Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode, I interview Sarah Gibson, the Co-founder and Co-director of DesignByThem, a design house based in Canberra, Australia. DesignByThem is run by designers who are dedicated to creating and producing unique products for design professionals and enthusiasts alike. Products can be seen in any establishment worldwide. Established in 2007, DesignByThem was founded by industrial designers Sarah Gibson and Nicholas Karlovasitis. Sarah has designed a range of furniture, lighting, and accessories as well as curated and developed the work of other fellow Australian designers. The company has been available for over 15 years, obtained 100% growth last year with around 14 FTEs. In business, trust is hard to give. However, Sarah has their way to build trust in the company. She says, "Having a good conversation channel has been really beneficial for our team, it's bringing everyone into the decision-making process and that's been the most genuine way to build trust in our company." This Cast Covers: A design house that brings together and represents the best in Australian design. Representing the talent of Australian designers in a playful collection of fun and functional furniture and homewares. Creating an independent Australian design brand and platform for local designers to showcase their work. An industrial designer with a passion for business and Australian design. Has designed a range of furniture, lighting, and accessories as well as curated and developed the work of other fellow designers. Making incredible designs of furniture which are good in offices, firms, and businesses. The importance of hiring individuals with a better attitude than skilled ones. Making sure of providing the best quality design and products to their customers. The company is not about designs but also committed to reducing the impact of products on the environment and society. Aiming to do the work in meaningful ways through comprehensive product life cycle thinking. Additional Resources: DesignByThem Making Ideas Happen By Scott Belsky The E-Myth By Michael E. Gerber __________________________ Quotes: "Give yourself credit, you have to take note of those little successions along the way." —Sarah Gibson "Success is really enjoying what you do, but also making enough money to enjoy your personal life." —Sarah Gibson "With consistency, you will create a really loyal base of customers." —Sarah Gibson "How important it is to have people with a greater attitude than those with skills but by no means have respect." —Sarah Gibson "Having a good conversation channel has been really beneficial for our team, it's bringing everyone into the decision-making process and that's been the most genuine way to build trust in our company." —Sarah Gibson __________________________ 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 Chris Gwinn, the Founder and CEO of Great Lakes Advisory, a consulting company based in Chicago, USA, helping small to medium businesses with systems, processes, and training. The company's mission is to improve overall efficiency to lower operational costs, improve competitive advantage, and increase profitability. Great Lakes Advisory was founded in 2017 by Chris Gwinn after realizing the incredible impact that a solution like systems and processes and documented procedures could have on a business. He started by himself to now around 8 FTEs, growing revenue from $50,000 in the first year to last year's $400,000. The consulting has been available for over four years now. Chris says that the hardest thing in growing a small business is overcoming obscurity. However, if you surround yourself with the right people, have the right strategy in place, and have a team that shares the same vision, you can certainly overcome any circumstances. This Cast Covers: Building systems, processes, and training for small to medium businesses. Making businesses easier to manage by documenting their processes & building world-class training experiences. Helping business owners train new hires faster, serve more customers, and scale business. Improving overall efficiency to lower operational costs, improve competitive advantage, and increase profitability. Talking about the benefits of implementing process improvement. Optimizing business processes through training solutions. Sharing a passion for operations, processes, finance, investments, and working with people. Realizing the incredible impact that a solution like systems and processes and documented procedures could have on a business. Learning of true success of what business services can do to their clients. Additional Resources: Great Lakes Advisory The E-Myth By Michael E. Gerber Good To Great By Jim Collins The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People By Stephen R. Covey _________________________ Quotes: "If you own a business, you need to have that business running on systems and processes and repeatable operations so that you can really scale through." —Chris Gwinn "Success to me is that I have the ability to control my own destiny and my true success in this business is what our solution can do for our clients." —Chris Gwinn "Understand your target audience, collect as much data as possible so you can kind of understand your client's behavioral characteristics to effectively introduce your product or service." —Chris Gwinn "Figure out what you do best and what your customers value the most, be an expert of something so you'll become a dominant market player within your industry." —Chris Gwinn "Make sure that everyone else around you is serving customers the way that you want them to be served." —Chris Gwinn _________________________ 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 