From Dorm Rooms to Digital Dominance: Scott Maynard of Excite Media Shares His Journey to Building a $5.6M Marketing Agency, Overcoming Growth Challenges, and Why Team Happiness Drives Success, (Episode 623 - Scott Maynard)

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Scott Maynard, co-founder of Excite Media, a Brisbane-based marketing agency specializing in digital marketing for service-based businesses. Scott, an electrical engineer with a background in software development, brings over 20 years of experience to the marketing industry. Excite Media has grown from a two-person startup to a 40-employee company generating $5.6 million in revenue. Scott attributes their success to prioritizing team happiness, client satisfaction, and financial sustainability. They foster a positive work environment through a 4-day work week and open feedback channels. Other Resources: An easy way to measure if your customers love you in 21 minutes – use the Net Promoter Score (NPS). And it’s FREE. 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? Scott Maynard, co-founder of Excite Media, believes the hardest thing in growing a small business is juggling the various demands and feeling pulled in different directions. He compares the experience to navigating an obstacle course in the dark or juggling Rubik's cubes while facing unexpected challenges. This feeling arises from the need to manage multiple priorities simultaneously as the business expands. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? One of the business books mentioned in the podcast you uploaded is "100 Million Dollar Offers" by Alex Hormozi. It’s highly recommended for understanding how to create compelling offers that can transform a business. The guest also praises it for its insights on objection handling and structuring marketable offers​. For my personal favorite, I would highlight "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries, as it provides a practical approach to building businesses that focus on continuous innovation and learning—a principle useful across industries. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Scott Maynard highly recommends seeking out podcasts and online resources that are specific to your industry. He also suggests exploring content from individuals like Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary V) and Warren Buffet, who offer valuable insights applicable to various business aspects. Maynard emphasizes the importance of being curious and choosing materials that resonate with your needs. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Scott Maynard suggests that learning how to use a spreadsheet is a valuable tool for growing a small business. While it may not seem glamorous, spreadsheets are incredibly versatile for tasks like business planning, number crunching, and financial forecasting. He emphasizes that mastering this fundamental tool can empower business owners to make informed decisions and manage their operations effectively. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Looking back on his 20-year entrepreneurial journey, Scott Maynard would advise his younger self to be patient, maintain consistency, and focus on the business fundamentals. He emphasizes that success is not a get-rich-quick scheme but rather a result of sustained effort and dedication over time. 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: Know your numbers. You can’t make good decisions unless you know the numbers — Scott Maynard Define your culture and accept that it's not going to be for everyone. That's fine — Scott Maynard Do the fundamentals well and cover your weaknesses by surrounding yourself with people who complement your strengths — Scott Maynard