The Business Owners Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Motherhood changes your life, but it doesn't have to erase your identity. True empowerment comes when you stop chasing perfect formulas and learn to run a business on your own terms.

In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever connects across time zones with Noelle Mapianda, founder of the Business Women's Circle. Moving from the Democratic Republic of Congo to London as a teenager, Noelle transitioned from a background in chemistry to working as a commercial financial analyst, a career she has balanced for 12 years alongside growing her business and her family.

Noelle opens up about the distinct psychological shifts of returning to work after having children, the realisation that led her to self-publish her book, Queen, and how she built a dynamic platform that helps women combine motherhood with entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways

The Reality of "Identity Loss" 

For many first-time mothers, returning to the corporate workforce after maternity leave triggers a profound psychological shift. Noelle's own experience of feeling like she was "losing herself" prompted her to conduct widespread research, confirming that a majority of working mothers struggle deeply with their professional identity.

Ditching the "Parenting Recipe" 

Coming from an analytical chemistry and finance background, Noelle initially expected a rigid set of rules or formulas for raising children. Realising that parenting defies structured logic helped her shed maternal guilt, close her ears to judgment, and trust her personal capabilities.

Listening to the Market's Complaints 

When Noelle launched the Business Women's Circle, she was fixated on hosting structured networking events with guest speakers. However, her target demographic openly complained because they wanted to actively sell and trade. By staying flexible and pivoting based on feedback, she transformed the circle into a highly successful market-style trading platform.

The Power of Absolute Presence 

As a solo entrepreneur working a nine-to-five job while raising a five-year-old and a toddler, true balance requires being aggressively present. Children immediately sense when a parent is physically there but mentally scrolling. Setting non-negotiable family blocks blocks out maternal guilt.

Plunging and Learning to Swim 

If you wait for a logical, flawless business plan, you will never get started. Pregnancy teaches a person to follow internal physical cues; Noelle advises applying that same visceral gut instinct to execution, plunge into the idea first and refine your strategy as you move.

Noelle's Core Blueprint for Multi-Passionate Mothers

1. Ask the Questions Early: Keeping feelings of professional detachment or isolation bottled up is destructive. Speak up and ask other mothers how they coped; it is always better to risk looking silly than to struggle in silence.

2. Audit Your Daily Boundaries: Noelle structures her days tightly: working her employment role from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pivoting entirely to her children until they go to bed, and only then opening her laptop or logging into Instagram to manage her business pop-ups.

3. Honour the Law of Karma: Treat your current employer with 100% integrity. By showing respect and hard work as an employee today, you ensure that future staff will mirror that exact standard when it is your turn to hire.

4. Think Regionally and Internationally: Step completely out of your local comfort zone. Educate yourself on regional trading, technology, and macro trends so you can inspire your community to think bigger and scale further.

Key Takeaway

There is no perfect corporate recipe for motherhood or entrepreneurship. Stop waiting for the formula, trust your gut, plunge right into the water, and figure out the strokes while you swim.

Your Next Step

Perform a "Presence Check" tonight. When you transition from your business or employment to your family, physically put your phone in another room or out of arm's reach for the first two hours. Watch how your connection deepens when you grant your family your absolute, undivided awareness.

Connect with Noelle Mapianda

• Book: Find Queen: Conquering Identity Loss in Motherhood globally on Amazon

• LinkedIn: Noelle Mapianda https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelle-mapianda-a833644b/ 

 

Ready to Get Support?

• Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ 

• Join the Ideas, Impact & Marketing Circle https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/MarketingCircle 

• Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault 

• Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Linda https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-linda/ 

• Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ 

Highlights

• 00:00 Introduction to Noelle Mapianda and the Business Women's Circle

• 02:15 Reading Smart Women Finish Rich and Preparing to Invest

• 03:40 From the Democratic Republic of Congo to a Fast-Paced London Life

• 05:20 Accidental Careers: Expecting CSI and Landing in Financial Crime Analyst Work

• 06:50 The Post-COVID Epiphany and Analysing Identity Loss with Questionnaires

• 08:30 Launching the Book Queen and Creating a Dedicated Trading Circle

• 10:50 Shedding Maternal Guilt and Stepping Out of the Comparison Box

• 13:15 Handling Male Counterparts in a Female-Dominated Vibe

• 15:00 Overcoming the Nudge: Researching Regional Trading and AI

• 18:45 Noelle's Strict Daily Timeline: Balancing 9-to-5, Family, and Business

• 21:10 Pivoting the Business Model Based on Customer Complaints

Recruitment is no longer just about sorting through resumes, but about marrying the data-driven horsepower of modern technology with the indispensable touch of human empathy.

In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, host Clive Enever sits down with Manoj Sharma, founder of Ancy Recruitment Services and GenieHiring.ai. Moving from Delhi to Melbourne 15 years ago, Manoj combined his technical background with recruitment to solve one of the biggest bottlenecks facing small-to-medium enterprises: finding and keeping the right talent.

Manoj breaks down why traditional "knee-jerk" hiring fails, how artificial intelligence is radically altering the volume of job applications, and why assessing cultural alignment must always precede evaluating a candidate's technical skill set.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

The Trap of Reactive Hiring 

Many small businesses are bandwidth- and capability-poor, forcing them into a reactive cycle where they simply hire to fill an immediate vacancy. True scaling requires moving away from this "knee-jerk" mechanism and replacing it with a proactive, long-term strategic plan.

The AI Application Surge 

Generative AI has shifted the baseline for job seekers. Applications that used to take several minutes to compile can now be submitted in seconds, complete with highly detailed, AI-generated cover letters. This has caused the absolute volume of incoming resumes to shoot through the roof, breaking standard filtering processes.

Flipping the Hiring Funnel 

Historically, businesses used skills criteria to filter a candidate shortlist, then interviewed that tiny pool for cultural fit. Manoj argues that modern technology allows organisations to invert this process: use human insights to gauge cultural alignment first, then deploy AI to test technical skills across a massive data set simultaneously.

The True Cost of a Mishaired Seat 

A single poor recruitment choice does more than lose a head; it derails project roadmaps by up to six months and bleeds roughly $50,000 to $60,000 in lost potential customer revenue and leadership friction.

The Pacing Paradox 

Two entities can look perfect on paper and passionately agree on wanting growth, but if the pace of that growth differs, such as a founder wanting sustainable, relationship-driven small growth versus a candidate seeking hyper-accelerated, venture-funded expansionfthe long-term execution will inevitably fracture.

Manoj's Strategic Framework for Business Owners

1. Stop Fishing, Build a Process: Slapping a casual ad on a job board isn't a strategy; it's a recreational fishing trip. Your hiring pipeline must maintain structural integrity whether it receives thousands of resumes or zero.

2. Spend the Two Hours: You don't need a six-month corporate planning phase. Dedicate just two hours to explicitly defining what a successful hire looks like three, six, and nine months down the line.

3. Identify Your "Quarterly Rock": Avoid drowning new hires in sprawling position descriptions loaded with ten concurrent priorities. Isolate the top one or two "rocks" that mandate their absolute focus for their first quarter.

4. Adopt a Service Mindset: Shift your corporate paradigm entirely away from your ego or history. Focus unyielding attention on identifying and systematically clearing the distinct roadblocks of your customers.

Key Takeaway

Brilliant technology layered on top of a broken process only amplifies your losses. Refine the process, inject AI for the raw data horsepower, and anchor it firmly with human empathy.

Your Next Step

Audit your current open job descriptions. Are you asking a candidate to point in ten different directions at once? Strip away the clutter and outline the single, non-negotiable metric of success for that role's first 90 days to provide immediate, transparent clarity.

Connect with Manoj Sharma

• Website: https://geniehiring.ai/ 

• LinkedIn: Manoj Sharma / GenieHiring.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/manoj-sharma-geniehiring/ 

 

Ready to Get Support?

• Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ 

• Join the Ideas, Impact & Marketing Circle https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/MarketingCircle 

• Join the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault 

• Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Linda https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-linda/ 

• Book a 1:1 Discovery Call with Clive https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ 

Highlights

• 00:00 Introduction to Manoj Sharma and Ancy Recruitment

• 02:15 Living by the EOS Framework and Mindset Realities

• 04:30 Moving Past Knee-Jerk, Reactive Staffing Cycles

• 07:55 How Two Hours of Upfront Planning Saves 6 Months of Losses

• 10:45 Generative AI and the Exploding Volume of Resumes

• 13:00 The Core Philosophy of GenieHiring.ai: Blending Tech with Empathy

• 15:40 Flipping the Paradigm: Assessing Culture Before Skills

• 17:30 Case Study: The Danger of Misaligned Growth Paces

• 19:30 Trimming Down Position Descriptions to "Quarterly Rocks"

• 25:50 Personal Purpose and Managing Time Non-Negotiables

Resilience in business does not happen by accident. It is built through curiosity, courage and a willingness to keep learning.

In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, Clive Enever sits down with Elise Balsillie, leader at Thryv, to explore how resilience is shaped over time, why curiosity is a competitive advantage and how technology can empower small businesses to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

From starting her journey 21 years ago as a young mum in an entry-level role to now leading operations across Australia and New Zealand, Elise shares a powerful story of growth, grit and staying deeply connected to customers.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Curiosity Is a Career Superpower

Elise describes her journey in one word: curious.

Rather than settling into comfort, she consistently put her hand up, explored new departments and asked questions. Curiosity built her knowledge, confidence and credibility, which in turn strengthened her resilience.

Resilience Is Built Through Understanding

Knowing the foundations of the business inside and out gave Elise the confidence to speak up, solve problems and lead with conviction. Deep knowledge creates stability, and stability builds resilience.

Stay Close to Your Customers

One of Elise's strongest messages is to remain connected to the people you serve. Whether that means walking the pavement with sales teams or sitting in customer service, staying close to real-world challenges keeps leaders grounded and businesses responsive.

Technology Levels the Playing Field

AI and smart technology are no longer tools reserved for large corporations. Elise explains how small businesses can use technology to solve their biggest pain points, whether that is cash flow, scheduling, administration or communication, and gain a real competitive advantage.

Start With the Problem That Keeps You Awake

Rather than trying to overhaul everything at once, identify the one issue that is causing stress at 3 am and solve that first. Targeted improvements create momentum and confidence.

You Cannot Build a Business Alone

From mentors who sparked her early curiosity to the importance of paying it forward through emerging leaders programs, Elise highlights the value of community, support and shared knowledge.

Passion Fuels Persistence

For new business owners, Elise's advice is simple: start with something you genuinely care about. You will need that passion when challenges arise.

Elise's Advice for Business Owners

• Build a business around something you genuinely love. Passion sustains you through tough periods.

• Stay curious about your industry, your customers and your own organisation.

• Ask for help early rather than waiting until problems escalate.

• Use technology to solve real problems, not just because it is trendy.

• Stay connected to the people you serve and the people you lead.

Key Takeaway

Curiosity creates confidence. Confidence builds resilience. And resilience is what allows both leaders and small businesses to grow sustainably over time.

Your Next Step

Identify one area in your business that feels overwhelming or inefficient. Instead of avoiding it, get curious about it. Ask questions, seek advice and explore solutions. Small, informed steps forward will strengthen your resilience and your results.

Connect with Elise Balsillie

• LinkedIn

• Thryv

Ready to Get Support?

• Join the Business Business Business community (free!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/BusinessBusinessBusiness/ 

• Step into the Business Wisdom Vault, your one-stop hub to scale, strategise, and succeed in business. https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault 

• Or book a 1:1 discovery call with Clive, and let's bring your next business move to life https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive 

We'd love to hear your takeaway from this episode. What stood out for you? Jump into the group and share your lightbulb moment.

