Business Essentials Daily features interviews with business experts and industry leaders, providing up-to-date, insightful advice on wide-ranging topics, including winning sales strategies, HR issues, mental health and leadership.
Hosted by Nicole Goodman, the goal is to encourage and inspire a new generation of Australian business owners to grow healthier, happier and more profitable businesses.
Business Essentials Daily is a podcast three decades in the making, from SoundCartel, the producers of the world's longest-running business audio magazine, 'Business Essentials'.
Business Essentials Daily is produced by the team at SoundCartel - executive producer Heather Dawson, producers by Nick Schildberger, Chris Ashmore and Nicole Goodman. Technical production by Pete Letts and Belinda Trimboli.
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Business Essentials Daily
SoundCartel
+61 3 9882 8333
How does your brand stand out from your competitors? Do you use tired, cliched images on your website, or are you a bit more creative? Brand creator and consultant, Bec Hughes, says to succeed in brand design, you need to provide memorable experiences for your potential customers. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Few could have guessed that an overweight young man with an eating disorder would go on to found one of Australia’s most popular fitness brands, but that’s Aaron Smith’s true story. In this episode, the founder of KX Pilates discusses his new book, “Define Yourself: When Passion, Purpose and Business Collide.” Aaron overcame immense personal and business setbacks to start a company that now includes more than a hundred studios in six countries. He explores the highs and lows that shaped both his...
Being a coach and umpire at the highest level of elite AFL sport has taught Jeff “the Giesch” Gieschen a thing or two about leadership and the nurturing of star performers. Now he’s transferring those lessons to the business world. Leadership’s tough, he’ll tell us, but fairness, empathy and team spirit are paramount if you want to move from good to great. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
When it comes to the cascade of AI tools entering the market, be wary of relying too heavily on them to communicate with your audience. Customer service legend Barry Urquhart insists there is nothing more frustrating than having to deal with AI bots, when all customers or clients want is to speak with a real human. While AI can enhance efficiency and productivity, he says, it should be used to complement human interaction rather than replace it. So, before investing in new AI technologies, busin...
More than 60% of Australians over 18 years old have a LinkedIn profile. While the popular social media platform is ideal for sourcing and developing business leads, most people don’t use it effectively, according to Karen Tisdell. Karen helps people to craft their LinkedIn profiles and offers lessons on building connections through the platform. To generate leads Karen recommends proactively searching for potential clients, personalising connection invites, and building relationships through eng...
When dealing with government, business owners should be concise, polite, and persistent. That’s according to the Director of Unravelling Red Tape, Elaine Abery, whose spent her career battling the bureaucracy on behalf of businesses. She says owners shouldn’t be afraid of governments or the big businesses they’re having trouble with, and that change — even legislative change — is possible with the right approach. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882...
As we head into another year, have you wondered how other businesses are handling their HR function? Karen Gately, Founder and CEO of Corporate Dojo, reflects on the most important trends in HR and workplace culture right now. They include embracing technology – in particular AI – to enhance the employee experience from onboarding to performance management. Other trends include leadership, hybrid workplaces, DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) issues, and supporting employee well-being and men...
Like it or not, customers are always measuring the way they’re treated. The way they feel could be the difference between returning or not. That observation is from customer service guru and CEO of ServiceQ, Jaquie Scammell. To improve customer service, you need to change specific habits. In this episode, Jaquie outlines some tips from her book, ‘Service Habits: 21 habits to transform your service culture’. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 ...
Monash University economist Professor Robert Brooks explains why it is that Australia, and the world, avoided a widely forecast recession in 2023. Professor Brooks highlights the unexpected resilience in economic growth, attributing it to factors like sustained demand for Australian commodities and the quicker-than-expected relief of supply chain issues. He also delves into the intricate balance of monetary policy, global influences, and domestic economic management. He suggests that while growt...
So many different online tools are now available to plan your workday and record the important elements of your business. But whether you use them or old school pen and paper, it’s crucial to record your thoughts, or risk forgetting what you’ve done or the goals you’re trying to achieve. Productivity guru Les Watson explains why he’s a fan of record-keeping and setting time aside for review and reflection. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 S...
Business owners shouldn’t be afraid of taking on government departments if they have a valid complaint. So says Unravelling Red Tape Director Elaine Abery — an expert in dealing with the bureaucracy. Large businesses are constantly talking to governments, but SME proprietors can find it too intimidating. Elaine Abery says that once data is collated and thoughts written down on paper, there’s nothing to stop smaller business owners from talking to departmental managers, who, she says, actually wa...
Customers don’t like it when they’re told “No, you can’t do that,” or “No, you can’t have that.” Many organisations insist on rules and regulatory systems to control and handle large numbers of customers. The problem is, observes entrepreneur Roy Osing, they ignore customers as individuals, which leaves them annoyed and upset. And you don’t want that! Instead, Roy encourages businesses to implement a strategy of “yes”. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 ...
Affiliate marketing, or influence marketing, is promoting someone else’s product or service in return for an award. It’s more common these days as consumer’s eyes are glued on social media. But, lawyer Tracey Mylecharane says she will never agree to be an affiliate for someone else’s product or service. She’s happy to give recommendations if someone asks, but she sees the formal process of affiliate marketing as a conflict to her own business and values. Business Essentials Daily is produced by:...
KX Pilates is the Australian fitness chain that muscled in on the local market. The idea was first sparked while its founder, Aaron Smith, was travelling abroad. Following his gut instinct and with no formal business qualifications, he’s propelled his business into an industry juggernaut with 109 studios across six countries. In this episode, Aaron shares the story of how innovative customised Reformer Pilates machines, exclusive to KX Pilates studios, have revolutionised the workout experience....
