Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode, I interview Becky Paroz, the Founder and CEO of Queen B Project Systems based in Brisbane, Australia. Becky has set up her own business to help entrepreneurs become more consistent with their work through innovative collaboration. With over 30 years of experience in engineering, Becky decided to leave construction to pursue new opportunities. Queen Bee Project Systems was established in 1999 and has been running for over 23 years. Growing her own business with over $120 million revenue and 37 FTEs. Becky has said that growing a small business requires consistency and monitoring. So she says, "Once you do something consistently, you actually have much more time freed up to actually do more." This Cast Covers: Worked for 30 years in engineering and construction. Running a consultancy business. An engineer, project manager, quality assurance expert, etc. in his days. Helping entrepreneurs how to become more consistent with their work. Innovating collaboration than competition. Learning how to utilize all the skills in the role. Going through interesting personal developments. Learning how to measure your business by monitoring. Sharing the advantage of having enough skills to grow a small business. Providing solutions for small business owners. Additional Resources: Queen B Project Systems Words of Bek by Becky Paroz Arnold Schwarzenegger Quotes: "Innovate things that might be around, collaboration than competition." —Becky Paroz "The idea of being an entrepreneur is to find the gap in the market." —Becky Paroz "Success is doing a job well and being satisfied with the outcome." —Becky Paroz "Balance is being satisfied with the overall picture you have." —Becky Paroz "You can't measure something you're not monitoring." Becky Paroz 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 Alicia Butler Pierre, Founder & CEO of Equilibria, Inc. based in Atlanta, USA. Alicia has set up her own business infrastructure company to help fast-growing businesses scale without the chaos through offering online courses, workshops, and webinars. From working in different oil refineries and chemical plants, Alicia decided to leave Chemical Engineering to pursue bigger opportunities. Equilibria, Inc. was established in 2005 and has been running for over 17 years. Became the world's largest and most comprehensive repository on the subject of business infrastructure for small businesses with over 15 FTEs. Alicia has said that growing a small business requires courage and positivity. So she says, "Take the challenge now and embrace it full steam ahead." This Cast Covers: Specialize in helping fast-growing businesses scale without the chaos. Making money through a combination of coaching services. From professional organizing to business infrastructure. Offering online courses, workshops, and webinars. Moving more towards teaching platforms than consulting-type projects. Originated as a professional organizing company back in 2005. Working with commercial and quote-unquote businesses as well. With a work background as a Process Engineer. Learning how to make your business look good inside and out. Helping entrepreneurs become more positive about facing challenges. Additional Resources: Equilibria, Inc. Behind the Facade by Alicia Butler Pierre How Win Friends Influence People by Dale Carnegie Quotes: "Success is living life on your own terms." —Alicia Butler Pierre "Take the challenge now and embrace it full steam ahead." —Alicia Butler Pierre "Take time to pause and reflect on your own progress against your standing point." —Alicia Butler Pierre "You have to let go to grow." —Alicia Butler Pierre "Concentrate on what you should be doing." —Alicia Butler Pierre 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 Mike Smith, the Founder, and CEO of Zero Co based in Byron Bay, Australia. Mike has set up his own company to help solve the global single-use plastic problem by delivering incredible products. With over 15 years of experience in the business industry, Mike decided to leave his two former businesses to pursue new opportunities and give cause and awareness for nature. Zero Co was established in 2019 and has been running for over 2 years. Serving about 7,000 households around Australia with over 25 FTEs. Mike has said that growing a small business requires being radically transparent and mission-focused to get a bigger response from the audience. So he says, "The more we've challenged ourselves, and pushed ourselves to be radically transparent, the bigger response we can get from the audience." This Cast Covers: Solving the global single-use plastic problem and delivering incredible products. Making a range of personal care and home cleaning products. Providing products for everyday use in your house, laundry, liquid hand wash, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, etc. Been started with a Kickstarter campaign about two and a half years ago. Sharing the challenging journey of growing a small business in the