Kate and Sam sit down with Skip Wilson — founder and CEO of DraftMedia Partners, and former VP of Digital Media at Clear Channel/iHeartRadio — for a deep dive into paid advertising: what it actually costs, when a business is genuinely ready for it, and why most people treat it like an unpredictable black box instead of a diagnosable system. Skip pulls back the curtain on demand-side platforms (DSPs), the most underused ad channel right now (OTT/CTV), how AI is already reshaping search and influencer marketing, and a customer lifetime value case study that completely reframes what "ROI negative" actually means.

About our guest

Skip Wilson is the founder and CEO of DraftMedia Partners, a full-service paid advertising agency that started life as a SaaS forecasting tool (Direct Response Advertising Forecast Technology) before pivoting into hands-on execution — much of it white-label work behind other creative and digital marketing agencies. Before DraftMedia, Skip was VP of Digital Media at Clear Channel, which became iHeartRadio. Website: draftadvertising.com

• 0:00 — Podcast intro
• 0:17 — Episode opens, Kate and Sam welcome guest Skip Wilson (DraftMedia Partners)
• 2:25 — Today's topic: paid advertising, the channel people "either love or hate"
• 6:26 — The two schools of thought on when to start advertising — and why Skip says wait until you have capacity and know your customer's entry point
• 10:36 — How DraftMedia started as a SaaS forecasting tool before pivoting to full execution (and why two-thirds of its business is white-label)
• 16:02 — What a DSP (demand-side platform) actually is, in plain English
• 21:31 — The minimum ad budget rule of thumb: ~$1,000/month per tactic
• 22:59 — The Bojangles case study: why a "$6 ticket" that looked ROI-negative was actually a huge win once customer lifetime value entered the picture
• 25:46 — Is paid advertising coming to ChatGPT and other AI chat tools? (It's already here — and influencer marketing may get disrupted first)
• 30:09 — Skip's favorite advertising platform: why OTT/CTV (streaming TV) is the most underutilized channel for small business right now
• 37:56 — Apple Search and Apple Intelligence: why you'll soon need an "Apple Business Profile," not just a Google one
• 40:28 — Are Meta ads about to get more expensive? Skip's take on pricing plateaus and Meta's wearables (smart glasses) as a future ad channel
• 46:54 — Skip's closing insight: advertising isn't a black box, it's a series of steps — and why that reframe makes broken campaigns easy to diagnose
• 54:15 — Outro

What you'll learn in this episode

• Why you shouldn't spend a dollar on ads until you can answer two questions: do you have the capacity to handle more business, and do you actually know who your customer is and how they first reach you (6:26)
• The "customer journey" framing Kate and Sam use with new businesses, and why advertising without it just scales the wrong thing faster (6:26)
• What a DSP (demand-side platform) actually is, and why DraftMedia calls itself a "DSP aggregator" that gives small businesses access to inventory (Hulu, Amazon's DSP, etc.) they'd normally be locked out of by high minimum spends (16:02)
• The rule-of-thumb minimum ad budget: roughly $1,000/month per tactic, and why running on two or three platforms means budgeting accordingly (21:31)
• The Bojangles case study: a $6 average ticket that looked disastrously ROI-negative — until customer lifetime value (a $300+/year loyalty customer) told the real story (22:59)
• Why Skip thinks OTT and connected TV (streaming) advertising is the most underutilized channel available to small businesses right now, and how it's been democratized away from being "network-television-budget only" (30:09)
• The real difference between YouTube pre-roll ads and YouTube TV (which counts as true CTV) (30:09–37:56)
• How AI is already showing up in advertising (ads inside ChatGPT and Gemini), why Google's move away from exact-match keywords is a response to longer, conversational searches, and why Skip thinks influencer marketing is the segment most likely to be disrupted first (25:46)
• Why small businesses will soon need to think about an "Apple Business Profile" the same way they think about Google Business Profile, as Apple rolls out its own search and Apple Intelligence (37:56)
• Skip's take on Meta ad costs plateauing, and the wildcard of Meta's wearables (smart glasses) becoming an ad channel (40:28)
• Skip's closing reframe: advertising isn't a mysterious black box — it's a series of steps, each with one job, and knowing that makes it easy to diagnose which piece is actually broken (46:54)

DraftMedia Partners: draftadvertising.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

This is the final episode in our Leadership quadrant, and the last stop on the 16-episode Road Map to Business Success. Sam and Kate unpack why most values statements fail: they're written as nouns, printed on a wall, and disconnected from how the business actually runs day to day.

They break down organisational health expert Patrick Lencioni's four types of values, core, aspirational, permission-to-play, and accidental, and why only one of these should actually be driving your business. You'll hear how a real value statement works as a decision filter: what the value is, what it looks like in practice, and what you'd walk away from because of it.

Sam and Kate also get honest about the tension between values-led leadership and commercial pressure — what happens when your marketing drifts out of step with your own voice, and why alignment shows up in every decision whether you name it or not.

Mentioned in this episode: the free AI Employee Setup Workbook, and the upcoming Bali Business Retreat — four days of hands-on implementation with Sam and Kate. Early bird pricing ends July 15, limited spots.

Have you got your copy of the AI Employee Setup Workbook yet? It's been getting rave reviews! Go here to get it now: https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Leading with Impact | The Power of Emotional Intelligence

This episode delves into the critical aspect of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) as part of Quadrant Four of the Thriving Business Wheel, focusing on leadership and leading with impact. Building on the previous discussion about self-awareness, this episode explores how understanding and managing emotions – both our own and others' – is fundamental to business success.

Key Discussion Points & Takeaways:

Self-Awareness vs. Emotional Intelligence

While self-awareness is the bedrock, emotional intelligence encompasses self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. A significant disconnect often exists between how individuals perceive themselves and how others perceive them, highlighting the need for external feedback.

Daniel Goleman's EQ Framework

The discussion outlines Goleman's four core components of emotional intelligence.

  1. Self-Awareness: Understanding your own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and impact.

  2. Self-Management: The ability to manage your emotions and behaviors effectively, especially under pressure. This involves creating space between a trigger and a response, allowing for rational decision-making.

  3. Social Awareness: The capacity to understand the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people, demonstrating empathy and sensing group dynamics.

  4. Relationship Management: Using your awareness of your own and others' emotions to positively influence, coach, manage conflict, and lead collaboratively.

The Importance of EQ in Leadership

Research consistently shows that leaders with high EQ are more effective, foster stronger workplace cultures, build higher levels of trust, and are often promoted faster. They create environments of psychological safety, which is now a crucial, legally recognized aspect of a healthy workplace.

Developing EQ is a Journey

EQ is not a fixed trait but a skill that can be developed through effort, focus, and a willingness to become uncomfortable and vulnerable.

Challenges and Nuances

• Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset:
  An unwillingness to develop EQ is often linked to a fixed mindset, hindering personal and professional growth.
• Employer Responsibility: 
  The evolving legal landscape places a greater onus on employers to ensure psychological safety, presenting challenges for business owners who may not be trained psychologists. The consensus is that while employers have a duty of care, employees also share responsibility for their own mental well-being and development.
•   The "Mate" Mentality:
  Confusing being a "mate" with providing genuine leadership and psychological safety can be detrimental, blurring boundaries and hindering necessary feedback. True leadership requires balancing empathy with assertiveness and clear boundaries.
•   "Cutting the Noise" vs. Tact: 
  While directness can be valuable, delivering it without consideration for the recipient's feelings or context (low EQ) can be damaging, as illustrated by anecdotal examples.

Key Qualities for Developing EQ

The discussion emphasises embracing curiosity, vulnerability, and comfort with uncertainty as crucial drivers for improving EQ, and discusses the upcoming launch of her new book collaboration: The WisDumb Way | A Practical Guide to Developing EQ Through the Power of Paradox

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Most leaders believe they're self-aware. The research disagrees — dramatically.

In this episode, Kate and Sam dive deep into one of the most underused leadership skills in small business: genuine self-awareness. Not the "I know myself pretty well" kind — but the kind that closes the gap between how you think you show up and how others actually experience you.

They cover:

• The Tasha Eurich research that stops most people cold (the 95% vs 15% stat)
• The difference between internal and external self-awareness — and why you need both
• What a 360-degree LSI assessment revealed about Kate's leadership (and why she cried)
• Why fixed mindset blocks self-awareness before you even get started
• The Enneagram — what it is, why it's confronting, and why that's exactly the point
• Curiosity, vulnerability, and comfort with uncertainty as the three-part path forward
• Psychological safety at work — and why it starts with the leader knowing themselves first

Whether you've never taken a personality assessment or you've done them all, this episode will give you a fresh lens on why self-awareness isn't a one-time exercise — it's a lifelong practice.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Tasha Eurich — researcher and author on self-awareness; her TED Talk is a great starting point
• LSI (Life Styles Inventory) — 360-degree behavioural assessment tool
• The Enneagram — nine-type personality framework; free test available online (Kate recommends getting some support interpreting your result)
• Myers-Briggs — useful particularly for career direction
• BankCode — four-colour personality profile (Blueprint, Action, Nurture, Knowledge); fun in a team setting
• Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) — Sam's recommendation as an unlikely masterclass in curiosity and self-awareness
• Kate's Happiness Key eBook — includes links to the personality tests discussed; reach out to Kate directly for access

Next episode: Emotional Intelligence — Daniel Goleman's four-layer model, starting with self-awareness as the foundation.

Coming up: Leading from your values, a wrap-up episode, and the Bali Business Retreat.

Workshop — 24th June: Details at thrivingbusinesspodcast.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to Episode 14 of the Roadmap to Business Success series — and the first episode of Quadrant 4: Lead with Impact!

Most people think business failure comes down to bad strategy, poor marketing or the wrong product. The research tells a different story. The biggest predictor of small business failure — especially in the early years — is not what you're selling or how you're selling it. It's the mindset of the person running the show.

In this episode Kate and Sam get honest about the emotional reality of building a business, the moments they both wanted to quit, and what Carol Dweck's growth mindset framework actually looks like when you're in the thick of it.

"Courage is not the absence of fear. It's deciding that what you're building matters more than what you're afraid of."

