It's Not Rocket Science! Five Questions Over Coffee

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The mission of It's Not Rocket Science! is to bring a new idea for building business to growth-hungry business leaders and owners who want to do more with less time and so increase their business and influence. We deliver actionable ideas using our “five questions over coffee.” thecompleteapproach.substack.com

  1. MAR 26

    Five Questions Over Coffee with Donna Amos (ep. 143)

    Who is Donna? Donna Amos has been working with a law firm since 2010, helping them share their expertise with the world. When she first started, the firm had three attorneys and two financial planners specializing in elder care. Donna encouraged the team to create weekly videos answering frequently asked questions, making their knowledge accessible on every platform. However, when the first video shoot arrived, nerves got the better of the group—they greeted Donna with a case of beer, hoping to calm their anxiety about being on camera. Thanks to Donna’s encouragement, they pushed through their fears and successfully filmed their first video, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the firm’s outreach efforts. Key Takeaways * Action is what drives change, especially for solo and micro business owners. Donna Amos reminds us: just take that first step, even if it’s scary. Progress starts before confidence kicks in! * We often get stuck in our own heads, telling ourselves we’re not good enough. Donna’s advice: seek out someone who believes in you, encourages you, and helps you move forward. Sometimes that’s all we need. * Staying “busy” isn’t the same as making progress. Donna explored how focus and vision make the real difference—not just for ourselves, but for those we work with and serve. * Writing a book can be daunting, but Donna recommends starting with simple research and writing a little each day. In 3 months, you could have your biggest calling card and a new way to share your expertise. * The first challenge is finishing what you start. Donna shares: Only 3% of people finish their manuscript. Create discipline by writing 500 words a day—small steps lead to big results in your personal story. Don’t forget: If you want to connect, ask questions, or get notified about upcoming guests like Donna, subscribe to the Systemise.Me newsletter here. You only need your first name and email—easy as (coffee) pie! Thanks for sharing a cup with us this week. Here’s to strong coffee, smart hiring, and believing in the dreams you’re just starting to imagine. And don’t forget: keep an eye out for next guest. To submit your own questions, subscribe to our newsletter and join the conversation! P.S. Loved this episode? Hit reply and let us know what resonated most _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our newsletter and get details of when we are doing these interviews live at www.systemise.me/subscribe Find out more about being a guest at : link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/beaguest Subscribe to the podcast at https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/podcast Help us get this podcast in front of as many people as possible. Leave a nice five-star review at apple podcasts : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/apple-podcasts and on YouTube : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/Itsnotrocketscienceatyt! Do You Need a P.A.T.H. to Scale? We help established business owners with small but growing teams: go from feeling stuck, sceptical, and tired of wasting time and money on false promises, to running a confident, purpose-driven business where their team delivers results, customers are happy, and they can finally enjoy more time with their family - with a results-based refund guarantee: if you follow the process and it doesn’t work, we refund what you paid. This is THE P.A.T.H. to scale your business. ————————————————————————————————————————————- Transcript Note, this was transcribed using a transcription software and may not reflect the exact words used in the podcast. SUMMARY KEYWORDS solo business owners, micro business owners, solopreneurs, marketing agency, self-publishing, book publishing, business inspiration, taking action, self-talk, productivity, time management, strategic vision, encouragement, coaching, marketing strategies, authority building, marketing tools, business growth, client engagement, discipline, writing a book, business storytelling, video marketing, social media promotion, networking, expert positioning, lead generation, case studies, business challenges, research techniques, Amazon research SPEAKER Donna Amos, Stuart Webb Stuart Webb [00:00:00]: Hi there and welcome back to It’s Not Rocket Science. Five questions over coffee. My mug is in hand. Still got coffee in it, which is just as well. And I’m delighted to be welcoming Donna Amos to the podcast today. Donna is a marketer, she’s a publisher, but mostly she is someone who aims to try and inspire others to take action. I’m really excited to that we’re going to be having a discussion about how Donna is going to inspire us to be taking action today. So welcome to the podcast, Donna. Donna Amos [00:01:05]: Thanks, Stuart. I appreciate it. Stuart Webb [00:01:09]: Thank you. So let’s start by trying to understand those people who you are trying to inspire to take action. Who is it that you’re trying to help with that particular problem that I know we all have. Donna Amos [00:01:24]: So I focus on solo and micro business owners. So those are the people that I want to inspire to take action, to realize that whatever it is they want, if they just take the first step, they’ll see that it’s not impossible to make it happen. Stuart Webb [00:01:49]: Difficult sometimes to do when you’re a solopreneur or a small business owner buried under paperwork and mountains of things to do, isn’t it? Donna Amos [00:01:58]: Yes, it is. And our, our talk between our two ears, our self talk actually gets in our way a lot. Stuart Webb [00:02:08]: It does, it does. So let’s, let’s explore some of those sort of problems, some of those people. And I guess there’ll be people listening to this right at the moment there is. If you want to drop a question into the chat to get Donna to answer it or if you need to drop a question into the chat later, please do. Donna or I will pick up and answer those questions for you. But so what are the sort of problems that they might recognize? What are the, what are the things they might have tried to do to get themselves out of these situations, these that you can help them with? Donna Amos [00:02:42]: I think the. So for years, the biggest challenge that I see is that they spend time being busy because it makes them feel like they’re, you know, they’re accomplishing something, but they’re really just being busy and they’re not really focused on the end goal and, and taking the right actions towards that. And again, it’s because we get in our own heads and yes, tell ourselves that we shouldn’t be doing that we’re not good enough. Stuart Webb [00:03:22]: And that’s not good for self talk. But it’s also not good for businesses that have small numbers of employees, is it? People want to see that you have a vision that, you know, where you’re going. Donna Amos [00:03:33]: Absolutely. But for solo business owners, they also have to think about they may not have employees. Many of them will have subcontractors, though, that support them in what they’re doing. And their customers will also see if they have that vision or not. And that can either attract people to them or push people away. Stuart Webb [00:04:07]: And how, how do you help them? What is it you try to do to get them out of that situation? Donna Amos [00:04:15]: I think probably the most important thing is to encourage them that when people are encouraged by others, when they’re told that they really do have what it takes and that they. They deserve to. To accomplish whatever it is they’re looking for, then it helps them to again take that first step. So, encouragement. Stuart Webb [00:04:44]: Is this the sort of thing you spend your time doing at solopreneurs Solutions? Solopreneur Solutions. Donna Amos [00:04:50]: It is. So, you know, we’re a marketing agency, but. And we’re also a publisher, but oftentimes our clients just need somebody in their corner. Yeah, it’s telling them, yes, you can do that. We’re happy to help. We’ll hold your hand so that they will take action on the things they want to. Stuart Webb [00:05:13]: Yeah, yeah. And that’s a, that’s often the most valuable thing a marketing agents can do, isn’t it? It is, it is. Helped bring that clarity and it’s helped move those people forward. That one step. Donna Amos [00:05:25]: Exactly. Yep. Stuart Webb [00:05:28]: And so, Donna, have you got a valuable piece of advice or anything that you wish to sort of leave with people so that they can, they can understand how you could help them? Donna Amos [00:05:42]: I’ll share a quick story if that’s okay. Stuart Webb [00:05:45]: Please do. Donna Amos [00:05:46]: So I work with a law firm that has been with me since 2010. And they have. They had a staff of five attorneys. Well, staff of three attorneys and two financial planners that focus on elder care. So when we first started working together, I was encouraging them to do weekly videos, just quick, frequently asked questions that they were answering that we could then push out there to every platform. And the first day when I got there with my camera and ready to go, they had a case of beer sitting there because every one of them was scared to death to get in front of the video. They just, you know, they just didn’t think they could do it. So they got through that first video shoot. Donna Amos [00:06:47]: We did probably 15 videos that one shoot they made it through. They, when we left, they went to the bar to watch basketball because it was during Marsh Madness. But now we’re what, 15 years down the road and every week we still publish a video for them. And they get business from it constantly. Stuart Webb [00:07:15]: Brilliant. Donna Amos [00:07:17]: Yeah. So it was just encouraging them and telling them they could do it. And, you know, and that’s what I

