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What happens when building a business starts costing you more than it's giving back?
In this episode of The Growth Equation, Tristan Wright sits down with Joshua Griffin, co-founder of Intrinsy, to discuss the difficult lessons behind his entrepreneurial journey—from growing an e-commerce business to experiencing burnout, financial pressure, and the decision to start again.
Joshua's first business grew from a small bedroom operation into a warehouse-based e-commerce business. But as the business expanded, so did the responsibilities. Joshua was managing everything from marketing and sales to packing orders, customer service, and fulfilment. At one point, he was working 16-hour days, six days a week, while also taking on delivery shifts to keep the business afloat.
Eventually, the pressure took a toll on his health, and he realised the business had become too dependent on him.
After stepping away, Joshua returned to the industry, worked alongside his future co-founder Dan, and eventually launched Intrinsy. This time, he applied the lessons he had learned—building around complementary strengths, tracking business performance, creating systems, and using AI to reduce repetitive work.
Today, Joshua and Dan have developed a full-stack digital agency that focuses on sustainable recurring revenue, stronger client relationships, and growth without unnecessary complexity.
In this conversation, Joshua opens up about the realities of burnout, the importance of having someone to share the entrepreneurial journey with, and why sustainable growth isn't necessarily about building a bigger team.
What You'll Learn In This Episode00:47 – Meet Joshua Griffin
03:14 – ADHD and the Entrepreneurial Journey
05:57 – Getting Started in E-commerce
07:16 – Learning Marketing on the Job
08:21 – From a Bedroom Business to a Warehouse
10:03 – When Growth Turns Into Financial Pressure
10:30 – The Cost of Being the Whole Business
11:30 – The Physical and Emotional Impact of Burnout
12:30 – Knowing When to Walk Away
13:47 – Starting Again With a Different Perspective
15:00 – Building a Business Around Recurring Revenue
16:00 – Finding the Right Business Model
18:36 – Using Data to Make Better Decisions
20:27 – Building a Two-Person Team
21:00 – Learning to Sell
22:36 – Moving Towards Higher-Value Clients
23:28 – The Value of Showing Up for Clients
24:59 – Using AI to Create Capacity
25:17 – Building SOPs for Sustainable Growth
26:49 – Increasing Revenue Without Increasing Headcount
27:27 – Building Demand and Managing Capacity
28:41 – Finding the Right People Around You
30:58 – Entrepreneurship Is Not an Overnight Success
31:07 – Connect With Joshua Griffin
Resources & LinksGuest: Joshua Griffin
Company: Intrinsy
LinkedIn: Search for Joshua Griffin / Joshua Lloyd MD
Other Social Platforms: Joshua Griffin SEO
Enjoyed This Episode?Subscribe to The Growth Equation for more conversations with entrepreneurs and business owners about the lessons, challenges, and decisions behind building sustainable businesses.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with another business owner who might need a reminder that they don't have to build their business alone.
What if building a successful business doesn't have to mean sacrificing the life you want?
In this episode of The Growth Equation, Tristan Wright sits down with Mary Ann Bautista, co-founder of TurboRank, to talk about building a business around your life, learning from past mistakes, and making space to step back from the day-to-day work.
Mary Ann started her entrepreneurial journey in 1998 after working in direct response marketing for major publishers and businesses. She eventually built Bautista Direct Marketing, where she developed deep expertise in direct response and later became an early adopter of YouTube as a marketing channel.
Her experience building that first business taught her an important lesson: it's possible to become so involved in the work that you lose sight of the business itself.
When Mary Ann and her co-founder Matthew Pierce launched TurboRank, they took a different approach. They reverse-engineered their goals, established clear targets around accounts, financials, profitability, and team size, and created plans to elevate themselves above the day-to-day operations.
In this conversation, Mary Ann shares what she's learned about designing a business that supports your life, measuring the business as carefully as you measure client results, adapting to the changing search landscape, and building a long-term authority asset through content.
Her biggest piece of advice is simple:
Pull your head up above the fray and look around.
What You'll Learn In This Episode00:00 – Meet Mary Ann Bautista
02:09 – Why TurboRank?
