Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode, I interview Kirsty Dunphey, the Co-Founder and Director of Up Loans, an award-winning mortgage broking business based in Tasmania, Australia. Up Loans assists people by helping them secure their finances for home loans, refinance, and property investment. Kirsty won a lot of Business Awards and just last year got her 4th award for Choice Platinum Broker and ranked 86 on the Mortgage Professional Australia's Top brokers list. Kristy is a former real estate agent and owned her own agency by the age of 21. She grew following her parent's businesses and cultivated a passion for small businesses and property. Aged 36 in 2014, she sold her real estate agency and began another business, the Up Loans. She became a famous and successful mortgage broker and was awarded several times. Only the two of them of her business partner were the FTE, later in six years has 16 FTEs. There's a quote that reminds Kristy regarding growing the small business successfully. It says, "Success is getting what you want, but happiness is wanting what you get." So, if you remember stuff that makes you happy, work for it to achieve it and you will be successful. This Cast Covers: How her passion in business pushed her to constantly have bigger goals. The importance of good interaction to gain people's trust. How her experience at a young age molded her skills in marketing. Being inspired by the desire to work for herself and the numerous challenges. How social media presence helped to improve marketing and business. Hitting $100 million in a year with the business and what pushed her to grow it each year. Providing a great workplace for her team and ensuring that team members work comfortably. Communication in a friendly manner works better than doing it professionally. Helping people build their future wealth. The importance of outside guidance. Additional Resources: Up Loans The Marketing Agency Blueprint By Paul Roetzer Invest Like A Bank By Beaux Blast dashdot Buyers Agents ………………………………………… Quotes: "I never sit back and go, do it." - Kirsty Dunphey "Success is getting what you want, but happiness is wanting what you get." - Kirsty Dunphey "So always be on the side of friendly rather than professional." - Kirsty Dunphey "You have to remember the people behind your success." - Kirsty Dunphey "Even though you're going to have really hard times coming up, your friends will get you through it and just to lean on them and ask for help" - Kirsty Dunphey ………………………………………… 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 Lachlan Grant, the CEO of Sydney-based Vital Addition, an accounting, and finance firm which specializes in working with small to medium-size businesses. They helped their clients reach their business and financial goals through modern and innovative approaches including outsourcing. Before Vital Addition, Lachlan Grant founded a cafe retail and coffee roasting business in 2011. He developed the business from scratch, grew it into a multi-site café, and was sold. A few years ago, together with his business partner, they've grown Vital Addition which aims to help drive growth through effective financial management. Working with no more than 1000 clients of different industries and has 20 FTEs in the team. Lachlan Grant believes there's an inherent trust that an external advisor can provide, that is common in the finance and accounting world. He also emphasized that by outsourcing the business owner has more time to focus on generating income. This Cast Covers: The importance of proper management of core commercial & financial issues when growing a business. Making more revenue for the business growth. The importance of knowing the business what it is like. The importance of streamline systems and processes. Recommending potential clients to get access to higher skill sets. The importance of having a well-documented finance function in running a business. The role of an accountant or financial person in the growth journey of a business. Common assumptions about outsourced business consultants. Additional Resources: Vital Addition Selling Outsourcing Services By Grant Lange Selling Outsourcing Services in the Digital Age By Grant Lange ………………………………………… Quotes: "When you start a small business, you always have to learn that you can't really outsource commercial thinking, you gotta have that yourself." – Lachlan Grant "Make sure you have the right people around you." – Lachlan Grant "You need to be very clear of what you can and can't do." – Lachlan Grant "I think small business owners do poorly in financial management because they tend to focus on the cost rather than value for the proper finance function." – Lachlan Grant "Sometimes you need to give yourself some inspiration to go off and do something and build something because it's a long journey." – Lachlan Grant ………………………………………… 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 Dr. Elise Bialylew, The Founder of Mind Life Project based in Melbourne. Mind Life Project teaches people how to use their minds to their best through mindfulness meditation. It offers online and one-on-one mindfulness-based training to enhance the function of the mind for better living. Dr. Elise Bialylew started the Mind Life Project