Go Beyond Busy: The Small Business Growth Podcast

Christine Abela speaks with Pip Scott-Allen about team building for business growth, covering leadership, culture, and staff retention. They discuss why businesses struggle with turnover, the difference between team bonding and real team building, and how data can improve team performance. A practical conversation for business owners who want stronger teams and better results. Show notes and trans...

What changes when you turn a product you love into a real business? In this episode of Go Beyond Busy: The Small Business Growth Podcast, Christine Abela talks with Monika Bliesze, New Zealand distributor for Heat It, a device that helps reduce itching and pain from insect bites using heat. Monika shares the shift from being a fan of a product to selling it professionally. Customer reactions chang...

Monique Bradley joins Christine Abela to talk about how communication shapes every part of a business, from confidence and leadership through to sales and visibility. Monique shares her journey from performing arts into keynote speaking and coaching, and why learning to back yourself can change the direction of your business. The conversation looks at how many business owners drift into work they...

Many business owners are very good at what they do, but still struggle to explain it clearly. That gap often comes down to marketing message clarity. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy: The Small Business Growth Podcast , Christine Abela speaks with Adam Nassor about why expertise alone doesn’t bring in clients, and how unclear messaging can quietly hold a business back. They discuss the “curse of...

What if the real challenge in your business is not strategy, but self-awareness? In this episode of Go Beyond Busy, Christine Abela speaks with Anni Eza of Seeds of Bliss about how understanding yourself more deeply can change how you run your business. They discuss intuition as a practical decision-making tool, why constant effort can be a sign you are heading in the wrong direction, and how hidd...

In this episode of Go Beyond Busy – The Small Business Growth Podcast , Christine Abela speaks with Robert Campbell from Aspire Media in Northern Ireland. Robert shares how his team supports a wide range of organisations including charities, retailers, childcare providers, fitness professionals, and local food businesses. The conversation looks at how digital marketing can help organisations build...

Being busy does not always mean your business is growing. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy: The Small Business Growth Podcast , Christine Abela speaks with Kathy Hadizadeh from Heart Mind Tuning about why many entrepreneurs feel overwhelmed even when they are working constantly. They discuss the difference between activity and real progress, the role of focus in business productivity, and why hav...

Lean Process Improvement is not just for large manufacturing companies. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy , Christine Abela speaks with Tim Niewand from Informed Lean Solutions about eliminating business waste and improving operational efficiency in real-world businesses. Tim explains the Lean methodology, the TIMWOODS framework, and how continuous improvement through Kaizen can transform the way...

Branding is more than a logo. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy , Christine Abela speaks with Katie Smetherman, founder of Brand Studio Creative in Dallas, Texas, about what business owners often misunderstand about branding. Contact Katie: https://www.brandstudiocreative.com/ Katie shares why asking for help early in business can prevent costly mistakes, especially around financial foundations. S...

Commercial cleaning staff training is often informal, inconsistent, and delivered to people working alone at night. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy , Christine Abela speaks with Clifford Wilson, a commercial cleaner based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. With more than 10 years of experience, Clifford shares what training really looks like in practice. The conversation covers: • Working night sh...

In this episode of Go Beyond Busy , Christine Abela sits down with Dan Lewis from Financial Wellness Group to talk about how values, habits, and relationships shape better business decisions. The conversation centres on Dan’s practical “life triangle” approach, where values sit at the core, supported by habits and discipline, and strengthened through intentional relationships. The discussion exami...

John Anderton has spent more than 25 years building and scaling businesses across manufacturing, software, and global team models. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy , he shares what he wishes he had understood earlier about running a business without carrying everything himself. The conversation looks at the balance between working in the business and stepping back to put structure in place. John...

In this episode of Go Beyond Busy , Christine Abela speaks with James McGovern, founder of Candoo Property Services. James reflects on more than twenty years in business and shares what he wishes he had understood earlier, particularly around systems, structure, and focus. The conversation examines why unfocused meetings slow progress, how long-term goals translate into practical weekly action, an...

