Episodios

  • Starting a Business at 50 From a Happy Hour Idea: Alesha Henley of A Dose of Insight on Leaving the 9-5, Doubling Revenue in 4 Years and Why Clients "Entrust Me With Their Babies" — Consistency Lessons for Service Businesses. (Episode 769 - Alesha H

    Starting a Business at 50 From a Happy Hour Idea: Alesha Henley of A Dose of Insight on Leaving the 9-5, Doubling Revenue in 4 Years and Why Clients "Entrust Me With Their Babies" — Consistency Lessons for Service Businesses. (Episode 769 - Alesha H
    Mar 22 2026
    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Alesha Henley, founder of A Dose of Insight, shares how she launched her marketing business at age 50 after a simple happy hour conversation turned into her very first client with 30 years of marketing experience, she successfully doubled her revenue within four years and built a team of four after leaving her secure 9-5 job. Alesha explains how consistency in marketing and truly understanding your ideal client became the backbone of her business success. One standout moment she shares is how clients "entrust me with their babies," describing the deep trust business owners place in her to grow their brands. Her journey highlights the power of believing in yourself, taking opportunities when they appear, and staying dedicated even when the path feels uncertain. 🌟 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? Alesha Henley of A Dose of Insight said that the hardest thing in growing a small business is getting help and relinquishing control, explaining that it took her a long time to hire people because she felt nobody could do the work exactly like her, but she eventually realized that team members don't need to copy her style—they just need to deliver quality results, and once she learned to trust others and let them use their own expertise, it became freeing and allowed her business to grow more effectively. 🚀 What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Alesha Henley of A Dose of Insight shared that her favorite business book is Work It by Carrie Kerpen, which resonated with her as a woman entrepreneur because it helped break down mental blocks and shift her mindset, especially through the powerful idea of not comparing your behind-the-scenes struggles to someone else's highlight reel, a message that strongly influenced her confidence and approach to business growth. 📘✨ Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Alesha Henley of A Dose of Insight mentioned that she does not have any specific podcasts or online learning resources that she consistently recommends for growing a small business, explaining that while she occasionally listens to different materials from time to time, there isn't any particular show or platform that stands out as a regular learning source for her professional development. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Alesha Henley shared that the most important tool to grow a small business is marketing, emphasizing that even the best product or service will not succeed if people don't know it exists, so consistently promoting and communicating your value is essential for attracting customers and driving growth. 🚀 What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Alesha Henley shared that if she could go back to day one, she would tell herself to believe in yourself, explaining that confidence in your own abilities is critical because when you truly believe in what you can do, others will also trust you and support your business journey. 🌟 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 in marketing is what turns effort into real results — Alesha Henley People don't need to do things your way, they just need to deliver quality work — Alesha Henley Believe in yourself first, and others will follow your lead — Alesha Henley 🚀
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    30 m
  • From $50/hr consultant to building a $2M agency. Phil Risher grew Flash Consulting with a remote team of 18 by productizing services, mastering content & AI search, and adopting the mindset for 20%+ annual growth. (Episode 768 - Phil Risher)

    From $50/hr consultant to building a $2M agency. Phil Risher grew Flash Consulting with a remote team of 18 by productizing services, mastering content & AI search, and adopting the mindset for 20%+ annual growth. (Episode 768 - Phil Risher)
    Mar 15 2026
    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Phil Risher, founder of Phlash Consulting, shares how he transformed from charging $50 per hour as a consultant into building a $2M digital marketing consulting business serving home service companies. He explains how niching down, productizing services, and focusing on solving real customer problems helped drive consistent 20% annual growth. Phil also discusses the mindset shift from hustler to leader, hiring and building an 18-person remote team, and buying back his time to scale the business. The conversation dives into why content and AI-driven search are becoming critical for modern marketing. Phil also shares practical lessons on leadership, systems, and thinking bigger when building a successful business. 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? According to Phil Risher, the hardest thing in growing a small business is balancing growth with building the right team. As more clients come in, business owners must hire and train employees quickly enough to maintain service quality, but hiring too early can create cash-flow pressure while hiring too late can overwhelm the team. This constant challenge of managing new client demand, onboarding capable team members, and keeping finances stable at the same time is one of the most difficult parts of scaling a small business. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? According to Phil Risher, the business book that helped him the most is Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. He says the book had a major impact on how he manages finances in his company because it teaches business owners to prioritize profit first instead of treating profit as what is left after expenses. The system helps entrepreneurs control spending, improve cash flow, and build a financially healthy business by allocating money into specific categories like profit, taxes, and operating expenses. He also highly recommends Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell, which focuses on delegating tasks and buying back the founder's time so they can focus on leadership and scaling the business. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? According to Phil Risher, some of the best resources for learning how to grow a small business are podcasts, YouTube, and books, especially content that teaches practical strategies. He specifically recommends learning from Alex Hormozi on YouTube because his videos break down business growth, marketing, and sales in a clear and practical way. Phil also emphasizes not relying on just one learning format—he suggests combining podcasts, books, and videos because different formats help you understand ideas better and apply them faster in your business. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? According to Phil Risher, two tools he strongly recommends for growing a small business are Asana and Slack. He explains that Asana helps business owners organize tasks, projects, and workflows so everything is tracked in one place instead of scattered across emails or spreadsheets, while Slack creates a centralized communication hub for teams to collaborate efficiently, especially as the company grows beyond a few employees. Together, these tools help improve productivity, transparency, and coordination within a growing team. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? According to Phil Risher, the advice he would give himself on day one of starting a business is to think much bigger from the start. He explains that when he first began, he was focused on small goals like making $100,000, but over time he realized the opportunities were far larger than he imagined. His lesson is that entrepreneurs often limit themselves by thinking too small, while the real potential of a business can grow far beyond what they initially believe is possible. 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 ...
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    34 m
  • Scaling from COVID Layoff to a Global Agency: How Sacha Awwa Built Sacha Awwa Marketing Group into a High-Growth Firm Securing $2.5K–$10K Monthly Retainers through Expert Strategy for Small Business Success. (Episode 767 - Sacha Awwa)

    Scaling from COVID Layoff to a Global Agency: How Sacha Awwa Built Sacha Awwa Marketing Group into a High-Growth Firm Securing $2.5K–$10K Monthly Retainers through Expert Strategy for Small Business Success. (Episode 767 - Sacha Awwa)
    Mar 8 2026


    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Sacha Awwa founder of Sacha Awwa Marketing Group explains how her agency helps small businesses avoid wasted marketing spend by focusing first on strategy and then execution. By combining go-to-market planning with tactical implementation, her agency now charges monthly retainers ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, helping companies grow through targeted and efficient marketing.

    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?

      Sacha Awwa shares that patience is one of the hardest things in growing a small business. She explains that many entrepreneurs feel pressure from society to constantly achieve the next milestone, which makes it difficult to pause and recognize the progress they have already made. Learning to slow down, reflect on success, and avoid rushing every stage of growth is a key challenge for many founders.

    2. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most?

      Sacha Awwa shares that one of the business books that has helped her the most is Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller. She appreciates how the book teaches businesses to communicate clearly with their audience and structure their messaging in a way that makes customers understand the value of their products and services.

    3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business?

      Sacha Awwa shares that she has learned a lot from listening to Ed Mylett's podcast. She finds his interviews and conversations with entrepreneurs from different industries very valuable because they provide real insights into the challenges and mindset required to build and grow a successful business.

    4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business?

      Sacha Awwa shares that using a strong project management tool is essential for keeping a business organized and efficient. She currently recommends Motion, which helps automate planning and task management using AI, allowing teams to stay organized and improve productivity.

    5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business?

      Sacha Awwa shares that the advice she would give herself on day one is simply to relax. She explains that starting a business can feel overwhelming, but learning to stay calm, trust the process, and focus on steady progress makes the entrepreneurial journey much healthier and more sustainable.

    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:

    Patience is the foundation of real business growth because success takes time to build – Sacha Awwa

    If you lose your connection with customers while scaling, you lose the heart of your business – Sacha Awwa

    Strategy without understanding your audience is just noise in the marketplace – Sacha Awwa
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    26 m
  • From Pro Ironman to 125+ Stockists: Daniel McDonnell's Maple Movement Revolution – How Gut Issues Sparked a Natural Energy Gel Brand Scaling to $500K, 70K Months & National Growth Without Big Investors. (Episode 766 - Daniel McDonnell)

    From Pro Ironman to 125+ Stockists: Daniel McDonnell's Maple Movement Revolution – How Gut Issues Sparked a Natural Energy Gel Brand Scaling to $500K, 70K Months & National Growth Without Big Investors. (Episode 766 - Daniel McDonnell)
    Mar 1 2026
    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Daniel McDonnell co-founder of Maple Movement, shares how severe gut health issues during his professional Ironman career led him to discover the power of maple syrup as a natural fuel source and launch Maple Movement. What began as a house-deposit gamble quickly evolved into a fast-growing gut-friendly energy gel brand now stocked in 125+ stores across Australia and New Zealand. Daniel opens up about bootstrapping the business, learning margins from scratch, managing rapid growth from his living room, and transitioning to a 3PL. He dives into brand positioning, organic content strategy, subscription revenue, and building a lean, aligned team. It's a raw, practical story of turning personal pain into a scalable FMCG business with purpose and momentum. 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? According to Daniel McDonnell, the hardest part of growing a small business is keeping up with rapid growth before scalable systems are fully in place, especially during big sales months when demand spikes beyond operational capacity. He shared how he and his wife were packing nearly 95 orders a day from their living room while trying to maintain a personal brand touch, highlighting that the real challenge wasn't generating sales but managing growth sustainably while building the right infrastructure to support it. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Daniel said his favorite business book that's helped him the most is "Built to Sell" by John Warrillow — a practical guide about structuring and scaling a business so it's not dependent on the founder and becomes sellable. He's mentioned it shaped how he thinks about systems, value creation, and building something that can run beyond him. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? According to Daniel McDonnell, one podcast he highly recommends for small business growth is Chew the Fat by the Greive brothers, where they share real, relatable stories after building and exiting Realbase. He values listening to founders who have scaled and exited businesses, as their practical lessons help avoid costly mistakes. Daniel also emphasizes learning directly from experienced mentors and operators rather than figuring everything out the hard way. For him, real-world business conversations and founder-led insights have been the most impactful learning resources. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Daniel McDonnell would point to a tool that helps you systemize and scale without chaos, and one he personally recommends is Notion — it's where he organizes products, SOPs, content calendars, order processes, and more in one place so nothing slips through the cracks. He also emphasizes tools for automating the parts of your business that don't need manual work, like Mailchimp or Klaviyo for email automation, and Shopify + a good 3PL integration to handle orders cleanly as volume grows. For analytics and ads, basic dashboards like Google Analytics and Facebook/Meta Business Suite help you make smarter decisions instead of guessing. The key, he says, isn't having every tool under the sun — it's picking the ones that actually save you time and help you standardize your processes so the business can scale. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? According to Daniel McDonnell, on day one he would tell himself to raise far more capital than he thinks he needs, understand margins and cash flow from the start, and build scalable systems early—because growth can come fast, but without enough cash and structure, it becomes far more stressful than it needs to be. 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: Solve a real problem and the market will pull you forward - Daniel McDonnell When the team ...
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    31 m
  • From Fired to $25K Per Speech: Gail Kasper of Gail Kasper LLC Reveals the Real Secrets to Business Success, $600K Contracts, Authentic Leadership, Sales Mastery & Scaling from Solo to a Powerful Team of 5. (Episode 765 - Gail Kasper)

    From Fired to $25K Per Speech: Gail Kasper of Gail Kasper LLC Reveals the Real Secrets to Business Success, $600K Contracts, Authentic Leadership, Sales Mastery & Scaling from Solo to a Powerful Team of 5. (Episode 765 - Gail Kasper)
    Feb 22 2026
    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Gail Kasper, founder of Gail Kasper LLC, shares her journey from being fired and starting with no money to building a thriving speaking and training business. She reveals how authenticity became her competitive edge and how mastering professional sales transformed her income from free gigs to $25,000 keynotes and $600K contracts. Gail breaks down the power of referrals, structured sales systems, and strong core values in scaling sustainably. She also opens up about leadership lessons, hiring mistakes, and the mindset required to handle setbacks. This conversation is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs who want real business success without losing who they are. 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? According to Gail Kasper of Gail Kasper LLC, the hardest thing in growing a small business is dealing with failure and having the resilience to keep going despite repeated setbacks. She explains that as an entrepreneur you get "hit in the face" many times through failed projects, wrong decisions, or ideas that don't take off, and the real challenge is not letting those moments stop you. Instead of quitting, she believes the key is to keep pushing forward, learn from mistakes, take action, and stay committed even when things feel uncertain or discouraging. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? According to Gail Kasper, her favorite business book that has helped her the most is Atomic Habits by James Clear. She values its focus on small, consistent disciplines rather than just chasing big end goals, emphasizing that daily incremental improvements create real momentum. For Gail, the book reinforces that tiny wins build confidence, strengthen habits, and ultimately drive long-term business success. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? According to Gail Kasper, she recommends podcasts and learning resources that strengthen mindset, sales, and brain-based performance, including Huberman Lab for its science-backed insights on stress and peak performance, and The Ed Mylett Show by Ed Mylett for its focus on growth, vulnerability, and high-level thinking. She values resources that blend psychology, communication, and practical application, believing that understanding how people think—especially in sales and leadership—gives small business owners a strong competitive edge. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? One highly recommended tool that Gail Kasper often points small business owners toward is HubSpot CRM, because it helps organize leads, track sales activity, automate follow-ups, and manage customer data in one place — all without needing a big tech team. Gail emphasizes that having a system that captures conversations, schedules reminders, and analyzes what's working versus what's not can dramatically improve consistency in sales and client relationships, which is essential for growth. If you're just getting started, HubSpot's free tier gives you powerful CRM basics, and you can scale into its marketing and automation tools as your business expands. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? According to Gail Kasper, the advice she would give herself on day one of starting out in business is simple: move and take action. When she was suddenly on her own with no money in the bank, she learned that inaction is the real danger, not mistakes. She would remind herself to stay logical instead of emotional, keep pushing forward even when uncertain, and allow herself to fall and learn along the way, because consistent action is what ultimately creates momentum and success. 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: Authenticity is the foundation of confidence and the gateway to real growth - Gail Kasper ...
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    25 m
  • Nevada Matthews of Cube Loans: The Incredible Journey from Sweeping Floors at 16 to Leading a $300M Mortgage Business — Scaling with Systems, Community Marketing, and a High-Performance Team. (Episode 764 - Nevada Matthews)

    Nevada Matthews of Cube Loans: The Incredible Journey from Sweeping Floors at 16 to Leading a $300M Mortgage Business — Scaling with Systems, Community Marketing, and a High-Performance Team. (Episode 764 - Nevada Matthews)
    Feb 15 2026
    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Nevada Matthews from Cube Home Loans shares his inspiring journey from leaving school at 16 to becoming a co-owner of a fast-growing mortgage brokerage in Brisbane. He explains how the business scaled from $86M to $300M in annual settlements, growing the team from 6 to 18 members in just five years. Nevada highlights the shift from working long hours to focusing on strategy, systems, and hiring the right people for sustainable success. He also reveals powerful marketing wins through local community groups and partnerships with aligned businesses. This episode is packed with practical lessons on culture, balance, and building a thriving small business without burnout. 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? According to Nevada Matthews of Cube Home Loans, the hardest thing in growing a small business is getting the balance right between having enough resources and capacity to support growth while also managing cash flow. He explains that you want extra team support to maintain great customer service, but paying for those resources at the right time is the real challenge. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Nevada Matthews said his favorite business book that has helped him the most is "The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber — because it shifted his thinking from working in the business to building systems and processes that help the business run without him. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? According to Nevada Matthews of Cube Loans, two of the best podcasts he recommends for growing a small business are Grow A Small Business Podcast and My First Million, as they provide practical insights and real entrepreneurial lessons. He also shares that most of his professional development comes from consistently listening to business podcasts and reading books that help improve strategy, systems, and leadership. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Nevada Matthews recommends tools that help small business owners systemize, manage leads, and improve communication — the kind that take work off your plate so you can focus on growth. One tool he highlights is HubSpot CRM, because it's easy to use, helps you track customers and marketing in one place, and scales with your business needs. He also suggests using project management tools like Trello or Notion to keep teams aligned and workflows organized, which can be a game-changer as you grow. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? According to Nevada Matthews of Cube Loans, the advice he would give himself on day one is to enjoy the process and the stage you're in, rather than always rushing toward the next milestone. He shares that business growth can feel stressful and uncertain, but it's important to stay calm, trust that you're heading in the right direction, and appreciate the journey as much as the outcome. 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: Growth isn't about working harder forever, it's about building better systems. – Nevada Matthews Consistency in the important things is what separates thriving businesses from struggling ones. – Nevada Matthews Hire for character and attitude first, skills can be developed over time. – Nevada Matthews
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    28 m
  • Amanda Daering of Newance Shares How She Built a Thriving Recruitment Firm — Turning a Difficult 2024 Loss Into a Remarkable 2025 Comeback With 12% Sales Growth, 25% Cost Cuts, and a Lean, High-Performing 6-Person Team. (Episode 763 - Amanda Daering)

    Amanda Daering of Newance Shares How She Built a Thriving Recruitment Firm — Turning a Difficult 2024 Loss Into a Remarkable 2025 Comeback With 12% Sales Growth, 25% Cost Cuts, and a Lean, High-Performing 6-Person Team. (Episode 763 - Amanda Daering)
    Feb 8 2026
    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Amanda Daering, co-founder of Newance, shares how she built a successful recruitment and fractional HR firm after becoming frustrated with traditional agencies. She reflects on navigating a tough hiring market and experiencing the company's first loss in 2024. Amanda explains how Newance achieved a strong turnaround in 2025 with 12% sales growth while cutting costs by 25%. She discusses the importance of candid leadership, sustainable culture, and hiring for mindset over resume. This episode offers valuable lessons on resilience, clarity, and building a thriving small business with a lean, high-performing team. 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? Amanda Daering shares that the hardest part of growing a small business is not getting distracted by being busy, but instead focusing on the few key activities that truly create leverage and move the business forward. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Amanda Daering shares that her favorite business book is the classic "High Output Management" by Andy Grove. She values it because Grove views business through the lens of systems, which aligns with how she likes to lead and advise others. She pairs this systematic approach with a deep sense of empathy for the humans operating within those systems. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Amanda Daering recommends using AI as a thought partner for online learning, specifically by using prompts to have AI "polish" ideas or identify flaws in a plan. Regarding podcasts, she frequently listens to Esther Perel's "Where Should we Begin?" and finds value in attending conferences outside her industry—such as those focused on therapy or human behavior—to understand how human trends impact the workplace. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Amanda Daering recommends a weekly clarity meeting as the most essential resource for growing a small business. Rather than searching for complex technology, she believes the real "unlock" is a simple, consistent check-in where leaders face reality and look at the actual numbers. She emphasizes that without this core rhythm and clarity, any additional technology or tools piled on top will not be effective. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Amanda Daering's advice to her "day one" self, from over seven years ago, is to let it feel easier. While she emphasizes maintaining a strong sense of hard work and discipline, she suggests doing so without the heavy pressure and weight often associated with entrepreneurship. She reflects that she was originally missing the fact that she was actually having fun along the journey. 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 realism with optimism, because growth becomes easier when you can see both risk and possibility clearly – Amanda Daering Let entrepreneurship feel lighter, because the journey is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured – Amanda Daering Being candid and honest builds more trust than trying to sound polished or perfect – Amanda Daering
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    18 m
  • Success in Business by Working Smarter, Not Harder with Sam Carpenter (Centratel) — How Systems Thinking Built a $7M Call Center, 25–30% Profit Margins, Total Freedom, and the "Work the System" philosophy. (Episode 762 - Sam Carpenter)

