In today’s fast-changing business landscape, survival isn’t just about cutting costs—it’s about adapting, innovating, and thinking long-term. In this episode, we sit down with Rick Yvanovich, an experienced entrepreneur and business strategist, to explore what it takes to thrive in an era of constant transformation. Whether you’re a start-up founder or an established business leader, this […]
If you’re a business owner who feels overwhelmed, overworked, and constantly in the thick of everything, this episode is a must-listen. Host Paul Sweeney takes a deep dive into the “hub and spoke” model—a common but problematic setup where every decision, task, and communication flows through you, the owner. While this might seem manageable in […]
Are you prepared for the unexpected? Every business will face a crisis at some point—whether it’s a PR disaster, a supply chain breakdown, or a financial emergency. But the difference between businesses that survive and those that struggle often comes down to preparation. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits […]
Are you attracting the right customers for your business, or are you stuck in a cycle of working long hours for clients who aren’t the right fit? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with Marama Carmichael, CEO of Oracle Tree, to uncover why so many business owners struggle […]
One of the most time-consuming and frustrating challenges faced by businesses are meetings, and especially board meetings. From chasing down reports to dealing with last-minute changes and version control issues, the process can quickly become a logistical nightmare. And what a headache (and waste of time) it is reading a slide show on your phone […]
Struggling to close deals? Losing potential customers because you’re not following up effectively? You’re not alone—most business owners and entrepreneurs give up after just two or three follow-ups, missing out on massive sales opportunities. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, sales expert Jacob Hicks shares why consistent follow-up is the secret weapon for increasing conversions, […]
Struggling with supply chain issues? Wondering how disruptions could impact your business—or how to prevent them? You’re not alone! Supply chains became a hot topic during COVID-19, but they remain a critical factor in business success today. Whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, or industry leader, understanding how supply chains work (and how to manage them) can […]
Feeling overwhelmed with endless tasks in your business? You don’t have to do it all alone! In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, we uncover how virtual assistants (VAs) can help you regain your time, reduce stress, and grow your business more efficiently. If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin or unsure about […]
Are you struggling to generate high-quality leads without spending a fortune on marketing? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, we uncover a game-changing strategy that can double or even triple your lead conversion rates—without increasing your marketing budget! Our guest, Maxwell Nee, Chief Revenue Officer at ScoreApp, reveals how quiz marketing is […]
Starting a business is easier than ever, but building a successful one? That’s the real challenge. Many entrepreneurs dive into start-ups without fully understanding the risks, market demands, or financial pitfalls—leading to failure before they even get off the ground. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with Peter Deans, […]
Are you struggling to keep your business afloat, or wondering how to take it to the next level? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, we uncover the secrets of business turnarounds, leadership, and growth strategies with expert Mike Dunlop. With a track record of reviving over 34 failing businesses, Mike shares proven strategies that can […]
Want to create high-quality videos for your business but don’t have the budget or expertise? Video marketing is one of the most powerful tools for engagement, but traditional production can be expensive, time-consuming, and complex. In this episode, we uncover how AI-powered tools can help businesses create professional videos at scale—without breaking the bank. Join host […]
Are you feeling time-poor in your business? Maybe you’re looking for ways to free up time in your busy days? Automation is the key! Learn how some simple strategies and tools can help you make better use of your time. Your business will be more productive and efficient. Some of these time-saving strategies include: Develop […]
Following on from our episode on the benefits of automation, Paul Sweeney (Pretium Solutions) takes a closer look at how you can get started using automations. First of all, it’s important to decide what would benefit from automation. Some of the key things to look for in tasks are as follows: Is it a repetitive […]
You may have heard that Australia is adopting eInvoicing, a new standard and network to help businesses with their invoicing needs. Larissa Walker, the ATO’s eInvoicing Business Adoption Lead, joins us to raise awareness of eInvoicing and to share information on the many benefits to businesses. When we’re talking about eInvoicing, this isn’t just the […]
The premise of ‘keep it simple’ has been widely used and helpful for many people in many scenarios. It’s about not overcomplicating things which can leave room for problems to develop. ‘Keeping it simple’ also applies to business. As a business owner, the more complicated you make things, the more steps that you add in […]
Getting a tax refund is good, right? Everyone loves a tax refund! But, if this tax refund is for your business, then it may be a sign of trouble! It’s time for a closer look at what is happening in your business. Find out why tax refunds are bad for business in this episode with […]
