Team, Traction & Tough Calls: Inside the Growth Journey of Steven Gringlas and Picos Media
Growth, Grit, and the Real Lessons Behind Agency Success
If you ever thought building a marketing agency was all creative campaigns and client wins, think again. In this episode of The Growth Equation podcast, we get gritty and real with Steven Gringlas, the founder of Picos Media—a performance-driven agency for e-commerce brands on the rise. This deep dive goes beyond the usual how I built this spiel; Steven’s journey is a masterclass for Aussie entrepreneurs hungry to turn passion into profit without losing their marbles along the way.
Steven’s Start: From Passion to Profit (But Not Without Pain)
Picture this: Steven, armed with a camera and his charming dog Maddie, carving his first wins out of café gigs and foodie Instagram snaps. Picos Media’s early years were a whirlwind of creativity—fun projects, scrappy hustles, and a rapidly growing team. At first, it felt like the dream: making money, hiring mates, office banter every day.
But fun doesn’t always pay the bills. Steven unveils the moment the numbers told the real story—wage bills eating all the revenue, profits nowhere in sight, and a growing pressure to keep the business afloat. It’s the kind of wake-up call every founder gets sooner or later: profits don’t happen by accident, and loving your job isn’t enough if you’re constantly dipping into savings.
We were making money, I could pay staff… but at one point, I realised my wage bill was 80, 90, even 100% of revenue. I was living on optimism instead of profit.
When Growth Hurts: Tough Choices and Business Overhaul
Scaling a business isn’t always about adding more people or services—it often means making the hardest calls of your career. Steven shares the emotional side of leadership: letting go of talented creatives, restructuring a team, moving away from the “everything agency” model, and doubling down on what actually delivers results for clients. He describes shrinking his team from 10 to 3 as both an agonising necessity and the turning point for future success.
It was gut-wrenching making those decisions, but we rebuilt intentionally. Now every team member fits the mission, and every service moves the needle for our clients.
What was the game-changer? Getting laser-focused on what Picos Media does best: email marketing, ad creatives, and Meta ads for e-commerce brands. Steven’s journey highlights the dangers of being a generalist—and the transformative impact of narrowing your brand’s offerings.
Tools, Teams, and Traction: Why Systems Matter
Steven doesn’t shy away from process. In this episode, you’ll discover how Picos Media rebuilt its entire operational backbone with Slack, Monday.com, and frameworks like EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System). Remote staff, clear systems, and robust templates replaced gut instinct and “fly by the seat of your pants” culture. Steven’s transition from hands-on designer to empowering leader is a powerful lesson for founders reluctant to let go of daily execution.
You can’t just rely on being the bottleneck. If you want to grow, your team needs space to own the results. Process is what delivers consistency—and freedom.
Mentors, Mindset, and Resilience: The Power of Asking for Help
One of the episode’s standouts is Steven’s candour about imposter syndrome and the tidal wave of advice entrepreneurs face. He credits mentorship and programs—EO Accelerator, Agency Mentor Community—as cheat codes for business growth, provided you learn how to filter and apply advice, not just copy it.
I had to build up self-belief again. Having mentors, hearing different perspectives—those were crucial. But you have to put your own spin on guidance, or you’ll lose what makes your business unique.
Whether it was seeking financial wisdom from his brother, devouring the book Traction, or joining entrepreneurial communities, Steven’s willingness to learn, adapt, and ask for help made the difference during tough times.
Team First: Investing in People Over Everything
If you only take one lesson from Steven’s story, let it be this: people matter more than anything else. The right team, in the right seats, with the right mindset, can weather any storm. Steven shares the highs and lows of hiring—why choosing experts over generalists, and prioritising values and fit over budget, leads to stronger results.
Hiring experts—people who fit the culture, the mission—costs more upfront, but pays back tenfold. You need A-players beside you if you want to scale.
Key Takeaways for Aussie Entrepreneurs
If you’re in the trenches, grinding to scale or pivot your small business, this episode is packed with relatable, actionable advice:
- Get clear on your core offerings—ditch the distractions and double down on what moves your clients (and profits).
- Be ruthless with expenses and margins; optimism is powerful, but reality pays the bills.
- Processes, systems, and frameworks are your friends—they free you up to lead and innovate.
- Ask for help early and often—mentors, coaches, and peers are fuel for growth, not a sign of weakness.
- Hire for fit, values, and expertise; your people will define your brand’s future.
- Remember: every tough call or setback is a set-up for stronger, smarter growth.
In Steven’s Words
Growth doesn’t come from doing everything—find your sweet spot and double down. Mentorship isn’t a cheat code for business—it’s fuel for resilience. And never ignore the numbers; reality always catches up.
Tune in to hear Steven’s full story—warts and all—and walk away with fresh ideas to shape your own agency, business, or leadership journey.
Connect with Steven Gringlas:
Website: https://www.picos.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-gringlas/?originalSubdomain=au
IG: https://www.instagram.com/picos.media/?hl=en
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Evolve To Grow: https://m.mtrbio.com/evolve-to-grow