    20 min

  2. MAR 12

    Five Questions Over Coffee with Mitchell Levy (ep. 142)

    Who is Mitchell? Mitchell Levy is a passionate advocate for purpose-driven business relationships. Through his work, Mitchell observed a common frustration among professionals on platforms like LinkedIn: many reach out without a clear purpose or differentiation, often leading with sales pitches rather than genuine value. Recognizing this disconnect, he champions the power of having a “North Star”—a clear vision and understanding of the problem you solve and the unique value you bring. Mitchell encourages business owners, regardless of their size, to approach networking with intention and a customer-centric mindset. His insights help professionals articulate their purpose and foster meaningful, effective connections in the digital age. Key Takeaways * Mitchell Levy reveals the power of clarity: leaders and business owners need a simple North Star—a CPOP—in under 10 words. When you know where you’re headed, decisions get easier and credibility follows. * Tired of random LinkedIn messages? Mitchell shares why real connection starts when you understand who you truly serve and their real pain or joy. Purposeful outreach beats cookie-cutter pitches every time. * Small business? Big CEO? Mitchell’s “executive abundance” works for all. Growth happens when you get clear on your purpose, your people, and the possibilities you can create. Alignment is everything. * Elevator pitches are overrated. What matters is knowing, in a few words, who you’re helping and why. That’s your true vibration—one you won’t need to memorize, just live. * Want credibility? Keep learning, stay coachable, and be willing to reset your focus. Mitchell’s path: clarity, purpose, connection. Change your story, and your impact grows—no matter your size. Don’t forget: If you want to connect, ask questions, or get notified about upcoming guests like Mitchell, subscribe to the Systemise.Me newsletter here. You only need your first name and email—easy as (coffee) pie! Thanks for sharing a cup with us this week. Here’s to strong coffee, smart hiring, and believing in the dreams you’re just starting to imagine. And don’t forget: keep an eye out for next guest. To submit your own questions, subscribe to our newsletter and join the conversation! P.S. Loved this episode? Hit reply and let us know what resonated most _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our newsletter and get details of when we are doing these interviews live at www.systemise.me/subscribe Find out more about being a guest at : link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/beaguest Subscribe to the podcast at https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/podcast Help us get this podcast in front of as many people as possible. Leave a nice five-star review at apple podcasts : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/apple-podcasts and on YouTube : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/Itsnotrocketscienceatyt! Do You Need a P.A.T.H. to Scale? We help established business owners with small but growing teams: go from feeling stuck, sceptical, and tired of wasting time and money on false promises, to running a confident, purpose-driven business where their team delivers results, customers are happy, and they can finally enjoy more time with their family - with a results-based refund guarantee: if you follow the process and it doesn’t work, we refund what you paid. This is THE P.A.T.H. to scale your business. ————————————————————————————————————————————- Transcript Note, this was transcribed using a transcription software and may not reflect the exact words used in the podcast) SUMMARY KEYWORDS executive coaching, credibility, LinkedIn sales tactics, business owners, CEOs, executive abundance, fast-growing companies, Inc 5000, Marshall Goldsmith 100 coaches, clarity, North Star, customer point of possibilities, CPOP, marketing cookie cutter, business scaling, founders, path to scale, leadership, business strategy, elevator pitch, business clarity, operating system of credibility, business growth, credibility expert, solopreneurs, company purpose, personal compass, decision-making, business differentiation, referral partners, customer focus SPEAKER Mitchell Levy, Stuart Webb Stuart Webb [00:00:31]: Hi and welcome back to five Questions over Coffee. Here is my coffee. Now be careful spill that, it’s quite full at the moment. Mitchell. Yeah, well done. It’s a Guinness, so well done. Mitchell Levy here is a leading executive coach, a global credibility expert and I’m looking forward to him walking through his process today talking to us a little bit about how he helps get leaders real credibility. So Mitchell, thank you for making a few minutes available to come and speak to us here on It’s Not Rocket Science. Stuart Webb [00:01:06]: Five Questions over Coffee. Mitchell Levy [00:01:08]: My pleasure. Thanks for having me Stuart. Really nice to, really nice to engage with you. Stuart Webb [00:01:14]: Well that’s terrific. So let’s start by trying to understand the sort of person you’re reaching out to with helping them with their credibility. Mitchell Levy [00:01:25]: You know it’s interesting, I, I have two distinct audiences. So as an executive coach, so I’m part of The Marshall Goldsmith 100 coaches, some of the top executive coaches on the planet. And for that audience it is fast growing CEOs leading the future with executive abundance. Now in if you were in the U.S. i say Inc 5000, which basically is the, the top five, 5,000 fastest growing companies in the U.S. but yeah, since this is Australian, I’ll just say fast growing company. So that is one group of one audience. And, and executive abundance is a new framework I’m introducing into the marketplace. Mitchell Levy [00:02:12]: It’s been my executive coaching for years. But one of the things you, you asked me in the green room, how you doing? Last week I advanced to candidacy on my PhD program and so I am actually doing a dissertation and then we’ll, we’ll write a book, do coursework and chatbots on executive abundance. Stuart Webb [00:02:33]: On your Congratulations. Thank you doctor. Not a, not a, not an easy thing to do as I recall. So tell me a little more about sort of the people that you’re helping that you’ve just sort of described. Give us an example of sort of things that they might have tried before and the ways in which you help them. Mitchell Levy [00:02:54]: Well so by the way, let me do the second audience and then you could tell me which one you want me to. Stuart Webb [00:02:59]: Oh, no problem. Mitchell Levy [00:03:00]: So the second audience is business owners escaping slimy LinkedIn sales tactics. Perfect. Perfect. That’s exactly what I want to get right. It’s, I’ve been on LinkedIn since before they were making money. Now a couple hundred thousand people could say that, but there’s one thing I could say that nobody else in the planet can say and that is I was in the room with two, with two of the five founders And I was commissioned to have written and published the first book on LinkedIn. I’ve looked at a couple hundred thousand LinkedIn profiles and I have a system and approach that helps people drive one to one business relationships with people on LinkedIn. And I can do it at scale. Mitchell Levy [00:03:43]: And so it’s the 5% on LinkedIn functionality that brings 80% of value. So that sort of answers that question for the business owner side. On the executive coaching side, the question is what sort of things, what have they tried before? You know, I think I’m going to generically say something and then you could, you could drill me in if we need to. Life is, and business is really, really simple. Stuart Webb [00:04:14]: It’s not easy, right? Mitchell Levy [00:04:17]: And what’s not easy about it is the fact that even if you know the answer in your heart, in your head, in your body, you know exactly what to do. There’s chaos out there and there’s these experts who have what I call marketing cookie cutter approaches. And so in, in your vernacular, there’s a wicked problem they have and they’re trying to solve it. They’re going to go out and talk to a ton of people and they get such a diverse range of answers and then they hit one they like, but they don’t hold on to it. And so for those that I work with on executive coaching, the first thing we need to do is establish the clarity, establish the playground they play and establish what I call their cpop, their customer point of possibilities. And that is in less than 10 words, where they’re executing on their purpose. That’s for the company or for the individual. And once you have that, then you can deploy an operating system of credibility. Mitchell Levy [00:05:23]: But until you have that, it’s really hard to make decisions because you need a compass, you need a personal compassion that you can actually live by. You need your own North Star. And, and so that’s, in terms of business, we need a North Star and that’s, that’s where we start. And after that, when I hang out with somebody who’s doing executive coaching, I’m just, I’m just helping them understand how they’re making decisions in their North Star, how they propagate it throughout the organization. It’s, it’s always fun to see and everyone’s different. Some are really fast, some take a little bit more time, some need to fall down a couple of times so they can get up. But generally speaking, what I do is extremely simple, but apparently it’s not so easy. Mitchell Levy [00:06:18]: Let me just try and link those two customer types together. In some way, I think something like LinkedIn requires somebody to have what you’ve just described in terms of the Northstar, what they’re doing and be very clear about what their problem solution is. I see

