From $50K to 8-Figure Success: Kristi Herold on How JAM Built a Team of 50 Full-Time & 400 Part-Time Staff Across 25 Cities, with 11 Acquisitions, a Culture of Play, and a First-Day Ritual That Creates Lifelong Memories. (Episode 609 - Kristi Herold)

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Kristi Herold, founder of JAM, shares her inspiring journey of growing a business from $50,000 in first-year revenue to an 8-figure success over 28 years. With 50 full-time and 400 part-time team members, JAM connects communities through play in 25 cities, offering adult sports leagues and corporate team-building events. Kristi highlights the impact of a people-first culture, 11 strategic acquisitions, and her innovative onboarding process. Tune in to learn how she transformed challenges into growth opportunities while creating meaningful connections that change lives. Other Resources: QFF: Mastering Employee Retention: Insights from Joey Coleman, Seasoned Chief Experience Composer with 20+ Years in Business Leadership, Managing Teams of 50+, and Generating Millions in Revenue. (Episode 520 - Joey Coleman) Success at Waubs Harbour Distillery: Bec Polmear on Building a Profitable Maritime Whisky Brand, Using Ocean-Cooled Techniques, and Creating a Legacy with Authentic Tasmanian Flavors and Global Ambitions in 18 Months of Sales. (Episode 600 - Bec Polmear) An easy way to measure if your customers love you in 21 minutes – use the Net Promoter Score (NPS). And it’s FREE. Listen to 'It Pays to Play,' a book by Kristi Herold, on Spotify. Get your copy of It Pays to Play: How Play Improves Business Culture by Kristi Herold on Amazon 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? The hardest thing is staying motivated when facing challenges that aren't enjoyable, like legal issues or HR problems. Kristi emphasizes the importance of resilience and staying committed to the purpose, even on tough days, as not every day will feel rewarding. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? Kristi Herold's favorite business books include Never Lose a Customer Again and Never Lose an Employee Again by Joey Coleman. She appreciates these books for their insights into customer and employee retention strategies. Additionally, she values WTF: Willing to Fail by Brian Scudamore for its lessons on embracing failures as opportunities for growth. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Kristi highly recommends Guy Raz’s How I Built This for deep dives into entrepreneurial journeys and Built to Sell by John Warrillow, which emphasizes structuring a business to operate efficiently, whether or not you plan to sell. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Kristi Herold recommends incorporating play as a powerful tool to grow a small business. By integrating play into the workplace—such as shoutout channels, playful meeting starters, and team-building activities—businesses can foster stronger team connections, boost morale, and enhance productivity. She emphasizes that creating a fun, engaging culture leads to better collaboration and overall business success. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Kristi Herold advises her day-one self to "enjoy the journey." She reflects that it’s important not to rush through milestones but to savor the day-to-day experiences, both good and challenging. Building a business is a marathon, not a sprint, and finding joy in the process is key to long-term success and fulfillment. 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: Success is about the positive impact you make on people's lives, not just the numbers — Kristi Herold Great culture begins with treating your team well and aligning them with your vision —  Kristi Herold Never give up—resilience is the key to navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship — Kristi Herold