Bobby Jone, the Owner and Co-founder of Yellow Hammer Properties, a real estate company based in Birmingham, USA. Yellow Hammer Properties specializes in renovations, flipping, and investing in high-end single-family properties. Bobby is committed to providing excellent customer service by ensuring that all of the properties are in the highest quality condition that will make everyone feel at home. With over 20 years of experience in real estate, Bobby has scaled several businesses and established himself as an authority in the real estate industry. He Co-founded Yellow Hammer Properties in 2013 together with his business partner Mark Wilson. He has grown the company through making property investments and flipping business and now with 50 FTEs. Bobby defines success as using one's purpose, calling, and gifts to help others. He says, "I really feel like my purpose and calling is to lead others to financial freedom using Biblical principles." So, Jones utilizes his excellent leadership skills by guiding his agents to achieve targets. This Cast Covers: A real estate company, specializing in renovations, flipping, and investing in high-end single-family properties. Affiliated with the world-renowned eXP Realty Brokerage which has been instrumental in the growth of the company. Providing excellent customer service by ensuring that all of the properties are in the highest quality condition that will make everyone feel at home. A real estate investor who's not only looking for a transactional income but also passive and leveraged incomes. An impressive entrepreneur and a seasoned real estate investor who is highly enthusiastic and motivated to succeed. The importance of communication in building relationships and relationships in building a business. Learning to give back to others, using one's purpose, calling, and gifts to help others. Passionate about leading others to financial freedom using Biblical principles. The importance of learning how money works and how to manage them and where to use them, so it won't cause problems later on but keep leveraging. Additional Resources: Yellow Hammer Properties How to Win Friends & Influence People By Dale Carnegie Trump Never Give Up By Donald Trump John C. Maxwell ________________________ Quotes: "The only way to true wealth is to have passive income to the point that you have financial freedom, and the only way to financial freedom is when your passive income exceeds your expenses." —Bobby Jones "Success is using your purpose and calling and gifts to help others." —Bobby Jones "People can't follow you if they don't know you, which means you can't live in obscurity, you have to be omnipresent and you have to tell everybody that you know what you do." —Bobby Jones "If you can't communicate with people, then you can't build relationships, and relationships are the key to building any business." —Bobby Jones "If you don't believe it, nobody else is going to believe." —Bobby Jones _____________________ 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 Ugis Balmaks, the Founder of Recruiter Mill based in Budapest, Hungary, a recruitment firm specializing in helping online businesses hire the best talent to grow and scale their companies. Through the recruitment process, Ugi helps 7 and 8-figure businesses hire A-players in 6 weeks or less. After running and selling a 7-figure iPhone photography business, he discovered and learned the challenges of hiring people. He then launched a recruitment firm in 2020, has developed the skill to find the best candidate, and learned what distinguishes an A-player. He's now working to make this business a mid-six-figure and he's looking forward to adding more people to his side. Ugis has been helping so many companies in finding talented individuals to grow and scale. He also makes them understand the importance of looking for people who are the best in the role. For he says, "Always prioritize getting the best possible talent and person for the role." This Cast Covers: A recruitment firm specialized in helping online businesses hire the best talent to grow and scale their companies. Saving the time, effort, and frustration of having to manage the hiring process while running the business at the same time. The objective is to help small businesses find A-players for their team. Breaking down the fundamentals on what to look for in a candidate, how to research them, ways to drive applications, and details on the filtering process. An experienced and creative recruiter in the online marketing space. Managed to scale the previous business to high 7-figures in revenue and now working to make the current business to a mid-six-figure business. Introducing the recruitment company's proven 7-step recruitment process. How online businesses can build a team of A-players by applying the method or formula of the recruitment process. Not having the same standards as other recruitment agencies yet manifesting way more advanced standards and a well-formulated process. Additional Resources: Recruiter Mill Who By Geoff Smart Alex Hormozi __________________________ Quotes: "Make sure you can deliver a good product or system and every single step in that process needs to be streamlined." —Ugis Balmaks "If you don't find good people, you're just going to create more problems." —Ugis Balmaks "If you don't have reliable sales, then you should probably think about that." —Ugis Balmaks "Always prioritize getting the best possible talent and person for the role." —Ugis Balmaks "At the end of the day, you have your own responsibility, nothing happens if you don't do anything." —Ugis Balmaks __________________________ 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 Ben