03:30 – Building a Business Around Family
04:50 – The Problem With Being Too Deep in the Weeds
05:57 – Learning to Delegate and Step Back
06:40 – Why Direct Response Still Works
07:31 – Reverse Engineering the Business
09:18 – Measure Your Business, Not Just Your Clients'
10:26 – How AI Is Changing Search
10:26 – Building Authority Beyond Your Website
12:50 – Stop Guessing What Content People Want
14:34 – Who TurboRank Works With
17:59 – From YouTube Agency to Authority Dominance
19:32 – Rented Attention vs. Compounding Authority
21:19 – Learning From the Difficult Moments
22:43 – Building a Strong Business Partnership
23:58 – Pull Your Head Up
24:44 – Connect With Mary Ann
Resources & LinksMary Ann Bautista
Co-founder, TurboRank
TurboRank: turborank.co
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Mary Ann Bautista
YouTube: TurboRank
Enjoyed This Episode?Subscribe to The Growth Equation for more conversations with business owners and entrepreneurs about building businesses that work and grow.
If this episode gave you something to think about, share it with another business owner who could use a reminder to pull their head up, step out of the weeds, and look at the bigger picture.
What if the problems other businesses are running from are actually the biggest opportunities?
In this episode of The Growth Equation, Tristan Wright sits down with Sheldon Wolf, entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Intellitary AI, for a fascinating conversation about building businesses, finding opportunities, and turning problems into profit.
Sheldon has spent more than three decades building businesses across real estate, finance, credit, e-commerce, and technology. His approach is simple but powerful: understand the customer, identify the problem, and work backwards from the result you want to achieve.
Sheldon shares how he built systems to compete against more experienced businesses when he was just in his twenties, why he believes companies should focus on customers rather than simply growing headcount, and how he used his experience in finance to transform a struggling mattress business into a highly profitable model.
We also explore the impact of AI and AI agents, why technology alone isn't enough to build a successful business, and how Sheldon is using AI to create new opportunities in the real estate industry.
If you're a business owner looking for a different way to think about growth, profitability, competition, and opportunity, this episode is packed with ideas worth considering.
What You'll Learn In This Episode00:00 – Meet Sheldon Wolf
01:20 – From Real Estate to Finance and Beyond
03:35 – Competing With More Experienced Business Owners
05:15 – Know Your Customer
06:15 – Customers vs. Headcount
08:45 – From 150 Employees to One
10:45 – AI Still Needs Humans
13:00 – Building Technology Around the Industry
15:30 – Turning Bad Times Into Opportunity
20:40 – Turning a Failing Mattress Business Into Profit
24:45 – There Are Multiple Ways to Make Money
26:15 – Hire People Who Can Make You Money
27:50 – Start With the End in Mind
29:30 – Build for the Long Term
31:30 – Business Is a Sport
31:45 – Love What You Do and Play to Win
33:20 – Connect with Sheldon Wolf and Intellitary AI
Resources & LinksGuest: Sheldon Wolf, Founder of Intellitary AI
Website: Intellitary.com
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Sheldon Wolf
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Growth Equation, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who could use a different perspective on turning problems into opportunities.
What happens when technology starts changing the very skills your business was built around?
In this episode of The Growth Equation, I sit down with Wes Towers, Founder of Uplift 360, a digital agency that has spent more than 20 years helping trades, construction, and industrial businesses grow.
Wes shares his journey from starting an agency in his early twenties to building a long-running business that has adapted through major shifts in technology, from dial-up internet to the rise of AI. We explore how artificial intelligence is changing the value of technical work and why Wes believes digital agencies will increasingly need to move towards consulting, strategy, and helping clients make better decisions.
We also discuss the power of niching, building effective offshore teams, creating strong SOPs, and staying nimble as technology continues to evolve. Wes explains why becoming highly specialised has helped Uplift 360 deliver value faster, build stronger client relationships, and create a more efficient business.
If you're a business owner wondering how AI will affect your industry—or how to make your business more valuable in a rapidly changing market—this episode is packed with practical insights.
