Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode, I interview Gail Mercer-Mackay, the Founder and CEO of Mercer-Mackay Digital Solutions based in the province of Ontario, Canada. The company is dedicated to helping technology companies market their brands through storytelling using website copy, blogs, case studies, eBooks, and other digital content. With years of sales & marketing experience gained at technology firms, Gail founded her own digital marketing company in her early 50s in 2007. Along with her passion and enthusiasm for storytelling, she's committed to helping people build valuable business and personal connections. For over 13 years, she has helped a lot of partners gain customers, grow revenue, and number of FTEs to 70. Gail was fascinated by how technology shaped the world and how storytelling is effective in education, learning, and applications. Getting potential customers for their partners is always a great feeling that they are more convinced to be consistent with the way they tell stories to others. This Cast Covers: A marketing agency that helps technology companies uniquely deliver their stories and brand. A full-service agency doing everything for their clients' company so people will recognize that they have something special to offer. Two main streams for revenue are the combination of templates and processes and wizards and access to experts. How stories are one of the most powerful ways to educate the audience and become potential customers. Helping customers get to the heart of how they help their customers, transform, change, and revolutionize as a result of the technology. Specialize in writing blogs, newsletters, case studies, awards, press releases, e-books, and other vehicles to help their customers tell their stories. How a passion for technology enables them to become the clients' biggest supporters. From a salesperson to a marketing content writer, and owning a digital storytelling company. One of the top marketing agencies in the world for technology companies. How covid become a big driver for them to provide services to many more companies that need publicity online. Additional Resources: Mercer MacKay The One Minute Salesperson By Spencer Johnson M.D. The Ray Edwards Show Daxai ………………………………………… Quotes: "The story is not about technology, the story is always about transformation." – Gail Mercer-Mackay "Get disciplined and just do it consistently." – Gail Mercer-Mackay "If you don't have a big budget, you can do lots of things but just be consistent about it." – Gail Mercer-Mackay "When you focus on what you want to do, and you put a plan together, that's where you're growing and things just happen." – Gail Mercer-Mackay "You will get everything you want in life if you help everybody else get everything they want in life." – Gail Mercer-Mackay ………………………………………… 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 de Bono, the Founding Director, and Miso Master at Meru Foods, a food manufacturer based in Launceston Tasmania, specializing in fermented products. They supply premium ingredients to the food manufacturing sector. Meru Foods is the company behind Meru Miso and Umami Pantry. Chris and his wife founded Meru Foods in Melbourne, Australia in 2015. They started out in a shared kitchen and each year they upgraded their space as their small business consistently grew. Now they are based in Tasmania and are committed to crafting the highest quality Australian-made Japanese condiments. Meru Foods has been producing the highest quality miso and has become the first and biggest Miso supplier in Australia with a revenue of 40% and 5 FTEs. Chris says that a fast-growing business is all about consistency. A small business will definitely grow if the best plans are implemented consistently. This Cast Covers: A food manufacturing company focusing on making great and tasty food. Produce the highest quality miso with genuine flavor. Produced an award-winning range of fermented, artisan, and plant-based Asian-inspired condiments. Australia's premier producer of traditional miso using 100% of organic ingredients. Products are individually handcrafted in small batches with limited use of industrial machinery to ensure minimal impact on the environment. The company has been able to produce two brands running side by side. Australia's leading Miso maker with the capability, experience, and capacity to deliver as an ingredient supplier and contract manufacturing partner. Has the pleasure of supplying their range to some of the best restaurants and retailers in Australia. To craft the highest quality Australian-made Japanese condiments, respecting traditional techniques is their company's philosophy. Additional Resources: Meru Foods Meru Miso Umami Pantry The 4 Disciplines of Execution By Chris McChesney The Prof G Pod ………………………………………… Quotes: "Success for me is being able to continue that quality, continue to grow, and expand." – Chris de Bono "It's just consistency and sticking with the platforms." – Chris de Bono "Self-learning to drive that understanding." – Chris de Bono "Sometimes in small business, you need to take a little step back, and just let things unfold." – Chris de Bono "Don't try and be what