Business Brain Food

We’ve got a razor-sharp guest on the show this week. Listen up if you want to know how to give the knockout pitch you need to raise investment for your business. John Livesay is an eminent funding strategist who is so revered he even has a nickname, “The Pitch Whisperer”! He has authored a book called “The Successful Pitch” and he also hosts the Successful Pitch Podcast, so he is well worth listening to.

Below are some of the highlights of the conversation with Ben:

** A pitch whisperer answers the three unspoken questions everyone has, no matter what you’re pitching. 1. Do I trust you? 2. Do I like you? 3. Will this work for me/will I get a ROI?

** You only have 90 seconds to captivate your audience.

** Focus your story by mapping out in your head who you’re helping, what problem you’re solving, how big the market is and why you’re the right person to execute this.

** Forget selling for a moment. Tell stories instead.

** Telling stories helps you show off your best skills but without it being too blatant.

** When you raise money from angel investors, make sure it lasts 12-18 months.

  In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** How to distinguish between and investor and a customer

** The power of now

** The structure of a good story

** The characteristics of an investable person

** Where startups should go to find funding

** Equity crowdfunding

** The workings of the seed round

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Register for Ben’s workshops across Australia, “The 5-stage business growth blueprint”. The first event is March 1st : http://www.businessfasttrack.com.au

** John’s website: http://www.johnlivesay.com

** Buy John’s book here

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips: http://www.dbtpodcast.com

** Facebook: facebook.com/businessbrainfood

** Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

** Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfewtrell

** iTunes: http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes

** Stitcher: http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher

“People remember your stories, not your numbers.” If you take that advice from John, you won’t got far wrong! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Direct download: BBF123_How_to_Craft_an_Elevator_Pitch_with_John_Livesay.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

We’ve changed it up a bit this week. Instead of just a standard interview about a business topic, we’ve responded to your feedback and given you a couple of case studies of businesses who’ve worked with us at MaxMyProfit. Hiring a business coach was pretty much their last resort, but as you will hear, once they got the right guidance and started to change their ways, their businesses turned the corner. Case Study 1 – Darren Clarke (CPC Plumbing): Although Darren had been in business for 18 years before he saw one of our coaches, by his own admission he never felt he’d succeeded in business. His company was losing money (“it was a sink or swim situation”), he had a high staff turnover and he was working ridiculously long hours. Then he started coaching, and the rest is history. In his words: “It wasn’t about my business, it was about me.” “At first it was really hard being told you were the problem but now I understand it to a point where if I feel comfortable, I know I’m in the wrong spot. I’ve got to get out of my comfort zone to make it happen.” Two years later and Darren has seen an increase of 50-60% in his sales, and now he only spends half of his time doing day-to-day business, freeing him up to concentrate ON the business. Case Study 2 – Ben Choy (Otilas): Ben Choy was working himself into the ground as well as his business. When he called for the help of one of our coaches he was working up to 100 hours per week! He was the hamster stuck in the wheel, and things started to spiral. He takes up the story: “There were things we were not billing for where we realised 60-90 days later we hadn’t invoiced the client! You’re so focused on doing the work, a lot of the admin side of the business falls behind and before you know it, you’re out of control.” “Before working with MaxMyProfit my mindset was always negative - I got too emotional working with clients - but since working with Maxmyprofit, that’s changed. I would not have gotten better with that had I not started working with someone like Maxmyprofit.” Now things are looking a lot brighter for Ben. He’s down to 60 hours a week and he’s seen an increase in revenue of 15%. In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** Two inspiring stories of how coaching has completely turned around two failing businesses

** The benefits of the coaching community, i.e. quarterly growth club

** How a coach concentrating on you rather than just the business can make all the difference

** The importance of professional help (there’s no shame in it – it works!)

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Register for Ben’s workshops across Australia, “The 5-stage business growth blueprint”. The first event is March 1st : http://www.businessfasttrack.com.au

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips: http://www.dbtpodcast.com

** Facebook: facebook.com/businessbrainfood

** Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

** Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfewtrell

** iTunes: http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes

** Stitcher: http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher

Today’s two guests are shining examples of what might be possible with your business if you took a step back and made the effort to find somebody who can help. Listening to this podcast is a good start for sharpening up your business toolbox, but if you go that one step further, you might just start your very own revolution! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000


Our guest this week has hit the highest heights of the corporate world, having just been hired as the CEO of the family business this month. Angus Kennard is now presiding over Australia’s leading equipment hire business, Kennards, which has 165 branches across Australia and New Zealand. Kennards’ record of sustained growth is incredible: over the last 20 years they have doubled in size every 5 years. Angus shared with us some great insight about what has made Kennards so successful:

** If you have a family business, don’t just hire members of your family from the beginning. Have them work elsewhere to experience a different environment.

