Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode, Troy Trewin interviews Caulen Foster, the co-founder of Brain Power Agency, a marketing agency that specialises in building, managing, and growing ecosystems for direct-to-consumer, native brands online. Caulen shares the challenges of scaling a service business, highlighting that managing people is the toughest part due to the variables around human beings. He also discusses his previous business experience, where he failed to understand unit economics and financial literacy, leading to the business' downfall. Caulen emphasises the importance of these key metrics for success. Other Resources: Marketing Funding Flywheel Ebook Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: 1. What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Caulen Foster, co-founder of Brain Power Agency, says the hardest thing is managing people. He emphasises that people are the toughest part to scale due to the variables around human beings. 2 .What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? Caulen recommends two marketing books that have been game-changers for him: "Breakthrough Advertising" by Eugene Schwartz and "The 16-Word Sales Letter" by Drayton Bird. He says these books have fundamentally changed the way he writes copy and understands direct response marketing. 3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Caulen is a big reader and mentions that he's constantly investing in his own professional development through books, masterminds, and training programs. He particularly enjoys learning about human psychology and how it applies to marketing and sales. 4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Caulen suggests a great CRM (customer relationship management) system, such as GoHighLevel, as a crucial tool for small businesses. He emphasises the importance of having the right infrastructure in place to capture and nurture leads effectively. 5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Caulen's advice to his younger self would be to be patient, resilient, and ready for the challenges ahead. He stresses the importance of understanding that building a successful business takes time and that being prepared to weather the ups and downs is key. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: "People are the toughest thing to scale, because there's so many variables around human beings." - Caulen Foster "I would say my biggest mindset shift is probably understanding that things take time. Great things take time. There's a part of me that used to be very like, you know, I would think of something while I'm in the middle of something shiny object syndrome." - Caulen Foster "Be resilient. You literally replace that within a month and more just by like, all right, it happens. It sucks. It's a little scary." - Caulen Foster

QFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse! Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week. Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends! In this episode of Quick Fire Friday, Troy Trewin, Founder of Grow A Small Business emphasizes the importance of professional development (PD) for small business owners, advocating for a significant time investment in learning resources like books, podcasts, and online courses. He personally dedicates over 14 hours a week to PD, equating to 1300 hours annually, which helps him generate new business ideas and improve his seven businesses. Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners: Invest in professional development (PD) through resources like books, podcasts, and online courses. Troy dedicates over 14 hours per week to PD, which equates to 1,300 hours per year and allows him to continuously improve his own businesses and better assist his clients. Be intentional about how you consume PD content. Don't try to multitask - focus solely on the PD material to get the most value. Instead, consume it during "dead time" like driving, cleaning, or light physical activities. Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for? Recommended PD resources include: Mark Whitson's "Mini MBA in Marketing" online course Troy's own "Transform Your Performance" free 2-week online course The "Mid 2024" and "Built to Sell Radio" podcasts Implement strategies to maximize your PD time, such as listening at 1.5x or 2x speed, and utilizing a Spotify Premium subscription to access free audiobooks. Continuously seek out PD opportunities and be open to expanding your knowledge in various aspects of your business, from sales and operations to marketing and team management. The key is to make PD a consistent habit and priority as a small business owner, as it can significantly contribute to your business growth and personal development. One action small business owners can take: Troy Trewin suggests committing to increasing your weekly professional development (PD) hours. He emphasizes the importance of investing significant time into PD, sharing that he dedicates over 14 hours per week to consuming books, podcasts, and other educational resources. He encourages listeners to ramp up their own PD efforts, as it allows him to continuously improve his own businesses as well as better assist his clients. Do you have 2 minutes every Friday? Sign up to the Weekly Leadership Email. It's free and we can help you to maximize your time. Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. 👇 Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: "PD is not just about casts and books, investing online courses too. We'll give you two great ones to make a start." - Troy Trewin "People consume 6x more content on podcasts than on audio books. And Australians are the highest consumers of podcasts in the world. Per capita, 40% of adults listen to at least one episode a week, and 10% six or more a week." - Troy Trewin "I invest over 14 hours a week on two speed. That's 28 hours a week of content, or 1300 hours a year. The average audio book running around nine hours. If I just stuck to books, that means I would get through an incredible 144 books each year." - Troy Trewin

