The 1% Edge

Scaling Too Soon? Why Growth Without a Foundation Can Break Your Business

Growth is exciting—until it isn’t. At first, it feels like everything is finally working. More leads, more sales, more attention. But then come the sleepless nights. The staff turnover. The customer complaints. The sudden cash crunch no one saw coming. And the owner—maybe that’s you—is buried in ...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jul 28, 2025 scaling a business

How to Diagnose Stagnant Sales: A Real-World Guide for Business Owners

Every business owner hits a wall at some point: sales that once soared now feel like they’ve stalled. You’re putting in the same (or more) effort, but your revenue isn’t budging. Before you throw more money into marketing or hire another consultant promising a “quick fix,” it’s time for a serious...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jul 21, 2025 business strategy

The Risk No One Warns You About: Selling to Big Companies Without Getting Burned

Securing a deal with a large enterprise company is the dream for many small business owners. It’s validation. It’s revenue. It’s visibility. It can even feel like a turning point — the moment you’ve finally “made it.” But after decades of experience — both in my own companies and advising others ...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jul 16, 2025 scaling a business

The Silent Stress of Success

You worked hard to build your business.You fought to get your first few clients.You made tough decisions, late-night sacrifices, and risky moves — all to get where you are today. And now?You’ve hit 7 figures.Maybe even 8.From the outside, it looks like you’ve made it. You’re the model of what bus...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jul 14, 2025 business strategy

10 Business Strategy Ideas to Drive Sustainable Growth

In today’s competitive landscape, businesses that grow fast — and stay strong — do so with intention. They don’t rely on guesswork. They build smart, customized strategies rooted in clarity, systems, and data. If you're serious about scaling or sustaining a 7- or 8-figure business, it's time to t...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jul 14, 2025 business strategy

Signs You're Chasing Symptoms, Not Solutions

One of the biggest reasons businesses stall is because owners and their teams spend time, money, and energy addressing the symptoms of a problem — not the real problem itself. I’ve seen it countless times: a business owner thinks the issue is marketing, sales, staffing, or operations. They fix wh...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jul 07, 2025 fix what's broken

The Dangerous Myth of Easy Marketing: What Actually Works

If you’ve been in business for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard it — the promise of an “easy” marketing solution that will transform your sales overnight. A viral video.The perfect Instagram post. 30 ways to partner in marketing. A magic funnel that practically runs itself while you ...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jul 02, 2025 fix what’s broken

The Real Reason Your Marketing Isn't Working (It's Not What You Think)

Most business owners don’t realize it, but marketing failure rarely starts with the marketing. It usually starts with a broken foundation—your business model, your positioning, or your sales conversion process. But instead of investigating the root cause, owners throw time and money at tactics th...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jun 30, 2025 fix what's broken

Welcome to The 1% Edge

Where serious business owners sharpen their strategy and scale with purpose. Most newsletters are filled with surface-level tips, feel-good quotes, or overhyped marketing trends. This is not one of them. I created The 1% Edge for business owners who are tired of the noise — and ready for the trut...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jun 25, 2025 welcome

Why More Clicks Won’t Save Your Business

Why More Clicks Won’t Save Your Business You’ve been told that more traffic means more sales. More clicks, more followers, more impressions. But what if I told you that chasing clicks is one of the most expensive mistakes business owners make? I’ve worked with companies doing $1M, $5M, even $10M ...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jun 25, 2025 fix what's broken

Stop Winging It: Why Business Strategy Isn't Optional

Stop Winging It: Why Business Strategy Isn't Optional Most business owners don’t fail because they’re lazy or untalented. They fail because they’re reactive. They chase opportunities. They jump on trends. They “try things.” But they don’t have a strategy. And without a strategy, every decision is...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jun 25, 2025 business strategy

Scaling Isn't Growth. It's Engineering.

Scaling Isn’t Growth. It’s Engineering. Everyone says they want to scale. But most business owners don’t actually know what scaling means — and worse, they try to grow without building the foundation first. Scaling isn’t doing more. It’s doing smarter. It’s creating a business model that can grow...

by Darlene Ziebell — Jun 25, 2025 scaling a business

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