more like an experiment rather than a business. Later, she created a new career path for herself from medicine to entrepreneurship and she began the business by herself. It was a tough start but dramatically went up with an increasing number of bookings of sessions. Dr. Elise applies her medical understanding, her passion, and creativity and grew from 1 FTE to 6 teaching thousands of people each year with great feedback. Dr. Elise has said that everything in life has its seasons and success does change depending on the stage of life. She quoted "Success is being clear on what matters most to you." This Cast Covers: The importance of meditation to every business owner in order to run the business with value. The challenge of creating a new career path from medicine to entrepreneurship and taking risks. Visualizing the growth of the business by working hard & putting your whole self into it. Teaching people how to use their minds to their best through mindfulness meditation. Ability to showcase the flexibility of having enough time for both family and the business. How online marketing provides the best return to the business. The importance of mental fitness training to help people stay present & focus even the world is evolving. Mindfulness is a powerful tool to help people with mental health. So with marketing, doing something you're passionate about really works. How the evolution of technology fragmented the attention and mental health of some individuals. Additional Resources: Mind Life Project Feel Good and Do Well by Doing Good By Peter Milewski Changing the World Without Losing Your Mind By Alex Counts The Balance Between Hustle & Flow By Theo Prodromitis ………………………………………… Quotes: "Having extra engine power, putting my whole self into it really paid off."- Dr. Elise Bialylew "Success is being clear on what matters most to you." - Dr. Elise Bialylew "I think everything in life has its seasons and success does change depending on the stage of life." - Dr. Elise Bialylew "Believing in what you're doing really makes a lot of difference in marketing." - Dr. Elise Bialylew "If you want a mind that is functioning in its best, you actually need to train it." - Dr. Elise Bialylew ………………………………………… 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 Jared Graybeal, the Founder, and CEO of Superfit Foods based in Jacksonville, Florida. Superfit Foods is a meal prep company that empowers people to live happier and healthier lives. They specialized in health, wellness, and fitness- providing healthy food as well as food delivery convenient, affordable, and tasty experience. Jared Graybeal was a personal trainer and health club manager for 7 years. Superfit Foods was started in Lakeland, Florida in May of 2015 and expanded to Jacksonville in 2016. Grew 2 FTE to current 16 and 9 part-time drivers. A meal prep company has an average annual growth of 18% for the whole 5 years. And this year, they are aiming to reach 24% amidst a pandemic. One of the values for a fast-growing business is the passion imparted by the team to the business itself. And that's what Jared Graybeal said: "You must build a team that's passionate about the mission, a team with a growth mindset." This Cast Covers: Success is measured in the people they reached. The hospitality of the customer service plays a big part of the marketing offer. How standard operating procedures prevent unnecessary events. Reading good business books and applying the principles on how to build a company. The importance of creating an operating agreement from day one of starting the business. Part of growing a business is sticking to the values and pursuing the mission. Helping other people live happy lives and become healthier. Building a team with passion and a growth mindset. Additional Resources: Superfit Foods Getting Naked By Joel Primus Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0 By Jim Collins Keys You Need to be a Successful Entrepreneur ………………………………………… Quotes: "I measure success in the impact that we got to make in the world or in the community around us." - Jared Graybeal "You must build a team that's passionate about the mission, a team with a growth mindset." - Jared Graybeal "In a business, there's a need to have standard operating procedures for everything to avoid messing a client up." - Jared Graybeal "One of the business' values you need to consider is to have exemplary customer service." - Jared Graybeal "One of the interesting journeys in growing a business is leading a team to stick to the values and pursue the mission." - Jared Graybeal ………………………………………… Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com). License: CC BY http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

