Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode, I interview Shannon Ferguson, the Co-founder and CEO at FanSaves, a digital platform based in Ottawa, Canada that offers fans discounts and deals from sponsors of their favorite teams and organizations. Shannon grew up playing competitive hockey so her experience has grown her skills and allowed her to lead with authority and credibility. The social couponing platform serves as the bridge that connects fans to their favorite teams, organizations, and team sponsors. This was launched in 2017 together with Shannon's life partner, Chris McCarthy. They are currently working with 45 teams and organizations across North America and have surpassed 600 businesses and brands offering deals on the digital platform. Shannon says that success is waking up happy every day and loving what you do. She added, "The happier you are in life, the more tangible things like money, fame or anything that usually equate with success find you." This Cast Covers: A digital platform that offers discounts and deals to fans from the sponsors of their favorite teams. Features discounts and deals from the sponsors and affiliated brands of sports teams, organizations, schools, events, influencers, media, and more. The platform also helps organizations increase their sponsorship and engagement while giving both the organization and sponsors a way to track ROI. Started a small business in 2016 which was about marketing and events and later started managing the sponsorship sales and marketing for professional hockey teams. Has launched a digital way to activate and engage fans. Grew up playing competitive hockey and her experience has grown her skills and allowed her to lead with authority and credibility. The first to be connecting fans to their favorite teams, organizations, and team sponsors. Currently working with 45 teams and organizations across North America. Recently surpassed 600 businesses and brands offering deals on the digital platform. Won a Best Ottawa Business Award for best leaders for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additional Resources: FanSaves Overcome Your Villains By Heather Monahan Untamed By Glennon Doyle How to Build a Goddamn Empire By Ali Kriegsman ………………………………………… Quotes: "Success waking up happy every day and loving what you do." —Shannon Ferguson "The key to marketing is having a community around because at the end of the day, marketing comes down to people and people need to be happy." —Shannon Ferguson "What you manifest can actually become real." —Shannon Ferguson "Never let your fears overcome your potential." —Shannon Ferguson "Believe that every tiny little step that you make adds up to really big changes in the end." —Shannon Ferguson ………………………………………… 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 Riley Oickle, the CEO and Founder of Riley Oickle Investments based in Toronto, Canada. Riley is a Real Estate Investor and Mentor and he is passionate about helping people buy their first income property and manage it profitably. His business offers opportunities such as joint ventures, private lending, and sustainability. Riley started multiple businesses from the age of 19 to his early 20s including home maintenance and business consulting. He still operates his businesses from afar but he is more focused now on Real Estate Investing, helping people take their first step toward financial freedom through the investment vehicle of Real Estate. According to Riley, the challenge of a business that's growing too fast is making sure that the business has something to land on. It's a tough job ensuring that there must be growth and innovating the business according to trends and world change. However, embracing technology would be one of the best choices to make every business alive. This Cast Covers: A Real Estate Investor who is passionate about helping people take their first step toward financial freedom through investment. Started multiple businesses at a young age and now focuses his career on Real Estate Investing. Offering opportunities such as joint ventures, private lending, and sustainability. Helping clients to be able to effectively manage their time so they can perform better at running their business. Became the best choice of his clients through his knowledge and understanding of real estate investing. With a coaching program that would essentially help clients and students to learn more about consulting and investing. How treating clients right and spending more time with them can build trust in one another. How embracing technology could help the business grow in this constantly changing world. Learning to manifest good habits in order to put everything in business align. The importance of making your own way and not minding what other people would think. Additional Resources: Riley Oickle The 4-Hour Workweek By Timothy Ferriss TED Podcasts The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck By Mark Manson ………………………………………… Quotes: "Embrace technology if you want to grow your business." —Riley Oickle "The advantage of having a small number of people is that we can really get to know them." —Riley Oickle "Not worrying about what other people think must be the big mindset shift that we needed to look at." —Riley Oickle "Stay consistent." —Riley Oickle "Don't be a pessimist, be happy and enjoy life." —Riley Oickle ………………………………………… 