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Ilana Wechsler from Sydney, founder of Green Arrow Digital. Ilana shares her journey from corporate life to building two six-figure businesses, mastering Google Ads, and achieving work-life balance. She reveals how strategic investments, a focus on client retention, and adapting to AI-driven changes have fueled her success while supporting businesses worldwide. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Ilana Wechsler, the hardest thing in growing a small business is when business owners have to wear many different hats and are not large enough to hire people to alleviate the business owner to do what they are best at1. She mentions that this was a struggle that she found herself in and why her growth was not as significant as it could have been. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? Ilana Wechsler's favorite business books include "Buy Back Your Time" by Dan Martell, which highlights the power of delegation to scale effectively, Alex Hormozi's "100M Offers" and "100M Leads", which helped her refine lead generation strategies, and Jay Abraham's "Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Got", which shaped her focus on maximizing value for existing customers over solely chasing new ones. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Ilana Wechsler recommends several resources for small business growth, including podcasts and online learning tools. She suggests listening to James Schramko's podcast, as he is a long-time mentor, and the podcast "How I Built This"1. For online learning, she highly recommends using Google Ads, noting that while its effectiveness depends on the business type, it can be very beneficial. Additionally, she advocates starting a YouTube channel as a powerful, long-term strategy for business growth that provides stable and lasting results, offering more sustainability than social media. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Ilana Wechsler recommends several key tools and resources for small business growth, primarily focusing on online strategies. She considers Google Ads to be a top recommendation for its effectiveness in reaching potential customers at the point of search, but also emphasizes starting a YouTube channel for long-term, stable results. Furthermore, she stresses the importance of understanding your key business numbers. She also notes that other effective strategies include podcasting and speaking at events. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? If Ilana Wechsler could go back to day one of starting her business, she would tell herself that it's going to be harder than you think and that she was very naive going in. She would also advise herself to focus on enjoying the journey, because once you reach one goal, you'll just move to the next one. She emphasizes you have to enjoy the journey because you'll never reach a point where you don't want to grow anymore. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Success isn't about money; it's about the freedom to do what you love while serving others well — Ilana Wechsler Google Ads is like sliding your business card under the nose of someone ready to buy—it's an opportunity you can't ignore — Ilana Wechsler Your business thrives when you focus relentlessly on your existing customers — Ilana Wechsler

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Scott Maynard, co-founder of Excite Media, a Brisbane-based marketing agency specializing in digital marketing for service-based businesses. Scott, an electrical engineer with a background in software development, brings over 20 years of experience to the marketing industry. Excite Media has grown from a two-person startup to a 40-employee company generating $5.6 million in revenue. Scott attributes their success to prioritizing team happiness, client satisfaction, and financial sustainability. They foster a positive work environment through a 4-day work week and open feedback channels. Other Resources: An easy way to measure if your customers love you in 21 minutes – use the Net Promoter Score (NPS). And it's FREE. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Scott Maynard, co-founder of Excite Media, believes the hardest thing in growing a small business is juggling the various demands and feeling pulled in different directions. He compares the experience to navigating an obstacle course in the dark or juggling Rubik's cubes while facing unexpected challenges. This feeling arises from the need to manage multiple priorities simultaneously as the business expands. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? One of the business books mentioned in the podcast you uploaded is "100 Million Dollar Offers" by Alex Hormozi. It's highly recommended for understanding how to create compelling offers that can transform a business. The guest also praises it for its insights on objection handling and structuring marketable offers​. For my personal favorite, I would highlight "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries, as it provides a practical approach to building businesses that focus on continuous innovation and learning—a principle useful across industries. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Scott Maynard highly recommends seeking out podcasts and online resources that are specific to your industry. He also suggests exploring content from individuals like Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary V) and Warren Buffet, who offer valuable insights applicable to various business aspects. Maynard emphasizes the importance of being curious and choosing materials that resonate with your needs. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Scott Maynard suggests that learning how to use a spreadsheet is a valuable tool for growing a small business. While it may not seem glamorous, spreadsheets are incredibly versatile for tasks like business planning, number crunching, and financial forecasting. He emphasizes that mastering this fundamental tool can empower business owners to make informed decisions and manage their operations effectively. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Looking back on his 20-year entrepreneurial journey, Scott Maynard would advise his younger self to be patient, maintain consistency, and focus on the business fundamentals. He emphasizes that success is not a get-rich-quick scheme but rather a result of sustained effort and dedication over time. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Know your numbers. You can't make good decisions unless you know the numbers — Scott Maynard Define your culture and accept that it's not going to be for everyone. That's fine — Scott Maynard Do the fundamentals well and cover your weaknesses by surrounding yourself with people who complement your strengths — Scott Maynard

QFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse! Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week. Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends! In this episode of Quick Fire Friday, host Rob Cameron interviews Rob Cameron sits down with Amanda Jones from Grow A Small Business to explore the secrets to marketing success for small businesses. Amanda shares her expertise on measuring ROI, the importance of brand building, and actionable strategies for customer acquisition. With practical insights and real-world examples, she highlights how small businesses can make confident marketing investments. Whether you're looking to improve your metrics or scale your growth, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. Don't miss Amanda's expert tips on unlocking your business's potential! Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners: Know Your Numbers: Track essential metrics like customer acquisition cost (CAC) and lifetime value (LTV) to evaluate your marketing ROI effectively and make informed investment decisions. Balance Brand Building and Lead Generation: Allocate your marketing budget wisely, with around 50-60% focused on long-term brand building and the rest on short-term lead acquisition efforts. Test and Monitor Continuously: Success in marketing comes from testing, monitoring, and refining. Experiment with different channels, content, and campaigns to find what works best for your audience. Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for? Leverage Low-Cost, High-Impact Channels: Email marketing remains one of the most cost-effective tools, offering both brand-building and lead-generation opportunities with an impressive ROI. Start Small, Scale Smart: When trying new marketing channels or campaigns, begin with a modest budget and scale up gradually based on measurable results and trends. Tailor Strategies to Your Audience: Understand your target audience's needs and behaviors. Personalize your messaging and use storytelling to connect authentically and build trust. One action small business owners can take: According to Amanda Jones, small business owners should prioritize tracking essential metrics like Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Lifetime Value (LTV). This foundational step helps evaluate marketing efforts, optimize budget allocation, and identify opportunities for growth. By understanding these numbers, you can confidently make data-driven decisions to drive success. Do you have 2 minutes every Friday? Sign up to the Weekly Leadership Email. It's free and we can help you to maximize your time. Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. 👇 Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Marketing is about testing, monitoring, and refining to find what truly works for your business — Amanda Jones Know your numbers – metrics like CAC and LTV are the compass for smart marketing investments — Amanda Jones Confident marketing decisions come from understanding your audience and your data — Amanda Jones

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Susan Toft, founder of The Laundry Lady, shares her journey from starting solo in 2012 to growing her business to $6 million in annual revenue. The company now boasts over 300 contractors and operates across Australia and New Zealand. Susan highlights the unique flexibility her platform offers, empowering families and communities. She discusses scaling challenges, bootstrapping success, and plans for further growth with investments. A must-listen for anyone inspired by innovative, customer-focused business models! Other Resources: From $50K to 8 Figures: Kristi Herold on Building JAM's 450-Person Team, 11 Acquisitions & a Culture of Play From Teen Lawn Mower to $20M App: Bryan Clayton's Journey to 200K Customers & 22 FTE 30 Years of Expertise: Matt Raad's Strategies to Skyrocket Your Business Success Angel Investment Secrets: Liz Raad's Blueprint for Million-Dollar Business Succes The "Marketing Funding Flywheel" eBook outlines how to strategically align marketing investments with funding metrics like CLV and CAC to create a self-sustaining cycle of growth for small businesses. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Susan Toft highlights cash flow management as the hardest aspect of growing a small business. She explains that consistent challenges with managing finances, especially in the early stages, can lead to moments of doubt about whether the effort is worth it. Understanding financials is critical, but even with that knowledge, limited resources and reinvestment needs can make the journey especially tough. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? Susan Toft's favorite business book is "Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight, the memoir of Nike's co-founder. She finds it particularly impactful because it candidly portrays the realities of business growth, especially challenges like managing cash flow during different stages of the business. She appreciates its honesty about the struggles and successes of building a business​. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Susan Toft prefers listening to a variety of podcasts that focus on the journeys and stories of entrepreneurs. She values learning from real-life challenges and successes shared by others, as these stories can be motivating and relatable. While she doesn't follow specific podcasts exclusively, she enjoys exploring diverse options to gain insights and inspiration for growing a small business. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Susan Toft highlights the importance of having an accounting system that provides clear insights into your financials. She specifically values tools that allow access via mobile devices, enabling her to manage business operations effectively while balancing personal responsibilities. This flexibility helps her stay informed and in control of cash flow and finances, which she considers critical for business growth​. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Susan Toft's advice to herself on day one of starting out in business would be to "just keep going." She emphasizes the importance of perseverance, acknowledging that there will be tough days filled with doubt, but persistence eventually leads to achieving goals and seeing rewards. Her message reflects the resilience needed to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Understanding your numbers is critical—your business success depends on it — Susan Toft Balance in business and life is about integration, not perfection — Susan Toft Stay true to your values — they are the foundation of sustainable success — Susan Toft

