In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney welcomes Simon Severino, founder of Strategy Sprints, to discuss actionable sales strategies for small and medium-sized businesses. Simon shares insights from his 22 years of experience in sales strategy, including methods he used to generate over $2 billion in additional sales for his clients. Key topics include identifying your ideal client, the importance of clear strategies, and breaking down goals into manageable weekly sprints to achieve sustainable growth. Simon also highlights common mistakes in sales, the value of inbound marketing, and the need for consistent execution to achieve lasting success.

Simon Severino has created +2B in additional sales for his clients over the last 21 years. As an advisor who became CEO, he had to learn the importance of working ON the business more than IN it. Now, he shares his proven templates with high-ticket entrepreneurs. They reclaim 14 hours per week using the Strategy Sprints™ Method and enjoy sales that soar. Author of "Strategy Sprints", Podcast Host Ranking Top 2,5%, TEDx speaker, Forbes contributor, Triathlete. Has appeared on over 1300 podcasts. When he is not supercharging sales, you'll find him swimming, biking, running and tricking his 3 kids into outdoor activities so they can't escape his annoying shrinky questions.

www.strategysprints.com

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Book - Strategy Sprints: 12 Ways to Accelerate Growth in an Agile Business

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In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney discusses the pervasive issue of burnout with leadership expert Trudy MacDonald of Talent Code HR. Together, they unpack how COVID-19 transformed workplace dynamics, fostering exhaustion and disengagement among employees and leaders alike. Trudy identifies the root causes of burnout, including lack of role clarity, inadequate connection in hybrid work settings, and imbalances between empathy and accountability.

She shares actionable strategies to mitigate burnout, from conducting team "resets" to redefining accountability as a team-oriented practice. Trudy also highlights the evolving role of leaders, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and fostering high-performance cultures. Packed with insights and practical tips, this episode empowers leaders to create sustainable, connected, and high-performing workplaces.

Trudy MacDonald has worked extensively with Boards, leaders and leadership teams over the past 20 years and is a sought-after coach to leaders across industries.

She is an experienced CEO, an established business leader and thought leader in the areas of strategy, people, and culture. She specialises in empowering organisations to become great by maximising the performance and productivity of their people.

She is a multi-award-winning speaker having been honoured as “Speaker of the Year” by the world’s largest CEO network – The Executive Connection (TEC). Trudy is a regular speaker to Leaders and Boards and regularly presents on the topics of strategy, high performance organisations and leadership at Industry Associations, Conferences and Corporate Events. Her career is founded on an education in Organisational Psychology and spans Australia, New Zealand, the USA and parts of Asia.

Website: https://www.talentcodehr.com.au/
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In this episode, Paul Sweeney talks with Charles Zerafa, a finance expert specialising in wealth creation strategies for business owners. Charles explains how investing in commercial property can help business owners build wealth outside of their primary business, while also minimising risks and leveraging tax benefits. They discuss strategies like using superannuation for property investments, buying properties with room for business growth, and working with buyer's agents for better market insights. Charles emphasises the importance of strategic planning, understanding cash flow impact, and using experts for financing and property acquisition. This episode offers valuable guidance for business owners looking to diversify their assets and grow long-term wealth.

Charles Zerafa With over 25 years of experience in Business and Corporate Banking, Charles Zerafa is a seasoned finance broker renowned for his ability to tailor finance solutions to meet the unique needs of each client.

His career has spanned across various roles as a Relationship Manager and Finance Analyst, amassing a remarkable track record of handling lending applications exceeding $1.0 billion, encompassing diverse industries from small businesses to multinational corporations.

Connect with Charles
charleszerafa.com.au

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In this episode of "The Business Behind Your Business," host Paul Sweeney talks with John Mason from QualityIQ about the importance of quality certification and how it impacts businesses of all sizes. They explore the evolution of quality standards, particularly ISO 9001, and how they have shifted from being overly prescriptive to more flexible, allowing businesses to tailor their processes to their specific needs.

John shares valuable insights from his 30+ years in the industry, explaining the differences between quality control, quality assurance, and total quality management. He emphasizes the importance of having one source of truth in your business processes to ensure efficiency, confidence, and continuous improvement. They also discuss the benefits of quality certification, particularly for businesses seeking to work with larger corporations or government contracts, and the potential pitfalls to avoid.

John also offers practical advice on how businesses can approach quality certification, including options for trial and error, hiring subject matter experts, or outsourcing the process.

John Mason is the founder, managing director, author and managing consultant with Oberon NSW Pty Limited, trading as QualityIQ. They are a team of management system consultants specialising in ISO certifications, who are quality, environmental, safety and information security certified themselves proving they can walk the talk. John and his team, guarantee ISO quality certification (and ongoing support) via a proven 5 step, fixed fee, 10 week program. With 32 plus years in business, John developed his own 24/7 virtual quality management platform, with a 100% certification first time track record. QualityIQ’s client list includes Comsol, Data Tools, Sydney Hills Business Chamber, Volkswagen, Monash University and Hyundai. They are currently the virtual quality manages for 82 clients many of whom are 2~50 employees. On a personal note, John is an author of two books, the non-executive director of three other organisations, married with three adult daughters, and enjoys physical fitness, personal development, ballroom dancing and travel.