In this episode, you will learn:

• Fixed versus growth mindset — what they actually mean in practice: Why a fixed mindset says "I either have what it takes or I don't" — and why a growth mindset reframes every setback as information rather than evidence of failure
• The real statistics on small business survival: Why 92% of micro businesses are not at high risk of failure — and what the survival stats actually mean when you look at them honestly
• The emotional toll nobody warns you about: Why the hardest part of building a business in the early years is not the strategy or the systems — it's the unpredictability of revenue, the sleepless nights and the terror of not knowing whether you can pay your bills
• The Valley of Death — and how to get through it: Why the mobilisation phase of a business (years one to five) is where most people give up, why staying in the game is itself a form of success, and why the light at the end of the tunnel is real even when you cannot see it
• The garden analogy: Why growth is almost never visible while it is happening — and why the biggest mistake business owners make is pulling the seed out of the ground just before it was about to bloom
• The tortoise always wins: Why the obsession with moving fast is one of the most damaging things in business culture right now — and why slowing down, building properly and being patient is the actual path to longevity
• Payday super and what it means for small business: A candid conversation about the current financial pressures on small business owners, the gap in super legislation for sole traders, and why Profit First is the best defence against cash flow pressure
• Why your why matters more than your strategy: How Sam used the AI workbook to go deeper on her why than she ever had before — and why anchoring yourself in purpose is what keeps you going when everything else feels hard
• Growth mindset applied to leadership: How fixed mindset founders avoid feedback because it feels like an attack — and why growth mindset founders actively seek it out because they know that is where the gold is
• Zone of genius as a leadership practice: Why the best thing you can do for your team is help them discover and work in their zone of genius — and why a workforce working in their strengths is more loyal, more productive and more human than one just showing up for the dollar

Kate and Sam also share the moments they both jumped on Seek and looked at getting a job — and what happened to their anxiety levels the moment they did. They discuss what Sam learned from the Navy about encouraging growth in others. And they make a very important promise: everyone who makes it through the Valley of Death deserves a badge — and they are going to make that badge.

Coming Up Next: Episode 15 — Self-Awareness: the most underrated business skill. The foundation of emotional intelligence, and why everything in leadership flows from knowing yourself.

And save the date — Bali Business Retreat:
27 August – 1 September 2026. Open to men and women this year. If you want to tip your world upside down in all the right ways — this is the place to do it.

👉 Find out more

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to Episode 13 of the Roadmap to Business Success series, and the final episode of Quadrant 3: Grow Smart | Scale with Ease!

54% of founders are experiencing burnout. 75% report anxiety episodes. And two thirds have considered walking away from their business altogether, not because the business failed, but because they did.

In this episode Kate and Sam get honest about hustle culture, what it actually costs you, and how to build a business that goes the distance without breaking the person running it.

"Your energy protects your business. Your systems protect your team. Your team protects your customers. Break any link in that chain and you cannot grow — because you cannot deliver."

In this episode, you will learn:

• The burnout statistics that should stop every business owner in their tracks: 54% founder burnout rate, 75% reporting anxiety, and 70% citing working more than 60 hours a week as the primary cause — and why burnout, not bad strategy, is the biggest predictor of small business failure
• What growth actually looks like for you: Why the first and most important question is not how to scale, but what success actually means to you — and why the answer has to fit your personality, your zone of genius and the life you actually want
• The scaling myths that are keeping business owners stuck: Why "if you're not growing you're dying" is false, why fast scaling without solid foundations creates the exact businesses that break founders, and why revenue is vanity and profit is sanity
• The identity shift from technician to business owner: Why the hardest part of scaling is not strategy or systems — it's letting go of the identity of being the person who does everything, and why that shift does not have to be all or nothing
• Process debt: The business equivalent of never cleaning out your filing system — and why every new hire just inherits a mess that compounds over time if you do not fix it first
• Why systems protect your team: The difference between a good SOP and a great one — and why documenting the thinking behind the task, not just the steps, is what actually allows someone else to do it well
• The control paradox: Why perfectionism and the need for control are among the biggest obstacles to growth — and why the business owner is almost always the one who needs to change, not the team
• Zone of genius as a scaling strategy: Why you should never hire people to push you out of the work that energises you — and how to think about building a team that fills the rungs of the ladder you do not want to occupy
• The wave principle: Why exertion requires equal rest and recovery — and why the spaciousness most business owners resist is actually where the magic happens
• Uncoupling your time from your revenue: Real examples of how to scale a business so that your output is no longer dependent entirely on your hours — from off-the-shelf product lines to group coaching to AI systems

Kate and Sam also share the story of a landscaping couple who spent three years resisting letting go — and what happened the moment they finally did. They discuss the bank code personality types and how your dominant type determines the kind of business you will enjoy running. And they tackle the question every business owner needs to ask: if you would tell your partner to quit a job that demanded this much of them, why are you accepting it from yourself?

This episode wraps up Quadrant 3: Grow Smart | Scale with Ease.
Next up — Quadrant 4: Lead with Impact. Self-awareness, emotional intelligence, values-based leadership and the inner game of building a business you are proud of.

Join the Workshop:
Kate and Sam are hosting the Grow Smart Workshop on Wednesday 24 June, 9–10:30am AWST | 11am–12:30pm AEST — bring your questions on scaling, business models, hiring and growth and get coached live.

🎟️ Attend LIVE: $89 | 🎧 Replay: $49

👉 Register here

And save the date — Bali Business Retreat:
27 August – 1 September 2026. Open to men and women this year. Secure your spot with a $200 deposit.

👉 Find out more

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to Episode 12 of the Roadmap to Business Success series, and our third episode in Quadrant 3: Grow Smart | Capacity!

Most businesses pour their energy into acquiring new clients. The most successful businesses pay enough attention to what happens after the sale. Did you know that it costs five to seven times more to acquire a new client than to retain an existing one? And your best marketing is a client who won't stop talking about you and refers you to all their friends.

In this episode, Kate and Sam get practical about how to design a client experience so consistently good that it turns happy customers into raving fans who refer others , and keep coming back themselves.

"Your best marketing is a client who won't stop talking about you. Design your experience to create those people."

We cover:

• Why remarkable experiences don't happen by accident: Every great client experience is the result of intentional design and consistent systems, not luck or personality
• The client journey map: How to identify every touchpoint from first enquiry to final delivery, and why systemising each one is the foundation of consistent quality
• Onboarding done right: Why what happens immediately after someone pays you sets the tone for the entire relationship, and the simple automations that eliminate no-shows and buyer's remorse
• Human versus automated: Why you need to understand your client journey manually before you automate any part of it, and where technology enhances the experience versus where it undermines it
• Feedback as a growth tool: Why positive feedback tells you nothing useful, and how to ask questions that actually reveal where your client experience is falling short
• The Google review system: Why asking once rarely works, and why timing your request immediately after a win dramatically increases your conversion rate
• Post-engagement follow up: Why the relationship shouldn't end when the contract does, and how a simple check-in system keeps clients warm and generates referrals
• Living up to the hype: Why it's always better to shrink your marketing promises and over-deliver on the experience
• The consistency formula: Systems create consistency. Consistency creates trust. Trust creates referrals. Referrals create growth.

Kate and Sam also share real stories from the experience side, good and bad.

They also discuss the exciting frontier of AI avatars that can deliver personalised video messages to new clients, and why the businesses that combine smart automation with genuine human warmth are the ones that will win long-term.

Coming Up Next: Episode 13 Designing a business that doesn't break you. How to protect your energy, design for sustainability, and make sure that as your business grows, your life gets better, not worse.

Join the Workshop: Kate and Sam are hosting their Grow Smart Workshop on Wednesday 24th June — bring your questions on business models, capacity, hiring, client experience and scaling and get coached live.

👉 Register here

And save the date — Bali Business Retreat

27 August – 1 September 2026. Secure your spot with a $200 deposit: https://katedejong.com/inspired-business-bali-retreat/

Kate’s Blog: "10 Questions to Get Valuable Feedback" https://katedejong.com/how-to-get-great-testimonials-and-market-research-data/

Don't let your clients fall into the "hole" of silence after they sign up. Tune in to learn how to build the systems that create trust, consistency, and ultimately, a thriving business.

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to Episode 11 of the Roadmap to Business Success series, and our second episode in Quadrant 3: Grow Smart | Scale with Ease.

Hiring is one of the scariest decisions a business owner can ever make. The compliance is complex, the stakes are high, and the fear of getting it wrong stops many people from doing it at all. But there's a compelling reason to build a team: the burnout rates of solopreneurs are significantly higher than business owners who build a team. In this episode, Kate and Sam get honest about both sides of the hiring equation, and give you a practical framework for doing it well.

"If you can't take four weeks off and leave your business running, you're a slave to your own business."

In this episode, you will learn:

• Should you even hire? Why the answer depends entirely on the type of business you're running, what you want from it, and whether you actually enjoy managing people, because if you don't, there are other options
• The maths of leverage: How hiring one person who takes 20 hours of work off your plate every week gives you 80 hours a month back, and why those hours should generate far more revenue than the salary you're paying
• Signs you're ready to hire: You're constantly turning away work, working unsustainable hours, tasks are falling through the cracks, or you're doing work someone else could do for less than your hourly rate
• Signs you're not ready: You don't have documented systems, you can't clearly articulate what the role involves, your revenue isn't consistent enough to support a salary, or you haven't identified what you're actually hiring for
• Hire for your weaknesses, not your familiarity: Why hiring a mini-me is one of the most common and costly hiring mistakes, and how personality profiling tools like B.A.N.K, Harrison Assessment and Myers Briggs help you identify who will actually complement your team
• Use AI in the hiring process: How Kate used Claude to analyse Harrison Assessment reports for multiple candidates simultaneously, and how it ranked them in order with reasons, picking up things that an hour of human analysis had missed
• Hire slow, fire fast: Why desperation hiring almost always goes wrong — and why the cost of keeping the wrong person is almost always higher than the cost of starting the search again
• The compliance minefield: Why navigating awards, Fair Work, workers' compensation and workplace health and safety is one of the biggest barriers to hiring in small business — and why even Fair Work won't tell you if you're interpreting an award correctly
• It's not just about the money: Why the research consistently shows that fulfilment, autonomy, flexibility and purpose drive performance far more than salary — and how to build those things into your hiring process and culture from day one
• The goal: A team that runs the ship when you're not there — so you can take a holiday, recharge, and come back better

Kate and Sam also share real stories from the trenches — including a workers' comp situation that left them frustrated by the system, the bookkeeping firm with eight remote women who've built an extraordinary culture over 15 years, and why Sam has started including collaborative goals and personal development pathways in every staff contract.

Coming Up Next: Episode 12 — how to deliver a remarkable client experience every time. Onboarding, communication, feedback loops, and turning clients into raving fans who refer others.

Save the Date — Grow Smart Workshop: Kate and Sam are hosting their third live workshop on Wednesday 25 June — bring your hiring, team building, capacity and business model questions and get coached live.

Details coming soon — keep an eye on thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/workshops

And save the date — Bali Business Retreat: 27 August – 1 September 2026. Secure your spot with a $200 deposit. Reach out directly to lock in your place.

