Grow A Small Business Podcast
Troy Trewin
Our weekly 30 minute podcast helps you, a small business owner with 5 to 30 team members, take your company to the next level. The Grow A Small Business community, weekly cast, blog and leadership email supports leaders get through the pain of growth.
With insights, lessons learned, books and tools as well as habits these experienced small business owners suggest you develop, our interviews unearth tremendous value for anyone wanting to grow their business with less stress.
With insights, lessons learned, books and tools as well as habits these experienced small business owners suggest you develop, our interviews unearth tremendous value for anyone wanting to grow their business with less stress.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 7, 2025 • 17min
QFF: Leslie Hassler of Your Biz Rules shares how she helped a client grow from $125K to over $1M take-home pay using 90-day strategic plans, mindset shifts, and scalable systems—unlocking predictable profits and growth. (Episode 706 - Leslie Hassler)
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 speaks with Leslie Hassler, founder of Your Biz Rules, shares her journey of helping service-based entrepreneurs scale with confidence and clarity. Leslie dives into her proprietary Scaling Rich Method and explains how focusing on predictable profitability, 90-day strategic planning, and mindset shifts can unlock exponential growth. She discusses a powerful case study where a client grew from $125K to over $1M in take-home pay within a few years. Leslie emphasizes that growth doesn't have to mean burnout—and that business success is about building systems, leveraging the right team, and not doing it all alone. Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners: Profitability Comes First – Focus on making your business predictably profitable before scaling; cash is the fuel for growth. Use 90-Day Strategic Plans – Long-term visions are important, but 90-day plans keep goals achievable, focused, and easier to execute. Mindset Matters – Often, the biggest growth barrier is in your head. Let go of limiting beliefs and be open to what's truly possible. Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for? You Don't Have to Do It Alone – There's no trophy for burnout—leverage experts, teams, and advisors to lighten the load and scale smarter. Growth Can Be Exponential, Not Just Incremental – With the right foundations, systems, and timing, rapid growth is achievable without chaos. One-Size-Fits-All Doesn't Work – Every business is different. Custom strategies based on data and current business needs outperform cookie-cutter solutions. One action small business owners can take: According to Leslie Hassler, one action small business owners can take is to create a focused 90-day strategic plan based on real business data—this helps identify low-hanging fruit, prioritize actions, and build momentum toward scalable growth. 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: There's no trophy for doing it all alone—build a team and scale smarter — Leslie Hassler Predictable profits are the foundation of sustainable growth — Leslie Hassler Mindset is the biggest barrier between you and the business you dream of — Leslie Hassler

Aug 5, 2025 • 58min
Suzanna Chaplin of ESP Connect on Growing to £1.5M, Building a 17M+ Email List, Clearing £250K Debt, and Launching the UK First Email Retargeting Tech That Matches Anonymous Site Visitors with Emails for Better Conversions. (Episode 705 - Suzanna Chapli
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Suzanna Chaplin, founder of ESB Connect, shares her incredible journey from starting an email marketing business with her father to building a powerhouse with over 17 million email addresses and £1.5M in revenue. She opens up about overcoming £250K in debt, navigating the emotional toll of a family business, and pioneering the UK's first email retargeting tech that matches anonymous site visitors with emails. Suzanna also dives into scaling with profitability, building a resilient team, and why owning your audience is more critical than ever. Her story is packed with real challenges, bold moves, and powerful insights for any business owner chasing sustainable growth. 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 Suzanna Chaplin, the hardest thing in growing a small business is navigating the emotional rollercoaster—the constant ups and downs. One day everything feels great with strong sales and a happy team, and the next day, key clients might pull budgets or team members might resign. It's the ability to stay consistent, keep showing up every day, and push through the tough times that truly tests a business owner's resilience. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Suzanna Chaplin's favorite business books that have helped her the most include "Winners" by Alastair Campbell for its insight into what makes successful people tick, and "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey, which she values for its lessons on communication and understanding people's core motivations. She also mentioned "Good to Great" by Jim Collins and books by Adam Grant as powerful resources that have shaped her business thinking. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Suzanna Chaplin recommends several powerful podcasts and online resources to help grow a small business, including How I Built This by Guy Raz for inspiring founder stories, Diary of a CEO for raw and insightful conversations (especially earlier episodes), and Sweat Equity by the founders of Hype for practical branding tips. She also suggests Founders for deep dives into entrepreneurial mindsets and The Spark by Emma Grede for valuable perspectives from a female founder's lens. Suzanna emphasizes that podcasts, books, and mentorship have been key to her learning, offering real-world solutions to everyday business challenges. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Suzanna Chaplin recommends Xero as a must-have tool to grow a small business, emphasizing the importance of knowing your numbers and staying on top of cash flow. While it may seem basic, having clear visibility into your finances is crucial for making smart decisions. She also highlights the value of implementing a solid CRM system as the business scales, helping manage team workflows, forecasting, and client communication more efficiently. These tools, she says, are essential for building a strong operational foundation. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Suzanna Chaplin's advice to herself on day one of starting out in business would be: "It's going to be okay—keep going and stay consistent." She emphasizes the importance of trusting the journey, making quicker decisions when needed (especially around hiring), and not holding onto people or situations that no longer serve the business. She'd also remind herself to stay organized, believe in her instincts, and understand that the hard days will pass—and every small step forward adds up to big progress. 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: You don't truly own your audience until you own their email address – Suzanna Chaplin Every small step you take during hard times becomes a giant leap in hindsight – Suzanna Chaplin Delegation isn't weakness — it's the key to real growth – Suzanna Chaplin

Aug 2, 2025 • 40min
Stephen Candelmo of Paralex reveals how he's revolutionizing small business law with AI, slashing costs by 80%, doubling clients every quarter & exposing the risky truth behind using ChatGPT as your DIY legal advisor. (Episode 704 - Stephen Candelmo)
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Stephen Candelmo, founder and CEO of Paralex, a groundbreaking legal tech platform transforming how small businesses access legal support. Stephen shares how Paralex leverages AI to deliver fixed-fee legal services that are up to 80% cheaper than traditional law firms—making legal help more accessible for startups and small companies. He opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, pivoting from marketing tech to legal innovation, and building a scalable SaaS model with a human-in-the-loop approach. We also discuss the risks of relying solely on tools like ChatGPT for legal advice and the importance of blending tech with real legal expertise. Stephen's insights are a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of law, AI integration, and startup growth. 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 Stephen Candelmo, the hardest thing in growing a small business is having patience and faith when things are hard—which, he emphasizes, is often. He highlights how the journey is rarely linear and requires resilience through constant ups and downs. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? According to Stephen Candelmo, his favorite business book that has helped him the most is "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. He admires how the book outlines the art and science of elevating an organization from being merely good to truly great. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? According to Stephen Candelmo, a great podcast he recommends for entrepreneurs is "How I Built This", which offers inspiring stories from founders about building their businesses. He also highlights the use of ChatGPT (GPT-4) as a powerful online tool—calling it his "consultant" and "thought partner"—for strategic thinking and exploring business ideas. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Stephen Candelmo recommends Dripify as a valuable tool to grow a small business. It's especially useful for automated LinkedIn outreach, helping small business owners connect with prospects through personalized messaging campaigns to generate leads and meetings. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? According to Stephen Candelmo, the advice he would give himself on day one of starting out in business is: "It's going to take time — keep on believing. One day at a 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: When you combine need, experience, and passion, you find purpose — Stephen Candelmo If you take everything personally, you're focusing on the wrong thing — Stephen Candelmo Success is when your customers start referring you without being asked — Stephen Candelmo

