Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode, I interview Ben Simpson, the Founder and CEO of Collective Shift based in Melbourne, Australia. A pre-purchase investment firm composed of experts in cryptocurrency, helping crypto investors create wealth and freedom. Clients can get a $50 membership credit by using the Collective Shift membership link. Ben enjoys being in the crypto space and is passionate about helping people and startups solve their problems and make success. In 2020, during the pandemic, Ben had an opportunity to develop a platform to help crypto investors have access to data, analytics, and research to support and help them make decisions easier. In just a year, Ben has doubled the revenue of the company and expanded its service for over 40 countries with members all around the world. From 5 employees to the current 18. Ben says that what he loves the most in growing a small business is creating a product that people would love to use. "Building a good product is already a good marketing strategy," he said. This only means that a good product highly guarantees the success of the business. This Cast Covers: Simplifying the world of cryptocurrency to people by giving recommendations, advice on how to build a crypto portfolio and how to be safe in the environment. Giving investors and traders access to a suite of tools, expert daily insights, opportunity alerts, and a thriving community. A subscription membership business where people can subscribe to have data, analytics, and research videos to make investments easier for them. A pre-purchase investment firm composed of experts in cryptocurrency, helping crypto investors create wealth and freedom. Members receive information up-to-date based on a crypto asset with this platform whether it is a good or bad investment. Building a product that serves as a pre-purchase decision-making tool. Launched the subscription company at a young age and doubled the revenue in just a year. Started off just in Australia, now running across over 40 countries with members all around the world. How creating a good product that people want to use is already a form of marketing strategy. Seeing the investors create wealth through the platform is also the success of the company that built it. Additional Resources: Collective Shift The Lean Startup By Eric Ries Startup School Leveling Up ………………………………………… Quotes: "Progressing growth doesn't necessarily need to be numbers, but knowing that you're moving towards the right direction." —Ben Simpson "Success starts when you can start to solve your customers' problems. Seeing their success is my success." —Ben Simpson "Building a good product is already a good marketing strategy." —Ben Simpson "When you actually give someone the ownership of a certain project, they thrive in that. —Ben Simpson "Finding what people want and love and being able to pivot and innovate based on people's needs is one way to grow." —Ben Simpson ………………………………………… 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 Laura Patrick, the Founder and CEO of Kids Physio Group based in Vancouver, Canada. Kids Physio is private physiotherapy providing a highly specialized and fun environment helping physically limited children improve function through traditional and play-based physiotherapy. Laura is a passionate physiotherapist who has treated and connected a lot of children and has helped many families around Canada. Kids Physio was founded in 2006 when Laura pivoted from a public health care provider to private practice. She started out of a need for physiotherapy services for children in Vancouver. Started as an independent physiotherapist renting a space but due to increased demand, she developed a group and now has grown to 10 locations in Canada and currently has 60 FTEs. Laura says that leadership has been one of the important tools for the business to carry on. She has led others through passing the wisdom she had learned in growing the business and this helps them grow and manage to continue expanding rapidly. This Cast Covers: Physiotherapy for kids, providing meaningful services to children to help them overcome injury, disability, and just everyday movement. Making clinic spaces super fun so children are moved to engage and participate throughout the treatment. Started as an independent physiotherapist renting a space, attained growth through increasing demand, developed a group, and now franchising physio clinics around Canada. Started private practice out of a need for physiotherapy services for children in Vancouver. Supporting a wide range of young clients and helping them be more functional through motor learning. The company has grown to 10 locations and continues expanding rapidly. Ensuring to provide exceptional patient care through a highly specialized and fun environment and combination of traditional and play-based physiotherapy. From an independent physiotherapist to a group composed of 60 FTEs in a length of 15 years. Supporting entrepreneurs in bringing a much-needed service to their own communities, while also giving them the tools they need to grow a thriving business. Saw success when incredible clinic owners get to do the right things in a faster way to grow their clinic with the tools provided for them. Additional Resources: Kids Physio Group Parent Talk Do Lead By Les Mckeown Kris Plachy Podcast—Leadership is Feminine ………………………………………… Quotes: "Get coaching and get mentorship." —Laura Patrick "Keeping your personal relationships probably out of your business would be a really good habit to get into as well." —Laura Patrick "When we're clear about sharing our mission, our vision, and our values then we can actually attract the right people." —Laura Patrick "If it's not filling your cup any longer, figure out a way that can actually make that happen." —Laura Patrick "The only way a business can grow is by leading others in a way that they can feel really proud at the end of your day." —Laura Patrick ………………………………………… 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 Gurmesh Sidhu, the Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Moment Energy, a Vancouver-based cleantech startup repurposing electric vehicle batteries for energy storage. Moment's goal is to provide a reliable and environmentally friendly energy storage solution for our customers. Moment Energy is a Canadian-owned and operated company founded by four tech entrepreneurs in 2019, with a mission to provide worldwide access to clean, reliable, and affordable power. From creating a solution to certain issues to rolling out second-hand batteries in changing the world. Started off as four co-founders/engineers, now a team of around 16. Gurmesh said that what he loves the most in growing a small business is the feeling of gratification. They find that feeling of gratification through giving people a job, reducing carbon footprint and carbon dioxide pollution, and making an impact on the planet. This Cast Covers: Creating stationary energy storage from electric vehicle batteries, optimizing and ensuring they perform at their best. The revenue model is simply based on one-time sales as of the moment but starting transitioning into energy storage as a service model. A cleantech startup repurposing electric vehicle batteries for energy storage. Providing clean, affordable, and reliable energy storage by repurposing retired electric vehicle batteries. How energy storage systems made from repurposed electric vehicle batteries help build a sustainable economy. A cleantech company's goal is to provide a reliable and environmentally friendly energy storage solution for their customers. A Canadian-owned and operated company founded by four tech entrepreneurs. Helping build a sustainable environment by keeping people's lights on, and their batteries from ending up in landfills. Realizing they will succeed in this space when they find a solution to an issue that hasn't been solved yet. The importance of hiring people who are talented and most of all will fit into the business culture. Additional Resources: Moment Energy The Hard Thing About Hard Things By Ben Horowitz What You Do Is Who You Are By Ben Horowitz ………………………………………… Quotes: "Success looks to me like building a pack that can compete with the big players out there." —Gurmesh Sidhu "Focus on those key clients that you see a lot of traction with." —Gurmesh Sidhu "You have to learn what's worth your time to do, and what's worth your time not to do." —Gurmesh Sidhu "You need to be able to push through, you can't just give up every time a challenge faces you." —Gurmesh Sidhu "Take time making sure people fit in with you and your culture." —Gurmesh Sidhu ………………………………………… 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 Stevie Dawn Carter, the CEO and Founder of Stevie Dawn Inspires, LLC based in Mansfield, USA. Stevie Dawn Inspires is a platform dedicated to helping people be productive at work and happy at home. They provide corporate training sessions and leadership development for individuals who want to be productive and impactful. Stevie Dawn is a four-time business owner who has created a multi-million dollar success in business, fine art, dance, and now speaking/coaching. She started her first business as early as 17. She owned and operated her first dance studio in Australia. She has lived her life doing what she loves and at the same time helping people to have an impact in the world. According to Stevie, the hardest thing in growing a small business is keeping it afloat despite the challenges. She says, "Growing a small business is not always going to be easy. There's going to be a lot of hardship. And it's about not giving up and just keep swimming until you get there." This Cast Covers: Helping people find, reignite, and chase their joy both at work and at home. Ability to energize others to unleash their unstoppable success. A professional speaker and coach, talking about leadership, emotional intelligence, and unstoppable success. Working with small business owners to increase their impact and for greater purposes. Coaching small business owners to be more effective, more organized, more profitable, and more impactful. Speaks, motivates, and inspires others from experiences highlighting learned failures throughout the journey. The importance of setting expectations to grow the culture a small business owner has started. Specializing in leadership and management training for organizations and individuals. Has created a multi-million dollar success in business, fine art, dance, and now speaking/coaching. Helping people be productive and impactful through corporate training sessions, leadership development, and high-energy that inspires. Additional Resources: Stevie Dawn Inspires Traction By Gino Wickman Get A Grip By Gino Wickman ………………………………………… Quotes: "Communication is the key to all relationships." —Stevie Dawn Carter "For me, success always comes with a feeling of peace." —Stevie Dawn Carter "If I get better, everybody gets better and everything gets better." —Stevie Dawn Carter "Don't quit, just keep going." —Stevie Dawn Carter "If you want to grow the culture you have started then, have clear expectations." —Stevie Dawn Carter ………………………………………… 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 David Fradin, the President of Spice Catalyst based in Silicon Valley, USA, a worldwide product success management and product success marketing training, consulting, and