middle of COVID. A real-world live business for 19 months and from having 1 to now 25 teams. Became a minus great celebrity in the world to inspire people to join the mission. Helping entrepreneurs focus on what they can do by creating their own mission. Learning how to get a bigger response from the community. Leading with radical transparency from a marketing perspective every day. Additional Resources: Zero Co Principles by Ray Dalio Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard _______________________________________________________________ Quotes: "You've got to control what you can control and forget about everything else because things just come along." —Mike Smith "Success is the scale of the impact that we can have." —Mike Smith "The more we challenge ourselves, the bigger response we can get from the audience." —Mike Smith "If you've got nothing to hide, you shouldn't hide anything." —Mike Smith "Be a mission-focused." —Mike 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 episode, I interview Sharon Crombie, the CEO, and Founder of Micro Chilli based in Melbourne, Australia. Sharon has set up her own business to help entrepreneurs and small business owners achieve goals of freedom and lifestyle by keeping them accountable. With over 30 years of experience in corporate as a management accountant, Sharon has decided to leave the corporates to pursue new opportunities. Micro Chilli was established in 2020 and has been running for over 2 years. Became specialist, online bookkeeping service for small businesses in different parts of Australia with over 2 FTEs. Sharon has said that growing a small business requires consistency as she thinks it's the best way to maintain a strong relationship with your clients. So she says, "Stay true to your target audience." This Cast Covers: Bookkeeping and advisory practice. Specialize in supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners. Offering a low-cost and fuss-free model. Providing a wide range of services, including full service, remote bookkeeping, etc. Learning some strategies on how to secure the growth of your business effectively. With over 30 years of experience as a full-time management accountant. Helping entrepreneurs on how to reach their target market. Learn how to manually start a business without having a background in entrepreneurship. Sharing the benefits of engaging with different business owners and communities in the business industry. Learning the advantages of remotely working to achieve flexibility. Additional Resources: Micro Chilli Cant Hurt Me by David Goggins The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma _______________________________________________________________ Quotes: "Success is achieving a balance between business and life." —Sharon Crombie "Take time to understand before making decisions." —Sharon Crombie "Don't do anything for everyone." —Sharon Crombie "Things can take time and it's okay to make mistakes." —Sharon Crombie "Stay true to your target audience." —Sharon Crombie _______________________________________________________________ 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 Rob Rawson, the Owner, and Co-founder of Time Doctor based in Sydney, Australia. Rob set up his own business to help entrepreneurs to be on track, attend, and understand what's going on with their team by working remotely. From being a Medical Doctor, Rob has decided to pursue his passion in entrepreneurship. Time Doctor was established in 2012 and has been running for over 10 years. Became an 8-figure business with over 130 FTEs in 31 countries. Rob has said that growing a small business requires having the right mindset and comfort with your workspace to help you work effectively. So he says, "Have the right thinking and structure around how to do your task." This Cast Covers: Understanding the productivity and comfort of working remotely. Track, attend, and understand what's going on with your team by working remotely. Sharing his experience in creating a team in the Philippines. With digital marketing agencies and a few others using it as well. Making offshore teams and outsourcing company as the top niche. From being a doctor to an entrepreneur. Interview top leaders in remote work through his book called "Running Remote." Became an 8-figure business with over 130 FTEs in 31 countries. Sharing the effective strategy of SEO for a fast-growing business. Member of EO (Entrepreneurs Organization). Additional Resources: Time Doctor Getting Things Done by David Allen Scaling Up by Verne Harnish ________________________________________________________________________________ Quotes: "Be passionate about the subject." —Rob Rawson "Companies need to obtain the right mindset and structure on how to do their tasks." —Rob Rawson "Success is having a great business and everything else in other areas of life." —Rob Rawson "Focus on getting the right team in place." —Rob Rawson "If you end up doing all the other stuff, you'll never actually grow your business." —Rob