Small Business, Big Engine
Small Business, Big Engine
Podcast Description
Small Business, Big Engine dives into the real stories and smart strategies behind small business success. Host Grant Fisher talks with entrepreneurs, franchise owners, and creative operators about what’s actually working to grow and scale their businesses. From marketing to mindset to automation, each episode delivers practical insights you can use. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on small business success through themes like marketing strategies, personal growth, and operational efficiency. Episodes cover topics such as transitioning from side hustles to full-time ventures, leveraging public speaking for business development, and scaling service-based businesses, with examples like a visual communication company and a landscaping business.
Small Business, Big Engine dives into the real stories and smart strategies behind small business success. Host Grant Fisher talks with entrepreneurs, franchise owners, and creative operators about what’s actually working to grow and scale their businesses. From marketing to mindset to automation, each episode delivers practical insights you can use. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday.
In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, host Grant Fisher sits down with Austin Schulenburg, founder of Pen and Mug, a Nashville-based creative studio that grew from a solo freelance practice into a thriving nine-person team.
Austin shares the behind-the-scenes story of how he made the leap from corporate designer to full-time entrepreneur… and why doing it slowly and intentionally was the best decision he ever made. We dive into the turning point that made his business feel “real,” the power of retainer clients, and how he balances creativity with the demands of business ownership.
You’ll hear:
Why Austin didn’t name his company after himself – and how that choice shaped his vision
The slow, steady, and smart approach to going full-time
How retainer clients became the backbone of his studio
The challenges of letting go and scaling a creative team
Why he’s not chasing explosive growth – and what he’s focused on instead
Whether you’re a freelancer dreaming of building a team or a founder figuring out how to delegate without losing your edge, this episode is packed with honest insights and practical takeaways.
👉 Learn more about Pen and Mug: penandmug.com
📸 Follow them on Instagram: @penandmug
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