    38 min

  3. FEB 26

    Five Questions Over Coffee with Joe Abreu (ep. 141)

    Who is Joe? Joe Abreu is the creator of the Profit Optimization Program, designed specifically for small to medium-sized business owners striving to bridge the gap between hard work and real profit. After years of working closely with business owners who frequently asked him how to translate increased revenue into greater profits, Joe began collecting and analyzing their recurring challenges. Drawing on these insights, he developed a results-driven program to help entrepreneurs break free from the cycle of endless work and unlock their businesses’ true financial potential. Through his work, Joe has empowered countless business owners to move beyond just doing more and instead focus on building businesses that reach their full profitability. Key Takeaways * Many business owners work harder, but profits still lag behind. Joe Abreu reminds us: true success comes from understanding your numbers, not just chasing more sales. Clarity leads to freedom. * Are you slashing expenses without strategy? Joe says test each change. Don’t cut blindly—learn what truly moves the needle for your business growth. * Delegation scares a lot of owners—what will I do once I delegate? According to Joe, it’s your chance to step back, innovate, and focus on what really matters. * The 80/20 Principle changed Joe’s business life: focus on the 20% of tasks that create 80% of results. Systemize, delegate, and start freeing up your time for what counts. * Your business shouldn’t be golden shackles. Profit optimization is about designing your business to give you freedom and the life you dreamed of when you started. Don’t forget: If you want to connect, ask questions, or get notified about upcoming guests like Joe, subscribe to the Systemise.Me newsletter here. You only need your first name and email—easy as (coffee) pie! Thanks for sharing a cup with us this week. Here’s to strong coffee, smart hiring, and believing in the dreams you’re just starting to imagine. And don’t forget: keep an eye out for next guest. To submit your own questions, subscribe to our newsletter and join the conversation! P.S. Loved this episode? Hit reply and let us know what resonated most _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our newsletter and get details of when we are doing these interviews live at www.systemise.me/subscribe Find out more about being a guest at : link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/beaguest Subscribe to the podcast at https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/podcast Help us get this podcast in front of as many people as possible. Leave a nice five-star review at apple podcasts : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/apple-podcasts and on YouTube : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/Itsnotrocketscienceatyt! Do You Need a P.A.T.H. to Scale? We help established business owners with small but growing teams: go from feeling stuck, sceptical, and tired of wasting time and money on false promises, to running a confident, purpose-driven business where their team delivers results, customers are happy, and they can finally enjoy more time with their family - with a results-based refund guarantee: if you follow the process and it doesn’t work, we refund what you paid. This is THE P.A.T.H. to scale your business. ————————————————————————————————————————————- Transcript Note, this was transcribed using a transcription software and may not reflect the exact words used in the podcast) SUMMARY KEYWORDS profit optimization, small business owners, medium sized business, revenue, business profits, expense management, business growth, sales strategies, bookkeeping, financial literacy, accountant, business owner challenges, business expenses, business numbers, business coaching, process improvement, business systems, delegation, 80/20 principle, business mergers, business acquisitions, business sales, business optimization, podcast, business clarity, CRM, AI in business, business freedom, online course, certification course, workbook SPEAKER Joe Abreu, Stuart Webb Stuart Webb [00:00:31]: Hi and welcome back to It’s Not Rocket Science. Five questions over coffee. I’m here with my guest today, Joe Abro. Joe is the author of the profit optimization program which I’m really excited to learn about. And Joe, I just want to thank you for taking a few minutes out of what I’m sure is a very busy day to spend a few minutes with us talking about this new program and the book you’ve written. Stuart Webb [00:01:00]: Oh, thank you for having me, Stuart. It is a pleasure to be here today. Stuart Webb [00:01:04]: Terrific. Now listen, let’s start why. So who is it that this book is written for? Who is it, if you like the person you’re trying to help by giving them access to the profit optimization program? Stuart Webb [00:01:17]: A great question. The profit optimization program was set up to service the small to medium sized business owners. That’s pretty much everyone everywhere who’s working exceptionally hard, trying to do their best that they can. But the revenue and the profits are just not connecting. We’re just doing more work, but we’re just not seeing the bottom line. We’re not really seeing what we could, how best we can be. And so what I’ve done is over the years I collected all the information from different business owners that asked me questions over and over. How do I get the revenue to actually create more profit? Because sometimes we put in more business, we create more business, but we never get to the very end. Stuart Webb [00:02:06]: Right. The profit doesn’t translate just the same way. And that’s where the profit optimization program was born, which is the collection of all these business owners. Over the years. In my experience as a business owner, I’ve had the opportunity to purchase businesses, to merge them. I have also to sell, so, you know, have sold them. So that’s given me a lot of experience to share. Stuart Webb [00:02:28]: And, and Joe, I mean you’ve obviously been through this, this program yourself, but what have you found when you’ve been talking to these people? What have they been trying to do to, to help themselves from, you know, the situation where the, the profits are somehow not quite adding up. What, what do you see as some of the common things they try to do, which, which are not, which are not effectively helping them? Stuart Webb [00:02:49]: Oh yes. So we see a few common things happen over and over. The first one I would say is in most business owners, what they do is when they look at their profit, it’s not matching the revenue or it’s not translating to the profits. They’ll just say, well, let’s go ahead and just do more sales, let’s just increase the revenue side. Right. That’s the most common thing. I mean, it makes sense. I mean, that’s exactly what we would all do as business owners. Stuart Webb [00:03:14]: So let’s just go ahead and put more deals through the pipeline and to see if that translates into profit. The second thing that we often see common mistakes or things that are slowing them down that probably they can improve would be looking at their expenses and not slashing them all at once. Because what happens is they start going through the whole business, all of their expense list, and what they’ll do is start slashing everything without testing one thing or another and then impacting the business. The third thing that they do very often is just hand over the books to an accountant or a bookkeeper and not really learning their own numbers. And I’m guilty of that. As a business owner, I just want to do the sales. I want to get out there, I want to get involved, I want to grow, and I don’t want to see the numbers all the time. But if we don’t learn our own numbers, how do we know how to impact? How do we improve them, how to slash some of the expenses? So we have to learn those numbers. Stuart Webb [00:04:17]: And, you know, lastly, what they do is they try to do all of these things at one time versus trying one step at a time to see what works and what doesn’t work. Stuart Webb [00:04:29]: Absolutely, absolutely. I’ve just put on the screen, you know, if anybody has questions or comments on what you’ve just said, I. I’d love to see them in the chat, because I know you and I will respond to that. And I’m sure there are people that have got questions about, you know, how do I best get these numbers and what do I understand by them? And I know exactly what you’re saying. Too many of us actually don’t want to have to look at numbers. We see that as a dull, boring, administrative job. But actually, it’s when you start to see those and you understand them that these optimizations become obvious, isn’t it? It’s the time when you suddenly recognize the, hey, if I actually sort of develop the area that, you know. And we often find that customers are the best sources of these things. Stuart Webb [00:05:15]: If I develop this, that would be a much more profitable area than just chasing the new customer and things like that. That’s the sort of insight you get by looking properly at what your numbers, what your CRM, things like that tell you. Stuart Webb [00:05:27]: Oh, absolutely. It’s the clarity to see where you are. That’s why I say often that at Globis are our company. What we do is we take a look at every step of the business and we break it apart in a very positive way. And we’re sort of the lens for the business. We close in or just maybe zoom out a little bit just to show them exactly what they have. Because most business owners, they have the right elements, they have the right tools. It’s just that they don’t really have the clarity to see which direction they should go where they should actually invest most of their time or money. Stuart Web

    17 min

  4. FEB 12

    Five Questions Over Coffee with Arup Biswas (ep. 140)

