Stories Behind the Grind Aidan Vuocolo

On this episode of Stories Behind the Grind, listen to my conversation with Karan, director of Monitor Deloitte. We discuss the 5 key strategic questions every business owners should ask, how to approach problem solving and finding the core problem and how to develop your own strategic thinking.
 
Also discover:

 
How Karan's deeper understanding of identity led him to strategy consulting
The impact of Karan's work in the community
The story they (YSPN) want to tell in Australia and the legacy they want to leave behind
The crossover between what Karan has done in his network to their own business
Fundamentals of Deloitte's approach to strategy
Karan's way of consulting with clients
Strategic cascade of choices
What winning aspiration is
Where you would play
How you will win
The distinctive capabilities for you to win
What management systems are
On strategy being a tool for problem-solving and choice making
Importance of employee engagement, employee morale, and better outcomes
How business owners should approach strategy and strategic thinking in their business using the 5 strategic questions
The thing you said you are going to do versus the thing you are actually doing
Breaking down problems
Challenges Karan's clients have to overcome when undergoing the problem-solving process
What business owners can do to start their own strategic thinking
 
 
Links:
Young Sikh Professionals Network - https://www.yspn.org.au/
Monitor Deloitte - https://www2.deloitte.com/in/en/pages/strategy-operations/monitor-deloitte/topic/monitor-deloitte.html
Playing to Win by A.G. Lafley and Roger Martin - https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Win-Strategy-Really-Works-ebook/dp/B00AJVJ1HI
HBR's 10 Must Reads on Strategy - https://www.amazon.com/HBRs-10-Must-Reads-Strategy/dp/1511367075
Competitive Strategy by Michael Porter - https://www.amazon.com/Competitive-Strategy-Techniques-Industries-Competitors-ebook/dp/B001CB34J0
 
Karan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karanviranand/

On this episode of Stories Behind the Grind, you'll hear from Darcy Smyth, co-director of Why Bravo and the Sales Game. Learn how Sales has changed over the last 30 years, how your buyers make decisions and what role "Play" has in Business.
 
Topics
How Darcy got into psychology
What prompted Darcy to combine psychology and sales
Using selling to solve someone elses problem
Sales as a service
How the world of sales has evolved over the last 5 years
Adapting to the ability to sell socially
How social media changed the way we market and sell
The shift in businesses brought about by COVID-19
Taking the sales game from an in-person event to a virtual environment
The Role of play in business
Key factors that influence how buyers make their decisions
How business can best position themselves in the digital environment
Darcy's definition of the grind
 
Links:
The Sales Game - https://www.sales.game/

On this episode of Stories Behind the Grind, you'll hear from a Facebook marketer and best selling author Kim Barrett who is the CEO of Your Social Voice and has helped business grow to 7 figures.
 
We discuss where the opportunities are in the marketing world right now, the 3 key advertising cycles and which to focus on first and how not to fall into this common marketing mistake.
 
Also discover
 
How an interest in tropical fish catapulted Kim into the world of Marketing
Common mistakes when advertising on Facebook
The NOC method to putting together an effective Facebook ad.
How to spot opportunities in uncertainty 
How to stay fresh in people's minds
How businesses can stand out in Facebook and make their presence known
The three advertising cycles to generate a positive ROI for your business
Future developments in Facebook
Challenges Kim faced while growing his business
 
Links:
Kim on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/realkimbarrett
Kim on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/realkimbarrett/
Your Social Voice - https://www.yoursocialvoice.com.au/

On this episode of Stories Behind the Grind, you'll hear from Social Media marketing expert Mireille who is the CEO of the Social Media Marketing Institue.
 
We discuss how to break through to you ideal audience, how to resonate with your followers and what the future of Social Media looks like.
 
Also learn
 
How Mireille grew her fitness business internationally with social media
How Mireille transitioned from fitness to social media marketing 
Leveraging your ability to talk to your ideal audience through social media marketing
Building your network through social media and understanding your demographic and its characteristics
Mireille's recommendation when tackling two different demographics in your business
Boosting your social media audience engagement
The future of social media
How to build relationship with your audience
Importance of stories in your marketing messages
Mireille's definition of the Grind.
 
Links:
 
Social Media Marketing Institute - smminstitute.com.au
Mireille on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/mireilleryan
Mireille on Twitter - https://twitter.com/mireilleryan?lang=en

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @aidanvoc
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On this episode of stories behind the grind, listen to my conversation with Don Mackenzie, managing director of Adizes. You'll learn how to effectively manage accelerating change in your business, the 4 key working styles that every business needs to harness and how to build mutual trust and respect  
 
How Don's entrepreneurial journey began
Lessons Don learned and carried through in his career
How to achieve your vision, mission and implement strategy
When to restructuring where you are at versus realigning yourself to where the future is
Key characteristics of a business with high mutual trust and respect
How to manage the change loop in a business
Reacting to an accelerating change in your environment
The Four different styles in Business and how they interact
Constructive versus destructive conflict
Why people should be last
 
Links:
Don on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/domckenzie
Adizes Australia - https://adizes.com.au/

On this episode of Stories Behind the Grind, listen to the conversation with Carrie co-founder of Tandem Consulting.
 
Carrie's lifestyle has afforded both her and her husband and to be full-time stay at home parents by choice & part-time entrepreneurs.  
 
What started out as side hustles, & an adventure into the world of entrepreneurship has enabled Carrie to speak to tens of thousands of people annually through keynotes in the U.S., Caribbean, Australian & European markets over the last 14 years.
 
We discuss what professionals should do when creating a side-gig and the major blockers to overcome, the key difference between being self-employed and running a business and how to keep an open mind to continually grow.

 
Also discover
 
How Carrie transitioned from being an athlete to entrepreneur
 
Key factors that has helped Carrie scale her business
 
Changing and shifting the self-employed mindset
 
Major blockers for professionals who want to start their side hustles
 
How to keep on track and move past the criticism of others. 
 
What is commonly overlooked that reduces your teams morale
 
The number one personal development and leadership platform
 
Carrie's advice for professionals who are raising a family and would like to have a side hustle and be in control of their future
Using adventure in your day-to-day life
 
On starting a non-profit organization
 
Leaving a legacy
 
Carrie's definition of the grind
 
Links:
Carrie on LinkedIn 
Carrie on Instagram 
Tandem Consulting 
Tandem Giving, Inc 

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and say Hi @aidanvoc
Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, or anywhere else you listen to your podcasts.
You can find this episode plus all the previous episode here.
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