Contact details:

john.mason@qualityiq.com.au
Ph 1300 899 443
Mobile 0418 462 311
www.qualityiq.com.au
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In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with marketing expert Kerim El Gabaili to explore why 80% of marketing efforts fail for small and medium-sized businesses. Drawing on his experience as the Managing Director of a leading marketing agency, Kerim discusses how businesses often skip vital strategic steps, leading to poor outcomes. He emphasizes that marketing should focus on delivering commercial results, not just using trendy tools like SEO or Google Ads. The key lies in starting with a solid plan, much like calling an architect before building a house.

Kerim shares practical advice on understanding customer profiles, retention strategies, and building effective marketing foundations. He highlights the importance of measuring results—such as cost per acquisition—and tailoring marketing channels to align with business goals. Throughout the conversation, both Paul and Kerim stress the significance of putting customers at the centre of your business strategy and why businesses must invest in long-term marketing plans to achieve sustainable growth.

Kerim El Gabaili Kerim's key achievements include:
Managing Director at OnePoint: Kerim has consistently driven innovation and transformative strategies, resulting in multifaceted value for clients and a plethora of prestigious accolades, including two AMIA Awards.
Global Financial Crisis Leadership: Amidst the 2009 Global Financial Crisis, Kerim led OnePoint to clinch the Deloitte Fastest FBA Growing Business award in NSW and ACT for businesses under 15 staff.
Pioneering Marketing Strategies: Under the Prografica brand, Kerim spearheaded Australia's pioneering adoption of Multi-Channel Cross Media strategies with PURLs.

• 4 years on the B2B Expert Panel at ADMA
• 6 years Advisory Board at IBSA and PwC
• 3 years Chair of Sydney Digital Co-op $130M group turnover
• Podi Award winner for an international campaign in California, USA
• 2 AMI Awards for Subaru & Accor
• 2 Terms as Board Member of ICCI (Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
• President, Vice President, and Board Member of AABC (Australian Arab Business Council)
• Board Member at SHBCC (Sydney Hills Business Chamber of Commerce)
• CPM & Fellow of the AMI (Australian Marketing Institute)
• Australian Marketing Institute Awards judge in 2023/2022
• External marketing manager for 6 companies responsible for $250M in sales.
• Football coach of the year 2024 at Epping FC

Website 1pt.com.au
Email kerim@1pt.com.au
Phone 0414 442 217

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In this insightful episode, Paul Sweeney speaks with Garrett Delph, founder of Clarity Ops, about a common challenge many business owners face—micromanagement and its detrimental effects on scaling a business. Garrett explains how micromanagement stems from a lack of organizational infrastructure and accountability structures, often leading to stress, poor performance, and high employee turnover.

Garrett introduces the concept of organizational infrastructure, emphasizing that businesses need clear, defined processes and expectations to avoid the chaos that leads to micromanagement. He shares practical strategies for building effective accountability systems that foster independence and high performance. This includes clearly defining roles, measurable outcomes, and providing the right training and support for employees to succeed. By shifting focus from controlling individuals to improving processes, businesses can reduce conflict, improve culture, and increase efficiency.

Throughout the conversation, Garrett and Paul highlight the importance of investing time in building the right structure for a sustainable, scalable business, and why seeking outside expertise can be crucial for transformation. This episode is a must-listen for any business leader looking to reduce chaos and improve accountability in their organization.

Garrett Delph stands at the forefront of business transformational solutions for the new generation of leaders. He is the Founder and Chief Clarity Officer of Clarity Ops, LLC. A serial entrepreneur, he has established a track record of founding three successful international businesses that have collectively generated over $50 million in revenue. Garrett's new generation business solutions are created for leaders who need faster, easier, and more profitable step-by-step ways for scaling businesses.

Website: www.clarityops.co
Blog: https://blog.clarityops.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettdelph/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@garrett_delph
Medium: https://medium.com/@garrett_delph

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In this episode of "The Business Behind Your Business," host Paul Sweeney sits down with Bradley Hamner, a seasoned business growth coach and founder of Blueprint OS. Bradley shares his personal journey from being overwhelmed by the day-to-day grind of running a business to becoming the "architect" of a thriving, scalable company. They dive into the importance of systems, processes, and mindset shifts that allow business owners to build enterprises that can run independently of them. Bradley's insights are particularly valuable for entrepreneurs feeling the strain of trying to do it all themselves, offering practical steps to regain control, reduce stress, and ultimately achieve the freedom and flexibility that inspired them to start their businesses in the first place. This episode is packed with actionable advice for anyone looking to move from the role of a "rainmaker" to that of a true business architect.

Bradley Hamner started his first business in 2009 with no customers, no leads, and very little cash but he did have a desire to win and succeed.

After working around the clock for 5 years, Bradley had a health scare in his 30s. Knowing something had to change, he focused on building his leadership first, and then he began “architecting” his business to work for him.

This led him to designing the ultimate operating system for business owners - BlueprintOS. This framework has empowered business owners to move successfully from rainmaker to architect in their business.

Now, Bradley is a Business Growth Coach, certified Value Builder, and host of the Above The Business Podcast. Each week, he shows other entrepreneurs & business owners how to install the systems, processes, and routines their business needs to grow and scale. The ultimate outcome? Business owners have a successful business that creates the freedom and flexibility they desired from the start.

Connect Online:

BlueprintOS: www.blueprintos.com

BlueprintOS Starter Kit: blueprintos.com/assets/

Rainmaker To Architect Assessment: www.blueprintos.com/assessment

Above The Business Podcast: www.abovethebusiness.co

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