What You'll Learn In This Episode00:00 – Meet Wes Towers
01:40 – From Dial-Up Internet to AI
03:30 – Starting Uplift 360 in His Early Twenties
05:15 – Learning Business the Hard Way
06:45 – The Highs and Lows of Entrepreneurship
07:50 – How AI Is Changing Digital Agencies
09:00 – From Tech Provider to Strategic Consultant
09:10 – Building Offshore Teams
11:45 – Why SOPs Matter
12:40 – Letting Your Team Improve the Business
13:40 – Understanding the Human Side of AI
14:50 – A Simple Way to Get Better at AI
15:50 – Why Wes Keeps Building
18:30 – The Future Is More Human
21:50 – The Power of Niching Down
23:00 – How Niching Creates Better Results
24:40 – Wes's Advice for Business Owners
24:45 – Connect with Wes Towers and Uplift 360
Connect with Wes TowersWant to explore how digital strategy, AI, and specialised marketing could support your business?
Connect with Wes Towers through Uplift 360 at uplift360.com.au, where you can learn more about the agency and book a strategy call with Wes.
For the full conversation on AI, niching, digital agencies, and the future of business, listen to Episode 78 of The Growth Equation.
As AI reshapes the way businesses operate, many leaders are asking the same question: What role will humans play in the future of work?
In this episode of The Growth Equation, I sit down with David Coupland, Co-Founder of Born The Agency, to explore why creativity, curiosity, and human connection are becoming more valuable—not less—in the age of artificial intelligence.
David shares the story behind launching Born The Agency during the uncertainty following COVID, growing from two founders to a team of 20 across two offices in just a few years, and building an agency that challenges traditional industry thinking. We discuss the importance of protecting culture as you scale, hiring for capacity before you're overwhelmed, saying no to the wrong opportunities, and using AI as a tool to enhance creativity rather than replace it.
Whether you're leading a creative business, embracing AI, or simply trying to build a sustainable company with the right people and systems, this conversation offers practical lessons on creating long-term value without losing what makes your business unique.
What You'll Learn In This Episode00:00 – Meet David Coupland
02:00 – Starting an Agency After COVID
04:00 – Leaving Secure Jobs to Start From Scratch
06:15 – Winning the First Clients
08:00 – Taking the First Hiring Risk
10:00 – Growing to 20 People
12:30 – Building a Sustainable Culture
15:00 – AI and the Future of Creativity
18:00 – Choosing the Right Growth Model
22:00 – Learning to Say No
25:00 – Cash Flow Over Revenue
28:00 – Navigating the 'Awkward Teenage Years' of Business
31:00 – One Final Piece of Advice
31:45 – Connect with David Coupland and Born The Agency
Resources & LinksGuest: David Coupland, Co-Founder, Born The Agency
Website: https://borntheagency.com
Email: [email protected]
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Growth Equation, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who's navigating growth, embracing AI, or looking to build a business that puts people and creativity first.
What does it take to build a business that's valuable enough for someone else to buy, and strong enough to thrive after you're gone?
In this episode of The Growth Equation, I sit down with Tim Johnson, founder of Upraise PR, to unpack the 21-year journey of building, growing, and ultimately selling a successful public relations agency. Tim shares what he learned from surviving the dot-com boom and bust, starting from scratch without taking clients or staff, and gradually building a business that became an attractive acquisition.
We also dive into the less glamorous side of entrepreneurship—late nights, managing growth, evolving leadership, staying on top of your numbers, and preparing your business for life beyond the founder. Tim explains why every growing company eventually outgrows its structure, how empowering leaders allowed him to step away from day-to-day operations, and why understanding your ideal client is one of the most important decisions any business owner can make.
Whether you're just starting your business or thinking about an eventual exit, this conversation offers practical insights into building a business that's designed to last long after the founder steps away.
What You'll Learn In This Episode00:00 – Meet Tim Johnson
02:10 – From Corporate PR to Entrepreneurship
04:10 – Starting Without Clients or Staff
06:10 – The Reality of Building a Business
08:00 – Creating the Right Environment for Growth
10:00 – Growing Beyond Twenty Employees
12:15 – Developing Leaders Instead of Managers
15:00 – Lessons From the Tough Days
17:10 – Preparing for an Exit
20:30 – Life After the Sale
22:30 – Advice for Business Owners
24:15 – Finding Your Ideal Customer
25:45 – Connect with Tim Johnson and Upraise PR
Resources & LinksGuest: Tim Johnson, Founder, Upraise PR
Website: https://upraisepr.com
Email: [email protected]
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Growth Equation, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who's focused on building a business that creates lasting value—not just short-term growth.
