CEO Chats
with Samantha Harrison
Being a business owner has been a journey of growth, failure, and valuable lessons. I’m passionate about sharing my journey so others can learn from my mistakes. Here are some hard truths and realisations I've had along the way.
1. I didn’t know my numbers for the first 7 years
Profit margin? What’s that? There’s a reason why I became successful after I learned this 🙈. If you take away one thing from this, it's know your numbers.
2. I used to compare myself to everyone online
Wishing I could show up like them… Not realising I already had everything I needed. Once I started letting my authentic self shine through, my business grew even more.
3. Having a team is the hardest…
But also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. When you coach other people, you coach yourself.
4. I’ve missed out on BIG opportunities
Because of a closed mindset and deep generational money beliefs I had to unlearn.
5. Diversifying my income streams has 10x’d my revenue
This wouldn't have happened without stepping outside of my comfort zone and investing in my education and myself.
6. Every moment of doubt. every risk. every 12-Hour Day… It’s all been worth it.
You know that moment when you're thinking about doing something completely out of your comfort zone and you know it's going to be a looooong journey that might not even work? If I listened to other people and didn't risk doing those delusional, crazy things that were calling to me, I would never have been able to get where I am today. Claim those delusional dreams. You've got this!
7. You don’t need to be a hairdresser to be good at hair extensions
8. Cheap prices attract clients who don’t respect your time
9. At one point, I had a $30,000 tax debt
Because I didn’t forecast profit properly. I had reinvested all of the profits and didn’t account for the quarterly growth on top of my PAGY & BAS payments.
Now? I cashflow forecast monthly.
10. I hit $1 million in 12 Months… but I burnt myself out to get there.
The lessons from that experience showed me where I needed to prioritise my business goals. Now I do $3+ million and have more time than ever before.
11. Going from $0 to $1M was easier than growing from $1M+
12. The 3 types of leverage:
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Labour – Hiring people
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Capital – Using money to make more money
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Code/Content – Scalable assets (AI, software, online content)
It took me a long time to learn this and utilise it in my business.
13. I always think my ideas will be quicker to execute than they actually are
(Entrepreneur delusion? Guilty.)
14. A question that changed everything for me:
“What would I do with a $900,000 cash injection right now?”
I worked out a plan, started small with $30,000, then $100,000, and grew from there.
15. Being a business owner is lonely & isolating
You’ve got to learn how to hold yourself through it and stay motivated.
16. Sometimes, I take things too personally. Even when I know I shouldn’t.
17. If you don’t give a f$&k about your team, they won’t give a f$&k about your business.
18. I no longer chase numbers if they don’t come with peace
I want freedom and a fulfilling life.
