Business Growth Lab

Samantha Riley
  • 5.0 (32)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Semiweekly

You built your business for freedom. So why does it feel like another job you can't quit? Business Growth Lab is for established service founders ready to scale their revenue and get their life back. Each week, Samantha Riley and her husband Leon pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to move from Constraint Stage to Scale Stage - the systems, the team, the mindset shift, and the sequence that makes it stick. Expect straight-talking strategy, expert guests sharing what's working right now, and unfiltered behind-the-scenes conversations from two people who've built multiple businesses themselves. This is where established founders come to install the structure their business has always needed. Find us on IG: @thesamriley and @leonflitton

  1. 6d ago

    Great Work Isn’t Winning You Clients Anymore. Here’s Why… with Nas Vou

    You know you’re good at what you do, and your clients agree. Yet you’re still watching prospects check you out, nod politely, and book a call with someone else. Buyers are cautious, they’ve got more options than ever, AI means anyone can fake anything, and every business out there is calling itself “experienced, trusted and personalised.” So when nobody believes the pitch, what actually earns the yes? Samantha sits down with Nas Vou of Do It Digital, who booked 72 meetings in six months for a single client, and he doesn’t go easy on the usual excuses. The economy? Not his problem to solve. “LinkedIn doesn’t work”? How many times did you really try? He also shares how to build confidence and prove your approach works, and why a slow patch is the perfect time to refine your business. If your sales have stalled and the economy’s been getting the blame, this one might change where you look next. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: 01:00 – What buyers need to see before they trust you with their money02:59 – The “It used to work” habit costing you clients06:08 – What to do in an economic downturn to come out ahead14:40 – How to stand out when every business is saying the same thing22:23 – How to test a message at volume (and the outreach that booked 72 meetings in six months)26:17 – The difference between “It doesn’t work” and “I didn’t do it enough”31:13 – The proof-building exercise that boosts your confidence and your sales, and what buyers check before they book a call39:56 – Want more clients in 90 days? Know these numbers before you spend a cent47:38 – How to connect content, outreach and your email list into one ecosystem so buyers can come in at any point WHERE TO FIND NAS VOULinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nasvou/Website: https://www.doitdigital.agency/ Got questions or want more business growth content? Follow us over at @thesamriley and @leonflitton Ready to build a business that funds your life and doesn't run your life? Apply to join Scale With Soul here

    Great Work Isn’t Winning You Clients Anymore. Here’s Why… with Nas Vou

  2. Oct 14

    Certainty Isn't Coming. Make The Call Anyway with Scott Stirret

    Let's face it. Nobody is walking into the next 12 months with certainty. The economy's wobbly, AI is rewriting the rules, and the strategies that got you here aren't necessarily the ones that will take you further. In this episode, Samantha sits down with Scott Stirrett, author of The Uncertainty Advantage, to talk about what you do when you can't see around the corner. Scott walked away from Goldman Sachs at 22 to build something of his own, and he's got plenty to say about why the comfortable option is rarely the safe one. One thing he shares gives Samantha a filter she's still turning over. It's a simple way to tell whether you're being strategic or just sitting on your hands because you're scared. If you've been telling yourself you'll make the call once things feel safer, press play. It might sting a little, but in the best way. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: 01:06 – The fear that's quietly running your business, and the muscle that shuts it up07:24 – How to tell when "comfortable" has become the riskiest place to sit12:12 – Making the call even when you don’t have enough information14:36 – What separates a smart risk from a reckless one19:03 – Why some leaders thrive in chaos while everyone else just white-knuckles it24:27 – Why "just waiting it out" might be costing you more than a bad decision26:57 – The goal-setting habit that's quietly sabotaging your growth28:47 – The two relationships that decide how fast your business grows Got questions or want more business growth content? Follow us over at @thesamriley and @leonflitton Ready to build a business that funds your life and doesn't run your life? Apply to join Scale With Soul here

