Small Business Lifestyle

Peter Baines is described as one of Australia's most effective solopreneurs. He's a former police officer and forensic investigator who's received the Order of Australian Medal for his humanitarian work as the founder of a well-known charity, Hands Across the Water. Founded by Peter in response to his experiences in Thailand following the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, Hands Across the Water has since gone on to create homes and opportunities for thousands of children. Today Peter lives a life where purpose and passion align and he encourages everyone to do the same. So, if you've ever wondered how to find your purpose and make a real impact, Peter has some great advice on how you can marry the two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women in business, how are you doing? If the answer is less than stellar, the findings from a new report may explain why. Megan Della Camina joins us to unpack the findings from the Voice of Women at Work 2023 report and explains how we can better support women in their career development. Megan Della Camina is a passionate advocate for women's empowerment and progress in the workforce. She is the founder of women's leadership company Women Rising and is a sought-after expert on why we need to invest in authentic leadership that supports women to succeed. In this episode of Flying Solo, Megan unpacks: Key topics discussed in this podcast 1. The Importance of authentic leadership in small business: Megan unpacks why authentic leadership is essential and why you need to be clear on your leadership style.   Understanding and meeting the needs of team members, considering strengths, equity, and equality Challenges faced by small business owners in handling multiple responsibilities without infrastructure and

Are you desperate for some ‘clean air’ and room to focus on management, innovation and entering new markets for your small business? On this episode of Flying Solo, business mentor and author of the new book, Business by Design, Chris Green delves into the importance of prioritising where business owners and leaders spend their time in order to create effective business systems and build capacity for growth. Tune in to learn about delegating tasks to free up leaders to focus on company growth, and his best tips to take your business from overwhelming and chaotic to scalable and rewarding. Topics covered in this podcast episode In this episode, Chris unpacks: 1. Building a transition mindset to play a long-term game Leadership pitfalls - ways to focus on improvement Prioritising business owners' time to focus on growth and building capacity Rewriting your job description What should CEOs and business owners be focusing on? 2. Creating systems to build your business How to enhance team alignment and succes

As a small business owner, you may feel out of your depth when it comes to leading a team, but as we all know – teamwork makes the dream work! On this episode of Flying Solo, team performance expert and author of Teams That Swear By Each Other, Not At Each Other, Adrian Baillargeon, delves into the art and science of high-performing teams and explores how to build a strong and cohesive team that is aligned to the success of your business. Tune in for practical advice on the challenges of leadership for small business owners, tips for troubleshooting tricky team dynamics, and how to improve clarity, alignment and strong relationships amongst your employees. BONUS! And as an added bonus, Flying Solo listeners can score a FREE downloadable copy of Teams That Swear By Each Other, Not At Each Other for a limited time with the coupon code: swearbyflyingsolo. Head to teamsthatswear.com to redeem, but act quickly as the offer expires at midnight on Friday, 21 July! Topics covered in this podcast episode In this episo

If financial freedom feels like a pipe dream, this week’s guest is here to set you on the right track. Financial expert and author of Financially Fit Women, Amanda Thompson, joins us on the Flying Solo podcast to reveal the biggest hurdles to reaching financial wellbeing, and how to overcome them. Amanda shares invaluable tips and advice, from retirement planning and understanding superannuation, to investment opportunities and building better cash flow in your business. Tune in to find out how to become confident with your financial decisions and learn the money saving hacks that will allow you to have the money you need to live the life you want. Topics covered in this podcast episode In this episode, Amanda unpacks: 1. Simple steps to rewriting your own money story Knowledge-gathering is the key to getting started Taking small steps to build financial confidence Action plan for debt, investment, superannuation, cash flow and estate planning Aligning financial life with personal values for success 2.

