The Business Owners Podcast

Clive Enever & Linda Reed-Enever

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The Business Owners Podcast, brought to you by Business Business Business and Enever Group, is a podcast for business owners of all sizes. In each episode, hosts Linda Reed-Enever and Clive Enever interview business owners about their experiences, challenges, and successes. They also share tips and advice on growing your business and achieving your goals.

4d ago

Di Geddes on Values and Compassionate Care in Business

True business success isn't measured solely by profit margins, but is built on living your values, delivering genuine compassion, and prioritising human relationships. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever sits down with Di Geddes, founder of Exceptional Care For You. Drawing from her 40-year career as a registered nurse, Di shares her journey of leaving a corporate care system to build an in-home aged care and NDIS support business centred entirely around kindness, dignity, and quality of life. Di provides a transparent look at the personal resilience required to launch a business in her mid-50s, the importance of aligning recruitment with core values, and why small business owners must redefine success on their own terms rather than conforming to traditional corporate moulds. Key Takeaways from This Episode Service Over Dollars While a business must remain financially sustainable to pay its team and bills, keeping profit as the sole focus dilutes the quality of care. When you focus unyielding attention on delivering exceptional service, financial returns naturally follow. Recruiting for Heart and Values Skills can be taught, but genuine compassion cannot. Effective recruitment requires thorough screening that prioritises why an applicant wants the job over their technical resume. Applicants driven purely by penalty rates or convenience don't align with a values-first organisation. The Importance of "Day-One" Impressions Whether for clients or new staff, the culture of a business is felt immediately on day one. Authentic, polite, and transparent communication sets a foundation of psychological safety that directly impacts long-term retention and engagement. Redefining the "Businesswoman" Identity Business owners don't have to fit into a rigid, traditional corporate box dictated by external coaches or metrics. You have the power to define your own success criteria, focusing on happiness, high-quality delivery, and ethical integrity. Personal Resilience as an Anchor Overcoming severe personal adversity, such as illness, divorce, or loss, often uncovers deep internal strength. Using those life lessons to anchor your business values gives you the clarity to stay true to your mission during hard times. Di's Advice for Business Owners Ask the "Why" Question Early: During hiring, look past technical qualifications and listen for emotional authenticity and true alignment with your mission. Implement Circuit Breakers: Operating a 24/7 or high-demand business can easily lead to burnout. Recognise when you are getting reactive, and step away for a short break to recharge. Stay Grounded in Real Feedback: Avoid relying solely on staff or inner circles for validation. Seek candid perspectives from outside sources who don't depend on you financially. Lead with a Smile: Simple human connection breaks down barriers, builds immediate trust, and establishes comfort in any professional environment. Key Takeaway Don't let traditional corporate expectations dictate how you run your company. Stay true to your core values, deliver the exceptional service you promised, and let the money take care of itself. Your Next Step Execute a "Values Alignment Check" in your current business. Review your primary customer-facing promises or mission statements and compare them against your team's day-to-day operations. Identify one area where operational tasks may be overshadowing human connection, and implement a small change this week to put service back at the centre. Connect with Di Geddes Personal Website: digeddes.com.au Company Website: exceptionalcareforyou.com Ready to Get Support? Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 00:00 Introduction to Di Geddes and Exceptional Care For You 02:30 Why We Ignore Quality of Life 05:30 From 40 Years of Nursing to Launching a Business at 55 08:30 Why Financial Returns Follow Values-Driven Service 10:30 The Secret to Hiring: Screening for Compassion Over Convenience 13:30 Early Mornings, Mindset Books, and Finding Strength in Adversity 17:30 Inheriting Maternal Resilience and Navigating Life's Curveballs 21:00 Setting Boundaries and Managing On-Call Stress with Circuit Breakers 24:00 What the NDIS and Care Industries Need to Change 26:00 Rejecting Corporate Stereotypes and Defining Success on Your Terms
Sep 22

