Starting and growing a business today comes with both opportunity and pressure. Markets change quickly, customer needs shift often, and investors look for fast results. Many founders struggle to balance ambition with personal well-being.
They ask themselves how to grow without burning out, when to raise outside funding, and how to focus on work that truly matters. Business growth is no longer only about expansion at any cost. It is also about building companies that last and support the lives their founders want.
Emily McDonald brings deep experience to this conversation. She is a business strategist and mentor who helps female founders grow with clarity and balance. She built her first company, TheStylist LA, from her living room and later expanded it into retail stores and an online subscription model.
Over the years, she raised more than $1.2 million from investors, including Jason Calacanis’s incubator and Precursor Ventures.
With 16 years of experience, she now guides entrepreneurs through every building stage, from idea to multi-million-dollar scale. Her approach highlights ruthless prioritization, steady growth, and practical choices instead of endless hustle.
This episode will look at the lessons Emily learned while building her company. You will discover insights on raising capital, handling growth challenges, setting clear goals, finding the right support, and treating failure as a source of learning. These lessons offer a simple but effective guide to building businesses that grow healthily and sustainably.
How Emily McDonald’s First Business Growth Idea Began
The journey of Emily McDonald’s first company began in 2009, but the idea started much earlier. From a young age, Emily wanted to build something of her own. She loved fashion and dreamed of opening a clothing store.
That interest led her to study entrepreneurship at USC and later complete a graduate degree at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. During college, she noticed that sorority members often wanted new dresses for every event and disliked repeating outfits in photos.
Image Credits: Photo by Darlene Alderson on Pexels
The Spark of TheStylist LA
While working at a fashion PR firm, Emily saw staff borrowing clothes for a short time. That sparked an idea: women should have a way to rent dresses. In 2009 the company she worked for closed and paid her in clothes.
Emily used those dresses to start TheStylist LA from her living room while balancing three part-time jobs. The service began with dresses but later became a full subscription rental business.
Building From Scratch
Emily started small and used simple tools. A Wells Fargo credit card terminal handled payments. Facebook albums with mannequin photos showed the dresses. She hosted trunk shows in sororities, offering the host a free rental while others paid.
To build inventory, she bought dresses at Los Angeles sample sales with cash. This approach kept costs low and gave her a way to test demand.
Early Challenges and Growth
The idea was new, and some doubted it. Many asked if women would wear dresses others had rented. Still, excitement spread fast, especially among college students who liked the variety and price.
Several lessons shaped the early years:
Pricing by trial: Rentals cost $30, $50, or $70, plus a $7 cleaning fee.
Customer loyalty: Once someone tried the service, they often returned.
Slow growth: Emily moved from her living room to a small office, and later to a showroom in Venice.
Her persistence and focus on community helped TheStylist LA grow into a trusted fashion rental company.
Expanding to San Francisco for Business Growth
Emily chose San Francisco for her next step with TheStylist LA because the timing was right. Many of her Los Angeles customers had graduated and moved north to work at LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google.
This created a ready audience. Her partner also lived in San Francisco, making splitting time between cities easier. Opening a second store became a natural and practical move.
Image Credits: Photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels
Turning to Venture Capital
By 2017, TheStylist LA was growing quickly, as was Rent the Runway. Emily knew more funding was needed to compete.
A key moment came when she pitched at an event hosted by Jason Calacanis, an early investor in Uber and Robinhood. He invited her into his incubator, which offered:
$100,000 in investment.
Weekly practice pitching to investors.
Access to a larger network of funding.
This led to more support, including from Precursor Ventures.
Plans for Scaling
At this stage, the business was fully on Shopify. The team was preparing to launch a subscription rental model with private-label casual clothing. Customers loved the unique pieces; the margins were stronger than traditional rentals.
While retail stores remained important for building loyal communities, scaling the subscription model online was the priority. Other ideas, like pickup vending machines, were also considered to make renting easier.
How the Funding Came Together
The company raised just over $1.2 million, but it happened in parts. The breakdown included:
$400,000 from Precursor Ventures.
$100,000 from Jason Calacanis.
$150,000 from his syndicate.
The rest are around 40 angel investors.
The Strain of Business Growth
Growth in 2018 and 2019 was strong, but cash was always short. Logistics were heavy, especially before outsourcing subscriptions in late 2019. By early 2020, she was pregnant, stressed, and waiting on delayed investor funds.
