Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode, I interview Michelle Kvello, Managing Director and CFO of Lantern Partners based in Sydney, Australia. Michelle has set up her own CFO advisory business, working with founders and CEOs of startups and scale-ups by providing commercial and strategic financial advice to help them grow. From working on the corporate side of commercial finance for years, Michelle decided to leave the corporate world to pursue more exciting opportunities. She established Lantern Partners in 2011 and it has now been running for over 11 years. They grew 50% in revenue over the previous year with over 5 FTEs. Michelle has stated that building a small business involves discipline as well as adaptability. So she says, "In every business, some key things make a difference. And so you need to know what they are. And then once you identify what they are, work out how you measure them." This Cast Covers: Running a virtual CFO advisory business that provides commercial and strategic financial advice. Trained with PwC back in the UK many years ago. Grew 30% in revenue in the last year and 50% in the previous year Giving creative employment opportunities to amazing, talented, intelligent, ambitious women underserved in traditional corporate roles Works with her whole team flexibly, both in terms of time and location, and 80% female staffed. One of the Top 50 women in Accounting and Top 50 Small Business Leaders. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of in-person and virtual communication. Sharing the significance of making your team members feel like they are a part of and valuable to the team. The importance of mutual respect between the client and the firm serving. Investing time in relationship building. Links: Michelle's LinkedIn Michelle's Instagram Additional Resources: Lantern Partners The Mindful High Performer by Chelsea Pottenger Quotes: "People just need to get creative, and they need to figure out better, quicker, smarter ways of doing things." —Michelle Kvello "The business that you start on day one doesn't necessarily look like the business in a year, two years, five years, or 10." —Michelle Kvello "One of the massive benefits in starting your own business is that you can shape both the business and the people you bring into that business." —Michelle Kvello "There must be a rethinking about how we work." —Michelle Kvello "There has to be something that brings us all together and makes us feel like a team." —Michelle Kvello 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 Jen Potter the Founder, and CEO of Mamas & Babysitters, based in New Bedford, United States. Jen has set up her own business to provide an exceptional full-service babysitting and nannying experience. From working full-time at a corporate job as an analyst, Jen has decided to run her own business for her to get additional needed services for her other business during her pregnancy. Mamas & Babysitters was established in 2020 and has been running for over 2 years. Growing with over a quarter million dollars in the first two years and 200 FTEs. Jen has said that growing a small business requires repetition, if it doesn't work, stop and do something else. So she says, "We go through multiple interviews, and multiple steps of how we're going to do something. And that's how we're going to hire a person, that process has stayed true for all of the companies I have continued to work with and grow. So find something that works and keep doing it over and over and over." This Cast Covers: Own several businesses. Running a professional babysitting and nanny agency. Launching business during pregnancy. Currently managing 4 businesses. Having a goal of 47 businesses by 2047. Earned a quarter million dollars in the first two years for the babysitting company. Successfully running businesses despite having heart disease. Importance of learning balance personalities. Focusing on being proactive rather than being reactive in business. Satisfaction in helping other people get opportunities. Links: Jen's Linkedin Jen's Facebook Jen's Instagram Additional Resources: Mamas and Babysitters Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes Quotes: "Success is continuing to help other people find their success." —Jen Potter "When you're marketing your business, you are marketing your people to buy you." —Jen Potter "Become proactive instead of being reactive in business." —Jen Potter "Learn to schedule and time block." —Jen Potter "If you're doing a process, make sure you're doing the best of that process." —Jen Potter 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 week's QFF episode, Michael interviews Jack Daly. Jack and Michael knew each other ten years ago at a workshop. Jack is based in San Claremont, California, USA. He was an accountant and a CPA with Arthur Andersen. Now, he is at the CEO level of several national companies, is an expert in sales and sales management, and is an author by design that has already published 10 books. Jack's newest book Jack Daly's Life By Design provides a behind-the-scenes look at how business owners can achieve a high level of personal success while their businesses are in growth mode. You do not have to have one without the other. The very best salespeople follow a process. As you scale and increase the number of salespeople, each of them operates differently, it ought to be run by best practices. Jack is helping small business owners and entrepreneurs scale in a very quick and profitable way through systems and processes to have consistent growth. According to Jack, systems and processes can maintain consistency across the business and your life. "I only do three things, I speak, I traveled where I speak, and I have fun", he said. He added that when you are planning to create your own business, you need to apply the big 3 methods including knowing what success is, key people in key spots, build a strong culture. This Cast Covers: Who is Jack Daly? How did Jack and Michael know each other? Expert in scaling companies in a very quick and profitable way. Specializes in sales and sales management. Helping people design and live their best lives. Wrote close to 500 items on his bucket list and completed 73% of them. Book recommendations for growth mindset people. 