    Certainty Isn't Coming. Make The Call Anyway with Scott Stirret

  3. Sep 23

    Your Email List Is A Goldmine And You're Sitting On It with Sage Polaris

    We keep hearing that email is dead. But the businesses making the most consistent sales right now would disagree. The ones still repeating that line are usually the same business owners wondering why their launches flop, their sales pipeline keeps drying up, and they're stuck relying on social media algorithms they can't control. In this episode, Samantha sits down with conscious launch strategist Sage Polaris to unpack why email is still one of the highest-converting marketing assets you can own and why the businesses making the most sales aren't the ones with the biggest lists. They're the ones building the strongest relationships. You'll discover why a list of just 150 engaged subscribers can outperform thousands of passive followers, how simple email conversations can replace complicated funnels, and why most business owners are asking their audience the wrong questions. Sage also shares her brilliant four buyer archetypes, inspired by The Simpsons, and explains how understanding the way people make decisions can transform your subject lines, launches, and conversions. The businesses building the strongest relationships and the most consistent sales aren't chasing every new platform. They're showing up where they already have people's attention. Stop chasing attention and start building relationships where your audience is already listening. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: 03:24 - Why email is still your most valuable marketing asset even in a world obsessed with social media05:29 - Why a small engaged email list can outperform a massive audience06:15 - How to turn conversations into sales without complicated funnels10:41 - How to write emails people actually open12:48 - The four buyer types that instantly make your emails, launches, and marketing more effective25:57 - How to choose a lead magnet people actually want instead of one you hope they'll download31:26 - What to ask your email list that can uncover your next sale33:04 - How to bring a neglected email list back to life35:30 - Is email really dead or are most businesses simply using it the wrong way?37:22 - Why AI can't replace genuine connection RESOURCES: ABOUT SAGE POLARISSage Polaris has written high converting copy for more than 615+ projects earning them millions of dollars. She helps personal brands and service providers sell more of their service or offer with the words on their website. She has worked with Teachable, Adrienne Dorison, and Lynne Twist. Basically, she makes money for the “internet famous” people we all look up to. WHERE TO FIND SAGE POLARISWebsite: http://www.sagepolaris.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreativeCustomWriting/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagepolaris/ Got questions or want more business growth content? Follow us over at @thesamriley and @leonflitton Ready to build a business that funds your life and doesn't run your life? Apply to join Scale With Soul here

    Your Email List Is A Goldmine And You're Sitting On It with Sage Polaris

  4. Sep 21

    These 3 Paid Ad Funnels Are Working Right Now

    There’s no shortage of people telling you how to run paid ads. But how do you know what’s actually working right now? In this episode, Samantha and Leon share three paid ad funnels they’re loving right now, what’s working, what’s not, and why the same funnel can fly for one business and completely flake out for another. We're talking clients coming in for cents on the dollar, a campaign achieving a 19.6 ROAS, and another that looked like it was working perfectly… until it wasn't. Just switching on ads isn't enough. There are a whole lot of pieces that need to be working together for the funnel to actually convert. Every business has different strengths, different constraints and different goals, so knowing which funnel to use, and when, really matters. Samantha and Leon break down the three they’re loving right now, what’s happening behind the scenes, and what you need to think about before putting another dollar into ads. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: 04:58 – Why relying on organic alone could be slowing your growth08:09 – The first paid funnel we're loving right now11:24 – The funnel we've been using in different ways for almost 10 years13:44 – How we filled a room with ideal clients… and the campaign still bombed17:20 – The funnel everyone wants to run, but isn't right for every business21:31 – Why switching on the ads is only a tiny part of making this work23:14 – The numbers that tell you when to turn your ads up, change something or switch them off Resource Thinking about running paid ads, or tried them before and decided they “don't work”? DM Leon the word AD on Instagram. We'll share some of the data we're seeing behind these campaigns and help you figure out which funnel could make sense for your business right now. Got questions or want more business growth content? Follow us over at @thesamriley and @leonflitton Ready to build a business that funds your life and doesn't run your life? Apply to join Scale With Soul here

    These 3 Paid Ad Funnels Are Working Right Now

  5. Sep 8

    How Smart Business Owners Are Winning Right Now

    387,000 Australian businesses shut their doors last year. It's tempting to think the whole economy's falling apart, but that’s not the entire story. There are businesses right now who are doing huge growth. Samantha and Leon break down what's actually separating the businesses who are quietly having their best year yet, and it's got nothing to do with luck. They get into why chasing a "safe" job is often the riskier move, why trying to be everything to everyone is what's actually killing sales right now, and why the businesses doing well aren't cutting their marketing spend when things get tight, they're actually increasing it. Then there's the stuff nobody talks about until it's a crisis - the basic systems most businesses still haven't bothered to set up, when a lean team stops being lean, and why waiting a full year to check your numbers means finding out you missed the mark long after you could've fixed it. If you've caught yourself waiting for things to "go back to normal," this one's for you. There is no back to normal. There's just the businesses adapting to what's happening now, vs the ones still running things like it's 2022. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: 01:19 – Why business closures don't mean the economy's broken03:38 – Why chasing a "safe" job is often the riskier move08:35 – Why trying to appeal to everyone kills sales12:51 – The basic systems over half of businesses are still missing15:53 – Why cutting the marketing budget when times get tough backfires19:43 – How to know when a lean team needs restructuring23:38 – Why a rigid annual forecast sets a business up to fail26:57 – What decades of economic cycles reveal about which businesses come out stronger Got questions or want more business growth content? Follow us over at @thesamriley and @leonflitton Ready to build a business that funds your life and doesn't run your life? Apply to join Scale With Soul here