Highlights:

• 00:00 Introducing Elise Balsillie

• 00:45 Resilience Origins

• 02:50 Dream Big Career Rise

• 03:30 Curiosity Builds Confidence

• 05:44 Quickfire Get to Know Elise

• 08:23 Curiosity as a Superpower

• 10:15 AI and Small Business Edge

• 13:45 Mentors and Defining Moments

• 18:15 Family and Work Balance

• 20:37 Resilience Tips for New Owners

• 23:31 Leading with Accessibility

• 24:48 Where to Find Elise Closing

We're surrounded by advice in business - Facebook groups, friends, family, social media, coaches, YouTube, and even AI. But how do you know what advice to actually take on board? 

In this episode of the Business Owners Podcast, Linda Reed-Enever sits down with experienced business coach and trainer Jane Tweedy to explore how to filter through the noise and focus on guidance that aligns with your business goals.

Having personally supported over 2000 small business owners and with more than a decade of experience in coaching, training, and SEO strategy, Jane brings a powerful mix of practicality, honesty, and lived wisdom. 

Together, she and Linda break down how to tell the difference between helpful insights and harmful distractions, and how to stay focused in a world that's always telling you to "do more".

Whether you're navigating conflicting advice, questioning a new strategy, or just feeling overwhelmed by input, this episode is packed with tools to help you take back control.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why not all advice is created equal

From well-meaning friends to random SEO "experts", Jane unpacks the danger of listening to people who don't understand your business or your goals.

The MASTER Framework

Jane shares her MASTER framework, Mindset, Aim, Strategy, Tactics, Execution, and Review, to help business owners stay grounded and filter advice through a smart, structured lens.

Understanding who to trust

Linda and Jane explore how to assess whether an advisor, coach, or even an AI tool is actually suitable for your needs, and how to tell if someone's giving advice from experience or from fear.

Setting boundaries with clients and offerings

Jane and Linda reflect on real-world stories from their own businesses, showing how over-giving (and not sticking to boundaries) can lead to burnout, misalignment, and confusion about your value.

How entrepreneurial mindsets and ADHD traits intersect

Jane explains how the traits that make entrepreneurs thrive - curiosity, fast thinking, and creativity - can also cause overwhelm and constant course-changing without a plan.

Finding your niche without boxing yourself in

From seasonal pivots to changing customer needs, Jane shares how to embrace flexibility in your niche while still speaking directly to your ideal clients.

Jane's Advice for Business Owners

• Mindset matters: If you don't believe in yourself, it's hard for anyone else to. Work on your internal dialogue as much as your external strategy.

• Check the source: Don't take advice from people who haven't walked in your shoes, especially when it comes to business strategy, legal, or financial decisions.

• Don't blindly follow trends: Whether it's a YouTube tip, Facebook group comment, or AI-generated idea, filter it through your business goals and reality.

• Know your boundaries: Be clear about what each level of your offering includes. Stop giving VIP service to budget clients.

• Slow down to speed up: Make time to review your strategy, goals, and systems instead of constantly reacting to what's trending.

Key Takeaway

You don't need to take on every piece of advice, only the guidance that aligns with your goals, values, and current stage of business. Stay true to what you're building, and don't let someone else's limiting beliefs steer your decisions.

Action Step

Review the last 5 pieces of advice you received. Ask yourself:

• Does this align with my goals right now?

• Is the source credible and relevant to my business?

• Am I ready to implement it, or am I just feeling pressured?

Use Jane's MASTER framework to help you decide whether to act, pause, or let it go.

Connect with Jane Tweedy:

• Website

• LinkedIn

Ready to Get Support?

• Join the Business Business Business community (free!)