    Who is Arup? Arup Biswas is a dynamic entrepreneur at the forefront of AI-driven marketing solutions. Recognizing that true innovation lies in customer outcomes, Arup has dedicated his career to making powerful marketing accessible for all. He identified three key audiences—marketing agencies, recruitment firms, and SME owners—who often found traditional radio advertising out of reach due to high costs and lack of expertise. With a passion for breaking down barriers, Arup’s work centers on helping these businesses connect with audiences more effectively, using cutting-edge technology to solve longstanding challenges and drive real, measurable success. Key Takeaways * Arup Biswas, founder of Klaxon AI, shared how AI can make radio and podcast advertising accessible, affordable, and targeted—even for small businesses. Breaking down barriers is reshaping who gets to be heard. * Removing technical barriers in media isn’t just about cost. Klaxon AI lets anyone create professional audio ads in minutes, not days, changing who gets to participate in the advertising landscape. * Culture shifts when technology puts power in new hands. DIY audio ads, as Arup describes, give small business owners a voice where only big brands used to play. That shapes narratives—and who gets to tell them. * Targeted messaging is more than a marketing tactic. Klaxon AI shows that when we speak directly to our audience, we foster deeper connections and more inclusive cultural conversations. * Audio advertising isn’t just for radio. Arup encourages using your audio ad everywhere—on your site, social, emails. Culture today is cross-media, and your voice can travel further than ever before. Don’t forget: If you want to connect, ask questions, or get notified about upcoming guests like Arup, subscribe to the Systemise.Me newsletter here. You only need your first name and email—easy as (coffee) pie! Thanks for sharing a cup with us this week. Here’s to strong coffee, smart hiring, and believing in the dreams you’re just starting to imagine. And don’t forget: keep an eye out for next guest. To submit your own questions, subscribe to our newsletter and join the conversation! P.S. Loved this episode? Hit reply and let us know what resonated most _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our newsletter and get details of when we are doing these interviews live at www.systemise.me/subscribe Find out more about being a guest at : link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/beaguest Subscribe to the podcast at https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/podcast Help us get this podcast in front of as many people as possible. Leave a nice five-star review at apple podcasts : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/apple-podcasts and on YouTube : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/Itsnotrocketscienceatyt! Do You Need a P.A.T.H. to Scale? We help established business owners with small but growing teams: go from feeling stuck, sceptical, and tired of wasting time and money on false promises, to running a confident, purpose-driven business where their team delivers results, customers are happy, and they can finally enjoy more time with their family - with a results-based refund guarantee: if you follow the process and it doesn’t work, we refund what you paid. This is THE P.A.T.H. to scale your business. ————————————————————————————————————————————- Transcript Note, this was transcribed using a transcription software and may not reflect the exact words used in the podcast) SUMMARY KEYWORDS small business hiring, remote work, hybrid companies, digital marketing agencies, coaches and consultants, e-commerce businesses, hiring process, HR departments, bad hire costs, hiring mistakes, onboarding, job candidate selection, concierge hiring service, affordable recruiting, job post templates, freelancer pricing guides, virtual assistants, customer service hiring, company culture fit, soft skills, work from home, moms working remotely, freelancing, home-based businesses, job boards, local business networking, HireMyMom platform, Hire Thy Neighbor, faith-based business, church directory, entrepreneurial journey SPEAKER Arup Biswas, Stuart Webb Stuart Webb [00:00:00]: Hi there and welcome back to It’s Not Rocket Science. Five questions over coffee. I have in front of me my coffee mug. I hope Arup has his drink with him, whether or not it’s coffee or something else. But I’d love to welcome Arup as well. Arup is the founder of something called Claxon AI which I’m hoping we will learn more about in the next 15, 20 minutes. But from initial introduction I’ll say that Klaxon AI is one of those game changing type AI systems that really should be shaking up the podcast advertising, media advertising landscape, enabling us all to produce those really game changing ads cheaper, faster and with more specificity. Stuart Webb [00:01:14]: So Arup, welcome to It’s Not Rocket Science five questions over coffee. Arup Biswas [00:01:19]: Thank you, Stuart. I’m delighted to be here. Stuart Webb [00:01:22]: Terrific. Well, you know, let’s start with who the who the who. The ideal audience for Klaxon AI is what’s the sort of characteristics that anybody who’s listening to us at the moment might be thinking? Well, I wonder if this is for me. Arup Biswas [00:01:38]: Yeah, well, there are three key audiences for what we do. And I should say that actually, yes, we are an AI business, of course, but actually it’s all about the outcome for the customer. And the outcome for the customer is reaching people effectively in a powerful way. So our core market is marketing agencies are already working with clients, but offering traditional marketing methods, recruitment agencies who may be looking to recruit volume numbers of staff and owners of SMEs. So those business owners who are struggling hard to, to make their business business a success. But I’ve always thought that radio advertising in particular has been out of their reach because of lack of knowledge or price cost. Those kind of traditional factors have always been the issue. So that’s our traditional market, that’s our marketplace that we focus on and our solution is all about helping them overcome those issues. Arup Biswas [00:02:31]: And we provided a, created a solution which we think does all that. Stuart Webb [00:02:36]: And let’s just sort of understand that. I mean you talked about the fact that it’s a solution. So what are the sort of problems that you noticed that you were trying to solve with this? Obviously cost is one, but there must a bunch of other things that you’re looking at this solution in AI that will actually help solve. Arup Biswas [00:02:55]: Absolutely. And the biggest, one of the biggest issues other than price, price is always an issue for small business owners is knowledge and technical expertise. Stuart Webb [00:03:03]: Yeah. Arup Biswas [00:03:03]: Particularly when it comes to broadcast advertising, whether it’s TV or radio, people think, and traditionally this has been the case. So this is completely justified why people think this way. You need to go to a recording studio, you need a sound engineer, you need a voiceover artist, you need to create a script. And traditionally the cost of creating an audio advert has been thousands and thousands of pounds. Typically a recording studio can be upwards of £300 an hour to just hire the recording studio. So the costs are really high. But also the technical expertise, you know, if you’re a business owner running whatever your business is, you know, how much do you actually know about creating a radio advert? You think you might have to outsource that, but it’s not typically something you think you can do yourself. So there were high barriers to entry to get into radio advertising and there traditionally always has been high barriers to entry. Arup Biswas [00:03:56]: So when we came up with the concept for doing this, and I should say myself and my co founder, we come from a media background, so we were very experienced in working with small business owners who were looking to promote their businesses in normal market ways, but struggled with things like broadcast advertising. So we came with it from a problem point of view of how do we make it easier for these business owners to get their message out via radio advertising and increasingly podcast advertising. So we know that we know the pain. We, you know, we see the pain every day. And historically the pain’s been there, been there. So what we’ve done is create a system which removes every, every barrier to entry. And I’ll, you know, we’ll talk a little bit more about what we offer, but essentially one of the services we offer is a self serve advert creation system where anybody can go in and create a professional audio advert with no technical expertise in less than five minutes. So that’s what we’ve tried to do, is remove barriers to entry. Stuart Webb [00:04:55]: So let’s, let’s just deal into that and I guess we’re going to get into some of the sort of the offerings and services that you’ve got. And I hope that there’s going to be a valuable offer, a piece of advice that you’d like to give to the audience. But let me just explore for a moment. I mean, how does this system work? What does the business owner do to, to solve the problem they’ve got? Having sort of looked at the cost of this and thought this is going to be too expensive for me to be able to sort of put a radio advert, a podcast advert, TV advert, whatever, out this might be a solution to it. What’s the steps that they take? What are the different services you Offer. Arup Biswas [00:05:33]: Yeah, well, the first thing to say is when we talk to business owners is to forget everything they know about creating ra

    25 min

  5. JAN 29

    Five Questions Over Coffee with Lesley Pyle (ep. 139)