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 Tara Howell, the Founder and Director at Blue Derby Pods Ride based in Launceston, Australia. Blue Derby Pods Ride is a luxury adventure mountain biking experience with a three-day itinerary. Tara Howell is living her values by showcasing just how special the offerings Tasmania has available really are. Blue Derby Pods Ride is the first and only five-star mountain biking experience in Australia. With a strong background in the space of Brand and Marketing, Tara started finding what she was good at and what she was interested in which was tourism and mountain biking. She started pushing the idea of a luxury adventure mountain biking experience in 2017, aged 27. Tara says she grew her business by ensuring their guests have the most incredible time. Guest focus or guest first is the number one mantra of their business. She says, "I absolutely love the way to get to be on our guests' highlight when they look back on their life." This Cast Covers: An exclusive accommodation Pods in Derby, Tasmania with a luxury adventure mountain biking experience. Get to experience the world-class mountain biking trails and indulge in beautiful Tasmanian food and wine. Captivating and perspective-altering experiences in the Tasmanian landscape. Allowing visitors to be captivated by the beauty of North East Tasmania. Incorporated her love for mountain biking and launched exciting activities and accommodation. How business owners and entrepreneurs learn from mentors who are younger than them. Ensuring every guest had an incredible time and enjoyed the activities provided for them. From running one trip per week through peak season, now running all year round with back-to-back trips. Pushing the idea of a luxury mountain and manifesting its business' mantra which is guest a focus. Additional Resources: Blue Derby Pods Ride The Courage to Be Disliked By Ichiro Kishimi Wild with Sarah Wilson ………………………………………… Quotes: "Success isn't about hitting a certain amount of money or a certain title but is really about being happy every day in what I'm doing." —Tara Howell "The way you behave and the way you act around your team, the energy you put off will be how your tech team is." —Tara Howell "Mentorship doesn't have to be someone older." —Tara Howell "You have to read to be able to run your business really well." —Tara Howell "Just keep your feet on the ground while shooting some stars." —Tara Howell ………………………………………… 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 Dmitrii Kustov, the Founder and Marketing Director at Regex SEO, a Houston-based Internet Marketing company, helping businesses and entrepreneurs grow their presence online through developing fully custom digital marketing strategies. Dmitrii is a data-driven Internet Marketing Director who helps companies increase their market share and revenue. With his extensive experience running an internet marketing team at a local agency, he founded his own SEO company in 2016 at the age of 25. He started off with $0 to a million dollars in revenue and from 1 FTE, now working with a total of 30 FTEs for over 5 years. Dmitrii shares that he had worked the most on building and investing in his team. He says, "The more you can trust your team, the better you're going to be. If you have a great team, you can create a great product, great service, and you can get great clients." This Cast Covers: A full-service Houston SEO marketing company offering a comprehensive array of professional SEO campaigns and services. Helping clients with internet marketing, SEO services, and online marketing campaigns. Offering our clients the highest possible search engine ranking for their business. Helping clients rebuild and reorganize their business' website for organic growth. Highlighting the role of SEO in business which is to make every business show up on the first page for those searches in the area. Incorporating processes to determine the best strategy for the clients' businesses. Engaging with professional designers and marketers for brand development. Developing a branding strategy that gives a brand a distinct voice and personality. The importance of having data to track processes as well as the progress of the business. How perseverance allows every entrepreneur to build a future-ready business. Additional Resources: Regex SEO Moz Seige Media Valuetainment ………………………………………… Quotes: "There is always room for improvement and there are always better ways to do what we do." —Dmitrii Kustov "Don't trust the gut, trust the data." —Dmitrii Kustov "Invest in your people because without the team, the business does not exist." —Dmitrii Kustov "If you have a great team, you can create a great product, great service, therefore you can get great clients." —Dmitrii Kustov "Whoever perseveres and whoever pulls through, they usually come out on top and have really nice businesses." —Dmitrii Kustov ………………………………………… 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 Tammy Smith, the President of Wheeler Accessible Van Rentals based in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Wheelers Accessible Van Rental is an affiliate program that specializes in wheelchair-accessible van rentals in every city within the United States. They help by providing comfortable accessible transportation for functionally limited individuals. Wheelers was born in 1987 after co-owners Tammy and her husband Ron