Running a flower farm or creative business is equal parts magic and madness. As a team that’s deeply in the weeds (and the blooms) every single day, we know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel when your dreams start to outgrow your systems. In this episode of The Flower Files, we sat down with Ashish Gupta — entrepreneur, former Apple exec, and founder of Scale Up Exec — to get serious about sustainable growth.
Ashish didn’t sugarcoat it, and we’re so glad he didn’t. From hiring that first team member to choosing the right sales channel, he broke down the real steps that help businesses like ours scale without falling apart.
The Real Root of Scaling: Know Yourself First
We’re farmers, florists, and creatives. We started this business because we love what we do — but loving it doesn’t mean we’re great at every part of it. That’s where Ashish hit us with a truth bomb: if you want to scale your business, you have to start with self-awareness.
Here’s how we’re applying his advice:
- Audit your week. We’re making a list of everything we do and rating it by skill, energy, and impact. If it drains us and doesn’t move the needle, it’s time to delegate.
- Recognize your role. Most founders fall into one of two camps: visionary or operator. If you’re dreaming up the big picture, you probably need someone who thrives in the details — and vice versa.
- Let go (a little). Whether it’s marketing or mowing, some tasks can and should be handed off. And yes, we’re still learning how to do this gracefully.
Building a Team that Builds the Dream
We’ve grown a lot — in rows, in bouquets, and in responsibility. Hiring has been one of the scariest parts, but Ashish reminded us that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
His tips we’re keeping close:
- Start small. You don’t need a full-time team overnight. Try part-time help, fractional experts, or seasonal hires.
- Hire for your gaps. Don’t just bring in help — bring in help that does what you can’t (or don’t want to) do.
- Systematize early. A mistake doesn’t always mean you made a bad hire. Sometimes, it’s a system issue — and that’s something we can fix.
When You’re Ready to Scale, Test First
We shared our latest baby — the Petal Pantry — and got Ashish’s take on how to grow it right. Spoiler: it’s all about focused, low-risk testing.
Here’s how we’re mapping it out:
- Define our audience. Are we selling to home cooks or restaurants? Both sound great — but we’re doing small, specific tests to find out which is more scalable.
- Run sprints. Instead of waiting until we “feel ready,” we’re planning a 6-week sprint to test the B2B route. Then we’ll compare ROI with a B2C push.
- Use the data. What works, what doesn’t, and what can be repeated — this data helps us grow intentionally.
“Don’t scale on vibes — scale on numbers.”
– Honestly, we might frame that.
What No One Told Us About Selling a Business
One of the most unexpected parts of this episode? Talking about exit strategies. None of us got into this thinking we’d sell our farm or products, but as Ashish explained, knowing your options empowers you — not pressures you.
What we learned:
- You don’t need to be huge to sell. Even a profitable, small-batch business can attract buyers.
- There are different exits. Maybe you stay on as an advisor. Maybe you hand it off entirely. Either way, it’s your call.
- Everything you’re building matters. Your brand, your audience, your systems — they’re all valuable, even if you’re not thinking about selling today.
Final Thoughts from the Field
Ashish’s most powerful insight was also the simplest: know what you want.
Do you want to scale? Or do you want more stability? There’s no right answer. But knowing your goals — and your strengths — is the first step to building a business that works with you, not against you.
As we keep building Wildly Native, we’re holding tight to the things that give us joy (hello, field time 🌾) while slowly and sustainably letting go of what no longer serves us.
Want to Take Action This Week?
Here’s your challenge:
Choose one task you can delegate — or one micro-test you can run. Whether that’s a spreadsheet audit of your week or asking a trusted friend to assess your strengths, start there. Then build, slowly, sustainably, and with way more petals than panic.
And if you’re dreaming of scaling your flower or creative business? Save this post. Share it with a biz buddy. Re-listen to the episode. We’ll be doing all three!