    Success in Business by Working Smarter, Not Harder with Sam Carpenter (Centratel) — How Systems Thinking Built a $7M Call Center, 25–30% Profit Margins, Total Freedom, and the "Work the System" philosophy. (Episode 762 - Sam Carpenter)
    Feb 1 2026
    In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Sam Carpenter, founder and CEO of Centratel, shares how he built a $7M emergency call center business by focusing on systems instead of hustle. Sam opens up about working 80–100 hour weeks, hitting burnout, and the mindset shift that changed everything. He explains his "Work the System" philosophy and how documenting processes created freedom, profit, and scale. The conversation dives into pricing courage, delegation, and building a business that runs without you. A powerful lesson on achieving real success in business through clarity, structure, and smart leadership. 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? According to Sam Carpenter, the hardest thing in growing a small business is enduring the long hours and mental pressure while trying to balance relationships and personal life. Early on, business consumes your mind 24/7, which can strain health, family, and focus. He explains that most owners feel overwhelmed because they see the business as chaos instead of separate systems. The real challenge is learning to step back, stop reacting emotionally, and work on the business mechanically. Once you shift that mindset, growth becomes manageable and sustainable. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Sam Carpenter's favorite business book — the one he says helped him the most — is "The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber. He often credits it with shifting his mindset from working in the business to working on the business by building systems. It deeply influenced his "Work the System" philosophy and helped him see how to structure processes so the business can run without burning out the founder. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? According to Sam Carpenter, he doesn't really rely on podcasts or fancy online learning platforms for growing a small business; instead, he believes the most powerful resource is reading books deeply and consistently. He prefers learning through focused reading and real-world application rather than consuming endless content. Sam emphasizes using simple, reliable tools like email and basic software, avoiding distractions, and developing long attention spans through reading, clear thinking, and systems-based learning rather than chasing trends or tools. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? One tool Sam Carpenter would recommend for growing a small business is a process documentation system — it doesn't have to be fancy, just something that gets you thinking in systems rather than chaos. Many business owners use tools like Notion, Evernote, or Google Docs to write down and organize standard operating procedures, workflows, and checklists. Sam's whole philosophy is about capturing how your business actually works so you can improve it, delegate it, and scale it. The power isn't in the software itself — it's in consistently writing, refining, and using your documented processes to free up time and create predictable results. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Sam Carpenter says that if he could advise himself on day one, he'd say: stop running the business emotionally and start running it mechanically. Instead of seeing the business as chaos, he'd focus on breaking it into separate systems, fixing the biggest problem first, and documenting everything early. He believes years of stress could have been avoided by working on the business instead of being trapped in it. The core lesson: face reality, build systems, and don't try to be the hero. 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: A business isn't chaos — it's a collection of systems, and the moment you see that, everything changes — Sam Carpenter Freedom in business comes from documentation, delegation, and ...
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