Business Essentials

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 Ref...

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: Sound...

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 Ess...

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...

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 thr...

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 dur...

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...

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....

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 be...

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 mutua...

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 do...

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 t...

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 businesse...

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...

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. Busi...

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 soundcar...

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...

To be a better, more productive team member, don't get distracted and don't disrupt others around you. That’s advice from Dermot Crowley, author of ‘Smart Teams: How to work better together.’ Two disruptive patterns we all create at work are emails and meetings. Dermot asks, do you really need to copy someone on a message who doesn’t need it? And, must you always drag someone into a meeting who do...

Are you sick of not charging enough for what you do – but you don’t dare increase your prices for fear of customers leaving you in droves? Then sit back and listen to some salient advice from Australia’s number one business author, Andrew Griffiths. Enough’s enough, he’ll tell you. Be brave and take a leap into “expensive” territory. It’ll transform your business – and your life!   Business Essent...

If tyre kickers are tying up your time seeking quotes and proposals without coming through with the work – then it’s time to call them out. Preparing detailed proposals is a time-consuming part of any sales person’s job. There’s a substantial cost involved, says respected sales expert Sue Barrett, Director of Barrett Consulting Group, and you can’t afford to waste time if that client seldom or nev...

If your team isn’t performing as best as it should, perhaps the reason is you. The ingredients to building a successful team comes down to the boss’s accountability, ownership and leading by example. That’s according to Karen Gately, CEO of Corporate Dojo, who offers a six-step solution for leaders to effectively influence the success of their team. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundC...

What's your story? Every business has one, and it will help you better connect with potential customers by telling it. Sales expert Colin Pearce says storytelling works if you want to build brand value. Stories move people and they’re a wonderful way to create memorable experiences about your business which will build loyalty and keep your customers coming back. Business Essentials Daily is produc...

Writing down your goals is one thing, but following through on them is quite another. Entrepreneur Matthew Michalewicz has developed several technology companies in the US and Australia, his last achieving revenue from start-up to $20m in just 7 years. A much sought-after speaker and now co-founder and managing director of Complexica, Matthew shares his secrets to success in business and life. Bus...

Whether retirement is a long way off or just around the corner, it’s something you should always be planning for. But, retirement can be complex. You need to consider investment assets, tax implications, downsizing, superannuation and whether your money will last. Noel Whittaker, Australia’s most trusted finance writer, explains what you need to consider when investing in your future. Business Ess...

The labels marketers use to describe consumers no longer serve the purpose they used to. That’s according to customer engagement expert, Michael Solomon, whose book, ‘The New Chameleons’, outlines how consumers defy the categories in which businesses often put them. The world today has made our lives more complex and so too the job of the marketer. Michael says the first step is recognising that d...