• Step into the Ideas, Impact & Marketing Circle for accountability, guidance and brainstorming

• Or book a 1:1 discovery call with Linda, and let's bring your next business move to life

We'd love to hear your takeaway from this episode. What stood out for you? Jump into the group and share your lightbulb moment.

Highlights:

• 00:24 Introducing Jane Tweney: From Corporate to Small Business

• 03:18 Navigating Business Advice: Who to Listen To

• 06:13 Mastering Your Business: The MASTER Strategy

• 14:24 The Entrepreneurial Mindset and ADHD

• 19:03 Adapting Your Offerings to Client Needs

• 24:43 Overdelivering: The Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• 25:29 The Pressure to Provide Value

• 27:41 Evaluating Advice and Advisors

• 29:24 The Importance of Due Diligence

• 33:29 Social Media Strategies for Business Owners

• 34:29 The Role of AI in Business

• 37:19 Finding the Right Advisors and Coaches

• 43:14 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

When you're doing everything in your business, you're not doing the work that truly matters. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, Clive Enever sits down with Kirsten Graham, co-founder of Six Figure Business Coaching, to unpack how outsourcing and the right support systems can transform the way you grow. Kirsten shares her journey from mortgage broking to building a VA matching service that helps entrepreneurs stay in their zone of genius, doing the work they love, while expert virtual assistants take care of the rest. This conversation offers a deep dive into why business owners often struggle with delegation, how to shift into the mindset of a real CEO, and the steps you can take to set up systems that support consistent growth and freedom. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why Support Beats Burnout Most entrepreneurs start out wearing all the hats, but that doesn't mean you should. Kirsten shares how hiring support early, even before you feel "ready", can prevent overwhelm and help you scale faster. Delegation Is a Skill, Not a Trait If you've ever said "I just can't delegate", Kirsten has news for you. She explains why delegation is a learnable business skill, and how even perfectionists can master it with structure and support. From Chaos to Clarity with Systems Discover how Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and clear expectations set your team, and your business, up for success. Why Hiring Before You're Ready Works Waiting until you're drowning is the worst time to hire. Kirsten outlines how to hire smart and build support before you burn out. Outsource What's Not Your Zone of Genius From bookkeeping to content marketing, Kirsten highlights the kinds of tasks you should be offloading so you can focus on growth, service, and strategy. AI Won't Replace VAs Who Evolve Kirsten also shares her perspective on AI and how the best virtual assistants will embrace tech to deliver even more value, not be replaced by it. Kirsten Graham's Advice for Business Owners - Waiting until you're underwater makes onboarding harder. Start with part-time help early. - If you're spending hours learning tasks you'll never master or enjoy, outsource them. - If it's good enough and gets the outcome, that's success. - Your business needs to reflect your goals, not someone else's template. - The best VAs will evolve and add even more value by integrating new tools. - If a task isn't revenue-generating or core to your zone of genius, it shouldn't sit on your to-do list. Connect with Kirsten Graham: Website: https://sixfigurebusinesscoaching.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sixfigurebusinesscoachingllc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/six-figure-business-coaching-llc Work with Clive Enever: You can also check out Clive Enever's comprehensive library of tools, resources, and expert strategies in the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault. If you're considering expansion and want to ensure it's the right move for your business, book a discovery call with Clive to explore your options and create a roadmap tailored to your goals www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive. Highlights: 00:22 Meet Kirsten Graham 03:12 Kirsten's Journey and Business Insights 07:59 The Importance of Outsourcing 21:37 Managing Personal and Business Life 25:20 Future of Outsourcing and AI 27:30 Where to Find Kirsten