What if the biggest threat to your family isn't the long hours you're working—but the business you've built to provide for them?
In this episode of The Growth Equation, I sit down with George Rivera, entrepreneur, business strategist, and founder of Founder Dad Tables, for a powerful conversation about redefining success. George shares the life-changing advice his father gave him just weeks before he passed away: "Don't miss Leo's games. I missed too many of yours." That single sentence reshaped George's priorities and ultimately changed the way he built his businesses.
Together, we explore why so many founders become trapped in businesses that depend entirely on them, how that pressure quietly follows them home, and why systems, delegation, and AI aren't just business tools: they're ways to reclaim time with the people who matter most. George also shares how scaling a business to nearly $50 million taught him that true success isn't measured by revenue alone, but by being present for life's most important moments.
If you're building a business while trying to build a meaningful life, this episode will challenge you to rethink what success really looks like, and what it's costing you.
What You'll Learn In This Episode00:00 – Meet George Rivera
01:45 – When Business Starts Costing Your Family
05:55 – From Teenage Entrepreneur to Multi-Million-Dollar Founder
06:35 – Why He Wanted to Burn It All Down
07:20 – The Dependency Problem
09:20 – Redesigning the Business for Freedom
10:30 – The Legacy Beyond Revenue
12:10 – Founder Prison and Breaking the Cycle
17:30 – Seeking Approval Through Work
19:20 – Scaling Freedom Instead of Chaos
24:10 – The Time Liberation Trifecta
27:10 – AI, SOPs, and Smarter Delegation
29:45 – One Final Reminder for Every Founder
30:40 – Connect with George Rivera and Founder Dad Tables
Resources & LinksGuest: George Rivera, Founder, Founder Dad Tables
Website: https://founderdadtables.com
If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to The Growth Equation, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs the reminder that the greatest measure of success isn't just the business you build—it's the life and relationships you build alongside it.
What if building a successful business wasn't about hiring more people or chasing endless growth—but about creating a business that gives you the freedom to live life on your terms?
In this episode of The Growth Equation, I sit down with Dave Lawson, Founder and Creative Director of Design People, to explore his journey from award-winning advertising agencies to intentionally building a simpler, more sustainable business. Dave shares how years of long hours, burnout, and the pressure of managing teams led him to rethink what success really means.
We discuss the lessons he learned from working in London, building and rebranding his own agency, navigating business partnerships, surviving COVID, and making the bold decision to step away from managing employees in favour of a solo business model supported by trusted freelancers.
If you're a business owner questioning whether bigger is always better, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on designing a business around your strengths, protecting your wellbeing, and creating the freedom to do your best work—without sacrificing the life you're working so hard to build.
What You'll Learn In This Episode00:00 – Meet Dave Lawson
00:50 – Working in London
04:20 – Chasing Awards and Burning Out
06:00 – Leaving Agency Life
08:00 – Business Partnerships and Hard Lessons
11:20 – Starting Design People
12:50 – When Growth Creates More Stress
14:30 – Choosing Simplicity Over Scale
16:30 – Freedom, Flexibility, and Loving the Work Again
20:30 – ADHD and Entrepreneurial Focus
22:15 – Lessons He'd Do Differently
26:15 – Passion Before Profit
28:30 – Working with the Right Clients
31:00 – Advice for Small Business Owners
37:05 – Connect with Dave Lawson and Design People
Connect with Dave Lawson
Whether you're launching a new brand, refreshing an existing identity, or looking for a creative partner who values quality over quantity, Design People offers a highly personalised approach built on collaboration, trust, and craftsmanship.
Learn more about Dave and his work by visiting designpeople.com.au, or connect with him on Instagram (@designpeople) to explore his latest branding, hospitality, and creative projects.
For more insights on entrepreneurship, burnout, business simplicity, and designing a business that gives you more freedom, listen to the full episode of The Growth Equation with Dave Lawson.
