Learn how functional dietitian Nikki Yelton grew her online health practice with a scalable hybrid program.
Want to listen to Nikki share her story in her own words? Click HERE to check out the full interview with Nikki on our Inspiration Page!
If you’ve ever felt completely maxed out from one-on-one client work, stuck in a loop of repeating the same advice over and over again, and wondering if there’s any way to grow your business without burning out… this post is for you.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with my client, Nikki Yelton, to talk through how she turned her business around by transitioning from an exhausting 1:1 model to a scalable hybrid program that’s been going strong for over three years now.
Her journey is packed with lessons for any coach, dietitian, or health professional who’s craving more freedom, more impact, and more joy in their work.
Let’s dive in.
The Problem: Burnout from Too Many One-on-One Clients
When Nikki first came to me, she had a fully booked 1:1 nutrition practice—six to eight client calls a day, four days a week.
From the outside, her business looked like a success. But behind the scenes, Nikki was exhausted.
She was repeating herself in every session, running herself ragged, and had zero capacity left to grow, scale, or enjoy the life she was working so hard to build.
And like so many practitioners, she was asking herself: Is this really the only way to do this work I love?
Spoiler alert: It’s not.
The Turning Point: Realizing It Was Time for a New Model
Nikki hit a breaking point.
She knew that if she wanted to keep helping people, something had to change.
That’s when she made the decision to shift into a hybrid model—a program that combined the best of structured, scalable education with the personal touch of 1:1 support.
But here’s the best part: she didn’t wait until she had it “all figured out” to start.
How Nikki Built Her Hybrid Program (Without Taking Months Off to Do It)
So many people think they need to take six months off to build the perfect program before they can launch something new.
Nikki didn’t have that luxury, and chances are, neither do you.
Instead, she built her hybrid offer while still seeing clients.
She used the exact same guides and materials she had already been using in her 1:1 work and started recording videos explaining those same things, using Loom to walk clients through processes she used to repeat live.
Bit by bit, those videos and documents became the foundation of a scalable program. She chose a simple online platform to host everything and just got it out there.
“It wasn’t perfect, but it was done—and that’s what mattered.” — Nikki Y.
Start with What You Already Have
One of the smartest things Nikki did was repurpose her existing materials.
She didn’t reinvent the wheel. She simply took the core steps she already used with every client and turned them into assets inside her hybrid program.
Because her niche was focused and consistent, she could create a streamlined experience that helped every client move through a proven process.
If you’re currently seeing 1:1 clients and repeating the same advice multiple times a week, you already have the bones of a program. You just need to package it.
The Time + Financial Payoff
Once her hybrid program was up and running, Nikki saw an immediate shift, not just in her schedule, but in her life.
✅ She got her time back
✅ She felt energized again
✅ She was able to be more present in her personal life
✅ And she started making more money even though she was seeing fewer clients
That’s the power of a well-structured hybrid model.
When you focus on delivering results—not just hours—you can charge more, serve better, and finally stop trading time for money.
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Her Clients Got BETTER Results Too
A lot of coaches worry that offering a more scalable program will somehow water down the value.
But in Nikki’s case, her clients actually got better results.
Why?
Because instead of spending her 1:1 time going over the same info, she could use those sessions for personalization, strategy, and real transformation.
The foundational material was already there in the program. And her clients loved it.
“I’d hop on a call and they’d already have their questions answered from the video. So we could go so much deeper in our time together.” — Nikki Y.
Refining the Program Over Time
Nikki didn’t stop after launching her hybrid offer. Over the last three years, she’s continually refined and improved the program based on client feedback and her own growth as a CEO.
For example, she started with recorded lab interpretations (to avoid 1:1 burnout), but eventually realized her clients would benefit more from a live session to review labs together.
So she made the switch.
And she didn’t stop there. She surveyed her clients, watched how they used the content, and made thoughtful updates to improve both the experience and the outcomes.
Motherhood + Business: The Ultimate CEO Shift
One of the most inspiring parts of Nikki’s story is how she’s built a business that actually supports her life, especially as a mom.
With her first child, and now preparing for baby number two, she’s been able to stay home with her son, keep serving her clients, and still have the freedom to grow her business on her terms.
Becoming a mom pushed her to truly embrace her CEO role. She delegated more, focused only on high-impact work, and built systems that didn’t depend on her being available 24/7.
“This business was always about creating something that could let me be both a mom and a practitioner. And this model has made that possible.” — Nikki Y.
Big Lessons From Nikki’s CEO Journey
If you’re feeling stuck in 1:1 overload, here are the key takeaways from Nikki’s journey:
1. Don’t Wait Until It’s Perfect
Start with what you have. Done is better than perfect. You can always refine later—but you can’t scale something that doesn’t exist.
2. Use Your 1:1 Work to Inform Your Program
The best curriculum comes from real client conversations. Record what you’re already saying and turn it into teachable content.
3. Structure = Better Results
Your clients actually want a process. A clear path builds trust and helps them follow through—which means better outcomes and more testimonials.
4. You Can Always Adjust
Recorded videos or live sessions? Labs or no labs? You get to decide—and you can change it anytime. You’re the CEO.
5. Hybrid Doesn’t Mean Less Value
A well-designed program that combines education and coaching can outperform pure 1:1. It gives clients the space to learn and the support to implement.
6. Your Business Should Serve Your Life
Especially if you’re a parent, your model needs to give you flexibility. Scaling doesn’t have to mean more hours—it can mean smarter systems.
Ready to Build Your Own Scalable Offer?
Nikki’s success isn’t just about tools or templates. It’s about courage.
She chose to stop doing what wasn’t working and start building what she really wanted.
If you’re craving more time, more impact, and more income, and you’re tired of spinning your wheels in one-on-one overload, it’s time to create something scalable.
Whether that’s a hybrid program model like Nikki’s or something uniquely yours, I’d love to help you build it.
Click HERE to learn more about the coaching program Nikki did with me!
Let Nikki’s journey be your proof: you can have a business that supports the life you want. I’m here to help you make it happen.
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