From Stuck to Scaled: Growth Strategies for SMBs cover art

From Stuck to Scaled: Growth Strategies for SMBs

From Stuck to Scaled: Growth Strategies for SMBs

By: Julio Gonzalez
Listen for free

Running a business is hard. Scaling one is harder. This podcast makes it less so. Julio Gonzalez spent over 35 years growing businesses. Every week, he sits down with entrepreneurs and leaders to unpack what actually works when you're trying to move from scrappy to sustainable. Operations. Leadership. Sales systems. Technology. The real stuff nobody teaches you when you start a business and the things that hold you back from scaling! From Stuck to Scaled — because your business should work for you, not the other way around.Julio Gonzalez Economics
Episodes
  • 1031 Exchanges, DSTs, and the Decision to Go Passive
    Jun 23 2026

    In this episode of From Stuck to Scaled, host Julio Gonzalez welcomes wealth advisor Ken Kladouris, who brings over a decade of experience helping investors navigate significant financial decisions with confidence and clarity. We delve into the complexities of 1031 exchanges and Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs)—specialized areas in real estate investing where timely and well-informed choices can distinguish between a successful outcome and a costly misstep.
    Ken shares insights on why so many business owners and entrepreneurs make hasty decisions under pressure, often leading to transactions that fail to align with their long-term goals. You'll learn the importance of clarity in decision-making, the need for thoughtful preparation, and the art of asking the right questions. This episode is packed with practical tips, including the significance of defining your success, establishing advisory relationships early, and understanding what you're sacrificing in each deal.
    Tune in for a transformative discussion that promises to equip you with the strategies you need to approach high-stakes decisions with intention and foresight!
    Connect with Ken Kladouris:
    Website: www.kenkladouris.com
    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenkladouris
    Follow host Julio Gonzalez on:
    - LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/opticution/
    - Facebook/Instagram/YouTube at @opticution
    - Webpage www.opticution.com
    Email Julio at julio@opticution.com with any comments, questions, or suggestions!

    Check out Opticution's Skool community for small business founders! https://www.skool.com/opticution-6849

    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • Why Growth Stalls When the Owner Stays Too Involved
    Jun 9 2026

    In this episode of From Stuck to Scaled, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with Jens Nielsen, a seasoned real estate investor and business coach from Santa Fe, NM. Jens shares his insights into a common issue many business owners face: growth stalls when the owner is too involved in day-to-day operations. Drawing from his extensive background in IT and telecom, Jens has mastered the art of helping business owners identify and eliminate themselves as the constraints to scaling.
    During the conversation, they delve into the nuances of owner dependency and how it manifests in daily operations. Jens emphasizes that hiring additional staff won’t solve the problem if the owner still holds the reins too tightly. Listeners will gain valuable strategies to build a business that can operate independently, including how to track decision-making, clarify ownership, and install effective execution rhythms. This episode provides actionable insights to help you pinpoint where you might be the bottleneck and what steps you can take to foster sustainable growth.
    Connect with Jens Nielsen:
    Website: www.jensnielsen.com
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensnielsen
    Follow host Julio Gonzalez on:
    - LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/opticution/
    - Facebook/Instagram/YouTube at @opticution
    - Webpage www.opticution.com
    Email Julio at ⁠⁠julio@opticution.com with any comments, questions or suggestions!


    Check out Opticution's Skool community for small business founders! https://www.skool.com/opticution-6849

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet