Grow A Small Business Podcast

Troy Trewin
  • 4.8 (41)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Semiweekly

Our weekly 30 minute podcast helps you, a small business owner with 5 to 30 team members, take your company to the next level. The Grow A Small Business community, weekly cast, blog and leadership email supports leaders get through the pain of growth. With insights, lessons learned, books and tools as well as habits these experienced small business owners suggest you develop, our interviews unearth tremendous value for anyone wanting to grow their business with less stress.

  1. 2d ago

    Hristo Arakliev of Hyperzone: How He Built a $3M Amazon Agency, Scaled to 46 Team Members, Used AI to Boost Efficiency, and Sold His Business for 5.4x EBITDA, Sharing Lessons on Growth, Leadership, and Business Success. (Episode 799 - Hristo Arakliev)

    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Hristo Arakliev, co-founder of full-scale Amazon marketing agency Hyperzone, discusses how he built and scaled his e-commerce business. Starting with five founders and two employees, Hyperzone scaled rapidly by helping brands doing at least $300,000 per month off Amazon match and double those revenues on the platform. By 2025, the agency reached $3 million in annual revenue while leveraging AI tools to streamline operations and optimize team size. Arakliev shares core growth strategies, including maintaining strict financial discipline and prioritizing client communication to boost retention. Demonstrating major business success, he recently finalized the acquisition of Hyperzone at an impressive 5.4x EBITDA valuation multiple. 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 Hristo Arakliev 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:  What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Hristo Arakliev shares that the hardest thing in growing a small business is having the right partners. He explains that finding the right people to build a business with can be difficult, but he personally prefers working with partners over being a sole founder, as navigating the entrepreneurial journey alone can get lonely. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Hristo Arakliev shares that his favorite business book that has helped him the most is Principles by Ray Dalio. He considers it an absolute bible for business and decision-making. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Hristo Arakliev shares that he grew up listening to The Tim Ferriss Show and the Lex Fridman Podcast, recommending them for their deep, long-form conversations on business and life. When it comes to ongoing development, Hristo shares that listening to audiobooks in the car or at the gym is the best way to absorb top business insights efficiently. He emphasizes picking key takeaways from these books and implementing them directly into your business rather than just consuming information. Furthermore, Hristo shares that returning to core books at different stages of growth ensures you capture the right lessons when they resonate most. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Hristo Arakliev shares that the number one tool to grow a small business today is to leverage AI as much as possible to streamline operations and figure out business processes efficiently. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Hristo Arakliev shares that the advice he would give himself on day one of starting out in business is to not give up, as things will eventually get better, and to focus on being your best self every single day.  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: Never pour money from one business to the other; this is like the worst decision anyone could make – Hristo Arakliev    Focus on your strengths, and don't struggle to do the things you're really not good at – Hristo Arakliev    You'd rather pick motivated people and inspire them than pick experienced people and try to motivate them – Hristo Arakliev

    Hristo Arakliev of Hyperzone: How He Built a $3M Amazon Agency, Scaled to 46 Team Members, Used AI to Boost Efficiency, and Sold His Business for 5.4x EBITDA, Sharing Lessons on Growth, Leadership, and Business Success. (Episode 799 - Hristo Arakliev)

  2. Oct 11

    How Dr. Stacey Krauss Grew Transitions Counseling Consulting by 70% Annually: From 26 to 120 Team Members and 2 to 15 Locations While Expanding Access to Mental Health Care. (Episode 798 - Dr. Stacey Krauss)

