QFF: Unlocking Innovation with Dr. Linda Sands of Adaptology: How Curiosity, Science & Customer Feedback Help Small Biz Owners Outsmart Big Corporates & Rapidly Create Game-Changing Value. (Episode 664 - Dr. Linda Sands)
Release Date: 05/01/2025
QFF: Rick Calabrese Co-Founder of Commonwealth M&A on Selling 7 Companies in 2.5 Yrs, Valuing $5M-$100M Businesses, Owner Risks, & Why the Best Clients Are Always on Vacation—Not Running Payroll. (Episode 691 - Rick Calabrese)
Grow A Small Business Podcast
QFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse! Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week. Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends! In this episode of Quick Fire Friday, host Rob Cameron speaks...
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Barrie Cohen of BC Public Relations on Building a Women-Led PR Firm from Scratch at 26, Growing to a Global Client Base in Healthcare & Nonprofits, Mastering Storytelling & Learning Hard Hiring Lessons. (Episode 690 - Barrie Cohen)
Grow A Small Business Podcast
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews , founder of , about her journey of building a successful Denver-based PR firm. Since its inception in 2017 as a solo venture, the firm has grown into a dynamic team of five women. Initially focused on traditional media, BC Public Relations has diversified into digital platforms such as podcasts and YouTube. Cohen shares insights on the power of storytelling in marketing, navigating the challenges of team management, and fostering strong client relationships. She also discusses self-funding her business, leveraging AI in PR,...
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Ryan Carey on Building BetterOn: Boosting Fortune 1000 Execs’ Authentic Presence, Growing 15% YoY, Staying Bootstrapped—& Why Disc Golf Keeps Him Balanced While Leading a Unique Asynchronous Video Platform. (Episode 689 - Ryan Carey)
Grow A Small Business Podcast
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews , founder of — a platform that helps leaders enhance their communication skills through asynchronous video. Carey recounts his path from working at YouTube to establishing his own venture in 2019. He underscores the importance of self-care and mental health, sharing how his company has achieved consistent 15% year-over-year growth and now employs seven full-time team members, all without external investment. Carey highlights the power of video in marketing, the ongoing challenge of balancing sales efforts with product...
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QFF: Transforming Chaos into Clarity: Will Samson of WillSamson.com on Coaching C-Suite Leaders, Doubling Revenue Post-Merger & How Rewriting Your Inner Story Can Drive Business Success. (Episode 688 - Will Samson)
Grow A Small Business Podcast
QFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse! Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week. Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends! In this episode of Quick Fire Friday, host Rob Cameron...
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From Solo PR Consultant to Leading a 36-Person Global Team: Julia Linehan Shares How She Scaled The Digital Voice 6x, Doubled Profits, Embraced Remote Work Early & Built a Business Where People Always Come Before Profits. (Episode 687 - Julia Linehan)
Grow A Small Business Podcast
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews , founder of , a UK-based PR and marketing agency specializing in ad tech and martech. Julia shares her journey from a solo consultant to leading a remote team of 36, including 28 full-time equivalents. Over the past six years, she has grown the agency’s revenue sixfold and doubled profits, driven by her people-first approach. Julia discusses the challenges of letting go, the power of consistent company culture, and the value of tools like Trello and Slack. She also highlights the importance of work-life balance and strong...
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Owen Tilbury of Clip Consulting: Shares how he built multiple ventures over 44 years, sold his consulting firm for 15× EBITDA, and now drives community change through storytelling, film, and the Great Regional City Challenge. (Episode 686 - Owen Tilbury)
Grow A Small Business Podcast
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews , founder of who shares his remarkable entrepreneurial journey. Owen sold his first venture, a historic Tasmanian restaurant, for 2.45 times more than he paid for it, only three years after launching. He then built a consulting firm from a standing start in 1983, growing it into a systemized operation that sold for nearly $1 million in 2008, all through a 25-year bootstrap journey. Owen also discusses his philosophy on business as a means to a fulfilling life, community-led initiatives, and the power of systemization for...
