If your business feels harder right now, even though nothing is technically “wrong”, this episode is for you.

In this week’s episode of The Opt-In Podcast, Melissa breaks down why instability is often a sign of growth, not failure. As businesses mature, the systems, decisions, and leadership style that once worked stop being sufficient and that transition can feel uncomfortable, confusing, and even alarming.

This episode reframes instability as a signal, not a setback, and explains what mature businesses do differently when things start to feel less predictable.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why founders mistake instability for failure
• What actually causes businesses to feel chaotic as they grow
• How the founder’s role must evolve at each stage
• Why stability is built, not felt
• The difference between effort and real progress

If your revenue is solid, your team is capable, but clarity feels harder to come by, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re likely standing at a transition point—and how you respond now matters.

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Get clarity on what’s actually happening in your business—and what to do next.

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Connect with Melissa:

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If January already feels heavier than you expected, it’s not because you didn’t plan well, it’s because most plans break once execution begins.

Every year, founders enter January with clear goals, only to find themselves back in the weeds, making rapid-fire decisions while their teams wait for direction. This episode breaks down why that happens and what January is really revealing about your business.

In this conversation, I cover:

• Why high-level plans fail without operational structure
• How founders unintentionally become the bottleneck
• The role alignment, ownership, and feedback play in execution
• What to fix now so Q1 doesn’t quietly slip away

This isn’t about working harder or scaling faster, it’s about building a business that can execute with clarity, consistency, and less dependence on any one person. If your business has traction but execution feels heavy, this episode will help you see what needs to change next.

If you want to talk through the challenges, schedule a free consultation today: https://www.melissafranks.com/fractionalcooservices

Connect with Melissa:

Watch the Episodes on Youtube

Instagram: instagram.com/melissa_franks

Schedule a call: melissafranks.com

If your business hit a plateau in 2025, you’re not failing, your business just outgrew its systems. In this New Year episode, Melissa breaks down why plateaus happen, how to diagnose them, and the exact steps to reset your business for growth in 2026.

You’ll learn:

• Why businesses plateau

It’s not laziness, it’s a system mismatch. Your offers, team structure, or delivery model may have hit their limits.

The 4-part diagnostic

Melissa walks you through how to evaluate:

1. Revenue trends — Identify peaks, valleys, and flatlines.
2. Operational friction — Look at deadlines, priorities, bottlenecks, and team load.
3. Offer maturity — What got you to $1M may not get you to $5M.
4. Leadership maturity — Decision speed, clarity, delegation, and CEO focus.

How to fix the plateau

Tighten your operational spine, refresh your offers, build a team that can run without you, and make decisions based on data instead of emotion.

Your 30-day reset plan

Audit what’s working and what’s not, reset your systems, pick one growth lever, choose three actions, and start executing.

You’re not stuck, your business is ready for its next version. And with the right reset, you can unlock growth fast.

If you need help with your reset plan, we can help. Book a free consultation with On Call COO at https://www.melissafranks.com/fractionalcooservices

Connect with Melissa:

Watch the Episodes on Youtube

Instagram: instagram.com/melissa_franks

Schedule a call: melissafranks.com