Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode, I interview Michael Denehey, an adviser at Collins SBA based in Hobart, Australia. Collins SBA is a financial advice and accounting service for Australian businesses. They work with small and medium business owners and assist them in growing and scaling their business. Michael is an adviser who specializes in providing proactive, focused, and strategic advice to manage strategic business succession and exit planning for Australian business owners. After working with a number of large accounting firms for over 25 years, Michael has been able to use that experience to help more people on their growth journey. Clients he has been working with have achieved an increase of 37% in net profit. Michael also assists business owners by connecting them to other businesses or individuals who can help them with specific needs or projects. Michael says that what he loves the most in growing a small business is meeting new people and helping them through their journey. That becomes his objective each day, helping his clients achieve their business and personal goals. This Cast Covers: Supporting business owners through guiding them to achieve their business and personal goals. Building remarkable futures for their clients, staff, and stakeholders. Achieving their clients' dreams by investing in products and services that are designed to help business clients and individuals grow their wealth. Helping with business strategy and planning as well as cash flow management. How confidence in what you provide to customers greatly affects the sales process. Learning that selling products or increasing business sales doesn't come naturally but determination and understanding the value of what you provide is what helps the process. The importance of doing some pieces of training to learn different approaches that could help level up sales. Part of the coaching role is to keep business owners accountable for working on the business. The importance of being specific on what you want to achieve, the length of time needed, and building specific strategies to get there. The need of having systems and processes in place, and making sure you have the appropriate data to actually measure how you're tracking. Additional Resources: Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business By Gino Wickman Blue Ocean Strategy By W. Chan Kim Good to Great By Jim Collins How I Built This with Guy Raz Podcast At The Table with Patrick Lencioni ………………………………………… Quotes: "Be clear on your target." —Michael Denehey "It's important for any of the people in the business to be aligned and on the same page as far as where the business is going." —Michael Denehey "Confidence in what you provide your customers and focusing on the value helps in the sales process." —Michael Denehey "Part of growing a business is being able to delegate and make sure you have the right people in the right roles and are accountable." —Michael Denehey "Be very clear on what you want to achieve over a period of time and build a strategy to get there." —Michael Denehey ………………………………………… 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 Jennifer Seeno Tucker, a Real Estate Associate Broker at eXp Realty, one of the world's fastest-growing real estate brokerages. Services include offering unique tools to help agents and clients buy and sell stress-free and ensuring the highest quality standards throughout the transaction. Jennifer came to real estate from an educational background. She jumped out from teaching to build a brokerage in New York. She got her license in real estate in 2012, and she used her advanced degree in education to understand how to communicate the benefits and features of the property. According to Jennifer, the covid year was the best year for their business after she sold over $18 million through 30 transactions which were 3x greater than their usual transactions. She says the hardest thing in growing a small business is always taking the leap to start something new. It's always hard to do something that's different from what we normally do. However, taking that leap is an opportunity to try and receive something bigger than what we normally obtained. This Cast Covers: A former educator jumped out from teaching to build a brokerage in New York. Used her advanced degree in education to understand how to best communicate the benefits and features of the property. Ensuring the highest quality standards throughout the real estate transaction. Helping people transition from being paycheck employees to high-earning real estate transactions. Offering unique tools to help agents and clients buy and sell stress-free. How an organized and systematic business makes work less. How a holistic approach to business encompasses personal growth and well-being. The importance of the holistic approach to treating the minds by consuming what's needed to support wellness and get rid of negative thoughts and people. The habit a small business owner needs to develop is scheduling and block planning his/her day. Sold over $18 million through 30 transactions during covid. Additional Resources: eXp Realty Calendly Become a Rock Star Real Estate Agent By Jennifer Seeno Tucker Make 'Em Beg to Be Your Client By Dr. Angela E. Lauria ………………………………………… Quotes: "Success to me is having an automated business where things just naturally roll." —Jennifer Seeno Tucker "Find a blend that works best for you." —Jennifer Seeno Tucker "We come across deals every day and we just have to be ready." —Jennifer Seeno