Client attraction often breaks down when business owners feel they need to convince, chase, or over explain. The result is plenty of activity, but too many conversations that feel uncomfortable or misaligned. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy , Christine Abela speaks with Tommi Murshed-Parrish from Convert More, Chase Less about why confidence changes how clients respond, and how real client stori...

Cash flow issues often appear later than expected, even in businesses that look well organised on paper. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy , Christine Abela speaks with Nick Hau from Moneta Insurance in Christchurch about what running his own business taught him the hard way. The conversation covers why annual forecasts are not enough, how weekly cash flow tracking changed decision-making, and wha...

Running a small business is hard enough without the stress of messy accounts. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy, Christine Abela chats with Corinna Bogenrieder from CB Solutions https://CBSolutions.nz , a New Zealand-based bookkeeper who brings a rare blend of structure, empathy, and experience to the numbers side of business. Corinna shares how she supports tradespeople, retailers, and profession...

James and Angela Mitchell from Love Intentionally work with married entrepreneur couples to help them grow stronger relationships and stronger businesses. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy , they share what they wish they had known earlier, the power of marriage meetings, and why a solid home life is good business strategy. Listen now or go to https://GoBeyondBusy.com to get your free Business Str...

In this episode of Go Beyond Busy, Christine chats with Mari Wuellner, founder of The Crew and owner of a successful insurance agency, she’s learned to step away from. Mari shares what it really means to trust your team, embrace the messy side of business, and build a company that supports your lifestyle. They discuss leadership, letting go of perfection, and what happens when you disconnect from...

In this episode of Go Beyond Busy, host Christine Abela talks with Alston D'Silva, founder of 42Voice in Auckland, New Zealand. Alston shares how small businesses can use AI-powered voice assistants to handle incoming and outgoing calls, improve response times, and reduce stress for busy teams. From tradies and doctors to property managers and car rentals, 42Voice provides tailored, human-like...

In this episode of Go Beyond Busy, Christine Abela interviews Lukas Liedtke, co-founder of Heat It, the innovative medical device that uses heat to stop the itch and pain from insect bites. Lukas explains how Heat It started as a university project and grew into a product now sold across Europe, the United States, and New Zealand. He shares the science behind the device, the challenges of producin...

Alex Frew is no stranger to the rollercoaster of business ownership. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy , Christine Abela speaks with Alex about the realities of building, scaling, and leading multiple businesses in different countries, including the lessons learned when things didn’t go to plan. Alex opens up about the tough stuff: navigating co-founder dynamics, dealing with legal challenges, and...

Boosting Business Success Through Customer Reviews and Dynamic SEO: Insights from Dr. Jürgen KolbVisit Jürgen's site: https://HibiscusJetSkiHire.co.nzIn this episode of 'Go Beyond Busy,' host Christine Abela concludes her interview with Dr. Jürgen Kolb from Hibiscus Jet Ski Hire in Auckland, New Zealand. Dr. Kolb shares critical insights on using targeted advertising, maximizing the impact of cust...

In this episode of 'Go Beyond Busy,' host Christine Abela engages with Dr. Jürgen Kolb, owner of Hibiscus Jet Ski Hire in Auckland, New Zealand. https://HibiscusJetSkiHire.co.nz They discuss Jürgen's experiences and insights from running his jet ski hire business. Jürgen shares the challenges he faced, such as initial customer hesitation and safety concerns, and how he navigates these obstacles. T...

In this first episode of Season 2, Christine Abela talks with Geoff Brokenshire from Rangiriri Consultants about networking for business growth. They discuss how genuine relationships, consistent effort, and community involvement can strengthen a small business far more than quick marketing fixes. Learn how to build trust, connect with purpose, and grow your business through calm, steady action. B...

If you’ve been hearing about ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and other AI platforms—but you’re not sure which ones are actually useful for your business—this episode is your shortcut. In this episode of Go Beyond Busy, Christine Abela offers a clear, practical comparison of the leading AI tools available to small business owners. No jargon. No fluff. Just the pros, cons, and use cases that ma...