Jul 31, 2025 • 26min
QFF: Harriet Mellor of Your Sales Co shares how she helped small businesses boost revenue by 300% using deep-dive sales audits, reignite campaigns, smarter messaging, and a rock-solid follow-up system that actually converts. (Episode 703 - Harriet Mellor)
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 speaks with Harriet Mellor, founder of Your Sales Co, joins the podcast to share how she helps small businesses unlock major revenue growth through strategic sales enablement. With a background in tech and cybersecurity, Harriet dives into how deep-dive sales audits, reignite campaigns, and clear messaging frameworks can lead to a 300% increase in revenue. She emphasizes the importance of qualifying leads properly, following up with intent, and building personalized sales processes. Harriet also highlights common mistakes small teams make and how consistent activity tracking can change the game. Her practical, people-focused approach makes sales strategy accessible and effective for growing businesses. Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners: Start with a Sales Audit: Get a clear picture of how your team communicates, qualifies leads, and follows up—this diagnostic is the foundation for smarter strategy. Reignite Past Opportunities: Don't ignore old leads. Revisit past prospects with improved messaging and a consistent follow-up process to uncover hidden revenue. Messaging Matters: If people don't quickly understand what you do, you're losing business. Use clear, relatable language to explain your offering confidently. Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for? Don't Over-Propose, Qualify More: Most businesses jump to proposals too fast. Spend more time understanding the prospect's real pain before pitching a solution. Follow-Up Like a Pro: One follow-up isn't enough. Use structured sequences across email, phone, and LinkedIn to stay top of mind and close more deals. Track Activity, Not Just Results: Monitor sales activities like calls, meetings, and outreach—not just revenue—to catch issues early and keep your pipeline healthy. One action small business owners can take: According to Harriet Mellor, one action small business owners can take is to implement a structured follow-up process after every sales conversation—by setting the next meeting before ending the current one, they can maintain momentum and avoid losing warm leads. 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: If your prospect doesn't understand what you do in two minutes, you've already lost them — Harriet Mellor Activity drives results—track it before missed targets become your wake-up call — Harriet Mellor The magic isn't in the proposal, it's in how well you qualify before sending it — Harriet Mellor

Jul 29, 2025 • 36min
Maria Nicholas Groves on Growing Talent Growth Partners from $350K to $2M with 6 Staff & 10 Contractors, Serving Clients Nationwide, and Achieving an Impressive NPS of 88 with Client-Obsessed Leadership. (Episode 702 - Maria Nicholas Groves)
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Maria Nicholas Groves, founder of Talent Growth Partners, based in Milwaukee, USA. Starting in 2016, Maria built her talent advisory firm from $350K in year one to just under 2 million, growing 20% year over year. The business offers leadership development, coaching, fractional HR, and full-cycle recruiting with a team of 6 FTEs and 10 contractors. Maria shares how her team maintains an impressive Net Promoter Score of 88 by obsessing over client success. She also discusses the importance of culture, hiring for alignment, and consistently celebrating wins while scaling. 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 Maria Nicholas Groves, the hardest thing is balancing the need to consistently celebrate wins while also pushing toward future goals and ensuring the team stays aligned with the evolving vision. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Maria Nicholas Groves shared that her favorite business book is What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith, as it highlights the importance of staying agile and continually growing as a leader. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Maria Nicholas Groves shared that she starts each day with the Optimal Living Daily podcast. It's a short and diverse resource that helps set a positive mindset, drawing lessons from various authors and thought leaders. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? According to Maria Nicholas Groves, LinkedIn Learning is a great resource, along with leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT, CoPilot, or Gemini to increase efficiency. She also emphasizes understanding your personal learning style to maximize growth. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Maria Nicholas Groves shared that if she could give herself advice on day one, it would be: "Don't play small." She believes in going after big goals with confidence from the very beginning. 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: Building a kick-ass culture is just as important as having a healthy sales pipeline – Maria Nicholas Groves The companies that win are the ones that never take their eye off both sales and delivery – Maria Nicholas Groves Leadership is about aligning your team around vision while staying obsessed with client success – Maria Nicholas Groves

