Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this week's Quick Fire Friday episode, Michael interviews David Dilger. David is a specialized employment and safety lawyer in Edge Legal's newly formed Employment & Safety practice and is based in Hobart, Australia. David's role is to assist managers in becoming effective managers. Growing a business requires knowledge to become accountable, and applying a process approach to something fundamentally a people game is putting the wagon before the horse. David has developed a people-first mindset that he can apply to everything he does. Such as self-awareness on how you manage people. Through proper observation and dealing with different personalities, David has mastered managing conflicts with people and becoming a good manager. For he believes that If you don't understand people, you don't understand business. This Cast Covers: Who is David Dilger? Discussing the importance of understanding people. Known mutual people over many years and working together with Michael. Spending a lot of time training managers on how to manage people. Been a lawyer by trade. Did an MBA program with an emphasis on human resource management. Worked for an employer rep for the TCCI. Became a state winner and national finalist of a franchise network. Sharing the people-first mentality that you can use in all you do. Changed away from being pure legal advisers to managing people and assisting businesses. Links: David's Linkedin Additional Resources: Edge Legal Quotes: "Growing a business requires knowledge to become accountable." —David Dilger "Once you know how they behave, what basically floats their boat, you will become a more effective manager." —David Dilger "When you have unnecessary or unmanaged conflict, you need to break the shackles." —David Dilger "If you don't understand people, you don't understand business." —David Dilger "A focus has got to be tailored, the focus has to be tailored, or otherwise, you're just wasting your time." —David Dilger Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

In this GASB episode, Troy interviews Jodie Nevid, the founder of The Seven Effect. She's based in Adelaide, Australia. Jodie had a humble beginning doing business in their family's driveway at the age of 10 selling her old toys and show bags. She was in the corporate world for a while, but shortly after she went back to doing business because it's her passion. In 2014, she launched The Seven Effect, a coaching, and education company. Specializing in helping working women, assisting them in the leap from employee to entrepreneur. The Seven Effect is composed of a team with 10 people, 6 of whom are FTEs. They're earning $550,000 a year and are on track to a million by the end of next year. Of course, her success story wasn't all smooth-sailing. She faced obstacles and complications. Jodie read and studied the 80/20 principle, which asserts that a minority of causes should lead to a majority of results; a good reminder for small-business owners to simplify things and not overwork themselves. This Cast Covers: The Seven Effect is a coaching and education company. Jodie's different businesses before The Seven Effect. Jodie's passion for business. The Seven Effect's growth. The 80/20 principle. The freedom that growing a small business brings. Planning and goal setting, are what every business owner should develop. Building a kickass culture with the four fundamentals. Handling a business partner exiting. Business owners remind themselves to have fun. Links: Jodie's Linkedin Jodie's Company Jodie's Twitter Additional Resources: Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller What Is the Pareto Principle—aka the Pareto Rule or 80/20 Rule? Quotes: "The big lesson is in your greatest losses." — Jodie Nevid "Often they're riddled with fear or overwhelmed or confused about how to make their first six figures." — Jodie Nevid. "The hardest part is hiring employees who wanted a job, not a career." — Jodie Nevid. "Not just reading, but truly studying the 80/20 principle and implementing it into your life." — Jodie Nevid. "Every business owner should have a life plan as well as a business plan. Because if you don't, your business becomes your life." — Jodie Nevid. Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

In this episode, Troy interviews Jye Smith, founder of DOUBLE STAR CO. He's based in Sydney, Australia. Jye has a background in communications and was working as a PwC for less than 18 months, and currently the president of Vibewire, a non-profit org. Acting on his realization to build his own advertising agency thinking he could do it better himself. Jye Smith founded DOUBLE STAR CO, a unique brand and design agency, that gives brands a voice, a style, and an identity. Earning over $1.2 million last year with 7 FTEs, an increase of 66% in growth, and 20% in margin. As per Jye, building a sustainable and kickass culture to help grow the business is understanding how to assemble your team. Meditating on what is needed to kickstart the team such as understanding each other's communication styles. To gain the desired result for your business. This Cast Covers: The identity of Jye Smith. Having experience working in a progressive accounting firm. How Troy and Jye knew each other. Key numbers that illustrate DOUBLESTAR CO's growth. Focusing more on improving margins, rather than growing the top line and team. What foundation should culture be built on. The importance of autonomy in a business especially in your staff. Adapting to the ever-changing standard of a fast-growing business. Hiring people who think like you. Understanding how to assemble your team together. Links: Jye's Linkedin Jye's Twitter Jye's Company Additional Resources: The McKinsey Way by Ethan Rasiel Quotes: "If you can't see your way out, then the best thing you can always do is to ask for advice." — Jye Smith. "But the worst thing they can do is not think about things themselves." — Jye Smith. "Try to work out where you want to be in six months and think about what you can do today to make sure that happens." — Jye Smith. "Don't get caught up in being reactive. Don't be caught up in being emotional." — Jye Smith. "Help everyone understand communication styles because everyone reads things wrong these days." — Jye Smith. Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