assessment organization. They offer training to product managers and product marketing managers who are under huge companies to help them accelerate revenue and innovation. In 2012, Spice Catalyst was born and David as a former mentor and professor was teaching courses that cover understanding what customers do, personas, innovation, value proposition, markets, and product strategy plans. Within the next two years since 2012, he saw growth of about $5 million and now constantly growing about 100% each year with current FTEs of 6. David says that in order to promote products and accelerate market impact, business owners along with the managers should always consider what is good for their customers and engage in continual fast-paced cycles of learning and innovation that accelerate revenue and keep ahead of the market. This Cast Covers: Teaching the principles of product management and product marketing to companies around the world. Has trained thousands of managers by infusing his workshops with insights and experiences gained as a product leader at certain companies. Offering product management and marketing training as well as assessments. Revenue is obtained primarily through project-based work. Formerly a professor teaching courses that cover understanding what customers do, personas, innovation, value proposition, markets, analysis, and product strategy plans. The importance of delegation for the continuous progress of the business. Accelerating market impact through product-market strategy plans. Engaging in continual fast-paced cycles of learning and innovation that accelerate revenue and keep ahead of the market. Growing the consulting company from hundreds of dollars to about $5 million within the next two years since it has started. The importance of team building and teamwork in an organization and how it accelerates revenue and innovation. Additional Resources: Spice Catalyst Building Insanely Great Products By David Fradin Crossing the Chasm By Geoffrey A. Moore The Leadership Engine By Noel M. Tichy ………………………………………… Quotes: "Make sure the company's values and your values are matched." —David Fradin "If you make a mistake, that's okay because most of us learn better from our mistakes than from doing things successfully." —David Fradin "It's important to make sure that the team has teamwork and that they have the backs of the other members." —David Fradin "Team-building exercises are very important so everyone knows what they need." —David Fradin "Focus on the customer, not on all the other organizational things." —David Fradin ………………………………………… 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 Corina Ludwig, President at FunctionFox Systems, Inc. based in Victoria, Canada. They offer online timesheets and project management for creative professionals to help them track time and projects and improve workflow. Corina is responsible for overseeing the FunctionFox engine, as she manages daily operations; vision and planning, advertising, and marketing. FunctionFox started in 2000 when the agency was looking for a better way to track time and projects. At that time, Corina was working at an advertising design creative studio. While developing a timesheet and project management software for themselves, they then branched it out to other creative companies. That's when they started selling and growing. Now the leading choice of creative professionals with thousands of subscribers and a total of 20 team members for over 20 years. Corina has emphasized the importance of working with great, smart people. She believes in placing value on the team, and in turn, the team takes good care of their clients. This Cast Covers: Offering online timesheets and project management for creative professionals. Helping creative companies move faster and worry less by accurately and easily tracking time and projects. Has been doing it for over 20 years and about 70% of the user base is creatives. A monthly subscription software service that helps companies track their projects, clients, and personnel so they can work with them accordingly. Referrals as the main source of new clients and the biggest drivers of the company. The importance of hiring good people and mentors and firing people when they don't work out. Managing daily operations; vision and planning, advertising and marketing. Started working with people from the parent agency, which now has a total of 20 team members and has thousands of users around the world. Keeping the product very relevant to core customers and audience by having features that are customer-driven. A customer-driven company makes sure that people are getting everything that they need. Additional Resources: FunctionFox Good To Great By Jim Collins Never Split the Difference By Chris Voss The Metronome Effect By Shannon Byrne Susko Mastering the Rockefeller Habits By Verne Harnish ………………………………………… Quotes: "There are little wins along the way and you really have to celebrate all those little wins." —Corina Ludwig "If you have a great product and great people that can tell your story, you'll do wonders." —Corina Ludwig "Surround yourself with good people. Good team and good mentors." —Corina Ludwig "Believe in yourself when no one else is." —Corina Ludwig "Focus on what you're doing. Not what everyone else is doing." —Corina Ludwig ………………………………………… 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 Prince, a best-selling author, motivational speaker, CEO, and Founder of Performance Publishing Group, a "partner" publishing company of Michelle Prince, helping leaders impact the world, using the strengths and talents already within them to create an extraordinary life and exponentially grow their business. Driven by her passion, Michelle