    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Dr. Stacey Krauss, owner of Transitions Counseling Consulting, shares how she transformed her mental health business after transitioning from a 10-year career as a military psychologist. Since acquiring the business in 2021, she has achieved an impressive 70% annual growth, expanded from 26 to 120 team members, and grown from 2 to 15 locations. Dr. Stacey reveals valuable lessons on leadership, hiring, marketing, building a strong company culture, and managing the challenges of rapid growth. She explains why emotional maturity, coachability, and tracking marketing performance are essential for sustainable success. Discover how she is expanding access to quality mental health care while building a business designed to thrive for decades. 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 Dr. Stacey Krauss's journey of growing Transitions Counseling Consulting, exploring the challenges of rapid growth, understanding business numbers, hiring and developing the right people, building a strong company culture, and creating a business that no longer depends entirely on its owner. They also explore Stacey's approach to marketing, leadership, emotional maturity, work-life balance, and expanding access to quality mental health care while building a sustainable business that makes a meaningful difference in the community. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions:  What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Dr. Stacey Krauss shares that the hardest thing in growing a small business is being willing to constantly change and evolve. As a business grows, leaders must adapt to new responsibilities, accept feedback, and let go of old ways of working. She explains that growth requires emotional maturity, flexibility, and the willingness to step outside your comfort zone. As she puts it, you can have everything your way, or you can grow, but you cannot have both. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Dr. Stacey Krauss shares that her favorite business book is Bringing Out the Best in People by Dr. Aubrey Daniels. She highlights it as a phenomenal blend of science and HR that focuses on using positive reinforcement to structure company culture.   Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Dr. Stacey Krauss shares that she acts like a magpie with learning by focusing deeply on specific business challenges, recommending the Harvard Business Review to stay ahead of future trends and up-and-coming business strategies even when they go beyond daily operations. Rather than consuming broad content, she suggests diving deeply into targeted resources for whatever specific area you are currently solving, allowing you to quickly bridge the gap between the problem and its solution and apply what you learn right away. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Dr. Stacey Krauss shares that creating a company scorecard is essential for growing a small business. Tracking key, repeatable numeric metrics weekly in a simple format like Excel or Word provides a clear, unified view of the business's health, eliminating guesswork and keeping the entire team aligned on performance. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business Dr. Stacey Krauss shares two key pieces of advice: on an emotional level, spend less time worrying and agonizing over whether you can figure things out, because you inevitably will; tactically, set up a professional and scalable accounting structure from day one, rather than lumping everything into one general category, to avoid the painful process of undoing it later as the business grows.  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: One of the best things you can do leading a small team is you have got to be a grown up – Dr Stacey Krauss  You are going to spend a lot of time worrying about everything to do with this business and you are going to figure it out – Dr Stacey Krauss  You can have everything your way or you can grow but you cannot have both – Dr Stacey Krauss

    How Dr. Stacey Krauss Grew Transitions Counseling Consulting by 70% Annually: From 26 to 120 Team Members and 2 to 15 Locations While Expanding Access to Mental Health Care. (Episode 798 - Dr. Stacey Krauss)

  3. Oct 4

    Grant Chugg Plumbing: From 1-Person Plumbing Business in 1994 to $9M in Sales, 37 Team Members & 14.7% Growth | Scaling a Plumbing Business, Financial Literacy, Hiring, Culture & Exceeding Customer Expectations. (Episode 797 - Grant Chugg)