Smith recognized the need for wheelchair-accessible rentals while operating a non-emergency ambulance service. They started in Glendale Arizona with only two vans, now in 13 states, a couple of hundred vehicles, and thousands of customers for over 34 years. Tammy says, "Success for me is not just about the money but also having referrals from our satisfied and happy customers." According to her, the most cost-effective way to get referrals is to leave customers with good and satisfying service. This Cast Covers: Providing comfortable accessible transportation for functionally limited individuals. Having wheeler rental locations available in every city is the company's mission. Finding new and innovative ways in making the world a more accessible place. Serving clients the best possible solution for your transportation challenges. Specializing specifically with the mobility impaired who use wheelchair scooters such as elderly, senior, paraplegics, and quadriplegics. Educating the population on the need for these individuals to have access to transportation designed for them in order to see and explore the world. Has been running the business for over 30 years with a hundred vehicles and thousands of customers. Learning the importance of good communication with clients to introduce the company's name and product. Getting referrals from satisfied and happy customers. The importance of technology in the innovation of products and services. Additional Resources: Wheelers Accessible Van Rentals The Energy Bus By Jon Gordon The ONE Thing By Gary Keller ………………………………………… Quotes: "Success for me is not just about the money but also having referrals from our satisfied and happy customers." —Tammy Smith "Good communication to your customers is the best and most cost-effective way to get your company's name out there." —Tammy Smith "Consistency in your customer service and consistency in your mission are habits that must be developed and maintained." —Tammy Smith "We just tried to do our one thing and do it as best as we can do it." —Tammy Smith "We probably need to do the things we lack in doing and that would help build a better culture within the company." —Tammy Smith ………………………………………… 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 Ro Fernandez, the Co-founder and CEO at Nova Tools, a Vancouver-based online collaboration tool that helps innovation projects come to life by providing the tools and an optimized process all in one platform. The platform has helped numerous teams and made them successful. During Ro's time as a business consultant, she found that small and medium organizations struggle to find the time and resources to keep up with the market and she found herself repeatedly searching for tools and processes for the teams to collaborate and ideate. That's the time she created Nova and now with thousands of subscribers. Ro said that success for her is being able to help and mentor other companies and keep helping other businesses grow, being able to use platforms and technology to really find solutions for today's environmental and social challenges. This Cast Covers: An online collaboration platform that helps small and large teams to manage the collaboration and make better decisions. Making the idea come to life through fast implementation. Guiding multi-disciplinary teams through the ideation and strategy process. From ideation to strategy, template business processes and track how to build IP in a visual way. Having access to all the tools, resources, and collaborative space to make sure clients can collaborate. Learning the importance of businesses for society, creating jobs for people, and innovation. How businesses get to the trends, change for the society, and implement processes to get better. How small businesses and companies change the way people live by using the products they created. Making an impact by being able to use platforms and technology to really find solutions for today's environmental and social challenges. The importance of making a product that speaks for itself. Additional Resources: Nova Buyology By Martin Lindstrom Influence By Robert B. Cialdini ………………………………………… Quotes: "Success to me is being able to help and mentor other companies and keep helping other businesses grow." —Ro Fernandez "Make a product that speaks for itself." —Ro Fernandez "You need to love challenges to be able to wake up every morning and no matter how hard things get, you'll be able to take that." —Ro Fernandez "Celebrate small successes." —Ro Fernandez "Resources and contacts are the two things that are extremely important." —Ro Fernandez ………………………………………… 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 Ronzio, the Founder and CEO of Trainual based in Scottsdale, Arizona in the United States. Trainual is the training manual for modern businesses, making it easy for growing teams to get up to speed to build a scalable business. Trainual is a better way to organize and track the progress of a growing business. As young as 14, Chris started his first business which was a video production company. He sold it after 13 years and started something else which was a consulting firm where he began to work with small businesses and that was when he realized that every small growing company needs a playbook. That's the time he turned his idea and founded Trainual in 2017. He has grown the company in just four years, from a team of 4 to 