Ever wonder what to focus on in each stage of growing your business—and what pitfalls to avoid along the way?
In this episode, I talk with Grant Findlay Shirras, a serial entrepreneur and business strategist who’s mastered the art of scaling creative companies profitably and sustainably.
Grant is the co-owner of Dekora, a top staging and design company in Calgary and Kelowna, where he grew revenue by 50% and profit by $200K in just one year.
Before Dekora, he built Parkbench.com into a $37 million real estate marketing platform serving over 8,000 agents ,and helped expand Fitness on the Go into Canada’s largest mobile fitness franchise.
Known for simplifying the complex, Grant brings deep expertise in financial systems, pricing strategy, operations, and leadership—helping creative founders turn chaos into clarity and creativity into cash flow.
He is also a national tennis champion, award-winning speaker, and passionate advocate for building businesses that create both freedom and fulfillment.
Listen to the podcast below or subscribe on Apple, Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
In this episode you’ll learn:
What to focus on (and look out for) in the early phases of business growth
What masterminding with Silicon Valley entrepreneurs taught Grant about mindset shifts that defy logic
Why profit isn’t the first thing to chase—and what to prioritize instead
The daily habits that keep Grant on track and making smart, quick decisions
How to think through your first hire (and 3 questions to ask yourself before you make it)
The surprising insight Grant uncovered about outsourcing sales
Xo Marianne
Complimentary Discovery Session
Together we will clarify your goals, uncover challenges that are preventing you from reaching those goals and discuss coaching options to help you create a life and business that is on fire! 🔥🔥🔥
I would love your review! If you enjoy what I share in this episode, please leave a review and comment on iTunes. I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Connect with Grant:
Website – www.dekora.com
Instagram- @grantfindlayshirras
@dekorastaging
Book- 10 x is Easeier than 2x– Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
Connect with Marianne:
Set up a coaching discovery session to see if coaching is right for you.
Website: https://coachingbymarianne.com
Instagram: @homestagercoachmarianne
You Tube Channel-https://www.youtube.com/@homestagersanddesignersonfire
Join my FB Group: Fire Up Your Home Staging Business: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fireupyourhomestagingbusiness/
FB Group: Design for Today Collaborative- https://www.facebook.com/groups/DesignForTodayCollaborative
Visit my FB Coaching Page: https://www.facebook.com/CoachingByMarianneCherico/
Join my LinkedIn Group: Interior Redesign, Decorating and Real Estate Staging Professionals here.
Episode 46: Strengthen Your Belief Muscle
In this new podcast episode I share why actionable steps are not enough and how your beliefs either empower you to create the results that you want or they sabotage your efforts.
Episode 45: Selling – The Customer Centric Way
In this episode I talk with Nikki Rausch, CEO of Sales Maven, an organization dedicated to authentic selling, Nikki Rausch has the unique ability to transform the misunderstood process of “selling”.
Episode 44: A Multi Faceted Business
In this episode I talk with Pam Tiberia, owner of Spruce Interiors. A seasoned designer and award-winning home stager based in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire, Pam has helped hundreds of homeowners successfully style and stage their homes.
Episode 43: The Client Experience
In this episode I talk with my colleagues from the Design for Today Collaborative. Join Debbe Daley, Wendy Woloshchuk and I as we discuss how to optimize the experience for your clients from beginning to end and how to create clients for life!
Episode 42: The Art of Divine Selfishness
In this episode I talk with Brigitte Van Tuijl. Brigitte is a writer and master coach for women entrepreneurs. In the past two decades she’s helped thousands of women get clear on their true dream and make it real. Her clients have launched businesses globally, published their first books, doubled their incomes, and realized their most important goals and desires.
Episode 41: Your Brand by Design
In this episode I talk with Amber Griffiths. Amber is a Maker of Legends, and Brand Strategist of Your Brand by Design. She is a bestselling author, international speaker and sought-after Strategist to A-List and soon-to-be A-List players.
Episode 40: Racism Through Our Staging Sisters’ Eyes
In this newly released podcast episode I discuss racism with Deborah Plowden and Tamara Grant and how it effects our staging sisters in life and in business. It is so important that women support women and right now, our black sisters need us. In fact, they always have.
Episode 39: Profit First for Your Business
In this episode Michele Williams will share her insights into a Profit First business methodology to leverage your money. Join us as we discuss strategies that you might implement in your business in order to be more profitable.
Episode 38: Your Ideal Real Estate Agent Client Avatar
In this episode I am going to do a deep dive into why creating an IREACA (Ideal Real Estate Agent Client Avatar) is an effective tool to help you create more compelling emails, blogs and Newsletters in order to attract those agents who you would really like to work with.
Episode 37: A Real Estate Agent’s Perspective
In this episode Tony McDonnell and I will talk about how Home Stagers might approach Real Estate Agents, which agents to target, how to stand apart, the #1 misconception agents have about staging and what to do if agents don’t get back to you.
Episode 36: Pricing Strategies for Home Stagers
In this episode Catherine Lewis Brown and I will be talking about pricing strategies for Home Stagers. Pricing can be challenging for both new and seasoned stagers. Many stagers feel lost when it comes to setting prices that result in profitability. And let’s face it- profitability is Queen, right??? Join us as we discuss strategies that you might implement when setting and raising your prices.
Episode 35: Mental Toughness Through Change
In this episode I would like to talk with you about how to be mentally tough in times of change. As entrepreneurs we often have to navigate change in order to continue to grow.
Episode 34: Building a Home Staging Biz
In this episode Jennie Norris and I will be talking about how she rebuilt her Home Staging Business when she moved from California to Colorado and her best tips on building a staging biz.
Episode 33: Branding Wonderful Powerful Authentic YOU
In this episode I share insights on why it is more important than ever to build your following of ideal clients by understanding deeply who they are and conveying effectively who you are so that they choose you. People choose to work with people they know, like and trust. Learn how you can differentiate yourself from the competition, rise above the noise and become the “go to” stager or designer in your area
Episode 32: Create a Thriving Community of Ideal Clients
In this episode Judy Weber and I discuss how to build more engagement and create a thriving community of ideal clients.
Episode 31: Amp up Your Visibility
In this episode I talk with you about visibility and why it is more important than ever to be strategic about how you “show up”, who you show up in front of and why your message needs to speak clearly to your ideal clients -so that they see that you as the perfect choice for them.
Episode 30: LinkedIn to Grow Your Business
In this podcast episode I talk with Sarah Santacroce, LinkedIn specialist and heart centered businesswoman.
Join us as we discuss everything from the gentle business revolution to how to strategically use Linked In to grow your Interior Design and Home Staging Business.
Episode 29: Design for Today Collaborative
In this podcast episode I talk with Debbe Daley and Wendy Woloshchuk about our newly formed Design for Today Collaborative as well as our upcoming event on Social Media Marketing, List Building and Networking at the Boston Design Center on November 21, 2019
Join us as we discuss strategies that will help you turn followers into paying clients.
Episode 28: Vacation Rental Design
In this episode I talk about building a Vacation Rental Design Business with Jessica Duce.
Jessica has been in the Interior Design business for 15 years. She stumbled into vacation rental design 4 years ago and loves it. Her experience in residential and commercial design compliments the hospitality needs of this niche. Jessica sees VRD as a great new way to service her clients at all levels. And she is going to share her secrets for carving her way into this stream of income.
Episode 27: Websites and What You Need to Know
In this podcast episode I talk with Orlando Reyes about what you need to know about building or updating your website.
Join us as we discuss everything from domain names to hosting providers to optimizing SEO (search engine optimization) and how your website can be instrumental in building your email list and turning cold leads into warm leads.
