In this episode, Sofia Lane, co-founder of Samoedra, shares valuable insights on marketing challenges, social media advertising, and engaging with influencers. She discusses the importance of personal development, navigating work-life balance as a mom, and the need to embrace discomfort for business growth. Sofia also highlights recommended books and the significance of incorporating AI tools like ChatGPT for small business success. 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.   Michael 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: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to Sofia Lane, the most challenging aspect of small business growth is the need to constantly push oneself mentally. Overcoming personal boundaries, finding solutions to various issues, and managing the demands of entrepreneurship pose significant mental challenges. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Sofia Lane cites "Sell Like Crazy" as a life-changing book for marketing strategies. Additionally, she enjoys podcasts like "Diary of a CEO" by Steven Bartlett, "The Mentor" by Mark Bouris, and "The Gold Digger Podcast" by Jenna Kutcher. Another notable book in her recommendation is "Rich Dad Poor Dad," which offers foundational concepts beneficial for small business owners. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Sofia Lane emphasizes continuous learning and professional development for business growth. She invests time in podcasts, clinical trials, and scientific developments. She highly recommends the free 10-day transforming performance online course for small business owners, providing lessons and tools to enhance focus, productivity, and overall control. Additionally, she values a PR course by Odette Barry called "Hack Your PR" and advocates for investing time in self-education, utilizing the readily available information in the digital age. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Sofia Lane recommends leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT for business growth, emphasizing its advanced capabilities to run an e-commerce business or enhance marketing strategies. While acknowledging it as a valuable tool, she underscores the importance of using it effectively, combining AI assistance with human input to achieve optimal results in business operations. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting in business? On day one of starting out, Sofia Lane advises herself to take more time, emphasizing the importance of patience in the early stages of the business. Reflecting on their initial rush, she suggests prioritizing a robust marketing campaign before delving into extensive product development, recognizing the value of a well-executed marketing strategy in shaping the trajectory of the 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: Challenge your boundaries; that's where true growth for small businesses happens – Sofia Lane Continuous learning is vital