How I Built My Small Business
Anne McGinty
2025 Communicator Award of Excellence in the Educational Series category2024 + 2025 People's Choice Podcast Awards Finalist Nominee x 2Named "One of the Best Business Podcasts" by RamseyIn 'How I Built My Small Business,' we explore real-life entrepreneurship and building a meaningful, balanced life. The show’s guests (diverse in industry, experience, and background) open up about the real stories behind building a business: the wins, the mistakes, and the values that shape their choices.This is not a business show focused on the numbers of the game. It’s about the founder’s journey and their way of thinking. If you are looking for a show that talks about top line, bottom line, profit margin, and mainly financial info… this is not the show for you. While you’ll find some episodes in Season One (and sporadically thereafter) that include financials, the host’s interest is more in the human(s) behind the business.Sometimes an episode is a masterclass, other times it’s an honest, heart-opening connection between two people. There’s always curiosity, growth, and learning through storytelling… with a sprinkle of life wisdom.Every guest has started a business at some point in their journey, and the line-up includes a 50/50 split of women and men.Whether you're a founder, dreamer, curious individual or lifelong learner, I hope each episode makes you think or leaves you with at least one spark that inspires your own path or broadens your perspective.Thank you for listening. Let’s learn together.My Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcginty/Behind-The-Scenes: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 8, 2025 • 39min
Loren Vandegrift - 2025 Insights from BUSINESS EXITS broker on sales, values, and trends
Today, I’m excited to bring back a guest whose first episode was one of the most listened to of Season 1 and in May this year, it topped the charts again as the most streamed episode on Spotify.Loren Vandegrift is a partner at Business Exits and has brokered over $500 million worth of business sales in just the past five years. He’s also no stranger to the founder journey himself... he previously built and led a couple of tech strategy consulting firms. But it was actually a bad experience selling his own company that motivated him to jump into the world of M&A, determined to give other entrepreneurs a better path than the one he faced.Full disclosure: Loren was my business broker when I sold my last company in 2020. Because that experience was so positive, we’ve kept in touch, and I’m lucky to now call him a friend. In this episode, we talk about how business brokering has changed in just the past year and a half, and what current trends buyers and sellers should be paying attention to.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Jul 1, 2025 • 47min
Lauren Vermette — How to Invest in a Franchise on the Side (Without Quitting Your Job)
Today’s guest is Lauren Vermette, founder and CEO of Franchisee Insight.Lauren has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between franchisees and franchisors, offering a unique perspective on the franchise industry.She truly understands the challenges and rewards that come with franchise ownership, having successfully built and sold multiple units in her own portfolio.Now, Lauren’s mission is to guide aspiring entrepreneurs through the journey of self-discovery—helping them take that first step toward business ownership and, ultimately, toward wealth and independence.And just like a health insurance broker, Lauren’s services are completely free to you as the franchisee; she’s compensated by the franchisor for connecting the right people with the right opportunities.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Jun 24, 2025 • 38min
John Clapham - From Volcom Australia/ NZ CEO to RAGLAN SURF EMPORIUM
I met John Clapham or "JC" in Raglan, New Zealand last year when I walked into his shop hoping they weren’t yet closing and said while huffing from my brisk walk, “What time do you close?” He responded with a smile, “depends on whose asking…LOL." And from there, we ended up chatting for about half an hour.I left thinking, I want to hear more of this guy’s story.JC didn’t go to college and worked his way up from tagging surf leashes in a retail shop to becoming CEO of Volcom Australia. He is the co-founder of the Raglan Surf Emporium, is a partner of Raglan Roast Coffee - which now has eleven locations across New Zealand - owns a gas station, holds major real estate investments, and continues to consult and build new ventures.In today’s episode, we only scratch the surface of JC’s journey. But wow - what an inspiration.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Jun 17, 2025 • 12min
Anne McGinty — Finding My Voice: Lessons from Season 2 (So Far)
What began as a tribute to my dad has unexpectedly become part of my healing journey, transforming from purely business and entrepreneurship to learning through storytelling. How I Built My Small Business recently won a 2025 Communicator Award of Excellence as an educational series, validating the creative endeavor of hosting, editing, and producing this show.• Season One focused on business creation and growth while Season Two explores guests' expertise and perspectives beyond business• Learning through storytelling was deeply valued by my dad, who believed one must never stop learning• Overcoming autoimmune conditions through diet, lifestyle changes, proper exercise, quality sleep, nervous system rebalancing, and the surprising way podcasting filled a missing puzzle piece• Podcasting itself has been healing by providing space to express my authentic voice after years of people-pleasing• Moving away from rigid question preparation to allow for more authentic, flowing conversations• Finding the balance between "doing" and "being" - a lesson learned from New Zealand cultureAs we head into the second half of this season, I'll keep following the joy and leaning into alignment. I wish you less pressure, less stress, and less rushing.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Jun 10, 2025 • 51min
