The Scoop With Erica Krupin
Ep 194. $30K in 12 Days: My Real-Time Spring Rush Diary
March 16, 2026
Episode Overview
In this candid solo episode, host Erica Krupin offers listeners a real-time peek inside the chaotic and exhilarating period known as “Spring Rush” in her pooper scooper business. Erica discusses her experience with burnout, imposter syndrome, and the business’s rapid growth—highlighted by over $30K in revenue in just 12 days. She brings listeners into her daily mindset, shares operational insights from her Jobber dashboard, reflects on lessons learned, and sprinkles in encouragement for fellow entrepreneurs.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Spring Rush Burnout and Imposter Syndrome
- Erica opens up about feeling physically and mentally drained after an intense five-week Spring Rush, despite business successes.
- She confides in her audience about “imposter syndrome”—feeling undeserving of her accomplishments and the positive developments in her team.
Notable Quotes
- “I’m burnt out. I’m a little bit burnt out. It’s been like five solid weeks of just go, go, go, go, go. It has been absolutely insane.” (07:34)
- “You’re not appreciating what’s happening right now… Do you deserve this?” (08:28)
Coping & Support
- Erica reached out to her pastor’s wife, Ms. Sarah, who recommended reading Ephesians 1—a message that deeply resonated with Erica and helped her regain perspective.
- “If you are going through the imposter syndrome or you’re feeling burnt out and you’re having a hard time, go read Ephesians, chapter one.” (10:03)
2. Business Operations: Behind the Scenes with Jobber
Real-Time Dashboard Tour (11:00)
- Erica walks listeners through her Jobber dashboard, sharing active numbers and process breakdowns:
- 11 messages & 43 notifications pending
- 7 new customer requests
- 5 approved quotes ($857), 1 draft quote
- 294 active jobs ($30,300)
- $1,444 in pending payments, 8 past-due invoices totaling $4,431
- 170 leads and 209 requests so far in March
- 35 new recurring customers and $34,396 in revenue from March 1-12
- “We already surpassed last year’s March revenue in the first 12 days.” (14:42)
Workflows & Tools
- Explains her heavy reliance on Jobber for operations.
- Mentions upcoming interviews with the OpenPhone (Qo) development team, her phone system of choice.
- Discusses route planning, invoicing, and handling high volume during Spring Rush.
Notable Quote
- “I basically live in Jobber. I live in Jobber and I live in Qo.” (13:15)
3. Marketing & Branding: Vehicle Wrap Update (18:12)
- Shares her thought process behind updating her business’s hot pink vehicle wraps to include faint dog paw graphics, reflecting an evolution in branding.
- The wrap is designed to be simple yet bold, featuring:
- Who we are (Croupin’s Poopin Scoopin)
- What we do (Dog waste removal)
- How to get in touch (email on the back of the vehicle)
- Considers removing her own mascot image as her team grows.
- “I wanted my truck and my vehicles to be as simple as possible, especially because the color speaks so much of volume anyway.” (19:48)
4. Growth, Staffing, and Sustainability
Hiring and Team Growth
- Discusses successful staff hires out of a large pool of applicants, now working to sustain their roles beyond the rush:
- “How did two people that you hired out of a hundred…they were amazing, and you hired both of them. And then this other woman reached out not once, not twice, but three times…she’s an absolute rock star so far.” (08:48)
Managing the Workload and Data
- Investing money in ads, reworking the schedule for new staff and customers.
- Expresses anxiety about sustaining success and ensuring job security for her team post-Spring Rush:
- “I haven’t—You’ve been through spring rushes, Erica. … There hasn’t been a time yet that you haven’t kept everybody working that needed to work. And I don’t know, I’m just having like a moment of like, are you capable?” (21:58)
Data Collection & Efficiency (22:30)
- Tracking man-hour rates and project efficiency via a custom Excel spreadsheet for spring cleans and one-time jobs.
- Credits new team member Nicole for teaching her how to use key spreadsheet formulas, highlighting the importance of learning from those you hire:
- “Find somebody, pay somebody that can do it for you and then have them show you. So at least you know how to do it even if you choose not to.” (23:56)
Lessons Learned from Outsourcing
- Reflects on lessons from her experience with virtual assistants—realizing she needed to learn basic processes herself to avoid being left in the lurch.
5. Mindset, Physical Health, and Self-Care
Physical Health
- Erica shares the toll the busy season has taken on her body, with recurring lower back pain, likely due to less stretching and more sedentary data work.
- “My back hurts. I’ve started back at the gym and I haven’t been stretching as much. So my lower back is hurting.” (22:18)
Emotional Health
- Describes a heightened state of stress but is determined to maintain momentum without neglecting self-care.
Notable Quote
- “We have our ups and we have our downs…maybe good and bad all in the same day, maybe the same hour.” (24:38)
Memorable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Highlight | |-----------|---------|-----------------| | 07:34 | Erica | “I’m burnt out. I’m a little bit burnt out. It’s been like five solid weeks of just go, go, go, go, go. It has been absolutely insane.” | | 08:28 | Erica | “You’re not appreciating what’s happening right now… Do you deserve this?” | | 10:03 | Erica | “If you are going through the imposter syndrome or you’re feeling burnt out and you’re having a hard time, go read Ephesians, chapter one.” | | 14:42 | Erica | “We already surpassed last year’s March revenue in the first 12 days.” | | 19:48 | Erica | “I wanted my truck and my vehicles to be as simple as possible, especially because the color speaks so much of volume anyway.” | | 22:18 | Erica | “My back hurts. I’ve started back at the gym and I haven’t been stretching as much.” | | 23:56 | Erica | “Find somebody, pay somebody that can do it for you and then have them show you.” | | 24:38 | Erica | “We have our ups and we have our downs…maybe good and bad all in the same day, maybe the same hour.” |
Listener Takeaways
- Erica’s vulnerability about burnout and imposter syndrome highlights the emotional and physical challenges behind a “busy is booming” surface.
- Operational transparency—warts and all—offers rare insights into what it takes to handle rapid growth, especially in a less-talked-about service industry.
- The importance of self-education, even when delegating, and the value of supportive team members and mentors.
- Mindset matters: Recognizing the blessing and beauty in both the chaos and impact of small-business ownership.
Section Timestamps
- [00:39] – Episode theme: Spring Rush, burnout, imposter syndrome
- [07:34] – Burnout peaks, reflecting on self-worth and gratitude
- [10:03] – Coping through faith and support (Ephesians 1)
- [11:00] – Jobber dashboard walk-through and business metrics
- [18:12] – Vehicle wrap design update and branding lessons
- [22:30] – Staffing, streamlining, and hands-on process improvements
- [24:38] – Reflection on the ebb and flow of entrepreneurship
Erica’s Tone & Style
Conversational, honest, vulnerable and encouraging, Erica blends practical business breakdowns with authentic reflections on wellbeing, creating a unique blend of real talk and entrepreneurial pep talk.
Closing Reflections
Erica closes by inviting listeners to reflect on their own Spring Rush, acknowledging the unique challenges and remarkable opportunities in the pooper scooper industry:
“It’s so beautiful that we have these opportunities to be able to have such crazy times of the year and have a business that can change our lives by scooping dog poop and serving the community and helping out people in need. It’s amazing.” (25:11)
For more insights, follow Erica on her channels and join the Poop Scoop Millionaire community to connect with other industry pros.