Whether you're looking to buy a business or you're in the market to sell, today's guest has you covered. Kobi Simmat is a business coach, entrepreneur and the author of How To Build A Business Others Want To Buy. After successfully growing and selling his own businesses, he's learned some top tips every business owner should know. He joins us this week to share just what it takes to differentiate your business from its competitors and set it up for a successful sale. He delves into the tax implications and best timings for sale, plus explains the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make and what makes a business worth buying. Tune in to learn his top tips for buying or selling a business, and the importance of building an exit strategy into your business from the very beginning. Topics covered in this podcast episode In this episode, Kobi explores: 1. The financial implications of buying or selling a business Understanding the value of the business How to maximise profit post-sale Current market trends in b

AI isn’t going anywhere, so this week, we're diving headfirst into the world of artificial intelligence and how it can revolutionise your life and business. Donna McGeorge, acclaimed productivity expert and author of the new book, ChatGPT Revolution: How to Simplify Your Life Admin with AI, explains how ChatGPT and other AI tools can save you time, help you stress less and put an end to repetitive tasks. If you want to inject some creative spark back into your business and life, tune in for Donna’s practical tips, fun ideas and invaluable insights. Topics covered in this podcast episode In this episode, Donna unpacks: 1. Helpful ways to use AI chatbots like ChatGPT in business and life Delegating repetitive or standardised written communications such as job ads, role summaries, emails, etc. Delegating time-consuming business admin tasks such as data entry, business manual updates, etc. Personal inquiries such as meal plans and family entertainment ideas Boosting creativity - crafting email and customer res

If you’re ready to make the shift from procrastinator to productive force to be reckoned with, listen up. Sam Tornatore is a performance coach, neuro change practitioner and productivity expert who has been helping business owners and professionals overcome procrastination and achieve their biggest goals for 20 years. In this episode, Sam unpacks the causes of procrastination, from common fears to outdated belief systems, and shares his best advice to overcome them. He reveals his top tips for reaching peak productivity and the power of investing in yourself to create the success you wish for. Tune in to find out how to identify your own causes for procrastination and the steps to take to kick procrastination to the kerb. Topics covered in this podcast episode: 1. Identifying procrastination Procrastination robs us of our right to be excellent Awareness to action - the keys to overcoming procrastination Reasons we procrastinate and signs to watch out for Common fears and stepping out of the comfort zones

Could your customer service culture use a boost? Monique Richardson is the author of They Serve Like We Lead and a service expert who has spent decades helping businesses big and small deliver exemplary customer service. On this episode, Monique reveals the alarming increase in customer abuse and aggression since COVID and shares the importance of having clearly defined policies to address it. She also discusses how organisations can improve their service levels and the practical application of servant leadership to drive success. We touch on the role of service leaders in organisations, the importance of making customer service a part of the culture, and how to recognise and motivate team members to deliver excellent customer service. Tune in to get valuable insights on how to improve your organisation's customer service and leadership. Topics covered in this podcast episode: 1: Handling customer aggression - 400% increase in customer abuse/aggression during and since COVID. - Clearly defined unacceptable cu

Are you tired of wasting money on marketing that doesn’t work? You’re not alone. Fortunately, this week’s guest, Amy Miocevich, has the answer. Amy is a sought-after marketing expert, founder of Lumos Agency and the author of The Very Good Marketing Guide. On this episode, Amy shares her advice on building your marketing strategy, turning strangers into loyal superfans, and identifying and overcoming bottlenecks in your business. She reveals the importance of prioritising consistency and relationship-building to maximise the value of customers, and also explains why you should always position the customer as the hero. Tune in to learn how to apply these easy marketing strategies to your own business. Episode notes: [02:24] The biggest marketing mistake small businesses make [04:42] Understanding the linear journey from stranger to superfan [08:06] Building your marketing strategy into day-to-day business [10:42] Choosing the right marketing professional – questions to ask [13:46] Measuring marketing