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to Episode 10 of the Roadmap to Business Success series, and the first episode of Quadrant 3: Grow Smart | Capacity!

Most business owners start with a skill or a product, not a model. They figure it out as they go. And if you don't design your model intentionally, your business will design itself, and it usually designs itself into something that consumes your life.

In this episode, Kate and Sam get honest about the difference between accidental growth and intentional design, and why getting clear on your business model is the single most important thing you can do to create sustainable revenue, freedom and a business you actually love running.

"If you don't design your model, the business will design itself, and it usually designs itself into something that consumes your life."

In this episode, you will learn:

• Business model vs business plan vs business structure: Why these three terms are not interchangeable, and what each one actually means for your business
• The fragmented model trap: Why having multiple revenue streams that don't talk to each other creates chaos, exhaustion and a business that's almost impossible to scale, and how to fix it
• Intentional vs accidental growth: Why accidental businesses are usually chaotic and exhausting and the simple questions to ask yourself to design something that actually works
• Scale is a choice, not an obligation: Why 10x growth isn't the right goal for everyone, and how to design a business model around the lifestyle, freedom and revenue that actually lights you up
• Reverse engineer your profit goal: How to start with the number you want in your pocket and work backwards to figure out exactly what your business model needs to look like to get you there
• The product spiral, not the product ladder: Why Sam has banned the term "product ladder" and why a spiral or loop model that keeps clients circling through your offerings is far more powerful than a linear funnel with a dead end
• Recurring revenue as a non-negotiable: Why the businesses that are valued the highest, and feel the most stable to run, are the ones with subscription, membership or retainer income baked into their model
• The Matt Church cluster methodology: How launching one cluster every three to six months, one market, one problem, one method of delivery, and assuming 50% will fail gives you the freedom to experiment without betting everything on one idea
• Zone of genius as a design parameter: Why your business model should be built around the work that puts you in your zone of genius, not just the work you can do or the work that pays well
• Business should be boring: Why repeatability and predictability are the foundations of freedom, and why the excitement should come from your life, not your business

Kate and Sam also share personal stories about the moments they realised they were operating outside their zone of genius, why the Revenue Breakthrough Workshop felt so energising compared to a day of back-to-back one-on-one sessions, and why the question "what is your end game?" is one of the most important questions every business owner needs to answer.

Coming Up Next: Episode 11 To hire or not to hire? How to build a strong team, make smart hiring decisions, and create a business that doesn't depend entirely on you.

Join the Workshop: Kate and Sam are hosting Grow Smart: Scale with Ease on Wednesday 24th June, 9–10:30am AWST | 11am–12:30pm AEST,

 What is it?
90 minutes of live profitability coaching. Every participant walks away with a personalised report. Bring your business model questions, this workshop is the perfect place to get Kate and Sam's eyes on your model live.

🐦 Early bird: $49 (until 10 June) | 🎟️ LIVE: $89 | 🎧 Replay: $49

👉 Register here

And save the date! Bali Business Retreat: 27 August – 1 September 2026. Secure your spot with a $200 deposit. Reach out directly to lock in your place.

00:00 Podcast Welcome
01:57 Quadrant Three Begins
02:36 Model Plan Structure
04:55 Scattered Offers Trap
10:34 Designing Intentional Growth
14:04 Reverse Engineering Profit
17:26 Evolving Zone Genius
20:24 Joyful Work Choices
23:13 Group Work Momentum
24:12 Scaling Group Coaching
25:23 Small Rooms Big Results
26:12 Who Your Room Is For
26:56 From Courses To Coaching
27:57 Business Model Takeaways
31:14 Boring Business Wins
32:38 Predictability Beats Panic
35:40 Growing Teams With Purpose
40:15 Recurring Revenue Flywheel
42:52 Clusters Not One Niche
45:45 Workshop Invite And Topics
47:02 Product Loop Not Ladder
48:50 Wrap Up And Next Steps

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to Episode 9 of the Roadmap to Business Success series, and the final episode of Quadrant 2: Keep More | Profitable Operations!

You can't outsource chaos. Before you bring anyone into your business, you need systems, clarity, and a clear understanding of what you're actually handing off. In this episode, Kate and Sam get practical about the smartest way to automate, delegate, outsource, and hire — in that order.

"Systems before staff. You cannot delegate chaos."

In this episode, you will learn:

• The automate → delegate → hire framework: Why this is the right order , and what goes wrong when business owners skip straight to hiring before foundations are in place
• Zone of genius vs everything else: How to identify the tasks only you should be doing, the tasks AI can handle, and the tasks that need a human
• How AI is replacing the need for a VA: How Sam used the Claude Chrome extension to build detailed standard operating procedures while she played games on her phone
• Hire slow, fire fast: Why hiring should be a financial decision before a workload decision, and why desperation hiring almost always goes wrong
• Write your job ad for culture, not just skills: How to attract the right candidates from the first line, including Sam's hidden keyword trick that instantly filters out applicants who lack attention to detail
• Layla Hormozi's five C's: Compliance, clarity, culture, connection, and checkback, the framework Sam incorporated into her most recent hiring process
• Give people responsibility, not just tasks: Why the best hires want ownership and autonomy, and how a long-term vision keeps them loyal

This episode wraps up Quadrant 2. Next up — Quadrant 3: Grow Smart | Capacity.

Join the Workshop: 

Kate and Sam are hosting Profit Unlocked on Wednesday 20 May, 9–10:30am AWST | 11am–12:30pm AEST 

What is it? 90 minutes of live profitability coaching. Every participant walks away with a personalised report.

🐦 Early bird: $49 (until 10 May) | 🎟️ LIVE: $89 | 🎧 Replay: $49

👉 Register here

And save the date — Bali Business Retreat: 27 August - 1 September 2026. Secure your spot with a $200 deposit. Reach out directly to lock in your place.

00:00 Show Welcome
00:30 Roadmap Recap
01:49 Claude Extension Wins
06:09 SOPs Before Delegation
11:05 AI Reports Workflow
15:07 Back to Delegation
18:35 What to Outsource
23:28 Hiring Lessons
25:55 Hiring Framework Reel
26:52 Five Hiring Elements
29:33 Hire Slow Fire Fast
30:36 Values Over Skills
32:57 Write Better Job Ads
35:07 Easter Egg Screening
36:01 Job Market Reality Check
39:11 Ownership And Incentives
44:09 People Management Fit
46:04 Key Takeaways And Next Steps

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to Episode 8 of the Roadmap to Business Success series!

If you're only using AI for content creation, you're leaving the biggest gains on the table. In this episode, Kate and Sam dive into the AI tools they actually use in their businesses every day, and discuss how to shift from using AI to do more, to using AI to work less.

"AI should handle the 80% of grunt work while you handle the 20% that requires judgment, relationships, and nuance."

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why you shouldn't be loyal to just one AI tool: Different AI platforms have different strengths, and the smartest business owners use multiple tools for different jobs.
• Claude: Why it's Kate's go-to for content creation, critical analysis, data analysis, book writing, and coding tasks, including how she saved $10,000 in website costs by using Claude to write code herself.
• Claude Cowork: Sam's introduction to the agentic side of Claude, how it can organise your entire filing system, build sales pages, and execute complex multi-step tasks on your behalf while you step away.
• Gemini: How Sam uses Google's AI to automate payroll calculations, organise her inbox, add tasks to her calendar, and manage the chaos of a busy brain, all through its deep integration with Google apps.
• Notebook LM: The hosts personal favourite for repurposing content. How to upload a podcast transcript or YouTube link and turn it into blog posts, infographics, slide decks, or even a new podcast episode, in your own voice.
• REVE AI: The free image generation tool Sam uses to create AI-generated images of herself and Kate for podcast thumbnails and social media.
• AI for website SEO: How to enter your URL into an AI and instantly get a plain-English audit of what's missing: H1 tags, meta descriptions, ALT tags and more.
• The tells of AI-generated content: The words, phrases and structural patterns that immediately give away AI-generated copy.
• Automation vs productivity: Why the real opportunity isn't doing more in the same time, it's doing the same in less time.
• How to use AI to figure out what to automate: Why asking AI to review your regular tasks and identify what can be automated is one of the highest-value conversations you can have.

Kate and Sam also discuss the evolution of AI since their first conversation about it in September 2023, why ChatGPT is no longer the only game in town, the rise of agentic AI, and how they've used AI to almost fully automate the production of this very podcast.

Join the Workshop: 

Kate and Sam are hosting Profit Unlocked on Wednesday 20 May, 9–10:30am AWST | 11am–12:30pm AEST.

What is it? A LIVE 90-minute coaching session where you can bring your questions on AI systems, profitability, pricing and more.

🐦 Early bird tickets available until Sunday 10 May for just $49 (live attendance)

🎟️ Attend LIVE: $89

🎧 Replay only: $49

Grab your early bird ticket now!

👉 Register here

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Roadmap to Business Success series, our second episode in Quadrant 2 of the Thriving Business Wheel: Keep More | Profitable Operations.

Pricing is one of the most emotionally loaded topics in business. Many business owners, particularly women, are significantly undercharging, and it's costing them not just money, but credibility and energy.

"Being the cheapest in the market doesn't make you attractive. It makes you look desperate."

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why under-pricing harms your profits and reputation: Charging too little signals a lack of confidence, and buyers trust you less when your prices are too low.
• The hourly rate trap: Why trading time for money is a burnout trap, and why breaking free is one of the most important shifts you'll ever make.
• How to price based on outcomes: What is the problem costing your client? What is solving it worth to them? These two questions reframe everything.
• The mindset piece: Why so many business owners habitually undervalue their skills, and what it takes to price with genuine confidence.
• Why discounting is rarely the answer: How habitual discounting erodes perceived value and attracts the wrong clients.
• What to do instead: How tiered pricing lets clients at different budget levels access your services, without slashing your rates.
• Reverse-engineering your revenue goals: Start with the income you want and work backwards to what you need to charge.

Coming Up Next: Episode 8 on AI systems for maximum efficiency. How to work smarter, not harder, using the tools available to you right now.

Join the Workshop: Kate and Sam are hosting Profit Unlocked on Wednesday 20 May, 9–10:30am AWST | 11am–12:30pm AEST 

You'll get 90 minutes of live profitability coaching.

🎟️ Attend LIVE: $89 | 🎧 Replay only: $49 

👉 Register here

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to Episode 6 of the Roadmap to Business Success series, and the first episode of Quadrant 2: Keep More | Profitable Operations!

You've done the work to generate revenue. Now it's time to talk about the part most business owners avoid until it's too late: keeping it.

