In this episode of the Grow a Small Business podcast with host Troy Trewin, we delve into the incredible journey of Stephen Johnston from Good Job. With over two decades of business experience, Stephen shares insights on achieving significant growth, building a successful team, and generating $500M in revenue. 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 Stephen Johnston, the hardest thing in growing a small business is being prepared to make significant sacrifices. He emphasizes that success often requires more than anticipated and involves navigating challenges and market influences beyond one's control. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? Stephen Johnston's favorite business book that has helped him the most is "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. This book has provided him with valuable insights into building successful companies and understanding what differentiates good companies from great ones. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Stephen Johnston recommends several great podcasts and online learning resources to help grow a small business. He enjoys John Gordon's podcast for leadership tips, Patrick Lencioni's management podcast, and John Maxwell's podcast. He often listens to these based on friends' recommendations, finding them valuable for business insights. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Stephen Johnston recommends using Excel to grow a small business. As a self-proclaimed spreadsheet nerd, he believes that strategic planning should always start with the numbers, making Excel an invaluable tool for organizing and analyzing business data. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Stephen Johnston advises his day-one self to be prepared for sacrifices and to keep an open mind. He emphasizes that success often involves unexpected challenges and learning from both failures and successes. Naivety helped him initially, but being aware and adaptable is crucial.   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: Embrace the unknown; it's where true growth happens – Stephen Johnston   Sacrifice is a given; be prepared to give it your all – Stephen Johnston Stay naive, stay curious, and always challenge the status quo – Stephen Johnston