Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode, I interview Troy Trewin, the Founder of Grow a Small Business Podcast based in Hobart, Tasmania. Troy has shared tips on how small business owners can make sure they've got their funding arrangements in place and raise their capital wisely. From his experience as a chairperson, Troy shared the reality of capital raising and the pros, and cons of rushing and taking things on time. He also said that capital raising requires knowledge about crowdfunding and ESOP. So he says, "You have to be organized and gain knowledge in order to take the right action." This Cast Covers: Discuss tips for raising capital and its contribution to a small business. Sitting on five boards and chairing most of the boards. Helping other businesses with capital raising. Sharing the reality of capital raising and how to achieve your goal. Learning how to make wise choices and take control of your actions. Helping entrepreneurs get sources to raise capital. Learning where and how to use other mechanisms. Providing helpful sites and options for small business owners in order to excel. Helping entrepreneurs become qualified in different loan options. Learning about crowdfunding and ESOP. Additional Resources: Grow a Small Business Quotes: "If you don't need it, don't be desperate." —Troy Trewin "Cash is King in many small businesses." —Troy Trewin "People should learn about pricing and cost controls." —Troy Trewin "If you're desperate, you have to raise money at a lower valuation." —Troy Trewin Workout if you need to raise capital." —Troy Trewin 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 Hanny Allston, the Founder, and CEO of Find Your Feet based in Hobart, Australia. Hanny has set up her own business to help and support the gap between elite athletes and everyday Australians also striving to grow, play & perform wilder. From being a business coach and athlete, Hanny has decided to enter the world of business to empower the community and find their feet. Find Your Feet was established in 2009 and has been running for over 13 years. Became an award-winning Tasmanian Telstra Small Business of the Year in 2018 with over 20 FTEs. Hanny has said that growing a small business requires working with yourself, 120% in order to become completely inspired and empowered. So she says, "If you don't have sparkle dust, you can give that gift to others, your business will have a slight dull sheen rather than shine." This Cast Covers: Running a multi-channel, outdoor retail business. Selling equipment to wear for hiking, campaign trail running, and everything in between travel. Running a coaching business 12 years ago. Service predominantly in Australia and a small international market. Providing products through her 2 stores and online. Doing international and political trail running tours. Turning over more than 5 million gross a year. Awarded as the small business of the year for Tasmania and Telstra Businessworld. Helping people strive to grow, play & perform wilder. With over 20 years of experience in the Australian elite sporting pathway Additional Resources: Find Your Feet The-Heros-Journey by Joseph Campbell Quotes: "We work to live, not live to work." —Hanny Allston "Understand and revel in your uniqueness." —Hanny Allston "Be creative and authentic." —Hanny Allston "Work on yourself 120%." —Hanny Allston "Learning is someone needs to do." —Hanny Allston 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 Sophie and Aden Cooper, the Founder and CEO of Anihana Life based in Auckland, New Zealand. Sophie and Aden have set up their own business to give people a relaxing kind of sound. From being a Florist, Sophie has decided to pursue bigger opportunities. Anihana Life was established in 2016 and has been running for over 6 years. Became a big company from 250 stores to 3,850 over the last 12 months with over 21 FTEs. Sophie and Aden have said that growing a small business requires communication and courage to ask for help. So they say, "having the courage to make that initial first step is probably the biggest challenge." This Cast Covers: Launching products at grocery stores. Now tracking as a multimillion-dollar business. Gone from 250 stores to 3,850 over the last 12 months. Learning how to build community and value authenticity. Providing soap products for body relaxation. Sharing experience in successfully growing a small business being an introvert. Been in the consumer goods industry for about 18 years. Implementing habits and values into just day-to-day life. Learning how to become authentic in order to excel. Helping entrepreneurs overcome the struggle in communication. Additional Resources: Anihana Life Radical Focus by Christina Wodtke Five Dysfunctions of Team by Patrick Lencioni Quotes: "It's not about the product and our customers, it's about the people as well." —Sophie Cooper "You just have to be authentic." —Aden Cooper "It's about the timing." —Aden Cooper "Communication can make or break a business pretty quick." —Aden Cooper "Bad communication is better than no communication." —Aden Cooper ____________________________________________________________________________ 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 Michael Denehey from Grow a Small Business based in Hobart, Australia. Michael has a ton of experience in managing and helping other businesses. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Michael shares the important mindsets and habits that business owners need to cultivate in order to grow their businesses. Michael says that growing a small business requires giving trust to your people in order to handle all the responsibilities of a business owner. So he says, "Business owners are the systems and process, and can't get consistency. They need to give their people a responsibility to grow." This Cast Covers: Learning how to eliminate micromanaging in a small business. Common mindsets that small business owners need to avoid. Helping entrepreneurs learn how to play their roles well. Learn how employing more people can add more value to your business. Helping entrepreneurs learn how to keep their employees stay in the business longer. Sharing example situations where trusting employees can be valuable. Helping entrepreneurs build a good habit. Additional Resources: The E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Quotes: "A lot of things tend to be in the owner's head." —Michael Denehey "Business owner's financial success is solely dependent on their business a lot of time." —Michael Denehey "Your time should be on the high-value aspects of the business." —Michael Denehey "Obtain the right mindset and clarity about the vision of your business." —Michael Denehey "You've got to invest in your people." —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 Kison Patel, the CEO of M&A Science based in Chicago, USA. Kison set up his own business to help entrepreneurs navigate the intricate world of M&A by providing access to the industry's top experts and to become confident in perfecting M&A product practice. With over 10 years of experience in the digital media business, Kison decided to pursue bigger opportunities. M&A Science was established in 2012 and has been running for over 10 years. Became forward-thinking M&A practitioners on a mission to perfect the M&A practice. Kison has said that growing a small business requires discipline to bring up yourself in down times. So he says, "If you can get that mindset you can switch that puts you in this relentless motivation, burning desire to win." This Cast Covers: Essentially provide education and technology solutions for corporate mergers and acquisitions. Helping entrepreneurs adopt best practices training to capture the value they intended for the company. Getting an M&A as an advisor. Started a podcast called M&A Science and evolved into a whole digital media business. Created a lot of content but also operated an online academy program. Teaching practitioners how to do M&A. Started from getting zeros to now getting millions. Became a trustable personality for practitioners. Learning how to overcome and get used to challenges. Helping entrepreneurs how to build their own values in order to grow in the right direction. Additional Resources: M&A Science Just Listen by Mark Goulston Quotes: "Success is the difference you can make in your industry." —Kison Patel "Build brand content." —Kison Patel "Find a way around and it gets easier over time." —Kison Patel "The better and best you can do, the better off everything's going to come together." —Kison Patel "Pick up people and values". —Kison Patel 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 Brandon Leibowitz, the Founder, and CEO of SEO Optimizers based in Los Angeles, United States. Brandon set up his business to help entrepreneurs get more traffic to their websites using Search Engine Optimization. With over 15 years of experience in Business Marketing, Brandon has decided to pursue bigger opportunities. SEO Optimizers was established in 2007 and has been running for over 15 years. Became a digital marketing firm with advanced strategies and 5 FTEs. Brandon has said that growing a small business requires hardworking and dedication because it takes a lot more time to have your own business versus working at someone else's company.. So he says, "You have to be a hard worker, dedicated and motivated and not give up." This Cast Covers: Helping people get more traffic to their website using Search Engine Optimization. Putting keywords on websites. Helping entrepreneurs gain their customer's trust. Learning how to be patient in growing a small business. Learning how to become the spokesperson of your own company. Sharing the importance of using SEO. Learning how to build up trust and get some clients. Helping businesses grow and watching them take off. Provides a perfect solution for any business, both small and large. Specialize in various aspects of digital marketing. Additional Resources: SEO Optimizers 4-Hour-Workweek by Ray Porter Quotes: "Just focus on the business solely." —Brandon Leibowitz "Success is helping other businesses grow and stand out." —Brandon Leibowitz "Be patient with everything because everything takes time." —Brandon Leibowitz "You gotta put your face behind the company and you are that company." —Brandon Leibowitz "Be more open to new strategies, new methods, and offering different services." —Brandon Leibowitz ____________________________________________________________________________ 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 Nick Prokopiec, the Chief Executive Officer of Season Buck, a Tasmanian Recruitment and HR Consulting Firm, that has been around in the Tassie market for just over 34 years now. For many years, we're very attractive as a state to see change and make changes. But we're now starting to see housing availability and affordability be a real challenge even coming from the mainland, including the retention piece for employers. Nick has said that if you don't allocate the time and take it seriously, often it turns to custard. So he says, "allocating time is probably the key for a small business." This Cast Covers: Tasmanian Recruitment and HR Consulting Firm. Operate throughout the state of Hobart, Devonport, and Burnie. Employing 300 and up to 350 people a week. Running a privately owned business. Learning how to attract people to your business. Providing