Tucker "Having more of a holistic approach to business encompasses personal growth and well-being." —Jennifer Seeno Tucker "Having an intimate relationship with our creator has helped my business as well." —Jennifer Seeno Tucker ………………………………………… 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 Punit Dhillon, the President, CEO & Chair of Skye Bioscience Inc. based in San Diego, California, USA, a public pharmaceutical company with a leading program in ophthalmology, developing a drug for glaucoma. Punit is a biotech and life sciences entrepreneur passionate about helping the community. He's also an author of the book Catapult wherein he shares 10 principles for a purpose-driven life and career, linking together the athletic strengths that will help people succeed in the business world. With his extensive experience in biotechnology and life science space, he's leading Skye Bioscience for a year now with phenomenal growth in market cap from less than $10 million to over $16 million and from 2 to 24 FTEs. Punit was the former CEO and Director of OncoSec, a San Diego-based biotechnology company pioneering new technologies to stimulate the body's immune system to target and attack cancer. Punit says the two hardest things in growing a small business based on his experience were learning to step aside and speaking to people with brevity to drive clarity in terms of decision-making. These were challenging for him throughout his career because these were the certain expectations of many toward leaders in an organization. This Cast Covers: A unique company developing novel first-class molecules that focused on a whole range of different therapeutic areas. The life science space-focused business with a leading program in ophthalmology. Particularly developing a drug for glaucoma using synthetically derived molecules known as cannabinoids. Through extensive experience co-founded and served as President and CEO of OncoSec Medical Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering new technologies to fight cancer. Tackles about the role of a leader in growing a small business which is to enable growth by getting rid of obstacles that restrict it. How can working together with the team and having effective decision-making help get through challenges. An inspiring biotech and life sciences entrepreneur who is focused on serving the community. The importance of working with outside experts in achieving good purposes. The significance of listening to what the team needs and understanding their purpose to accommodate the company needs to succeed. Figuring out an individual's purpose alongside the roles and responsibilities is the best way in order to really foster growth. For over a year in a public pharmaceutical company, the market cap grew from less than $10 million to over $16 million and from 2 to 24 FTEs. Additional Resources: Skye Bioscience Catapult By Punit Dhillon The Second Mountain By David Brooks Atomic Habits By James Clear ………………………………………… Quotes: "The measure of success is when you can enable growth not only in the company but also for the individuals who are part of that success." —Punit Dhillon "The leader's job is to help get rid of obstacles and enable growth to not be restricted." —Punit Dhillon "We can be visionary, if you're not having that mindset, you're not having that support and driving purpose, then you're not doing a great job." —Punit Dhillon "We're living in a profound era and we have an opportunity to aspire 10 times higher than where we are, and just do the best we can to outline a plan so you can actually execute." —Punit Dhillon "Planning and establishing a set of tools that helps you hold accountability to yourself and allow you to hold accountability with your team is a habit that must be developed." —Punit Dhillon ………………………………………… 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 Kristi Soomer, the Founder, and CEO of Encircled, a slow fashion brand based in Toronto, Canada, which makes workwear perfect for active individuals that embrace everyday adventure in style, and in comfort. Encircled is a Certified B Corporation, as sustainability and ethics are the core of everything they do. A former strategy consultant and no fashion background, Kristi bravely launched a fashion brand that was initially a travel-inspired clothing brand in 2012. It took her six months to refine her first product while working full-time. After 2 years, he left her full-time job and focused her attention on growing her small business which is now a seven-figure business with 30 FTEs, and grew last year's sales up to 70%. Kristi says that what she loves the most in growing a small business is having the ability to impact. She always wants to create a product that gives impact to those who will be wearing it. It has been her favorite thing seeing people loving their products by wearing and tagging them. This Cast Covers: A slow fashion brand that makes workwear that embraces everyday adventure in style, and in comfort. Creating versatile, stylish, and ethically designs that work well with active individuals. A Certified B Corporation, as sustainability and ethics are at the core of everything they do. Started as a travel clothing brand where the idea was to travel more with less. A former strategy consultant with no background in fashion but got inspired by a garment while packing for a yoga retreat. Passionate about helping purpose-driven female founders. Define success as a fulfillment of building a business aligned with the values. Encouraging entrepreneurs to look at