    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Grant Chugg, founder of Grant Chugg Plumbing in Launceston, Tasmania. Grant shares how he grew from a one-person plumbing business started in 1994 to a team of 37, generating more than $9 million in annual sales and achieving 14.7% growth in the latest financial year. Grant discusses the realities of growing a small business without formal business training, from working until 2 or 3 in the morning and struggling with the numbers to learning how to delegate, build a management team and understand the financial drivers of the business. He explains how bringing in a business manager helped the team grow from 6 to 12 people in just 6 months, and why financial literacy and business coaching became critical to his success. Beyond financial success, Grant believes business should create an impact. As Chair of Villages of Life, he is helping pursue an ambitious goal of building 20 schools in Africa in 10 years, using business success as a vehicle to create opportunities and leave a lasting legacy. 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 Grant's 32-year business journey, the challenges of rapid growth, understanding the numbers, hiring and developing the right people, building a strong culture and creating a business that no longer depends entirely on its owner. They also explore Grant's approach to customer service, business coaching, work-life balance and using business success to make a meaningful difference beyond the bottom line. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? For Grant, the hardest part was the cost of growth in terms of time. Looking back over 32 years in business, he wishes he had created more balance earlier rather than allowing the business to consume so much of his time. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Grant recommends Someone Has to Be the Most Expensive, Why Not Make It You? by Andrew Griffiths. After reading many traditional books about sales and marketing, Grant found this book different and particularly relevant to the stage he had reached in his business journey. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Grant doesn't regularly listen to podcasts or consume a lot of online learning content. Instead, he values quiet time to think, often choosing not to fill that space with music or information. That's an interesting lesson in itself for time-poor business owners: ongoing learning matters, but so does creating space to think, reflect and make better decisions. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Grant's answer was refreshingly simple: "Understand your numbers." He recommends getting a good accountant and developing a genuine understanding of your business finances. This reflects one of the biggest changes in Grant's own journey. Earlier in business, he effectively abdicated responsibility for the numbers. Later, financial literacy became a major part of building a stronger and more profitable business. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? After 32 years in business, Grant would tell his younger self: "It's going to be a hell of a ride. But stay true to yourself, and you'll create something pretty special." 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: "You're not going to grow if you just dish up shit service all the time. You just got to exceed expectations." - Grant Chugg "Understand your numbers." - Grant Chugg "It's going to be a hell of a ride. But stay true to yourself, and you'll create something pretty special." - Grant Chugg

    Grant Chugg Plumbing: From 1-Person Plumbing Business in 1994 to $9M in Sales, 37 Team Members & 14.7% Growth | Scaling a Plumbing Business, Financial Literacy, Hiring, Culture & Exceeding Customer Expectations. (Episode 797 - Grant Chugg)

  4. Sep 27

    Myriam Barthes of Journey Clinical: From COVID Living Room Startup to 100+ Team Members, 3,000+ Clinicians & 1M+ Treatment Hours | Scaling Psychedelic Healthcare, Hiring, Culture & Customer Growth Tips. (Episode 796 - Myriam Barthes)

    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast host Troy Trewin interviews Myriam Barthes shares how she and her husband built Journey Clinical from a COVID-era living room startup into a 100+ person company. She reveals how the business grew to support 3,000+ clinicians and deliver over 1 million hours of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Myriam discusses raising venture capital, scaling teams, hiring the right people, and building a sustainable company culture. She also explains why customer obsession, strong execution, sleep, and treating yourself like an athlete are essential for founders. Plus, she shares lessons on navigating rapid growth, overcoming challenges, and building a business around an emerging industry. Journey Clinical posts an outstanding patient NPS of ~80—well above the global average of 20 and the tough benchmark of 50. This score reflects deep loyalty in a sensitive mental-health space, where 9–10 scorers actively recommend the service. Learn how to measure customer love in 21 minutes with free NPS: https://www.growasmallbusiness.com/an-easy-way-to-measure-if-your-customers-love-you-in-21-minutes--use-the-net-promoter-score-nps-and-its-free 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: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Myriam Barthes shares that the hardest thing in growing a small business is showing up every day and giving it your best. She highlights the importance of staying consistent and committed throughout the challenges of business growth. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Myriam Barthes shares that *Who: The A Method for Hiring* by Geoff Smart and Randy Street was the business book that helped her the most, particularly by improving her approach to hiring, especially in the early stages of building her team. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Myriam Barthes shares that she mainly uses podcasts to distract herself and take a break from work, so she does not have one particular podcast or online learning resource that she would recommend. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Myriam Barthes shares that the most important resource for growing a small business is being obsessed with your customers, talking to them, listening to them, and acting on their insights. She believes staying close to the customer is the most important thing. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Myriam Barthes shares that she would tell herself, "You got this. You're going to be okay. And also, it's fun." She encourages herself to trust the journey and remember to enjoy the experience of building the business. 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: Treat yourself like an athlete and take care of yourself – Myriam Barthes Your belief system is what ends up driving everything – Myriam Barthes Be obsessed with your customers and listen to their insights - Myriam Barthes