Bressington, the CEO of Behavior Sales, a Behavioral Intelligence company based in Florida, USA. Behavior Sales helps salespersons how they can connect with people faster and effectively close sales better through personality intelligence. The company has a product that identifies people's personalities based on the words they use. In 2021, Behavior Sales was launched by Ben Bressington, aged 38. He applied his Criminology, Law & Gamification training to hacking human communication to improve sales. This is a unique approach to improve sales and marketing and with that, Ben found growth in just a year, now making more than 100,000 conversations a day and from 1.5 to 7 FTEs. Ben says that what he loves the most in growing a small business is the challenge it brings, making each day different. He's loving more the routine of getting the work done and that working with them makes him realize that they are growing now and then. This Cast Covers: Helping people predict personality and use personality intelligence to improve sales conversion. Focusing on helping salespeople to improve their sales conversions and shorten their sales cycle. Offering a product that effectively converts an email address into a personality type. The product identifies somebody's personality and closes them based on the process and the model they are offering. Offering sales insights through live calls, transcriptions, and providing real-time feedback of what's going on in that sales conversation. Discovering how a person can connect with people faster and effectively close sales better. How to persuade prospects and stimulate their unconscious mind. Applying what he learned from doing criminology human profiling into sales and marketing. Additional Resources: Behavior Sales People Ignorant By Benjamin Bressington $100M Offers By Alex Hormozi __________________________ Quotes: "To understand your communication style, try putting yourself in the prospects and change some minor things in the way that you communicate." —Ben Bressington "Show interest in people's needs so you have influence over them and if you don't have influence, it's nearly impossible to make sales." —Ben Bressington "Take time to exercise physically because how you treat yourself physically will determine how you get through the day." —Ben Bressington "Find out what rewards your people, you'll be amazed how small tokens lift one's spirits." —Ben Bressington "Learning the success of others can be fascinating but learning the mistakes, failures, and lessons of others could be something more valuable." —Ben Bressington __________________________ 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 Alan Lazaros, the CEO and Founder of Next Level University, a self-improvement podcast based in Worcester, USA. Next Level University is an incredible platform that helps a variety of people get to the next level of life, love, health, and wealth through coaching, tips, strategies, and lessons learned along the way. They have featured many of the world's top entrepreneurs and thought leaders to bring wisdom to those who listen. Alan Lazaros is the co-host of Next Level University with more than 850 episodes reaching over half a million people in more than 120 countries. It started with 2 FTEs to around 8 FTEs. Alan decided to take control of his thoughts and his life after a fatal car accident he was involved in. Before Next Level University, he had a podcast called Conversations Change Lives where he met his co-host of the current podcast. Alan says that in order to grow and have a bright future, we have to put our own personal development first. "We believe that who someone aspires to matters more than who they used to be or who they are now, we believe the future is bright, based on the integrity of the individual and taking responsibility," he added. This Cast Covers: Helping people get to the next level of their life, love, health, and wealth. Believe that with the right knowledge, mentors, community & habits, people really can achieve both success & fulfillment. A Global Top 100 Self-Improvement podcast with more than 850 episodes reaching over half a million people in more than 120 countries. An incredible example of a role model to all heart-driven and growth-minded people around the world. Talking about the importance of personal development to be at their best so everything follows. How applying the principle of the law of attraction helps anyone who resonates reach what they believe they would become. The importance of health and fitness that must be cultivated by all business leaders in order to produce a healthy and long-term business. Enhancing skills and habits to not be perfect but to see progress in their works. Helping people get to the next level through coaching, tips, strategies, and lessons they've learned along the way. Believing that people with the right tools and the right education can be truly extraordinary. Additional Resources: Next Level University Tony Robbins The Art of Impossible By Steven Kotler The Compound Effect By Darren Hardy ________________________ Quotes: "We believe that human beings with the right tools and the right education can be truly extraordinary." —Alan Lazaros "The law of attraction works a lot better, the core values, aspirations, and beliefs of the business creates a culture that is just so magnetic to anyone who really resonates and repels people who aren't." —Alan Lazaros "Health and fitness are just so important and if the leader is not taking care of themselves, then the business will erode." —Alan Lazaros "Put your own personal development first because what is best for you is what's best for your business." —Alan Lazaros "You never actually get to perfect, just reflect on