Jul 27, 2025 • 52min
From $3.5K to $28M: Jeremy Ames of Guidant Financial on Helping 35,000+ Retirees Use Retirement Funds to Launch Businesses — A Journey of Grit, Smart Growth & Changing Lives Through Entrepreneurship. (Episode 701 - Jeremy Ames)
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Jeremy Ames, co-founder of Guidant Financial, who turned a $3.5K startup into a $28 million powerhouse helping over 35,000 retirees use their retirement funds to start businesses. Jeremy shares his journey of building a 250-person team across five countries, the challenges of scaling, and the importance of customer insight and culture. With over two decades of experience, he reflects on key mindset shifts, lessons from failure, and how clarity, grit, and adaptability shaped his success in business. 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 Jeremy Ames, the hardest part of growing a small business is managing the emotional rollercoaster while continuing to move forward. There are moments of doubt, tough decisions, and setbacks — but staying focused through it all is key. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Jeremy Ames shared that The High-Velocity Edge is the business book that helped him the most. It transformed how he thinks about scaling, continuous improvement, and building systems that allow a business to grow sustainably. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Jeremy Ames recommends resources like Audible, Blinkist, and listening to diverse podcasts. He credits his creativity to constantly consuming ideas from various sources and combining them in unique ways to solve business challenges. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Jeremy emphasized the importance of building a solid financial projection model. He believes it's the most powerful planning tool for any entrepreneur—it helps clarify assumptions, prepare for roadblocks, and guide decision-making. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? According to Jeremy Ames, if he could go back to day one, he would tell himself to talk to customers early and often. Deep customer understanding would've helped shape a better product, stronger marketing, and faster success. 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: If you can't see the problem, you can't solve it—visibility is where all growth begins — Jeremy Ames Success isn't about doing more, it's about doing what matters most with clarity and intention — Jeremy Ames You don't need more money to start a business—you need a problem worth solving — Jeremy Ames

Jul 24, 2025 • 11min
QFF: Troy Trewin on Beating Burnout, Scaling Lark Distillery, and Launching Grow A Small Business's Free Course That's Helped 100+ Owners Work Smarter, Stress Less & Win Back Time. (Episode 700 - Troy Trewin)
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! To celebrate our epic 700th episode, we're going behind the scenes with Troy Trewin, Founder of Grow A Small Business, shares his journey from burnout to balance, highlighting his leadership at Lark Distillery and the New Zealand Whisky Collection. He reveals how a life-changing moment in Bali inspired him to create the free Transform Your Performance course. The course has already helped over 100 small business owners and their teams work smarter, reduce stress, and reclaim their time. Troy discusses practical productivity tips, mindset shifts, and the power of simplicity in business. This episode is packed with real stories, proven tools, and powerful insights for every small business owner. Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners: Ditch Morning Meetings – Protect Your Power Hours: Troy swears by keeping his mornings meeting-free to do two deep 90-minute focus sprints. Your brain is sharpest early—use it to tackle the big stuff, not check calendars! Hustle Less, Achieve More: Forget the hustle culture hype. Productivity isn't about grinding—it's about building smart, lasting habits that let you work less and get better results. Say No, or Not Yet – Prioritize Like a Pro: When everything is a priority, nothing is. Learning to say "no" or "not yet" helps you focus on what actually moves the needle in your business. Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for? Inbox Lockdown = Game Changer: Troy uses a tool to block email access during work blocks—because "just checking" often turns into hours lost. Control your inbox before it controls you. Use the 'Success List' – Not a To-Do List: Forget endless to-do lists. Troy's simple 2-page "Success List" system helps you plan your week with intention, reduce stress, and finish each day with purpose. Burnout Isn't a Badge – It's a Warning Sign: Troy hit burnout four times before realizing something had to change. Your business won't thrive if you're running on empty—prioritize balance, or you'll pay the price. One action small business owners can take: According to Troy Trewin, one action small business owners can take is to block out their mornings for deep, distraction-free work—no meetings, no emails—just 90-minute sprints focused on high-impact tasks that drive real results. 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: If everything's a priority, nothing truly gets done – Troy Trewin Productivity isn't about doing more, it's about doing what matters most – Troy Trewin Real growth happens when you stop saying yes to everything – Troy Trewin