you think other people want you to be." – Chris de Bono ………………………………………… 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 Trena White, the Co-founder, and Principal of Page Two based in Vancouver, Canada. Page Two is a book publishing company that helps non-fiction authors publish brilliant books, and helps organizations with their publishing activities. With over 10 years of experience in a traditional publishing company, Trena and her business partner decided to start their own book publishing company that treats authors as true partners in the publishing process and helps authors work toward their goals for the book. They founded the company in 2013; in their first year in the business they obtained $100,000 of revenue, and after 8 years they're at mid-seven figures and around 20 FTEs. Trena says that a book is the ultimate expression of somebody's mastery of their subject. So they strive hard to collaborate with each client on reaching their goals for their book projects. This Cast Covers: A book publishing company for entrepreneurs and organizations that want to publish books. Helps non-fiction authors and companies with their publishing activities to manifest their vision for their books. Works with authors in building their brands and marketing strategies. Their Build a Book process helps authors identify their target audience and map out a book structure to make it successful. Had been working in a traditional publishing company for about 10 years together with her business partner. Started the business with a different vision from their traditional publishing experiences, where publishers' work doesn't consider the author's brand, business, or goals. Obtained $100,000 revenue in the first year of business, and now at mid-seven figures growth. Has published several major international bestsellers, including The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier. How handpicking a talented team and building a team helps them achieve an excellent reputation. Marketing has been all about client relationships, and 95% of the business comes through referral. Additional Resources: Page Two The Coaching Habit By Michael Bungay Stanier Power + Presence + Position Mike Up in Your Business podcast ………………………………………… Quotes: "We feel that a book is the ultimate expression of somebody's mastery of their subject." – Trena White "Excellent reputation takes a tremendous amount of work and team building." – Trena White "We deliver when we work on a project, and we work extraordinarily hard to nurture the relationship with the author." – Trena White "For us, marketing has been all about client relationships." – Trena White "We're constantly making sure we're at the cutting edge of what's possible, and that we're serving them in the fullest way possible." – Trena White ………………………………………… 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 Mickie Kennedy, the Founder and President of eReleases, a traditional press release distribution company based in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States, an expert at helping small businesses, authors, and startups increase their visibility and credibility. Mickie Kennedy developed eReleases in 1998 with the belief that publicity shouldn't be restricted. So, the company helps its clients promote themselves with the media. He started with only 40-60 grand in the first year and has grown to $6 million annually. Currently have 8 FTEs working with the company. "All entrepreneurs grow through problems and issues and growing pains," says Mickie. He can relate to that but what matters the most is how they will handle the challenges in growing their business. If you want big success, know how to do it. This Cast Covers: Specializes in press release services for small businesses, startups, and authors to promote themselves with the media. Offers writing service as well as distribution through the largest and most-respected newswire in the country, as well as a proprietary database of journalists and editors. A traditional press release distribution company that focuses primarily on getting press releases into the hands of real journalists. Finds smaller companies and startups usually have better success than large corporations or midsize companies. Developed the company with the belief that publicity shouldn't be restricted especially to small businesses. The company's goal is to reach out to more small businesses and help them make the transition from being a company with a product or service to a company with a clear brand that speaks to the marketplace and media alike. Delivers personal service and exceptional value to every customer at every price point. Has grown exponentially since then, from 40-60 grand in the first year to $6 million annual revenue. Additional Resources: eReleases Influence By Robert B. Cialdini 80/20 Sales and Marketing By Perry Marshall ………………………………………… Quotes: "If you are strategic, you can get a lot of leverage." – Mickie Kennedy "We try to match people with writers who are sort of experts in their fields, and they kind of have a good idea of what would be newsworthy." – Mickie Kennedy "Success for me is providing real value to small business owners, startups, and