Why You Need an AI Plan Before an AI Tool with Adrienne Allaway

Adding artificial intelligence to your business without a strategy is like building an addition on a house without architectural blueprints. It creates mess, risk, and misaligned outcomes. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever chats with Adrienne Allaway, a software solution architect with 20+ years of experience and founder of Clear North AI. After moving from Seattle to Melbourne to pursue a master's degree in sustainability, Adrienne brings a refreshing, long-term perspective on applying AI in the small business ecosystem. Adrienne explains why business owners must map out their workflows and establish clear boundaries before turning on AI tools, the data privacy risks of public LLM interfaces, and how to create a practical, one-page AI strategy focused on measurable business value. Key Takeaways from This Episode Strategy Over Shiny Object Syndrome Plugging in AI tools or chatbots without a plan can severely damage customer relationships and operational flows. Business owners must define their end goals, whether saving hours or driving revenue, before selecting software. Understanding Data Privacy & Ownership When using free public AI tools (like ChatGPT or Claude in a browser), you grant those platforms broad rights to your inputs. Never input sensitive client data or non-differentiated branding assets into public tools without stripping out identifying details or utilising business-grade API connections. Identifying "Automation Candidates" AI should handle tasks that are repeatable, time-consuming, and manual. If a task is constantly changing or requires non-standardised decisions, it is a poor candidate for early automation. Keeping the "Human in the Loop" Automation is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Critical business steps, such as contract approvals, final legal reviews, and invoice validation, should always retain human oversight, even if drafted by AI. The One-Page AI Framework Set the Objective: Are you saving money or driving sales? Audit Manual Processes: Map out inputs, operational steps, and final outputs. Select AI Touchpoints: Identify where AI assists and where humans remain in charge. Calculate ROI: Confirm that the time or cost savings justify the automation effort. Adrienne's Advice for Business Owners Start Small with Business Systems: Don't get overwhelmed by massive tech Overhauls. Take small, intentional steps toward automating tedious manual tasks. Never Jump Without Blueprints: Stop bolting AI tools onto broken manual processes. Map out your business steps on paper first. Be Adaptable to "Curveballs": Treat unexpected business curveballs or disruptions as opportunities to jump through new, creative windows. Focus on Enablement, Not Replacement: View AI as a tool to boost human productivity and eliminate tedious tasks, not a replacement for human connection. Key Takeaway Don't throw AI at a process just because everyone tells you to. Map your inputs, decide where the human stays, and calculate the real value before picking up a tool. Your Next Step Execute a Process Mapping Exercise. Choose one repetitive task in your business that takes up significant human time each week (e.g., onboarding emails or spreadsheet updates). Map out its inputs, step-by-step actions, and final outputs to determine if it's a strong candidate for AI enablement. Connect with Adrienne Allaway Website: clearnorth.ai LinkedIn: Adrienne Allaway Ready to Get Support? Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 00:00 Introduction to Adrienne Allaway and Clear North AI 02:00 Applying Sustainability Principles to Tech and Data Centres 04:10 Data Privacy: Public LLMs vs. Business APIs 07:00 The Cost of Turning on AI Without a Plan 08:50 The One-Page AI Plan: Inputs, Steps, and Human-in-the-Loop Points 12:40 Rescuing Software Projects That Have Gone Off the Rails 15:30 French Press Coffee, Early Mornings, and Brandon Sanderson Fantasy Books 18:50 Moving to Australia and Embracing Business Surprises 23:00 The "Business in a Box" Vision and the Future of AI Enablement 25:30 Where to Find Adrienne
Sep 15

