Let's Talk small Business with Mitchell Wilson

Coachbirds
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Running a SME business shouldn’t feel like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. Let’s Talk Small Business is the straight-talking podcast for owners who are tired of the fluff and ready to get results. Hosted by business coach Mitchell Wilson, you’ll get insights, proven strategies, and the occasional reality check — all designed to help you build a business that actually works. Because guess what? You don’t need another guru — you need a breakthrough.

  1. The Net-Net Truth, AI Sales Traps, and the Blueprint for Sustainable Growth with Scott Miller

    3d ago

    The Net-Net Truth, AI Sales Traps, and the Blueprint for Sustainable Growth with Scott Miller

    Are you chasing vanity metrics that look good on paper but leave your bank account on life support? In this episode of the Coachbirds podcast, Mitchell Wilson sits down with Scott Miller—a seasoned global sales executive with over 40 years of hands-on experience driving revenue and scaling high-performing teams across the US and Southeast Asia. Scott pulls back the curtain on the brutal lessons he learned in the trenches, starting with a trucking company that hit its massive $100k revenue milestone, only to realize it cost $112k to get there. 😏 Mitchell and Scott break down exactly how small business owners can break free from the solopreneur trap and adopt a "big business mindset" without drowning in corporate fluff. They dive deep into the dangers of over-relying on AI tools at the expense of raw sales skills, the power of simplicity when building usable SOPs, and why true marketing means selling the feeling and result rather than just a list of commoditized features. If you are a service-based business owner in NZ/AU looking to scale past the $1M barrier, survive economic downturns, and build a business that runs smoothly without losing operational control, this masterclass in execution is for you. The Only Number That Matters: Why your net margin, EBITDA, and free cash flow must always trend in the same direction as your top-line growth. The AI Sales Pendulum: How tool dependence is eroding modern sales skills, and why the human element of communication still converts the pipeline. Bite-Sized SOPs: How to create lean, actionable operating procedures from Day 1 that your team will actually use, rather than giant manuals that sit gathering dust. The Omnipresence Playbook: Scott’s 90-day strategy for home service and service-based businesses to ramp up prospecting activity, target low-hanging fruit, and dominate their market when competitors pull back. Lessons Over Failures: A raw look at surviving recessions, financial crises, and why there are more millionaires created in economic downtimes than in the good times. If you want help identifying your biggest operational bottleneck, cleaning up your sales strategy, and mapping out your next smart strategic move, let's chat. 👉 Book your free Breakthrough Call with Mitchell and the Coachbirds team today! 🔑 Key Takeaways from This Episode:🛠️ Ready to Scale Your Business?

    47 min
  2. Let’s Talk... Psychology, Anthropology, and Marketing Reality with Zachary Rischitelli

    Jun 17

    Let’s Talk... Psychology, Anthropology, and Marketing Reality with Zachary Rischitelli

    Ever feel like you’re throwing hard-earned cash at marketing just to buy "things" rather than investing in real business growth? In this episode, Mitchell sits down with Zachary Rischitelli, founder and managing director of Fig Advertising and Marketing. With a fascinating background in psychology and anthropology, Zachary breaks down the deep emotional needs and cultural triggers that actually drive human buying decisions. We dive into why some agencies over-promise and under-deliver, the reality behind balancing your funnel, and why a raw iPhone unboxing video can completely outperform a $10,000 polished corporate production. Plus, Zachary shares a masterclass on how to actually calculate a marketing budget that protects your cash flow and why business owners need to learn to delegate to their agency instead of dictating to them. It's a real, no-nonsense look at what makes marketing actually work. Visit Zach's website for more details: https://www.figadvertising.com/ Ready to identify your own business bottlenecks and map out your next smart move? Book your free breakthrough session with Mitchell and the Coachbirds team today! https://www.coachbirds.com/breakthrough

    38 min
  3. Let’s Talk... Untraining Your Brain for Growth with Rik Schnabel

    Jun 17

    Let’s Talk... Untraining Your Brain for Growth with Rik Schnabel

    Ever feel like your business has hit an invisible glass ceiling you just can't seem to smash through? In this episode, Mitchell sits down with Rik Schnabel, Australia's leading "brain untrainer," six-time international bestselling author, and mindset pioneer with over 39,000 hours of transformational client work. Rik flips traditional business coaching on its head, revealing why adding more strategies won't save you if your underlying identity, money blueprint, or deep-seated fear of humiliation is secretly running the show. From surviving schoolyard bullies in the library psych section to shifting his own poverty mindset to match a million-dollar commission run, Rik breaks down the profound "logical levels" of human behavior. He reveals how to diagnose whether you're facing a strategy block or a mindset block, why "know-it-all" owners trap themselves in small patterns, and how structuring a dedicated "on-the-business" day can completely reset your vision. Ready to stop self-sabotaging, uncover your biggest business bottlenecks, and map out your next smart move? Book your free breakthrough session with Mitchell and the Coachbirds team today! https://www.coachbirds.com/breakthrough

    40 min
  4. Let’s Talk Banking, Business, and Big Transitions with Chip Higgins

    Jun 13

    Let’s Talk Banking, Business, and Big Transitions with Chip Higgins

    Ever wonder what a lifelong banker actually thinks about entrepreneurs? In this episode, I sit down with Chip Higgins, who spent over 35 years in the trenches of the US banking world before transitioning to helping small businesses from the outside. Chip shares his unique journey—from dreaming about banking as a teenager (while everyone else wanted to be in the NBA) to managing major executive resources for local economies. We dive into the profound lessons Chip learned from auditing, funding, and partnering with thousands of small business owners. He breaks down the authenticity, diversity, and humility of the everyday entrepreneur, while giving us a rare, behind-the-curtain look at how the banking industry shifted from personal community relationships to automated, streamlined underwriting. If you are ready to identify your own bottlenecks and map out your next smart move, click here to book a free breakthrough session with myself and the Coachbirds team.