    Who is Lesley? Lesley Pyle is the founder of HireMyMom, a company dedicated to helping small business owners—especially those running hybrid or remote teams—grow and succeed. After seeing countless business owners struggle to find skilled, trustworthy candidates and juggle the demands of recruiting, Lesley made it her mission to simplify hiring. Through HireMyMom, she connects digital marketing agencies, coaches, consultants, and e-commerce businesses with talented remote professionals, eliminating the hassle of massive job boards. Lesley also offers a unique concierge service, allowing an experienced HR professional to handle the entire hiring process, so business owners can focus on what they do best—growing their businesses. Key Takeaways Here’s what’s brewing in this episode: 🎯 Hiring Help for Small Businesses Lesley breaks down the biggest hiring challenges for small and micro-business owners. If you’ve ever rushed a hire just to fill a gap, you’ll relate! She reveals how a bad hire can impact team morale, productivity, and even customer satisfaction. But don’t worry—Lesley also shares how her platforms connect entrepreneurs to the right remote candidates (and even offer a concierge hiring service to take the pressure off). 🙅‍♀️ Common Mistakes and Smart Fixes From skipping steps to hiring out of desperation, Lesley outlines what NOT to do—and how a step-by-step system can save time, money, and headaches. She highlights the importance of hiring for culture and soft skills, not just resumes! 📚 Free Resource: Smart Hiring Guide Don’t miss Lesley’s offer: a free Smart Hiring Guide packed with checklists, job post templates, freelancer pricing guides, and a comparison of platforms. Grab yours at www.systemise.me/free-stuff 🌟 An Entrepreneurial Origin Story Lesley opens up about her unexpected path from PR professional to entrepreneurial trailblazer, inspired by her own struggle to balance motherhood and career. Her journey from a single-parent household to earning a master’s degree in Scotland and founding two impactful businesses is both relatable and uplifting. 💡 What’s New: Hire Thy Neighbor Get an exclusive peek at her latest venture, helping people connect with local service providers—and even search by faith connection or church affiliation. (It’s in early launch—look for updates soon!) ✨ Most Inspiring Takeaway Finally, Lesley leaves us with a reminder: no matter your background or obstacles, with determination, faith, and resilience, you can reach dreams you never imagined. Don’t forget: If you want to connect, ask questions, or get notified about upcoming guests like Lesley, subscribe to the Systemise.Me newsletter here. You only need your first name and email—easy as (coffee) pie! Thanks for sharing a cup with us this week. Here’s to strong coffee, smart hiring, and believing in the dreams you’re just starting to imagine. And don’t forget: keep an eye out for next guest. To submit your own questions, subscribe to our newsletter and join the conversation! P.S. Loved this episode? Hit reply and let us know what resonated most _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our newsletter and get details of when we are doing these interviews live at www.systemise.me/subscribe Find out more about being a guest at : link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/beaguest Subscribe to the podcast at https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/podcast Help us get this podcast in front of as many people as possible. Leave a nice five-star review at apple podcasts : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/apple-podcasts and on YouTube : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/Itsnotrocketscienceatyt! Do You Need a P.A.T.H. to Scale? We help established business owners with small but growing teams: go from feeling stuck, sceptical, and tired of wasting time and money on false promises, to running a confident, purpose-driven business where their team delivers results, customers are happy, and they can finally enjoy more time with their family - with a results-based refund guarantee: if you follow the process and it doesn’t work, we refund what you paid. This is THE P.A.T.H. to scale your business. ————————————————————————————————————————————- Transcript Note, this was transcribed using a transcription software and may not reflect the exact words used in the podcast) SUMMARY KEYWORDS small business hiring, remote work, hybrid companies, digital marketing agencies, coaches and consultants, e-commerce businesses, hiring process, HR departments, bad hire costs, hiring mistakes, onboarding, job candidate selection, concierge hiring service, affordable recruiting, job post templates, freelancer pricing guides, virtual assistants, customer service hiring, company culture fit, soft skills, work from home, moms working remotely, freelancing, home-based businesses, job boards, local business networking, HireMyMom platform, Hire Thy Neighbor, faith-based business, church directory, entrepreneurial journey SPEAKER Lesley Pyle, Stuart Webb Stuart Webb [00:00:00]: SA hi, and welcome back to It’s Not Rocket Science. Five questions over coffee. I have my cup of a mug of coffee with me here, and I’m here with Leslie Pyle. Leslie is the founder of Hire My mom and Hire Thy Neighbor. So we’re gonna have some interesting, exciting discussions, I think, about how she is helping business owners to, as I say, move from the path of least assistance to something better where they can actually free up their time for more strategic decisions. So, Lesley, welcome to It’s Not Rocket Science. Thanks very much for being here. Lesley Pyle [00:01:05]: Yeah, thank you, Stuart. It’s my pleasure and my honor to be with you. Stuart Webb [00:01:09]: Terrific. So let’s start with the who is the business owner, the business person or person you’re trying to serve? What is, what are the sort of characteristics of that person? Lesley Pyle [00:01:19]: Yeah. So our ideal client is a small business owner, typically running a hybrid or remote company. Anything from digital marketing agencies to coaches, consultants, and e commerce businesses. The biggest challenge they face is finding and hiring the right candidates to help their business grow and thrive. Many times these business owners try to quickly hire to alleviate the growth pains or issues their businesses are facing. They either don’t have the skills to hire well or they don’t have the time. So at HireMyMom, we solve that problem by connecting them with skilled, talented, remote talent without the headaches and stress of the mega job boards. In addition, we offer a concierge service where our HR professional can take the burden off the business owner and perform the entire hiring process for them. Lesley Pyle [00:02:09]: And at the end of the project, we present them with the top two or three candidates for the business owner to then review hire their top choice. And we do this at an affordable price, unlike many of the traditional recruiters. Stuart Webb [00:02:22]: So. Lesley Pyle [00:02:22]: So it makes it very attractive for the small and micro business owner. Stuart Webb [00:02:26]: Terrific. I mean, you’ve just described an ideal situation there, but what have you come across as sort of routes and things that some of the business owners you’ve worked with have tried to do to alleviate these problems? Because as you say, getting the right person in the right job to really help your business grow can be a really critical thing. And as you said, a lot of people don’t really understand the steps, don’t understand how to best choose, and often make mistakes. Lesley Pyle [00:02:52]: That’s right. And most small businesses, they don’t have HR departments, so they are typically the hiring manager. So the most common mistake we see is hiring too quickly, not taking the time. So hiring the wrong person, it doesn’t just waste money, but it can disrupt Your entire business. On average, people don’t realize this, but on average, a bad hire cost up to 30% of what you’re paying that person. And in addition, there’s these four negative impacts. Number one, you lose time training someone who doesn’t work out. Number two, your productivity is lost as you have to restart the entire process. Lesley Pyle [00:03:31]: Number three, your team morale and your personal morale is shot. Your customer experience is probably affected. And then number four, your burnout because you’re having to juggle your job and theirs for that time. So most small businesses spend 45 hours trying to hire onboard train a new member, and 82% of them report negative impacts from hiring the wrong person. So that’s really where we try to come in and help. And if someone doesn’t want to use us as a concierge service, they can do the hiring themselves, obviously, with our platform, but we just try to educate them as best we can on the proper steps, you know, writing a good job post, what types of interview questions, and all of those things to really help them be successful. Stuart Webb [00:04:20]: Yeah, you’re right. I’ve often seen it in businesses I’ve been working with where the wrong person coming in can do more harm than good. You know, they often leave not just cost and wasted productivity, but poor, poor attitude. With people dissatisfied that somebody else has been hired, that has left a bad taste. And that can be quite damaging for the, you know, the small business that’s got maybe a small team that’s just started to gel and the wrong person comes in can cause a lot of disruption, can’t it? Lesley Pyle [00:04:51]: Yes, it really can. So that’s why we tell people not to rush the process, to really take their time, make sure they’re hiring the right person, the rig

    15 min

  6. JAN 15

    Five Questions Over Coffee with RJ Horner (ep. 138)