Have you ever walked out of a strategy session feeling more confused than when you started? You're not alone. Business strategy can often seem complicated, but the truth is, real strategy is about clarity, and clarity is simple. Clive Enever breaks down how to move from strategy overwhelm to strategic momentum. He explains why simplicity drives better decisions, faster progress, and sustainable growth, and shares a practical three-step framework to help you refine your strategy without starting from scratch. The Power of Simplicity The most successful businesses aren't the most complex, they're the clearest. When your strategy is simple, you make smarter decisions, take faster action, and create systems that scale without stress. Complexity might look clever, but simplicity is what actually builds momentum. A 3-Step Framework for Business Clarity Revisit Your Purpose Every effective strategy starts with understanding why your business exists. It's not just about making money, but delivering a result for a specific client. Write your purpose in one clear sentence (around 14–18 words). If it takes a paragraph, it's not clear enough. Clarity here shapes every decision that follows. Refine Your Priorities There's always more to do in business, but not everything needs to be done. Focus on the one goal that will move your business forward in the next 90 days. Build your activity around that single objective and strip away the rest. Simplicity here creates focus, and focus creates results. Create Simple Systems Strategy only works when it's executed. Identify the repeatable steps that deliver your desired outcomes and document them. Delegate where possible, automate where practical, and ensure every process is easy to explain. If it's too complex, it won't stick. Put It Into Action Set aside 30 minutes with no meetings, no distractions, just you and your strategy. Ask yourself three questions: - What is my business really here to do? - What's my one priority for the next 90 days? - What simple systems will support that? Write your answers down and revisit them often. With clarity and consistency, you'll go further with a lot less stress. Why Simplicity Wins Every Time Growth comes from clear thinking and consistent action. By refining, not rebuilding, your strategy, you'll make better decisions, lead with confidence, and stay aligned with what truly matters in your business. Want to Simplify Your Strategy for Better Results? You can also check out Clive's comprehensive library of tools, resources, and expert strategies in the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault For more insights on growth strategies in business, check out Clive's book Business Wisdom: Strategies for Success https://www.enevergroup.com.au/product/business-wisdom-strategies-for-success/ If you're considering expansion and want to ensure it's the right move for your business, book a discovery call with Clive to explore your options and create a roadmap tailored to your goals https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 00:20 Introduction to Business Strategy 01:08 The Power of Simplicity in Strategy 02:03 Achieving Clarity in Business 02:35 Three-Step Framework for Simplifying Strategy 05:24 Putting Strategy into Action

Kunal Joshi's story begins with a leap of faith: leaving a steady job to enter business ownership. What started as a single franchise store grew into three successful locations before he and his wife Shahin launched their own brand during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through perseverance and creativity, they turned uncertainty into opportunity, expanding their business Bang On Brows into a thriving multi-store enterprise with a dedicated training centre. In this episode of the Business Owners Podcast, Kunal joins Clive Enever to reflect on how resilience, quick thinking and inclusive leadership helped him and his wife navigate challenges like staffing shortages, brand recognition and lockdowns, all while raising two young daughters. Key Takeaways from This Episode Resilience creates opportunity Kunal and Shahin launched their brand during one of the toughest times for small businesses and thrived by treating setbacks as lessons. Numbers tell the real story From client return rates to hourly productivity, tracking data allows you to make objective decisions about growth, staffing and sustainability. Inclusive leadership builds stronger teams By involving staff in key decisions and valuing feedback, Bang On Brows fosters collaboration and accountability at every level. Preparation beats luck Having their systems, website and brand materials ready before approaching shopping centres gave Kunal and Shahin an edge over competitors. Adaptability is the ultimate skill From running a franchise to creating an independent brand, the couple's ability to adapt quickly turned challenges into catalysts for innovation. Kunal's advice for business owners - Do your homework. Research the market, the location and the people you'll serve before launching your business. - Numbers help you understand what's working and where to improve, so make sure you track them. - Build your team intentionally: develop skills through training and mentorship. - Lead inclusively and empower employees by giving them a voice in shaping decisions that impact them. - Start small, but think long-term. Every challenge is a chance to refine and strengthen your systems. Connect with Kunal Joshi: Website: https://www.bangonbrows.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BangonBrows Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bang_on_brows/ Work with Clive Enever: You can also check out Clive Enever's comprehensive library of tools, resources, and expert strategies in the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault. If you're considering expansion and want to ensure it's the right move for your business, book a discovery call with Clive to explore your options and create a roadmap tailored to your goals www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive. Highlights: 00:55 Kunal's journey from India to Australia 03:42 Starting Bang On Brows and working alongside wife Shahin 06:48 Challenges of moving from franchisee to business owner 10:59 Building resilience during COVID-19 lockdown 13:22 Staffing solutions and launching a training centre 15:44 Turning preparation into opportunity 16:55 Importance of tracking numbers 18:53 How inclusive leadership builds stronger teams 20:45 Dreams for national growth 21:33 Advice for new business owners