3 big methods to grow a successful business. Illustrating the importance of systems and processes. Benefits of working with the most important things in life. Links: Jack's Linkedin Jack's Website Jack's Twitter Additional Resources: Life By Design by Jack Daly The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Essentialism by Greg McKeown Quotes: "It's a matter of choosing what we want to do then we are when we decide." —Jack Daly "You can't get there unless you know what there is." —Jack Daly "The people that you start with may not be the people that you end with." —Jack Daly "If you don't have an assistant, you are an assistant." —Jack Daly "You get to choose either you're a growth mindset person or a fixed mindset person." —Jack Daly 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 GASB Podcast episode, Troy interviews Molly Keyser, a photographer for 16 years, now the Founder of Profitable Courses. Molly's based in New Mexico, United States. Before Profitable Courses she also founded Boudie Shorts, an educational resource for Boudoir Photographers to get more clients. After working in the photo industry as a photographer for 16 years. Molly decided to pivot into the world of digital education. Started Profitable Courses in 2021; helping small-medium business owners create their own digital products, fine-tuning them, marketing them, and getting traffic, in order to generate a nice stream of cash flow. Molly advises that small-medium business owners, need to develop good habits and discipline. In order to focus on one thing at a time. A piece of advice that she also once received. "You need to pick one product to focus on and scale that up to a million at least first.", her mentor said. This Cast Covers: The identity of Molly Keyser. How Troy and Molly knew each other. Transitioning from being a photographer to digital course education. Molly's businesses before Profitable Courses. Molly's business, Profitable Courses. Nothing is completely passive; after product creation, traffic is required. The definition of Shiny Object Syndrome. How Molly gets past a certain revenue mark. The number one thing small-medium business owners should apply. Overall growth of Profitable Courses. Links: Molly's Linkedin Molly's Instagram Molly's Twitter Molly's TikTok Profitable Courses Additional Resources: Expert Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Creating a Mass Movement of People Who Will Pay for Your Advice (1st Edition) by Russell Brunson Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around a Shared Vision of the Future by Cameron Herold Quotes: "Nothing is 100% passive, you have to traffic and create the products and do the work upfront." — Molly Keyser. "You need to pick one product to focus on and scale that up to a million at least first." — Molly Keyser. "With every failure and everything that goes wrong, you learn." — Molly Keyser. "Assign yourself tasks, so you can get in the habit of it. Because otherwise, you're just not going to get a lot done very quickly." — Molly Keyser. "You need to have that discipline." — Molly Keyser. 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 Ann Sieg, the Founder, and CEO of E-commerce Business School based in Bentonville, Arkansas in the United States of America. Ann has set up her own business to help entrepreneurs learn how to become third-party sellers on Amazon and become capable leaders. With over 35 years of experience in managing various businesses, Ann has decided to focus on the E-commerce space for Amazon to pursue her passion for coaching and empowering people. E-commerce Business School was established in 2014 and has been running for over 9 years. Helped thousands of people build a massively successful business on Amazon with 25 FTEs. Ann has said that growing a small business requires tracking for entrepreneurs to know the numbers and stay consistent. So she says, "I've always had track and it goes back to my sports world efforts. And it just keeps you where you need to be." This Cast Covers: Currently managing a training and mentorship company. Helping people learn how to become third-party sellers on Amazon. Focused on learning how to set up the automation pieces for the students to have a scalable Amazon business. Teaching online marketing for about eight years. Providing high-level hand-holding experience and is mostly meant to empower people. Running different businesses for over 35 years. Learning the benefits of doing business within the home. Empowering people to do tasks efficiently through working online. Running things smoothly and having them organized. Satisfaction in bringing people together. Links: Ann's Linkedin Ann's Facebook Ann's Twitter Additional Resources: E-Commerce Business School E-Myth-Revisited by Michael Gerber Wellbeing at Work Jim Clifton & Jim Harter Quotes: "Tough times can make you work your fanny, you've got to match underneath your button." —Ann Sieg "As a CEO, you got to go where you got to fix the company and turn it around." —Ann Sieg "Learn more about what you're made of and what you're capable of." —Ann Sieg "You just got to track to know the numbers and stay consistently growing." —Ann Sieg "In business, you're always having problems you're trying to solve, it never ends." —Ann Sieg 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 week's QFF episode, Michael interviews Rachael Downie. Rachael and Michael met each other four years ago at a National Australia Bank presentation where Rachael was the guest speaker. Rachael is based in Hobart, Australia. She was a teacher for fifteen years and her husband has run a family dairy farm for the past 20 years and has 4 children. Now she is a business success mentor who is truly converting small business owners' thinking into results. The knowing-doing gap is the disconnect between knowledge and the implementation of the action. In the end, knowledge isn't always enough. She is helping small-medium business owners through various strategies such as shifting mindsets to bridge the gap between what they know they need to be doing and actually doing it. According to Rachael, it all boils down to mindset. "I truly believe closing the knowing-doing gap is about awareness. 95% of its mindset and 5% of its strategy.", she said. She added when small-medium business owners triumph over that, there'll be real changes in productivity, time, and profit. This Cast Covers: Who is Rachael Downie? How Rachael and Michael knew each other. Rachael's livelihood before becoming a successful mentor. The knowing-doing gap. Bridging the knowing-doing gap. Overcoming procrastination. Discussing key factors that cause procrastination. What's holding back small-medium business owners from seeking advice and assistance? How should business owners manage their time. Links: Rachael's Linkedin Rachael's Website Rachel's Instagram Additional Resources: The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action by Jeffrey Pfeffer Quotes: "The knowing-doing gap, 95% of it is mindset and 5% of it is strategy." — Rachael Downie. "This is about working hard, smarter, not harder." — Rachael Downie. "Businesses need to fall back in love with what it was; why they started things in the beginning." — Rachael Downie. "You cannot keep giving from an empty cup like you were to your business, things have to shift and change." — Rachael Downie. "Either do it, delegate it or ditch it." — Rachael Downie. 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 Sue de Bievre, the founder, and CEO of Beany based in Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand. Sue has set up her own business to help entrepreneurs have quick and efficient accounting services. From working at a corporate chartered accounting job and serving other people, Sue has decided to build her own business to revolutionize her preferred industry completely. Beany was established in 2013 and had been running for over 9 years. Has helped over 4,000 businesses around New Zealand with growth between 35-40% revenue growth for the year 2022 and has 48 FTEs. Sue has said that growing a small business requires persistence in order to become productive in achieving your targets. So she says, "If you say you're going to do something, do it. If somebody says no, you go back again, it's like just not letting go and keeping going." This Cast Covers: Offering online accounting services to small business owners in New Zealand and Australia. Doing traditional accounting through online services at a lower price point. From working at a corporate chartered accounting job to managing her own business. Been in and out of public practice in her whole career. Growing between 35-40% revenue growth for the year 2022. Helped over 4,000 businesses around New Zealand. Uses Zendesk as a sort of Customer Support Platform. A company that has never dropped below 90% client satisfaction. Experienced a painful failure to raise capital for her business. Sharing the positive effect of surrounding ourselves with people who invested in our business. Links: Sue's Linkedin Sue's Twitter Additional Resources: Beany Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Quotes: "Whenever you hit a metric that you've been aiming at, push it down the road, otherwise you get bored." —Sue de Bievre "Sometimes you need to recharge with people who are still invested in your business." —Sue de Bievre "Make sure that you're looking after the people and growing with them and their business." —Sue de Bievre "Do what you say you're going to do." —Sue de Bievre "Keep the core of your being believing your product, service, and your people without being rattled by the negative things." —Sue de Bievre 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 Donnie Boivin, the Founder, and CEO of Success Champions based in Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America. Donnie has set up a company to provide training and education in building the business toward success. From working as a straight-commission sales guy, Donnie has decided to run his own networking business to improve his expertise in the field of sales. Success Champions was established in 2017 and has been running for over 5 years. Growing from $67,000 to $800,000 in the present revenues. Donnie mentioned something about being an expert sales guy first before you can build a business of your own. So he said, "Go learn sales, figure out sales and learn how to do the sales side of things you'll eventually be able to bring on somebody who's going to outperform you. But you can't build a business if you can't sell." This Cast Covers: Provide a ton of training and an avenue for the entrepreneurs to network. Became number 22 