Turning Pain into Purpose with Jade Payne of Wild Body Australia

A personal health crisis can be the ultimate catalyst for business innovation when you channel adversity into creating a category-defining, purpose-driven product. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever chats with Jade Payne, founder of Wild Body Australia. Following a life-altering kidney cancer diagnosis on Christmas Eve 2020, Jade transitioned into a low-tox lifestyle and uncovered the hidden realities of traditional activewear, most of which is made from petroleum-based polyester, nylon, and toxic dyes. Despite being told over 50 times that no one would buy organic cotton activewear and that sizing inclusively would ruin her margins, Jade stayed firm in her mission. Operating out of Geraldton, Western Australia, she launched Wild Body, offering high-performance, size-inclusive, GOTS-certified organic cotton activewear that has repeatedly sold out. Key Takeaways from This Episode Transforming Adversity into Alignment Overcoming cancer removed Jade's fear of failure and public judgment. Facing life's scariest moments provided radical clarity, inspiring her to build a business centred on leaving a meaningful legacy for her four children and offering a healthier alternative for women. Educating an Emerging Market Most consumers aren't aware that conventional synthetic activewear contains petroleum-based materials and undisclosed dyes linked to endocrine disruption. Wild Body built its brand authority by leaning into transparent consumer education and filling a clear market gap for performance-grade organic cotton. Challenging Industry Stereotypes Jade proved critics wrong by establishing that organic cotton can handle high-impact movement and that offering sizes 4 to 22 does not have to destroy a startup's profitability. Leveraging Regional Advantages Running a global e-commerce brand from a regional town like Geraldton isn't a limitation. Jade leveraged local landscapes for high-end campaign shoots and partnered with supportive local business communities to launch her brand. Surrounding Yourself with Mission-Aligned Mentors Working with manufacturing designers or mentors who don't believe in your core mission creates friction. Real growth happens when you partner with mentors and designers who actively share your vision and values. Jade's Advice for Business Owners Solve a Genuine Problem: Don't just rinse and repeat existing business models. Find a clear gap in the market and create a solution you are deeply passionate about. Prioritise Total Transparency: Give your customers complete honesty about your processes, standards, and materials, even if local regulations don't strictly require it. Align with the Right Partners: If a mentor, designer, or supplier doesn't share your vision, step away and find collaborators who will help move mountains with you. Persist Through Boundary Roadblocks: Business will give you easy opportunities to quit. Resilience comes from refusing to accept "no" when you know your product meets a real need. Key Takeaway When you remove the fear of what other people think, business decisions become crystal clear. Find a real gap in the market, stand firmly behind your mission, and build something you are truly proud of. Your Next Step Perform a "Mission Alignment Audit" on your business operations. Review your current suppliers, advisors, or contractors to ensure every partner fully supports your core vision, mission, and values. If a relationship feels like pushing a boulder uphill, take steps to align with partners who share your goals. Connect with Ammarah Ahmed Website: wildbody.com.au Social Media: Follow Wild Body Australia on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Ready to Get Support? Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 00:58 Meet Jade Payne 01:22 Wild Body Origin Story 03:18 Building the Brand 04:31 Sales Channels and Scaling 05:24 Cancer to Courage Mindset 06:49 Quickfire Personal Qs 08:36 Content and Conversion 10:15 Proving the Doubters Wrong 12:58 Small Town Big Business 15:41 Mentors and Key Support 19:30 Work-Life Balance 20:54 Advice and Where to Find
Sep 9