    Who is RJ? RJ Horner’s journey began from a place of deep frustration and anger—twelve years ago, he was unhappy with his life and felt nothing was going right. His anger affected every aspect of his world, pushing people away. Yet, amid this struggle, RJ discovered a turning point when he clung to one idea: there had to be a better way. With the support of those few who stayed by his side, especially insightful mentors, RJ started to see life differently. Their guidance reminded him of his capabilities, recognizing his education and potential even when he could not. Through this transformation, RJ found peace and purpose, building a fulfilling life grounded in resilience, learning, and the unwavering belief that things could get better. Key Takeaways We were thrilled to welcome RJ Horner, Life Empowerment Coach and founder of the Beacon of Life and Leadership, onto the show. RJ’s journey from frustration and feeling stuck to building a fulfilling life is both inspiring and practical—perfect fuel for your next growth spurt. Here’s a taste of what we covered: Recognizing When You’re Ready for Change RJ speaks directly to those of us who feel there must be more to life—but just aren’t sure where to start. Maybe you feel like you’re drifting, struggling at work, or just not finding the joy you know is possible. RJ’s story about shifting from anger and uncertainty to action is a reminder that no one is alone in feeling this way. Small Steps, Big Shifts A mentor’s advice led RJ to John Maxwell’s “Make Today Count,” which started his transformation. He reminds us: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Taking action, even a small one, is how you steer the car in a new direction. Tools and Support on the Journey RJ has launched the Beacon School of Leadership—a FREE community full of practical leadership and growth resources. He’s all about genuine service: “By giving value, you now get buy-in from people… They can trust you, because they know you’re in it for them.” Join the community for workshops, masterminds, and support from others walking the same path. Books That Change Mindsets RJ recommends: * “Make Today Count” by John Maxwell * “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie Both shaped his attitude toward leadership, service, and personal happiness. Where Do You Start? RJ introduces his 3S System for Success—State, Sightline, Strategy: * State: Where are you right now? * Sightline: Where do you want to go? * Strategy: What steps will take you there? Key Takeaway:Don’t be afraid to take the first step—even if it feels like the wrong one. You can always adjust your path as you go. Every attempt, even a failure, is a lesson learned. Ready to take your first step?👉 Join RJ’s Beacon School of Leadership community—free resources await. And don’t forget: keep an eye out for next guest. To submit your own questions, subscribe to our newsletter and join the conversation! P.S. Loved this episode? Hit reply and let us know what resonated most—or share how you’re taking your next step! _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our newsletter and get details of when we are doing these interviews live at www.systemise.me/subscribe Find out more about being a guest at : link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/beaguest Subscribe to the podcast at https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/podcast Help us get this podcast in front of as many people as possible. Leave a nice five-star review at apple podcasts : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/apple-podcasts and on YouTube : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/Itsnotrocketscienceatyt! Do You Need a P.A.T.H. to Scale? We help established business owners with small but growing teams: go from feeling stuck, sceptical, and tired of wasting time and money on false promises, to running a confident, purpose-driven business where their team delivers results, customers are happy, and they can finally enjoy more time with their family - with a results-based refund guarantee: if you follow the process and it doesn’t work, we refund what you paid. This is THE P.A.T.H. to scale your business. ————————————————————————————————————————————- Transcript Note, this was transcribed using a transcription software and may not reflect the exact words used in the podcast) SUMMARY KEYWORDS life empowerment coach, Beacon of Life and Leadership, personal growth, self-improvement, career dissatisfaction, change mindset, leadership training, cognitive behavioral therapy, building better habits, finding purpose, contentment, overcoming anger, community support, self-discovery, personal legacy, leadership community, free leadership resources, self-awareness, serving others, mindset shift, taking the first step, overcoming fear, career transition, personal development books, John Maxwell, Make Today Count, Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People, achieving success, 3S system (state, sightline, strategy) SPEAKER RJ Horner, Stuart Webb Stuart Webb [00:00:33]: Hi, and welcome back to Five Questions Over Coffee. I have my coffee, which I very nearly spilled as I lift it up, so I better, I better not do any more of that. I’m delighted to be joined Today with by R.J. horner. R.J. is a, he’s a life empowerment coach. He’s going to talk to us about that. He’s running something called the Beacon of Life and Leadership. Stuart Webb [00:00:55]: I’m really interested in talking through what he’s doing with that and talking about the way in which he wants to talk about change, in the fact that if you want to change the way you see, you see the world, you have to change the way that you actually interact with it. So, rj, welcome to the podcast. Welcome to five Questions Over Coffee. Really looking forward to this conversation. RJ Horner [00:01:16]: Yeah, I like the, the concept you’ve got here. It’s just, you know, an informal chat with people. I’ve got my coffee. I’m all excited about where this conversation will go. And again, it’s all about helping to change people’s lives, helping people to put them on the path to betterment. So glad to have this conversation with you this morning. Stuart Webb [00:01:35]: That’s brilliant, rj. Look, let’s just start with that. You’re trying to help people to understand how they can change themselves, to see the world in a different way, the way they can better interact with the world. Talk to us a little bit about the sort of people who you’re working with helping at this time. RJ Horner [00:01:53]: Yeah, look, I believe we all have the opportunity for a better life. Some of us just don’t look for, for it. We don’t step into it. We struggle. We, you know, we, look, we have to pay the bills, so we have jobs. So, you know, and then some of us, many of us are living paycheck to paycheck. We’re unable to find that opportunity to just live life. And that’s where this all came from. RJ Horner [00:02:17]: See, 12 years ago, I was pissed off and angry at the world because I hated my life. And where I was at the time, nothing was going right. I was angry. And that anger came out in everything I did. And when I found my piece, it’s because I, I, I built it on one concept. There has to be a better way. And, you know, thankfully I had people in my life still, because I was chasing people away from me, right? And thankfully, I still had people in my life who were willing to help me, who were willing to help me see through, see things through. And see the of my mentors at the time said, look, he says, you’re one of the most educated people I know. RJ Horner [00:03:03]: You’ve always got your head in a book. If you’re looking for answers, why not turn to those books? And within a week, I found a book called Make Today Count from John Maxwell. And it really was about doing the little things to find the peace in your life. So that’s who I’m looking to serve. I’m looking to help those people who, you know, they. They know they’re meant for more. They know could live a better life. They just don’t know how. RJ Horner [00:03:33]: And that’s one of the things I used to tell my wife at the time. She said, why can’t you be any better? Why can’t you, you know, just be happier? I said, I don’t know how. Well, now I’m here to help people, show. Help, show people how to find that better life, how to find the peace and joy in their life. Stuart Webb [00:03:49]: Brilliant. Brilliant. Let’s. Let’s talk a little bit about the people that you’ve just sort of talked about. How might they recognize themselves? What. What are the things that they’re doing at the moment to try and find that. That path, that contentment, which perhaps, you know, that and they’re missing? You know, how would they recognize themselves in, you know, in actions that they’re taking at the moment? RJ Horner [00:04:12]: Yeah, look, you know, first of all, you’re questioning yourself, right? You know, you are meant for more. You know, there’s more you could be doing. You just don’t. Maybe don’t know what that is, don’t know where that joy and peace and happiness is. With me, at the time, it was. I was angry with the life I was living. I hated my job because I hated my life because there wasn’t enough money. So if you’re constantly angry and upset about these things, it means you’re looking for something else. RJ Horner [00:04:43]: And to find that thing, you have to find. At the time, I had to find joy in the work I was doing. So finding those little things, you know, and. And maybe that’s taking some time to go to the park, connect with nature, connect better with family and friends. Right. Take notice of the thoughts and the feelings that you’re having. That wa

    19 min
  7. Five Questions Over Coffee with Brian Parana (ep. 136)

    JAN 15

    Five Questions Over Coffee with Brian Parana (ep. 136)