key solutions on how to solve the problem of having a lack of employees. Helping people on how to become a perfect fit for a job. Learning how to assess people's motivations for wanting to take on a job. Additional Resources: SearsonBuck Quotes: "If you don't allocate the time and take it seriously, often it turns to custard." —Nick Prokopiec "A small employer needs to learn the art of reviewing a CV." —Nick Prokopiec "It's not about the qualifications as much anymore, it's about the transferrable skills." —Nick Prokopiec "Make sure that individual has the right motivations for the role." —Nick Prokopiec "You need to understand whether or not someone is going to lifestyle motivation." —Nick Prokopiec 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, Anne Gigney the Founder and Co-Director of The Distillers Institute based in Hobart, Australia. Anne has set up her own business to help entrepreneurs plan, start and grow a distillery. From creating a Whisky Academy, Anne has decided to create an online business course to pursue bigger opportunities. The Distillers Institute was established in 2019 and has been running for over 3 years. Became Australian's first and only online distilling business course, with over $200k in revenue and 5 FTEs. Anne has said that growing a small business requires developing discipline around thinking, time commitment, and processes. So she says, "People in this industry need to find time for themselves as well." This Cast Covers: Australia's only online distilling business course. Launching a more advanced course for people that want to grow and export. Having some 4 special activities operating all-together. Helping entrepreneurs grow a fast-growing business through advanced thinking and getting good help. Working with Troy Trewin for several years. Learning how to run a business without spending too much money. Help bring people to the business. Adding value to the content, quality, and user journey of your work for a better result. Helping entrepreneurs learn how to put dreams into action. Created by industry experts with over 40 years of combined experience. Additional Resources: The Distillers Institute Good to Great by Jim Collins Quotes: "Success means how the business makes you feel." —Anne Gigney "Focusing on the quality of your product can help you make things work out." —Anne Gigney "Never stop wanting to make things better." —Anne Gigney "Find time for yourself." —Anne Gigney "Make sure you get good people around you that compliment you, and who have different skills." —Anne Gigney 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 AJ Aluthwala the Co-Founder and CEO of KallistoArt Online Marketing based in Tampa Bay, Florida, United States. AJ has set up his own online advertising company to help entrepreneurs and companies create Award Winning Mobile Apps. From creating a website back in college, AJ has decided to pursue growing his small business to receive bigger opportunities. KallistroArt was established in 2006 and has been running for 16 years. Growing with creative and collaborative professionals with estimated $3 million revenue for this year 2022 and 30 FTEs. AJ has said that growing a small business requires persistence and learning through reading books. So he says, "The real learning started when I started listening to books and start started reading books." This Cast Covers: A digital experience creator, an online marketing business. Started as just a website development company back in 2006. Growing 30% year by year and hitting a million dollars in revenue. Helping ​​Entrepreneurs and Companies create Award-Winning Mobile Apps. Websites, web apps, and mobile apps were the main product. Learning how to improve your marketing through working on Google My Business Profile. In the process of launching another business similar to KallistoArt called apti code. Learning how to become persistent to keep the longevity of a small business. Sharing the importance of having good communication in the reputation of your business. Learning how to cultivate relationships for business revenue growth. Additional Resources: KallistoArt Think Grow Rich Napoleon Hill The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone Quotes: "The ability to know that something is going wrong is more important than knowing how to fix it." —AJ Aluthwala "Success means ultimate freedom." —AJ Aluthwala "It's a matter of someone getting to know you, to like you, and to trust you." —AJ Aluthwala "If you are not persistent, and if you give up easily, you're not going to survive as a business owner." —AJ Aluthwala "Make decisions based on numbers, and not on emotion." —AJ Aluthwala 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, Rob had an interview with Michael Denehey about surviving tough times in growing a small business. Some real challenges, supply chains, and certain skills shortages that business owners need to prepare for in the future. This Cast Covers: Learning how to survive tough times. Talking about the challenges ahead continually with business owners. 9 steps that can help every business. Learn the importance of creating a game plan and a business plan. Helping entrepreneurs how to become good communicators. Learning how to become more strategic. Measuring key numbers in business. Make sure businesses have a dashboard of metrics around. Learning how to review your financial facilities. Quotes: "Businesses can take steps to survive." —Michael Denehey "Make sure you've got a game plan and a business plan." —Michael Denehey "Riches are in the niches." —Michael Denehey "Always communicate with your team." —Michael Denehey "Just be more strategic." —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