In this episode, I interview Michelle Seiler Tucker, the Founder, and CEO of Seiler Tucker Incorporated - the leading authority in mergers & acquisitions based in the USA. Michelle specialized in buying, selling, fixing, and growing companies and on average, obtained a 20 to 40% higher selling price for their clients, closing 98% of all offers she wrote, currently have over 20,000 buyers in their database. A 20-year veteran in mergers & acquisitions has sold hundreds of businesses and owns and operates several successful businesses. Michelle is also the two-time Best-Selling Author of the book "Sell Your Business for More Than It's Worth" (2013) and her latest "Exit Rich" (2021). The continued operations of Seiler Tucker prove the persistence and dedication to help their clients create financial freedom and obtain a better quality of life. "Design your processes around the customer experience rather than your own agenda." - Michelle Seiler Tucker This Cast Covers: Designing processes around customer experience and providing them with the greatest value. Success will be far more effortless as long as the aim is always in mind. Helping companies grow by improving businesses through extensive marketing. Keeping the right people in the right seats who can run the business without the owner's presence. Building people in order to build a business. To have a sustainable business, there's a need to undergo processes. Exceeding client's expectations. Living what you tell people. The best time to sell a business is when it's at its peak. Additional Resources: Seiler Tucker Incorporated Exit Rich by Michelle Seiler Tucker Built to Sell by John Marrillow Flippa Empire Flippers ………………………………………… Quotes: "You don't build a business, you build people and people build a business."- Michelle Seiler Tucker "Processes are kind of like exit strategy to build a sustainable business." - Michelle Seiler Tucker "Design your processes around the customer experience rather than your own agenda." - Michelle Seiler Tucker "Processes built around the owner's agenda don't make happy clients." - Michelle Seiler Tucker "Aim is always innovative and marketed." - Michelle Seiler 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 Elisha Watson, the Founder, and CEO of New Zealand underwear label and social enterprise NISA. They employ women from refugee backgrounds with awesome sewing skills and make organic cotton underwear. Nisa aims to help refugee women start their new lives through interesting jobs and opportunities. Elisha Watson was a full-time lawyer and a refugee settlement volunteer in the Red Cross. During her time volunteering, she met awesome women who are skilled in sewing. So, she quit her job as a lawyer and founded Nisa in 2017. They had launched a crowdfunding campaign and dramatically reached their goal in just 2 days. Launched enterprise with 3 FTE and now has 12 FTE. They have been running the business for 4 years already and it was all possible because of the people involved in it. Elisha Watson humbly says "no matter how quick you're at learning things, it is almost impossible to replicate the level of experience and commitment of those who worked years in the industry." She's appreciative to those who have decades of experience in the industry who helped her work the business. This Cast Covers: How learning a skill leads to a successful business. Keeping a small business going in trying times is all about resilience. How close relationships with team members meant success. How success is about building a skill within the team. How the struggles of others moved her to provide opportunities. Providing meaningful and interesting work to employees from refugee backgrounds. The passion of welcoming new people and helping them start a new life. A business with a social and environmental mission. Additional Resources: nisa.co.nz bthechange Building Social Business By Muhammad Yunus Beginner's Pluck By Liz Forkin Bohannon ………………………………………… Quotes: "No matter how quick you're at learning things, it is almost impossible to replicate the level of experience and commitment of those who worked years in the industry."- Elisha Watson "What success looks for me is building up skills within a team rather than of my own." - Elisha Watson "Skill is something that must be acquired to be able to see whether the business was successful or not." - Elisha Watson "Growing a small business is also growing the team and treating them like a family." - Elisha Watson "When things go really wrong, have a good resilience to save your business." - Elisha Watson ………………………………………… 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 Jo Violeta, the marketing manager and Co-owner of Violeta Finance. Violeta Finance is a family-owned business that helps people secure financing for home loans, mortgages, refinance, and property investment. It is based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Jo Violeta manages Violeta Finance's Community Engagement and Brand Communications while her husband Carl Violeta is the Mortgage and Finance Broker. Jo Violeta used to work for the Australian Government, working in leadership training for Child Support Agency while her husband Carl used to work in the fashion industry, working as an agent between district manufacturers and retail stores. She supported her husband in starting the business in 2014 since she has no background in business. Their first year in business was difficult for them, they barely had clients and didn't have many settlements. However, after a year they've made 50% growth on their business and progress each year. They started the business without hiring people but at the moment, they're getting 3.5 FTE on the payroll and have four contractors doing virtual assistant work and marketing. The efforts and time they spent in their business resulted