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Tim Calise, the driving force behind Business Tim Calise Consulting & Investing. Tim shares his journey from founding innovative startups in college to scaling Gym Launch into a $35M success. He provides valuable insights into financial education, business strategy, and how his consulting and investing ventures help entrepreneurs build scalable, efficient businesses. Don't miss his expert advice on growth, resilience, and making bold decisions! Other Resources: An easy way to measure if your customers love you in 21 minutes – use the Net Promoter Score (NPS). And it's FREE. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Tim Calise, the hardest thing in growing a small business is maintaining focus. He emphasizes the importance of staying in your lane and building capacity by hiring the right people. This ensures sustained growth and avoids distractions that can derail progress. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? Tim Calise cites "Buy Back Your Time" by Dan Martell as one of his favorite business books, offering actionable insights on optimizing time and leveraging resources effectively. He also recommends "Ready, Fire, Aim" by Michael Masterson (Mark Ford) for its practical strategies to grow businesses at different stages. These books have significantly influenced his entrepreneurial journey. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Tim Calise recommends The Business School Podcast by Shaan Puri and The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes for actionable business and personal growth insights. He also highlights Dan Bolton's YouTube channel for coaching and consulting professionals. Additionally, he suggests Nicholas Cole's book, "The Art and Business of Online Writing," to enhance communication and brand-building skills. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Tim Calise emphasizes the power of leveraging AI tools to grow a small business. He recommends using tools like ChatGPT for automation and content generation, Zapier for workflow automation, and other AI-driven platforms to streamline operations and improve efficiency. He encourages teams to aim for replacing 50% of their output with automation to maximize productivity and scalability. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Tim Calise advises his day-one self to stay focused, make lots of offers, and play the long game. He emphasizes building a strong network of people who support your journey and giving generously without expecting immediate reciprocity. His key message is, "It's going to be okay; stay committed and consistent." Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Focus on building capability, not just capacity, to achieve sustainable success — Tim Calise To win in business, build a vision big enough for others to fit their dreams inside — Tim Calise The best investment you can make is in yourself—collapse decades into days through learning — Tim Calise

QFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse! Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week. Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends! In this episode of Quick Fire Friday, host Michael Denehey interviews Lesley Van Tuil, General Manager of Brewlab Hobart, shares her journey of transforming a small brewpub into a thriving community hub. She discusses mastering delegation, leveraging destination marketing, and fostering unique customer experiences. Lesley reveals how these strategies have driven Brewlab's growth and created a welcoming space that embodies Tasmanian hospitality. Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners: Master Delegation: Effectively delegate tasks to focus on high-impact areas like marketing and strategy. Leverage Email Marketing: Build and segment an email list to directly engage with customers, promote events, and drive business growth. Foster Community Engagement: Collaborate with local businesses and listen to your community's needs to create meaningful connections and organic growth opportunities. Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for? Adapt and Evolve Roles: Reassess team roles regularly to ensure they align with your business's current needs and growth stage. Create a Unique Experience: Focus on exceptional, personalized customer service to differentiate your business and build loyalty. Be Open to Learning: Invest in training and transformation programs to gain fresh insights and refine your business approach. Focus on the Long Game: Build a business that supports not just financial growth but also work-life balance, enabling owners to take breaks without disruption. One action small business owners can take: Lesley Van Tuil advises small business owners to begin building and segmenting their email lists by utilizing booking platforms, QR codes, and partnerships with local businesses to gather customer data, enabling personalized marketing efforts that boost customer engagement and sales, as effectively implemented at Brew Lab. Do you have 2 minutes every Friday? Sign up to the Weekly Leadership Email. It's free and we can help you to maximize your time. Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. 👇 Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Delegation is the key to unlocking your business's true potential — Lesley Van Tuil Balance is the secret ingredient to both business success and personal happiness — Lesley Van Tuil A welcoming environment is what turns customers into lifelong fans — Lesley Van Tuil