what you did well and poorly and then make it a little bit better and you will see progress." —Alan Lazaros ________________________ 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 Marilene Quintana, the Co-founder of e-Visa Immigration, an immigration consulting firm based in Vancouver, Canada. The firm provides visa and immigration consulting services for people around the world who dream of a better life in Canada. Assists clients from document preparation until throughout the process. Marilene is the co-founder and Senior Canadian Immigration Consultant at e-Visa Immigration. Before working with Immigration, she was a Certified PMP – Project Management Professional and obtained an undergraduate degree in Computer Science. With her experience in IT and project management, able to grow the firm from 1 to 4 offices with 57 FTEs, client satisfaction of 98%, and 20% growth per year. Marilene is organized and passionate about providing high-quality service yet understanding her clients' situations. She says, "You have to remember that you have to respect the feelings of every client, everybody has difficult moments." This Cast Covers: An Immigration Consulting firm that provides visa and immigration consulting services for people around the world who dream of a better life in Canada. A career consulting that helps people to understand how the Canadian labor market works and how to position themselves to find a good job in Canada. Consistently provide the highest quality services in immigration consulting. Advising customers regarding the most suitable program for themselves and family. Assisting customers with preparing the documentation and providing outcomes, keeping track of application's deadlines and applicable payments. Acting on one's behalf to the government authorities as well as responding to any question that they may have throughout the process. The importance of communication in serving clients and managing expectations. Standing out through standards of communication and commitment to negotiate. Providing comfort for clients through respecting their feelings and worries throughout the process of immigration. The importance of hiring professionals to assure clients to do their job correctly and that everything is going to go well. Additional Resources: e-Visa Immigration The 4-Hour Workweek By Timothy Ferriss TED Talks __________________________ Quotes: "You can be a very good professional in what you do but at the end of the day, you have to know how to serve your client well and manage their expectations." —Marilene Quintana "You have to remember that you have to respect the feelings of every client, everybody has difficult moments." —Marilene Quintana "Hiring a professional is always better, to give clients the assurance that they will do their job correctly and that everything is going to go well." —Marilene Quintana "There's always change and uncertainties but we have to learn how to deal with those and do what is right." —Marilene Quintana "You cannot make everybody happy so focus on the positive, focus on the people who are happier for you and appreciate you." —Marilene Quintana __________________________ 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 Terry Begue, the Owner and Founder of Begue Painting, Inc., a painting company based in Cleveland, USA, making customers' homes look new and gorgeous. Terry is passionate about perfecting his people skills which happened to be the reason his business has blown up. Started his painting business in 1978, aged 18 with no money, no experience, and no connections, and unfortunately failed miserably. However, Terry refused to give up so he has refined his process for business and personal growth through customer engagement and retention. He has seen growth since then, growing his people from 1 to around 12 FTEs and doubling revenue each year. Terry has been doing something with everything he learned in running a business. Today, Terry is an international speaker and author of, "Attract & Keep Customers for Life." He's been using this book to help entrepreneurs and small business owners grow their businesses and so to provide a great life for their families. This Cast Covers: Started his business at a young age with no money, experience, and no connections. After several years, the painting company has grown its revenue and people with increasing demand for its service. Learned how to quickly accommodate and provide the highest quality possible service. Refined process for business and personal growth through customer engagement and retention. The author of the book entitled Attract & Keep Customers for Life. The book discusses the abilities to build trust, communicate one's value and charge what's worth. Now works as a business owner, international speaker, and author of books that bring success. Loyal repeat clients do some of the marketing for the business. Learned to stop fearing taking chances and how it would turn a person's life and career. Passionate about helping entrepreneurs and small business owners who, more than anything, want to provide a great life for their families. Additional Resources: Begue Painting Inc. Attract & Keep Customers For Life By Terry Begue The Slight Edge By Jeff Olson Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki __________________________ Quotes: "Stop fearing taking chances." —Terry Begue "Take yourself out of the equation, each of us has full control over making decisions." —Terry Begue "If you want to be successful, you have to let other people lead and allow them to express their opinions." —Terry Begue "Just be ready for anything every day and don't let emotions get in the way." —Terry Begue "Show some care to your employees and customers