    Myriam Barthes of Journey Clinical: From COVID Living Room Startup to 100+ Team Members, 3,000+ Clinicians & 1M+ Treatment Hours | Scaling Psychedelic Healthcare, Hiring, Culture & Customer Growth Tips. (Episode 796 - Myriam Barthes)

  5. Sep 20

    Chris Buttenham of Reins: From Selling a SaaS Business to Scaling 300% YoY, Processing $35M+ in Equity for 150 Customers, Growing to 9 Employees, and Using ESOP Lite to Retain Key Talent Without Giving Up Control in 2026. (Episode 795 - Chris Buttenham)

    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast host Troy Trewin interviews Chris Buttenham, founder of Reins, shares how his journey from his father's security business to selling a SaaS company shaped his mission to help small businesses. He explains how Reins makes equity-style incentives more accessible through its ESOP Lite platform. Since launching in 2024, Reins has grown to around 150 customers, processed more than $35 million in equity, and achieved roughly 300% year-over-year growth. Chris discusses the challenges of scaling a fast-growing team, learning sales, building culture, and staying agile while growing from two founders to nine employees. He also shares lessons from his previous business exit, the importance of knowing your worth, and why consistency, humility, and enjoying the journey matter in entrepreneurship. 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: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Chris Buttenham shares that the hardest thing in growing a small business is simply staying alive and staying in the game. He believes entrepreneurship requires persistence through the challenges and pressures that come with running and growing a business. For him, continuing to show up and keep moving forward is essential to surviving the journey. His message is simple: stay in the game and keep going. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Chris Buttenham shares that his favorite business book is the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson. He explains that he simply loves stories, and this one stood out as especially compelling. That love of narrative and firsthand experiences is what made it the most helpful for him. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Chris Buttenham shares that he really likes the All In podcast, noting that while he's not sure it counts strictly as professional development, he finds it valuable, and beyond that he prefers learning by doing and seeking out real stories of failure rather than formal online courses. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Chris Buttenham recommends Claude as a coworking tool for growing a small business, noting that if harnessed correctly it can be absolutely game-changing, but if not used properly it could waste a ton of time and money. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Chris Buttenham shares that the advice he would give himself on day one of starting out is to "stop and smell the roses". 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: Consistency and showing up with old-fashioned hard work is the easiest way to differentiate yourself. — Chris Buttenham Kill your darlings, leave your ego at the door, and stay agile enough to iterate toward the real solution. — Chris Buttenham There is no such thing as balance something always has to give, and you choose what that is. — Chris Buttenham

    Chris Buttenham of Reins: From Selling a SaaS Business to Scaling 300% YoY, Processing $35M+ in Equity for 150 Customers, Growing to 9 Employees, and Using ESOP Lite to Retain Key Talent Without Giving Up Control in 2026. (Episode 795 - Chris Buttenham)

  6. Sep 14

    Jellaine Dee of Mogul Methods: From $90K Credit Card Debt & Selling Her Wardrobe to Scale Cherry Blooms to $10M in 3 Years, 12 Team Members, U.S. Distribution in 50 States & Canada, and a Private Equity Exit. (Episode 794 - Jellaine Dee)