    How Smart Business Owners Are Winning Right Now

  6. Aug 31

    What If Success Is Keeping You Stuck? with Florence Shaffer

    You don't have to choose between success and a good life. But what if the strategies that built your success are now the very things keeping you stuck? In this episode, I sit down with Florence Shaffer to challenge one of the biggest assumptions I see successful people carry, that you have to sacrifice your health, relationships, purpose or personal life to keep performing at a high level. We dive into the question of why the old "optimise everything and deal with the rest later" approach is breaking down in a world that's moving faster than ever. And the answer isn't to squeeze more into an already-full life. We talk about why gratitude and wanting something different can coexist, how to spot the warning signs before they become a crisis, and why saying no can actually help you see the opportunities worth saying yes to. You'll also hear a shift I loved, moving from trying to "swim faster" to learning how to "surf" the environment you're actually in. You don't need to throw away everything you've built. You just need to stop carrying strategies that belonged to an earlier chapter that no longer serve you. So stop accepting the false choices you've been handed and start designing your own rules. Sometimes the next level is about finally doing things differently. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: 01:35 - The quiet drift that happens before everything feels wrong06:14 - Why gratitude doesn't mean you can't change direction10:59 - Why optimisation is losing its edge in an unpredictable world17:33 - How to create more space without saying no to everything21:51 - The tiny changes that can give you your capacity back22:55 - Why you must stop “swimming faster” and learn to “surf” instead28:44 - The warning signs you're probably ignoring34:26 - Finding the constraint instead of adding more to your life39:10 - Why you don't need to be the expert to build the solution42:36 - Giving yourself permission to change the rules ABOUT FLORENCE SHAFFERFlorence Shaffer spent two decades as a global executive at Estée Lauder, Burberry, BMW, Lucasfilm, and YC W12 Matterport. Named on Top 20 lists for both Business Disruption and Luxury, she now leads Becoming, a human flourishing company built on one question most high-performers never ask: how to succeed and live well at the same time. WHERE TO FIND FLORENCE SHAFFERLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florenceshaffer/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/startbecoming/ Website: https://www.startbecoming.co/ Got questions or want more business growth content? Follow us over at @thesamriley and @leonflitton Ready to build a business that funds your life and doesn't run your life? Apply to join Scale With Soul here

    What If Success Is Keeping You Stuck? with Florence Shaffer

  7. Aug 24

    You Can’t Out-Market A Bad Offer

    Getting leads but not enough sales? Before you change up your marketing, it’s worth taking a look at your offer. In this episode, Samantha and Leon unpack why some offers sell while others disappear into the noise. If your offer is trying to speak to everyone, it probably isn’t speaking strongly enough to anyone. The real shift comes when you understand what is keeping your ideal awake at 2am, then build your offer and marketing around that. They also tackle a mistake that can quietly cost you thousands: using the wrong pricing model. If your marketing is getting attention but your offer isn't converting, this conversation will give you some suggestions with where to look. Before you spend another dollar fixing your marketing, make sure you've got something people actually want to buy. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: 01:44 - What makes an offer genuinely worth buying02:44 - Why selling to everyone makes your offer invisible05:11 - What’s the problem that has your ideal client staring at the ceiling in the middle of the night?07:05 - Why understanding what your clients actually want changes everything12:01 - The dangerous gap between your offer and your ideal client14:45 - How a clear system builds trust before the sale16:02 - How to price your offer20:44 - Why charging by the hour can shrink your value21:28 - The five-question test for a hot offer Got questions or want more business growth content? Follow us over at @thesamriley and @leonflitton Ready to build a business that funds your life and doesn't run your life? Apply to join Scale With Soul here

    You Can’t Out-Market A Bad Offer

  8. Aug 17

    Work Less And Grow Your Business Faster. Here’s how…

    Working harder isn't going to fix your business. In fact, it’s most probably the very thing that’s keeping you stuck. In this episode, Samantha and Leon unpack the real reasons business owners get trapped in hustle mode. They deconstruct the trap of being the person who does everything, and why real growth often starts when you stop trying to be indispensable. They also reveal why CEO time is such an important part of your job, how systems create breathing room, and why the right pricing can give you the capacity to invest in the business instead of constantly working in it. The goal isn’t to work harder. It’s to build a business that can move without you. And it all starts with stopping the sprint. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE: 01:46 - Why hustle isn't the problem you think it is03:16 - How boundaries protect your energy, focus, and relationships12:42 - Why doing everything yourself is killing your growth16:19 - The real reason you're afraid to hire before you can afford it18:49 - How the wrong mindset can trap you in 80-hour weeks22:23 - Why your business can't scale when everything lives in your head27:38 - How documenting one process can immediately lighten your mental load33:40 - Why CEO time isn't optional if you want to steer the business35:35 - How pricing creates the room to scale38:59 - The hidden cost of $5 tasks40:43 - The first move to make when you're staring down an 80-hour week46:00 - How to halve your hours and get twice the result Got questions or want more business growth content? Follow us over at @thesamriley and @leonflitton Ready to build a business that funds your life and doesn't run your life? Apply to join Scale With Soul here

    Work Less And Grow Your Business Faster. Here’s how…
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5
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

You built your business for freedom. So why does it feel like another job you can't quit? Business Growth Lab is for established service founders ready to scale their revenue and get their life back. Each week, Samantha Riley and her husband Leon pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to move from Constraint Stage to Scale Stage - the systems, the team, the mindset shift, and the sequence that makes it stick. Expect straight-talking strategy, expert guests sharing what's working right now, and unfiltered behind-the-scenes conversations from two people who've built multiple businesses themselves. This is where established founders come to install the structure their business has always needed. Find us on IG: @thesamriley and @leonflitton

Information

  • Creator
    Samantha Riley
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    750
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Samantha Riley © 2018 - 2024
  • Show Website
    Business Growth Lab

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