Hands-Off Growth

A marketing service firm went from $5K projects to $144K per client per year. Revenue more than doubled in 18 months. Not one of their high end growth clients were lost. And the founders finally got out of the business long enough to see it clearly. In this episode, the co-founder walks through exactly what changed, what they tried that didn't work, and why he thinks the window to make this result...

In this episode, Mandi Ellefson sits down with Cameron Herold, founder of COO Alliance and the operational force behind scaling 1-800-GOT-JUNK from $2M to $106M in six years, to uncover how business owners can scale faster, build stronger teams, and remove themselves from the day-to-day without losing momentum. Cameron shares how he's helped hundreds of CEOs and their second-in-commands close the...

In this episode, Mandi Ellefson sits down with Dan Englander, founder of Sales Schema, to uncover how service business owners can scale their pipeline through referrals, strategic partnerships, and trust-based outreach without burning out or chasing cold prospects. Dan shares how he's helped agencies and B2B service firms shift away from mass outbound tactics toward a more intentional, relationshi...

In this episode, Mandi Ellefson sits down with Amanda Freick , founder of Creative Intelligence Group , to unpack what it really takes to sell into complex, high-stakes industries and why mindset, confidence, and execution matter just as much as strategy. Amanda shares how her firm helps companies selling into electric utilities and other complex organizations navigate 18–24+ month sales cycles, b...

In this episode, Mandi Ellefson sits down with Jeff Greenfield, CEO and founder of Provalytics, to unpack why most marketing measurement is broken and how brands, agencies, and CMOs can finally prove what actually drives revenue. Jeff shares nearly two decades of experience building and exiting one of the first multi-touch attribution platforms, explaining how privacy changes, click-based analytic...

In this episode, Mandi Ellefson talks with Cam Beaudoin, a speaker strategist who helps founders, consultants, and service-based business owners leverage speaking to build authority, attract high-value clients, and scale influence without chasing big stages or flashy keynotes. Cam shares how he has helped experts turn speaking into a strategic growth engine, utilizing stages, breakout rooms, and r...

In this episode, Mandi Ellefson talks with Shaun Alger, a sales strategist and advisor to mid-market companies, about how businesses can build repeatable sales systems that scale without relying on luck, superstar hires, or constant firefighting. Shaun shares how he’s helped mid-market companies overcome the “complexity ceiling,” turn client relationships into growth engines, and create structured...

n this episode, Mandi Ellefson sits down with Steve Gordon, founder of Million Dollar Author, to uncover how business owners can scale, attract clients, and generate referrals without constantly chasing prospects. Steve shares how he’s helped founders use books as powerful business development tools, position themselves as a “category of one,” and leverage their expertise along with AI to grow rev...

In this episode, Mandi Ellefson talks with Eli Rubel, founder of Profit Labs, about how agency owners can scale profitably without adding unnecessary headcount, chaos, or complexity. Eli shares how he’s helped agencies increase net profit, position themselves as the “chosen path” for premium clients, and build lean, profit-first operations that run smoothly without the founder at the center. Inste...

In this episode, Mandi Ellefson talks with Gray MacKenzie , co-founder of ZenPilot , about how agency owners can build scalable, self-managing operations that run smoothly, without adding more people, tools, or chaos. Gray shares how he’s helped hundreds of agencies streamline their systems, eliminate operational bottlenecks, and build clarity into every level of their business. Instead of growing...

In this episode, Mandi talks with Jeremy Weisz, co-founder of Rise 25, about how service firm owners can use podcasting as a powerful tool to build authority, deepen relationships, and consistently attract high-value clients without spending a cent on ads. Jeremy shares how he’s helped hundreds of agencies and consultants create “relationship engines” through podcasting systems that generate partn...

In this episode, Mandi shares how one firm went from charging a few hundred dollars an hour to closing million-dollar contracts, simply by redefining the category they played in. Instead of selling services like engineering or surveying, they positioned themselves around solving the high-stakes problems that keep executives up at night, saving companies hundreds of thousands in lost profits and de...

In this solo episode, Mandi reveals the single biggest advantage that sets the top 5% of consulting and agency firms apart and how you can start building it in your business in just 30 days. While most agencies are busy optimizing operations, chasing leads, or cutting costs, the best firms are doing something entirely different: they’re optimizing for client profit and proof of results . Mandi sha...

