In this captivating episode, Troy interviews Evan Kostopoulos, the entrepreneurial mind behind York Hamilton, discussing Evan's remarkable journey from an elite athlete to a successful business owner. Evan delves into the challenges he faced, sharing invaluable insights on scaling a business from part-time beginnings to over 150 employees with just a $17,000 investment. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, intuition, and the pursuit of the right mentors for small business owners, offering actionable tips on business growth and personal development.   Troy recommended to our guest and listeners to read the book "Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0" by James Collin and William Lazier—a pioneering guide that explores the evolution of businesses into enduring great companies.   Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let’s get into it by clicking here.   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: Evan Kostopoulos shares that the most challenging period when growing a small business is the initial phase, particularly the first 6 to 12 months. The challenge lies in persevering through this tough period with resilience, discipline, and humility without prematurely giving up. Evan Kostopoulos mentioned "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill as his favorite business book. He also highlighted other influential reads, including "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior" and recommended business strategy books like "Good to Great" and "Scaling Up." Listening to "Diary of a CEO" by Stephen is a recommended strategy. Evan Kostopoulos highlights its informative content featuring prominent entrepreneurs, making it an invaluable resource for continual learning and professional development. Evan Kostopoulos recommends Chat GPT as a powerful tool for automating and streamlining processes in small businesses if used correctly. He acknowledges its potential, emphasizing the need to understand its functionality. Evan Kostopoulos would advise his younger self to start a business to "Trust Your Gut." His recommendation would likely emphasize the importance of listening to intuition and instincts, urging himself to follow that internal compass, especially when faced with tough decisions or uncertainties in business.  Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest:   Being present in the moment, balancing work and personal life, is a constant challenge but necessary for sustainable success — Evan Kostopoulos   Resilience, discipline, and humility are key elements to survive the challenging initial phase of a small business  — Evan Kostopoulos   Investing in professional development, mentors, and self-awareness is critical for continual growth as a business owner — Evan Kostopoulos