** Don’t get too hung up on growth. Growth is an outcome. Set company goals to look after the customers first and the growth will follow.

** Make sure your employees share core common values. That doesn’t mean they have to think the same, but there needs to be a common trust among each member of the workforce.

** Be willing to break company rules in order to achieve the goals you have set out to achieve for your customers.

** “You never hear of a company going broke because they don’t owe money”

** Every person has their time in a business. If someone is a good entrepreneur it doesn’t mean they’ll be good at running the business once it grows. The type of leader that a business needs changes over time.

  In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The importance of values to a firm

** How Kennards funded their incredible growth

** The danger of not innovating

** How technology is enabling more Kennards outlets

** How to build a business plan

** The potential of printing out houses

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Register for Ben’s workshops across Australia, “The 5-stage business growth blueprint”. The first event is March 1st : http://www.businessfasttrack.com.au

** Kennards’ facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KennardsHire/

** Kennards’ website: https://www.kennards.com.au/

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips: http://www.dbtpodcast.com

** Facebook: facebook.com/businessbrainfood

** Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

** Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfewtrell

** iTunes: http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes

** Stitcher: http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher

You could do a lot worse than going into work tomorrow and setting your business the Kennard goal of: “Make every customer a raving fan”! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Direct download: BBF121_Looking_After_Your_Customers_the_Kennards_Way_with_Angus_Kennard.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

There are so many different marketing channels these days, so you have to work even harder to make sure your message stands out from the ever-growing crowd. That’s why we’re speaking to Gregory Diehl, a man who makes his living advising people on how to do just that.

All of Gregory’s experiences travelling the world and observing the different ways people express their values made him realise that business is exactly the same as humanity... it’s all about the narrative. Gregory has written an Amazon-bestselling book, Brand Identity Breakthrough, but today he has been kind enough to share with us his top tips about how to truly define your brand and your narrative:

** Try your best to do something where there is no competition. Be different in a very specific kind of way.

** Make sure your elevator pitch is always sharp.

** 80% of knowledge you use should be gathered from personal experience.

** Ask yourself three questions: Who am I? What do I do? Why should the person you’re telling this to care? Use the last one to adjust your instinctive answers to the first two.

** Find out what common interests your potential customers share. What kind of videos will your average customer be watching?

** You will be more fulfilled in your business if you’re doing something you personally believe in, and that in-turn will improve your narrative.

  In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** How to reposition yourself in a marketplace

** How to avoid being a business coward

** Financial planning to mitigate against failure

** How to achieve a unique selling position

** The traits of an armchair entrepreneur

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Gregory’s book on Amazon

** Gregory’s own site which includes the highly popular podcast “Uncomfortable Conversations With Greg” (as recommended by Ben): http://www.gregorydiehl.net

** Ben’s free business marketing plan: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au or email ben@maxmyprofit.com.au

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips: http://www.dbtpodcast.com

** Facebook: facebook.com/businessbrainfood

** Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

** Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfewtrell

** iTunes: http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes

** Stitcher: http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher

  As Gregory says, “A brand is like a projection of a personality”. So identify yours and go out there and project it! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Direct download: BBF120_How_to_Position_Yourself_in_the_Marketplace_with_Gregory_Diehl.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT

Happy New Year folks! And from New Year must come some New Year’s resolutions so we’re going to change it up this week and give you half an hour of uninterrupted Ben as he shares 17 resolutions that can help you in your business.

We won’t list them all here – you’ll need to listen to the show if you want to hear the full wisdom – but here are five of the best:

** Work smarter

** Check your plan on a weekly basis

** Set time aside for you

** Stop blaming outside factors

** Learn how to understand your financial reports

  In this episode of Business Brain Food you will learn:

** The best methods to outsource

** Goal setting

** Tips & tricks to help you be more organised

** “Progress” apps

** How your business can automatically give to a good cause

  Resources mentioned in this episode:

** Ben’s free business marketing plan: http://www.maxmyprofit.com.au or email ben@maxmyprofit.com.au

** Ben’s Daily Business Tips: http://www.dbtpodcast.com

** Facebook: facebook.com/businessbrainfood

** Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessbrainfood

** Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfewtrell

** iTunes: http://actioncoachanz.com/itunes

** Stitcher: http://actioncoachanz.com/stitcher

New year, new start, new attitude. Listen to Ben’s advice, dig in and make sure 2017 is your year! Also, if you are enjoying these Business Brain Food podcasts, then make sure to share them via social media sites or email the links to family and friends. A lot of time and effort goes into producing each of these podcasts with the goal in mind of the more people we can inspire about business the better. You can help us do just that! Until next time, have a profitable day. Cheers, Ben Fewtrell (02) 9111 5000

Direct download: BBF119_17_New_Years_Resolutions_for_Business_Owners_with_Ben_Fewtrell.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm AEDT