What if the biggest obstacle to growing your business isn't your strategy but your relationship with yourself?
In this episode of The Growth Equation, I sit down with Joseph Benjamin, Founder of Prophecy Brand, for one of the most honest and thought-provoking conversations we've had on the podcast. Joseph shares his remarkable entrepreneurial journey—from building a million-dollar PR agency in his first year, to losing everything, spending a year in jail after being caught in a fraudulent cheque scam, and ultimately rebuilding both his business and his identity.
Together, we explore the difference between who you are and what you do, why healing and self-awareness matter in entrepreneurship, and how Joseph transformed his agency into a reflection of his personal values. We also discuss thought leadership, authentic branding, choosing the right clients, and why some of the most important lessons in business come from life's greatest setbacks.
If you're building a business while navigating personal growth, this episode will challenge the way you think about success, identity, and what it really means to build something meaningful.
What You'll Learn In This Episode00:00 – Meet Joseph Benjamin
01:15 – Breaking Into Fashion and Public Relations
02:30 – Building a Million-Dollar Agency
03:50 – Losing Everything
05:20 – Rebuilding After Rock Bottom
07:25 – Creating Prophecy Brand
08:50 – The Power of Authentic Storytelling
12:15 – A Different Vision for Business Growth
15:20 – Rethinking Agency Pricing
17:45 – Proximity to Wealth Isn't Wealth
19:05 – Separating Identity from Business
21:00 – Thought Leadership That Builds Trust
22:40 – Learning From the Past
24:05 – Final Advice for Entrepreneurs
27:45 – Connect with Joseph Benjamin and Prophecy Brand
Connect with Joseph BenjaminIf you're looking to build a brand that's rooted in authenticity, purpose, and meaningful storytelling, connect with Joseph Benjamin, Founder of Prophecy Brand.
To learn more about Joseph's work, visit prophecybrand.com, where you'll also find articles exploring branding, leadership, luxury, and conscious entrepreneurship. You can also connect with him on Instagram (@theprophecybrand) or read his personal reflections on Medium, where he writes about healing, self-development, creativity, and the experiences that have shaped his journey.
For more insights on entrepreneurship, identity, resilience, and building a business that reflects your values, listen to the full episode of The Growth Equation with Joseph Benjamin.
What if growing your business didn't mean hiring more people or offering more services?
In this episode of The Growth Equation, I sit down with Katy Boos, Founder and CEO of Remix Communications, to explore why building a boutique agency has been the key to long-term success. Katy shares her journey from working in PR at Apple during the Steve Jobs era to co-founding a successful agency before launching Remix Communications, a specialist thought leadership agency helping executives land speaking opportunities and podcast interviews.
We dive into the realities of agency ownership, from surviving the disruption of COVID when live events disappeared overnight to making tough decisions around profitability, client selection, and staying true to your niche. Katy also shares why building a small, high-performing team has allowed her agency to deliver exceptional results without chasing endless growth.
If you're building a service-based business, this conversation is packed with practical lessons on niching down, creating a premium client experience, trusting your instincts, and designing a business around the life you want—not just the biggest revenue number
What You'll Learn In This Episode00:00 – Meet Katy Boos
01:00 – Inside Apple During the Steve Jobs Era
04:25 – Launching Remix Communications
06:35 – What Remix Communications Actually Does
09:20 – COVID and the Biggest Challenge the Agency Faced
11:40 – Why Niching Down Beats Doing Everything
13:15 – Running a Boutique Agency
16:10 – Is Bigger Always Better?
19:40 – The Importance of Knowing Your Numbers
21:15 – Trust Your Instincts About Clients
24:00 – Building a High-Performing Team
26:15 – One Piece of Advice for Business Owners
26:30 – Connect with Katy Boos and Remix Communications
Connect with Katy Boos and Remix CommunicationsIf you're looking to establish yourself or your leadership team as thought leaders through speaking engagements, podcast guest appearances, and strategic communications, visit Remix Communications to learn more about Katy Boos and her team.
For more practical lessons on building a boutique business, niching down, and creating sustainable growth, be sure to listen to the full episode of The Growth Equation with Katy Boos.
Website: https://remixcommunications.com
LinkedIn: Katy Boos
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