🐧 From Teacher to Fractional COO | Karina Mikhli

Today, in 10 minutes or less, you’ll learn:

• 🧑‍🏫 Karina Mikhli's inspiring journey going from teacher to publishing executive to fractional COO
• ⚙️ The 3/2/1 Model: A unique approach to scaling business operations efficiently.
• 🙅 Common mistakes and how to avoid them for a thriving fractional career

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🛠️ From Teacher to Fractional COO | Karina Mikhli

Karina Mikhli is a Community, Professional Services, and SaaS Fractional COO; Workflow Consultant; and Founder of Fractionals United. She has almost a decade of experience building, optimizing, and scaling small to mid-size businesses.

Although she can (and has) managed and optimized most functions, she provides the most value by leading and focusing teams and streamlining and optimizing systems.

Karina works best with founders looking for a right-hand partner who will manage and run the business while they focus on their areas of strength and interest. When not working, Karina loves all things books and automation.

Tell us about your career journey.

I began my professional life as a teacher, then spent two decades in the publishing industry. My career in publishing saw me rise through the ranks in content operations at various publishers.

Eventually, the changes in the industry, driven by digital transformations and multiple reorganizations, led me to explore other fields. I transitioned into consulting and eventually found my niche as a fractional COO.

This journey allowed me to blend my love for operational efficiency with a flexible work-life balance.

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You’re a veteran of career pivots having worked as a publishing executive, teacher, personal trainer, and now fractional COO. What motivated you to transition to a fractional career?

I fell into fractional before it was called that, but since it’s the best of both worlds—it includes the freedom and flexibility of consulting/freelance plus the deeper impact of employment—that’s where I chose to stay and now with FrUn, want to help grow for others.

Here’s how I view the differences between consulting and fractional:

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How did you design your first offer? How has it evolved until now?

I used to charge hourly and at a lot less than I do now.

Now it’s a weekly retainer based on where in the process we’re at (I have a 3/2/1 model where I scale back as things are put in place).

Here’s my 3/2/1 model:

• I start out with up to 3 hours/day (15/week), which is the 3 stage
• move to the 2 (up to 2 hours/day and 10/week) once people and systems are being put in place
• and then land at the 1 stage for maintenance

Like this there's enough time for me to make an impact but for the client not to have to pay for more time than is needed at that stage.

I’ve also learned where I can make the most impact, what kinds of CEOs and teams I work best with, and the type of COO job I should take on. No 2 COO roles, whether full-time or fractional are alike, since we complement the CEO and what they don’t want to do.

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How did you find your first 2 clients?

Back then, Upwork was a viable source of high-level leads and how I got most of my work.

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Now you’re building Fractionals United, the largest Slack community for fractional leaders. How can fractional leaders make the most of the communities they join?

Fractional leaders can maximize their community engagement by actively participating in discussions, sharing their expertise, seeking advice from peers, and making connections.

Communities are all about the people and relationships, and although referrals are the best source of leads, you can’t approach it from that perspective only. Make friends, attend events, engage, and let it evolve from there.

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What are a couple of mistakes you’ve made along the way? What would you have done differently knowing what you know now?

One mistake I made was not trusting my gut feeling when selecting clients. I took on projects that weren't the right fit, leading to unnecessary stress and suboptimal outcomes.

Another mistake was initially underpricing my services. Knowing what I know now, I would have been more selective with clients and confident in pricing my services appropriately.

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What unconventional advice would you give to professionals looking to transition into a fractional career path?

Don’t only do fractional work in the beginning since the more “diversified” your income streams, the more selective you can be on the type of work you accept.

Also be sure this is the life for you since it isn’t perfect and has its own challenges.

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Where can we go to learn more about you?

You can learn more about me and my work by visiting my website, LinkedIn, and of course Fractionals United.

🌐 Beyond your borders

🍔 I was a 20-something dethroned dotcom CEO that went to work the counter at Mcdonald's (link)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How’d your upbringing impact your earnings? (link)

🎲 36-year-old makes $37,000 a year leading Dungeons & Dragons games: If ‘you’re doing it anyway, you might as well’ get paid (link)

🤑 What nation have you visited and was blown away by how many untapped opportunities exist? (link)