You know that brutally honest mate who tells it like it is? That’s exactly what you’re getting in this unfiltered chat between HARWELL. founders Adam Powell and Harvey Rivers.

Join them as they dive into the gritty reality of building a startup business from scratch.

The lads also share their “hot takes” on the decisions that keep entrepreneurs up at night - from hiring and culture, to leadership and growth.

It's a real-time look at the challenges and contradictions every early-stage founder faces.

Key business questions covered:

✅Is company culture more important than salary when hiring top talent?

✅Should founders hire friends, or is that a recipe for disaster?

✅What is the most effective leadership style?

✅When should you fire fast, even if someone is performing on paper?

✅Is LinkedIn more powerful than your website when you're building your brand?

Adam & Harvey also reveal the cost of growth, how they handle toxic top performers, and why business leadership isn't about being the smartest person in the room.

They also explore:

👉The real ROI of team perks, culture-building retreats, and founder vulnerability

👉Why personal branding and authenticity matter more than polished websites

👉How values, identity, and lifestyle impact your ability to scale

👉The uncomfortable truth about replacing underperformers

👉How to scale a business without losing yourself in the process

Key Moments:

00:01:00 Hot Takes Introduction
00:02:20 Culture vs Salary
00:08:00 Company Culture Responsibility
00:12:00 ROI on Perks
00:16:00 Fire Fast Philosophy
00:20:40 Toxic Top Performers
00:22:20 Leadership and Likability
00:25:40 Founders Hiring Friends
00:30:00 Founder as Brand
00:34:00 LinkedIn vs Website
00:41:00 Rapid Fire Round
00:48:40 Business Hill to Die On

Whether you're a recruiter, consultant, startup founder, or just figuring out how to grow a business - this episode gives you a dose of truth and reality that you might need.

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👉Connect with us

https://www.instagram.com/twoblokesonebusiness
https://www.linkedin.com/company/two-blokes-one-business-podcast

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Adam Powell & Harvey Rivers are the founders of HARWELL.

HARWELL. are renowned in the recruiting space - specialising in finding top talent within the Construction, Accountancy & Finance & Labour Hire sectors. Along with eCommerce.

Their award-winning concierge approach is helping companies attract exceptional talent to their team.

👉Want help finding exceptional talent for your business?

Get in touch with Adam, Harvey, and the team at HARWELL. https://www.harwellconsulting.com.au/