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

Paul Sweeney
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Conversations to help your business grow and thrive — like having your own board of expert advisors in your pocket. The Business Behind Your Business is the go-to podcast for small business owners who want practical guidance, clearer decision-making, and strategies that actually work in the real world. Hosted by Paul Sweeney, each 15–30 minute episode takes you behind the scenes of how small businesses grow, lead teams, manage money, and solve the problems that keep owners up at night. Whether you’re running a team of one or twenty, you’ll find relatable stories, expert insights, and tools you can put into action straight away. From improving cash flow and pricing for value to building systems, reducing overwhelm, and preparing for long-term success, our guests share straightforward advice without the jargon. What you’ll learn: * How small businesses make money — and where they lose it * Leadership and team-building strategies that actually work * Smart marketing ideas for busy owners * Financial planning and forecasting explained simply * How to scale without burning out * What successful businesses do differently behind the scenes If you want your business to run better, grow stronger, and give you more freedom, this show gives you the practical steps and confidence to make it happen — one smart decision at a time. Subscribe and join thousands of business owners who are building better businesses, not just bigger ones.

  1. The Hidden Value Problem: How Creators and Businesses Lose (and Recover) Millions

    19H AGO

    The Hidden Value Problem: How Creators and Businesses Lose (and Recover) Millions

    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 it. Using the music industry as a case study, the conversation reveals why protecting and properly managing creative assets is now a critical business skill, not just a legal concern. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why a significant portion of global royalties never reach their rightful ownersHow missing data, poor documentation, and unclear ownership quietly erode asset valueThe role AI and technology play in tracking, protecting, and monetising intellectual propertyHow music catalogues are valued, bought, and sold as investment assetsPractical lessons business owners can apply to protect their own brands and digital assetsThis episode highlights a powerful truth: value creation doesn’t end once the work is done. Through insights from the global music industry, Paul Goldman shows how clear agreements, accurate data, and the smart use of technology can transform overlooked assets into long‑term value. The lessons extend well beyond music, offering business owners a fresh perspective on protecting what they’ve built and uncovering opportunities already within reach. Paul Goldman is the Founder and CEO of Muserk, a global digital rights management company dedicated to ensuring music and video creators are properly compensated in today’s fast‑moving digital economy. Through Muserk’s patented Blue Matter™ AI platform, Paul has helped uncover millions in lost royalties by enabling accurate, large‑scale rights administration across streaming platforms, social media, and digital services worldwide. Since its launch, Muserk has grown to represent over 20 million works across 98 countries and has been recognised multiple times on the Inc. 5000 list and is one of America’s fastest‑growing private companies. Before founding Muserk, Paul spent decades as an award‑winning composer, producer, and creative entrepreneur. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he built a successful career in New York City creating music, sound design, and visual content for film, television, advertising, and major global brands. His discovery that significant international royalties from his own work were never being collected led him to build Muserk with a clear mission: to create a transparent, technology‑driven system that empowers creators, protects intellectual property, and ensures artists are paid fairly wherever their work is used. www.muserk.com LinkedIn Support the show https://thebusinessbehindyourbusiness.com/ Connect with us: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram

    31 min
  2. Why Most Professionals Get the Jump to Business Ownership Wrong

    MAR 2

    Why Most Professionals Get the Jump to Business Ownership Wrong

    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 create freedom without blowing everything up, this conversation offers clarity, perspective, and a proven alternative. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why clarity is the real first step to making your 9–5 optionalHow to protect your career while building something on the sideThe difference between creating a job and building a true assetHow to avoid burnout by designing your business on purposeIf you’re successful on paper but craving more control over your time and life, this episode offers a practical place to start. Billy Keels is an expert executive coach, best-selling author, and host of the top-ranked "Going Long Podcast with Billy Keels”. As an internationally renowned  business strategist, Billy boasts over two decades of experience leading global teams generating over $500 million as a top sales leader at SAP and working alongside household names like Michael Dell, Bill Gates, Ken Chenault, John Chambers and more. Through his podcast and national best-seller "Grow Your Money the Smart Way," Billy shares strategic and actionable advice on how to make your corporate role optional. Whether founding a private equity firm raising over $12.5 million with Accredited Investors or advising Fortune 500 clients, Billy draws on his experience from working in over 80 countries. Based in Barcelona, Billy Keels is the go-to Strategic Advisor for enterprise-level executives who want to excel in their careers while safely and securely building an additional stream of predictable income so that their jobs become optional. He has worked with leaders from industry titans like SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, and Microsoft on multiplying their options from within their current role.  Fluent in five languages, he has spoken at prestigious venues worldwide on his approach for unlocking new professional and personal opportunities.  Billy's mission is helping mid 6 & 7 figure executives achieve extraordinary career growth without requiring a change in employment. He provides a blueprint for  excelling in your career, leveraging your transferable skills, and building your business on the side. Accomplish this while maintaining your current career’s security and stability! LinkedIn www.billykeels.com Support the show https://thebusinessbehindyourbusiness.com/ Connect with us: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram

    40 min
  3. If I Gave You $250,000, Would Your Business Waste It?