If you want to crack seven figures and beyond, then having a strategy for growth is imperative, and today’s guest knows all about that. Jenny Stilwell is the author of The 7% Club: How to be one of the 7% of businesses that make it beyond $2M in turnover and she has helped hundreds of business owners through the challenges of growth. As a mentor to CEOs and as CEO of her own and others’ companies, she knows first-hand what it takes to grow a business. In this episode Jenny reveals the secrets to a sustainable business, her top tips for managing risk, and the role of culture and leadership in business success. Plus the blockers that might be inhibiting your growth! Episode notes: In this episode, Jenny unpacks: 2:30 – The bumpy road to burnout: How letting go can be the catalyst for change 7:00 – Honouring the value of your time to create a business you love 11:20 – How to avoid stalling at the million-dollar mark 15:20 – Quality over quantity – are all of your customers or clients worth it? 20:40 – “Go d

Jacqui Clarke is a seasoned business executive and personal wealth expert. With over three decades of experience helping high-net-worth individuals and business owners build and preserve their wealth, Jacqui joins us today, before launching her new book Stop Worrying About Money to share her insights on a range of financial topics. From practical advice on avoiding common money traps to tips on managing cash flow, reducing cost bases, and dealing with scope creep for small business owners, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable tips for listeners. Whether you're an individual looking to make smarter financial decisions or a small business owner looking to grow and thrive, Jacqui's expertise and experience can help guide you on your journey to financial success. Episode notes 02:39 - Learning about money at a young age 04:18 - 3 big money mistakes to avoid now 08:49 - Identifying behaviours: The key to saving and investing 10:07 - How scope creep and expense creep differ 12:56 - Supplementin

On this episode of Flying Solo, we dive into the world of innovation and how it is crucial for businesses to embed innovation into their culture to succeed long term. Today's guest, Zoe Aitken, is an innovation and customer engagement expert with decades of experience. Zoe unpacks the importance of customer engagement, and prioritising customer needs as a platform for achieving business innovation. Join us as we explore the key habits, cultural aspects and processes involved in successful innovation and how you too can use an innovation mindset to see your business take flight. Episode notes:In this episode, Zoe explains: 01:27 - Why customer-centricity is the key to profitability and innovation 05:10 - How a curiosity mindset solves customer problems better 10:17 - The simple definition of innovation: Change that adds value 12:43 - Implementing everyday innovation in your business 15:23 - The power of quick customer feedback loops for building your business 17:37 - Why leadership alignment is crucial

Today’s guest is Lauren Stokoe. Lauren is a Director at IP Australia. She’s an experienced product manager working across public and private sectors on digital transformations and the implementation of new products. She’s also the Venture Manager for Trade Mark ™ Checker. If you’ve ever considered trademarking your business IP, TM Checker is an AI-assisted tool created by IP Australia that makes it simple for small businesses to check trade mark availability and complete the application process in literally minutes. If you're curious about the ins and outs of Intellectual Property and trade marks and want to know more about how they can protect your business from competitors, then this episode is for you. Episode notes In this episode, Lauren unpacks: 1:10 – What is intellectual property and why it’s important to protect it 5:30 – Types of IP and trade mark protection for small businesses 6:55 – How to check a trade mark’s availability using IP Australia’s TM Checker 10:00 – How to apply for a trade mark

Kate Toon is an award-winning entrepreneur, digital educator, SEO and copywriting consultant, coach, speaker, podcaster AND the best-selling author of Confessions of a Misfit Entrepreneur. She’s crafted a career as a digital mastermind while working from home and raising her son as a single mum. She about to jet off to Europe for a series of speaking engagements – she really is living the good life! But before she does she’s joining us to chat about her new book, Six Figures in School Hours – which is chock-full of valuable advice for how you can get over parent guilt, run a business and live a great life! Episode notes: 1:05 – Introduction to the new book, Six Figures in School Hours 3:20 – Starting a business and a family at the same time 7:04 – The 5 basics of running a business as a parent 10:45 – The power of mindset to eradicate parent guilt 14:30 – Why you shouldn’t compare yourself to others 18:10 – It takes a village to raise a child – and a business 19:30 – Getting your kids involved in your