people." – Mickie Kennedy "I would challenge anybody to sort of putting themselves in the experience of the customer." – Mickie Kennedy "You should try to take every opportunity you can to measure as much as you can in your business." – Mickie Kennedy ………………………………………… 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 Nike Anani, founder and CEO of Nike Anani Practice, Ltd., a strategic consulting company in Austin, Texas. Nike helps clients bridge generational gaps, to enable family businesses to successfully transition to the next generation and leave a lasting legacy. With over a decade of extensive experience in the family business, Nike enables to manifest her expertise in taking the dysfunction out of family businesses. Now, she's working privately with select business families that are future-focused and are committed to achieving impact and transforming the world. Nike says that what she loves the most about growing a small business is building nurturing human connections. Initially, she was scared of talking to other people but as she continued running the company, she was able to build meaningful relationships by knowing the differences of their clients and embodying their culture. This Cast Covers: A strategic consulting company that works with family business owners. Helps clients bridge the gap between the senior and younger generations. Over a decade of extensive experience as a founder enables her to uniquely empathize with both generations and act as a connector. They help their clients to communicate, collaborate and collectively gain clarity, to increase profit and productivity in their family businesses. An entrepreneur and a consultant who was rated as a top-100 family business consultant globally. Working privately with select business families that are future-focused and are committed to achieving impact. Its mission is to create a lasting legacy by connecting two distant generations. The importance of communication is to bring clients to trust the business' service and build a meaningful relationship. Providing their clients with specific and actionable guidance to generate results. Emphasizing the importance of continuous learning. Additional Resources: Nike Anani Practice Ltd. Start With Why By Simon Sinek Jay Shetty Podcast ………………………………………… Quotes: "Enforce personal boundaries because at the end of the day, if you fall apart, the business also loses." – Nike Anani "Sales is not all about sending out newsletters and being on social media, you also need to push conversations with people." – Nike Anani "Ensure that you have a system for getting sales." – Nike Anani "It's important to define the culture and embody that culture. So then people can come consistently with that culture." – Nike Anani "We have to believe that we're on a journey of endless mastery in life. So we have to keep evolving towards mastery." – Nike Anani ………………………………………… 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 Andrew Jones, the owner, and operator of Invercarron Wines, a young Tasmanian vineyard producing premium wines. The Jones family have maintained their farming origins and after constantly looking to diversify and grow the farm- Invercarron Wines was born. Andrew and his wife owned and operated one of the state's most successful travel agencies for 30 years. After such time, they sold the agency leaving a $5 million revenue and a total of 35 FTE. Jones' family now turned their attention to wine, sheep and a luxury farm stay in a sixth-generation farming property in southern Tasmania. Even though Andrew has been doing something different from his former business, he has been enjoying the new environment and he's been farming his whole life now. For him, success is not all about the financial reward but about how you succeeded in keeping the business for a long period. This Cast Covers: Spent almost 30 years in the travel industry and shifted to operating a farm with the family. How the family maintained their farming origin, successfully farming the region until its sixth generation. How constantly looking to diversify and grow the farm made them come up with a unique project for the business. Grown the former travel agency with a $5 million revenue and a total of 35 FTE. How a habit of creating a great culture and environment made the staff and clients happy. The importance of respecting the people and the business to grow them successfully. How social media skyrocketed sales and improved marketing strategy. With a fascinating product produced from a young vineyard to unique flavored wines. Additional Resources: Invercarron Wines Andrew Jones Travel The Picker's Hut The E-Myth Revisited By Michael E. Gerber ………………………………………… Quotes: "Success is being respected by your peers and respected as a business." – Andrew Jones "Social media does change and so does marketing." – Andrew Jones "As the business grew, the staff members grew as well." – Andrew Jones "No matter how good you are, how good your culture is, and how many people you employ, there will always be someone who will disappoint." – Andrew Jones "It wasn't the financial reward that made your business grow but the fact that you succeeded over a long period." – Andrew 