Jul 22, 2025 • 1h 5min
How Kerry Boulton of Exit Strategy Group Tripled a Freight Biz to $50M with 63 Staff, Now Guides Owners to Be 'Exit Ready' & Spot Their Alan Bond Moment — Secrets on Cash, People & Freedom from 38 Yrs in Business. (Episode 699 - Kerry Boulton)
In this episode of Grow a Small Business host Troy Trewin interviews Kerry Boulton from Exit Strategy Group, who shares her incredible journey of buying a freight business doing $16M and growing it to $50M with the same 63 staff. Kerry reveals how she executed a strategic exit after seven years, then went on to build and sell multiple ventures. Now through The Exit Strategy Group, she mentors owners on being "always exit ready," balancing business, financial, and personal goals. She discusses the power of systems, the Value Builder tool, and finding your "Alan Bond moment." Kerry's story is a masterclass in scaling, cash flow, people, and creating true freedom. 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. Maximise Your Business Sale Price To Meet Your Expectations! How to Exit Your Business Feeling Fulfilled Personally Satisfied and Have the Biggest Pay Day of Your Life 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 Kerry Boulton, the hardest thing in growing a small business is managing cash flow. Growth eats up cash faster than most owners expect, and many don't realize how easily they can run into a squeeze. She says you've got to keep a constant eye on cash, plan ahead, and understand that scaling up often means funding gaps you need to prepare for. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Kerry shares that her favorite business book is "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey, which she says gave her a rock-solid foundation for both business and life. She also loves "The Great Game of Business" by Jack Stack for teaching how to build financial literacy and an ownership mindset in your team. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? For podcasts and learning resources, Kerry highly recommends "Built to Sell Radio" by John Warrillow, which dives into making your business more valuable and sellable. She also likes "Business Lunch" with Roland Frasier & Ryan Deiss, plus the Exit Planning Institute's podcast. And of course, she's a fan of Troy's Grow Small Business Podcast, which she appeared on. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? When it comes to tools, Kerry swears by the Value Builder System, which helps owners see their business through a buyer's eyes, score it across key value drivers, and figure out exactly where to improve to maximize value and exit readiness. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? If she could give herself advice on day one of starting out in business, Kerry laughs and says she'd simply tell herself to "buckle up," because it's going to be a hell of a ride—full of challenges, personal growth, and ultimately the chance to create freedom and live life on her own terms. 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: Always run your business as if you'll sell it tomorrow — that's how you build something truly valuable — Kerry Boulton Buckle up — because business is the best roller coaster ride you'll ever take — Kerry Boulton Cash is the oxygen of your business; ignore it and you'll suffocate — Kerry Boulton

Jul 20, 2025 • 33min
Scott Cundill of My Most Trusted on Growing to $1M Revenue & 20%+ YoY, How a BNI Philippines Pilot Transformed His Biz, Building 100-100 Networks & Why Free Diving Helps Him Stay Sane While Leading Ethical Networking. (Episode 698 - Scott Cundill)
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Scott Cundill, founder of My Most Trusted, a platform that overlays LinkedIn and Zoom to build genuine, trust-based business connections. Scott shares how he grew the business to around $1M AUD annual revenue (equivalent), scaling at 20-30% per year while staying fully bootstrapped. He dives into the power of his 100-100 network strategy, explains how a pilot with BNI Philippines became a turning point for their white-label model, and talks about why he's passionate about creating ethical, human-to-human networking over spammy automation. Scott also reveals how free diving in Okinawa keeps him grounded as he continues to grow his business. 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 Scott Cundill, the hardest thing in growing a small business is getting enough revenue to keep going, especially to consistently cover staff and operational costs. He also pointed out how tough it can be managing team dynamics — making sure you have the right people who can adapt as the business changes. For him, if you can secure steady revenue and build a team that evolves with you, you're already overcoming the biggest hurdles. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Scott Cundill didn't name a single favorite business book, but said he's most helped by books and resources about understanding different personality types — like those based on DISC, Myers-Briggs, and the Enneagram. For Scott, learning how to quickly read people and spot hidden agendas has been one of the most valuable skills in business. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Scott Cundill didn't specifically recommend any podcasts or typical online learning resources. Instead, he highlighted that he finds the most value in tools and materials that help understand personality types, like DISC, Myers-Briggs, and the Enneagram. These have helped him navigate human behavior in business far more than traditional professional development content. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Scott Cundill's top recommendation is his own tool, My Most Trusted. He firmly believes in using it (or at least building the same concept) to create a 100-100 network — that's 100 people you deeply know, like, and trust, each with their own 100 trusted connections, opening up 10,000 warm opportunities. For Scott, this is hands down the best way to grow a small business. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Scott Cundill's advice to his younger self on day one would be: "Build your network early and keep nurturing it." He emphasized that the contacts and friendships you make at the start often become your strongest allies and best business opportunities down the road — just like an alumni network you create for yourself. 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: Build a 100-100 network and you'll never run out of doors to knock on — Scott Cundill Learn to spot hidden agendas early; it'll save you years of pain — Scott Cundill One good meeting can change your life — nurture every connection — Scott Cundill

Jul 17, 2025 • 20min
QFF: Joel Salomon of SaLaurMor: Former Hedge Fund Manager Turned Prosperity Coach Helping Spiritual Entrepreneurs Triple Income by Shifting Money Mindset, Pricing with Confidence, and Acting As If to Manifest Business Success. (Episode 697 - Joel Salomon)
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 speaks with Joel Salomon, founder of SaLaurMor, a former hedge fund manager turned prosperity coach. Joel now helps spiritual entrepreneurs shift their limiting beliefs around money and implement strategies to grow their businesses. He shares the powerful story of helping a client triple her income and quit her job within 60 days. A key takeaway from the episode is the concept of "acting as if", where entrepreneurs start behaving like their future successful selves. Joel also emphasizes that mindset without strategy—and vice versa—won't lead to lasting success. This episode is packed with practical tools to break through financial and visibility blocks. Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners: Shift Your Money Mindset: Joel emphasizes that most business owners carry limiting beliefs about money. To grow, you must replace thoughts like "I can't afford it" with empowering beliefs of abundance and prosperity. Act As If You're Already Successful: Visualize your future business success and start making decisions from that mindset. Whether it's interviewing a new team member or planning a big event, acting as if helps you attract what you want. Charge What You're Worth: Underpricing your services creates an imbalance. Joel encourages business owners to price according to the transformation they provide—because helping clients achieve their dreams is priceless. Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for? Align Strategy With Mindset: Having the right systems without a strong mindset—or vice versa—limits growth. Lasting success comes when belief and business strategy work hand-in-hand. Embrace Sales and Marketing: Many entrepreneurs, especially in spiritual fields, shy away from selling. Joel stresses that selling is serving—and visibility is key to helping more people. Tailor Your Business Strategy: Avoid cookie-cutter solutions. Joel's approach is to work with each client individually, ensuring their strategies align with their personality, values, and goals. One action small business owners can take: According to Joel Salomon, one action small business owners can take is to "act as if" their business is already successful — whether that means visualizing higher revenue, drafting a future team structure, or planning a celebration for hitting big goals. By aligning their mindset and behavior with their desired outcome, they start attracting the results they want faster. 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: Doubt the doubt—have faith in your dream – Joel Salomon Act as if success is already yours, and it will follow – Joel Salomon Strategy without belief is wasted effort – Joel Salomon