In this episode, Sam takes the lead on one of her favourite topics: money. Not the fluffy version, but the practical, roll-up-your-sleeves kind that actually changes how your business feels to run day to day.

"Most business owners know what they're earning. Very few know what they're actually keeping."

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why traditional accounting often fails business owners: How accounting is largely historical and tax-focused, and rarely designed to help you make better day-to-day decisions.
• Markup vs margin: One of the most common and costly mistakes small business owners make, explained clearly and simply.
• How to make your chart of accounts work for you: Why restructuring how you categorise income and expenses gives you far greater clarity over where your money is going.
• Cost of goods sold vs operating expenses: Why separating these properly is essential for accurate forecasting and understanding your true profitability.
• The Profit First method: How splitting income across separate bank accounts for profit, tax, operating expenses and owner pay creates automatic financial discipline.
• How to build a cash buffer: Why a financial cushion isn't a luxury, it's a necessity, and how to start building one even when cash feels tight.
• Adjusting your Profit First percentages by business stage: Why the right allocation for a startup looks very different to an established business.
• Why you must never "steal" from your profit account: The habit that keeps business owners stuck in financial stress, and how to break it.

Sam and Kate also discuss why money slips through fingers even when revenue is strong, and why the solution isn't always earning more, it's managing better.

Recommended Reading: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz, the book that underpins Sam's entire approach to profitability.

Join the Workshop: Kate and Sam are hosting Profit Unlocked on Wednesday 20 May, 9–10:30am AWST | 11am–12:30pm AEST

You'll get 90 minutes of live profitability coaching.

🎟️ Attend LIVE: $110 | 🎧 Replay only: $50 

👉 Register here

Coming Up Next: Episode 7 — pricing for profit, why you're leaving money on the table, and how to price based on value rather than time.

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to Episode 5 of the Roadmap to Business Success series, and the final episode of Quadrant 1: Revenue Generation!

If the word "selling" makes you cringe, you're not alone. In this episode, Kate and Sam get honest about their complicated relationships with sales and how reframing selling as serving completely changes the game.

"People don't mind being sold to, they just don't like being sold to poorly."

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why selling is actually serving: How shifting your mindset from "closing a deal" to "solving a problem" transforms every sales conversation — and why curiosity is the only attitude you need to bring.
• Emotional intelligence in sales: Why active listening and reading the room matters far more than any sales tactic or script.
• Why non-attachment is your secret weapon: The less attached you are to the outcome, the more people want to work with you.
• How your foundations do the heavy lifting: When your identity, offer and marketing are aligned, sales becomes a natural conversation. Low conversion rates are feedback that something earlier in the process needs attention.
• The golden rule: Follow up. Why so many sales are lost simply because people don't follow up, and why you should always leave a voicemail.
• How to handle ghosting and "no" professionally: Why your reaction to rejection tells potential clients more about your character than almost anything else.
• The power of post-purchase nurturing: Why what happens immediately after someone pays you is just as important as everything that came before.
• Retention over acquisition: Why a repeat customer is far more profitable than constantly winning new ones.

This episode wraps up Quadrant 1: Revenue Generation. 

Next up, we'll be entering Quadrant 2 of the Thriving Business Wheel: Keep More | Profitability.

JOIN OUR UPCOMING WORKSHOPS and get all your questions answered LIVE 👉 thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/workshops

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

"Marketing is the communication bridge between your business and your potential customers."

In this fourth episode of the Roadmap to Business Success series, hosts Kate and Sam explore the next layer in the Revenue Generation quadrant of the Thriving Business Wheel: Marketing Strategy. 

Now that you've nailed your business identity and crafted your irresistible offer, it's time to take it to market. But marketing is one of the most misunderstood, and misused, areas of business. In this episode, Kate and Sam cut through the noise and give you a practical, grounded framework for marketing your business without burning out or burning through your budget.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why foundations come first: If you haven't nailed your business identity and your irresistible offer, your marketing will struggle, no matter how much you spend. Kate shares the story of a client who spent $60,000 on a failed marketing campaign without a single sale, and exactly what went wrong.
• The three channels of marketing: Traditional (TV, print, letterbox drops), relational (networking, referrals, strategic partnerships), and digital (social media, SEO, email), and why you should never rely on just one.
• The truth about social media: Why organic social media posting builds visibility and brand awareness but rarely converts to sales on its own, and what to do instead.
• How to choose the right platform for your business: LinkedIn for B2B and professional services, Instagram for visual brands, Facebook for community-based businesses, and TikTok for reaching younger audiences. Sam shares a practical tip: start with the platforms you already use and understand.
• Inbound vs outbound marketing: The difference between pushing your message out (social media, ads) and drawing customers in (SEO, Google Business Profile, AI search), and why both matter.
• Getting found by AI: Why SEO is still the foundation of AI search, and how Sam's brand-new business was recommended by AI simply by being specific and optimising the basics.
• The power of email marketing: Why the money is still in the list, why you own your email list in a way you'll never own your social media following, and how to build a list that actually converts.
• Lead magnets and list building: How a free quiz, ebook or guide can bring in new subscribers consistently, even years after you create it.
• Email open rates and list hygiene: What good open rates look like, when to clean your list, and why you should never be offended by an unsubscribe.
• Sam's closing framework: Why marketing must be a multi-pronged approach. Choose one channel from each of the three categories and build from there.

Kate and Sam also discuss the rapidly changing landscape of AI search, why "AI junk" is flooding social media and how to stand out, and why just having the tools (AI, Canva) doesn't mean you know how to use them effectively.

Join the Workshop: Kate and Sam are hosting their Revenue Breakthrough Workshop on Wednesday 15 April — a live Zoom session where you can bring your real questions on marketing, business identity, branding, and revenue generation and get coaching directly from both hosts. Spots are limited to just 10 people. Visit thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/workshops to book your spot.

Next Week: Tune in for Episode 5 where Kate and Sam dive into the art and science of selling — how to build a consistent pipeline, take the awkwardness out of sales, and create a process that feels natural, ethical and effective.

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusi

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In this third episode of the Roadmap to Business Success series, hosts Kate and Sam explore the second part of the revenue quadrant: how to craft an irresistible offer. Described as the "engine" of your revenue generation model, an irresistible offer is about providing a compelling solution to a problem that people feel compelled to say "yes" to.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The Power of Specificity: Why your offer must solve a very specific problem for a very specific person to be effective.
• Selling the Transformation: Shifting your focus from "what you do" to the result the client achieves at the end of the process.
• Establishing Bulletproof Credibility: How to use social proof, Google reviews, and even "borrowed credibility" from mentors to build trust with sceptical buyers.
• Pricing for Value, Not Time: Why slashing prices is often the wrong move and how to price based on the emotional and financial value of the outcome.
• Risk Reversal: Using guarantees to shift the responsibility from the customer to the business owner, making the purchase a "no-brainer".
• Productisation and the Rule of Three: How to bundle services into three tiers to suit different needs and budgets without causing "choice paralysis".
• Genuine Scarcity and Urgency: How to use limited numbers or real deadlines to motivate potential clients to act now.

Kate and Sam also share their philosophy of "selling before you build," explaining how delivering a service as you develop it allows for vital market feedback and prevents the heartbreak of a "flat" launch.

Join the Workshop: If you need expert eyes on your offer, Kate and Sam are hosting a workshop on the 15th of April to help you tweak and optimise your strategy for maximum impact.

To learn more about our workshop and retreat dates, go here: https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/workshops 

Next Week: Tune in for the next episode where the discussion moves to taking your offer to market and the mechanics of marketing and sales.

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 2 of the Thriving Business Podcast!

Over the next 18 episodes, we're walking you through all the essential elements of business building in a structured way, based on our Thriving Business Wheel, with the following four quadrants:

Quadrant 1: Earn (Revenue Generation)

Quadrant 2: Keep (Profitability)

Quadrant 3: Grow (Capacity and Scaling)

Quadrant 4: Lead (Lead with Impact)

Today's episode begins in quadrant one (revenue generation) by covering the foundational topic of Business Identity.

"Marketing fails when a business doesn’t know its own soul."

You'll discover why it's essential to clarify your brand values, mission, vision, and “why”, even if you've been in business for a while now. These foundational elements flow into your branding, marketing and sales, which all create your ability to bring in the money.

Tune in as Sam and Kate help you strengthen your business identity, the engine of your revenue generation machine.

00:00 Revenue Generation Kickoff
00:51 Business Identity Matters
02:57 Branding Foundations
04:17 Personal vs Brand Persona
05:36 The Oh Eight Story
07:31 Brand Vision Board Exercises
09:30 Audience First Branding
11:42 Start With Why
16:27 Because Taglines Work
17:59 Premium Branding and Design
22:11 Messaging From Your Why
23:31 Vision Mission Values Framework
25:17 Values as Verbs
26:41 Clarity Before AI Messaging
27:51 One Clear Offer
28:56 Market Research Mindset
31:54 AI and Competitor Gaps
33:02 Ads as Research Tools
35:09 Specificity Wins Clients
37:40 Brand Bar Exercise
41:30 Identity Evolves Over Time
46:40 Final Wrap and Next Episode

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Introducing the Thriving Business Wheel: An 18-Episode Framework for Growth Without Burnout

Hosts Kate De Jong and Sam Morris share a new 18-episode plan for the Thriving Business Podcast built around the “Thriving Business Wheel,” a four-quadrant framework that encompasses:

1. Earn (revenue generation)
2. Keep (profitability)
3. Grow (capacity and scaling)
4. Lead (leadership). 

In this episode, Kate and Sam excitedly talk through the preview of their upcoming curriculum and why business owners need an all-encompassing framework like this. 

Over the next 4-5 months, Kate and Sam will be sharing everything they've learned in their combined 30+ years of business experience on the topics outlined below.