    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast host Troy Trewin interviews Jellaine Dee, founder of Mogul Methods, shares how she built Cherry Blooms from weekend markets into a $10M business in just three years. She started with $90K in credit card debt, selling her wardrobe and using grants and export finance to fund growth. Jellaine expanded into the U.S., securing distribution across all 50 states and Canada and growing her team to around 12 people. She eventually sold Cherry Blooms to private equity and now helps other brands get products onto retail shelves and expand internationally. Her journey highlights resilience, showing up, smart funding, continuous learning, and building a business that creates freedom and impact. 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: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Jellaine Dee shares that the hardest thing in growing a small business is having patience and resilience, as success takes time, sacrifice, obsession, and the willingness to keep going through difficult periods without giving up. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Jellaine Dee shares that her favorite business book is The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, which taught her valuable principles about designing her life and inspired her to explore distribution opportunities in the U.S. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Jellaine Dee shares that she listens to podcasts focused more on mindset and founder wellbeing, while for business development she prefers investing in paid coaching and advisory because the advice can be tailored to her specific needs and circumstances. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Jellaine Dee shares that business owners should consistently fill their minds with positive audio, books, and other positive influences to stay motivated, inspired, and resilient through the challenges of growing a small business. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Jellaine Dee shares that she would tell herself, "You got this, girl, and it's going to be a lot of fun." She would encourage herself to live boldly, believe she is made for it, enjoy the adventure, and embrace the personal growth that comes with building a business. 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 requires resilience, patience, sacrifice, and the willingness to keep going when results don't come instantly — Jellaine Dee Show up, get in the room, and create opportunities instead of waiting for them to come to you — Jellaine Dee Believe you're made for it, enjoy the adventure, and embrace the personal growth that comes with building a business — Jellaine Dee

    Jellaine Dee of Mogul Methods: From $90K Credit Card Debt & Selling Her Wardrobe to Scale Cherry Blooms to $10M in 3 Years, 12 Team Members, U.S. Distribution in 50 States & Canada, and a Private Equity Exit. (Episode 794 - Jellaine Dee)

  7. Sep 6

    Raj Thiruchelvarajah of Hytro: From PwC to Building a Human Performance Business Used by 400+ Pro Sports Teams and NASA/SpaceX Astronauts—Why Strategy, Networking, Resilience & a Bold B2B Pivot Drive Growth. (Episode 793 - Raj Thiruchelvarajah)

    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast host Troy Trewin interviews Raj Thiruchelvarajah, co-founder of Hytro, shares his journey from 15 years at PwC to building a pioneering human performance company used by elite athletes and astronauts. He explains how Hytro's wearable blood flow restriction technology helps improve performance, recovery, strength, and endurance. Raj discusses the company's pivotal shift from direct-to-consumer to B2B, which helped Hytro gain credibility through professional sports and expand into more than 400 teams. He highlights strategy, networking, resilience, and making fast decisions with limited information as essential lessons for growing a startup. Raj also opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, including fundraising challenges, work-life pressures, and why founders must continuously learn, adapt, and enjoy the long journey. 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: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Raj Thiruchelvarajah shares that the hardest thing in growing a small business is managing the work-life balance, especially during intense periods of the startup journey. He explains that building a business can be brutal and demanding, requiring founders to constantly juggle business pressures, family responsibilities, and their own wellbeing. He believes there are peaks and troughs rather than a perfect balance, and founders need to accept that some phases will be particularly challenging. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Raj Thiruchelvarajah shares that his favorite business book that has helped him the most is The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz, which he plans to reread because it powerfully illustrates that there is no playbook for building a startup—you are constantly learning on the job amid the brutal realities and hard decisions that come with growth. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Raj Thiruchelvarajah recommends the UK podcast Startup Inside Out (formerly part of Bay HQ), hosted by Amadip Palmer, as a standout resource for founders, praising it as a really strong show that delivers practical insights into the startup journey. He also values peer learning through founder groups and networks (including a sports-tech founders group he's part of), conversations with other entrepreneurs further along the path, conferences and face-to-face events, coaches and mentors tailored to different stages of growth, and revisiting classic startup books such as The Lean Startup. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Raj Thiruchelvarajah recommends networking and cultivating a strong community as the most powerful "tool" for growing a small business. He explains that Hytro's organic growth has come from authentic relationships with pro coaches and athletes who love the product and advocate for it, creating word-of-mouth advocacy that no paid marketing can match. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Raj Thiruchelvarajah would tell himself on day one: "Do you really want to do this?" He would also warn that it takes far longer than you expect, they once thought they'd be multimillionaires in five or six years, but the reality is much slower. The journey is beautiful and amazing, so try to enjoy it as much as you can, even though it is brutal and will take longer than you think. 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: Strategy is everything — if you're not really clear at the beginning, you end up scrabbling around and wasting your time and effort – Raj Thiruchelvarajah I don't think I'll ever feel like we've succeeded; as a founder you're always thinking about the next thing and fixing the next problem – Raj Thiruchelvarajah It takes far longer than you think — the journey is beautiful and amazing, but it's a brutal one, so try to enjoy it as much as you can – Raj Thiruchelvarajah

