The EO Business Podcast

Ep. 177 - I Thought My Business Was Profitable… I Was Wrong | Tyson Grubb

Linh Podetti Season 1 Episode 177

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0:00 | 35:16

Guest: Tyson Grubb, CEO of Instrument Choice, EO Adelaide Member since 2012

Host: Linh Podetti, EO Sydney Member since 2022 and Owner of Outsourcing Angel

What if your business looks profitable… but actually isn’t?

In this episode of the EO Business Podcast, Linh Podetti sits down with Tyson Grubb, Founder & CEO of Instrument Choice, an Australian e-commerce business specialising in scientific and measurement equipment.

Tyson shares how he built a thriving online business in a niche industry—long before most people believed it was possible to sell these products online. But nine years into the journey, he discovered a critical mistake: he had been misreading his financials, and the business wasn’t as profitable as he thought.

This episode is a powerful reminder that understanding your numbers isn’t optional—it’s essential.

🎙 In this episode, we cover:

  • How Tyson built an e-commerce business from scratch in 2007
  • Why most suppliers believed his business model wouldn’t work
  • The dangerous mistake of misreading financial statements
  • The “0.1% rule” that transformed profitability
  • How small cost improvements compound over time
  • Hiring scientists instead of salespeople to build trust
  • staying ahead with digital marketing and AI

    ABOUT TYSON
    Tyson Grubb is the Founder and CEO of Instrument Choice, an Australian e-commerce business specialising in scientific and measurement equipment. Since launching the company in 2007, he has grown it into an eight-figure business serving everyone from university researchers to industry professionals across Australia. With a background in electronic engineering, Tyson built the company around a simple philosophy — “Just be helpful” — a mindset that has shaped its customer experience, culture, and long-term success. Outside of business, Tyson is a passionate entrepreneur, EO leader, mentor, “yuppy farmer,” and proud dad of two who believes success is about more than just numbers.

    CONNECT WITH TYSON
    Website: www.instrumentchoice.com.au
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyson-grubb-3a09b14/

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ABOUT EO

Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.

Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.

If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.

For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: linh@outsourcingangel.com.au
General Inquiries: support@eonetwork.org.au
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/