started a business in 2009 that helps people communicate their stories through publishing and speaking. She also owned a publishing company, running the two businesses together to provide top-quality, comprehensive book publishing services for soon-to-be authors. Michelle helped thousands of professionals around the world become published authors through her consulting, courses, seminars, and done-for-you publishing services. Michelle says the hardest thing in growing a small business is evaluating what's working and what's not working and letting go of something that you've put a lot of effort in. However, she also stated that issues are always part of business and what's important is how you deal with them. This Cast Covers: Helping people communicate their stories through publishing and speaking. Helping leaders impact the world, using the strengths and talents already within them to create an extraordinary life and exponentially grow their business. How passion helps people find their purpose in life and make it astonishing. A best-selling author and sought-after motivational speaker who is passionate about helping people find their purpose, follow their passion & share their stories so they can make a difference in this world. Learning to let others who are professionals have control of creating systems for business growth. Started things based on passion and grew the business by doing less and having balance. The importance of setting boundaries in achieving work-life balance. How publishing a book serves as a great marketing tool to showcase products and services. Emphasizing the advantages of creating and publishing a book and how it increases credibility. The importance for business owners to learn to treat people the way they wanted to be treated and put value to help them grow. Additional Resources: Michelle Prince Performance Publishing Group The E Myth By Michael Gerber Busy Being Busy By Michelle Prince ………………………………………… Quotes: "Just because it works for someone else, does not mean it's the best thing for you and for your business." —Michelle Prince "It's nice to see people grow and have confidence in what they're doing." —Michelle Prince "You have to put value and you have to make other people invest in themselves in order to grow." —Michelle Prince "Identify your golden hours, figure it out and protect those hours." —Michelle Prince "Setting boundaries is the key in handling balance." —Michelle Prince ……………………………………… 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 Salome Fourie, the Founder of The Fourie Agency, a business management agency based in Kansas, USA. The Fourie Agency helps six-figure business owners scale their systems business through systems and team management. Salome is a certified online business manager and passionate about learning something from her clients. The agency was founded in January 2021. Due to drastic changes brought by COVID, Salome's corporate job was affected. She decided to get a certification so she can still utilize her skill in marketing and help more clients in a more holistic way. In less than a year, she found an incredible growth of 500%. She is now working all over the world with different clients and different industries. Salome recommended that to build a sustainable culture to help with growth, there must always be open communication between the people involved. She said, "If you want people to stay long term with you, make it fun for them to want to work with you. Appreciate the things that they do well, and recognize that verbally." This Cast Covers: Working with different clients from different industries, small to medium businesses who need somebody to truly come alongside them and help them manage their business. Helping clients with launches, systems, and projects for their business. Helping six-figure business owners, who lack time and get frustrated by their systems and team management. Not only increase their productivity but to increase their profitability and their scalability for their business. A certified online business manager, one of the most organized and hardest working people. Found certification and utilized her skills in marketing to help more clients in a more holistic way than she was working in an office. Launched the agency on her own and later on, her husband became her business partner handling a lot of IT-related things. Got an incredible growth of 500% for just almost a year since starting the business management agency. The importance of seeking help from somebody who knows better about something that you find so difficult. The importance of open communication within the organization to understand the concept and implement it for business growth. Additional Resources: The Fourie Agency Profits First By Mike Michalowicz Mom Owned and Operated ………………………………………… Quotes: "For me, success is not necessarily related to how much money I'm bringing in but I think it's more related to the type of life I've been able to create." —Salome Fourie "If you don't know how to create a strategy for yourself, find somebody to help you create a strategy." —Salome Fourie "If you don't kind of stay ahead of the game, and keep up with the trends, your business is going to fail." —Salome Fourie "You just need to have the right process for yourself and your business and that's why processes are so important." —Salome Fourie "Never give up no matter how hard it gets." —Salome Fourie ………………………………………… 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 Andrena Sawyer, the President of P.E.R.K Consulting, an advisory firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, for small to mid-sized nonprofits and businesses. Services include registration, staff & volunteer