87, revenue range of $10-$20 million from $100,000 in the first year, and with the latest net promoter score of 68. Since Chris started so young in the business, he had learned how to handle balance. He said, "I think the way that I handle balance is to start with the most important things and then let work fill in the gaps." He also mentioned that having a time listening to people's feedback and taking action helps prevent future problems. This Cast Covers: A software as a service company where people pay a subscription fee, to use the software to document all of the policies, processes, stories, and knowledge about their business. Training employees to get everyone up to speed for them to be fully productive in the company they are working for. The training manual for modern businesses, making it easy for the growing teams to build a more scalable business. Helping business owners, team leaders, hiring and training managers centralize knowledge, organize processes, and create learning systems. Keeping clients' business afloat through systems that make their business on speed and up to date. Learning that training processes and standard operating procedures are things that every entrepreneur that's growing a business aspired to do. Got $100,000 in revenue in the first year and to this year about $10-$20 million range in just four years. The software as a service company has the latest net promoter score of 68 in four years. The importance of extreme communication to address problems and suggest a strategy to deal with them. How the habit of consistency brings an individual toward his/her established goal and purpose. Additional Resources: Trainual The Business Playbook By Chris Ronzio The E-Myth By Michael E. Gerber Good To Great By Jim Collins Masters of Scale ……………………………………… Quotes: Always make sure that the company can be profitable at any time." —Chris Ronzio "If you don't pay attention to where you're trying to go, you can end up getting pulled in a lot of directions." —Chris Ronzio "The habit of being consistent should be developed and maintained." —Chris Ronzio "What builds a strong culture is when you're open to feedback and when you take action based on the things that people are saying." —Chris Ronzio "Start with the most important things and then let work fill in the gaps." —Chris Ronzio ………………………………………… 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 Maddy Hearne and McKenzie Day, the Co-founders of First Class Conferencing Facilitation, a tech startup based in Toronto, Canada. It's a full-service event management company for virtual events and meetings. The company helps clients and companies with planning, associating concepts, and facilitating tech logistics to make the meetings smooth as possible. First Class Facilitation was born during the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020. Maddy and McKenzie found an opportunity in the pandemic wherein most of the activities were transitioning to online platforms. With their skills, they started getting clients through referrals until they work full-time and are now a growing company. They got $350,000 in sales just a few months in 2020 and by 2021, the current sales are about $470,000 and with 12-15 FTEs. Maddy and McKenzie say that what they love the most in growing a small business is that they're able to continually innovate their services and they are always motivated to offer new services for their clients. They advised startups to be innovative with their service and products and always leave their clients with a good experience. This Cast Covers: A full-service event management company for virtual and hybrid events and meetings. Organizing online/virtual meetings from start to finish, associating concepts and customs. Being tech support for the actual event, then facilitating tech logistics and creating and implementing content and video creation. Offering expert-level services to clients or companies during this transition to an online platform. Making it as smooth as possible for clients so they are able to enjoy the transition and focus their attention on the meeting itself. Started during the hit of the pandemic wherein they saw an opportunity to manifest their skills in technology. Got $350,000 in sales just a few months in 2020 and by 2021, the current sales are about $470,000. The importance of caring for mental health for every business owner for them to produce a healthy business. How can failures drive to relearn, reroute, and reevaluate in order to ace every opportunity especially in business. How starting a business can boost confidence for individuals who started with little of it. Additional Resources: First Class Facilitation Good To Great By Jim Collins The Design of Everyday Things By Don Norman Ask By Ryan Levesque ………………………………………… Quotes: "Success to me is having happy workers, happy clients, and a profitable business." —Maddy Hearne "Leave your clients with a good experience." —McKenzie Day "Being healthy is the best thing you can do for your own sanity, running a business." —McKenzie Day "Go with welcoming your failures, that level of transparency helps you grow as a person and as a business owner." —McKenzie Day "You need to keep innovating your services, you need to keep delivering, refining, and offering new things, so your clients keep coming back." —Maddy Hearne ………………………………………… 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 