In this episode, Jackie breaks down how to get out fast—starting with one question you need to answer before you hire another teacher, expand, or change your strategy: What do you want this business to do for your life?
Episode Outline
[00:00] Introduction + Studio CEO Agency announcement
[01:20] What the comparison trap is and why it happens
[02:45] The one question every studio owner needs to answer first
[05:00] What happens when you ignore what you want
[06:15] Enterprise vs. lifestyle: the two business types
[07:10] What an enterprise business looks like for studio owners
[10:00] Why Jackie runs a lifestyle business right now
[12:15] Decisions from clarity vs. comparison—the CEO shift
Key Takeaways
✓ The comparison trap slows your growth by pulling you toward someone else's vision instead of your own.
✓ Enterprise businesses are built for scalability and exit. Lifestyle businesses are built to support how the owner wants to live. Both are valid—but they require completely different strategies.
✓ Knowing your business type gives you a filter for every decision. Clarity is the antidote to comparison.
Pull Quotes
"I define a successful business by a business that gives you the opportunity to have the authentic life experience that you want to have."
"You're not making decisions from clarity. You're making them from comparison."
"If this business isn't serving you, then in the long run, just ignoring that and focusing on serving and giving will actually grow into resentment. It may grow into burnout."
FAQ
What is the comparison trap for studio owners? It's when you measure your studio's success against someone else's Instagram and make reactive decisions based on what you see—leading to constantly shifting strategy and building toward someone else's vision instead of your own.
How do I stop comparing my studio to others? Answer the question: "What do I want this business to do for my life?" When you're clear on that, you have a filter for every decision and you stop needing to look sideways at what everyone else is doing.
What's the difference between an enterprise and lifestyle business? An enterprise business is built for rapid scalability and eventual sale. A lifestyle business supports the owner's preferred way of living—consistent income, flexibility, and freedom over explosive growth.
Should I want to grow my studio into a franchise or multi-location brand? Only if that's genuinely what you want. The strategy looks completely different for enterprise vs. lifestyle owners. The only wrong move is chasing someone else's version of success without knowing what yours is.
Why do studio owners burn out? Usually because they're over-giving without a clear picture of what they want in return. Without defining success personally, you keep adding more with no stopping point—and that becomes resentment and burnout.
How do I know which type of business I'm building? Ask: Am I building this to eventually sell it, or to live and work inside it sustainably? The answer shapes every decision from here.
Work with Jackie Murphy