their profit and loss statements to really understand the key drivers in the business. Described the biggest mindset shift throughout the small business journey that people can do anything if they work hard enough even without a background of it. Emphasizing the power of gratitude and how this affects the people behind the business's success. Additional Resources: Encircled The E Myth By Michael E. Gerber The E-Myth Revisited By Michael E. Gerber StoryBrand DigitalMarketer Podcast ………………………………………… Quotes: "Success always leaves clues and you can't see those clues unless you really look at the data." —Kristi Soomer "I always encourage people to look at the profit and loss statements to really understand those key drivers." —Kristi Soomer "There's never going to be no work to be done if you have effective prioritization skills." —Kristi Soomer "Never underestimate the power of acknowledging people and their work." —Kristi Soomer "People make mistakes and there's no problem with that, as long as they take accountability for their mistake and learn from it." —Kristi Soomer ………………………………………… 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 Ieuan Williams, the Co-founder and Director of Mane Consulting, Sydney-based recruitment and workforce solutions consultancy, specializing in the Finance, Digital, and Data space. They deliver talent solutions and provide the right resourcing strategy for their clients. Ieuan had been working in accounting and finance talent acquisition within boutique and global organizations. At the age of 31 in 2016, Ieuan and his colleague founded a workforce solutions provider, helping businesses and organizations to find the right people for the right role and project. They started with just the two of them and in their first year in the business, they got a revenue growth of $400k. Now, over five years, from 2 FTEs to 35 with a near eight-figure turnover. Ieuan says the hardest thing in growing a small business is being consistent each day. He can see the importance of consistency in business, but it was challenging to him, especially starting out the business doing basic and simple things every single day. In his perception, a lot of people want to do things differently each day, however, he understands the significance of it after a long period of being in the industry. This Cast Covers: Predominantly focusing on workforce solutions, recruitment, and talent acquisition, within the digital, finance, and analytics industries. Helping clients in finding the right people to work on their projects. A boutique consultancy with established networks and expertise within the Australian and International financial markets. Delivering workforce solutions and providing the right resourcing strategy for their client's business. Providing tangible results through understanding and knowledge of the industry. The importance of making a good business plan as a strategic tool for entrepreneurs. Emphasizing the actions to be taken when given advice regarding ways to grow a business. Having a hard time manifesting consistency in growing a small business. How employers find the right people to take the job. Grown revenue from $400k to the upper seven figures with 35 FTEs in 5 years. Additional Resources: Mane Consulting Legacy By James Kerr The Bottom of the Pool By Andy Andrews ………………………………………… Quotes: "Be careful who you listen to, and what you listen to." —Ieuan Williams "If you think it's good and it makes sense to you, there's no need to listen to others." —Ieuan Williams "Have convictions in your decision-making." —Ieuan Williams "As a business owner, you set the heartbeat of a business and the person who starts the rhythm of the business." —Ieuan Williams "Have a business plan, break it down, strategize, and make priorities." —Ieuan Williams ………………………………………… 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 Bianca Welsh, the Co-owner of Stillwater Restaurant, and Founder of From Experience, a mental health service based in Launceston, Tasmania. Bianca Welsh is a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor who aims to equip business owners with the tools they need to help identify mental illness in the workplace, understand it from a psychological perspective, and guide how to offer the right support. At just 21, she has over a decade's experience in professional building and development. She spent 7 years studying part-time and graduated with a Bachelor of Behavioral Science in 2018. There she found it helpful in building a restaurant culture that strives for mental illness. Now she is heavily involved in her community as a mental health advocate. Bianca has a piece of advice for those starting a small business. She says, "Prioritize yourself and your relationships. Don't make it about making money. Make genuine connections and the business may work on those relationships." This Cast Covers: Helping hospitality workers identify mental health warning signs. Emphasizing the impact of changes in the environment that contribute to anxiety and mental illness. Due to fear of losing workers from her workplace, initiated a project to help aid mental health challenges. Passionate and driven restaurateur and mental health advocate who is heavily involved in her community. Spent years studying psychology and found it helpful in building a restaurant culture that strives for mental health. The importance of every small business owner to take mental health a real thing and must be count significant to make the workplace safer and more efficient. Stating the rapid growth