The Critical Few Actions

John Downes
The Critical Few Actions

Overwhelmed by trying to do it all? Focus on the criticalfewactions™ that will have the biggest impact on your business's success. In this podcast, host John Downes, a seasoned business advisor with extensive experience in Big Consulting, successful entrepreneurship, and mentoring, helps you defeat the overwhelm. Through real stories from business leaders, experts insights, and John’s own experience, you’ll learn how to prioritize those criticalfewactions™ that, if you did nothing else, will drive your business forward to deliver your vision. We’ll cover everything from setting your vision and strategy to improving profitability and supporting your team’s performance so that you get more pleasure, fulfillment, and financial reward from your business.. Subscribe now and tune in every two weeks to take control of your business’s future—one focused step at a time.

  1. Chris Moore: Sailor's Grave quest to save a dying timber town

    4 DAYS AGO

    Chris Moore: Sailor's Grave quest to save a dying timber town

    Click or copy the link below to find out more about my CEOMasterclass that has delivered more than$65 Million in added value to the participants businesses. https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/PeterWestlundCEOMC1 Meet the Founder: Chris Moore - Sailor's Grave Brewery saving a dying timber town, one beer at a time Go to EpPageURL for the download, contact details, and more information about this exciting business Join us in this episode of the @CriticalFewActions podcast as Chris Moore, co-founder of Sailor's Grave Brewery, shares the journey of starting the brewery in the rural town of Marlowe, Australia. From landscape architecture to running a restaurant, and finally plunging into the beer industry, Chris explains the motivations, challenges, and creative inspirations behind Sailor's Grave. Discover how a passion for community and unique beer flavors drives their business model, the lessons learned from U.S. breweries, and the ambitious plans for future growth despite the obstacles faced along the way. 00:00 The Beginning of Sailor's Grave 00:56 From Landscape Architects to Brewers 02:04 The U.S. Research Trip 04:01 Building a Business Model 05:14 Challenges and Growth 06:44 The Unique Identity of Sailor's Grave 08:02 Community and Economic Impact 20:17 Navigating Organizational Challenges 23:33 Expansion and Future Plans 29:43 #CriticalFewActions™for CEOs #CraftBeerIndustry #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #CommunityImpact #LeadershipLessons #Podcast Sponsored by the CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning & Implementation. URL

    39 min
  2. Michelle Bourke - Foresight Digital - Smashing your eCommerce ROI

    3 DEC

    Michelle Bourke - Foresight Digital - Smashing your eCommerce ROI

    Michelle Bourke - Foresight Digital - Smashing your eCommerce ROIFind out More about the CEO Masterclass here (https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/MichelleBourkeCEOMC1) Check out the Epsiode Website here (https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/MichelleBourkeInformation) Mastering Ecommerce ROI: Strategies and Insights with Michelle Bourke In this episode of the #CriticalFewActions™ podcast, host John Downes speaks with Michelle Bourke of Foresight Digital. They discuss strategies to boost Ecommerce return on investment (ROI), with a special focus on SEO, paid advertising, and conversion rate optimization. Michelle shares her journey from client-side to agency-side marketing, highlighting the importance of understanding customer behavior and the evolving challenges in the Ecommerce landscape, especially post-COVID. They dive deep into practical tips, from leveraging organic search and paid ads to utilizing AI for marketing strategies. Michelle also discusses the impact of AI, the significance of understanding consumer behavior through tools like Clarity, and the importance of focusing on critical actions for business growth. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 01:19 Meet Michelle Bourke: Journey and Expertise 02:48 Impact of COVID on E-commerce 08:17 High Impact Strategies for Digital ROI 17:22 Understanding SEO for E-commerce 44:38 Paid Advertising: Meta vs. Google 53:25 Leveraging PMAX for E-commerce Success 54:44 Choosing Between Meta and Google Ads 55:42 Exploring Alternative Advertising Channels 58:00 Understanding Customer Behavior for Better Conversion 01:01:00 Optimizing E-commerce Websites for Higher Conversion Rates 01:17:33 The Role of AI in Marketing and E-commerce 01:31:10 The #Critical Few Actions for E-commerce Growth 01:34:33 Insights from the CEO Masterclass 01:41:10 How to Work with Foresight Digital

    1h 47m
  3. Steve Ronalds - Gippsland Jersey - Giving farmers a fair go

    26 NOV

    Steve Ronalds - Gippsland Jersey - Giving farmers a fair go

    Transforming the Dairy Industry: The Journey of Gippsland JerseyIn this episode of #CriticalFewActions™ to Improve Your Business podcast, host John Downes interviews Steve Ronald, co-founder of Gippsland Jersey. Steve shares the inspiring journey of how he and Sally Jones started Gippsland Jersey in 2016 to help dairy farmers receive fair pricing amid industry crises. They discuss the steps taken to value-add to their milk, the challenges of sustainable production, the importance of fair pricing, mental health advocacy, and acts of kindness. Steve also reflects on building the business, overcoming obstacles, and future aspirations for expansion and resilience in the dairy industry. The episode provides a deep dive into strategic growth, team building, and staying true to foundational values. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:26 The Founding of Gippsland Jersey 01:03 Steve's Journey in Dairy Farming 02:45 Challenges in the Dairy Industry 04:23 The Turning Point: Value-Added Milk 04:49 Partnering with Sally Jones 12:53 Launching the Milk Brand 19:14 Expanding the Business 30:40 Exploring Product Offerings and Profitability 31:06 Impact of Supermarkets on the Dairy Industry 34:22 Unique Selling Points of Gippsland Jersey 40:18 Challenges and Roadblocks in the Dairy Business 43:43 Future Growth and Expansion Plans 47:20 Advice the #CriticalFewActions™ for CEOs Download the shownotes here #Podcast #DairyIndustry #SustainableFarming #FairTrade #Entrepreneurship #MentalHealthAwareness #businessgrowth #MindsetMatters

