The Founder's Growth Show with John "Small Mountain" Hill

John (AKA Small Mountain) Hill | The Founder's Growth Show
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Learn how to grow and scale a business without losing your way. Most business podcasts promise "10x growth," "overnight hacks," and "crushing the competition." But for the founder in the thick of it, those words often feel like more noise in an already loud room. Real growth isn't about moving faster; it's about taking intentional steps built around processes, culture, and leadership. Every week, John (AKA Small Mountain) Hill interviews Founders, Creators, Coaches, and Industry Leaders who have done the work, made the mistakes, and learned how to achieve lasting, sustainable success. No silver bullets or quick fixes; we talk about how they overcame the unsustainable systems, the leadership bottlenecks, and the mental shifts required to build a business that actually serves your life. If you are a founder who feels like you're working harder but gaining less ground, this is your space. No lectures or fluff—just the experienced insights you need to build a resilient, impactful business. New episodes every Thursday. Available in video on YouTube and audio on all major podcast platforms.

  1. 2h ago

    Are You Optimizing for Perception or Progress? Decoupling Founder Identity with Quentin Allums

    In this episode of The Founder's Growth Podcast, host John Hill, AKA Small Mountain, sits down with close friend Quentin "Q" Allums, Business Coach for Creators and Content-Driven Founders at QuentinAllums.com.  After closing his highly successful personal branding and video agency in 2020 following personal loss and pandemic shifts, Quentin went offline for several years to examine how public perception was quietly ruining his business and health. Together, John and Quentin unpack what happens when founder mindset gets trapped by vanity metrics, and how to shift from anger-fueled growth to sustainable devotion. They also explore: Practical strategies for B2B selling, Sales hiring and professional leadership, And scaling a business by making intentional choices "upstream." Whether you're navigating a startup pivot, drowning in a business you resent (even if it looks good on paper), or stepping back to analyze what you really should be doing, this honest conversation offers actionable clarity on building a resilient enterprise focused on real progress rather than optics. Connect with Quentin: Website: quentinallums.com LinkedIn: Quentin Michael Allums Instagram: Justq.mp4   Connect with John "Small Mountain" Hill: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnblanehill/ Website: https://adaptedgrowth.com/ Newsletter: https://podcast.adaptedgrowth.com/podcast Book: Selling From Scratch Workshops: Revenue Evolution Workshops

    Are You Optimizing for Perception or Progress? Decoupling Founder Identity with Quentin Allums

  2. 2h ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing She Escaped the Unthinkable and Chose Her Own Beginning from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast BUY THE BOOKS! I Choose My Beginning: A Story of Courage and Activism https://amzn.to/4j14o11 The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State https://amzn.to/4dwNaVF Nadia Murad was just 21 when ISIS attacked her village in northern Iraq. She was taken captive and endured unimaginable abuse before she escaped and went on to become one of the world's most powerful voices for survivors of genocide and wartime violence. A Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist, Nadia first shared her experience in her bestselling memoir, The Last Girl. Now, in her new book, I Choose My Beginning, she explores what it means to move forward and build a life beyond her past. Oprah and Nadia talk about the difference between surviving and healing and why she continues to speak out for the victims of the Yazidi genocide who are still missing. Nadia also opens up about finding love, getting married and creating a life that includes both her activism and her own happiness. Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney joins the conversation to talk about their work together seeking justice for ISIS crimes against the Yazidi people. 00:00:00 - Welcome Nadia Murad, author of “I Choose My Beginning” 00:05:40 - Why she chose to speak out 00:08:52 - Nadia wanted to rescue her niece 00:12:00 - Winning the Nobel Peace Prize 00:15:00 - Perceptions of survivors 00:18:00 - Online criticism 00:20:50 - Why Oprah admires Nadia 00:23:20 - Meeting Amal Clooney 00:27:00 - Cases for Yazidi women 00:31:30 - What Amal learned from Nadia 00:35:30 - Life in the refugee camp 00:37:35 - Falling in love 00:41:30 - Thousands of Yazidi people still missing 00:43:45 - The aftermath of war 00:51:00 - Nadia declined an operation 00:53:50 - Survival is not the end 00:56:00 - Building a new life Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/oprah/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

  3. Oct 15

    Iterative Pivots vs. Nuking the System: Scaling Operations with Makena Finger Zannini

