Scaling from 2 to 30+ Team Members: Blima's Blueprint for Small Business Success: Lessons in Resilience, Adaptability and Cultivating a Winning Team from the Interior Design Trailblazer. (Episode 627: Blima Ehrentreu)

Grow A Small Business Podcast

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Blima Ehrentreu, co-founder of The Designer Group, discussing the growth of her interior design firm from a two-person team in 2011 to over 30 members today. The firm operates in Toronto, New York, and Miami, focusing on commercial, healthcare, senior living, and educational projects. She emphasized the importance of mindset, delegation, and adaptability in business growth, while highlighting the significance of relationships and quality work in marketing, avoiding traditional advertising. Listen in to gain valuable insights from their inspiring journey.

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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? According to Blima, it's all about maintaining that upward growth mindset every single day. She reckons anyone can start a business, but the real challenge is keeping that momentum going and continuing to innovate to stay ahead of the pack.

2. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? Blima is a big fan of "Lean In" by Sheryl Sandberg and "Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight. These books gave her some awesome insights into the journeys and mindsets of successful business leaders.

3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Blima doesn't have a go-to podcast, but she loves jumping around and learning from different perspectives, especially when it comes to self-improvement. She reckons it's super valuable to hear how other people's journeys have shaped them.

4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Blima Ehrentreu’s top pick is surrounding yourself with amazing people. She believes that having good people in your corner is the key to being able to achieve anything. And the way to attract those people is to be a good person yourself and be willing to help others.

5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? She'd say, "You don't know what's ahead of you, but it's going to be fun!" Blima is incredibly grateful for the journey she's been on, and she'd encourage her younger self to embrace the adventure.

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

"Your mindset should be that you can do it, and then you'll figure it out. You will put the right people into place, because you cannot say you can do something if you can, so you have to make sure that you will be able to." - Blima Ehrentreu

"I believe that the way to get good people in your corner is to be a good person yourself. So if you're there to help others, people will want to help you." - Blima Ehrentreu

"You don't know what's ahead of you, but it's going to be fun!" - Blima Ehrentreu