In this episode of the GASB Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews John Lenker and Assaf Arie from Lenker Consulting, a firm specializing in strategic marketing and business growth. They share insights on scaling their business from 4 to 14 team members, achieving 10x revenue growth, and helping clients save millions. With over 22 years of experience, they discuss the challenges and successes of building a value-driven company.

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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?
   
   John Lenker and Assaf Arie believe the hardest part of growing a small business is managing emotional and practical challenges, staying resilient after setbacks, and understanding the industry. Balancing growth with payroll and hiring adds stress, especially when taking risks on new hires. They emphasize patience in building client relationships at the right pace to avoid overwhelming them.
   
   

2. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most?
   
   John Lenker and Assaf Arie often reference The Toyota Way as their favorite business book. They appreciate how it showcases a mindset shift in the automotive industry, demonstrating more efficient, profitable methods of production. The book's lessons on optimizing processes and continuous improvement resonate with them and have influenced their approach to business growth and innovation.
   
   

3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business?
   
   John Lenker and Assaf Arie recommend using Active Campaign for CRM and marketing automation and Webflow for building websites and landing pages. They also mention enjoying the Joe Rogan podcast for a break from business.
   
   

4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business?
   
   John Lenker and Assaf Arie recommend using Active Campaign for CRM and marketing automation and Webflow for building digital environments like websites and landing pages.
   
   

5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business?
   
   John Lenker and Assaf Arie advise that starting a business will be much harder than anticipated. They suggest being prepared for significant challenges and understanding that things will get tougher before they get easier.

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

The second you run out of problems, you're out of business – be grateful for them – John Lenker & Assaf Arie

Create a culture from your values, not just what the crowd is doing – John Lenker & Assaf Arie

Get excited about what a new hire can do for you, and trust them to do their job – John Lenker & Assaf Arie