The Business Behind Your Business - Real Advice to Help Small Business Owners Build, Lead and Thrive

There comes a point in every business where working harder isn’t the answer anymore—something needs to change. In this episode, Paul Sweeney is joined by Ron James, a fractional Chief Operating Officer (COO) who helps growing businesses move out of constant firefighting and into structured, scalable operations. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in the day-to-day, or unsure how to adapt to incre...

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, communication, and leadershi...

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 should have existed long before it ever started. If y...

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 happens (and more importantly, how to fix it.) You’ll learn how to clos...

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, more predictable decisions . Instead of relying on what worked for someone else or...

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 it or not), and how small leadership behaviours can create either a positive ripple effect… or...

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 increasingly noisy and AI-dr...

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 a practical, actionable approach to planning that fits the realities...

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 by focusing on core principles, build long-term...

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 one of the most powerful – and most underutilised – profit leve...

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 — and what to do instead. You’ll discover how to move awa...

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 Sidd Bahree to break down how business a...

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 what they call the accountability gap —a si...

What if your products are great, your website looks professional, and your SEO has been solid for years — yet customers are quietly disappearing? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business , host Paul Sweeney sits down with e‑commerce growth expert Matthew Stafford to unpack one of the biggest shifts business owners are facing right now: how AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Gr...

If you’ve built a great product or developed a powerful idea and are thinking about taking it global, one critical question quickly arises: how do you protect your intellectual property internationally without burning through your cash?  In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business , host Paul Sweeney sits down with experienced patent attorney Austin Bonderer to demystify international pat...

What does true wealth really mean — and who gets to define it? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business , host Paul Sweeney is joined by Nancy Griffin, founder of Women, Worth & Wellness , for a powerful conversation that challenges traditional ideas about money, success, and legacy. If you’re a business owner, leader, or entrepreneur — particularly a woman navigating growth, respo...

Most business owners open LinkedIn with a sense of dread. Cold pitches, generic messages, and wasted time have led many to believe the platform simply doesn’t work. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business , host Paul Sweeney is joined by LinkedIn expert John Nemo to challenge that belief and reveal how LinkedIn can become a powerful, predictable source of genuine business opportunitie...

In a digital world where it’s easier than ever to create and distribute content, many business owners and creators are unknowingly losing value from the assets they’ve already built. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business , host Paul Sweeney is joined by Paul Goldman, Founder and CEO of Muserk, to explore how hidden value slips through the cracks — and how technology can help recover...

Is it possible to build wealth and freedom without quitting your day job or sacrificing your family life ? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business , Paul Sweeney is joined by Billy Keels, former corporate executive turned entrepreneur, to explore a smarter path to generational wealth. If you’re a high‑performing professional who feels stuck on the corporate treadmill but unsure how to...

What would actually happen if you injected $250,000 into your business tomorrow—would it create real value, or disappear into unfocused spending? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business , host Paul Sweeney sits down with Rodrigo Rodriguez-Novás to tackle one of the most common (and costly) challenges facing founders and business owners: the gap between big ideas and disciplined execut...

If you’re a business owner thinking about private equity, growth, or an eventual exit , this episode could save you years of stress — and potentially millions of dollars. Most founders only learn how private equity really works after they’ve signed a term sheet, when it’s often too late to negotiate from a position of strength.  Paul Sweeney is joined by Alexis Sikorsky, founder of KnightScale Par...

What happens when you want to grow your business—but you refuse to lose its heart in the process? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business , host Paul Sweeney sits down with Nuttha Goutier, founder of Sabai Thai Spa, to explore how small business owners can scale, franchise, and systemise without sacrificing values, culture, or authenticity . If you’re worried that growth might dilute...

Most business owners don’t start their companies dreaming of 80-hour weeks, missed family milestones, and being trapped as the bottleneck — yet that’s exactly where many end up. This episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur who feels time-poor, overworked, or guilty about trading family moments for business growth. You’ll learn how to reclaim 10–20 hours per week , remove yourself as the bott...

If you’ve ever wondered why digital transformation projects fail or felt unsure about what “disruption” actually means, this episode brings much-needed clarity. You’ll learn the difference between digitalisation, transformation, and disruption — and how each impacts your business differently. Host Paul Sweeney is joined by Juan Jose “J.J.” de la Torre, CEO of Raven and author of the award-winning...

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s truly possible to grow and scale a business without compromising on the values it was founded on, this episode will give you the blueprint. In today’s conversation, you’ll learn how PLNT Burger has expanded rapidly in a highly competitive industry—while staying firmly rooted in its purpose of creating joyful, sustainable, inclusive food experiences. Whether you...