    Raj Thiruchelvarajah of Hytro: From PwC to Building a Human Performance Business Used by 400+ Pro Sports Teams and NASA/SpaceX Astronauts—Why Strategy, Networking, Resilience & a Bold B2B Pivot Drive Growth. (Episode 793 - Raj Thiruchelvarajah)

  8. Aug 30

    Owner of Chiro One Wellness Centers: From Four Failed Businesses and Being Forced Out to Scaling from 2 Clinics & 12 Staff to 164 Offices in 13 States with 1000+ Team Members and a Landmark $100M+ Private Equity Exit Deal!. Episode 792 - Brett Penager)

    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast host Troy Trewin interviews Brett Penager, co-founder of Chiro One Wellness Centers, shares his remarkable journey from four failed businesses and being forced out of a top practice management firm to building a chiropractic empire that grew from just two clinics and 12 team members to 164 offices across 13 states with over 1,000 employees. In this candid conversation, he reveals the highs and lows of rapid scaling, including a near-collapse that forced the closure of dozens of locations, the landmark $100M+ private equity deal in 2017, and hard-won lessons on culture, leadership, and accountability. Penager challenges the myth of work-life balance, stresses surrounding yourself with smarter people, and explains why complete personal responsibility is the true lid on any company's growth. He also discusses his book Larger Than Life and his new mission to support 5,000 entrepreneurs worldwide. Packed with practical wisdom for owners scaling past the 5–30 team stage, this episode delivers both inspiration and actionable insights. 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: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Brett Penager shares that the hardest thing in growing a small business is learning to set it up so you're no longer the source of everything, especially once you reach around 40–50 employees. He emphasizes putting capable people in place, staying out of their way even if they don't do the job exactly as well as you would, and accepting that acceptable results from others free you to focus on what you do best. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Brett Penager shares that his favorite business books are The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Good to Great, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. If he had to choose just one, he says The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been the most powerful for him. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Brett Penager shares that he listens to a wide variety of podcasts and online learning resources rather than sticking to just one or two regularly. He values hearing many different voices and perspectives, so he recommends exploring broadly across platforms instead of limiting yourself to a single show or tool. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Brett Penager recommends the Landmark Forum (from Landmark Education) as the most powerful tool for growing a small business. He describes it as transformational learning that accelerates personal growth, helping entrepreneurs become the kind of leaders who can successfully scale their companies by gaining decades of wisdom in a much shorter time. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Brett Penager shares that he would tell himself on day one: "It's all going to work out." He encourages embracing the beauty of the journey itself, because the real magic happens in the process—not just at the mountaintop—and that mindset helps shorten the learning curve when starting over. 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:   Balance is a myth — when you're out of balance, it simply means you're doing things that aren't lighting you up – Brett Penager If it's working, it's on me. If it's not, it's on me. At the end of the day, the leader is the lid – Brett Penager Every problem has a solution, and every solution brings with it a new problem you could never have foreseen – Brett Penager

    Owner of Chiro One Wellness Centers: From Four Failed Businesses and Being Forced Out to Scaling from 2 Clinics & 12 Staff to 164 Offices in 13 States with 1000+ Team Members and a Landmark $100M+ Private Equity Exit Deal!. Episode 792 - Brett Penager)
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Our weekly 30 minute podcast helps you, a small business owner with 5 to 30 team members, take your company to the next level. The Grow A Small Business community, weekly cast, blog and leadership email supports leaders get through the pain of growth. With insights, lessons learned, books and tools as well as habits these experienced small business owners suggest you develop, our interviews unearth tremendous value for anyone wanting to grow their business with less stress.

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