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QFF: Joey Coleman of Design Symphony shares how his 100-day sabbatical transformed his mindset—offering strategies for small business owners to reset, avoid burnout, and grow with clarity, joy, and lasting success. (Episode 685 - Joey Coleman)
Grow A Small Business Podcast
QFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse! Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week. Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends! In this episode of Quick Fire Friday, host Michael Denehey...
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Cathy Yoder of Empowered Cooks: How She Bootstrapped from a Money-Saving Blog to a 7-Figure Empire—Sold 50K+ Cookbooks, Built 3 Businesses, and Raised 8 Kids While Empowering Moms to Work from Home. (Episode 684 - Cathy Yoder)
Grow A Small Business Podcast
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews , founder of , who shares her inspiring journey from starting a simple blog in 2008 to building a thriving business with seven full-time equivalent team members. Her popular YouTube channel, which focuses on air fryer recipes, has garnered over 752,000 subscribers and has been a key driver of her success. Cathy has sold more than 50,000 cookbooks, achieved over $70,000 in monthly sales, and generates significant revenue from both digital and physical product sales. Throughout the discussion, she highlights the importance of...
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Dean Mathews of On The Clock: How He Bootstrapped from a Kitchen Table Startup to a $10M SaaS Powerhouse with 280K+ Users—Built a People-First Culture and a Self-Sustaining Business That Runs Without Him. (Episode 683 - Dean Mathews)
Grow A Small Business Podcast
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews , the founder of . Dean shares his evolution from a solo software developer in 2004 to leading a team of 23 professionals, supporting 170,000 to 280,000 active users. Originally launched as a time-tracking app, On The Clock has expanded to include employee scheduling and payroll services, with ambitious goals of reaching $10 million in revenue and one million monthly active users. Dean discusses the critical role of consistency, hiring the right talent, and leveraging tools like Asana for effective project management. He...
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QFF: David Dilger of Edge Legal Returns: How ‘Results with Respect’ and One-on-Ones Help Small Businesses Manage Psychosocial Risk and Reduce Mental Health Injury Costs by 3x—Practical Legal Tips from 30+ Years Experience. (Episode 682 - David Dilge
Grow A Small Business Podcast
QFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse! Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week. Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends! In this episode of Quick Fire Friday, host Michael Denehey...
info_outlineQFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse!
Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week.
Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends!
In this episode of Quick Fire Friday, host Amanda Jones interviews Dr. Linda Sands, innovation coach and founder of Adaptology. Linda shares how small business owners can harness the power of curiosity, experimentation, and structured thinking to stay agile and customer-focused. She busts common innovation myths and explains why small businesses are better positioned than large corporates to test, adapt, and create value.
She also recommends “The Little Black Book of Innovation by Scott D. Anthony” as a must-read for anyone looking to better understand and apply innovation.
📚 Want to keep growing your mindset and innovation skills?
Don’t miss Dr. Linda Sands’ Free Book Club — a handpicked selection of powerful reads to fuel your business growth and creative thinking. Join now at adaptology.com.au/book-club.
Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners:
Innovation Isn’t Just About Tech: True innovation means creating something different that adds value, not necessarily using the latest technology like AI.
Small Businesses Have a Superpower: Their close proximity to customers gives them a huge advantage in testing ideas, gathering real feedback, and iterating quickly.
Scientific Thinking Drives Better Decisions: Applying structured, research-based methods from science can improve clarity and reduce risk when making business decisions.
Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for?
Write It Down, Step Back, Reassess: Linda recommends journaling and using “incubation time” to gain clarity on business challenges and unlock fresh solutions.
Confirmation Bias is a Hidden Trap: Don’t just look for feedback that validates your ideas—actively seek out what’s not working, especially from customers who’ve left.
A Coach Can Unlock Growth: Even experienced coaches need coaches. Having someone objective to challenge your thinking can drive real business breakthroughs.
One action small business owners can take:
According to Dr. Linda Sands one action a small business owner who is struggling can take is to be aware and look at other organizations and other industries. Keeping your eyes open to how other people do things is important because that is where really fresh ideas can come from.
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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:
Innovation is something different that creates value – Dr. Linda Sands
Your first idea is just a draft—expect to refine, not to be right – Dr. Linda Sands
Don’t fear feedback; it’s the fastest route to growth – Dr. Linda Sands