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Kat Piachaud, Managing Director of Katalyse Consulting, shares her inspiring journey of growing her business from zero to $500,000 in revenue in just three years. Specializing in bookkeeping and CFO consulting, Kat reveals how she built a high-performing team across Australia and the Philippines while streamlining operations to achieve remarkable efficiency. She opens up about the challenges of rapid growth, the importance of work-life balance, and the lessons learned from scaling back to prioritize quality and sustainability. Kat's story is a testament to resilience, integrity, and the power of discipline in achieving business success. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Kat Piachaud, the hardest thing in growing a small business is managing yourself. This includes maintaining work-life balance, overcoming mental and emotional struggles, handling pressure, and staying disciplined and aligned with integrity. She emphasizes that personal growth and self-management are critical to business success, as challenges often stem from within the entrepreneur themselves. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? Kat Piachaud's favorite business book that has helped her the most is The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life. She found it to be very insightful, offering valuable lessons and principles applicable to both personal growth and business success. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Kat Piachaud recommends Layla and Alex Hormozi's podcasts for actionable insights and strategies to grow a small business. She also emphasizes the value of engaging with entrepreneurial podcasts to learn from the experiences of others. Networking with fellow entrepreneurs and leveraging their knowledge is another key resource she highlights, along with continuous exploration of business-focused online content to stay updated and inspired. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Kat Piachaud strongly recommends working with a coach or mentor as a key resource for growing a small business. She advises finding someone who has achieved the level of success you aspire to, ensuring they understand your challenges and can provide tailored guidance. This relationship can offer valuable insights, accountability, and strategies to help navigate the complexities of business growth. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? On day one of starting out in business, Kat Piachaud would advise herself to "Give everything a go. Say, Yes, there's no failure. There's just lessons." This reflects her belief in embracing opportunities, learning from mistakes, and maintaining a growth mindset throughout the entrepreneurial journey. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: There's no such thing as failure, only lessons to fuel growth — Kat Piachaud Discipline bridges the gap between burnout and sustainable success — Kat Piachaud Integrity is the backbone of business; it defines who you are — Kat Piachaud

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Callum Laing, founder of the Veblen Director Program, a global initiative helping individuals secure their first board seats and add value to businesses worldwide. Callum shares insights from his storied career in mergers and acquisitions, scaling businesses, and promoting diversity in boardrooms. Learn how Veblen grew to include over 200 members serving on 300+ boards and why he believes every entrepreneur should leverage advisory boards. Visit Callum Laing's website to explore his books, insights, and more about his mission to connect and empower future board leaders. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Callum Laing, one of the hardest things in growing a small business is finding the right team and keeping them aligned and motivated. He emphasizes that when you have the right people working together effectively, the journey becomes much easier. However, ensuring that team members remain engaged, focused, and inspired throughout the growth process is a key challenge many business owners face. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? Callum Laing's favorite business book that has helped him the most is "Legacy" by James Steven Cook. This book resonates with his focus on building and maintaining strong company cultures, particularly in the context of resilience and long-term success, which are central themes in his work with boards and M&A. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Callum Laing emphasizes reading and learning through books and networks over podcasts but highlights the value of mentorship and professional communities for growth. He recommends leveraging online courses and platforms like LinkedIn to connect with peers and gain insights. For actionable advice, his books "Progressive Partnerships" and "Boardroom Blueprint" are great resources. Explore more of his insights and tools for business growth at callumlaing.com. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Callum Laing recommends leveraging advisory boards as a key resource for growing a small business. He highlights how having a group of experienced advisors can provide strategic guidance, accountability, and access to valuable networks. This tool is especially impactful for small businesses aiming to scale effectively while benefiting from diverse perspectives and expertise. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Callum Laing reflects that the advice he would give his younger self is to listen more to the great advice from mentors and apply it. He admits that, in his early days, he either lacked the context to fully understand the advice or dismissed it with overconfidence. His key takeaway is to remain open, humble, and coachable, as following sound advice could have made his journey smoother and more successful. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: A strong board is the compass that guides your business through uncharted waters — Callum Laing Partnerships are the rocket fuel that propels businesses to new heights — Callum Laing Challenges are not obstacles, but opportunities in disguise — Callum Laing