Milton Collins a man of many talents. He’s the former CEO of Federation Square, where he spent his days running the Transport Hotel Group. He’s headed up an importing and distribution business, and even spent time as the owner of a horse and cattle stud. He’s renowned for his business nous and is a sought-after and award-winning business coach and CX expert. Most recently he’s turned his hand to writing – and his new book, Delight, Disrupt Deliver, is chock-full of great advice for small business owners looking to create a great customer experience to attract more sales. Episode notes In this episode, Milton unpacks: 1:08 – Why customer experience is so important to business success 3:00 – First steps to a great customer experience 6:15 – Important customer service tips for eCommerce businesses 9:45 – Training your staff to be great at customer service 12:45 – Milton’s extensive business experience – what he’s learned 15:20 – How to utilise chatbots for customer interactions 17:35 – How to personalise

Money! How to manage it, how to make the most of it, and how to attract more of it, are questions we’d all like answered and this week’s guest, Clare Wood, has some practical solutions.  Clare is a sought-after money mentor, author, speaker and CPA-qualified accountant who helps service-based businesses to scale. She also runs The Profit Academy, an online school created to help business owners increase their profits exponentially. When it comes to money management, Clare knows just what it takes to help business owners make more money and create a life of financial freedom and fun. Episode notes In this episode, Clare unpacks: 1:00 - From 2nd-gen numbers nerd to corporate finance 4:03 – Why helping small businesses make more money is her passion 8:44 – The basics of small business finance + key metrics to know 11:50 – The difference between profit and loss, cash flow + budget 13:55 – Cash flow tracking: Excel vs accounting software 17:40 – How to keep reaching your profit goals 19:10 – Why you DON’T h

While the idea of networking might set many of us a-quiver, our next guest is here to tell you it’s time you expand your horizons and take the leap. Shivani Gopal has spent the last six years perfecting successful mentoring programs for women in business via The Remarkable Woman. And in 2022 she pivoted her database of 25,000 women to a new digital mentor marketplace, Elladex. It’s  a super-app, which combines the latest in data-matching and machine learning technology to create tailored education programs for women at all professional levels. If you’ve yet to make mentoring and networking part of your life – Shivani is here to explain why it’s an essential part of business growth for all business owners. Episode notes In this episode Shivani unpacks: 1:50 – How being dismissed as ‘too young and pretty’ was a career catalyst 5:15 – The birth of the Elladex networking and mentoring platform 8:55 – Helping women invest in themselves for success 11:00 – The power of networking and mentoring for small and sol

If you are struggling with exhaustion or overwhelm and wanna kiss that feeling goodbye, today's guest, Vesna Hrsto may have the answer. Vesna is a naturopath, executive wellbeing coach and mind-body peak performance specialist. Over the past decade, she's helped thousands of business owners improve their health and wellbeing so that they can do their greatest work and live a fulfilling life. Vesna joins us today to provide some fantastic advice on how to say bye-bye to burnout and hello to your best life. Episode notes: 1:15 – Vesna’s early naturopath business journey 2:00 – Hitting burnout as a young entrepreneur 5:07 – Tips to build resilience 7:42 – Taking control of your nutrition 9:10 – From naturopath to executive coach 10:33 – The power of the mind to overcome stress 13:40 – Balancing work and life 16:00 – What’s driving the epidemic of stress 18:30 – Early warning signs of burnout 21:15 – First steps to take if you’re burnt out 23:00 – The importance of good sleep 25:10 – Morning routine t

We all know that keeping up with the latest marketing trends is a small business essential, and today’s guest has got you covered. Tom Willis is the chief marketing officer and co-founder of Lawpath. He’s also the founder of Marketing Trends – an agency that specialises in keeping the industry informed on the latest fads. And he’s spent most of the past decade helping upskill Australia’s marketers and business owners on digital marketing as a lecturer at General Assembly. He joins us today to reveal the must-know marketing trends of 2023 and his top tips for small business owners.