of suicide rate and severe depression each year. How mental health professionals can help those mentally challenged individuals through designed interventions for character improvement and efficiency. How powerful mental health in the workplace can be for business. The ultimate goal of improving mental health is to make people better and happier in life despite facing challenges. Additional Resources: Stillwater From Experience The Resilience Project By Hugh van Cuylenburg The Body Keeps the Score By Bessel van der Kolk M.D Lost Connections By Johann Hari The Happiness Trap By Russ Harris ………………………………………… Quotes: "It can be toxic when mental health is not recognized as being a real issue." —Bianca Welsh "By implementing a mentally healthy workplace truly an attribute to success." —Bianca Welsh "Support system is very needed to help you get through." —Bianca Welsh "Leaders should know when their cup is full and know what their support networks are." —Bianca Welsh "Once you educate yourself, you can empathize rather than sympathize." —Bianca Welsh ………………………………………… 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 Arjun Rai, the founder, and CEO of HelloWoofy based in New York, USA, a social media and blog management platform, driven by artificial intelligence that helps small to medium-sized businesses with smart marketing for the digital age. Arjun is always passionate about social media and he's full of ideas on how it helps startups. From a virtual collaboration space, Arjun set out to modernize another industry related to his former passion of social media. Re-launching a social media management platform in 2019. Initially got 1,520 customers and now has 11,000 users in two years. He started just by himself to a team of 12 FTEs. Arjun shares what he learned from the moment he started as an entrepreneur. It is making better decisions and we can only do that if we keep on learning because achieving something doesn't mean we know everything. This Cast Covers: Building a platform that allows small businesses to do smart marketing. Helping clients schedule social media posts ahead of time. Helps with writing and autocompleting entire blog posts. Supporting small to medium-sized businesses with digital marketing. Started with a mission of wanting to build a bigger company to help smaller ones. Expanded customer base by 21,900% in two years. Directed a team of software engineers, designers, and legal/finance professionals. The importance of getting the right people and being part of the success. The relevance of thinking ahead of time to sort things more easily. Emphasizing the need for small business owners to have the mindset of positioning themselves in certain situations. Additional Resources: HelloWoffy Traffic Secrets By Russell Brunson Expert Secrets By Russell Brunson ………………………………………… Quotes: "We're always thinking ahead, we're always pushing the limits." —Arjun Rai "Once you find the right people and you get to know them, they just become family to you." —Arjun Rai "Those little things we worked on can create moments of delight." —Arjun Rai "There's always light at the end of the tunnel." —Arjun Rai "You are completely in ownership of your destiny." —Arjun Rai ………………………………………… 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 Mariae Leckie, the Interim CEO, and Senior Consultant of The Project Lab, a consulting and advisory firm based in Hobart, Tasmania. They are experts on cyber security and they work with small to large organizations to ensure the safety and security of their assets. Mariae Leckie was also the former CEO of Crime Stoppers Tasmania. Together with the team, they help their clients build and grow; understand; and change their organizations to ensure their high-performing businesses and keep their sustainability. Managing outsourced business processes and cyber risk is services they offer to their clients. These services not only avoid cybercrime but mainly for the growth and success of the organizations. Marie Leckie says that the hardest thing when it comes to cyber security for small businesses is the low level of digital literacy. It is for this reason that people don't quite know where to start or who to ask. Small businesses are the most frequent targets of cyber-attacks so it is a must for them to practice good basic cyber hygiene. This Cast Covers: A consulting and advisory firm experts on cyber security. Services are based on management consulting principles. Helping clients build and grow; understand; and change their organizations to ensure their high-performing business. Helping people perform at their best. Managing outsourced business processes. Delivering the change essential for the growth of their client's business. The importance of cyber security when growing a small business. How cyber security manages cyber risk to businesses by shutting digital doors to cyber-attacks or online criminals. Delivering projects that bring a meaningful impact to every entrepreneur. How setting one's self for success influences the progress of their career and business. Additional Resources: The Project Lab Cyber Risk Management By Christopher J Hodson CyberStrong By Ajay Singh ………………………………………… Quotes: "Small businesses should practice good basic cyber hygiene." —Mariae Leckie "Be careful what you put in your social media, don't ever put your real personal information." —Mariae Leckie "Set yourself up for success." —Mariae Leckie "Look for your business at 360 degrees and make sure it is safe and secure." —Mariae Leckie "Don't lose your good ideas and