    Who is Brian? Brian Parana is no stranger to the turning points that come in midlife. At 42, he’s the dedicated husband of his high school sweetheart and the proud father of four—juggling the joys and challenges that come with two high schoolers and two middle schoolers, ages 10 to 15. With 15 years as a self-employed professional and over 23 years in the health industry, Brian has seen firsthand what so many entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders experience: the demands of life and responsibility often sneak up, and self-care takes a back seat. His journey reflects the universal realization that reaching 40, 45, or 50 doesn’t always look or feel as expected—prompting him to help others redefine what thriving in midlife can truly mean. Key Takeaways 00:00 Avoiding Midlife Crisis: Enhance Life 05:05 Finding Balance Amid Life’s Chaos 08:04 “Rice 72: Three-Day Fat Loss” 11:50 “Developing Habits for Growth” 13:30 “1% Improvements for Massive Success” 17:32 “Health Choices Over Consequences” 20:40 Appreciative Farewell Message _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our newsletter and get details of when we are doing these interviews live at www.systemise.me/subscribe Find out more about being a guest at : link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/beaguest Subscribe to the podcast at https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/podcast Help us get this podcast in front of as many people as possible. Leave a nice five-star review at apple podcasts : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/apple-podcasts and on YouTube : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/Itsnotrocketscienceatyt! Do You Need a P.A.T.H. to Scale? We help established business owners with small but growing teams: go from feeling stuck, sceptical, and tired of wasting time and money on false promises, to running a confident, purpose-driven business where their team delivers results, customers are happy, and they can finally enjoy more time with their family - with a results-based refund guarantee: if you follow the process and it doesn’t work, we refund what you paid. This is THE P.A.T.H. to scale your business. ————————————————————————————————————————————- Transcript Note, this was transcribed using a transcription software and may not reflect the exact words used in the podcast) SUMMARY KEYWORDS health and wellbeing, business leaders, productivity, midlife crisis, entrepreneurs, self-employed, diet industry, weight loss, lifestyle balance, flexibility, moderation, accountability, fat loss protocol, nutrition, mindset, radical accountability, busy professionals, sustainable habits, atomic habits, James Clear, Tony Robbins, personal development, business performance, routines, incremental change, ROI of health, confidence, energy levels, work-life balance, men’s health SPEAKERS Brian Parana, Stuart Webb Stuart Webb [00:00:00]: SA hi and welcome back to It’s Not Rocket Science. Five questions over coffee. I have my coffee monkey here. My guest Brian, Coach Brian Piranha is here with me. He has his coffee with espresso, with. Brian Parana [00:00:49]: Some seltzer water and some oat milk. Stuart Webb [00:00:52]: Coach BRIAN that’s a brilliant, brilliant recipe. Thank you for that. So Brian is a, is a, is a health and well being expert, an athlete, now a coach who helps business leaders, people who are trying to run their businesses and forget that they need to remain healthy to run their business, do better with both. So Coach Ryan, welcome to It’s Not Rocket Science. Five questions over coffee. Looking forward to this conversation and really looking forward to hearing how you can help us. Brian Parana [00:01:27]: I’m excited to be here. I’m looking forward to our five questions and the insights that I can bring, the value and some ideal takeaways for our guests that are listening in. Stuart Webb [00:01:37]: That’s what we want to hear. So let’s start with that first question. I like to always start with just give us a little bit of an oversight of the sort of person you’re trying to help. What are the problems that they have in their life that might help them identify that you’re currently talking to them, right. Brian Parana [00:01:55]: What happens when we reach our mid-40s? There’s that term of a midlife crisis, right. I’m 42, I’ve married my high school sweetheart, we’re 19 years in. We have four kids, two high schoolers, two middle schools, three boys and girls, 15 to 10. And I’ve been self employed for 15 years and been in the health industry for 23 or something. I’ve seen it time and again. Is that people, business owners, entrepreneurs, leaders, everyone ends up running into this at some point where the responsibilities of their life caught up to them. In a sense, they realize they’re not taking care of themselves and their body. And 40, 45, 50 isn’t what was expected when they got there, right. Brian Parana [00:02:44]: They’re on their way to retirement or they got money in the bank or the house or whatever this stuff, but when they see themselves in the mirror, they just their waistlines expanding. They don’t have the confidence in their, their workloads that they once had. There’s fatigue, the lack of productivity. They feel half a step behind or maybe in one or two instead. And that’s the type of person that I’m coming to the marketplace to meet is to get that priority. Let’s not have a midlife crisis where we potentially disrupt some things in life. Let’s actually Enhance what life has and be even more productive by taking care of yourself first to then have the energy, the resources, the capacity to keep pace with all the responsibilities that you are now in charge of. Stuart Webb [00:03:35]: So let’s talk a little bit about maybe there’s somebody out there at the moment thinking, hey, this guy, this guy’s talking to me. What do you think they’d be able to recognize in terms of the things they tried? You know, the health kicks that go on, the act, the diet, which constantly never seems to work. I mean, they may even be finding the soul at the moment, sitting there looking at yet another diet book or even some other ways of trying to enhance this. And I think what you’re trying to say is that’s not always all of the solution, is it? Brian Parana [00:04:06]: No, no, definitely not. Oftentimes we’ve been taught through marketing, through just literal time for, or the, the, the diet industry really started in the 1980s or so and 90s and, and continued on if you, I, I grew up in that and has infiltrated every single person that I am in association with and what I, who I’ve worked with for years, restriction. There’s these hard protocols that they have to follow. It often lines up with more of a leader type personality where they have to feel that the grind, the hustle. They have things that have to be hard. Those are, they have to cut out, restrict all that. And I’ve been in a five pound weight range for decades. Obviously it’s what I do by profession and I should look and be the part to lead those people. Brian Parana [00:05:05]: But with four kids, with self employment, with all these, these obstacles that just show up in everyday life, there is a way to find some balance. To have some ice cream after a kid’s soccer game or after a school event, or have a small sliver of cake at a birthday party because I mean, what weekend do people not have birthdays, especially if they have four kids or something, right? There’s just always those opportunities to potentially fall off track and then next, you know, we’ll start again on Monday. Well, Stuart, today’s Wednesday or Tuesday. It’s Tuesday that we’re recording this. There’s a lot of sloppiness that can, that can be created there and cause you to be setting yourself back a significant amount. We need to find a level of balance of, with some flexibility, some moderation in a way that creates a lifestyle that they can actually live. What we do in two weeks, we do in two months, we do in two years. And finding that balance is so important. Brian Parana [00:06:04]: And that that’s where I meet people every single day. Stuart Webb [00:06:09]: And I think you’ve got a very valid point then Brian, because you know, it’s if, if you are having to force yourself into something, if you’re telling yourself that you can only achieve this by constant denial, you can only do this by having to go to the gym when you don’t really feel, feel like it because you’ve got other concerns, you’ve got the family to worry about things like that. It becomes more and more difficult to actually stick with something like this, doesn’t it? I mean if the only time you ever get any pleasure is when you get that little bit of ice cream or that small amount of cake at a birthday party and suddenly you deny that, it just becomes impossible to stick to anything that you really, really want to do. You have to link it to something that’s more than that, right? Brian Parana [00:06:50]: It’s just same thing with business. If you have to grind to grow a business, it’s going to fail at some point because whether the motivation, the willpower, the lack of consistently putting out or say a high marketing budget, if you one, one or five months go by and you haven’t produced the outcomes to pay for that, now you’re in the red and things aren’t going well for the business because it’s at such a high demand of say accuracy or focus or the ROI needs to be right on point there. Stuart Webb [00:07:26]: So I’ve got a really. You’ve got a special offer that I think that the audience is going to be really interested in. This I will be putting into our vault. So if you go to www.systemize.me free stock you, you’ll get the details of exactly how Brian c

    22 min

  8. 12/04/2025

    Five Questions Over Coffee with Kyle Beltle (ep. 137)