David Pope - Buying a Business in Your 40s: Would You Move Your Family? The KAYTECH, INC. Story
Today’s guest is Dave Pope, a friend of mine from college who spent 14 years in sales in the Northeast before making a bold move and buying Kaytech, Inc., a surface preparation company based in Greenville, South Carolina. At the time, he had no prior experience as a business owner.In this episode, Dave shares what it’s really like before, during and after acquiring a small business with stories from his first year as an owner-operator.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
Jun 3, 2025 • 53min
Samantha Rose - Behind-The-Scenes with a 3x NYT Bestselling GHOSTWRITER
Today’s guest is Samantha Rose, an Emmy award-winning television writer and three-time New York Times Bestselling ghostwriter.She’s the founder of Yellow Sky Media, a literary development company that collaborates with celebrities, experts, and industry leaders to bring their powerful stories to life.Recently, Samantha stepped into the spotlight with her own memoir, Giving Up The Ghost, a poignant exploration of the grief and unanswered questions that followed her mother’s suicide.Her work has reached readers around the world, with projects translated into more than twenty languages and featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harper’s Bazaar, Time, and selected as Reese’s Book Club and Target Bookmarked picks.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
May 27, 2025 • 50min
Glenn Harrold - The Voice Behind Meditations That Have Helped Millions
Glenn Harrold, an international best-selling self-help author and hypnotherapist, shares his incredible journey from a troubled youth to a successful meditation guide whose recordings have amassed over forty million streams. He discusses the power of self-hypnosis, the law of attraction, and how personal challenges fueled his mission to help others achieve inner peace. Glenn emphasizes resilience, personal responsibility, and the importance of nurturing positive mindsets while hinting at his upcoming projects, including a new book on personal growth.
May 20, 2025 • 57min
Neri Karra Sillaman - PIONEERS: What 46% of Fortune 500 Founders Have in Common (And What You Can Learn From Them)
As the daughter of immigrants, I’ve often turned to my own parents’ story for inspiration, a belief that we’re all capable of achieving anything we truly believe in, and a reminder that taking risks is often the key to making meaningful leaps in life.Today, I’m joined by Neri Karra Sillaman, who shares her extraordinary journey, from fleeing her home country as a refugee to building a global, multi-million dollar luxury brand, and teaching entrepreneurship at Oxford.She’s a 3-time TEDx speaker and the author of Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs, which has reached #1 in multiple Amazon categories, including Entrepreneurship, Business Diversity & Equality, and New Releases.Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review and Fast Company, and she’s calling in from Paris for today’s interview.Buy Pioneers on Bookshop.org (Supports Indie Bookstores)Buy Pioneers on AmazonSubscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
May 13, 2025 • 42min
Josh Davis phD - The Hidden Science of Communication: NEUROLINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING
Today’s episode is not so much about starting a business, but a glimpse into the neuroscience of influence and the power of Neurolinguistic Programming. My guest is Dr. Josh Davis, PhD in psychology and neuroscience from Columbia University. He’s the international bestselling author of Two Awesome Hours and an upcoming title The Difference that Makes the Difference.Josh is the founder of the Science-Based Leadership Institute, a sought-after keynote speaker, and his writing has appeared in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Inc., and more.In this interview, explore the fascinating world of Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)—what it is, how it can help us connect, communicate more effectively, lead with greater empathy, and shift self-limiting beliefs.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
May 6, 2025 • 47min
Jennifer Tsay - Free Photo Shoots to $9M Revenue: The Surprising Business Model of SHOOTT
Jennifer Tsay is the co-founder and CEO of Shoott - with two Ts, a fast-growing company making professional photography more accessible for clients and a reliable supplemental income for photographers.In just seven years, Shoott has grown from $800K to over $9 million in revenue, achieving operational profitability and expanding services to over sixty cities across the US."Jen" shares her journey in a very candidly and authentically, and we talk about leadership, giving and receiving feedback, and why experience (even unpaid) is one of the most undervalued assets in today’s time-value culture.She was named a Forbes #Next1000 honoree, Brit + Co’s 30 AAPI Founders We Love to Support, and on the side, she works as an actor and speaker.Shoott has been featured on Forbes, Oprah Daily, The Today Show, People, and much more.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