In this week's QFF episode, Michael interviews Hamish McKenzie, co-founder of McKenzie Pitch Partners. He's based in Toronto, Canada, however, Hamish's a proud Aussie from Tasmania. He studied accounting at a university, then went into corporate banking. Gathering experience and wisdom, paving the way to what he is now, a sought-after pitch consultant. As Hamish defines it, pitching is the effort to win a piece of business. It is the final nail in the coffin to entice investors. This is why it's critical to understand and to be efficient with what you're pitching; Hamish McKenzie specializes in this field. He helps small-medium business owners develop and refine their pitching and presentation skills. As Hamish quotes what famous American William Edwards Deming says, "If you can't describe what you do, as a process, you don't know what you're doing." Very well said. This Cast Covers: The concept of pitching. Who is Hamish McKenzie? How Michael and Hamish knew each other. Hamish's career before becoming a renowned pitch consultant. How the term pitch should be defined. The real reason behind people buying things. Involvement of psychology in pitching. The importance of initiating a relationship before pitching. Criticalness of small-medium business owners' understanding of what they're pitching. Listening attentively to clients. Links: Hamish's Linkedin Hamish's Website Hamish's Twitter Additional Resources: Pitch: What you're not doing makes all the difference by Hamish McKenzie Why People Don't Listen? by Hugh Mackay Quotes: "We define pitch as the effort that goes into winning a piece of business." — Hamish McKenzie. "People buy things for two reasons, the right reason and the real reason … But the real reason is emotional." — Hamish McKenzie. "Discipline is more important than talent." — Hamish McKenzie. "As famous American William Edwards Deming says, 'If you can't describe what you do, as a process, you don't know what you're doing.'" — Hamish McKenzie. "The more you listen, the more you get to understand the client, and the more you're going to be able to develop a solution." — Hamish McKenzie. Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

In this episode, I interview Michelle Kvello, Managing Director and CFO of Lantern Partners based in Sydney, Australia. Michelle has set up her own CFO advisory business, working with founders and CEOs of startups and scale-ups by providing commercial and strategic financial advice to help them grow. From working on the corporate side of commercial finance for years, Michelle decided to leave the corporate world to pursue more exciting opportunities. She established Lantern Partners in 2011 and it has now been running for over 11 years. They grew 50% in revenue over the previous year with over 5 FTEs. Michelle has stated that building a small business involves discipline as well as adaptability. So she says, "In every business, some key things make a difference. And so you need to know what they are. And then once you identify what they are, work out how you measure them." This Cast Covers: Running a virtual CFO advisory business that provides commercial and strategic financial advice. Trained with PwC back in the UK many years ago. Grew 30% in revenue in the last year and 50% in the previous year Giving creative employment opportunities to amazing, talented, intelligent, ambitious women underserved in traditional corporate roles Works with her whole team flexibly, both in terms of time and location, and 80% female staffed. One of the Top 50 women in Accounting and Top 50 Small Business Leaders. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of in-person and virtual communication. Sharing the significance of making your team members feel like they are a part of and valuable to the team. The importance of mutual respect between the client and the firm serving. Investing time in relationship building. Links: Michelle's LinkedIn Michelle's Instagram Additional Resources: Lantern Partners The Mindful High Performer by Chelsea Pottenger Quotes: "People just need to get creative, and they need to figure out better, quicker, smarter ways of doing things." —Michelle Kvello "The business that you start on day one doesn't necessarily look like the business in a year, two years, five years, or 10." —Michelle Kvello "One of the massive benefits in starting your own business is that you can shape both the business and the people you bring into that business." —Michelle Kvello "There must be a rethinking about how we work." —Michelle Kvello "There has to be something that brings us all together and makes us feel like a team." —Michelle Kvello Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