The federal government is considering amending the definition of a ‘casual employee’. It’s not enough to offer and agree to casual employment for your staff if the manner in which the employee works doesn’t fit the definition. Janet Tan, a Senior Associate at Justitia Lawyers, says there could potentially be penalties if employees are misclassified. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
They say, you are what you eat, and with good reason. The Western diet with its highly processed foods, sugars and salts, can make you feel drowsy, lead to weight gain and even diabetes. Dietitian Kate Save discusses the impact of a poor diet, and she outlines a lifestyle which will make you healthier, happier and more energetic – all of which are key to running a successful business. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/list...
It’s an annual tradition, this time of year, for Business Essentials Daily to talk with Melbourne University Economics Professor Neville Norman, for his take on the economic year ahead, and how it will impact upon small businesses. Neville breaks down the economic landscape into four key themes — G for growth, R for rates of interest, I for inflation, and P for policy. He calls it his “Get a GRIP on the Economy”. Reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the most likely future, he examine...
At a time when so much feels out of our control, there are some things we can be disciplined about, that will likely result in a successful outcome. With more than 30 years coaching and consulting experience, Mike Goldman’s goal is to help build individual and team discipline, much of it explained in his number one best-selling book ‘Breakthrough Leadership Team.’ In this interview Mike offers three practical ways to develop discipline. Reference: Find out how Mike Goldman can transform your tea...
Andrew May has been a skills coach and mentor to some of the country’s top-performing sports teams and athletes for many years. How do elite athletes perform at their best, and are there any lessons from them for those in business? Andrew says it’s important to start the year by planning ahead, and that means ensuring you schedule in enough breaks so that your body and mind are not overwhelmed during the long 12 months. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61...
An increasing number of business owners are realising that a good workplace culture is important for business health and success. Problem is, they’re not sure what they can do to improve their company culture. To help is culture change specialist, Colin Ellis, who shares a whole range of ideas from his book, ‘Culture Hacks’. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
After 30 years of experience, one of Australia’s best real estate agents knows exactly how to navigate the "fee reduction?" question. If you can explain why your service is better than your competitors, you shouldn’t have to compromise on price. James Tostevin’s passion for his job and disciplined work ethic helps explain why he is so good at what he does, which translates into phenomenal success. And the lessons he gives to Business Essentials can be applied to any business. Business Essentials...
Preparation is so important to telephone sales – have a script, write down key objections, but most importantly "master your mindset". That's the advice from Ashleigh Hoult, founder and director of The PromoDonna. These days a lot of businesses are reluctant to do cold-calling as a business strategy and have lost the art of speaking on the phone. That paves the way for others who understand the benefits of cold-calling, so long as they know the tricks to get to the decision-maker and make a comp...
Show humility, be open and transparent, and be comfortable within your own skin. Those are some of the qualities of good leadership. Tony Gattari, Founder and Managing Director of Achievers Group, says charisma isn't necessarily the way to achieve great leadership – instead it's making yourself vulnerable and open with your team, and having brutally honest and fearless conversations to build mutual respect. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 ...
A little doubt can be a good thing, but too much can stop growth and cripple your business. Coach and keynote speaker, Terry Barridge, says confidence comes from doing things you’re familiar with, but if you’re taken out of your comfort zone, do you lose all confidence? In a changing business environment, future leaders need to move out of their comfort zone more often and learn to handle their doubts. Terry has some tricks on how to battle the negative self-talk, build confidence and exorcise t...
The frontline of business is customer service. That's where we engage with customers and – hopefully – persuade people to buy. But, why do some frontline staff fail? It comes down to a lack of empowerment, according to customer service expert, Michael Carrick. When people feel empowered, they're much better at helping others. When we take care of our own people, Michael insists, our people will take care of our business. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +6...
Don’t give up - do it regularly and consistently and you'll reap the benefits. Just like an exercise regimen, prospecting for clients can be daunting - particularly the cold-calling side. But prospecting is more than just cold-calling, and if done properly it can bring real benefits to your business. Ingrid Maynard knows - she’s had more than 25 years' experience in sales and she advises businesses on lead generation through her company, The Sales Doctor. Ingrid explains what it takes to be a gr...
A few years ago, Australian Rules football legend, Rodney Eade, changed his coaching boots for the corporate sector, offering businesses lessons in leadership, especially around the area of change. Rodney's venture is called Facing Change – a timely initiative as the world of business transforms as never before. Like team sport, he's found building a strong culture in the workplace helps bring the best out of everyone and improves the bottom line. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundC...
Mandy Holloway isn't a fan of your typical performance management appraisals which allow managers to hide behind a system. Instead, she says, managers should talk with their staff more often and in a meaningful way. Mandy outlines the seven types of conversations you should have with your team members on a regular basis to help motivate them and ultimately increase the business's performance. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio....
Many "new" ideas already exist in some form or other — does yours bring something better to the market? Business Adviser and Author, Alan Hargreaves, has three rules to test a new idea for success: Is it needed? Does it work? Can it be done better? Alan insists if your idea provides more convenience for consumers, it might be a winner. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
It’s a fine line: having the perseverance and grit to constantly manage a business, without succumbing to burnout. Andrew May, CEO of StriveStronger, recognises the challenge businesses face and says looking after your physical and psychological wellbeing is paramount to a healthy business. He says you shouldn’t ignore the signs that your body and mind might be suffering. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...