in the world of podcasting. Growing into 800 thousand dollars in revenue. Had to postpone the Badass Business Summit due to COVID. Became a catalyst when he shows up his true self which allowed the clients and people to do the same. Run a full working farm on top of his business. He's been given feedback over the years on the podcast about his swearing. Almost lost their family's farm in his early year in business. Diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 45. Learning how to manage priorities. Links: Donnie's Linkedin Donnie's Facebook Donnie's Instagram Additional Resources: Success Champions Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude by Napoleon Hill Quotes: "You can pretty much be anywhere you want to be and still run your business." —Donnie Boivin "Success is watching others succeed." —Donnie Boivin "The best way to truly meet yourself is to build a business." —Donnie Boivin "If you can't sell, you're never going to create a successful sales team because you can't teach them how to be successful." —Donnie Boivin "Your first few hires, don't hire for an entire thing, hire for one particular task you need to be done, and hire specifically for that. " —Donnie Boivin 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 week's Quick Fire Friday episode, Michael interviews Keryn Nylander, a Strategic Communications, Media, Brand, and Public Relations Specialist, and Principal of Nylander Consulting. She's based in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Keryn is a former journalist that covered print and electronic media until she decided to transfer to the field of public relations. Now she has a consultancy firm that aids her clients' public relations. A business has three vital parts: advertising, marketing, and public relations. Like the other two, public relations is essential in a business and shouldn't be treated as the lesser of the two. Keryn specializes in that field, giving strategic communications to small-medium business owners, refining their Social License, and preparing businesses to withstand any drama when the chips are down. According to Keryn, what she'd recommend small-medium business owners do on Monday is, "You should have a crisis comms plan; what are you going to do? If something doesn't go right?" a risk management strategy to maintain the excellent reputation of your brand. This Cast Covers: Who's Keryn Nylander? The early days of Keryn Nylander's career. How did Michael and Keryn meet? The cruciality of understanding how media works. Three areas that you can use to promote your business. Media training and strategic communications advice. The importance of communicating. Social License is a really powerful tool. Building the values and the culture first. Having foresight of a bad situation. Links: Keryn's Linkedin Keryn's Instagram Additional Resources: Spin Sucks: Communication and Reputation Management in the Digital Age (Que Biz-tech) by Gini Dietrich Quotes: "Understanding how the media works are integral to being a good public relations practitioner." — Keryn Nylander. "Well, it'll surprise you how few people understand public relations. And yet, you would say it's the most important." — Keryn Nylander. "Your Social License is people's reputation of you." — Keryn Nylander. "Social License it's so powerful because it can make or break you." — Keryn Nylander. "You should have a crisis comms plan; what are you going to do? If something doesn't go right?" — Keryn Nylander. 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 week's GASB Podcast episode, Troy interviews Fred Cary, based in San Diego, California, United States. Fred's the CEO of a company called IdeaPros. He has also been involved with a ton of businesses; he was also in a rock band once. Fred started several companies before founding IdeaPros. Fred was always destined to be an entrepreneur; he started at the age of 17 by offering services 24/7 to now, 50 years later, with no plan of retiring. Some of the companies Fred started were BoxLot, Azure, Path1, Imagine Communications, Home Bistro and IdeaPros, a company that helps fellow entrepreneurs with anything and everything they need in their journey. Ideapros has generated over $30 million in revenue in the past few years, with an EBITDA of 25%. According to Fred, in growing a small business, what he loves most is the sense of innovation. The process of creating something or doing something that nobody else has done is incredible. He said, "Sometimes you have to change course; sometimes you have to do so drastically and violently." This Cast Covers: How Troy and Fred knew each other. Fred Cary's early days of entrepreneurship. Fred's variety of businesses. How difficult it is to start a company. The meaning of success as defined by the interviewee. Being mindful of your competitors. Resolving negative feedback to improve the company. Fred's passion for innovation. Being critically honest and transparent. Links: Fred's Linkedin Fred's Website Fred's Instagram Fred's Facebook Ideapros Additional Resources: The Prophet by Khalil Gibran Quotes: "Sometimes you have to change course; sometimes you have to do so drastically and violently." — Fred Cary. "Just because you have a great idea doesn't mean the world's ready for it." — Fred Cary. "They say you spend the first half of your career building up your resume and the second half building up your eulogy." — Fred Cary. "Look behind you. Look at your competitors." — Fred Cary. "The greatest work that you're going to need to do is in the marketing area … It is the lifeblood of your organization." — Fred Cary. Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0