Then the pandemic struck, forcing store closures and moving online. It raised deeper questions about balance, health, and the future of the business.
Balancing Hard Work and Business Growth Goals
Running a business often means long hours, but working nonstop is not a sign of success. If you face a busy season, set an end date for those heavy weeks. Knowing it will not last forever helps you stay focused and avoid burnout.
Image Credits: Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels
Cut Work That Does Not Matter
Many founders feel buried under endless tasks, but not all are important. Ask yourself what truly moves the business forward. Often, the answer is fewer tasks than you think.
A useful approach is ruthless prioritisation:
Remove work that does not bring revenue or growth.
Delay tasks that can wait.
Stop aiming for perfection in areas that do not impact customers.
This focus creates time and space for what matters most.
Do Investors Expect Endless Hustle?
There is a fear that investors only value constant hustle. In reality, many now respect founders who set boundaries. Showing confidence and clarity builds trust.
You do not need to prove your worth by sacrificing health. The culture has shifted, and sustainable work is now seen as a sign of maturity.
Think Carefully About Raising Capital
Venture funding is not a fit for every business. It suits companies that can grow fast and aim for very large exits.
For other models, steady growth or different financing may be healthier. Before raising money, ask if outside pressure truly fits the business and life you want.
Building a Business Growth Model That Fits Your Life
Most people start a business for freedom, yet many lose it by chasing endless work. Decide what kind of life you want first.
Then build a business that supports that choice. Growth looks different for everyone, but it should never cost your health or peace of mind.
Why Goals and Support Matter in Business Growth
Every business needs a clear direction. Without it, you end up working hard but not moving forward. A simple way to find clarity is to imagine your ideal life a year from now.
Once you know what that looks like, you can work backward and decide what deserves your time today. This helps cut tasks that do not add value.
Image Credits: Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
Adjusting Business Growth Goals Over Time
Goals are not fixed. Life changes, and so do priorities. What makes sense in one stage may not fit the next. That said, your long-term vision should still guide your steps.
Breaking it into yearly goals and focusing on 90-day priorities makes progress more manageable. This way, you stay on track while allowing room for change.
Why Coaching and Mentorship Add Value
Running a business often feels lonely. A coach or mentor gives a perspective that friends or investors cannot. Unlike investors, they do not hold equity, so their advice comes without hidden pressure. The right coach can:
Help you focus on what matters most.
Hold you accountable when distractions creep in.
Offer encouragement during difficult phases.
Push you to act rather than wait for perfect timing.
This kind of support can save time and help you make stronger choices.
Learning From Failure
Failure is part of progress. A launch that earns nothing can still teach you what to improve next time. Some even celebrate mistakes to remind themselves that trying new things is better than standing still.
What matters most is treating each failure as feedback rather than defeat. Clear goals, the willingness to adjust, and the right support system make growth steadier and healthier in the long run.
Conclusion
Business growth works best when it is clear, steady, and balanced. Setting clear goals helps you focus on what truly matters. When you know the future you want, each choice today becomes easier to make.
However, goals should adjust as life changes. What works at one stage may not fit the next. Breaking long-term goals into shorter steps, like 90-day plans, keeps progress steady and less stressful.
Support also makes a big difference. A coach or mentor can guide you without hidden interests. Their advice helps you stay focused, avoid wasted effort, and keep moving forward during hard times.
Failure is another part of the process. Each setback teaches lessons that shape better decisions. When seen as feedback, failure helps growth instead of stopping it.
In the end, growth is not about constant work. It is about focus, balance, and building a business that supports the life you want.
FAQs
What role does customer feedback play in business growth?
Customer feedback shows what works and what does not. Listening closely helps you improve products, build trust, and grow faster.
How important is building a team for business growth?
A strong team spreads the workload and brings new skills. You cannot scale alone, so hiring wisely supports long-term growth.
Can technology speed up business growth?
Yes. Tools for sales, marketing, and operations save time and cut costs. Using the right systems allows you to focus on strategy.
Does branding affect business growth?
Strong branding helps customers remember you and choose you over others. It builds trust and creates lasting connections with your audience.
How does cash flow impact business growth?
Cash flow is the fuel of any business. Even profitable companies struggle to pay expenses or invest in expansion without steady cash.
