Scaling your business is one of the most exciting — and risky — steps an entrepreneur can take. It requires not just ambition, but strategic foresight, industry awareness, and a willingness to adapt. Few stories capture that balance better than Ray Miller’s — President of Energy Link, an oil field service company in Bakersfield that’s now pioneering innovation in hydrogen energy.
Ray’s journey from working alongside his father as a child selling “owls and wonders” (valves and liners) to becoming a hydrogen energy trailblazer offers valuable insight into how to evaluate and diversify into new industries — and what pitfalls to avoid when scaling your business.
From Oil Fields to Hydrogen: A Legacy of Adaptation
Ray Miller didn’t just stumble into energy. It’s in his DNA. After decades in the oil field services industry, he purchased Energy Link, a company he once competed against, because he admired its strong reputation and name recognition.
Energy Link started as a small oil field maintenance firm but evolved into a multifaceted energy services company under Miller’s leadership. Now, 25 years later, Ray has steered the company into a bold new direction — hydrogen.
Ray Miller, president of Energy Link in Bakersfield, CA discusses what you must know before scaling your business.
“Hydrogen is the fuel of the future,” Miller says. “When you consume it, there are zero emissions. As we grow to love our planet more and more, that becomes increasingly important.”
Evaluating the Next Industry: How to Choose Where to Diversify
When your current industry is changing — or shrinking — diversification is a lifeline. But knowing where to go next can make or break your company.
Before Energy Link moved into hydrogen, Miller asked three key questions:
Is it aligned with what we already do well?
Hydrogen is still a gas — and Energy Link’s team already specialized in gas systems, compressors, and pressure vessels. The transition made sense.
Can we leverage existing infrastructure and talent?
Scaling doesn’t always mean reinventing the wheel. Energy Link upskilled existing employees and invested in certifications that positioned them for hydrogen’s higher pressures and safety standards.
Is the timing right?
Miller recognized that hydrogen’s time is coming — not here yet, but close. That balance between early adoption and smart restraint defines strategic scaling.
“My job as CEO is to make sure we don’t go broke because of my hydrogen aspirations,” Miller laughs. “It’s a balancing act — staying profitable in what we do best while growing into the next opportunity.”
The Risks of Scaling Your Business Too Fast
Scaling isn’t just about growth — it’s about control. As Energy Link expanded, Miller learned that small details can snowball into costly mistakes if overlooked.
“Some of the little things escape you — office space, new computers, software licenses, even tax rule changes,” he says. “Delegation isn’t natural. It’s something you have to learn and keep learning.”
Common pitfalls when scaling:
Expanding into unfamiliar industries without clear alignment
Underestimating new infrastructure or certification costs
Overloading existing teams without strategic outsourcing
Failing to monitor profitability amid growth
The takeaway? Growth without focus can be just as dangerous as stagnation.
Balancing Passion and Profit
Every entrepreneur faces the tension between vision and viability. For Miller, hydrogen is both a passion and a strategic bet on the future.
But passion alone isn’t enough — timing and funding matter. That’s why Energy Link is developing “The Hydrogen Factory,” a concept designed to help others build hydrogen fueling stations, secure government grants, and maintain reliable systems as the clean energy revolution unfolds.
“We don’t make hydrogen,” Miller explains. “We make hydrogen happen.”
When Is It Time to Let the Government Step Back?
The hydrogen industry still relies heavily on government incentives. But Miller believes the real test will come when private sector investment takes over.
“The government helps us get started,” he says. “Once the price comes down and the technology is proven, it’s time for business competition to take over.”
Until then, companies like Energy Link are bridging the gap — combining industrial expertise with forward-looking innovation to make hydrogen not just possible, but profitable.
What Every Business Owner Should Remember When Scaling
Whether you’re in oil, tech, or retail — the principles of smart scaling remain the same:
Stay in your lane, but widen it strategically. Build from your strengths.
Diversify with purpose. Enter industries that align with your core capabilities.
Delegate early. Don’t try to wear every hat as your business grows.
Keep your passion in check. Big ideas need strong foundations.
Be patient with timing. The right industry at the wrong time can sink you.
“If you’re paying attention, you’ll get through it,” Miller says. “Some days are tough — but you keep showing up, and the solutions come.”
Final Thoughts
From the son of an oil salesman to a hydrogen pioneer, Ray Miller’s story is proof that scaling your business requires both courage and caution. Scaling your business isn’t about chasing every new trend — it’s about identifying the next right opportunity and preparing for it before the rest of the world catches up.
Because when preparation meets innovation, that’s when industries — and legacies — are made.