QUADRANT 1: REVENUE 

Earn Money | Market & Sell Powerfully

• Business identity
• Craft an Irresistible Offer
• Everything you need to know about Marketing
• How to become great at Selling

QUADRANT 2: PROFITABILITY

Keep More | Operate Efficiently

• Money mastery
• Charge what you're worth
• AI systems for maximum efficiency
• When to outsource and delegate

QUADRANT 3: CAPACITY

Grow Smart | Powerful Business Model

• Your business model: Plan strategically
• To hire or not to hire? Build a strong team
• Deliver a remarkable client experience every time
• Design a business that doesn't break you

QUADRANT 4: LEADERSHIP

Lead with Impact 

• Getting up when you're knocked down
• Self-awareness, the most underrated business skill
• Emotional Intelligence: The missing piece in most business leaders
• Lead from your values: Align your business with you who you are

SERIES FINALE

Your Thriving Business: The Full Picture

At the end of each quadrant they will run a live workshop, culminating in an August 2026 BALI RETREAT, with details to be shared on their website.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Podcast Relaunch Plan

01:23 Thriving Business Wheel

04:02 Live Workshops and Retreat

07:29 Quadrant One Earn

07:49 Business Identity Basics

10:26 Branding That Builds Trust

12:04 Irresistible Offer Design

14:05 Marketing Channels Made Simple

17:15 Sales Without the Ick

19:05 Quadrant Two Profitability

19:20 Money Mastery and Profit First

21:39 Pricing for Profit

23:16 AI Systems for Efficiency

25:35 Outsource and Delegate Right

25:57 Hiring Before You’re Ready

26:51 Delegation Ego and Talent

27:59 Outsourcing Virtual Assistants

28:52 Capacity Quadrant Overview

29:16 Business Model and Scaling

31:13 Building a Strong Team

32:41 Remarkable Client Experience

33:25 Social Proof and Reviews

35:26 Business That Doesn’t Break You

37:38 Leadership Quadrant Begins

38:02 Resilience Through Setbacks

41:14 Self Awareness and Feedback

45:23 Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

46:21 Leading From Your Values

48:37 Thriving Wheel Wrap Up

49:24 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In our first episode of 2026, Kate sits down with Donna West, founder of Donna's Balcony Views and resilience expert to talk about ‘Life Quakes’: those unexpected and brutal events or situations in life that crack your world open and force you to rebuild from the rubble.

Life Quakes include things like workplace trauma, death of a loved one, miscarriage, illness, divorce, survival of traumatic events like tsunamis or bushfires, just to name a few. Having suffered her own ‘life quake’ in recent years, Donna now helps people through the aftermath of life quakes to find solid ground, and to eventually rebuild.

What We Cover

• Life Quakes defined: The moments that permanently rewire how you see yourself and the world
• Survival mode is success: In the beginning, making it through the day is a celebration in itself
• The mask tax: What it costs to pretend you're fine when you're fracturing inside. And how to keep showing up each day, even when you want to stay in bed and cry.
• The power of a single act: How a single person's courage can be the sliding door moment that saves a life
• After the rubble: Rebuilding your identity as a new person, navigating the grief process, and finding yourself again
• How isolation kills healing: Surrounding yourself with good people is essential.

If you're going through a life quake, or you feel like you're holding it together with duct tape and sheer will, we hope you find this conversation helpful.

👉 Listen now. Share it with someone who's silently carrying their own quake.
 👉 Subscribe to our podcast for real talk and real strategies that help you build a business that thrives.
 👉 Connect with Donna West to learn more about navigating life quakes and rebuilding resilience here: https://donnasbalconyviews.com.au/ 

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In this episode of The Thriving Podcast, Kate and Sam sit down with special guest Maria Sandy from Bits Web Design to unpack what really makes a small business visible, trusted, and profitable online. Maria shares how she went from designing buildings in her previous career as an architect to “architecting” websites through design, local SEO, and reviews that actually work for real-world businesses.

Maria explains why a website has to be both beautiful and functional because if it doesn’t look good or doesn’t work, it’s costing you leads both ways. She dives into the “brushing and flossing” of marketing: getting consistent reviews so Google and future clients see you as a real, active, trustworthy business. Maria also demystifies local SEO, Google Business Profiles, and how AI tools like ChatGPT actually use your reviews and authority signals to decide who to recommend.

This conversation is especially helpful if you’re a local or service-based business owner who feels overwhelmed by websites, SEO, and all the noise about “AI replacing everything.” Maria shows that the basics, clear messaging, solid foundations, reviews, and an alive-looking online presence still matter more than hacks or tricks.

Episode Highlights:

• How Maria pivoted from traditional architecture to digital “business architecture” for local businesses
• Why aesthetics and functionality must work together on your website
• Reviews as the “brushing and flossing” of your marketing—and why asking 3 times matters
• How Google Business Profiles, reviews, and local SEO work together to get you found in the map pack
• Why AI recommendations (like “best X near me”) still rely on solid SEO and reviews
• The role of blogs, FAQs, and ongoing content in building real authority over time
• Why “no website needed” advice can be expensive in the long run
  
  

If this episode gave you an “aha” about your own online presence, take one small action today: choose one thing, update your Google Business Profile, ask three past clients for a review, or refresh a key page on your website so it’s clearer and more human. Then, share your win with us:

• Send us a message about what you changed and what happened next.
• If you enjoyed this conversation with Maria, follow The Thriving Podcast and leave a review so more local business owners can find these practical, no-nonsense conversations.

Find Maria Sandy here - https://bitswebdesign.com.au/

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In this episode, Kate and Sam welcome special guest Joanne Ross Wells, founder of JRW Bridal, an established custom couture bridal brand in Perth, WA. Joanne shares her journey as a global citizen from growing up in Rhodesia, spending time in London and the USA, being born in New Zealand and immigrating to Australia eight years ago. Jo then built her successful business from the ground up.

Joanne opens up about the significant curveballs life has thrown her way in recent years, including major health setbacks and family challenges. She reveals the crucial business shifts she was forced to make, like outsourcing production and learning to delegate, which ultimately led to unexpected freedom and growth.

This conversation is a must-listen for any entrepreneur struggling with work-life balance, the fear of outsourcing, or tying their personal identity too closely to their business success. Joanne offers powerful lessons on shifting your mindset from "sales" to "service," embracing continuous learning (especially in social media and AI), and the importance of finding your purpose beyond the bottom line.

Episode Highlights:

• The Global Citizen Entrepreneur: Joanne's fascinating heritage (Scottish, South African, born in NZ) and how it influences the global flavour in her design collections.
• From Lingerie to Couture: The evolution of Joanne’s creative journey, from making lingerie as a farmer's wife in Zimbabwe to studying fashion design at age 40.
• Learning to Dance in the Rain: How Joanne navigated multiple major life challenges (health, family struggles) and structured her business to prioritise relationships over work, thanks to being her own boss.
• The Freedom of Letting Go: The pivotal moment when Joanne realised that outsourcing production was the necessary path to gaining empty space for creative ideas and avoiding burnout.
• Identity Crisis in Business: Why entrepreneurs, especially women and personal brands, often struggle with wrapping their self-worth around their business success (and Sam and Kate share their own identity shifts).
• The Power of Purpose: Joanne's discovery that reading reviews and focusing on the positive impact she has on her brides' wedding days is enough to drive her, shifting focus from ego to service.
• The Key Mindset Shift: How Joanne overcame being a "shocking salesperson" by changing her focus from "sales" to "service", always seeking to be of service to the bride.
• Navigating AI & Innovation: How designers are embracing new tools like 3D body scans and virtual try-ons, and why expertise and wisdom remain crucial even with advancements in AI.
• Niche Networking: Joanne's advice on shifting from broad networking to focused, niche relationship-building with targeted referral partners (like photographers and venues).
• The 10,000-Hour Rule: Why founders must develop core skills (like pattern making or production) before outsourcing to maintain quality control and avoid getting burned.

Are you ready to stop wearing all the hats in your business?

Joanne’s journey proves that delegation is the key to scaling and surviving challenges. If you're ready to outsource and streamline your systems, connect with our co-host Sam!

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness ✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | Digital Systers 🌐 Website: https://www.digitalsysters.com/ 📱 Instagram: @sammorris.businesscoach

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In this episode, Sam Morris and Kate De Jong dive deep into the fast-evolving world of AI agents, intelligent digital assistants that don’t just generate ideas, but take action on your behalf.

From their earliest experiences experimenting with ChatGPT and Claude.ai to their recent exploration of agentic platforms like Sintra AI, Kate and Sam unpack how you can integrate AI into day-to-day business operations. They discuss the hype, the practical challenges, and the genuine benefits for entrepreneurs who want to scale in an efficient and effective way. Their early trials provide some interesting insights for small business owners.

Highlights:

• From generative to agentic: Kate and Sam trace how the conversation around AI has shifted from simple copywriting tools to intelligent agents that manage workflows, marketing, and even strategic planning.
• DIY learning with AI: Sam explains her clever method for “training” GPTs using YouTube transcripts from experts , turning free online content into custom virtual mentors.
• Behind the hype of Sintra AI: Kate reviews her hands-on experience with Sintra’s virtual “AI employees”, from the business coach Buddy to the copywriter Pen, and how she’s using them to systemise her business and increase her revenue.
• Data, integrations & next steps: The duo break down what’s real, what’s still in beta, and how far these tools can (and can’t) go in automating small business success.
• Human authenticity in an AI world: They close with reflections on why personal stories, voice, and connection still matter more than ever, even as AI gets smarter.

Key Takeaway:
AI isn’t here to replace your creativity or intuition, it’s here to amplify it. With the right systems and a curious mindset, tools like Sintra, Claude, and ChatGPT can become not just assistants, but collaborators in building a truly thriving business. Tune in now!

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In this episode, Sam and Kate explore the five different types of small businesses—a framework Kate has been developing after nearly a decade of personal experience with different types of business owners. If you've ever felt like traditional business advice doesn't quite fit what you're building… you're not alone.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why traditional business models (like those from The E-Myth by Michael Gerber) don’t work for everyone.
• The five types of small businesses—and why knowing which one you’re building changes everything.
• The danger of following blanket advice that doesn’t align with your business type.
• Why you don’t have to scale, hire a team, or build a sellable company to be successful.
• How thought leaders, consultants, and solo entrepreneurs are playing a different game altogether.

Kate shares her "aha" moment after attending a seminar steeped in Gerber-style advice—and the honest conversation she had with a fellow high-performing consultant who felt completely alienated by it also. Together, Kate and Sam unpack the assumptions behind mainstream business support and why they don't always reflect the modern business landscape.

If you don’t know what kind of business you’re running, you don’t know which game you’re playing—and every type has different rules.

Which of the five business types are you building?
➡️ Tune in now to discover the model that fits your vision—and stop trying to squeeze into a framework that doesn’t work for you.

📩 Got thoughts or questions about today’s episode?
DM us on or email us. We’d love to hear where you see yourself in this model—and how it’s helped (or hindered) your growth.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows.
🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review if this episode resonated with you.

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness ✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | Digital Systers 🌐 Website: https://www.digitalsysters.com/ 📱 Instagram: @sammorris.businesscoach

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In this episode, Kate sits down with leadership expert and global Executive Coach Kim Lancer, founder of Tall Poppies Leadership, who is on a mission to help one million leaders lead confidently and "stand tall."