    When business growth plateaus, many founders succumb to the temptation to tear it all down: overhauling software, changing brand names, or pivoting their business model entirely. But that's a huge mistake that lands you right back at zero. On this episode of The Founder's Growth Show, host John Hill, AKA Small Mountain, sits down with Makena Finger Zannini, Founder and Fractional COO at The Boutique COO, to break down why drastic resets are often emotional escapes from hard work, and how iterative, feedback-driven tweaks lead to long-term operational resilience. Makena discusses the key difference between high-level advisory consultants and embedded fractional COOs, how to separate true market signals from noisy customer feedback, and why the 80/20 rule is essential for process implementation. They also explore scenario-based financial forecasting, managing change across growing teams, and how to build a mental board of directors to keep your leadership grounded. If you know something needs to change and think starting over is the only choice, this interview will help you reframe your options.   Connect with Makena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/makena-finger-zannini-7291981b0/ Website: https://www.theboutiquecoo.com/   Connect with me: Newsletter: https://podcast.adaptedgrowth.com/podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnblanehill/ Website: https://adaptedgrowth.com/

    Iterative Pivots vs. Nuking the System: Scaling Operations with Makena Finger Zannini

  4. Oct 8

    Adapting in a Crisis: How Firefly Team Events Grew 500% Mid-Pandemic with James Bennett

    What does it take to turn an in-person events company with $0 in revenue into a $3.7M virtual powerhouse? In this episode, host John "Small Mountain" Hill sits down with James Bennett, Co-Founder of Firefly Team Events, to discuss crisis adaptation, sales vs. HR budget dynamics, and scaling operations under pressure. James breaks down how Firefly navigated the COVID-19 pandemic by putting client needs first, shifting focus to marketing and sales touchpoints, and replacing spreadsheets with streamlined SOPs and custom database tracking. He also shares practical frameworks for genuine workplace engagement, why culture starts with what leaders tolerate, and how unconventional hiring filters help build high-performing teams. James's experience is not only a masterclass in building culture and strengthening teams but also a clear guide to what leadership should look like before booking the events. Connect with James: Website: https://fireflyteamevents.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bennett-ff/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fireflyeventsjames/   Connect with John "Small Mountain" Hill: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnblanehill/ Website: https://adaptedgrowth.com/ Newsletter: https://podcast.adaptedgrowth.com/podcast Book: Selling From Scratch

    Adapting in a Crisis: How Firefly Team Events Grew 500% Mid-Pandemic with James Bennett

  5. Oct 1

    Building Sustainable Visibility & Avoiding Founder Ego Traps with Shire Lyon

    In this episode of The Founder's Growth Show, host John Hill, AKA Small Mountain, sits down with Shire Lyon, founder of Shire Lyon Ads and Marketing Mind Share, to unpack what it takes to build an intentional marketing strategy without burning capital on shiny object distractions. Shire shares lessons from her transition out of white-label agency work, highlighting how to set firm service boundaries, diagnose real client goals during discovery calls, and resist the trap of vanity marketing. They also cover: The dangers of inconsistent "turn-it-off" marketing, When a growing business is genuinely ready to run paid ad campaigns, How to delegate subjective creative work using video SOPs,  And the critical role human connection plays when managing international teams. If your marketing feels more like a roller coaster than a straight-to-the-top elevator, this interview will give you the clarity you need. Guest: Shire Lyon, Founder & Marketing Strategist Topics Covered: Agency positioning, boundary setting, founder discovery frameworks, foundational marketing vs paid ads, creative delegation & SOPs, cross-cultural team management. Connect with Shire: Websites: ShireLyon.com;  Marketing Mindshare;  LinkedIn: Shire Lyon   Connect with John "Small Mountain" Hill:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnblanehill/ Website: https://adaptedgrowth.com/ Newsletter: https://podcast.adaptedgrowth.com/podcast Book: Selling From Scratch Workshops: Revenue Evolution Workshops

    Building Sustainable Visibility & Avoiding Founder Ego Traps with Shire Lyon

  6. Sep 24

    Fixing GTM Friction, AI Procurement, and the PMF Trap with Dwayne Ernest

    In this episode of The Founder's Growth Show, host John Hill, AKA Small Mountain, sits down with Dwayne Ernest, Founder of Nagata.ai and former fractional CRO, to dissect the realities of go-to-market execution, software procurement, and early-stage scaling. Dwayne shares insights from his 15-year career across SaaS sales leadership and advisory roles. We discuss: Why so many early-stage companies fail by defining their Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) too broadly, How to distinguish real product-market fit from temporary beta noise, And why the shift toward AI in procurement is changing how software is bought. We also dive into the trade-offs between venture capital and bootstrapping, managing internal tech debt, and why founder resilience is the ultimate edge in uncertain markets. Connect with Dwayne Ernest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayneernest/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/nagata-ai/   Connect with John "Small Mountain" Hill: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnblanehill/ Website: https://adaptedgrowth.com/ Newsletter: https://podcast.adaptedgrowth.com/podcast Book: Selling From Scratch Workshops: Revenue Evolution Workshops