Rex Afrasiabi, a principal and the founder of MA Legal, a Melbourne-based law firm consisting of a team of experts who assist and help clients through various legal services and consultations whether it be in the form of creative resolution, strategic business structuring or asset protection. Rex is also a co-host of the business advisory show called Real Estate Renovators. The law firm was established in 2007 and is still running for over 14 years now. Rex started his career working for various law firms and shifted to work in the fashion industry. He later left the fashion world and established MA Legal and has grown revenue from 0 to $100 million with 20 full-time lawyers. Rex finds success by helping clients and advising them each step of the way on their individual journeys. His purpose is to help people and to learn and continually grow. This is why he's always motivated to step closer to the goals established by his clients. This Cast Covers: Helping clients as being their advisors in business and in life. Supporting their clients, standing loyal to them, and advising them each step in reaching their individual goals. Providing legal counsel to clients upon starting their own business that assists them in moving forwards. Representing some of Australia's real estate tycoons, developers, and businesses and sharing clients' successes in the industry. A firm comprising a commercial, business advisory, and civil litigation division and a private client division. Creating a team of experts who are strategic problem solvers to achieve commercially viable results. Involved in multi-businesses such as private lending, consulting, law firm, and also a co-host of Real Estate Renovators. Obtained a $100 million revenue and a total of 20 lawyers in 14 years. Learning the importance of leading by example to grow people as well as the business itself. The importance of implementation and execution of plans for progress and growth. Additional Resources: MA Legal Real Estate Renovators How to Win Friends & Influence People By Dale Carnegie ………………………………………… Quotes: "If you do the right thing if you're honest to your clients, and you don't take advantage, then you'll always do well." —Rex Afrasiabi "Be consistent, have a clear message and a clear focus on what your business is, and get the right team around you." —Rex Afrasiabi "If you have a plan and have a strategy to do it, you can achieve so much more." —Rex Afrasiabi "Lead by example." —Rex Afrasiabi "Be strategic, have a clear goal, and revisit that goal as frequently as possible." —Rex Afrasiabi ………………………………………… 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 Ute Preusse, the Founder and CEO at Will Creative Inc. based in Vancouver, Canada. Will Creative is a small firm that is focused on strategic and creative brand development. They help their clients position their brands in the market and amplify marketing through various amounts of advertising and other varying degrees. The creative firm was founded in 2014 when Ute and her business partner headed out as vice-presidents of an integrated marketing firm. They started their branding and marketing firm with the skill obtained for many years working from their previous company. From 2 FTEs, now around 30 after seven years with a year-after-year double-digit growth in revenue. Ute said that what she loves the most in growing a small business is seeing the growth and joy of their clients. It is the amount of pride they collectively feel after they collaborate with their clients. Seeing them satisfied with the service and happy with their success is just overwhelming. This Cast Covers: A branding design and marketing firm focusing on creating a brand with a strong sense of strategic purpose and connection. Helping clients position their brands in the market or reposition those that need to rebrand. Amplifying marketing through various amounts of advertising or any varying degrees of marketing. Understanding the actions of the brand is what the small firm is focused on. Emphasizing that a brand is a business tool that creates a roadmap of how people think, feel, looks, and most especially how people act. Former vice-presidents of an integrated marketing firm for seven years, head out on their own to start a creative firm with the skill they have. Starting from 2 FTEs, now around 30 with a year-after-year double-digit growth in revenue. The importance of keeping a brand simple so people can relate and understand it. How can allowing people to live their best work lives and influence their personal lives mean a legacy in the long term. The importance of focusing on the thing that you do really well or on the thing that made the business good. Additional Resources: Will Factfulness By Hans Rosling Thinking, Fast and Slow By Daniel Kahneman ………………………………………… Quotes: "Brand isn't just a marketing tool but also a business tool that creates a roadmap for people to act." —Ute Preusse "Keep that notion of branding super simple and superhuman." —Ute Preusse "Success means how we can keep innovating and keep inspiring the courage to change our ways and put out better work." —Ute Preusse "The best way to market yourself as a fast-growing company is to stick to what is the original thing that has made you good." —Ute Preusse "You empower others and hence you can grow." —Ute Preusse ………………………………………… Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0