Growing up in Australia, Kim experienced firsthand how the country's notorious "Tall Poppy Syndrome" encourages high achievers to downplay their success. After spending most of her career overseas in the UK and USA—where this cultural phenomenon is less prominent—Kim returned to Australia determined to flip the script. She founded her business to help leaders embrace their achievements and develop authentic, powerful leadership styles.

Now Kim empowers executives across five continents to confidently own their success rather than hide it. Her signature "Know, Trust, Be Yourself" methodology is transforming leadership development by turning a culture of cutting people down into one that lifts everyone up.

If you've ever felt pressure to downplay your wins or shrink to make others comfortable, you'll enjoy this conversation.

Key Highlights & Takeaways:

🌍 From Exchange Student to Global Leadership Expert Kim's 20-year international career journey—from Dutch exchange student to NYC executive—shaped her culturally aware, human-centric approach to leadership development.

🎯 The Confidence Crisis in Leadership

• Why confidence is the most overlooked yet critical leadership skill
• How self-doubt ("Kevin," as Kim calls it) sabotages even high performers
• Cultural differences in confidence expression between Australia/NZ and US/UK markets

💡 The "Know, Trust, Be Yourself" Framework

• Know Yourself: Build genuine self-awareness through intentional reflection
• Trust Yourself: Learn to manage (not eliminate) self-doubt effectively
• Be Yourself: Leverage your unique quirks and strengths as leadership advantages

🌺 Tall Poppy Syndrome Decoded

• Why Australia and New Zealand struggle with celebrating individual achievement
• The business cost of cultural pressure to "stay humble"
• How leaders can "stand tall" without apology

⚖️ The Gender Confidence Divide

• Women acknowledge self-doubt more openly but may underestimate their capabilities
• Men often mask internal struggles behind confident facades
• Why both genders need safe spaces for authentic leadership development

🧠 Strategic Self-Awareness

• Tasha Eurich's research: 95% think they're self-aware, but only 10-15% actually are
• Self-awareness as competitive advantage, not just emotional intelligence
• Understanding your energy patterns, values, and impact on others

🚀 Leadership as Personal Growth

• Confidence as a developable skill, not fixed trait
• Learning to sit with discomfort and use it as fuel for growth
• Why sustainable transformation beats quick coaching fixes

Ready to lead with more confidence and authenticity?

Connect with Kim Lancer at Tall Poppies Leadership: https://tallpoppies.us/

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness ✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | Digital Systers 🌐 Website: https://www.digitalsysters.com/ 📱 Instagram: @sammorris.businesscoach

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

What happens when you combine crocodile encounters, buffalo hunting, and a submerged 4WD on a broken bridge in the middle of an outback river - with business ambition? You get Angus Dicker's incredible journey.

Sam and I had so much fun in this episode! Angus Dicker is not your typical business owner. He’s managed to carve a life for himself in which he gets to do work he loves, in places where most people don’t go. From early beginnings in the military to becoming a Masters of Business graduate, Angus Dicker, owner of Home Filtration Systems, turned his love for the extreme outdoors into a unique business model. His company doesn't just provide clean water systems – they reach the places his competitors won't go in the remote corners of Australia. Which is perfect for Angus. Because adventure is his game and for him, the more remote and adventurous the location, the better. And luckily for him, all remote locations need clean water.

If you have an adventurous spirit and a love of autonomy, you’ll love this episode! You’ll hear Angus’ stories of outback adventure combined with business ownership. Angus shared how a random concrete driveway job ended in an unexpected mentorship, leading him to build a niche business that services remote communities across Western Australia. If you’ve ever dreamed of building a business that aligns with your values and thirst for adventure, this is for you.

Angus’s story is a masterclass in grit, growth, and unconventional entrepreneurship.

Highlights:

• From the Military to a Master’s Degree: Angus opens up about his unconventional academic path, overcoming educational gaps, and pushing through self-doubt to complete a Master of Business.
• Finding Business Clarity in the Mud (Literally): Discover how helping a mate pour concrete became the catalyst for launching his own company in the water filtration industry.
• Mentorship and Opportunity: The pivotal role that experienced mentors played in shaping Angus’s business approach and how one old-school entrepreneur helped unlock a new venture.
• Niche Market, Big Impact: How Angus carved a unique space by servicing remote and often overlooked communities, bringing clean water to places that desperately need it.
• Building a Business Around Adventure: Angus shares his love for the land, off-grid living, and how the ruggedness of remote work is exactly what fuels him.
• On Accountability & Autonomy: Real talk on the ups and downs of being your own boss and why Angus wouldn’t have it any other way.
• And Lots More!

👉 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to Thriving Business Podcast for more candid conversations with entrepreneurs who are doing business their way.

👉 Want to connect with Angus?

Check out Home Filtration Systems and learn more about their work in regional and remote water solutions.  https://homefiltrationsystems.com/ 

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | Digital Systers

Website: https://www.digitalsysters.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In this episode, Sam and Kate delve into the sensitive and often tricky topic of business partnership failures. Globally, around 70% of business partnerships end up dissolving. In a candid and honest conversation, Kate and Sam explore the challenges that arise in business collaborations, acknowledging that while “failure” is possibly an unfair term (because often our biggest learnings come through these experiences), many partnerships naturally come to an end or evolve over time. 

Sam and Kate offer insights based on their personal experiences and those of their clients, sharing that while business failure can feel discouraging, it often leads to valuable personal growth and important lessons. The pair discuss the key reasons behind these failures, and what you can do to prepare yourself when entering a business partnership. You’ll walk away with actionable insights to navigate the complexities of business partnerships.

Key Takeaways:

• The Reality of Business Partnership Failures: Sam and Kate discuss their personal experiences with business partnerships, both successful and unsuccessful, and explore the common reasons why partnerships fail.
• Learning Through Partnership Failures: The hosts reflect on the personal growth that comes from business partnerships, emphasising how working alongside a partner can accelerate learning and self-awareness.
• Key Reasons Why Partnerships Fail: And what you can do to prepare yourself if considering entering a partnership.
  
  

This episode offers valuable perspective for entrepreneurs navigating or considering business partnerships, emphasising that failure isn’t the end but often the beginning of valuable learning. 

Thanks for tuning in! 

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | Digital Systers

Website: https://www.digitalsysters.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Are you tired of losing sleep over your financial future? In this empowering episode of the Thriving Business Podcast, hosts Kate and Sam are joined by seasoned financial strategist Gayle McKew, who reveals how to transform financial stress into strategic confidence.

Gayle shares her journey from a career in banking to becoming an independent financial planner. Her journey shows us how taking control of your financial decisions, even when they're difficult—can lead to both ethical alignment and financial freedom. 

After leaving the banking world twice due to values conflicts, Gayle built a practice that proves you don't have to choose between doing what's right and building wealth at the same time.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by financial decisions, confused by conflicting advice, or worried about your retirement security, this episode shares:

• How to move from financial anxiety to confident decision-making.
• Why growing up in a feast-or-famine household shaped Gayle's approach to financial security.
• The moment Gayle realised corporate banking wasn't aligned with her values—and what she did about it.
• A real-life example of choosing ethics over easy money (and why it pays off long-term).
• How to build wealth without compromising your personal values.
• Why professional financial guidance beats "BBQ advice" every time.

Sam also shares a personal update after a few episodes away, and the trio explores what it means to take control of your financial future with integrity and confidence.

Key Takeaways:

• Financial confidence comes from strategic planning, not wishful thinking.
• Trust your instincts—when something feels ethically wrong, it probably is.
• Breaking the feast-or-famine cycle requires professional guidance and clear systems.
• Taking control of your financial future starts with aligning your money decisions with your values.

Guest Spotlight – Gayle McKew: Gayle is a financial strategist who specialises in helping people move from financial anxiety to financial freedom. With over 25 years of experience in banking and financial planning, she's passionate about providing the strategic guidance that transforms financial stress into confident, values-aligned wealth building.

Connect with Gayle: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaylemckew-financial-strategist-retirement-agedcare-successionplanning/ 

Thanks for tuning in! 

If this episode helped you feel more confident about your financial future, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who's ready to take control of their financial destiny.

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | Digital Systers

Website: https://www.digitalsysters.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Welcome to another episode of Thriving Business podcast, real stories and innovative insights to help you grow a business that truly thrives.

Today, Kate and Sam share an open, thoughtful, and at times surprising conversation about the rapid evolution of AI — how they’re using it today, how it’s impacting their decision-making, and where it’s all heading next.

They also take a deep and personal dive into the field of Human Design and how it's helping them both rethink how they structure their work, energy, and business offerings.

Highlights:

• Real AI in Practice: Kate shares an example of how AI helped cut hours of analysis down to seconds when choosing between job candidates using Harrison Assessments — another example of significant time savings and efficiency.
  
  
• Gut Feelings vs Pattern Recognition: A fascinating and candid discussion on what our intuition actually is — and whether our “gut” is just our brains quietly recognising patterns we can’t consciously process, but which AI can recognise instantly.
  
  
• Human Design in Business: Sam introduces Human Design and how it’s offering deeper insight than traditional personality tests. They explore how knowing your type can help you realign your business model to match how you actually like to work.
  
  
• Finding Business Alignment: Kate reflects on how misalignment in her work left her uninspired, and how Human Design reminded her to structure her offers around deep work, spaciousness, and collaborative group settings.
  
  
• Agentic AI Is Here: Sam explains the next wave of AI — agentic AI — and how it's fundamentally different from the AI tools we’re used to. These new AI agents can actually take action on your behalf (think booking flights, answering emails, or running parts of your business). Exciting? Definitely. A little terrifying? Also yes.
  
  
• Ethics, Trust, and the Future of AI: The conversation gets real about what it means to give AI more responsibility in our lives — from inbox management to robotic surgeries. Where do we draw the line? And are we really ready for what’s coming?

Tools & Resources Mentioned:

• Claude.ai, ChatGPT, Gemini (generative AI tools)
• Harrison Assessments
• Free Human Design Chart - [hint, copy and past your results into ChatGPT or Claude.ai and ask it to interpret the results and what they mean for you and your business model]
• Human Design types: Manifestors, Generators, Manifesting Generators, Projectors, Reflectors

This episode blends tech, intuition, and personal reflection in a way that feels fresh, relevant, and deeply human. Whether you’re AI-curious or totally overwhelmed by it, there’s something here for you.

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | Digital Systers

Website: https://www.digitalsysters.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow, rate, or share the podcast with someone who’d love to hear it. Until next time, keep growing, keep aligning, and keep thriving.

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

This week, Kate was honoured to sit down with Dee Skillicorn, founder of Digi-Secure, “your trusted guide in the ever-evolving world of digital assets”. Dee is on a mission to demystify cryptocurrency, making it simple, accessible and safe for everyone. Dee and her husband have built their wealth through cryptocurrency and love helping others to do the same.