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 Natalie Yeadon, the Co-founder, and CEO of Impetus Digital, a company that designs and builds privately branded online healthcare communities for stakeholder engagement through its fully customizable and very own platform, multilingual interface, and its robust, pharma-compliant security, making it the ideal choice for authentic engagement. Natalie joined her business partner Janice Smith in starting Impetus in 2008 while in her early 40s. Both of them have a background in the pharmaceutical industry. During their 13 years in business, they were able to increase their annual growth from 10-20% to over 250% since the hit of Covid-19 and work with 40 FTE. The Healthcare Heretic, a leadership book written by Natalie Yeadon, contains ideas and motivations for people to take action and leadership roles in order to make a change. This book highlights the importance of assuming a leadership role and becoming potential leaders in the economy of the future. This Cast Covers: Services ensure that life science organizations around the world can easily and cost-effectively grow and prosper. Works with life science companies around the globe, helping them do everything from creating virtual advisory boards, medical education, and investigator meetings. Also helped companies with sales, training virtually, MSL programs, hackathons, and everything in between. How life science companies can establish authentic partnerships with their customers. From 10-20% annual growth to over 250% increase since the hit of Covid-19. Background in the pharmaceutical industry helped to grow the business. Offers a full range of strategic, medical writing, and digital services to help make the transition from in-person to virtual events seamless. With over a decade of experience in virtualizing meetings and events. How leadership roles are essential in creating a purpose-driven organization. The importance of purpose-driven organization for the sustainability of the business. Additional Resources: Impetus Digital The Healthcare Heretic By Natalie Yeadon Healthcare Goes Digital Thinking, Fast and Slow By Daniel Kahneman Atomic Habits By James Clear ………………………………………… Quotes: "If you believe in what you're doing and focusing on your vision can push the business forward." – Natalie Yeadon "When the best people doing the best work with that focus-driven purpose made the difference." – Natalie Yeadon "We do everything we can to make sure that we have all the right things in place to continue our growth." – Natalie Yeadon "Being able to build that business and win business is just rewarding." – Natalie Yeadon "Everything that we function and do together is purpose-driven." – Natalie Yeadon ………………………………………… 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 Miltz, the Co-founder and Director of Cash Flow Story, a technology company based in Melbourne, Australia. CFS helps business owners, managers, and financial coaches understand what the numbers mean in the simplest way possible to improve their profit, cash flow, and value. The company is based on the successful financial storytelling techniques developed over the last 25 years by the founders. Techniques are currently used by 40,000 people in 96 countries worldwide including banks, firms, and thousands of businesses. Alan says that one lesson he learned in the industry is that cash flow excellence will never be achieved without people's excellence. He said that everyone in the team needs to know and understand the number because they are accountable for the growth and profit of the company. This Cast Covers: Enables businesses to improve their profit, cash flow, and value. Enables businesses to view the financial impact of decisions in advance. Imparts financial stories to non-financial people. Eliminates complexities in understanding the numbers for business owners, managers, and advisors. How understanding the numbers improves decision-making in operating the business. Achieves cash flow excellence through people's excellence. Creates a global standard by which business leaders and advisors review financial performance. Delivers unique insights to improve business' financial performance. Successful financial storytelling techniques were developed by the founders and have been used for over 25 years. How knowing the numbers is essential for figuring out the cash flow and where to improve. Additional Resources: Cash Flow Story Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) By Verne Harnish Mastering the Rockefeller Habits By Verne Harnish Growth Institute ………………………………………… Quotes: "Everyone in your management team needs to embrace the numbers and know what they can do to make better decisions." – Alan Miltz "First thing I've realized is to surround myself with people who have different skills to me." – Alan Miltz "Two heads are better than one." – Alan Miltz "Routine sets you free." – Alan Miltz "You will never achieve cash flow excellence without people excellence." – Alan Miltz ………………………………………… 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 Nicole Rycroft, the Founder and the Executive Director of CanopyPlanet, an award-winning environmental nonprofit organization