The Fearless Business Podcast

After spending too many years in Corporate America, Lorraine Ball said goodbye to the bureaucracy, glass ceilings and bad coffee. Today you can find her at Roundpeg, a digital agency in Carmel, Indiana, building smart marketing strategies for businesses who want to use internet marketing tools to grow.

Lorraine is also the host of More than a Few Words, a weekly, marketing conversation for business owners.

In her spare time, she loves to travel, and take photos. You can see her photos at lorraineball.com

What will be discussed on today’s show:

• Why you should burn the boats’ - Starting a business, you have to be willing to commit to the process as if you were sailing to an island and burning the boats, giving yourself no way back
• User-Generated Content - tapping into your community by asking for ideas, images, contest submissions and reviews to boost your brand
• The eyes of a child - how to bring creative thinking back into your life and your business.

Promotions

Membership in the Digital Toolbox. An online resource and training platform for small business owners. https://digitaltoolboxin.com/joinnow/

How to get hold of Lorraine:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/roundpeg/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/digitaltoolbox
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lorraineball
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lorrainefball
Website: www.digitaltoolboxin.com / www.roundpeg.biz / www.morethanafewwords.com

To find out more about Fearless Business:

Join our amazing community of Coaches, Consultants and Freelancers on Facebook:
>> https://facebook.com/groups/ChargeMore

And check out the Fearless Business website:
>> https://fearless.biz

Tune in if you’re ready to pick up some hard-won insights and get actionable tips on taking your mindset, and your business, to the next level.

How Practical Tools and Systems Fuel Business Growth

Scaling your business isn’t about luck or hoping you stumble upon the magic formula. It’s about equipping yourself with the right tools and frameworks that turn chaos into clarity, especially as you hit those tricky milestones on the road to growth.

Think of it this way: every stage of scaling your business brings a fresh batch of challenges. Early on, it might be figuring out the right product-market fit, then wrestling with pricing, and later managing a growing team or streamlining operations. Having practical systems, whether it’s a simple project management tool like Trello, a customer relationship manager like HubSpot, or even a refined workflow checklist, helps you stay focused, measure your progress, and pivot when needed.

The best part? These systems provide structure without stifling creativity. They let you step back from the daily grind and actually work on your business, not just in it. Tools like the Business Model Canvas or EOS Traction Framework can help clarify your vision, set priorities, and get your team rowing in the same direction.

But remember, it’s all about implementing those tools with intention. The real magic happens when you regularly review, tweak, and customize them to fit the unique needs of your business as you grow. That way, every milestone, whether launching a new product, doubling your prices, or expanding your team, feels just a bit more manageable, and a lot more rewarding.

Why Setting High Standards Matters (and Why Cutting Yourself Some Slack Matters, Too)

Every successful business owner I know expects great things, of themselves and their business. Setting the bar high keeps you motivated, inspires innovation, and sends a clear signal to clients and your team about the quality you stand for. Think of it as the difference between sipping Starbucks coffee and choking down that stale office brew you swore you’d never accept again after escaping Corporate America.

But here’s the twist: Even when you aim high, life happens. Projects take detours, experiments flop, and sometimes Thursday feels like Monday in disguise. That’s perfectly normal. Setting ambitious goals pulls you forward, but beating yourself up for every missed mark will only zap your energy and creativity.

The better approach? Celebrate what you accomplish, learn from what didn’t work, and use those lessons to tweak your next move. Progress is rarely a straight line. So set those sky-high standards, but give yourself permission to be human on the days you fall a little short. Your future self, and your business, will thank you for it.

Building High-Performing Teams

So, what does it really take to build a high-performing team, the kind of group that gets things done, supports each other, and actually makes coming to work enjoyable? It’s a mix of chemistry, communication, and a dash of courage.

• Clear Goals & Shared Vision: Every team needs a sense of direction. High performers know what they're working toward and why it matters. Think less “herding cats” and more “rowing in the same direction.”
• Trust & Accountability: The best teams rely on each other. That means keeping promises, owning mistakes, and just generally not throwing anyone under the bus (even if you’re both running late to the same coffee-fueled brainstorm).
• Open Communication: Feedback flows freely, good, bad, and sometimes awkward. People feel safe to speak up, toss around wild ideas, or simply say, “I need help.”
• Diverse Talents & Perspectives: Bringing different strengths together is like adding both jazz hands and spreadsheets to a project. Magic happens.

If you’re looking to nudge your business in this direction, start by clarifying goals with your team and listening more than you talk. Encourage everyone (including yourself) to experiment, try new things, celebrate wins, and actually learn from the inevitable flops.

High-performing teams don’t show up by accident, they’re built with intention, trust, and just enough playfulness to keep things interesting.

The Power of Company Culture

• Why it matters: Building a strong culture isn’t about one person taking on the world, it’s about creating an environment where everyone thrives. When business owners resist the urge to micromanage and instead empower their teams, something amazing happens: people step up. They take initiative. Creativity flourishes and problem-solving becomes a group sport.
• What this means for your business: Instead of carrying the weight alone, you’ll find your team generating fresh ideas, shouldering responsibilities, and genuinely caring about your company’s success. Think of it like a jazz band, each player has their own part to play, yet together, you create music you could never make solo.
• Bonus: This approach doesn’t just boost productivity; it breeds loyalty, reduces burnout, and makes the workplace a lot more enjoyable (and who doesn’t want to look forward to Mondays?).

By nurturing a collaborative culture, you’re not just building a business, you’re creating a community eager to help you grow.