If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by what feels like a disconnect between generations in your team—especially when working with Gen Z—this episode will shift your perspective. Rather than blaming younger employees for a lack of accountability or work ethic, this conversation with Trudy MacDonald reframes the issue: it’s not about effort, it’s about expectations, […]
Most business owners don’t fail because of a crisis. They fail because they never built the foundation that would protect them when a crisis arrives. In this episode, Paul Sweeney connects the dots from two powerful conversations with turnaround experts and reveals a simple but critical insight: everything that gets rebuilt in a business crisis […]
Most business owners start out chasing freedom — more time, more flexibility, and control over their life. But somewhere along the way, that freedom often disappears, replaced by long hours, constant pressure, and a business that feels like it owns you. In this episode, Paul Sweeney is joined by Chris Papin to unpack why that […]
If you’ve ever felt like your advertising is a gamble — spending money without knowing what’s going to work — this episode will change the way you think about marketing. In this conversation, Paul sits down with Skip Wilson to show how business owners can move away from guesswork and start using data to make better, […]
If you’ve ever felt like your team culture is “off” or that you’re carrying too much of the load as a business owner, this episode will give you a practical, grounded way to fix it. In this conversation, Paul sits down with Lisa Even to break down how culture is always happening (whether you’re managing […]
If you’ve ever struggled to attract the right clients—or found yourself wasting time on enquiries that go nowhere—this episode is for you. In this conversation with documentary filmmaker and storyteller Chris Baron, you’ll learn how to use storytelling as a practical business tool to connect with better-fit customers, communicate your value clearly, and stand out in an […]
Most business owners know they should have a plan—but too often, that plan ends up as a long document that’s created once and never used again. In this episode, Paul Sweeney breaks down why traditional business plans fail and what small business owners actually need instead. Drawing on 30 years of real-world experience, he shares […]
Marketing often feels overwhelming for business owners — a constant cycle of trying new tactics, getting inconsistent results, and questioning what actually works. In this episode, Paul Sweeney sits down with Kae Wagner to cut through the noise and get back to what truly drives effective marketing. You’ll learn how to simplify your marketing approach […]
If you’re running an e‑commerce business (or any business that relies on repeat customers) and feel like you’re constantly chasing the next sale, this episode will change how you think about growth. In this conversation, Paul Sweeney sits down with Steven Gringlas, Founder and CEO of Picos Media, to unpack why email marketing is still […]
If you’re a B2B business owner who relies heavily on referrals and finds yourself stuck in unpredictable cycles of feast and famine, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Paul Sweeney is joined by LinkedIn growth expert Colin Gallagher to unpack why referral-based growth so often leads to stalled pipelines, burnout, and scope creep […]
Most business owners are told that property and passive investments are the safest way to build wealth. But what if buying the right business — structured and funded properly — could deliver stronger returns, faster cash flow, and greater control? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney is joined by commercial finance expert […]
Many business owners believe their biggest challenges are rising costs, staffing issues, or external market pressures. But what if the real threat to profit, growth, and freedom is something far less visible? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with fractional COO and operations coach Forrest Derr to uncover […]
As a business owner, you may feel you are too busy to read. Or perhaps you think your business is on track – what’s reading going to do? One of the best pieces of advice I received in my early years as an accountant and before starting my own business, was to read regularly. In […]
Welcome to The Business Behind Your Business podcast, conversations to help your business grow and thrive. It’s like having your own board of expert advisors in your pocket. The Business Behind Your Business team of expert advisors will take a deep dive into the problems faced by business owners everywhere. Just like successful athletes and […]
Are you ready to grasp new opportunities? People are starting to think more about how they can improve the ways that they run their business or look for new business opportunities to grow their profits, to grow their income. There is a lot of talk in the business community from people wanting to start or […]
You don’t need a lot of gear to get started. That’s one of the great things about podcasts. We like to keep it simple and make it as easy as possible for our presenters and guests. We enjoy the interaction of being face to face.
We’ve summarised some key points from our cyber security podcasts: Is your business appropriately protected from cyber crime? Do you have specific cyber insurance coverage? What happens if there’s a cyber attack and I have to make a claim? What’s the process? When it comes to cyber security, the weakest link is the user – the actual human being behind the computer.
Technology is wonderful for business. It helps you deliver a more efficient, consistent and effective outcome. But we can also fall into the trap of spending money on software and technology that we don’t really need. You’re in business to make a profit. And you should use technology to help you increase profit.