In this episode, I interview Jen Potter the Founder, and CEO of Mamas & Babysitters, based in New Bedford, United States. Jen has set up her own business to provide an exceptional full-service babysitting and nannying experience. From working full-time at a corporate job as an analyst, Jen has decided to run her own business for her to get additional needed services for her other business during her pregnancy. Mamas & Babysitters was established in 2020 and has been running for over 2 years. Growing with over a quarter million dollars in the first two years and 200 FTEs. Jen has said that growing a small business requires repetition, if it doesn't work, stop and do something else. So she says, "We go through multiple interviews, and multiple steps of how we're going to do something. And that's how we're going to hire a person, that process has stayed true for all of the companies I have continued to work with and grow. So find something that works and keep doing it over and over and over." This Cast Covers: Own several businesses. Running a professional babysitting and nanny agency. Launching business during pregnancy. Currently managing 4 businesses. Having a goal of 47 businesses by 2047. Earned a quarter million dollars in the first two years for the babysitting company. Successfully running businesses despite having heart disease. Importance of learning balance personalities. Focusing on being proactive rather than being reactive in business. Satisfaction in helping other people get opportunities. Links: Jen's Linkedin Jen's Facebook Jen's Instagram Additional Resources: Mamas and Babysitters Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes Quotes: "Success is continuing to help other people find their success." —Jen Potter "When you're marketing your business, you are marketing your people to buy you." —Jen Potter "Become proactive instead of being reactive in business." —Jen Potter "Learn to schedule and time block." —Jen Potter "If you're doing a process, make sure you're doing the best of that process." —Jen Potter Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

In this week's QFF episode, Michael interviews Jack Daly. Jack and Michael knew each other ten years ago at a workshop. Jack is based in San Claremont, California, USA. He was an accountant and a CPA with Arthur Andersen. Now, he is at the CEO level of several national companies, is an expert in sales and sales management, and is an author by design that has already published 10 books. Jack's newest book Jack Daly's Life By Design provides a behind-the-scenes look at how business owners can achieve a high level of personal success while their businesses are in growth mode. You do not have to have one without the other. The very best salespeople follow a process. As you scale and increase the number of salespeople, each of them operates differently, it ought to be run by best practices. Jack is helping small business owners and entrepreneurs scale in a very quick and profitable way through systems and processes to have consistent growth. According to Jack, systems and processes can maintain consistency across the business and your life. "I only do three things, I speak, I traveled where I speak, and I have fun", he said. He added that when you are planning to create your own business, you need to apply the big 3 methods including knowing what success is, key people in key spots, build a strong culture. This Cast Covers: Who is Jack Daly? How did Jack and Michael know each other? Expert in scaling companies in a very quick and profitable way. Specializes in sales and sales management. Helping people design and live their best lives. Wrote close to 500 items on his bucket list and completed 73% of them. Book recommendations for growth mindset people. 3 big methods to grow a successful business. Illustrating the importance of systems and processes. Benefits of working with the most important things in life. Links: Jack's Linkedin Jack's Website Jack's Twitter Additional Resources: Life By Design by Jack Daly The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Essentialism by Greg McKeown Quotes: "It's a matter of choosing what we want to do then we are when we decide." —Jack Daly "You can't get there unless you know what there is." —Jack Daly "The people that you start with may not be the people that you end with." —Jack Daly "If you don't have an assistant, you are an assistant." —Jack Daly "You get to choose either you're a growth mindset person or a fixed mindset person." —Jack Daly Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

In this GASB Podcast episode, Troy interviews Molly Keyser, a photographer for 16 years, now the Founder of Profitable Courses. Molly's based in New Mexico, United States. Before Profitable Courses she also founded Boudie Shorts, an educational resource for Boudoir Photographers to get more clients. After working in the photo industry as a photographer for 16 years. Molly decided to pivot into the world of digital education. Started Profitable Courses in 2021; helping small-medium business owners create their own digital products, fine-tuning them, marketing them, and getting traffic, in order to generate a nice stream of cash flow. Molly advises that small-medium business owners, need to develop good habits and discipline. In order to focus on one thing at a time. A piece of advice that she also once received. "You need to pick one product to focus on and scale that up to a million at least first.", her mentor said. This Cast Covers: The identity of Molly Keyser. How Troy and Molly knew each other. Transitioning from being a photographer to digital course education. Molly's businesses before Profitable Courses. Molly's business, Profitable Courses. Nothing is completely passive; after product creation, traffic is required. The definition of Shiny Object Syndrome. How Molly gets past a certain revenue mark. The number one thing small-medium business owners should apply. Overall growth of Profitable Courses. Links: Molly's Linkedin Molly's Instagram Molly's Twitter Molly's TikTok Profitable Courses Additional Resources: Expert Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Creating a Mass Movement of People Who Will Pay for Your Advice (1st Edition) by Russell Brunson Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around a Shared Vision of the Future by Cameron Herold Quotes: "Nothing is 100% passive, you have to traffic and create the products and do the work upfront." — Molly Keyser. "You need to pick one product to focus on and scale that up to a million at least first." — Molly Keyser. "With every failure and everything that goes wrong, you learn." — Molly Keyser. "Assign yourself tasks, so you can get in the habit of it. Because otherwise, you're just not going to get a lot done very quickly." — Molly Keyser. "You need to have that discipline." — Molly Keyser. Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0.