based in Vancouver, Canada, dedicated to protecting the world's forests, species, and climate. Canopy works collaboratively with brands to develop environmental policies and help them implement those, thereby improving their environmental performance and advancing conservation gains. Nicole was a former physiotherapist and an elite-level athlete in Australia. She moved to Canada and later founded CanopyPlanet in 1999. She started with a $1,800 budget and for over 22 years they got more than $5 million of the budget donated by those who are passionate about planetary health. The organization is currently working with 750 large companies to conserve more than 25 million hectares of forest service. To be a fast-growing organization, Nicole recommended always making sure to keep the heart of your work close. Keeping the culture, the change, the authenticity of your brand, and who you are can be the sources of growth. This Cast Covers: An environmental nonprofit organization dedicated to protect the world's forests, species, and climate and help advance frontline community rights. Perform its mission by harnessing the purchasing importance of large corporate customers of the forest products industry. Currently working with about 750 large companies that use a lot of paper, a lot of packaging, a lot of wood-based fabrics. Helping large companies develop environmental policies, and implement them so that they transform unsustainable supply chains that end up destroying koala habitats or orangutan habitats and high-carbon forests around the world. Focuses on creating solutions and working together with the largest pulp and paper products buyers to achieve a much greater impact. Passion to protect the endangered, carbon-rich forests around the world led them to become an award-winning environmental nonprofit organization. Has grown and attracted a group of passionate environmental and social justice activists. An award-winning environmental organization has been present for over two decades already. Additional Resources: CanopyPlanet Influence By Robert B. Cialdini Blue Ocean Strategy By W. Chan Kim ………………………………………… Quotes: "Make sure that you keep the heart of your work close." – Nicole Rycroft "The power of storytelling, and taking people with you on the journey is really important." – Nicole Rycroft "I'm really lucky that I've been able to bring the team that is way smarter than me when it comes to systems design and policy and procedure." – Nicole Rycroft "Recognizing that as a leader, you have to bring your team with you." – Nicole Rycroft "If you want to both attract great people, as well as keep good people, then you have to take care of them in ways that are meaningful to them." – Nicole Rycroft ………………………………………… 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 Geller, the co-founder and President of Tegrita, a marketing technology consulting firm based in Canada that enables clients' marketing strategies through marketing automation and technology. The company has helped clients who begin with small projects and become long-term and dedicated. Tegrita started in 2008 when Mike left his job as an implementation consultant for six months. He started a small business to build a career in marketing technology consultancy. He never wasted a time, he has expanded the business, grown the annual growth by 30-40%, and now has 25 FTE working in his company for several years. Mike says that what he loves the most in growing a small business is allowing himself to make more happy clients. He made sure to achieve the defined success and objectives his clients have given them. This Cast Covers: A remote team of experienced and innovative consultants specializing in marketing automation to support growth-minded organizations. A marketing technology consulting firm that enables digital marketing strategy with technology. Brings clients' marketing strategies to life through marketing automation and the technologies that surround it. Expert in optimizing marketing strategy and making marketing technology perform at its peak. Obtained dedicated clients after experiencing their way of development and optimization. How marketing automation platforms increase conversion as well as revenue. How the marketing automation platform saves clients' time through scheduled automatic emails from the system and makes it easier for them to connect to other people exploring their websites. Works with clients with defined success and objectives then, use technology to achieve those objectives. Additional Resources: Tegrita Flipboard CMO to CRO By Mike Geller Oracle Eloqua ………………………………………… Quotes: "You set up a workflow and you set up a process to achieve a particular business goal." – Mike Geller "We can't measure success if success isn't defined ahead of time yet." – Mike Geller "You need to have unanimous consent on all decisions." – Mike Geller "Growing a small business allows me to make more clients happy." – Mike Geller "If you hire smart, capable people, then you have to give them the space to be smart, capable people." – Mike Geller ………………………………………… Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com). License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0