    Who is Kyle? Kyle Beltle is a sought-after advisor for professional coaches and consultants whose businesses are flourishing in the high six figures. Having worked extensively with clients eager to reclaim their time, Kyle specializes in navigating the twin challenges his clients so often face: “tax FOMO” (the fear of missing out on tax deductions) and analysis paralysis. He knows all too well how the constant swirl of social media tips and advice from well-meaning friends can leave entrepreneurs unsure of where to start and anxious they might be missing out. Through patient guidance and hands-on support—including welcoming endless client questions at kickoff meetings—Kyle helps business owners cut through the noise, find clarity, and confidently optimize their financial strategies. Key Takeaways 00:00 Coaching Clients’ Tax Woes Solved 04:39 Experience Over Price 09:06 Focusing Intentionally in Business 12:55 Maximize 401(k) with Profit Sharing 15:58 “Subscribe for Podcast Updates” _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our newsletter and get details of when we are doing these interviews live at www.systemise.me/subscribe Find out more about being a guest at : link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/beaguest Subscribe to the podcast at https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/podcast Help us get this podcast in front of as many people as possible. Leave a nice five-star review at apple podcasts : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/apple-podcasts and on YouTube : https://link.thecompleteapproach.co.uk/Itsnotrocketscienceatyt! Do You Need a P.A.T.H. to Scale? We help established business owners with small but growing teams: go from feeling stuck, sceptical, and tired of wasting time and money on false promises, to running a confident, purpose-driven business where their team delivers results, customers are happy, and they can finally enjoy more time with their family - with a results-based refund guarantee: if you follow the process and it doesn’t work, we refund what you paid. This is THE P.A.T.H. to scale your business. ————————————————————————————————————————————- Transcript Note, this was transcribed using a transcription software and may not reflect the exact words used in the podcast) SUMMARY KEYWORDS tax strategy, tax planning, proactive CPA, tax deductions, analysis paralysis, tax FOMO, professional coaches, consultants, high six figure business, time management, business finances, business owner, real estate investment, rental property, multi state tax return, online tax software, premium guidance, tax mistakes, tax savings, 401k, retirement planning, profit sharing, S corp, employee benefits, pension contributions, business tax, cash flow management, VAT bill, financial planning, tax professional, small business tax SPEAKER Kyle Beltle, Stuart Webb Stuart Webb [00:00:03]: Okay, we’ve gone live without the stream coming in, which is really interesting. So welcome to It’s Not Rocket Science. Five questions over coffee. I’m here with Kyle Bentley Beltly. Sorry, I’m gonna, I’m gonna get that wrong. Kyle. Apologies. Kyle Beltley. Stuart Webb [00:00:22]: Kyle is the owner of ProActive CPA. Kyle is going to talk to us about some really interesting things about how we manage our finances, manage tax, etc. Carl, welcome to It’s Not Rocket Science. Five questions over coffee. I hope you’ve got your coffee in front of you today. Kyle Beltle [00:00:38]: Ready to go. Stuart Webb [00:00:39]: Terrific mug, terrific mug. Let’s, let’s talk briefly about how you’re, who is, who is the person you’re trying to help? What’s the problem they’ve got? So that we can sort of, as we were listening to you describe this, we begin to get a sense of is this me that Kyle is talking about? Kyle Beltle [00:01:00]: Sure, sure. So my clients are professional coaches and consultants running businesses that are generating high six figures of sales and they’re people who are looking to buy back their time. I would say that the primary issue that people come to me with and I help them solve, it’s kind of a twofold. It’s first off, it’s what I like to call tax fomo, fear of missing out, and it’s analysis paralysis. So with the tax fomo, we are inundated with social media posts on tax tips, our neighbors giving us tax tips, our crazy uncle at the family dinner is giving us. And there’s this fear that I’m missing out on these deductions that everybody else knows about. But where do I even, where do I even get started? You know, this, this analysis paralysis. And a great example of this is I just started working with a client there and as we were getting ready for our kickoff meeting, he said, I hope you don’t mind, I just jotted down a few thoughts. Kyle Beltle [00:02:10]: Well, so Stewart, this guy had composed this entire Google Doc of just all the things that he’d been coming across. And you know, does this apply to me? Where do I start? And so what I do with my clients is distill all that into a crystal clear tax strategy plan for them where they know, a, this applies to me, B, this is how to take advantage of it, and C, here’s the savings I’m going to get from it. Stuart Webb [00:02:38]: So let’s just, let’s try and explore a little bit then on what are the things. I mean, that guy obviously had ideas about what he wanted to do, the problems that he knew had. He Tried anything. What were the things he tried to do to overcome this problem before turning to Kyle and say, carl, can you help me? Kyle Beltle [00:02:57]: So fortunately he hadn’t tried anything and sadly that’s not always the case. I had a client, I’ll call Ian, who just started working with me the beginning of this year and he had heard, real estate’s a great investment. I’m going to get into real estate. And he ended up purchasing a rental house that was out of state. So now he’s preparing a multi state return and he has to set up a rental property. He was using an over the counter online tax product there. And you know the saying, garbage in, garbage out. Well, the data that he was putting into the software was not correct. Kyle Beltle [00:03:47]: He ended up missing out on a lot of deductions around that rental property. And so when we first started working together this year, I went back, took a look under the hood of the return last year and was able to help him get that rental property set up properly. And the savings, the actual tax savings that he experienced as a result of that were twice what I was charging him there. And so, you know, I have a colleague, Rajo Jose, who likes to say premium guidance cost a lot less than premium mistakes. And so certainly don’t, don’t try to DIY things when you’re working with a complex tax situation. Stuart Webb [00:04:39]: I’m going to have to agree with you, Carla. I know one of the early lessons I was taught when I was a very young business owner was people forget the price long after they’ve forgotten the lack of quality, so long after they’ve remembered the lack of quality. So you know, the, the problem that we all try and think of is this may or may not take me a lot of time, but you’re not dealing with, you’re not dealing with something which, which is, you know, so much time based, are you? Although they are paying for your time, they’re paying for the years of experience which you bought into the, you’ve used as your education and your experience in order to come back and go, this is how much it’s valid, the value is to you. This is not about me taking 15 minutes over this. This is 15 years of my life that’s taught me how to do this for you. Kyle Beltle [00:05:25]: 100%. 100%. And that’s not even mentioning the time that they would need to take away from their core business. Stuart Webb [00:05:33]: Absolutely. Kyle Beltle [00:05:34]: To try to learn this or to even, even to execute it. Stuart Webb [00:05:38]: Absolutely. So I think, Carl, you’ve been very kind to the audience. You have Got a giveaway. And this will be something which is in the vault that we have, which is the systemized me free stuff. So describe what this is, a PDF, I think, which is going to be a great asset to a lot of people. Tell us what’s in this PDF and how it benefit them. Kyle Beltle [00:06:04]: So, as I said at the top, one of the issues that so many of my prospects and so many of my clients come to me with is just saying, where do I even begin? So I put together a handout here of my six favorite tax strategies that most people can take advantage of. And so I would download that there and take it with you next time you’re meeting with your tax professional to see which one of these can we put into play to maximize my savings. Stuart Webb [00:06:34]: And I would, I’d hate to, to prejudice this, but if somebody comes along and finds they’re only using five of the six, they may need to have a word with you anyway. Kyle Beltle [00:06:43]: Yes, absolutely, absolutely. Stuart Webb [00:06:46]: Okay, terrific. That’s a brilliant. And I, I’ll just repeat, if you go to systemize me free hyphen stuff, you will find that immediately. You can go and download that now and go get that from, from that vault and, and you will be able to get hold of Kyle’s top six strategies. Have a feeling he may have more than six in his bank. But that’s, that’s the top. Kyle Beltle [00:07:09]: There may be a bonus. There may be a bonus one. Stuart Webb [00:07:12]: I love it. I love it. I love it. Kyle, tell us a little bit. You know, how did you become the, the expert that you are on tax? This doesn’t happen overnight. It certainly doesn’t happen unless you, you set out intentionally to understand these things. Kyle Beltle [00:07:28]: Yeah. Stuart Webb [00:07:28]: Is there a book, a course or

    18 min
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The mission of It's Not Rocket Science! is to bring a new idea for building business to growth-hungry business leaders and owners who want to do more with less time and so increase their business and influence. We deliver actionable ideas using our “five questions over coffee.” thecompleteapproach.substack.com

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