Starling Social’s Post

1.5 years ago, this business didn’t even exist. 💼 No clients. 💷 £0 in revenue. 👥 And definitely no staff. But fast forward to today ⏩ And I’m leading a team of 40 amazing people, building something I never thought possible in such a short time. When the company I worked for went into administration at 10 p.m., I had two options: 1️⃣ Accept defeat. 2️⃣ Create something from nothing. I chose option 2. 🏃♂️ Within 3 days, I set up my own business, working until 4:30AM to make it happen. It wasn’t easy. There were long nights, unexpected challenges, and a lot of self-doubt. But what kept me going was knowing that every step forward—no matter how small—was one step closer to building something great. In the last 18 months, we’ve: • Hired nearly 40 incredible team members (some of which you'll have seen on our TikTok, Ruby Warren, Kyle Waddington...) • Booked over 6,300 B2B appointments in the last 12 months. • Reached multiple 7-figures in turnover. • And won an industry award. Here’s what I’ve learned: ✔️ Make decisions quickly, but with purpose. ✔️ Always reward loyalty and hard work. ✔️ Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision. ✔️ And never be afraid to bet on yourself. This month, we’re making another big move (hint: expanding even more 👀). I’m both excited and nervous, but that’s all part of the journey. The next chapter starts now.

In the fast-paced world we all navigate,we often forget to celebrate our wins whether big or small. Whether you're an entrepreneur with a decade cutting your teeth or just embarking on your journey as a business owner for the first time, acknowledging your successes isn’t just a luxury—it’s a catalyst for growth and renewed motivation. Positive reinforcement and affirmations whether you want to admit it or not ARE important. They help keep our tank full, to keep us motivated and help us remember why we are doing the thing we are doing in the first place. At Growth Factor, we’ve experienced firsthand the transformative power of celebrating every milestone, big or small. From landing your first client, to that first whale of a client that stretches you and your team too thin at times. As a startup with a huge goal to disrupt the marketing industry, each success has been a direct result of our team's relentless dedication and unwavering resilience, all while holding true to our core values. Recognizing your achievements isn’t about a pat on the back, but more about honoring the hard work, grit, and perseverance that brought you to this point. It’s about fueling the fire to push further, to go harder, and grow in ways you never thought possible. We are committed to building a workplace where every win is celebrated, employees feel valued and seen, our team has agency to grow both as a person and in their roles in the company. So go celebrate those wins, regardless of how grandiose or not they are.  They are your wins, and they all add up, add value, and add to that fire in the belly that keeps us all going. 

Happy Labor Day! 🎉 Today, we reflect on all the things we didn’t quite get to this summer. But guess what? It’s not too late to make it happen! As we head into the fall, it’s the perfect time to refocus and set your sights on crushing your #Q4Goals. Now’s the moment to take action—schedule your customized team training for the fall and equip your team with the skills and strategies they need to excel. Get your team aligned and ready to rock Q4 with confidence and purpose. Let’s make this your best quarter yet! 🚀 #LaborDay #TeamSuccess #FallFocus #FinishStrongy

Alright, so here's the deal - and you know I'm all about laying it out there, truth and all. I've gotta fess up and say that mastering this particular business growth strategy was a real uphill battle for me.🙃 For the longest time, I was the kind of person who preferred being the wizard behind the curtain, you know? I thrived on the nuts and bolts of business, the behind-the-scenes magic that makes everything tick. Stepping into the spotlight? Yeah, that wasn't really my jam. But hey, times change and so do we. 👀 These days, we're living in a world that's all about connection - seeing the faces behind the brands, understanding the stories behind the logos. And I totally get it now. While it might not be my favorite hat to wear, being visible, being seen - it's essential. It's about showing pride in what we do, and that pride shines, lighting up our brand in ways we didn't think possible. 💪😎 If you're on the fence like I was, taking those baby steps into the limelight, know that you're not alone. We can take those steps together, one day at a time. And for the folks who've been rocking it in the spotlight from the get-go? You're absolute rockstars. Keep doing what you're doing!😎❤️🔥 #Tricres #Steppingintothespotlight #CEO #Bevisible #keeprockingit #spotlight #growth #Selfdevelopment

To us, each client is a partner – so it’s truly valuable when one is prepared to share that feeling back to us. That’s definitely coming through in our latest case study with Ninth Seat. Dafydd Jones, Associate Director at Ninth Seat, shares, “Qualzy honestly care about making every project a success for us – and go out of their way to make it happen.” Sometimes that means working outside the box, or outside the working day – as Dafydd says: “Even when we come up with quite mad timelines, they ask no questions. The guys just move fast and simply make it happen. Not only do they have our trust, but they are collaborative. For me it is this aspect of Qualzy that makes the partnership so successful and enjoyable.” Learn more about how our partnership evolved in our latest case study: https://hubs.la/Q02M3vhP0 #CaseStudy #QualitativeResearch #OnlineCommunities #NinthSeat #Qual