    Fixing GTM Friction, AI Procurement, and the PMF Trap with Dwayne Ernest

  7. Sep 17

    Scaling Beyond Craft: SaaS Acquisitions, AI Web Shifts, and Eliminating Sales Drag with Nathan Tyler

    In this episode of The Founder's Growth Show, Nathan Tyler—Founder of Blinkpages and BlinkMetrics and former SaaS Founder of StagingPilot—breaks down the operational realities of scaling and exiting a business. Nathan shares his journey from running a web agency for a decade to building a WordPress update automation platform, recognizing when a complex problem calls for a strategic acquirer over debt, and navigating corporate life after an acquisition. We explore the transition from craftsperson to business owner, how to eliminate silent friction in your sales pipeline, and why modern AI-native static web architecture is replacing clunky CMS page builders to make marketing updates effortless. Topics Discussed: Transitioning from agency services to scalable SaaS. Knowing when to acquire vs. scale team overhead. Founder mindset and generalist vs. specialist roles. Overcoming messaging drag in B2B sales cycles. The evolution of AI-driven web architectures and data clarity.   Connect with Nathan Tyler: https://blinkpages.com/ https://blinkmetrics.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathantyler13/   Connect with John "Small Mountain" Hill: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnblanehill/ Website: https://adaptedgrowth.com/ Newsletter: https://podcast.adaptedgrowth.com/podcast Book: Selling From Scratch Workshops: Revenue Evolution Workshops

    Scaling Beyond Craft: SaaS Acquisitions, AI Web Shifts, and Eliminating Sales Drag with Nathan Tyler

  8. Sep 10

    Escaping Founder Burnout, Bad Revenue, & Sales Leadership Pitfalls | Will Aitken

    In this episode of The Founders Growth Show, host John Hill, AKA Small Mountain, sits down with Will Aitken, Sales Trainer, Consultant, and Author, to discuss the realities of transitioning from a high-performing sales role to running your own business. Will breaks down the dangerous trap of "bad revenue," explaining how saying yes to every client opportunity leads to fulfillment friction, burnout, and unsustainable operations. This enlightening conversation explores: Founder mindset, Managing ADHD and focus without relying on crutches, And why traditional quick-fix sales workshops fail to produce real behavioral change in B2B selling teams. Will also shares practical frameworks for maintaining mental resilience, including his daily check-in routine for high-stress founders. If you feel like you're drowning in work that doesn't light you up, Will's founder journey is the compass you need to find your way into a more fulfilling life and business.   Connect with Will Aitken: Website: https://www.willaitken.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@justwillaitken LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justwillaitken/ Book: Gap Prospecting   Connect with John "Small Mountain" Hill: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnblanehill/ Website: https://adaptedgrowth.com/ Newsletter: https://podcast.adaptedgrowth.com/podcast Book: Selling From Scratch Workshops: Revenue Evolution Workshops

    Escaping Founder Burnout, Bad Revenue, & Sales Leadership Pitfalls | Will Aitken
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About

Learn how to grow and scale a business without losing your way. Most business podcasts promise "10x growth," "overnight hacks," and "crushing the competition." But for the founder in the thick of it, those words often feel like more noise in an already loud room. Real growth isn't about moving faster; it's about taking intentional steps built around processes, culture, and leadership. Every week, John (AKA Small Mountain) Hill interviews Founders, Creators, Coaches, and Industry Leaders who have done the work, made the mistakes, and learned how to achieve lasting, sustainable success. No silver bullets or quick fixes; we talk about how they overcame the unsustainable systems, the leadership bottlenecks, and the mental shifts required to build a business that actually serves your life. If you are a founder who feels like you're working harder but gaining less ground, this is your space. No lectures or fluff—just the experienced insights you need to build a resilient, impactful business. New episodes every Thursday. Available in video on YouTube and audio on all major podcast platforms.

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