    42 min
  5. Let’s Talk Seeing the Label Outside the Jar with Jessica Osborn

    Jun 6

    Let’s Talk Seeing the Label Outside the Jar with Jessica Osborn

    Ever feel like you’re doing absolutely everything right in your business, but things still aren't jelling? In this episode, host Mitchell Wilson sits down with Jessica Osborn—marketing strategist, business coach, and founder of the Business Jam program. Jessica shares her journey from corporate head of marketing to radically streamlining her business while traveling Australia in a caravan.Mitchell and Jessica dive deep into the invisible roadblocks that hold talented business owners back. Jessica reveals why a lack of success rarely stems from a lack of smarts or hustle—it’s simply that you can't see the label from inside the jar. They discuss how to identify the subtle, misaligned threads that don't show up in your data or social feeds, and how to fix them. If you’re ready to stop the frantic guesswork and bring radical clarity to your strategy, this conversation is your blueprint. 🛠️ Ready to take your business to the next level? Book a free breakthrough session with the Coachbirds team today: https://www.coachbirds.com/breakthrough

    45 min
  6. Let’s Talk From Holsters to Hundred Grand: The Hustle and Grit of Endurance Business with Josh Sprague

    May 28

    Let’s Talk From Holsters to Hundred Grand: The Hustle and Grit of Endurance Business with Josh Sprague

    What happens when you combine an ultra-endurance athlete, a VP tech role, a three-month-old baby, and a stolen hotel sewing kit? You get Josh Sprague, the relentless operator behind Orange Mud, Seven Clay, and Anvil & Acre. In this episode, host Mitchell Wilson sits down with Josh to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to build an e-commerce empire from a Texas garage. Josh gets real about the unglamorous side of growth: blowing cash on vanity marketing, navigating the terrifying reality of million-dollar inventory invoices, and the hard choice to move manufacturing overseas to survive. From grassroots trail-running strategies to tracking honest Facebook ad data, this conversation is a masterclass in execution. It’s a raw, cheeky, and deeply practical look at why business much like a 24-hour adventure race is just about putting one foot in front of the other. Ready to identify your own business bottlenecks and map out your next smart move? Book your free breakthrough session with Mitchell and the Coachbirds team today at coachbirds.com/breakthrough.

    42 min
  7. Let’s Talk Canva, Branding and Building a Business Around Life with Marie Fox

    May 23

    Let’s Talk Canva, Branding and Building a Business Around Life with Marie Fox

    Running a small business often means wearing too many hats, especially when it comes to admin, branding and content creation. In this episode, Mitchell chats with Marie Fox from Crafty Fox by Design about how small business owners can simplify their workflows, create polished branding and use Canva more effectively without wasting hours figuring it all out. Marie shares her journey from working traditional admin roles to building a flexible business that fits around family life. They dive into practical Canva tips, common branding mistakes, AI tools inside Canva, and why consistency matters more than complexity. This episode is packed with practical advice for business owners who want to look more professional, save time and build systems that actually support the life they want to live. If you want help identifying the next smart move in your business, book a free breakthrough session with the Coachbirds team: https://www.coachbirds.com/breakthrough

    28 min
  8. Let’s Talk PR, Reputation and Making Noise with Amanda Lacey

    May 21

    Let’s Talk PR, Reputation and Making Noise with Amanda Lacey

    What actually separates marketing, PR and communications, and why should small business owners care? In this episode of Let’s Talk Small Business, Mitchell Wilson sits down with Amanda Lacey, founder and director of Popcom, to unpack the real power behind strategic communication. From growing up on a sheep station in country New South Wales to leading crisis management and PR campaigns for major organisations, Amanda shares how businesses can shape perception, build trust and stay relevant in a noisy marketplace. The conversation dives into everything from founder-led branding and internal communications through to crisis management, reputation building and why every business already has a story worth telling. Amanda also shares practical advice for small business owners wanting to improve their visibility, strengthen their brand presence and communicate more effectively. If you’ve ever wondered how to get people talking about your business for the right reasons, this episode is packed with practical insights. Ready to build a smarter strategy for your business? Book a free breakthrough session with the Coachbirds team:https://www.coachbirds.com/breakthrough

    38 min
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About

Running a SME business shouldn’t feel like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. Let’s Talk Small Business is the straight-talking podcast for owners who are tired of the fluff and ready to get results. Hosted by business coach Mitchell Wilson, you’ll get insights, proven strategies, and the occasional reality check — all designed to help you build a business that actually works. Because guess what? You don’t need another guru — you need a breakthrough.

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