Tom Schwab on Building Interview Valet to $3M with 15 FTEs, Ditching Cold Outreach, Taking a 6-Week Sabbatical & Using Podcast Interviews to Build Trust, Boost Profits, and Win Big in the Age of AI & Content Overload. (Episode 692 - Tom Schwab)

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Tom Schwab, founder of Interview Valet, who built a $3M podcast marketing agency with 15 FTEs after exiting two prior businesses. He shares how turning off cold outreach and focusing on trust-based podcast marketing skyrocketed results. Tom reveals why “relationships are the ultimate currency”, how AI is changing the marketing game, and why he took a 6-week sabbatical to prove the business could thrive without him. Packed with wisdom for founders serious about scaling smart.

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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 Tom Schwab, the hardest part is patience and consistency. He explains that founders often want results quickly, but true growth requires staying the course and pushing through the slower, uncertain times.

2. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most?

Tom Schwab shares that his favorite business book is "Thou Shall Prosper" by Rabbi Daniel Lapin. It shaped his thinking around the purpose of business, value creation, and ethical success.

3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business?

Tom Schwab recommends the podcast "Follow Your Different" by Christopher Lochhead. He appreciates its eclectic guests and thought-provoking insights that often leave him asking deeper questions about his own business.

4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business?

Tom Schwab shares that mentor groups have been invaluable—especially peer-based organizations like Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and Collective 54. He emphasizes the importance of getting out of your bubble and learning from others' experience.

5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business?

According to Tom Schwab, his advice on day one of starting out in business would be: focus more on relationships. He believes that “relationships are the ultimate currency” and that trust and human connection drive long-term success in business.

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

Relationships are the ultimate currency — trust pays the highest dividends – Tom Schwab

Success isn't the destination, it's the progress toward a worthy goal – Tom Schwab

Hope is not a strategy – clarity and action are – Tom Schwab