beginning the day with the "uncomfortable stuff", a philosophy inspired by Brian Tracy’s Eat That Frog. This means tackling challenging tasks such as client calls, resolving invoicing issues, or addressing concerns - actions that are often procrastinated.

"When I can release the stuff I don’t want to do, it frees up my headspace for the rest of the day", Kimberly explained.

By completing these tasks in the morning, you shift your energy and create an environment for smoother, more enjoyable work throughout the day.

Structure Your Week with Time Blocking

Kimberly's approach to time management is grounded in time blocking, where she designates specific days for particular tasks:

Mondays: Organizing and catch-up day, where she preps emails, social media posts, and podcast content for the week.
Tuesdays/Wednesdays: Reserved for payroll, client meetings, and self-care (e.g., spa or downtime).
Thursdays: Meeting and coaching day.
Fridays: "Money day" - dedicated to invoicing, tracking expenses, and ensuring financial stability.

This structure not only boosts productivity but also ensures that critical aspects of her business receive focused attention.

Goal Setting: From Big Dreams to Daily Action

One of Kimberly’s unique strategies for scaling a business is breaking down ambitious goals into manageable steps. She calls this method "hunks, chunks, bites, and nibbles."

Breaking Big Goals into Bite-Sized Plans

For example, if your goal is to earn $100,000 in a year, here’s how Kimberly suggests approaching it:

Break it into monthly goals: $8,333 per month.
Divide further into weekly goals: $2,083 per week.
Narrow down to daily goals: approximately $400 per day (assuming a five-day workweek).

Setting these smaller milestones helps your brain process the larger goal with clarity. Additionally, Kimberly emphasizes the importance of tracking your progress.

"You have to give your brain clear instructions every single day and track your progress. Otherwise, how will you know if you’re on track to meeting your goals?" she said.

Tracking allows you to course-correct when necessary, ensuring steady progress toward your objectives.

Align Goals with Purpose

Kimberly reminds entrepreneurs to focus on their "why" when setting business goals. Ask yourself: Where do I want to go with my business? What impact do I want to create? A clear vision not only informs your revenue-generating activities but also keeps you motivated when challenges arise.

Networking with Intention: Turning Relationships into Resources

For Kimberly, networking is not just a social activity - it’s a deliberate strategy for growth.

Focus on Building Genuine Relationships

Instead of talking to familiar faces at events, Kimberly advises seeking out new people to connect with. She sets specific goals for each networking event, such as meeting and building relationships with five new individuals.

But networking doesn’t stop at introductions. Kimberly emphasizes the importance of follow-up. Whether it’s a phone call, email, or even a handwritten postcard that says "You matter", these personal touches reinforce connections and build trust over time.

"Follow-up is more than just saying, ‘Hey, it was great to meet you - buy from me.’ It’s about nurturing relationships and building trust", Kimberly explained.

This approach not only helps in acquiring new clients but also strengthens professional networks, opening doors to collaborations and referrals.

Designing a Workspace That Grows With You

Kimberly’s workspace journey - from working on TV trays to establishing corporate offices - shows that you can start small and evolve over time.

Her advice? Prioritize functionality over aesthetics. Use what you have and adapt as your business grows. Even unconventional spaces like your car or public libraries can serve as productive work environments when needed.

"Don’t wait for the perfect desk or office space. Start with what you have, and focus on getting the work done", she said.

The Power of Delegation and Scaling Without Burning Out

As her business grew, Kimberly learned the art of delegation, a crucial skill for scaling operations while managing personal responsibilities. She emphasizes identifying tasks that can be outsourced, allowing you to focus on strategic initiatives.

Additionally, she underscores the importance of maintaining energy and balance:

Take breaks and prioritize self-care (e.g., spa days, family time).
Stay consistent with hydration and nutrition to fuel your body and mind.

Key Takeaways

Start with the hard stuff: Tackle uncomfortable tasks first thing in the morning to free up mental energy for the rest of the day.
Use time blocking: Allocate specific days for tasks such as finances, client meetings, and self-care.
Break goals into actionable steps: Divide yearly goals into monthly, weekly, and daily milestones, and track your progress consistently.
Network with purpose: Set objectives for every networking event and nurture relationships through follow-ups.
Design a functional workspace: Start small and adapt your workspace as your business evolves.
Learn to delegate: Focus on high-value activities by outsourcing repetitive or time-consuming tasks.
Stay consistent: Success comes from showing up every day and doing the necessary work, even when it’s hard.
Invest in professional growth: Choose one skill to master each year and seek resources to improve.

Conclusion

Scaling a business requires more than hard work - it demands intentional strategies, a strong support system, and a commitment to personal growth. Kimberly Borgens’ journey from working on TV trays to leading a multi-million-dollar business is a testament to the power of persistence, focus, and adaptability.

By applying her strategies - whether it’s prioritizing revenue-generating activities, setting manageable goals, or networking strategically - you can create a thriving business without compromising your well-being.

Remember, success doesn’t happen overnight, and challenges are inevitable. But as Kimberly advises: "Stop allowing yourself to quit. Show up every day, do the work, and you will succeed."

Source: "Scaling Your Business Without Burning Out – with Kimberley Borgens" - Gale Bates, YouTube, Aug 12, 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk34UCzAHrk

Use: Embedded for reference. Brief quotes used for commentary/review.