training, strategic planning, expert speakers, proposal writing, and more. Andrena is an author, consultant, strategist, and ministry founder. As things ended up not working for Andrena, she reverted back to what always worked for her, which was helping other people in the nonprofit space. She realized that nonprofits don't have a long shelf life so she maximized her talents to set up a consultancy to help them. It was 2011, aged 25 when she started with the consulting firm, she saw an immediate increase in revenue from its 1st year to its 3rd year. Grew capacity from solopreneur, now having a total of 8 team members. Andrena says that what she loves the most in growing a small business is seeing the immediate impact of the idea she implemented. She said, "I love that I can stay up all night and work on my business idea and implement it. The results are a reflection of that effort." This Cast Covers: Working with nonprofits and small businesses providing business development and capacity-building support. Helping nonprofits and small businesses with registration, staff & volunteer training, strategic planning, expert speakers, proposal writing, and more. Maximizing her talents to set up a consultancy that can help nonprofits have a long shelf life. Expanded capacity for over 11 years from solopreneur, now having a team of 8 people. From year one to year three of starting the business saw an increase in revenue of about 125%. Has experienced massive change during Covid from declining sales and clients had to close their businesses. Pivoting services into virtual and now slowly bringing back the upswings of the consulting firm. Learning how flexibility in reaching out to people contributes to the growth and success of an organization. Offering workshops for entrepreneurs or solopreneurs who are planning to start a business to help them learn how to manage their future business. Recommending new business owners to work on resiliency as a skill, like being able to push through and not taking no as a personal rejection. Additional Resources: P.E.R.K Consulting The 4-Hour Workweek By Timothy Ferriss The Misadventures Of A New Entrepreneur By Andrena Sawyer ………………………………………… Quotes: "As long as I have peace of mind, I'm doing what I like to do, it's sustainable, and I'm able to help other people earn a living, then I'm successful." —Andrena Sawyer "Focus on strategies and systems and figure out a way to work smart." —Andrena Sawyer "Emphasizing marketing is not just something that you do or perform, but you really have to develop a culture where you're always pitching." —Andrena Sawyer "Work on resilience as a skill." —Andrena Sawyer "Keep things as consistent as possible." —Andrena Sawyer ………………………………………… 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 Peter Mumford, the Founder and CEO at Stone Real Estate based in Sydney, Australia. Stone Real Estate's revolutionary business model is a franchise network structure that operates as a group of cohesive agencies with a unified team and common objectives. The company aims to centralize its focus to its clients to serve them efficiently. With over thirty years in business, Peter started the company model in 2015 and then progressed on to a franchise network business. In their first year, they got $5 million gross commission sales through 3 officers and are now on track to over $110 million at the end of this year 2021. Grew team from 4 to 14 FTEs and up to 50 franchisees in 6 years with its franchise network employees now over 550 across the franchise offices, and on track to hit 75 offices by December 2022 with expected openings in New Zealand mid next year. Peter is an inspiring entrepreneur who has created, built, operated and sold multiple award-winning businesses, and according to him that business is not one person, it is everyone that you're working with. He simply added, "The most important asset in your brand is the people you work with." This Cast Covers: Started the company model and then progressed on to a franchise business in real estate. Supplying branding, marketing training support for a franchise network, and helping with building offices. Started with seven company officers, funded agencies, and helped them become partners by making them profitable and successful. Offering more business training and support than just sales training. An entrepreneur for over thirty years who have created, built, operated, and sold multiple businesses and is now an entrepreneur leading the real estate revolution. The importance of investing in education about marketing for the growth of the business and the individuals working for it. Doing things smarter and more efficiently and entirely driven by clients' needs. Started from 3 to 30 FTEs for over six years and up to 50 franchisees. Recruiting the right people into the right roles. Building service around their clients and ensuring that they are the focus of the business. Additional Resources: Stone Real Estate Think and Grow Rich By Napoleon Hill Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant By Robert T. Kiyosaki ………………………………………… Quotes: "Success would be about being happy and doing what you like in life." —Peter Mumford "Spend a lot on digital marketing and find some great people to guide you." —Peter Mumford "It's about telling the brand stories, no matter what you're in." —Peter Mumford "The most important asset in your brand is the people you work with." —Peter Mumford "With all those failures, there's hope for anyone else out there and there's probably gonna be a lot more successful." —Peter Mumford ………………………………………… Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com. License: CC by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0