In this episode, I interview Ann Sieg, the Founder, and CEO of E-commerce Business School based in Bentonville, Arkansas in the United States of America. Ann has set up her own business to help entrepreneurs learn how to become third-party sellers on Amazon and become capable leaders. With over 35 years of experience in managing various businesses, Ann has decided to focus on the E-commerce space for Amazon to pursue her passion for coaching and empowering people. E-commerce Business School was established in 2014 and has been running for over 9 years. Helped thousands of people build a massively successful business on Amazon with 25 FTEs. Ann has said that growing a small business requires tracking for entrepreneurs to know the numbers and stay consistent. So she says, "I've always had track and it goes back to my sports world efforts. And it just keeps you where you need to be." This Cast Covers: Currently managing a training and mentorship company. Helping people learn how to become third-party sellers on Amazon. Focused on learning how to set up the automation pieces for the students to have a scalable Amazon business. Teaching online marketing for about eight years. Providing high-level hand-holding experience and is mostly meant to empower people. Running different businesses for over 35 years. Learning the benefits of doing business within the home. Empowering people to do tasks efficiently through working online. Running things smoothly and having them organized. Satisfaction in bringing people together. Links: Ann's Linkedin Ann's Facebook Ann's Twitter Additional Resources: E-Commerce Business School E-Myth-Revisited by Michael Gerber Wellbeing at Work Jim Clifton & Jim Harter Quotes: "Tough times can make you work your fanny, you've got to match underneath your button." —Ann Sieg "As a CEO, you got to go where you got to fix the company and turn it around." —Ann Sieg "Learn more about what you're made of and what you're capable of." —Ann Sieg "You just got to track to know the numbers and stay consistently growing." —Ann Sieg "In business, you're always having problems you're trying to solve, it never ends." —Ann Sieg Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0.

In this week's QFF episode, Michael interviews Rachael Downie. Rachael and Michael met each other four years ago at a National Australia Bank presentation where Rachael was the guest speaker. Rachael is based in Hobart, Australia. She was a teacher for fifteen years and her husband has run a family dairy farm for the past 20 years and has 4 children. Now she is a business success mentor who is truly converting small business owners' thinking into results. The knowing-doing gap is the disconnect between knowledge and the implementation of the action. In the end, knowledge isn't always enough. She is helping small-medium business owners through various strategies such as shifting mindsets to bridge the gap between what they know they need to be doing and actually doing it. According to Rachael, it all boils down to mindset. "I truly believe closing the knowing-doing gap is about awareness. 95% of its mindset and 5% of its strategy.", she said. She added when small-medium business owners triumph over that, there'll be real changes in productivity, time, and profit. This Cast Covers: Who is Rachael Downie? How Rachael and Michael knew each other. Rachael's livelihood before becoming a successful mentor. The knowing-doing gap. Bridging the knowing-doing gap. Overcoming procrastination. Discussing key factors that cause procrastination. What's holding back small-medium business owners from seeking advice and assistance? How should business owners manage their time. Links: Rachael's Linkedin Rachael's Website Rachel's Instagram Additional Resources: The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action by Jeffrey Pfeffer Quotes: "The knowing-doing gap, 95% of it is mindset and 5% of it is strategy." — Rachael Downie. "This is about working hard, smarter, not harder." — Rachael Downie. "Businesses need to fall back in love with what it was; why they started things in the beginning." — Rachael Downie. "You cannot keep giving from an empty cup like you were to your business, things have to shift and change." — Rachael Downie. "Either do it, delegate it or ditch it." — Rachael Downie. Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0.