Long Term Thinking for Business Success

Neil Glentworth: From High School Dropout to fortune 500 and government advisor

From dropout to CEO - the improbable rise of Neil Glentworth 
Neil Glentworth's path from leaving school at 16 to leading a global group of businesses against all odds is a story of grit, determination and long-term vision. Our conversation offers valuable lessons for business owners and leaders battling challenges and seeking to build lasting companies.   
A key to Neil's unorthodox success was prioritising profits over popularity. He advocates focusing less on vanity metrics like revenue, stressing instead the importance of understanding profitability and costs - the true engines of sustainable growth. This approach revealed the strategic importance of optimising operations for steady gains rather than quick wins. 
Along the way, Neil faced his fair share of setbacks, navigating turbulent financial waters and learning hard lessons the hard way. These baptisms of fire gave him unique insight into the intricacies of business management and the critical role financial discipline plays in survival and expansion. 
Neil's leadership style also holds clues for owners struggling to motivate teams. He emphasises recruiting the right people and empowering them within a culture that values integrity and passion for the work. This focus on developing dedicated, autonomous teams has been pivotal in GWI Group's success and offers a model for building resilient organisations. 
Additionally, Neil's data-driven approach to problem-solving and strategic decision-making offers owners a competitive edge. His story underscores how leveraging evidence and analytics can help navigate challenges and propel steady, calculated growth in an uncertain business world.  
In the end, Neil Glentworth's against-the-odds experiences and the lessons gleaned from triumphing over adversity provide an inspiring blueprint for all of us aiming to build sustainable business that stand the test of time.. 

Jason Simms: From Startup to International Expansion: Lessons in Growth and Innovation for Small Business Owners

Jason Simms is one of the founders and directors of Blackbook.ai, an Australian company driven by unlocking the true value of organisations through artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics.  
In our conversation, Jason shares the background story of Blackbook.ai, from its humble beginnings as a startup in 2017 to its current position as a medium-sized business with a team of approximately 200 people. He reveals the pivotal investments in systems, people, and processes that have propelled their growth and success. 
It hasn't all been smooth sailing. Jason candidly discusses the challenges they faced along the way, including the importance of aligning the company vision and the lessons learned from setbacks.  
Discover how these experiences drove positive changes within Blackbook.ai and shaped their approach to client relationships. 
Jason explores the importance of strong leadership and the impact of clear communication in expressing the company's vision to the team. He provides insights into how Blackbook.ai guarantees that each team member comprehends their role and the value they offer to clients. 
As we wrap up, Jason provides a glimpse into the future, discussing the strategic considerations and priorities for BlackBook.ai in the next one to three years. From expanding geographically to exploring international markets, he reveals the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. 

Renee Francis: Creating a flexible and productive distributed company

Renee Francis, founder of The Bubble Co, began her journey began with her realisation that the corporate world was not for her, leading her to take on contract positions and gain valuable experience in various industries.
  
This work grew to the point that she founded The Bubble Co with a vision to create a remote and flexible agency that delivers exceptional value to clients. 
 
In this episode we discuss how Renee has created a business focused on accountability and collaboration while being a distributed or remote team that is located throughout Australia and New Zealand. 
 
To ensure all new team members share Renee’s values of flexibility and high-quality work, she shares her approach exploring the company's vision in the recruitment and onboarding process. Additionally, Renee’s approach to continually articulate and communicate the company's vision ensures alignment, motivation, autonomy, consistency, and accountability across the team. 
 
This episode explores different approaches to building a successful remote team that leverages continuous learning, adaptability, and creating a remarkable experience for team members and clients. 
 
This episode provides practical insights and strategies for managing and motivating a remote team, including effective communication, recruitment processes, and fostering a positive work culture. 

Elinor Moshe: When things are tough, the character truly comes out

Elinor Moshe, founder of the Construction Coach, shares her journey of bridging the gap in the construction industry through mentorship and a powerhouse mindset.
Elinor's story begins with her realisation of the complexity of driving consistent results and her decision to break free from a toxic work environment.  
Late one night, she had a vision for the Construction Coach and transformed it from a simple blog into a thriving platform encompassing a podcast, masterminds, books, awards, training, and collaborations. 
Throughout the episode, Elinor emphasises the importance of marketing, selling, and prospecting as primary duties, highlighting the importance of adding value to one's audience and driving business growth. 
She also shares the lessons she has learned, including the significance of client experience, continuous improvement, and the implementation phase. 
Elinor's journey serves as a reminder of the power of perseverance, patience, and embracing challenges in the entrepreneurial journey.  
Her story inspires small business owners to think long-term, overcome obstacles, and create a business and life you have dreamt of. 