Converting Traffic to Customers with Ammarah Ahmed

Driving traffic to your website is only half the battle. True business growth happens when you remove user friction, eliminate ethical traps, and optimise your site to turn visitors into buyers. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever chats with Ammarah Ahmed, founder and lead at Precision Consulting. Drawing from her extensive background in data, commercial strategy, product UX, and leadership roles at major enterprises like Delivery Hero and Alibaba, Ammarah shares practical insights on maximising conversion rates without increasing ad spend. Ammarah breaks down why pouring money into ad campaigns fails when user landing journeys are broken, the danger of deceptive "dark UX" patterns, and how small-to-medium businesses can scale their revenue by making the user experience seamless, clear, and ethical. Key Takeaways from This Episode ROAS Isn't the Whole Story Many business owners judge marketing success strictly by Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) and attempt to solve dropping conversions by simply adjusting ad budgets. True optimisation requires analysing user behaviour channel by channel to see how visitors interact with your website once they arrive. Fix the Landing Page Disconnect A major conversion mistake is displaying a specific product in an ad and then landing the customer on a generic homepage or category page with hundreds of options. To convert traffic, match the ad promise directly to a specific, friction-free destination. The Reputational Risk of "Dark UX" Using dark UX patterns, such as hiding exit points or making subscription cancellations nearly impossible, destroys customer trust. In an era where AI search engines (like ChatGPT and Claude) pull review sentiment from platforms like Reddit and Quora, bad customer experiences directly hurt future acquisition. Transitioning from Corporate Manager to Solopreneur Operator Moving from leading large corporate teams to running a business requires unlearning pure delegation. Early-stage founders must embrace becoming "full-time operators," acting as their own writer, analyst, scheduler, and front-of-house marketer. Ammarah's Advice for Business Owners Stop Chasing Perfection Before Launching: Put your offer in front of the market early. You don't need a flawless product on day one. Put out your current version and iterate based on real feedback. Build an Accountability Circle: Share your goals with friends, mentors, or networks. Creating a circle of peers who ask for updates forces you to stay disciplined and push through fear. Don't Let Fear of Failure Block Action: Overthinking how a failure might look to your professional network only holds you back. The only true failure is never giving your idea a fair shot. Optimise Before You Spend: Before increasing your paid marketing budget, audit your existing site traffic and user journey to ensure you aren't leaking potential revenue. Key Takeaway Converting traffic isn't about trapping customers in an escape room. It's about removing friction, landing visitors where they expect, and providing a clean, ethical checkout experience that builds long-term trust. Your Next Step Conduct a Landing Page Match Audit. Click through your current active ads or social media links as if you were a new customer. Are you landing users directly on the exact product or offer promised in the ad, or are you forcing them to navigate a generic page? Adjust your destinations to eliminate extra steps. Connect with Ammarah Ahmed Website: goprecision.co Ready to Get Support? Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 01:23 Meet Ammarah Ahmed 01:56 Corporate Growth Career 02:42 Launching Precision Consulting 04:17 Entrepreneurship Reality Check 08:59 Turning Traffic Into Customers 13:04 Ethical UX and Trust 15:38 Quickfire Personal Questions 18:12 Mentors and Inspirations 21:07 Advice for New Founders 24:58 Where to Find Amara
Sep 1

Trust, Reviews, and Online Reputation with Shane Barker

A negative review isn't the end of your business, but an opportunity to refine your product, build authenticity, and demonstrate real accountability to your audience. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Linda Reed-Enever sits down with Shane Barker, digital marketing veteran and founder of TraceFuse. With over 30 years of experience across SEO, influencer marketing, and conversion optimisation, Shane unpacks why trust is the absolute core of modern business, and how online reputation management can make or break a brand. Shane demystifies Amazon's review ecosystem, explains how critical reviews (1, 2, and 3 stars) can actually serve as a product's "v1.0 to v2.0" roadmap, and shares a raw, personal story about overcoming a multi-million-dollar legal battle that transformed his approach to health and business boundaries. Key Takeaways from This Episode Not All Bad Reviews are Bad News Getting critical feedback or facing a hater is often proof that your business is making waves. Instead of reacting emotionally, view legitimate negative feedback as a valuable, real-world development tool to evolve your product or service. Understanding Amazon's Review Ecosystem Amazon categorises 1-, 2-, and 3-star reviews as "critical". Buyers consistently check these before purchasing. Automated systems like Amazon's AI assistant (Rufus) analyse consumer sentiment across these reviews, making it essential that false or policy-violating reviews are legitimately removed. The Dangers of Gaming the System Attempting black-hat tactics, such as review exchanges, paid positive reviews, or incentivised feedback, will eventually trigger AI detectors and get your seller account banned. Focus on building an authentic foundation of reviews through official channels like Amazon Vine. De-escalating Online Conflicts When responding to a negative review or public comment, never react out of anger or get defensive. Address the situation calmly, offer to take the conversation offline, and consider using AI tools (like Claude or ChatGPT) to strip the emotion out of your draft before publishing. Mental Health & Boundaries for Business Owners Sustaining a long-term career requires intentional daily routines. Whether it's prioritising 8 hours of sleep or going on daily walks to defrag your mind, protecting your mental well-being is crucial when navigating business storms. Shane's Advice for Business Owners Build a Foundation First: Ensure your product or listing has a strong base of legitimate positive reviews. When an inevitable critical review arrives, it won't crush your overall rating. Cool Down Before Responding: Never reply to a negative review in the heat of the moment. Step away, write an objective response, and have a trusted peer or AI tool review it for tone. Address False Claims Strategically: If someone posts an illegitimate claim, respond politely by stating you can't locate their customer record in your database. This subtly signals to other readers that the review may be fake. Prioritise Real-World Boundaries: Set physical and mental boundaries between work and home life to keep big business stressors in perspective. Key Takeaway Negative reviews sting the ego, but they don't mean defeat. Treat feedback as a roadmap for growth, handle criticism with calm accountability, and remember that real trust is built on transparency. Your Next Step Execute a "Review & Sentiment Audit." Search your business name or main product listing online to review your recent public feedback. If you find a negative comment, draft a polite, constructive response offline using an AI tool to remove any emotional tone before addressing it. Connect with Shane Barker Website: TraceFuse tracefuse.ai LinkedIn: Shane Barker https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebarker/ Resources Mentioned in the Podcast How Do I Ask For Reviews? Plus A Few Ways To Use Them https://enevergroup.com.au/how-do-i-ask-for-reviews-plus-a-few-ways-to-use-them/ Amazon Vine Program https://www.amazon.com/vine/about Ready to Get Support? Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 01:15 Meet Shane Barker 02:21 Bad Reviews as Feedback 03:07 Quickfire Questions 05:46 Handling Negative Reviews 09:43 Amazon Reviews Explained 11:45 Review Removal Rules 13:21 AI and Review Ethics 16:23 Fake Reviews and Defence 18:47 Trace Views Approach 20:57 Online Reputation Basics 23:17 Responding Without Emotion 26:23 Final Tips and Mindset 27:59 Biggest Lesson Learned
Aug 25