With over 30 years of hands-on experience in business, finance, system analysis, and implementation, Dee has honed a sharp eye for what works in the digital currency landscape.

In our discussion, Dee shares her personal journey from being a newcomer to the world of crypto to living off it with her husband, and how they built a secure financial future outside traditional banking systems.

Dee sheds light on the common myths surrounding crypto, explaining how it’s not as complicated as people think — if you treat it like any other currency. She talks about her transition into crypto in 2017, the mistakes she made along the way, and how those mistakes led to creating a course to help others navigate the complex world of digital assets safely. 

We also discussed the differences between traditional finance (Fiat) and decentralised finance (DeFi), and how blockchain technology is quietly revolutionising the financial system worldwide.

From security concerns to tokenisation and the rise of real-world assets in the crypto space, Dee provides practical insights for anyone interested in getting involved in cryptocurrency. Plus, she talks about the upcoming regulatory changes and what it means for the future of crypto. If you’re ‘crypto-curious’, don’t miss this!

Episode Highlights:

• What crypto really is: Breaking down how crypto works and why it's not that different from traditional currency.
  
  
• Dee's personal crypto journey: From learning to invest in crypto to living off it for retirement.
  
  
• Common crypto myths: Addressing fears around security and volatility in the crypto market.
  
  
• Tokenisation and real-world assets: How physical assets like real estate and gold are being represented on the blockchain.
  
  
• The future of finance: Why decentralised finance (DeFi) is set to be the norm and how the traditional banking system is evolving.
  
  
• The importance of security: Dee shares why securing your crypto assets is critical and how Digi Secure helps people navigate this space.
  
  
• DeFi vs TradFi: How decentralised finance is changing the landscape of finance

If you’re ready to dive into the world of crypto, but need help navigating its complexities securely, head over to Digi Secure to learn more about protecting your digital assets. Don’t let fear hold you back—empower yourself with knowledge and get the tools to make smarter investments in this exciting new world.

And, of course, if you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe to The Thriving Business Podcast and share it with a friend who might find this topic interesting!

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

It’s refreshing to hear the raw and honest truth about what it really takes to build a successful business. In this episode of The Thriving Business Podcast, host Kate De Jong sits down with serial entrepreneur and systems wizard Eddie Zhang, founder of Zhamatix, to unpack his rollercoaster journey from a disillusioned corporate worker to a five-times business founder.

From selling viral charcoal masks to launching a lean consultancy that “supercharges productivity” for small businesses and SMEs, Eddie shares real stories, raw lessons, and honest truths that every business owner can benefit from. What we loved was his honesty around the business failures he’s made, and how he’s learned from those to create a thriving consulting enterprise here in Subiaco, WA — Zhamatix.

Eddie observed that scaling businesses is tough, especially when technology, people, and processes don’t play nicely together. Many SMEs don’t have in-house expertise to navigate a digital transformation, “leaving them stuck in a cycle of manual tasks, wasted time, and dissatisfied employees and annoyed customers as a result”. And this is where Zhamatix steps in to help businesses implement systems that are “smart, seamless and slick”. They’re practical, innovative and future-proof – “the kind that make a real impact.” 

If you’ve ever hit a wall in your entrepreneurial journey, or wondered how to bounce back from failure with more fire and wisdom, this episode can give you some key insights from someone who’s built a successful business from the ground up. We hope you benefit from Eddie’s wisdom and the key lessons he’s learned along the way.

Highlights

Eddie shares his stories of:

• A bold first leap into creative services straight out of school in Singapore.
• Building custom fishing rods for niche Aussie markets.
• Riding the e-commerce wave with viral beauty products.
• The rise (and fall) of Fidgety Australia.
• The birth of Zhamatix, a consultancy that’s breaking the rules in the best way.

Hard Lessons That Hit Home
From failed partnerships and knockoff competitors to ego clashes and emotional decision-making, Eddie doesn’t hold back on the mistakes he made—and the growth that came from them.

What Makes Matics Different
Eddie explains how his consultancy strips out the red tape to deliver fast, functional, and fun process improvements for organisations craving real change.

What’s Next
Eddie teases not one—but three—new projects in the pipeline, including a product-based business, a subscription model, and a secret fashion venture. Did we mention he’s a “serial entrepreneur”?!

To learn more about Zhamatix, go to https://www.zhamatix.com/ 

Listen now. Learn more. Grow faster!

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In this episode of the Thriving Business Podcast, host Kate Dong interviews Mitchell Levy, a global credibility expert, executive coach, and TEDx speaker from Silicon Valley, USA.

About Mitchell Levy

• Global credibility expert and executive coach
• Two-time TEDx speaker
• Author of 65+ books
• Publisher of 750+ books through four different publishing companies
• Has started 20+ companies
• Former board member of a NASDAQ firm
• 38 years in Silicon Valley, 36 years married, father to a 26-year-old son

Mitchell’s Thoughts on Thought Leadership

• Mitchell views books as valuable assets that open doors for speaking, consulting, and coaching
• Books serve three purposes:
  1. A thought leadership piece (even if people don't read it)
  2. A way for clients to understand your step-by-step process
  3. Forces you to think about the world differently

The Credibility Journey

• After seeing book publishing becoming democratised, Mitchell explored what authors really wanted: Credibility
• Conducted interviews with 500 thought leaders between 2019-2020 on credibility
• Created a new definition: "Credibility is the quality in which you're trusted, known, and liked"
• Identified 10 values of credibility, with integrity being the only value that appears twice
  • External integrity: what you say to the world
  • Internal integrity: how you actually act

Key Takeaways for Service-Based Business Owners

• Having clarity about who you serve and how you help them is crucial for effective marketing
• A well-articulated CPOP helps you stand out and attract the right clients
• Consistency in showing up with credibility builds trust and reputation
• Focus on building authentic connections rather than chasing numbers
• Accountability partners help ensure you stay focused on your purpose

Resources Mentioned

• Mitchell's website: mitchelllevy.com
• Social Compliment: socialcompliment.com
• Mitchell's TEDx talk: "We're Losing Our Humanity, I'm Tired of Watching It Happen"

Kate's CPOP (derived during the episode)
"Service-based business owners with an untapped audience"

Join us in two weeks for our next episode of the Thriving Business Podcast.

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In our latest episode of the Thriving Business Podcast, Kate was honoured to sit down with James Bryden, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) expert and creator of the ‘Wisdumb’ Model. In our humble opinion, ‘Wisdumb’ is the greatest gift you can give yourself, your business and the people in your life — and in this episode we discuss how you can cultivate it.

After a career as a footballer, eventually becoming Head Coach of an Indonesian soccer team and reaching ‘celebrity status’ in South East Asia, James then went on to become a business owner. After experiencing a devastating bankruptcy, James had to dig deep to learn more about himself and how to develop and manage others. He embarked on a mission to understand the role of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in developing people, both individually and in team environments, to create thriving workplace cultures, develop and retain good employees, and boost overall productivity and business profitability. 

James shares some great nuggest of wisdom that we know you’ll enjoy! If you want to achieve higher levels of fulfilment and success in business and life, don’t miss this episode.

Highlights:

• A dive into James' background and his lifelong learning journey—from his struggles in school to becoming a leader in Emotional Intelligence (EQ).
• James shares the power of the Harrison Assessment and how it’s helped countless businesses to better understand their teams and unlock staff potential.
• Understanding how individuals display different behaviours in the workplace that impact  team dynamics and productivity.
• Why a positive workplace culture is crucial for employee retention and overall business success, and the key elements to creating psychological safety so all can thrive.
• James reveals his new "WisDumb Model" and its incredible potential in reshaping business culture.
• The key to fostering loyalty and reducing turnover in today’s competitive work environment.
  
  
  

To get a copy of James’ eBook THE WISDUMB WAY, go to this link: https://productivitycoach.com.au/ebook/the-wisdumb-way/ 

If you found today’s episode insightful, don’t forget to subscribe to the Thriving Business Podcast so you never miss an episode! 

Want to hear more from James? Drop us a comment or leave a review with your thoughts. Tune in now!

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Did you know that almost half of all small businesses in Australia have experienced a cyber attack of some kind in the last year, and the average cost of those attacks is $40,000 AUD? 

In this episode of the Thriving Business Podcast, hosts Kate De Jong and Sam Morris welcome Peter Treneman from GroupSupport IT to discuss the critical role of IT and cybersecurity in small business. Together they explore the necessity of consistent data backups, the value of building a relationship with IT professionals and the ongoing rise of cyber attacks that are crippling small businesses across Australia. Through real-life case studies, Peter shares some of the critical ways you can protect your business from expensive disruptions to ultimately safeguard your operations and reputation.

Takeaways:

• Good IT service providers can liberate business owners from the burden of IT at an affordable cost.
• Backing up data is crucial for protecting your intellectual property and operations.
• Google and Microsoft have limitations in data recovery.
• Investing in IT support can save significant time and money in the long run.
• Small businesses are often targets for cyber attacks.
• Cybersecurity is not just a nice-to-have these days; it’s essential.
• The Essential Eight framework provides a baseline for cybersecurity in your business.
• Many businesses underestimate the cost of data breaches.
• Building a relationship with IT professionals is vital.
• Budgeting for IT security is a necessary investment.

For more information, please go to these links:

Essential 8 Framework for Cybersecurity

https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/essential-cybersecurity/essential-eight/essential-eight-explained

Practical tips to protect your business

https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn-basics

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

This week, Kate sat down with Louise Matson, founder of the iconic shoe brand ‘Louise M Shoes’ to discuss her journey from a seasoned flight attendant to creating a successful and exquisite line of shoes tailored specifically for airline crew and corporate women, combining both comfort and style. Louise shares her experiences in the shoe industry, the art and science behind authentic shoe making and the challenges of an online retail business. The conversation delved into the impact of COVID-19 on retail, the importance of carefully choosing business partnerships, and her recent decision to change tack in business altogether. 

Kate and Louise explore the signs that tell you it’s time to change direction, touching on the transition from direct sales to B2B opportunities, the importance of authenticity in marketing, and the power of acknowledging your progress and achievements. Louise shares the relief of letting go of certain business pressures, the excitement of new opportunities, and the lessons learned throughout her extensive entrepreneurial journey; including the fact that changing direction is not a failure but a part of the entrepreneurial journey.