In this episode of the Hands-Off CEO Podcast , Mandi Ellefson talks with Logan Lyles, founder of Demand Shift. Logan helps B2B agencies and brands turn simple marketing into predictable growth using webinars that actually convert and authentic outreach that builds trust. Together, they unpack how Logan went from launching his agency to booking dozens of sales calls in just weeks, all without compl...

In this episode of the Hands-Off CEO Podcast, Mandi Ellefson unpacks one of the biggest fears firm owners face, raising prices. For many, it feels risky, even dangerous, because losing a single client can feel like a step backward. But as Mandi reveals, the real danger isn’t in raising your rates, it’s in how you position the increase. You’ll discover why most firms trigger pushback the moment the...

In this episode of the Hands-Off CEO Podcast, Mandi Ellefson talks with Kristie Plantinga, founder of Place Digital . Kristie helps agencies and service providers simplify their marketing and attract clients with content that actually converts. Together, they dig into why so many agencies struggle with marketing that feels scattered and how to build a simple, repeatable system that brings in the r...

If you’ve tried EOS but growth still feels flat, exhausting, or like you’re just spinning your wheels, this podcast explains why. EOS is a powerful framework, but it’s not designed to fix weak positioning, underpriced offers, or a sales process that drags. And until those pieces are solved, no amount of L10s or accountability charts will create real scale. In this episode, you’ll see why firms pla...

In this episode of the Hands-Off CEO Podcast, Mandi Ellefson talks with Jody Sutter, founder of The Sutter Company. Jody has helped agencies of all sizes simplify their business development and win clients without burning out or chasing the wrong opportunities. Together, they dig into why most agencies overcomplicate growth and how to make business development simple, repeatable, and effective. Fr...

In this episode of the Hands-Off CEO Podcast, Mandi Ellefson talks with Sharon Toerek, founder of Toerek Law and host of The Innovative Agency . Sharon is an attorney who’s spent years helping agencies protect their businesses, get paid faster, and turn their ideas into valuable assets. Together, they dive into the hidden risks that hold agencies back and the simple legal moves that can unlock mor...

In this episode of the Hands-Off CEO Podcast , Mandi Ellefson welcomes back Michael Zipursky, CEO of Consulting Success. Michael has worked with thousands of consultants worldwide, helping them build more profitable, scalable, and freedom-filled businesses. Together, they dive into the radical shifts happening in the consulting space. From AI disruption to global uncertainty and how these changes...

If you're stuck at capacity, pricing too low, and feel like growth means burnout — this video shows you a smarter path to scale. In this episode, Mandi Ellefson shares how two consulting firms 2X’d their prices and 6X’d their profits without hiring or hustling harder. They didn’t need a bigger team — they needed a better offer. This strategy helped them reposition around outcomes, simplify deliver...

Are you the one holding your agency together — and holding it back? If you’ve hired a team, built some systems, and delegated tasks… but you still can’t step away without things stalling — you're not scaling, you're surviving. In this video, Mandi Ellefson breaks down why founders become the bottleneck in their agency’s growth — even when it looks like they’re doing everything right — and how to f...

Your $20K proposal isn’t failing because of the price — it’s failing because your consulting firm’s value proposition isn’t landing. And ironically? The same clients who ghost your $20K pitch might eagerly say “yes” to $100K — if you position it the right way. In this video, Mandi Ellefson shares the agency positioning strategy that helped one firm move from stalled $30K deals to consistently clos...

Still stuck trying to sell $20K projects… while your competitors are landing $100K+ deals? In this video, Mandi Ellefson breaks down the 4 strategic shifts consulting agency CEOs are using to close premium, high-trust engagements — without chasing leads, discounting your fees, or getting stuck in the weeds of delivery. If you’re delivering great results but getting ghosted, undercut, or passed ove...

Trying to sell $20K projects — but clients keep ghosting, lowballing, or dragging their feet? This video breaks down 4 powerful shifts that will help you close $100K+ consulting deals with confidence — without chasing leads, discounting your fees, or working more hours. Mandi Ellefson (founder of Hands-Off CEO) shares the exact mindset, offer, and positioning strategies top consulting and agency o...