Running a business doesn't mean doing everything yourself. Automation is one of the smartest ways to free up your time, reduce stress, and serve your clients better. In this episode of The Business Owners Podcast, Linda Reed-Enever shares her go-to strategies for setting up practical automations that save time, minimise errors, and keep your business running in the background. Whether you're just starting your automation journey or ready to optimise, this episode offers straightforward tips to get you moving without the overwhelm. Simple Automation Wins for Business Owners - Start with a list of tasks you dislike, repeat too often, or find time-consuming, these are great automation candidates - Use tools like Zapier to connect platforms and sync data (e.g. Thinkific, MailerLite, Xero) Automate content distribution using: - MeetEdgar for evergreen social scheduling - Repurpose.io to auto-share videos and podcast episodes - Quuu Promote to boost reach by having others share your content - Replace back-and-forth emails with a booking calendar that handles time zones, reminders, and follow-ups - Add an AI chatbot (like Chatbase) to answer questions and help users engage with your website content - Document your automations and check in regularly to make sure everything's working as it should What to Do Next Choose one process to automate this week. Set it up, test it, and once it's working, move on to the next. Start simple and build as you go. Continue Your Growth Journey Want more content creation tools and strategies? For more ideas and support, join the Ideas, Impact & Marketing Circle. https://enevergroup.thinkific.com/bundles/MarketingCircle Ready to grow your business with intentional marketing? Book a discovery call with Linda. https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-linda Need help getting started with automation? Get access to tested workflows, templates, and tools inside the AI Async & Automation Hub. https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/courses/aaahub Highlights 00:00 Introduction and the Myth of Doing It All 01:05 The Power of Automation in Business 01:43 Essential Automation Tools and Techniques 02:26 Social Media Automation Strategies 04:00 Streamlining Booking and Communication 05:32 Advanced Automation and AI Integration 05:47 Implementing and Maintaining Automations 06:26 Call to Action Resources AI, Async & Automation Hub https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/courses/aaahub Zapier http://snip.ly/zapiereg Acuity https://snip.ly/acuity MeetEdgar https://snip.ly/meetedgar Repurpose.io https://snip.ly/repurposeio Quuu Promote https://snip.ly/quuu Thinkific http://snip.ly/thinkific Mailerlite https://snip.ly/mailerliteeg Chatbase https://snip.ly/chatbase