    FEB 23

    If I Gave You $250,000, Would Your Business Waste It?

    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 execution. If you’ve ever felt confident in your vision but uncertain about where to invest time, money, or people, this conversation will give you a clearer path forward. Rodrigo is the founder and CEO of NORDES Consulting, a former global finance leader, business school professor, and author of The CFO Myth. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across finance and operations, he introduces his practical CPR Framework—Core, Priorities, and Resources—a simple but powerful way to stop building your business backwards and start allocating resources where they actually create value. Throughout the episode, Rodrigo explains why raising money is often easier than using it wisely, and how many businesses fail not from lack of capital, but from poor spending discipline. He unpacks the idea of “building backwards,” where founders focus on shiny tools, roles, or growth initiatives before validating the core problem they are solving. You’ll also hear why responsible spending culture matters at every level of a business, why not every company needs a CFO (yet), and how treating company money with the same care as your own can dramatically improve sustainability. This is a grounded, common-sense conversation about slowing down to grow stronger—perfect for business owners who want to turn vision into execution without burning cash or momentum. Rodrigo Rodríguez-Novás is the Founder and CEO of NORDES Consulting, a boutique firm specializing in financial leadership, operational efficiency and M&A execution. With more than 20 years of global experience in finance, operations, and executive leadership, he brings a sharp, strategic mindset to every challenge—paired with the steady focus of a former competitive freediver. Rodrigo holds an MBA from EGADE Business School and has pursued advanced studies at The London School of Economics, Wharton, and the University for Peace. A certified Project Management Professional, author, entrepreneur and business school professor, Rodrigo is passionate about building resilient businesses, leading with purpose, and helping others navigate complexity with clarity and confidence. LinkedIn www.cfomyth.com Support the show https://thebusinessbehindyourbusiness.com/ Connect with us: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram

    31 min
  4. Thinking About a Private Equity Exit? Avoid These Costly Founder Mistakes

    FEB 16

    Thinking About a Private Equity Exit? Avoid These Costly Founder Mistakes

    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 Partners and a former CEO who successfully scaled and sold his own software company in a $100M+ private equity exit.  You'll learn: What private equity buyers are actually looking forHow deals are structured, and what you should have in place before you ever start the conversationA deeper understanding of private equity - it's not 'funding' in the traditional sense, how it differs from venture capital, and why so many founders misunderstand the processWhat private equity firms really buy (profitability, growth, and operational discipline)The importance of understanding your numbersWhy time horizons, autonomy, and alignment matter more than headline valuationsHard-earned lessons on due diligence, common red flags, and tactics founders must watch out for — including how deals can quietly change during the processThis conversation is an essential listen for founders approaching the $5–15 million revenue mark, feeling stuck at a growth plateau, or wondering whether private equity is the right exit path for them. It’s a practical, honest look at how to prepare your business, protect your interests, and make informed decisions about your next chapter. Alexis Sikorsky is a strategic advisor to founders who are serious about scaling fast and exiting strong. With a nine-figure private equity exit under his belt, Alexis isn’t speaking from theory—he’s lived the entrepreneurial highs and lows across decades of company building, boardroom negotiation, and international leadership. His flagship book Cashing Out lays out the APEX methodology, a four-part framework (Assess, Plan, Execute, Exit) that demystifies the journey to private equity for founders feeling stuck or overwhelmed by growth and decision fatigue. Alexis founded, scaled, and sold New Access, a Switzerland-based software company, ultimately closing a $100M+ exit and transitioning into a new chapter as a Special Advisor to ambitious CEOs. Today, through Sikorsky Consulting and KnightScale Partners, he works with growth-stage businesses, typically doing $5M+ in annual revenue, who want to engineer their next chapter or PE exit.  A straight-talking alternative to cookie-cutter coaches, Alexis is often referred to as "The CEO Whisperer" for his candid insight and ability to diagnose issues in minutes. He supports leaders who are weighed down by their own business, helping them build vision, unlock cash flow, and scale toward freedom. He's also on a mission to serve founders priced out of one-to-one consulting through his mastermind programs, offering a rare blend of lived experience and practical strategy. LinkedIn www.asikorsky.com www.knightscalepartners.com Support the show https://thebusinessbehindyourbusiness.com/ Connect with us: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram

    35 min
  5. Franchising Without Losing Your Heart: How to Scale a Values-Led Business

    FEB 9

    Franchising Without Losing Your Heart: How to Scale a Values-Led Business

    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 what makes your business special, this conversation offers both reassurance and a practical roadmap. Nuttha shares her remarkable journey from growing up in rural Thailand—where wellness, community, and natural healing were part of everyday life—to building an award-winning spa franchise in Canada. She explains how her early experiences shaped a deeply human-centred approach to business, one focused on care, consistency, simplicity, and genuine connection rather than transactions. Throughout the conversation, Nuttha breaks down how she translated “heart” into systems—developing repeatable customer and staff journeys that preserve culture at scale. She explains how Sabai Thai Spa trains teams, selects franchise partners, adapts across cultures and generations, and maintains a deeply personal customer experience across multiple locations. This episode is a powerful reminder that systems don’t have to make businesses cold—and that franchising can be a force for connection, purpose, and impact when done intentionally. For founders considering expansion, franchising, or simply wanting to build a more meaningful business, Nuttha’s story offers inspiration and practical insight grounded in real-world experience. Nuttha Goutier Growing up in a Thai village without running water or electricity, Nuttha Goutier saw healing as part of life, not a luxury. Days spent gathering herbs with local healers and learning from her grandmother taught her that wellness was about community, presence, and simple daily practices. When she moved to Canada, she was struck by how spas often felt sterile, rushed, and focused on transactions instead of connection. She dreamed of creating a space where guests felt welcomed like family, somewhere that could bring the sensory richness of Thai hospitality to a new place. Nuttha opened Sabai Thai Spa to offer guests more than a service: from warm greetings to calming scents, every element was chosen to help people slow down and feel cared for. The immediate response from the community confirmed the need for a spa that offered genuine warmth. Over nearly two decades, she has expanded Sabai Thai Spa into a franchise recognized for its immersive Thai-inspired environments and consistently attentive service. Through franchising, Nuttha aims to make wellness a regular part of life for more people, helping communities embrace massage and self-care as everyday practices rather than rare indulgences. Her leadership is rooted in the belief that taking care of ourselves helps us be better in every role, from parenting to work to simply showing up for ourselves. www.sabaithai.com LinkedIn Instagram Support the show https://thebusinessbehindyourbusiness.com/ Connect with us: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram

    34 min
  6. From Bottleneck to Freedom: How to Reclaim Your Time Without Slowing Growth

    FEB 2

    From Bottleneck to Freedom: How to Reclaim Your Time Without Slowing Growth

    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 bottleneck, and build systems that support both your business and your life. Instead of sacrificing personal priorities for revenue, you’ll discover how both can grow together. In this episode, Paul Sweeney sits down with entrepreneur and business mentor George Rivera, who went from grinding 80-hour weeks and running a $20M company as a single-point bottleneck, to creating a true “father-first” operating system that enabled him to scale to $50M while only working ~30 hours/week. George shares the deeply personal story that shaped his mission — from his father missing nearly all his childhood basketball games, to a powerful final promise during his father’s terminal illness: “Don’t miss Leo’s games.” Through that lens, George explains how he redesigned his business and now teaches other owners to do the same. You’ll learn: How to identify bottlenecks and reclaim 10–20 hours/week without slowing growth The “$10K/hour filter” for deciding what the owner should actually do versus delegateWhy flat org charts kill businesses — and how to correct themThe “Two-Week Vacation Test” to prove your business can run without youSimple AI plays that save hours without adding headcountHow to build systems, outcomes ownership, and consistency across teamsWhy buying back your time can save your family, not just your profitsWhether you’re a parent who feels torn between business and family or a founder who’s simply drowning in tasks, this episode offers a blend of emotional insight and practical frameworks. It’s a conversation about systems, delegation, leadership — but also legacy. George Rivera helps 7, 8, and 9-figure founders buy back 10-20 hours a week and scale profits, without becoming the bottleneck. He’s the creator of the Father-First Owner OS and author of Buy Back Time Formula. George watched his dad miss his games and later regret it, and he gave George one piece of advice: “Don’t miss Leo’s games.” After grinding through 80-hour weeks, George rebuilt his companies to run without the founder using three levers, people who own outcomes, systems that create consistency, and AI that multiplies efficiency... the core of his $10K/Hour Filter. On this show he’ll share how to end key-person dependency, delegate outcomes (not tasks), and pass the Two-Week Vacation Test, because no one on their deathbed says, “I’m glad I skipped my kid’s game for a client meeting.” www.buybacktimeformula.com LinkedIn Support the show https://thebusinessbehindyourbusiness.com/ Connect with us: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram

    35 min
  7. Disruption by Design: How to Stop Tech Projects from Failing

    JAN 26

    Disruption by Design: How to Stop Tech Projects from Failing

    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 book Transformation Designed. J.J. explains why more than 80% of transformation efforts fail, why starting with technology is the wrong approach, and how a design-led mindset puts customer needs and value creation first. He also shares real examples of how companies reinvent industries by removing friction instead of adding more tools. Whether you’re trying to improve systems, rethink your business model, or understand how AI fits into the picture, this conversation gives you a practical lens for making change stick — without wasting time or money. Juan Jose de la Torre A world leader in digital businesses, disruption, and digital transformation, Juan Jose (J.J.) de la Torre is an expert in the areas of strategy, innovation, and all things digital. He has been recognized as one of the world’s top eighteen digital transformation leaders and a top five digital marketing influencer. J.J. holds an MBA from INSEAD, a master’s degree from La Salle, and an industrial engineering degree from Adolfo Ibanez.   J.J. is a senior executive with decades of experience across the globe. Following his return to his home country, Chile, after twenty years of a successful international career, J.J. joined Virtus Partners as a senior partner. At Virtus, J.J. led the organization’s digital endeavors, which turned into Raven, a unique consulting boutique solely focused on business disruption and acceleration. As Raven’s CEO, J.J. pools strategy, design, technology, and analytics to help clients across industries embrace digital enablers and technologies.  He has founded and successfully traded three start-ups and is also an angel investor for fourteen start-ups, a mentor for more than 150 companies, and the founder of the first information and communications technology incubator in Saudi Arabia as well as the first 360 accelerator in the Middle East. He has even advised the United Nations and has delivered more than two hundred keynotes on entrepreneurship, gaining recognition from Forbes, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and more.  A father of three and a loving husband to his wife, Maria, J.J. is a former professional DJ and now music composer, a PADI diving instructor, and a mountain bike and golf aficionado. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and adventure sports.  www.jjdelatorre.co Get J.J.'s book Transformation. Designed. www.raven.inc/en LinkedIn Support the show https://thebusinessbehindyourbusiness.com/ Connect with us: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram

    34 min
  8. Scaling Without Compromise: How PLNT Burger Grows With Purpose

    JAN 19

    Scaling Without Compromise: How PLNT Burger Grows With Purpose

    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're facing growth challenges, struggling with consistency, or feeling pressure to drift away from your mission, this episode shows you how to scale with integrity, empower your team, and make smarter decisions under pressure. In this inspiring interview, Chris Treloar—CEO of PLNT Burger—shares the origins of the brand, why mission-driven food businesses are gaining momentum, and how his team used unexpected disruption (including COVID) as an opportunity to grow. He talks openly about leadership, staying humble, learning from mistakes, and giving teams the autonomy they need to deliver exceptional customer experiences. You’ll also hear how Chris builds scalable systems, why he believes in “yes-first” business thinking, and how PLNT Burger educates customers about their environmental impact in a fun, non-intrusive way. If you’re a small or medium business owner looking for practical, values-aligned strategies that actually work, this episode is packed with insights you can apply immediately. Chris Treloar has spent his career exclusively in restaurant operations. With a strong background in multi-unit operations management, team development, and systems innovation, Chris is a visionary leader who has consistently driven success in the food service industry. His dedication to excellence, data-driven decision-making, and people-focused approach make him a standout CEO in the field. His commitment to developing systems and procedures, combined with his strong analytical skills, has left a lasting impact on the organizations he's been a part of. www.plntburger.com Instagram LinkedIn Support the show https://thebusinessbehindyourbusiness.com/ Connect with us: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram

    28 min
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About

Conversations to help your business grow and thrive — like having your own board of expert advisors in your pocket. The Business Behind Your Business is the go-to podcast for small business owners who want practical guidance, clearer decision-making, and strategies that actually work in the real world. Hosted by Paul Sweeney, each 15–30 minute episode takes you behind the scenes of how small businesses grow, lead teams, manage money, and solve the problems that keep owners up at night. Whether you’re running a team of one or twenty, you’ll find relatable stories, expert insights, and tools you can put into action straight away. From improving cash flow and pricing for value to building systems, reducing overwhelm, and preparing for long-term success, our guests share straightforward advice without the jargon. What you’ll learn: * How small businesses make money — and where they lose it * Leadership and team-building strategies that actually work * Smart marketing ideas for busy owners * Financial planning and forecasting explained simply * How to scale without burning out * What successful businesses do differently behind the scenes If you want your business to run better, grow stronger, and give you more freedom, this show gives you the practical steps and confidence to make it happen — one smart decision at a time. Subscribe and join thousands of business owners who are building better businesses, not just bigger ones.

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