    1 hr
  4. Dr Lucy Burns - Building an online business to empower Doctors and Patients

    18 NOV

    Dr Lucy Burns - Building an online business to empower Doctors and Patients

    Dr Lucy Burns - Building an online business to empower Doctors and PatientsLearn More About My CEO Masterclass Here (https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/LucyBurnsCEOMC1) Transforming Weight Management: Dr Lucy Burns on Building an Online Business to Empower Doctors and Patient weight loss. In this episode of the #CriticalFewActions™ podcast, host John Downes speaks with Dr. Lucy Burns, a General Practitioner and specialist in lifestyle medicine. Dr. Burns discusses her transition from traditional one-on-one weight management clinics to founding an online weight loss training organisation with Dr. Mary Barson. They delve into the challenges and successes of moving to a one-to-many model, leveraging their medical and psychological expertise, and the complexities of marketing and scaling their business. Dr. Burns shares insights on their unique approach to weight management, emphasising mindset and behavioural change over conventional diet-centric methods, and offers strategic advice for business leaders. Click here for Lucy's Checklist and the Insights and References pdf 00:00 Introduction to #CriticalFewActions™ Podcast 00:26 Meet Dr. Lucy Burns: From Practitioner to Online Weight Loss Trainer 01:09 Challenges and Innovations in Weight Management 03:35 Business Model and Service Offerings 05:33 Marketing Strategies and Overcoming Barriers 08:22 Understanding Customer Psychology and Behavior 12:24 Industry Challenges and Competitor Landscape 24:28 Leadership and Personal Growth 25:13 Navigating Professional Boundaries and Regulations 26:39 Overcoming Business Roadblocks 27:44 Scaling and Managing Growth 28:26 The #CriticalFewActions™ and Final Thoughts #Podcast #WeightManagement #OnlineBusiness #LifestyleMedicine #businessgrowth #MindsetMatters

    33 min
  5. Linda Murray - How to get great players to play together - Athena Leadership Academy

    29 OCT

    Linda Murray - How to get great players to play together - Athena Leadership Academy

    Linda Murray - How to get great players to play together - Athena Leadership AcademyThis podcast a small snippet of how John's CEO MasterClass can help you - Click Here to find out more (https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/LindaMurrayInformation) Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1996 and took control of the company when he returned. Apple was just 90 days from bankruptcy. Steve, took Apple from near bankruptcy to 400 billion in net worth in just 15 years. That's nothing short of spectacular. So how did he do that? In today's podcast, we're talking about a core element of his philosophy that really helped them along their journey. Steve said in an interview that wasn't published in its entirety until after he passed away: "a team working really hard on something that they're really passionate about. It's through the team, through that group of talented people, bumping up against each other. Having arguments, having fights sometimes, making some noise, working together, they polish each other, and polish the ideas, and what comes out of these is really beautiful stones. It's hard to explain, and it's certainly not the result of one person, but it really was a team effort on the new Mac." Steve understood. The importance of having the right people in the right place, but also having the right culture to help them flourish. And that's a huge part of what turned that company around from being nearly in bankruptcy to being the 3. 5 trillion business that it is today. In this episode, as part of my CEO Masterclass, Linda Murray of Athena Leadership Academy talks about the importance of having the right culture for your organisation and how to develop it. 0:00 Introduction to Organisational Culture 6:50 What is culture? 11:26 Examples of great cultures. And Why 13:50 What is the Vision? 19:45 Psychological Safety - the birthplace of innovation and performance 25:27 Southwest Airlines 29:27 What are the behaviours that would enhance your vision, and some that might detract? 32:24 Recognition, Rituals & Cues 38:47 How do we continuously reinforce the Values with our teams? 41:50 Measuring employee engagement 44:00 The 5 Languages Of Appreciation At Work 46:25 What if staff are not good at receiving positive feedback? 48:00 CEO #criticalfewactions Click here for Linda''s Checklist and the Insights and References pdf

    46 min
5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Overwhelmed by trying to do it all? Focus on the criticalfewactions™ that will have the biggest impact on your business's success. In this podcast, host John Downes, a seasoned business advisor with extensive experience in Big Consulting, successful entrepreneurship, and mentoring, helps you defeat the overwhelm. Through real stories from business leaders, experts insights, and John’s own experience, you’ll learn how to prioritize those criticalfewactions™ that, if you did nothing else, will drive your business forward to deliver your vision. We’ll cover everything from setting your vision and strategy to improving profitability and supporting your team’s performance so that you get more pleasure, fulfillment, and financial reward from your business.. Subscribe now and tune in every two weeks to take control of your business’s future—one focused step at a time.

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