How to Grow Your Business to 7 or 8 Figures with a Real Strategic Plan

The Business Growth Strategy Most Entrepreneurs Miss—And How I’ve Used It to Build 7- and 8-Figure Companies

Most business owners I meet are hard workers. They’re gritty, relentless, and often wear more hats than any one person should. But here's the truth that doesn’t get talked about: hustle alone doesn’t scale a business.

If you want to break into 7 or 8 figures—and stay there—you need more than motivation. You need a clear, data-driven, customized business strategy that’s built to grow with you.

This is where I come in.

After building and growing multiple companies to 7- and 8-figure revenue (some from the ground up, some through acquisition), and advising over 20% of the Fortune 1000, I know what it takes to go beyond survival and into scalable success. And most business owners don’t realize how many blind spots they’re dealing with—until someone points them out.

That’s what I do for my clients every day.

Why Most Business Owners Don’t Reach the Next Level (Even When They’re Doing Everything Right)

There’s a dangerous assumption out there—especially in online business circles—that if you just work harder, you’ll grow. But that’s not true after a certain point.

I’ve seen business owners who hit $500K or even $1M in revenue stall out for years. Why? Because scaling requires an entirely different mindset and operational approach than starting up.

Here are a few reasons businesses plateau, even when they’re making money:

• They don’t have a clear long-term strategic growth plan

• Their marketing efforts aren’t aligned with their unique value proposition

• They’re spending money on tactics without a guiding business roadmap

• They lack internal systems to support growth (especially team, tech, or process gaps)

• They’re too close to the business to see what’s holding them back

You can’t fix what you don’t see. That’s why a strategic business advisor with real-world experience is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.

The Difference Between Business Coaches and Business Strategists

This might ruffle a few feathers, but I’ll say it: not all advisors are created equal.

Most “business coaches” in today’s marketplace have never run a business beyond six figures. Some have never built a business at all. They’ve read the books, attended the masterminds, maybe even bought the same marketing courses—but they haven’t lived it.

That’s not who I am.

I’ve built four successful companies. I’ve survived lawsuits, competitor sabotage, bank embezzlement, and everything in between—and I’ve still grown past 7 figures again and again.

When you work with me, you’re getting insights from someone who’s:

• Scaled real companies in multiple industries

• Navigated high-stakes mergers, acquisitions, and exits

• Consulted with top executives in Fortune 1000 firms and privately held companies

• Seen behind the curtain of what makes a business profitable, scalable, and sellable

So when I say, “I can help you grow your business,” I’m not talking theory. I’m talking execution.

What I Do—and Why It Works

My signature process starts with a comprehensive 7-Figure Business Growth Audit, where I evaluate your current operations, financials, team structure, marketing strategy, and market positioning.

This isn’t a generic checklist. It’s a custom assessment I’ve developed over 30 years of hands-on experience.

From there, I build out a strategic roadmap that aligns your day-to-day actions with your long-term goals. This is how we bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

Strategic Planning for 7- and 8-Figure Revenue Growth

If you’re not operating from a written strategic growth plan, you’re guessing. And guessing in business is expensive.

I help business owners develop a step-by-step strategic growth plan that clarifies:

• What products or services to double down on

• Where to reduce expenses or streamline operations

• How to reposition the brand for better market visibility

• Where and how to spend marketing dollars for maximum ROI

• When to hire (and what roles will actually move the needle)

This is the real path to sustainable, scalable revenue—not another course or funnel.

The Real Reason Your Marketing Isn’t Working

Many of my clients come to me after wasting thousands—sometimes tens of thousands—on marketing agencies, branding consultants, and social media managers who promised leads and delivered fluff.

Here’s the truth: Marketing without strategy is just noise.

If you don’t have a clearly defined message that sets you apart from the competition, your marketing is dead on arrival.

When I evaluate a company’s marketing, I look at:

• Whether the messaging reflects the true value of the business

• How leads are being generated—and whether they’re converting

• Whether you're targeting the right audience with the right offer

• If your website is aligned with your sales process

• Where opportunities exist to create offers that drive more cash flow now

You don’t need more traffic. You need more strategy.

Building a Business That’s Sellable—Even If You’re Not Ready to Exit Yet

One of the biggest missed opportunities in small business is building a company with no exit plan.

Even if you never plan to sell, you should build your business as if you will. Why?

Because businesses that are built to sell are:

• Easier to operate

• More profitable

• More appealing to partners, lenders, or investors

• Less reliant on the founder (so you can take real vacations—or retire)

Through my Business Exit Strategy Planning, I help entrepreneurs:

• Increase their company’s valuation

• Prepare their operations and team for due diligence

• Identify cash-heavy opportunities to boost EBITDA

• Develop a timeline for acquisition, merger, or ESOP

If you’re making money but feeling stuck, building toward a sellable business may be your next strategic move.

My Clients Call Me When…

Here’s when business owners usually reach out:

• Sales are stagnant, and they’ve hit a plateau

• Their marketing is busy but not delivering results

• They’re thinking about scaling, hiring, or franchising—but aren’t sure how

• They want to exit but have no idea what their business is worth or how to make it more valuable

• They need an outside expert who’s seen it all—and will give them the truth

If you’re in any of those categories, we should talk.

What It’s Like to Work With Me

I’m not a cheerleader—I’m your strategic growth partner.

I won’t sugarcoat the challenges you’re facing, but I will help you solve them. And I’ll bring every ounce of my experience—building multimillion-dollar companies, surviving business disasters, and helping others do the same—to your business.

Clients often tell me:
“I wish I met you years ago.”

That’s the impact of finally having a real advisor in your corner.

Ready to Grow? Here’s Your Next Step

If you’re serious about growing your business, stop wasting money on trendy tactics that don’t work.

Start with a strategy session or schedule a custom 7-Figure Growth Audit so we can uncover exactly where your best opportunities lie.

Let’s talk if:

• Your sales are shrinking or stagnant

• Your team is busy but not producing results

• You’ve been stuck at the same level for more than a year

• You’re ready to expand—but don’t know where to focus

• You’re preparing for acquisition or want to increase your business valuation

👉 Schedule a Private Strategy Call

Final Thought: There Is No Easy Button—But There Is a Smart One

You can keep throwing money at random marketing tactics, or you can build a business with structure, purpose, and a plan that’s proven to work.

I’ve built companies from zero to eight figures, helped Fortune 1000 companies grow, and advised hundreds of business owners on the real strategies that lead to lasting success.

If you’re ready for that kind of growth—let’s talk.

Written by Darlene M. Ziebell