Does your business rely on labour? An aging population and falling immigration rates already reduced our labour market and then COVID-19 made staffing challenges that much harder. So how can your business grow and prosper during these challenging times? Paul Cripps from PK People Solutions explores the issues around labour shortages and provides some ideas […]
Do you need to know more about your customers or competition? What about trends affecting your industry? Or generational shifts in society? Successful businesses are all about providing great solutions to difficult problems faced by your customers. To make sure you are on the right path, it is crucial to have the right information to […]
Delegation can be a great tool for business owners to use – but only if used correctly! Otherwise, employees can feel resentful (“I’m getting the jobs no one else wants!”) or overwhelmed (“This isn’t my job, why am I doing it? I have no idea what to do!”) Raj Nathoo from Keystone Active Learning shares […]
As part of our celebration of our 100th episode, we asked our listeners what topic they would like covered. The consensus was to do a compilation of the best business advice from listeners. So that is what you will find in this jam-packed episode! We heard from business owners and professionals about the strategies that […]
It’s something that all businesses (and individuals) dread – a data breach. We all know by now how important it is to protect our data. But despite the tools and education available, these data breaches still happen. And sometimes, like the recent Optus breach, they are massive. This incident has led to many important questions […]
Sales is commonly listed as a problem area for businesses. But where to begin with fixing things? What can you do to improve your sales? Nathan Williams, founder of Customer Return, joins us to look at some of the biggest sales issues faced by businesses including: Developing the right pitch Creating a sales process that […]
Running your own business is amazing, right? The freedom, the power, the money – more like, the STRESS! Stress is something that everyone experiences, but for small business owners, it can feel extreme as you try to grapple with every problem imaginable and find solutions to please everyone. It’s an uphill battle that can leave […]
Running a successful business is all about the profit, right? While being profitable is the ultimate goal of a business, one of the most important factors (and one of the biggest pain points) is management of cash flow. So what can you do to improve your cash flow? Paul Sweeney from Pretium Solutions explores some […]
We assume accuracy is beneficial all of the time, but perhaps not always necessary. You can think of situations where accuracy might be sacrificed for speed perhaps, creativity, or just to get the ball moving on a project. Remember the saying by Catherine Carrigan, ‘Perfect is the enemy of done.’ But when is accuracy essential in business? Accuracy […]
Standard operating procedures (or SOPs) are about making things simpler at work and saving time. The work day is full of so many tasks and it makes sense to keep things as easy as possible. SOPs help you organise and streamline your activities to make the best use of your time. This is especially important […]
Are you guilty of mindless spending at work? Maybe you have cash leaking from your business and you don’t even realise it! Paul Sweeney (Pretium Solutions) explores some of the most common areas where money is wasted: Unused or under-used subscriptions Unnecessary licences Old subscriptions from past employees Automatic renewals These areas are often overlooked […]
Maybe you’ve been wondering how this podcast came about? A bunch of factors coming together resulted in Paul Sweeney wanting to create a podcast focused on helping small business owners. First of all, Paul comes from a small town where he saw first hand the implications of local businesses succeeding or failing. Success of failure […]
Paul Sweeney, the host of The Business Behind Your Business, is back and ready for another exciting year of delving into the world of small business. We are settling into 2023 now with the Australian summer holidays fading into memory and busy routines returning. We are also seeing a push from many businesses to have […]
Are you feeling stuck in the day to day routines of your corporate job? Have you ever dreamed of running your own business? You are not alone! Many people take the plunge into the SME waters – but is it worth it? And is it the right decision for you? If you are thinking about […]
Business owners spend a lot of time thinking about the things they should be doing. What are the latest trends to get on top of? What are the newest tools you need to be using? What are your goals and targets for the year ahead? But few business owners take the time to think about what […]
Do you feel like you are stuck in a rut making the same goals for your business every year because these goals are never achieved? Maybe it’s time to take a closer look at how you are setting your goals. Paul Sweeney (Pretium Solutions) explores how goals are developed – and asks the all-important question […]
Did you know that a series of changes to industrial relations laws have been happening in Australia? Some have come into effect in Dec 2022 and others are happening throughout 2023. Many business owners are not aware of these changes. It is necessary for business owners to keep on top of this information – ignorance […]
Are you curious about starting a business? Do you want to learn more about the SaaS industry? Maybe you are interested in becoming an entrepreneur yourself? Listen in and gain some insight from our special guest, Stuart McLeod, co-founder of Karbon. Stuart has had many experiences as an entrepreneur. He started off in his early […]
The Melissa Caddick Ponzi scheme rocked the investment world when it came to light a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, this kind of fraudulent behaviour is nothing new or unusual and we all need to guard against it. Our special guest, Bruce Gleeson (Jones Partners), is the liquidator for Melissa Caddick and has been very […]
