How the Top 1% of Agencies Scale Profitably Without Burning Out with Gray MacKenzie

In this episode, Mandi Ellefson talks with Gray MacKenzie, co-founder of ZenPilot, about how agency owners can build scalable, self-managing operations that run smoothly, without adding more people, tools, or chaos.

Gray shares how he’s helped hundreds of agencies streamline their systems, eliminate operational bottlenecks, and build clarity into every level of their business. Instead of growing through brute force and burnout, Gray reveals how top-performing agencies grow through structure, simplicity, and systems that work without the founder at the center.

When your operations run like clockwork, your business becomes easier to scale, your team performs better, and your profit margins rise, all while you get your time back.

🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✅ How to design scalable systems that eliminate chaos and confusion

✅ The 3 pillars of operational clarity that drive predictable results

✅ Why “doing less” often leads to faster and more profitable growth

✅ How to use ClickUp to streamline delivery and increase accountability

✅ The most common scaling mistakes agencies make and how to avoid them

✅ How to empower your team to own results and make decisions

✅ The mindset shift from managing everything to leading through systems

The best agencies don’t grow by doing more, they grow by doing what matters, better. When you build clarity into your operations, your agency stops depending on you and starts scaling on its own.

🔗 Connect with Gray MacKenzie:

Website: https://www.zenpilot.com

🎯 Want to Scale? Here Are 4 Ways to Work With Us:

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3️⃣ Read The Hands-Off CEO Book (4.7★ on Amazon)

Triple Your Fees and Scale Without Burning Out. Grab your copy → https://scale.handsoffceo.com/map?utm_source=podcast

4️⃣ Apply for The Invisible Advantage™ Growth Program 

We’ll help you uncover your Invisible Advantage, package it into a premium offer, and scale profitably without adding to your workload. Learn more → https://handsoffceo.com/book?utm_source=podcast