Effective Delegation and Business Growth with Tricia Ong

Scaling your business isn't about working harder or doing everything yourself, but making conscious choices, letting go of the micro-admin, and leveraging offshore talent. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever chats with Tricia Ong, co-founder of Mintrix Virtual Assistance. From her office in Melbourne, Tricia shares how sourcing virtual assistants empowers small business owners to buy back their time, streamline operations, and transition out of administrative overload. Tricia breaks down why business owners struggle to delegate, how to audit your daily tasks, and how building a structured relationship with a VA turns routine support into proactive business growth. Key Takeaways from This Episode The Trap of "It's Faster If I Do It Myself" Small business owners frequently fall into the habit of wearing every hat, from sales and quoting to scheduling and data entry. This "context switching" between diverse tasks creates mental fatigue, lowers productivity, and keeps leaders trapped on a hamster wheel of busyness. Buying Back Your Time Business owners should focus their energy exclusively on high-level strategic work: culture, leadership, and team growth. Administrative tasks, like after-hours paperwork, email sorting, Xero uploads, and FAQ messaging, can easily be delegated to a virtual assistant. Building Trust Over Time Delegation doesn't mean blindly handing over critical keys on day one. Trust is established through a phased checking process: reviewing a VA's work for the first 5 iterations, then dropping to every 3rd, and eventually auditing only occasional samples as mastery is proven. The Shift from Legwork to Growth Partner A great VA relationship evolves past simple execution. Once recurring tasks are streamlined, VAs begin asking proactive questions and bringing simple "yes/no" ideas to the table to help scale the business. Tricia's Advice for Business Owners Conduct a Time Inventory: Audit where your hours are actually going. List every task you handle and categorise them into: what stays with you immediately, what can be delegated now, and what can be handed off in 3 to 6 months. Batch Similar Activities: Stop context-switching between emails, text messages, and field work. Group similar admin tasks together to preserve your focus and energy. Make Decisions Simple for Your Team: Train your staff or VA to present solutions as simple A/B or yes/no options so you aren't overwhelmed with multi-layered decisions. Focus on Niche Mastery: If you're building a service business, systemise something you are exceptional at before attempting to expand into 20 different offerings. Key Takeaway Delegation is not an all-or-nothing leap, but a progressive relationship built over time that frees you from micro-admin so you can focus on leading and growing your business. Your Next Step Execute a "Context-Switching Audit." Download Mintrix's free task checklist or write down every 2-to-5-minute administrative task you complete this week. Select just one recurring task (like invoice follow-ups or bill uploads) and outline a simple step-by-step process so you can delegate it to a support team member. Connect with Tricia Ong Website: Mintrix https://mintrix.com.au/ LinkedIn: Tricia Ong https://www.linkedin.com/in/triciaong1/ Ready to Get Support? Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 00:57 Why Delegation Matters 02:16 Meet Mintrix and VAs 03:46 Quickfire Personal Questions 04:35 Habits and an Adventurous Journey 08:07 Learning, Ads, and Growth 09:43 Work-Life Balance Tips 10:24 Time Audit and What to Delegate 13:49 Building Trust and Reducing Context Switching 16:53 The Real Impact of a VA 19:02 Future Vision and Scaling Mintrix 19:44 Advice, Contact, and Wrap-Up
Aug 18