in more partnerships and they were able to help people achieve their property and financial dreams. Jo Violeta highlighted this "if you want to be successful, do things because you want to do them, not because you have to do them." This Cast Covers: Building confidence to build partnerships. Knowing clients and their values. Managing branding, strategy, and opportunity for clients. Ensure effective and active coordination. Empowering staff members to enjoy their role for the fulfillment of their dreams. The power of perseverance despite the odds. Helping families, small businesses, and all sorts of people make their dreams into reality. From a small business into a fast-growing company. The importance of time management when growing a small business. Additional Resources: The Marketing Agency Blueprint by Paul Roetzer The 1- Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib The Ultimate Entrepreneur Podcast with Jay Abraham Becoming a Digital Marketer by Gil Gildner ………………………………………... Quotes: "If you are wanting to grow and scale a business, you need some outside guidance, because you're in it, so you can't see it." - Jo Violeta "If you want to get results through people, you need to work in the spirit of reciprocity and really value your employees and offer flexibility." - Jo Violeta "Success is having choices. I do things because I want to do them, not because I have to do them." - Jo Violeta "To have effective marketing, you have to know your audience, loosen up and be yourself." - Jo Violeta "Believe in your companion, because everything will work if any two people show trust and keep on going." - Jo Violeta ………………………………………… 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 Amos, the Founder and Creative Director of Innovate Media; one of Queensland's most sought-after online video strategy and production agencies. He's also the founder of the Vlog Pod and Founder/Chief Digital Strategist over at Engage Video Marketing. Ben is passionate about working with clients to develop effective online video strategy within their niche and is driven to help other business owners and marketers understand the full potential for online video platforms within a wider business marketing strategy. He hosts the weekly Engage Video Marketing Podcast which explores the power of video to engage audiences to action and grow businesses. At the heart of everything he does, his core goal is to show people how to grow market reach and revenue in the real world by tapping into the power of online video marketing for their business. In this jam-packed 20 minute episode, Ben will teach us how we can use video marketing at the right time and in the right way to effectively reach our target audience and generate sales. So don't miss out. This Cast Covers: From teaching film, media, and drama to owning a successful video marketing agency. Understanding what it means to do video marketing strategically so you can get results. Working with small, medium, and large-scale businesses. How video is at the center of so many ways of reaching and communicating with people. The ease of creating videos for marketing in comparison to other forms of marketing content. Using video to bring high touch back into a high-tech world. Why small business owners should use video not just for marketing but also across the full customer journey. Some of the mistakes people make when they're doing video marketing. Applying video marketing practically while continuously seeking self-development information on it. Creating content for your target customers in a way that provides them value. YouTube versus Vimeo - The pros and cons of each in relation to small businesses. Knowing your audience first before building your marketing strategy. Additional Resources: Engage Video Marketing Innovate Media Vlog Pod Engage Video Marketing Podcast They Ask, You Answer By Marcus Sheridan 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 Jacinta Gulasekharam, the Co-Founder of Dignity New Zealand (NZ), a social enterprise with a mission to deliver period equity and has created access to 32,000 sustainable period products. Dignity operates a "Buy one, give one" model for period products where corporate partners provide sanitary items in bathrooms, and Dignity NZ donates the equivalent number of boxes to those without access to them. To date, Dignity has donated more than 29,000 boxes of period products to 130+ schools, youth organizations, and women's support groups across New Zealand, supporting over 37,000 women. Jacinta led the Positive Periods campaign which resulted in the government committing to free period products for students in NZ. She's the Partnership Manager at FlexiTime, supporting their partners and enterprise clients. She's a First Foundation mentor and lends her experience to grow the startup ecosystem. She's also an Edmund Hillary Fellow, Women of Influence Young Leader Finalist 2018 and 2020, and Sustainable Business Network Change Maker Finalist 2020. Jacinta and her Co-Founder launched Dignity in February 2017 when they were just 21 after they came up with the idea for the social enterprise the year before while at a business boot camp. In the beginning, they were the only part-time employees as they worked in other full-time jobs but