Podcast Summary: Shiny New Clients!

Episode: Your First Hire: Mistakes to Avoid and the Right Way to Delegate (with Nata Salvatori)

Host: Jenna Harding | Guest: Nata Salvatori

Date: January 26, 2026
Episode Length: ~20 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode tackles one of the most pivotal milestones for growing entrepreneurs: making your first hire. Jenna Harding is joined by Nata Salvatori, a Freedom-first leadership and scaling coach, to break down the myths, mindset hurdles, and essential strategies for intelligent delegation. Together, they uncover why so many service-based business owners stumble when passing off tasks—and how to do it the right way so your business can scale without burnout.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Recognizing Ego and Mindset in Delegation

• The “Only I Can Do This” Myth
  • Jenna opens with her own experience struggling to delegate, feeling that no one could meet her standard of work. Nata reassures her this is “a lie we tell ourselves very often in entrepreneurship.”

    “You are not the only one to feel like, oh my gosh, there’s no way anybody else can do this as well as I can.” (Nata, 02:14)

• Shifting from Operator to CEO
  • A core stumbling block is the mindset shift from “operator” to true “CEO.”

    “If you don’t work through that identity shift... you’re going to continue to micromanage and try to get into every decision.” (Nata, 05:03)

  • Jenna shares her own ongoing journey with this transition:

    “Laughing because I'm so freaking guilty of that. I think I only have just begun that...not just gripping all the operations and actually being the CEO.” (Jenna, 05:47)

The Right Way to Delegate

• Zone of Genius and Role Clarity
  • Both agree: Know your “zone of genius” and prioritize delegating tasks outside of it to experts.

    “Your zone of genius is that one thing that you are really good at, which is most likely what started this whole thing, and then everything else are just things you have to do as part of your business.” (Nata, 02:54)

• Don’t Expect 80%, But Aim for 100%+
  • Contradicting the typical expectation that new hires deliver only 80% of your standard, Nata says hiring people better than you is possible and preferable.
  • Be open to your team excelling in areas where you may not.
• Delegating Outcomes, Not Tasks
  • The real leap happens when you delegate for outcomes, not just tasks:

    “The true delegation that creates the freedom that we're talking about, it goes way beyond... It’s understanding how to delegate outcomes and how to help the people that you hire understand how what they're doing connects to the big vision of your company.” (Nata, 07:16)

  • When your team is connected to the purpose, “all of a sudden you’re not micromanaging people... you are working as a team.”

Common Hiring Mistakes

• Hiring ‘Mini-mes’
  • One frequent misstep: hiring someone just like yourself.

    “That is a huge mistake because you’re just hiring another one of you that probably has the same kind of blinds and limitations that you do have.” (Nata, 09:23)

  • Jenna shares she’s done this and “thought we could be such good friends.” (Jenna, 10:15)
• Chasing the ‘Unicorn’ Hire
  • Another trap: believing you should hire someone who can do everything—just like you.

    “They ended up being just as overwhelmed and lost as you are. Because that's technically what you were doing right now when you're running your business on your own.” (Nata, 10:25)

• Waiting Until It’s Too Late
  • Many seek help only once they’re burnt out:

    “Please help me, I’m dying... That’s hard to get out of. There’s a lot of backpedaling that needs to happen and a lot of work... Don’t wait until you get to that point, guys.” (Nata, 12:06)

What Preparation Really Looks Like

• Create Structures Before Hiring
  • Success comes from building systems (training, SOPs) before you recruit:

    “We need to build this whole structure before you even put a job description out there... things are smooth and you're not having to do double work. So it starts way before you think.” (Nata, 12:52)

• You Don’t Need More Money to Start Delegating
  • Don’t wait until you’re flush with cash to hire—delegation unlocks growth.

    “If you’re waiting for wealth before you start delegating, you have it backwards. It’s by delegating that you allow yourself the time and mental capacity to grow your business and to bring more wealth.” (Nata, 14:32)

  • Jenna relates this to requiring experience for an acting union:

    “You need to know that when you bring that person on, they are going to make up what you're paying them and then some. And you have to take that step early.” (Jenna, 14:32)

Signs It’s Time to Hire or Get Support

• Don’t Wait Until You’re ‘Drowning’
  • Reach out for help at the first signs of growth, not desperation.
  • Build your business structure for the level you want to reach:

    “Build the structure of your business for the business that you want and not the business that you have.” (Nata, 17:28)

• The Cost of Not Delegating
  • Nata highlights that time spent on low-level tasks costs more than money—it also leads to missed strategic opportunities and exhaustion.

    “How many times have you missed a networking event because you’re just too exhausted because you spent the whole day working on low-level tasks?” (Nata, 15:22)

Getting Support and Next Steps

• Nata’s coaching programs and her course, “The CEO Delegation Method,” are designed to walk entrepreneurs through creating systems and mindsets for effective delegation.

  “My website is Accidental CEO Co. I have a lot of one on one coaching opportunities and I have a course called the CEO Delegation method that you guys can take advantage of.” (Nata, 18:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There’s a whole mindset that needs to happen, mindset shift in combination with this strategy.” (Nata, 05:03)
• “Adult babysitting is not fun, huh?” (Nata, 07:16)
• “Don’t wait until you get to that point, guys. Don’t wait.” (Nata, 12:06)
• “If you’re waiting for wealth before you start delegating, you have it backwards.” (Nata, 14:32)
• “Build the structure of your business for the business that you want and not the business that you have.” (Nata, 17:28)
• “Please help me, I’m dying.” (Jenna, 12:01)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:14 – The myth of irreplaceability and starting the delegation conversation
• 05:03 – Mindset and identity shifts essential for successful delegation
• 07:16 – The difference between delegating tasks and outcomes
• 09:23 – Why hiring someone ‘just like you’ is a mistake
• 12:52 – Systems and structures to prepare before hiring
• 14:32 – Reframing the financial mindset around delegation
• 17:28 – Building for the business you want, not just the one you have
• 18:41 – Where to get help and next steps

Summary Tone

The episode is candid, practical, and supportive—mixing Jenna’s self-deprecating humor and real anecdotes with Nata’s actionable, empowering advice. Entrepreneurs are encouraged both to confront their own limiting beliefs and to act early, creating the structures and mindset necessary for sustainable growth.

For more on delegation, check out Nata Salvatori’s resources at Accidental CEO Co, or her podcast, Accidental CEO.