Gamifying Growth, Supply Chain Curiosity, and Merchandise Branding with Charles Liu

Business success isn't built on grand overnight leaps, but is created by gamifying the process, learning from every rejection, and focusing on genuine customer service. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever chats with Charles Liu, founder of Cubic Promote. Charles shares his journey from arriving in Australia from Hong Kong as a toddler to starting a B2B branded merchandise powerhouse while recovering from a sporting injury. Charles breaks down how a simple curiosity about a branded pen led him to engineer cold calling into a video game, why tactile physical products are surging in an age of "AI fatigue," and how small business owners can leverage ethical, customer-first principles to scale sustainably. Key Takeaways from This Episode The Power of Curiosity & Tinkering Charles started his business out of sheer boredom while recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. By asking how a branded pen got onto his desk, he reverse-engineered the entire supply chain and made cold calls to learn the B2B sales landscape from scratch. Gamifying Sales & Rejection To overcome the friction of cold calling, Charles treated sales like a video game where a "no" was simply a chance to respawn and try a new strategy. Breaking large goals into tiny micro-habits, like making five calls at a time, builds massive long-term momentum without burnout. Physical Products in an "AI Fatigue" Era Despite the rapid rise of digital tools and AI, consumers are seeking tactile solace. The resurgence of vinyl records, push-button phones, and physical branded merchandise proves that people still crave touchable, real-world connections. Selling Service Over Product Cubic Promote views itself as a customer service company that happens to sell merchandise. In B2B markets, clients pay for reliability, trust, and speed rather than just the lowest cost per unit. Ethical Capitalisms & Environmental Legacy True business sustainability means operating within strict ethical boundaries: choosing high-quality items with a longer usable life, maintaining carbon neutrality, paying fair supplier prices, and being a good corporate citizen. Charles's Advice for Business Owners Gamify the Grind: Shift your mindset away from intimidating targets. Treat everyday challenges like a game, chunk big goals into small tasks, and iterate based on feedback. Protect Your Mornings: Establish clear boundaries between work and life. Leave your work physical equipment at the office, use standing meditation or reflection to clear your mind, and protect your early morning focus. Focus on Execution First: Strategy is useless without action. Utilise modern, low-cost digital tools to take one small step forward every day, whether posting an idea or reaching out to a prospect. Operate Unbiased and Fair: Always refund overpayments, pay your taxes cleanly, and don't squeeze suppliers to the point where workers suffer. Long-term trust is built on quiet, ethical choices. Key Takeaway A business doesn't exist purely to make money. It exists to contribute to society. When you solve problems with reliability and ethical service, financial growth naturally follows. Your Next Step Execute a "Five-Call Chunking Session." If you have a list of prospects or clients you've been avoiding contacting, commit to reaching out to just five people first thing tomorrow morning. Treat it purely as a curiosity exercise to gather feedback and refine your message. Connect with Charles Liu Website: https://www.cubicpromote.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/charles-liu-042b9124 Ready to Get Support? Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 01:29 Meet Charles Liu 03:01 Cubic Promote Overview 05:08 From Injury to First Sale 10:14 Cold Call Mindset 15:33 Routines and Switching Off 18:32 Books and Core Values 20:42 Resilience and Industry Shifts 23:53 Service First Merchandise 26:51 Legacy Ethics Sustainability 29:24 Advice for New Founders 32:03 Where to Find Charles
Aug 11