If you had to start your business again from scratch, what lessons would you carry with you? In this episode of Business Wisdom, Clive Enever shares the five timeless business principles he uses every day. These aren't trends or quick fixes but are instead principles that continue to deliver results no matter how the market shifts. They're foundational strategies that help you build a business that works for you. Whether you're a seasoned business owner or just getting started, these lessons will sharpen your focus, grow your confidence, and increase your impact. Key Takeaways Clarity Creates Confidence Clarity around your purpose, audience, and offer makes every decision easier. When you know who you're helping and how, you unlock powerful momentum. Relationships Drive Results At its core, business is about people. Building rapport and trust through genuine conversations never goes out of style. Solve, Don't Sell Great businesses lead with value. When you solve problems through conversation, sales become a natural outcome, not a pushy pitch. Systems Set You Free Freedom in business doesn't come from doing everything yourself. It comes from having systems that support consistent delivery and efficiency. Master Your Mindset Mindset is a daily practice. With the right habits and affirmations, you stay focused, resilient, and ready to lead through every challenge. Action Step Reflect on the five lessons shared in this episode. Which one do you need to strengthen most in your business right now? Write it down, and identify one action you can take today to apply it more consistently. Why These Five Lessons Work These five lessons are the building blocks of businesses that last. When applied consistently, they create a business that grows with intention and reflects the leader behind it. As Clive reminds us, business doesn't need to be difficult, it needs to be clear, connected, and aligned. Want help applying these principles in your business? You can also check out Clive's comprehensive library of tools, resources, and expert strategies in the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault For more insights on growth strategies in business, check out Clive's book Business Wisdom: Strategies for Success https://www.enevergroup.com.au/product/business-wisdom-strategies-for-success/ If you're considering expansion and want to ensure it's the right move for your business, book a discovery call with Clive to explore your options and create a roadmap tailored to your goals www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive. Highlights 00:20 Timeless Business Principles 00:57 Lesson 1: Clarity Creates Confidence 01:33 Lesson 2: The Power of Relationships 02:10 Lesson 3: Solve, Don't Sell 02:53 Lesson 4: Systems Set You Free 03:21 Lesson 5: Master Your Mindset 04:02 Applying the Lessons 04:26 Share Your Thoughts

Have you ever felt like you're working harder in your business but not getting anywhere? You're not alone, and more importantly, there's nothing wrong with you. The truth is, many business owners hit a point where hard work alone won't get them the clarity or results they're after. That's where strategic mentoring comes in. In this episode, Clive Enever takes you behind the scenes of what truly happens in strategic mentoring and how it helps business owners unlock growth, make better decisions, and create sustainable momentum. This isn't about hype or surface-level advice, it's about discovering the personalised strategies that will move your business forward. Key Takeaways Clarity Comes First Strategic mentoring begins with understanding you, your values, your vision, and your unique business model. Without clarity, growth is guesswork. It's About Strategy, Not Motivation You don't need more ideas. You need sharper insight, the right questions, and focused actions that lead to real transformation. Tailored Support Creates Real Change Mentoring is never one-size-fits-all. It's built around your business, your challenges, and your goals, which is why it drives results that feel aligned and achievable. Real Growth Can Look Like Less Stress One simple pricing tweak helped a client double revenue and reduce overwhelm, because strategic changes create powerful ripple effects. Mentoring Builds Confidence and Momentum With the right guide, you stop second-guessing and start making decisions that reflect both your business potential and personal priorities. Action Step Ask yourself: Am I tired of going in circles? Am I ready for real, sustainable results? Would I benefit from a trusted perspective to help me grow? If the answer is yes, take one step forward today, whether that's booking a call or reflecting honestly on where your business may need realignment. Final Thoughts Running a business is rewarding, but it can also be complex and isolating. Strategic mentoring provides the space to pause, reflect, and make decisions that are not just faster, but better. Whether you're scaling, navigating change, or simply ready to realign, mentoring offers a smarter way to grow, with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Want to Unlock Your Next Level of Business Clarity? You can also check out Clive's comprehensive library of tools, resources, and expert strategies in the Business Wisdom Vault https://academy.enevergroup.com.au/bundles/BusinessWisdomVault For more insights on growth strategies in business, check out Clive's book Business Wisdom: Strategies for Success https://www.enevergroup.com.au/product/business-wisdom-strategies-for-success/ If you're considering expansion and want to ensure it's the right move for your business, book a discovery call with Clive to explore your options and create a roadmap tailored to your goals https://www.enevergroup.com.au/booking-clive/ Highlights 00:00 The Struggle in Business 00:48 What is Strategic Mentoring? 01:05 Understanding You and Your Business 01:25 Exploring Strategic Layers 01:52 The Power of Tailored Mentoring 02:18 Real-Life Success Stories 03:29 Is Strategic Mentoring Right for You? 04:18 The Value of Strategic Mentoring