Rawson ________________________________________________________________________________ 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 Graham Brown, the Founder, and CEO of Pikkal & Co based in Singapore. Graham has set up his own Podcast Agency and Podcast Guesting Agency to help business leaders communicate authentically and tell better stories through enterprise podcasts. With over 14 years of experience in the business industry, Graham decided to create a different mindset of niche to pursue a consistent and predictable business. Pikkal & Co was established in 2018 and has been running for over 4 years. Became an Award-Winning Corporate Podcast Agency with over 3 FTEs. Graham has said that growing a small business requires consistency and predictability to reduce uncertainty as a founder. So he says, "Build consistency and predictability in your business because your goal as a business founder is to reduce uncertainty." This Cast Covers: Started as a podcast agency and is now also a podcast guesting agency. Help taught leaders to get booked and speak on other people's podcasts. Two different effective businesses that run under the same house. Focus purely on corporate. Giving a different mindset of niche that provides a very stable revenue stream. Started setting up a podcast studio without having a clue how to make money out of it. Sharing the stages of success in growing a small business. Learning the importance of building certainty in your business. Helping entrepreneurs build consistency and predictability. Develop the habit of knowing your numbers and fighting as well to get the numbers. Additional Resources: Pikkal & Co Stephen Covey Seth Godin ——————————— Quotes: "Niche can also require a different mindset." —Graham Brown "Success is playing the game." —Graham Brown "Fast growth meant less profitability." —Graham Brown "The enjoyment is finishing and doing it, and knowing that you can do it." —Graham Brown "We have to challenge ourselves." —Graham Brown ——————————— 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 David Lindeque, the Director of Product at Orbit Partners based in Los Angeles, U.S.A. Orbit helps companies achieve their visions and solve problems, unlocking value through pixels and code. The company has an impressive roster of clients, including Walmart, Clutter, and various other leading firms. From managing his first business, the First South African smartphone brand while in University, David decided to build a new business to pursue new opportunities. Orbit Partners was established in 2018 and has been running for over 4 years with 14 FTEs. David has said that growing a small business requires self-belief and confidence to reach for bigger clients and communicate with people. So he says, "As you knock out projects and you do more work, you will unlock confidence in yourself." This Cast Covers: Software engineering and design studio based in Santa Monica. Working with companies across various industries Unlock value through pixels and code. Full-stack engineering and specialist design. The company that has ownership. Constant reinvestment of project profits. Developing new products and assisting teams in reaching their full potential. Sharing the benefits of self-belief in improving your work performance. Managing the general outreach without sales and marketing roles. Learn the importance of rapid communication in growing a small business. Additional Resource: Orbit Partners Hooked by Nir Eyal —————————— Quotes: "Success is being happy within yourself." —David Lindeque "As you knock out projects and do more work, you unlock confidence in yourself." —David Lindeque "Engaging case studies are important." —David Lindeque "Be a good listener to everyone." —David Lindeque "Have therapy at times." —David Lindeque —————————— 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 Bob Wiesner, the Managing Partner of The Artemis Partnership based in New Jersey, United States. Bob has set up his consulting company to help entrepreneurs improve their new business win rates and accelerate organic growth. With over 25 years of experience as a business consultant, Bob decided to create his own company and help others through his knowledge and experiences. The Artemis Partnership was established in 2019 and has been running for over 3 years. Became a global bid, pitch consulting, and sales training to enable professionals to drive sector-leading win rates of over 70% with 14 contractors. Bob has said that growing a small business requires focus and self-discipline to accomplish the tasks on time and excel. So he says, "As a small business owner, focus on the discipline around knowing what you should be doing and knowing what you should not be doing. Not confusing the two and sticking with the important stuff." This Cast Covers: A consulting company that works with professional services firms. Helping entrepreneurs win more new business. Clients from primarily advertising agencies, architectural design firms, law firms, audit, accounting