Welcome to The Business Behind Your Business podcast – conversations to help your business grow and thrive. It’s like having your own board of expert advisors in your pocket. Join your host Paul Sweeney and our team of expert advisors as we take a deep dive into the problems, and solutions for issues faced by […]
When business goals are not being achieved, it generally means that there are two or three key issues that haven’t been solved satisfactorily. Long term solutions are required to prevent the business owner from ‘putting out the same fires’ over and over again. It’s accepted that every business will have a dozen or more issues, […]
Why did you go into business anyway? Freedom? Lifestyle? Wealth? Those are some of the most common reasons why people start up their own business. But to gain these benefits, you need to extract wealth from your business throughout the life of your business. The day will come when you are no longer in business. […]
Paul Cripps, founder of PK People Solutions discusses how there is often more than one aspect to a business human resources issues, and how an “advisor team” approach can deliver more effective outcomes in terms of employee motivation, effectiveness and profitability. Paul Cripps provides operational and strategic HR solutions in collaboration with business leaders […]
Why do finance applications get rejected? Why won’t my bank lend to me? How can a broker help me find the right type and source of finance for me? Jason Smith, from Capital Plus Finance, answers these questions and more. What does a business need to do to prepare for a finance application and what […]
Understanding your rights and obligations and making sure you have essential legal agreements in place is crucial for every business. Start off on the right track when your relationships with business partners are still in the honeymoon phase. Law ultimately is about relationships. It’s about managing relationships between people. Philip van den Heever from Frank […]
In this episode we’re grateful to be able to share with you an interview from Alive 90.5’s Grow the Business – People Edition. Paul Sweeney is talking with Alive 90.5 hosts Paul Cripps and Kylie Thomas about 4 key areas to managing your business through and beyond the current crisis. These four areas as being key to managing […]
Why do business owners feel stuck, and fail in achieving their personal and business goals? In this episode, Harry Nathoo from Keystone Business Advisory explains how a mindset of resilience can help you the business owner to not only survive, but thrive as we navigate through this crisis and beyond. Harry Nathoo has a […]
What are the common IT requirements for any business ? How you can avoid costly mistakes with your purchasing? Computers and Information Technology have become essential for businesses. A new computer, usually on sale, is often one of the first purchases made for a new business. However, there is a danger that on-sale and free […]
There are some very common tell-tale signs of when a business is under financial distress and heading for trouble. As a business owner there are some key aspects to running your business that you must proactively manage. Bruce Gleeson from Jones Partners explains why managing cash flow and your compliance obligations are fundamental in avoiding […]
It can be easy to stay motivated when your business is going well – but what about when things are hard? What do you do to keep yourself on track and maintain that passion for your business? Raj Nathoo, from Keystone Business Advisory, suggests we need to do two things. Firstly, he suggests we need […]
When we start a business, we do so because we want freedom. Then we become slaves to that business, and unless we grow by using scale to grow our business, we are not going to enjoy the freedom we want. Jim Mills, Financial Advisor with Merit Planning Hills, discusses this dilemma that faces most business owners. If […]
Our guest speaker, Harry Nathoo from Keystone Business Advisory, explores the topic of making great sales in difficult, changing times. Some key areas include: developing an overall strategy for marketing and sales targeting your sales efforts to make the most out of the marketing budgets of small businesses the importance of training sales staff No […]
Sandra Zalud, from Liberty Network Services, discusses the ways that businesses can use business loans. While funding is always an issue when starting a business, a business loan isn’t available until a business has been trading profitably for 2 or more years. There are many other ways that a business loan can be used. For […]
Cloud solutions aren’t just for large businesses. Small businesses can also benefit from using tools that are cloud-based. Having data in the cloud allows users to access information quickly, which enables small businesses to make decisions and react to change effectively. Luke Iacovelli, from UNITECH Solutions, discusses the importance of having your business IT in […]
You may be an expert in your business – but do you know much about protecting your business? How about risk management? Most business owners don’t know very much about insurance and they don’t understand exactly what insurances they will need. Dave Ferris, from DavelCorp Insurance Brokers, discusses why it’s so important for business owners […]
What kind of funding does your business need? What do you need to do before you seek funding? What are the steps involved in preparing and submitting your finance application? Are there alternatives to borrowing? Jason Smith, from Capital Plus Finance, discusses these issues and more. Your finance needs to be part of your overall […]
What’s the point of a business plan? My business is already up and running. Are business plans and goals the same thing? What do you need to include in your business plan? Are there any tools to help me create a business plan? Paul Sweeney, from Pretium Solutions (Chartered Accountant & Business Advisory) discusses why […]