Kylie Long on Workplace Health and Safety Solutions

Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) isn't just about ticking boxes, but about creating a holistic, risk-managed environment where employees feel safe, supported, and motivated to perform at their best. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever sits down with Kylie Long, founder of Support Safety Solutions. Leveraging her background as a registered nurse and her postgraduate qualifications in WHS, Kylie brings a deeply empathetic and holistic perspective to workplace safety. She breaks down what psychosocial risks actually mean for small-to-medium business owners, how to move from a reactive "box-ticking" mindset to a proactive safety culture, and why managing mental safety directly impacts a business's bottom line. Key Takeaways from This Episode WHS is a Business Strategy, Not Just Compliance True health and safety goes beyond basic tick-and-flick compliance exercises. Taking a holistic approach, evaluating emotional and social impacts alongside physical risks, improves retention, employee engagement, and overall business culture. Demystifying Psychosocial Safety A major misconception is that psychosocial safety is solely about managing an individual employee's personal mental health. In reality, it involves big-picture organisational factors: work design, leadership development, workload demands, and organisational support. The Power of an Actionable 12-Month Plan Business owners facing WHS requirements don't need to do everything overnight. The best approach is taking a snapshot of the business's current state, identifying gaps, prioritising risks, and executing a manageable 12-month strategy. Safety Sits with Leadership, Not Just the Safety Team Safety consultants and internal WHS officers are there to advise, coach, and mentor. Ultimately, safety responsibility sits with everyone and must be actively driven by the business leadership team. Addressing Naivety & Sourcing Mentorship Relying solely on an existing network when starting a business can lead to early roadblocks. Finding the right industry networking groups and connecting with a trusted mentor is vital for long-term growth and accountability. Kylie's Advice for Business Owners Stop and Take a Snapshot: Evaluate where your business stands today to uncover hidden WHS gaps before a major incident occurs. Break it Into Bite-Sized Chunks: Don't get overwhelmed by new regulations. Focus on what needs to be done first, and tackle compliance step-by-step. Involve Your Whole Team: Build a culture where safety is shared across all levels of the organisation, starting from the top down. Lean on External Expertise: If your business lacks the bandwidth to handle specific WHS projects internally, engage external coaches and consultants to guide your team. Key Takeaway Psychosocial safety isn't just about managing individual wellbeing. It's about designing a workplace culture that mitigates risk, empowers leaders, and protects your business's bottom line. Your Next Step Stop trying to tackle compliance all at once. Identify your top 2–3 WHS or psychosocial risk gaps today (e.g., role ambiguity, high workloads, or lack of leadership support) and sketch out a realistic, 12-month strategy to address them step-by-step. Connect with Kylie Long LinkedIn: Kylie Long https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyliealongsafetysupportsolutions/ Website: Support Safety Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyliealongsafetysupportsolutions/ Ready to Get Support? Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 01:48 Meet Kylie Long 07:09 From Nursing To Safety 08:55 Starting The Business 12:30 Holistic Safety Mindset 14:04 WHS Compliance First Steps 17:08 Psychosocial Risk Explained 19:48 Mentors And Proactive Safety 26:11 Work Life Balance Tips 27:22 Advice Networking And Mentors

The Business Owners Podcast, brought to you by Business Business Business and Enever Group, is a podcast for business owners of all sizes. In each episode, hosts Linda Reed-Enever and Clive Enever interview business owners about their experiences, challenges, and successes. They also share tips and advice on growing your business and achieving your goals.

Creator

Clive Enever & Linda Reed-Enever
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

104
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2025
Show Website

The Business Owners Podcast