In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Michael Denehey interviews Frank Greef, the Head of Industry at Domain and former founder of Realbase. Frank shares his journey of building and leading a successful business with a dedicated 20-member team, offering insights into strategies for scaling and maintaining growth. He also discusses his new passion project — a cookbook supporting charity, combining his love for cooking with a commitment to giving back.

Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let’s get into it by clicking here.

Michael delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice.

And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions:

1. What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business?
   
   Frank Greef identifies the hardest part of growing a small business as dealing with the "unknown unknowns." These are the unpredictable challenges that lie beneath the surface—issues you can’t foresee that bring unexpected mental and emotional demands. He describes these surprises as the “iceberg below” that can catch business owners off-guard, emphasizing how they can create stress and roadblocks. This focus on the hidden challenges highlights the importance of resilience and adaptability in business growth.
   
   

2. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most?
   
   Frank Greef's favorite business books include The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone for mindset, Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson for innovation, and Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh for customer experience, each shaping his approach to growth and impact.
   
   

3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business?
   
   Frank Greef recommends The Diary of a CEO for its insightful conversations, though he notes its recent shift in focus. For business-specific advice, he highlights Alex Hormozi's Acquisition.com, where Hormozi shares actionable strategies for scaling from zero to multi-million-dollar revenues.

4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business?
   
   Frank Greef suggests that the best tool is self-learning paired with accountability. Instead of just consuming information, he emphasizes implementing what you learn immediately, testing its impact, and adapting as needed—turning knowledge into actionable growth for your business.
   
   

5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business?
   
   Frank Greef’s advice to his day-one self in business would be, “You’ve got this, little buddy!” Acknowledging the journey as a challenging yet rewarding roller coaster, he emphasizes resilience and faith in one’s ability to overcome the unknowns that lie ahead.
   
   

Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights!

Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.

Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest:

True growth in business comes from learning to let go, not holding all the keys yourself – Frank Greef

Success isn’t just reaching goals; it’s finding purpose and giving back along the way – Frank Greef

Learning without action is a wasted resource – implement and grow with every insight – Frank Greef

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Lilly Garrett, who shares her entrepreneurial journey that led her to building Maixia Marketing. She discusses the innovative strategies she has led that fueled significant growth at multiple early stage startups. Lilly emphasizes the critical role of data-driven decision-making and effective marketing foundations. Tune in for valuable insights on building a successful business from the ground up.

Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let’s get into it by clicking here.

Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice.

And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions:

1. What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business?
   
   Lilly Garrett believes the hardest things in growing a small business are team building, marketing foundations, data management,and the art of prioritization.
   
   

2. What business book has helped you the most?
   
   Lilly Garrett's favorite business book that has helped her the most is "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries.
   
   

3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business?
   
   Lilly Garrett recommends the following podcasts and online learning resources to help grow a small business: April Dunford, she has a blog and podcast all about positioning, it’s a must read/listen for all businesses!
   
   

4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business?
   
   Lilly Garrett recommends using Pocus, if you’re sales-led and Slack for all internal comms.
   
   

5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business?
   
   Lilly Garrett would advise herself on day one of starting out in business to ensure you’ve validated as well as you possibly can (read The Mom Test) ensure to record more data asap, and collect feedback consistently, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer insights from the beginning.

Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights!

Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.

Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest:

Success in business often boils down to effective marketing and understanding your customers — Lilly Garrett

Don't underestimate the power of a strong team; collaboration fuels innovation — Lilly Garrett

Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow; every setback is a stepping stone to success — Lilly Garrett

QFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse!

Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week.

Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends!

In this episode of Quick Fire Friday host Rob Cameron interviews Kelly Walker, from Prospera Consulting, to discuss the power of sustainable strategy in business growth. Kelly shares her personal journey of overcoming burnout and offers practical tips for entrepreneurs to scale their businesses without compromising well-being. Tune in for insights on setting boundaries, prioritising goals, and maintaining balance while growing your company.

Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners:

Sustainable Strategy: Prioritize creating a sustainable strategy by focusing on fewer initiatives that truly move the needle rather than spreading resources too thin.

Start, Stop, Continue Framework: Utilize the Start, Stop, Continue framework to assess strategic initiatives, emphasizing the importance of letting go of less impactful tasks.

Know Your Why: Regularly revisit your core motivations and values for starting your business to ensure alignment with your daily activities and avoid burnout.

Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for?

Setting Boundaries: Establish clear personal boundaries and routines to differentiate between work and personal time, especially when working remotely.

Self-Awareness: Develop an awareness of personal stress signals and warning signs to intervene early, preventing burnout before it escalates.

Intention in Scaling: Plan for scalability from the start by implementing systems that reduce reliance on your personal time, enabling business growth without compromising well-being.

One action small business owners can take:

One actionable step small business owners can take, as suggested by Kelly Walker, is to regularly schedule time in their calendar for personal activities that recharge them, such as exercise, family time, or hobbies. This helps create a balanced work-life dynamic and prevents burnout by ensuring they have dedicated moments to disconnect and rejuvenate.

Do you have 2 minutes every Friday? Sign up to the Weekly Leadership Email. It's free and we can help you to maximise your time.

Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. 👇

Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest:

Strategy is about making choices and sometimes saying no to create space for what truly matters — Kelly Walker

Effective boundaries are vital for maintaining balance and ensuring long-term success — Kelly Walker

Knowing your 'why' is the anchor that keeps you aligned with your business goals — Kelly Walker

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Serene Lim, the founder of Gellae, a successful 8-figure business renowned for its innovative approach to content-driven growth. Serene shares her inspiring journey from a part-time entrepreneur to leading a dedicated team of four. She discusses the pivotal strategies that fueled Gellae's remarkable success and the lessons learned along the way. Join us to uncover the secrets behind Serene's achievements and how she's transforming the beauty industry!

Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let’s get into it by clicking here.

Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice.

And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions:

1. What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business?
   
   Serene Lim believes that the hardest thing in growing a small business is navigating the transition from generating zero to seven figures in revenue. While the initial phase may be challenging, she finds the next stage particularly tough, as it requires building and managing a larger team. This involves learning how to lead effectively and manage the complexities that come with growth, making it a significant challenge for entrepreneurs.
   
   

2. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most?
   
   Serene Lim mentions that she doesn't have a specific favorite business book to reference. Instead, she highlights her admiration for podcasts and online learning tools, particularly those by successful entrepreneurs like Britney Saunders, who has built an eight-figure clothing business. She emphasizes the value of learning through content and real-world experiences rather than relying solely on books.
   
   

3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business?
   
   Serene Lim recommends the podcast by Britney Saunders, founder of the successful eight-figure clothing brand Fate, for valuable insights on content-driven business growth. She also highlights repurpose.io, an automation tool that simplifies social media posting across platforms, as a vital resource for small businesses.
   
   

4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business?
   
   Serene Lim recommends repurpose.io as a valuable tool for small businesses. This platform allows users to sync and automate posting across various social media accounts, streamlining content distribution and saving time on manual posting.
   
   

5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business?
   
   Serene Lim would tell herself on day one to embrace the limitless possibilities ahead and to not set boundaries on her potential. She emphasizes the importance of perseverance, continuous improvement, and the belief that things will get better with dedication and effort.

Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights!

Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.

Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest:

The journey of business growth is filled with learning and improvement — Serene Lim

Embrace every opportunity to learn and grow; it will pay off in the long run — Serene Lim

Building a strong team is crucial for overcoming the challenges of growth — Serene Lim