firms, management consultancies, etc. Successful in helping entrepreneurs win up to 75% of their bids, double or triple their prior win rates. Shared his best practices experience and overcoming business obstacles through his book called "Winning is Better." Handling clients both in terms of size and in terms of concurrency. Sharing the advantage of self-funding. Learning how to handle work-life balance through creating and seriously following schedules. Worked for 18 years in Advertising. Providing tips on how to carefully add people to the business. Additional Resources: Artemis Partnership Winning is Better by Bob Wiesner Mindset by Carol Dweck ——————————— Quotes: "Success is recognizing the success of the clients." —Bob Wiesner "You have to focus on what you do well." —Bob Wiesner "Create more awareness about the existence of the problem that we solve." —Bob Wiesner "Be very careful who you bring on board." —Bob Wiesner "You need to meet somebody who believes that there's value to them in meeting you." —Bob Wiesner ——————————— 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 Krish Ramineni, Co-founder and CEO of Fireflies.ai based in San Francisco, United States. Krish set up his business to help people facilitate their work. From working as a Product Manager at Microsoft, Krish decided to leave and pursue bigger opportunities. Fireflies.ai was established in 2016 and has been running for over 6 years. Became a global startup based in 11 countries across 41 cities with over 100 FTEs. Krish has said that growing a small business requires knowledge and consistency and he thinks it's one of the hardest things in growing a small business. However, he also said that being consistent can help maintain and improve the quality of your service. So he says, "It's not just about being smart. It's about showing up." This Cast Covers: An AI assistant that helps people take notes, transcribe meetings, search back, and remember conversations. Participates in different video conferencing platforms, like Zoom, Google meet, Skype, and WebEx. Branching out as a whole suite platform. Helping entrepreneurs to focus on the conversation of the meetings. Dedicated to being a product-first product lead company. From attending 100 meetings weekly, now into 10s of millions of meetings. Learning how to do advertising without the need to do marketing on it. Sharing the benefits of hiring knowledgeable people. Teaching on how to enable your teammates to do well. Learning how to be progressive in business through focusing on quality over quantity. Additional Resources: Fireflies.ai High Output Management by Andrew Grove ——————————— Quotes: "Success is always an evolving metric." —Krish Ramineni "Your expectations and projections may not always pan out the way you want them to." —Krish Ramineni "There are times when you have to push and times when you have to pull back and let people solve things." —Krish Ramineni "Be continuously customer-centric." —Krish Ramineni "Bring on people that are aligned with a vision that is taking the chance." —Krish Ramineni ——————————— 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 Shiv Gupta, Founder and SEO Specialist of Incrementors based in Delhi, India. Shiv has set up his own Digital Marketing Business to help entrepreneurs generate more leads and sales online. With over 10 years of successful experience in the business industry, Jaime decided to share his knowledge and experience to help other companies increase their potential. Incrementors was established in 2010 and has been running for over 12 years. Became a progressive company with over 100 members. Shiv has said that growing a small business requires consistency and endurance which is not easy but can be cultivated. So he says, "Entrepreneurs need to be consistent and never stop in the middle." This Cast Covers: Helping clients in generating more leads and sales online. Provides search engine optimization, pay-per-click, email automation, and more. A digital marketing agency that works with service-based industries. Provides SEO services. From having 3 team members, now a team size of 100 people. Learning how to achieve your goals by starting from small beginnings. Teaching on how to get a wider audience and clients by providing practical solutions through social media platforms. Learning how to achieve and maintain a high rating at NPS consistently. Sharing the power of confidence to gain regular clients. Teaching how to cultivate evidence-based on hiring. Additional Resources: Incrementors Who by Geoff Smart and Randy Street Good to Great by Jim Collins ——————————— Quotes: "Sit down, think properly and craft your message." —Shiv Gupta "If you're selling to everybody, that means you're selling to nobody." —Shiv Gupta "You cannot just run after marketing and sales with no patience." —Shiv Gupta "Once you take care of your clients, everything else follows." —Shiv Gupta "Hire people who are smarter than you." —Shiv Gupta ——————————— Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0