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Do I have to be friends with my co workers to get ahead? Should I take the promotion even if I hate the job? Is my salary big enough or am I getting screwed? Do I have to choose between having a family and having a career? I've been laid off now what do I do? I'm Melissa Franks, and I've spent the last 25 years building my corporate career and a family to along the way, there have been bumps and bruises and some epic going down in flames of glory moments. My journey up the corporate ladder found me forging new ground without a safety net. Through my real life stories, experiences, and special guests on the show, I take the mystery out of how to succeed in the corporate world. I'm going to spill all the tea about how decisions are really made, how to tell who the hidden influencers are, and how to realize your full potential while enjoying the process at the same time. Each week, we will dive into a topic where I will share the good, the bad, and the ugly of my experiences and what we can all learn from them. You will walk away each week with a clear set of next steps to take action and improve your circumstances. We are going to speak frankly and freely about when it's time to opt in or to opt out. Opt In is a place where you can come to get practical, actionable advice to propel your career and your life in the direction you want. Work with me: www.melissafranks.com/offers

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Fire Yourself First: How to Stop Being the Bottleneck in Your Own Business

June 17, 2026 • Melissa Franks

0:00 | 27:22

What if the biggest thing holding your business back is you?

In this episode of the Opt In Podcast, Melissa Franks shares the framework she calls "firing yourself first", a counterintuitive approach to growth that she recently delivered to a room of six- and seven-figure entrepreneurs. If your business has plateaued, if every decision routes through you, or if you can't take a real vacation without something breaking, this episode is your wake-up call.

Melissa breaks down exactly why delegation alone doesn't work (and actually creates more work in the short term), and walks you through the decision audit matrix that reveals where you're bleeding time, money, and momentum. You'll learn the three-phase handoff method, from task to process to authority, that's the real key to scaling, plus why "good enough" beats perfect every time when it comes to letting go.

You'll also hear the story of a former client, a 12-person business whose revenue had been stuck at the same level for three years, and how getting the right people in the right chairs with real authority unlocked her growth and a fully unplugged three-week vacation to the Amalfi Coast.

In this episode:

Why you — not your strategy — are the bottleneck
The math that proves decision-making is costing you a full quarter of your year
How to use the 2x2 decision audit to find what to hand off now
The 3-phase authority handoff (and why most founders stop at phase one)
The 70% rule that will finally let you delegate without guilt

Your homework: pick one recurring decision from your danger zone and hand it off — with full authority — this week.

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