Yesterday was a special day. ▫️ Elliot and I had the honor of hosting Eric from Bling Capital at Novellia's (first-ever!) NYC office. As we showed him around, I couldn't help but reflect on our journey. When Eric and the Bling team first believed in Novellia, we didn't have an office. We didn't have a full team, product, customers, or revenue. I like to joke that we didn't even have a single line of code written! What we had was a vision - a vision to revolutionize healthcare by giving patients like my Tata control over their health data and helping life science companies accelerate life-saving research. The founder's journey is hard. There are days when you question everything. You often encounter a loneliness that's hard to describe unless you've lived it. Finding people who believe in you and your vision - that's what helps you shift into sixth gear. The Bling team was that very first catalyst for us, and I'm eternally grateful for their support and guidance. As I walked Eric through our humble (and plant-obsessed) office, showcasing the growing team and the impact we're making, I was reminded of how far we've come. But more importantly, I was reinvigorated by how far we still have to go. To all the founders out there grinding away: keep pushing. Find your supporters, your believers. They exist, and they can help you achieve the impossible. At Novellia, we're on a mission to say goodbye to early goodbyes. We're working tirelessly to ensure that stories like my grandfather's--when it feels impossible to find and centralize all your medical records--become a thing of the past. With partners like Bling by our side, I'm more confident than ever that we're building a brighter, healthier tomorrow for all. Here's to the dreamers, the believers, and to a future where technology and compassion intersect to save lives.

Celebrating two stellar years with Paul Fitzgerald today. Ok so I know we’re banned from calling you a unicorn, but we so love your out-sized ability to solve pretty much everything you put your mind and hands to. 🦄 Looking forward to seeing your continued growth into year three!   #PotentialRealised #PersonalGrowth #GrowthAccelerator

Alright, so here's the deal - and you know I'm all about laying it out there, truth and all. I've gotta fess up and say that mastering this particular business growth strategy was a real uphill battle for me.🙃 For the longest time, I was the kind of person who preferred being the wizard behind the curtain, you know? I thrived on the nuts and bolts of business, the behind-the-scenes magic that makes everything tick. Stepping into the spotlight? Yeah, that wasn't really my jam. But hey, times change and so do we. 👀 These days, we're living in a world that's all about connection - seeing the faces behind the brands, understanding the stories behind the logos. And I totally get it now. While it might not be my favorite hat to wear, being visible, being seen - it's essential. It's about showing pride in what we do, and that pride shines, lighting up our brand in ways we didn't think possible. 💪😎 If you're on the fence like I was, taking those baby steps into the limelight, know that you're not alone. We can take those steps together, one day at a time. And for the folks who've been rocking it in the spotlight from the get-go? You're absolute rockstars. Keep doing what you're doing!😎❤️🔥 #Tricres #Steppingintothespotlight #CEO #Bevisible #keeprockingit #spotlight #growth #Selfdevelopment

Month four into launching a business and all of the emotions are evident throughout our team (my family). Here are 3 lessons from the past month. 1. Leads, leads, leads…. Everything seems to be about one thing and one thing alone. Building leads and then converting leads. Businesses through on their reputation and experience, new comers have to push their way into the market and build substance out of thin air. 2. The business forms an identity, move with it. We started deliberately with a wide focus and offering looking for opportunities to build. But as we walked through these we are starting to see our sweet spot. More to come here, but so good to start to see the place in the market we will fit over the next 12 months. 3. Believe in yourself. You are your greatest champion and being kind to yourself is a must needed quality. Pressure creates stress and having a team (my amazing wife, a best mate, my dad, and my older brother), make building something so rewarding. Hold the vision and everyday make steps towards the gold. To all the business owners and leaders out there, keep moving forward and building the great team around you. Remember, be kind to yourself in the fire. We also just launched a V1 of our website. www.dpslawns.com.au

Record month... AGAIN?! 🔥 It was only 2 months ago we were celebrating a record month in February - for us to just completely smash those numbers again! April was our best month yet, with written business exceeding the previous record by 10%. It's a testament to the strength of our strategies, the quality of our offering, and, most importantly, the trust and loyalty of our clients. When the market continues to struggle, Forsyth Barnes only look at how to continuously grow and break records. Big shoutout to our FB team, and here's to many more record-breaking months ahead 🚀. #breakingrecords #growth #talentsearch