because the foundation of the relationship is caring." —Terry Begue __________________________ 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 Walter Hill, Jr., the Chairman and CEO of Icon Blue, Inc., a brand marketing firm based in Los Angeles, USA. Icon Blue helps entrepreneurs and small businesses succeed through merchandise branding, imprinting of corporate brands on products, placement of products images, and corporate logos. Walter founded Icon Blue in 1998, and within its first few years of operation, the company earned multiple awards and was recognized because of its incredible services. For over two decades of operation, Icon Blue became a leading Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) provider of marketing solutions in the United States. For over five decades in business, Walter has been talking about red flagging. With that, he wrote a book entitled "Think Red Flags" which offers a simple but new proactive approach to achieving a profitable small business. He says, "If you identify red flags in advance, then you have that opportunity to rectify it before it happens to your business." This Cast Covers: A brand marketing firm that stands out in the competitive industry of branded merchandise. Introducing the merchandise branding, imprinting of corporate brands on products, placement of products images, and corporate logos to be visible with target clients. Supporting client goals in all areas of sales promotion, marketing, and special events. With a variety of specialties and services that will generate measurable positive results. Learning how to identify red flags in business which are possible issues that could arise and preventing them to happen can make a difference. Recognizing the importance of balance between the business and personal life. Learning that every entrepreneur should know how to handle balance and know its importance in life to prevent hurtful experiences from happening. How well-prepared rapport to clients can build relationships, gaining their interests and trust. The importance of developing a strong culture that signifies the nature of how well the business operates. Showing respect to people is a very low-cost way to recognize and appreciate their efforts. Additional Resources: Icon Blue Think Red Flags By Walter Hill Jr. The Gift of Fear By Gavin de Becker __________________________ Quotes: "If you identify red flags in advance, then you have that opportunity to rectify it before it happens to your business." —Walter Hill Jr. "If you let a high impact mistake happen several times, it could be a real detriment to what you were trying to get." —Walter Hill Jr. "Efficiency leads to profit, and profit leads to higher wages, more opportunities for the team, and a win for the ownership." —Walter Hill Jr. "Develop a strong culture in your business so that as you grow, your service ethic won't deteriorate." —Walter Hill Jr. "Keep believing the people you choose to work with and make sure you have a vision even if you're a small business." —Walter Hill Jr. __________________________ 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 Betty Brennan, the President and Founder of Taylor Studios, an event management company based in Chicago, USA. Taylor Studios helps museums, nature centers, corporations, and universities with planning, and building exhibits. They make every exhibit educational to a certain level of professionalism. Taylor Studios was founded in 1991, started in the kitchen garage, and grew from there. From 2 FTEs, now around 35 FTEs, and from $200,000 in sales to over $4 million in a span of 31 years. The company has been receiving Inc. 5000 awards and made the Inc. 500 list in 2000. They have completed 700 projects in 45 states and 4 countries, teaching the world about history, nature, and culture. Betty shares that the hardest thing in growing a small business is getting more people. Because there's no business without the people. For she says, "Learning how to get that group of people moving towards the same vision is a tricky thing." This Cast Covers: An event management company, helping museums, nature centers, corporations, and universities with planning, and building exhibits. With a diverse staff of graphic and exhibit designers, and storytellers working to provide beautiful and meaningful projects. Providing collaborative, creative, on time, and in the budget process of service. Helping clients tell a story that inspires visitors. Making everything throughout the process durable to inspire people to get involved. Flexibility kept their clients on top of things, making everything easier for them. Making exhibits educational done to a certain level of professionalism. Started in the kitchen garage with 2 FTEs, now around 35 FTEs, and was awarded multiple Inc. 5000. From $200,000 in sales to over $1.4 million in 31 years. Completed over 700 projects in 45 states and 4 countries teaching the world about history, nature, and culture. Additional Resources: Taylor Studios The Ideal Team Player By Patrick M. Lencioni The One Minute Manager By Ken Blanchard The Five Temptations of a CEO By Patrick M. Lencioni ____________________ Quotes: "For project-based businesses, reputation is everything so building relationships is important." —Betty Brennan "Learn leadership and emotional intelligence earlier, learn how to communicate and lead a group of people." —Betty Brennan "Be open-minded, curious, constantly learning, and you'll get through the ups and downs." —Betty Brennan "Attitude is more important than skill." —Betty Brennan "Group dynamics is a really important aspect of running a successful team." —Betty Brennan ____________________ Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0