Michelle Kvello: Perseverance, adaptability and a clear vision

Michelle Kvello, the founder of Lantern Partners, a virtual CFO firm, has built a successful business by providing analytical and commercial support to startups and scale-ups. With a vision to empower fast-growing businesses and contribute to Australia's entrepreneurial economy, Michelle has been recognised as one of the top 50 women in accounting and small business leaders  
Over the past 12 years, Michelle has overcome challenges and built sustainable success for herself and her clients. One key aspect of her achievement is the longevity of her business, as many startups and small businesses struggle to survive. Michelle takes pride in having crafted a career that not only serves her but also supports a broader community, particularly ambitious and driven women who found corporate life unsuitable 
A key lesson that Michelle learnt at the start of building Lantern Partners is the need to articulate and communicate the vision and values the business so that every team member understands why the company exists and the value they aim to create for clients.  
In this episode we discuss her unique approach to hiring individuals who align with the company's vision and values and how her focus on “why” Lantern Partners exists has built a strong and cohesive team. 
Michelle also shares her experiences and challenges in managing day-to-day operations while transitioning into a leadership role and how she tries to identify the best use of her time so that she can effectively delegating and creating scalable processes. 
Our conversation touches on the significance of maintaining balance and resilience in the face of ongoing demands. We discuss the importance of self-care and finding activities that recharge and energises oneself and team members. 

Louie Dupe: Overcoming adversity to build a $20M business

In the world of entrepreneurship, overcoming challenges and finding solutions is a constant pursuit. Louie Dupe, the founder and director of Customer Driven has experienced the highs and lows of building his business.  
After more than a decade of experience in leading large-scale customer service operations, Louie took the leap to starting his own business. In 9 years, he and his team have successfully navigated the path to growth and profitability. Today, Customer Driven has a turnover of almost $20 Million and a team of 90 people. 
In this episode, we discuss Louise's insights into the importance of sharing one's story, celebrating achievements, and building a self-sustaining business. These lessons underpin the success of many aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners alike. 
In our conversation we discuss: 
Balancing different responsibilities in a business can be challenging, but finding ways to juggle tasks and prioritise effectively is crucial for growth.
Motivating and mentoring staff requires dedicated time and effort, including understanding their ambitions and providing opportunities for development.
Strategic initiatives should be driven by a combination of opportunistic factors and thoughtful planning, considering market opportunities and client feedback.
Collaboration and open communication between co-founders or leaders can lead to better decision-making and business management.
Long-term thinking and prioritising impactful activities are essential for a successful business strategy.
Adaptability and the ability to learn from setbacks and hardships are key to overcoming challenges and driving growth. 

Greg Thomas: Creating a sustainable business by focusing on the right people

Looking for genuine, straightforward advice from a leader who's managed a hundred-year-old company for 20 years? Then you'll enjoy my chat with Greg Thomas from Sterland Computing.  
Here’s a sneak peek of the key takeaways: 
People Matter: Business is all about people, keeping customers and employees happy is crucial. By focusing on these relationships Greg and the team has turned relationships into profits.  
Long-Term Thinking: Greg shares how switching from a short-term to a long-term mindset can be a game-changer. He talks about setting big goals and breaking them down into smaller, achievable steps
Learning from Failure: Greg gets real about the tough times, especially when the business didn’t sell in 2008. He shares how he turned disappointment into a learning experience that shaped the company’s future.  
Metrics that Matter: It’s not just about the dollars. Greg talks about focusing on the right metrics, like customer churn and the number of licenses, to really understand how the business is doing. 
Adapting to Change: Greg’s story is a testament to the power of adaptability. He shares how being open to change and willing to try new approaches helped the company evolve and thrive. 
 So, for anyone running an SME business or thinking about starting one, my conversation with Greg is a treasure chest of practical, been-there-done-that advice.
It’s real talk from a real guy who’s navigated the choppy waters of running a business. 

Colin Fisher: A Thriving Business built on the Power of Customer Experience and Adaptability

Aquacell's founder and CEO, Colin Fisher, shares the key strategies behind the company's sustained success.
In this episode, Colin highlights the importance of customer-centricity, strategic expansion into new markets, and adapting to a changing market landscape.
Rick and Colin also discusses the value of implementing effective systems and processes, as well as future initiatives aimed at driving Aquacell's growth and maintaining their competitive edge. 

Julie McIntosh: Overcoming challenges through resilience and determination

Rick Merten talks to Julie McIntosh from The Classic Safari Company, a bespoke travel agency.
They discuss
How the business has adapted to the changing landscape of the travel industry
Why Julie focuses on personal connections and understanding clients' needs and preferences,
How her role has evolved over time and finding the balance between working on and in the business

Julie Peksis: Leading a multi-generational family business

In this episode I talk to Julie Peksis from Jeal, a multi-generational family business started almost 40 years ago by her father. 
Julie's unwavering commitment to understanding her customers' needs and facilitating their business management, alongside her relentless efforts to foster a culture of appreciation and inclusivity among team members, has been instrumental in propelling Jeal to long-term success.