eventually, they hired two part-time employees. Later on, Jacinta took on the role of general manager full-time for six months and then hired someone else to take on the role. Jacinta believes that the hardest thing in growing a small business is believing in yourself and being the person that has to lead and take charge and that the one thing she would tell herself on day one of starting out in business is, "Believe in yourself and go for it" Join me and Jacinta as we dive into her impactful small business ownership journey. This Cast Covers: Providing organic period products to women in different workplaces. Attending the business boot camp where she and her co-founder came up with the business idea. From 10 boxes when they were starting out to the 3,000+ boxes they do today with 37,000 people impacted. The joy of hiring people to help with their operations. Being an impact organization and building all their goals on that. How powerful email newsletters are as a marketing tool. Funding the business from their corporate partnerships and selling packages. Hiring a sales coach to help them figure out their target market and build a better sales strategy. From hand-delivering products to Ubering them, to then having a storage unit and a courier company. The success of creating something out of nothing that people buy and use. Getting through the challenge of navigating the effects of the pandemic. Why every small business owner must know and understand their business's financials. The importance of having regular meetings with the team to talk about the business and each team member personally. Why achieving work-life balance is all about boundaries. Having a board of directors helping with the growth of the business. Being comfortable with being the person to lead and take charge as a small business owner. Additional Resources: Dignity New Zealand (NZ) The Ride of a Lifetime By Bob Iger Masterclass with Bob Iger Canva 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 Smallchua, the Co-Founder at Harvey, a strategic marketing team and certified B Corp that helps conscious businesses grow, that is, businesses who are positively impacting one or more of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They create marketing strategies, implement and manage them, develop content, crush data, build websites and tailor messaging to get businesses where they want to be. Simon got his first taste for business at age 9 and by age 19, he had started his own digital agency, helping small businesses set up their brand and digital marketing. He grew it to a team of 10 with 130 clients and sold it in his 20s. He then joined Melbourne-based agency Isobar as a marketing strategist and over eight years helped build the agency's capabilities in analytics, social and experience design, and helped grow the team from 60 people to 350. Making the jump from agency to client-side, he headed up a global marketing team for a high-growth software and data company where he spent his days growing their US customer base. His wife started Harvey in 2019 and Simon joined her soon after. In their first year, they made $300,000+ in revenue and doubled it in 2020 despite the pandemic. They always make sure they spend 10% of their time managing the business and 90% working with their clients and make a point of donating 5% of their revenues to charity. Simon says the hardest thing in growing a small business is balance and that the one thing he would tell himself on day one of starting out in business is, "Take your time and grow slowly" Get ready for some world-changing inspiration that may make you wanna be more impact-driven with your business. Enjoy! This Cast Covers: Operating as the dedicated marketing team for impact-oriented and conscious businesses. The great opportunities that come with focusing a business on one area of expertise. Being the jack of all trades of marketing for businesses and how they eventually move out so the businesses can manage their own marketing. The career and entrepreneurial journey that led him towards starting Harvey. How things changed when they decided to focus on impact. Initial focus on keeping their team at only the two founders so they could stay close to their clients. Building relationships, mastering wealth building, and why happiness is not about money. Aiming at moving his time to be three to four days a week of work so he can work on more impactful projects. Being clear on your difference and niche, and tailoring everything to your target market. The beauty of a consulting business: Funding their business from savings but sustaining it purely from project revenue. Lessons he learned about cash flow from hiring the wrong people. Juggling long workdays and dealing with the times when he drops the ball on a project. Having clarity on where they deliver value so they can charge correctly for a product or service and not overdoing it. Why small business owners should master prioritization versus urgency. What B-Corp's are really all about. The importance of building a culture founded on trust and authenticity. Additional Resources: Harvey Screw Business As Usual By Richard Branson Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com). License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/