Highlights:

• Louise's journey began as a flight attendant struggling to find suitable shoes that were both comfortable and stylish.
• Navigating the challenges of the shoe industry requires innovation and resilience.
• Shoe making is both an art and a science, requiring attention to detail.
• Business partnerships must be aligned in vision and goals.
• Finding joy in business is essential for long-term success.
• Transitioning from B2C to B2B can open new opportunities.
• Letting go of certain business pressures can lead to personal relief and positive change across the board.
• New opportunities lead to exciting ventures.
• And lots more!

To learn more about Louise M shoes go to: https://www.louisemshoes.com

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In episode 47 of the Thriving Business podcast, Sam and I discuss the unique business planning processes we’ve implemented for 2025. After nearly a decade of experimenting with different business planning methods and approaches, we’ve both come up with our own approaches: both a little different, but powerful. Our hope is that our insights inspires you to think differently this year also, with the intention to grow and expand more than ever before.

Highlights:

• Navigating Major Life Changes: Kate opens up about her emotional life journey of divorce in 2024 and the challenges of transitioning to a new way of life with her children.
• A Unique Approach to Business Planning: After a decade of experimenting with different business planning techniques, both Kate and Sam discuss the unique approaches they’ve developed to create solid business plans for 2025.
• Quiet Confidence: Both Kate and Sam reflect on the deep, internal confidence they have finally cultivated, allowing them to embrace their true strengths and grow in their businesses.
• And lots more!

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, clarity, and embracing change in both business and life.

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In this episode, hosts Sam and Kate were honoured to interview Matthew Wyatt, founder of Tech Torque and an expert in helping software and technology companies scale through strategy, sales, and marketing. With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, including starting 10 successful businesses, running 4 national companies and two international organisations, Matt shares his incredible journey from selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door at age 17 to creating and scaling several multi-million-dollar companies. 

Matt discusses the power of resilience and training in sales, how modern businesses need to evolve their strategies to meet the demands of today’s buyers, and the mindset shift he experienced from chasing financial success to focusing on lifestyle and family. He also emphasises the importance of learning from failures and treating marketing campaigns as "hypotheses" — testing, learning, and iterating for better results.

Key Takeaways:

• The critical role of training and resilience in sales success.
• The importance of adapting sales strategies to modern buying behaviors.
• Why hands-on experience often trumps formal education in the business world.
• The mindset shift from chasing financial goals to prioritising lifestyle and family.
• And lots more!

Listen to this inspiring episode packed with practical advice and insights from a seasoned entrepreneur who’s learned to evolve, grow, and thrive in the ever-changing world of business.

To learn more about Matt’s work, go here: https://techtorque.com.au/ 

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In this latest episode, Kate was honoured to sit down with Elizabeth (Elle) Hack, founder of The Canine Care Hub and author of the bestselling book “Fetch More Clients: Effectively Market and Grow Your Canine Business in 6 Weeks”.

Elle was a client of Kate’s back in 2020, just before the COVID lockdown, when Elle was first starting her business. Elle has since gone on to grow a thriving business dedicated to helping dog grooming and dog care businesses to establish a loyal customer base. Her mission is “to help canine specialists thrive by taking the pain and stress out of running a profitable, successful and fulfilling dog business.” Elle’s story highlights the power of focusing on a specific niche, especially one you’re personally passionate about.

The two discussed Elizabeth's journey from just a business idea to a successful coaching platform for dog professionals. The conversation covers key growth strategies including the importance of local marketing and the value of community engagement. Elizabeth shares insights on pricing, client acquisition, and her experience in publishing her book, emphasising the need for authenticity and connection in business.

Takeaways

• Canine Care Hub's origin
  Canine Care Hub was conceived during the lockdown as a brainstorming session, allowing Elizabeth to turn a challenging time into an opportunity to help others in the dog care industry.
• Local marketing and niche focus
  Local marketing is often more effective than broad online strategies, and narrowing your niche helps forge stronger connections with clients, ensuring a more tailored and impactful approach to business growth.
• Importance of pricing with value
   Elizabeth stresses knowing your worth when setting prices, ensuring that services reflect the true value provided while maintaining financial sustainability for dog care professionals.
• Managing overwhelm with time boxing
   Time boxing is a powerful tool that helps manage overwhelm by allotting specific periods to focus on key tasks, improving productivity and preventing burnout in a busy business environment.
• Building a community in dog care
  Creating a supportive community for dog care professionals is essential for sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and providing mutual support in a competitive and challenging industry.

To learn more about Elle’s work, go to: https://caninecarehub.com/ 

To get her book, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Fetch-More-Clients-Effectively-Business/dp/1068737905 

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In this episode of the Thriving Business Podcast, Sam and Kate dive into the world of marketing through the lens of the recent US election. While politics is at the forefront of many conversations, this episode discusses how successful political campaigns mirror successful marketing campaigns.

What You'll Learn:

• The power of consistency: Kate and Sam break down the impact of consistent messaging in both politics and business. They explore how Trump’s repetitive messages, despite being controversial or factually inaccurate much of the time, became a powerful marketing tool. Consistency in business messaging — across social media, branding, and communications — is key to building authority.
• Marketing vs. policy: The hosts discuss how in politics, as in business, the marketing often outweighs the policy. No matter how good the policies are, if a candidate’s message doesn’t resonate with the audience, they won’t win. This holds true for entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses: Having a strong, resonant message that meets their genuine needs is more impactful than simply having a great product or service. Knowing your audience's true pain points is essential.
• The importance of listening: The hosts explain why adapting your message to your audience is vital. Just as Harris' unchanging message failed to land with voters, businesses need to adapt their messaging based on audience needs and reactions.
• Understanding "Why" in Marketing: Kate and Sam draw upon Simon Sinek's concept of "Start With Why" to explain how Trump was able to connect with working-class Americans by positioning himself as an outsider who would dismantle the corrupt system.
• Perception vs. Reality: The hosts discuss how perception — shaped by effective marketing — often wins over reality. While many Americans felt their lives were better under Trump, the factual economic impacts under both his administration and Biden’s have been more complex. Understanding and managing perception is critical for businesses looking to communicate their value effectively.

Key Takeaways:

Repetition breeds recognition: The more you communicate your message, the more likely it will resonate with your audience.

Consistency works: Like political campaigns, businesses need to have a consistent message across all platforms to build their brand.

Adaptability is crucial. While consistency is important, businesses should also be flexible in how they present their message depending on their audience.

Strong messaging is essential for standing out—whether in politics or business. Don’t assume that just because you said something once, your audience has heard it.

Resources Mentioned:

• Simon Sinek's Start with Why (book)
• The Golden Circle framework

Join the Conversation: What marketing lessons have you learned from the political world? Do you agree with Kate and Sam’s takeaways? Reach out to us on social media and share your thoughts!


Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

In our most recent episode of the Thriving Business Podcast, we were honoured to sit down with innovation and commercialisation expert Daniel O'Connor. Daniel is on the UN Task Force for Innovation and Competitiveness and has been helping inventors and R&D teams to commercialise their ideas for more than 40 years, so he knows a thing or two about funding start-up ventures! Together we broke down some of the myths and misconceptions that set many start-up founders on the wrong track. We explored the key elements of what it really takes to successfully commercialise innovative ideas and attract funding for start-up ventures. 

From his early days of first commercialising a novel telephone accounting system through to the creation of his esteemed Inventors Academy, Daniel reveals the truth behind funding and debunks the myth of the "wealthy investor" who is sitting around, waiting to write a big cheque. He unpacks the top six things that investors are really looking for in a start-up venture. And hint, it’s not the ROI!

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Daniel first commercialised his own tech product in the 1980s, overcoming early challenges.
• The role of the UN Task Force in fostering innovation in developing economies.
• Why the myth of the “wealthy investor” can derail your start-up’s growth and how to shift your focus.
• The top six things investors really care about (and why ROI is not number one on the list).
• Key lessons from Daniel’s Inventors Academy on how to approach funding and minimise risk for investors.

Key Takeaways:

• Funding doesn’t always come from wealthy individuals—it’s about finding the right partner who shares the same market needs.
• Investors care more about risk mitigation than return on investment. Learn to talk about how you can reduce risk, not just promise high rewards.
• Successful commercialisation is about strategy, timing, and understanding the landscape—what works for big companies might not work for startups.

If you’re a startup founder or inventor looking to scale, subscribe to the Thriving Business Podcast for more actionable insights from industry experts.

Links & Resources:

Get a FREE copy of Daniel’s book FUNDING EARLY STAGE INNOVATION here:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/k9dx4ofwmlnrtyxgcsr4d/FUNDING-EBOOK.pdf?rlkey=bve7ir0llq59oeyaxoo6q30x7&e=1&dl=0

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review if you love our show, it helps us a lot! 

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!

Episode Overview:

In this episode, Kate and Sam dive into a discussion of how they’re using AI in business as a tool for organisation, strategy, and even as a coaching assistant. They discuss some of the most recent AI developments that are impacting businesses in previously unimaginable ways. They discuss the continuing implications of AI-generated content, how it can be embraced positively, and the importance of discernment in the digital age.

Key Takeaways:

1. Using AI to Help with Overwhelm and Task Management: Sam discusses her feelings of overwhelm due to numerous unfinished tasks and the need for better prioritisation. Kate and Sam discuss how they’re using AI to help organise tasks and set priorities, and using AI as a personal assistant.

2. The Future of Coaching with AI: Kate and Sam discuss new coaching bots that are being embraced by some coaches. They discuss how, like in all other industries, coaches should not feel threatened by AI, but rather embrace it as a value-add.

3. The Evolution of Podcasting with AI: Kate discusses a new AI-tool she came across that creates engaging podcasts based on existing content, highlighting the rapid advancements in AI.

4. Challenges of Trust and Authenticity in a Digital World: The hosts discuss their concerns about the potential for AI to create content that blurs the lines between reality and fabrication. It highlights the importance of critical thinking and discernment, especially for younger generations consuming content online.

5. The Role of Human Experience: Kate and Sam reflect on how AI, while powerful, cannot fully replicate human understanding and emotional intelligence. Both share insights from their children about the challenges of navigating truth in an age of misinformation.

Subscribe to our podcast for more discussions on business, motherhood, and the impact of technology!

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

Thriving Business Podcast 🌐Website:   https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ 

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business 

🌐 Website: https://katedejong.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @katedejong.inspiredbusiness 

✉️ Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The O8 

🌐 Website: https://www.theo8.com/ 

📱 Instagram: @the_o8crew 

✉️ Email: sam@theo8.com

GET THE AI SETUP WORKBOOK

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/ai-setup-workbook

GET YOUR FREE PASS TO THE ENGINE ROOM

🌐 https://www.thrivingbusinesspodcast.com/the-engine-room

NOTE - OUR WORKSHOPS AND RETREAT WILL BE BACK IN 2027!