don't lose your reputation." —Mariae Leckie ………………………………………… 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 Simon Davies, the Founder, and CEO of Bastion Brands, a Melbourne-based healthcare marketing agency specializing in health marketing, advertising, and medical communications. They work with pharmaceutical companies, medical devices, and consumer health businesses. Simon is passionate about innovating and pioneering the healthcare marketing space by encouraging the adoption of new techniques combined with traditional methods. After 5 years of working in different advertising and marketing companies, Simon gained experience and helped a friend in marketing a funeral business. He gets clients for his friend and gets a percentage in revenue. Later, he decided to start his own business in 2012, aged 32, and that's how Bastion Brands was born. He has grown the revenue from 20% to 60% and from just by himself to the current 40 FTEs for over 9 years. Simon says that what he loves the most in growing a small business is the teamwork and camaraderie his great team has possessed. He finds it fantastic how it evolves the business and says, "Having a great team who works together is just so amazing." This Cast Covers: An advertising and marketing agency focusing on health in the industry. Working with pharmaceutical companies, consumer health, and medical device businesses. They do the marketing as well as the medical education. Had a big drop in revenue during the first few months of the pandemic but over time still was able to find more clients and never subside. Grown revenue from 20% to 60% despite the hit of the pandemic. Running the business for 9 years and growing the team from just himself to the current 40 FTEs. How setting an environment that allows people to flourish is a factor for the small business to flourish as well. The importance of discipline, to focus on activities that drive the success of the business. How getting the right people provides efficiency in implementing the values of the business for its reputation to flourish. How teamwork and camaraderie of a great team influence the growth of the small business. Additional Resources: Bastion Brands Principles By Ray Dalio Shoe Dog By Phil Knight ………………………………………… Quotes: "Set an environment which allows people to flourish." —Simon Davies "Focus on activities that drive the success of your business." —Simon Davies "If you get the right people, you're more likely to have success." —Simon Davies "Have a lot of passion and enthusiasm for what you're doing." —Simon Davies "Believe in yourself." —Simon Davies ………………………………………… 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 Annemarie Hayek, the Founder of Global Mosaic, a Chicago-based cultural consultancy that helps clients deeply understand the culture and organically grow corporate or brand initiatives that connect. Annemarie Hayek is a cultural consultant, generational expert, and social agitator who deeply understands society's evolutions. She used her passion for creativity and founded a cultural consultancy in 2002 at the age of 31. In her first project, she hit a $14,000 profit, and within three years in the business, she got over a million-dollar revenue and has been growing since then. Now the company is running for over 19 years and with a total of 10 FTEs. Annemarie is the author of the book "Generation We: The Power and Promise of Gen Z." This book is all about generation Z, the roots of their power, and the impact that they'll have in taking a leadership role. Annemarie says, "What had mostly been written about them was fairly superficial and maybe we hear about their canceled culture, which is criticized. But there is a much deeper story about them." This Cast Covers: Helping entities understand the culture, cultural movements, cultural trends and understand how people's lives are evolving. Organically grow corporate by helping clients understand the cultural insights, movements, and tensions. Generational expert, and social agitator who deeply understands society's evolutions. Describing Generation Z as the power generation coming on the scene now. Emphasizing some misconceptions about generation Z. Publishing a book that empowers generation Z emphasizing that this generation is far ahead and has so much power to make things move. Hitting $14,000 of profit in her first project and over a million dollars of revenue within three years after starting the business. Have been growing the business since then, and are now in their 19th year in the industry. How passion and creativity are more important than skills. The importance of every small business owner learning to remain true to their initial vision and intention. The importance of every small business owner learning to chase every opportunity. Additional Resources: Global Mosaic Generation We: The Power and Promise of Gen Z By Annemarie Hayek A Whole New Mind By Daniel H. Pink ………………………………………… Quotes: "It doesn't matter how successful we are at work, we're still like students who kept on learning." —Annemarie Hayek "Skill can be learned but the attitudinal disposition toward passion and creativity can't be taught to anyone." —Annemarie Hayek "You need to think about where your passion is and engage with it." —Annemarie Hayek "Remain true to your initial vision and intention in whatever way that makes sense to you." —Annemarie Hayek "You are bigger than you think you are so don't be afraid to be big in the world." —Annemarie Hayek ………………………………………… Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0