Podcast My Business

What happens when the future you've planned suddenly changes?In this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Canadian entrepreneur, product development adviser and business consultant Cydney Mar about rebuilding careers, adapting to change and turning business ideas into practical plans.Cydney's career began in competitive figure skating before a serious accident at 18 forced her to rethink her future.She went on to become a fashion designer, developing collections and appearing on international television shopping networks. Another major life challenge led her into wellness product development and eventually advising other entrepreneurs on bringing their ideas to market.Through these experiences, Cydney has learned that adapting to change doesn't mean starting again from nothing.In this conversation, we explore:How unexpected setbacks can lead to new business opportunities.Why the experience and skills you've already developed still matter when changing direction.How to avoid becoming overwhelmed when planning a new project or business launch.Why working backwards from your intended result makes planning easier.The importance of breaking larger goals into manageable weekly activities.How reviewing your schedule regularly can help you stay on track.Key moments00:00 – Introducing Cydney Mar01:38 – The skating accident that changed her future07:09 – Turning existing skills into a new career10:48 – Another unexpected career change13:05 – Helping entrepreneurs develop and launch products14:55 – Planning backwards and breaking goals into weekly actions18:04 – The value of reviewing your week18:29 – Final advice for people with business ideasThe takeaway: You can't always control what changes in business or life. But you can control how you respond, what you prioritise and how you plan your next steps.Guest: Cydney MarHost: Tony SkinnerPodcast: Podcast My Business

AI is changing the way people search for businesses.In this episode, I speak with Elise Balsillie from Thryv about how quickly search behaviour is changing, what AI means for small and medium businesses, and what business owners can do now to improve their chances of being found.Elise points out that people are no longer always typing a short keyword into Google and clicking through a list of websites.They are increasingly asking much more detailed questions and letting AI recommend the answer — and sometimes the business. elise-tony-take-02That means traditional SEO still matters, but it now sits alongside AI search and answer engines.We talk about practical things small businesses can do, including testing how their own business appears in AI search, improving ratings and reviews, answering the questions customers regularly ask and making sure their online presence is accurate and useful. How AI is changing search behaviourWhy SEO and AI search now need to work togetherHow to test whether AI can find your businessWhy reviews and ratings matterWhy directories are becoming relevant againUsing AI to solve real business problemsWhy FAQs can help businesses get cited in AI answersUnderstanding how your brand appears onlineHow AI can help smaller businesses compete with larger companiesWhy the best place to start is simply to have a playOne of Elise’s strongest points is that business owners do not need to treat AI as a mysterious black box.You can actually ask it why it recommended a particular business and learn from the answer. elise-tony-take-02And the opportunity is still there for businesses prepared to start making small changes now.In this episode

Get your bum off the chair.That is Lisa Llewellyn’s advice after more than 25 years of working from home.The flexibility of working from home is great, but Lisa says it is also easy to spend the whole day — and sometimes the evening — sitting behind a screen unless you deliberately make time to get out, see people and connect. lisa-tonyWhen Lisa and her partner moved from Sydney to the Northern Rivers, they only knew a couple of people locally.Their dogs changed that.Daily walks became conversations.Conversations became coffee and dinner.And over time, those small interactions became a genuine local support network. lisa-tonyIn this episode, Lisa talks about:working from home and the risk of becoming isolatedwhy connection has to be deliberatedogs as natural icebreakersbuilding the Wag Stars dog-walking communitywhy coffee, walks and small conversations matterthe value of getting outside and into naturehow small business owners can become overwhelmedknowing when to step away, talk to someone and seek supportLisa also talks about the impact those simple interactions can have on other people. Members of the Wag Stars group dealing with depression and anxiety have told her that regular conversations and being welcomed into the group made a profound difference to their lives. lisa-tonyFor anyone working from home, running a business or simply spending too much time behind a screen, the message is simple:Get your bum off the chair.Go for a walk.Have the coffee.Say g’day.You never know where the conversation might lead.

Positioning, AI slop and knowing what your business stands for with Krista PattersonIn this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Krista Patterson from The Positioning Collective about positioning, leadership, AI-generated content and why businesses need clarity before they create more content.The conversation starts with the idea of champion teams and why talented people do not always create a strong team on their own. From there, Tony and Krista move into positioning, AI slop, shortened attention spans, startup clarity, sales, personal brand and why more content is not always better content.Krista makes the point that AI can help produce content quickly, but if a business is not clear on its audience, message and market position, the output can easily become scattered, generic or irrelevant.Tony and Krista discuss:why a group of talented people still needs a shared visionwhat business teams can learn from sportwhy shortened attention spans make clarity more importanthow AI can create more content but not necessarily better contentwhy AI slop often starts with unclear positioninghow businesses can use AI without losing their voicewhy founders need to understand the position they want to hold in the marketthe importance of knowing the one idea you want to hold in the customer’s mindwhy selling can take different formswhy every person and business has a brand, whether they work on it or notwhy going viral is not useful if you are attracting the wrong audienceAI can create content, but it cannot create clarity.If a business does not know who it is trying to reach, what it wants to be known for and what message it wants to own, more content may only create more noise.Krista’s point is simple but important: before businesses produce more posts, articles, videos or AI-generated content, they need to understand their positioning.Clarity comes before volume.Krista PattersonThe Positioning CollectiveWebsite:https://positioningcollective.com

Mental health access, self-care and support with Garrett HoustonIn this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Garrett Houston from Psychology South and Wellbeing Services in Tasmania.Garrett talks about the need for better access to mental health support, especially in areas where services can be limited and waiting lists can stretch for months.The conversation covers how Psychology South has expanded its clinic capacity, why face-to-face support still matters, the challenges of delivering mental health services in Tasmania, and the practical role of self-care, connection, exercise, sunshine and getting outside.Tony and Garrett discuss:why access to mental health support mattershow Psychology South has expanded its service capacitywhy some people wait months to see a psychologistthe mental health challenges faced in Tasmaniathe role of face-to-face support and telehealthwhy online search matters when people are looking for helpsimple self-care habits that can support mental healthwhy connection, movement and getting outside still matterthe importance of helping people before things get worseMental health support should not take months to access.When people are struggling, waiting too long can make things harder. Better access, earlier support and practical self-care can all play a role in helping people get through difficult periods.Garrett also makes the point that self-care does not fix everything, but the basics still matter: connection, movement, sleep, food, sunshine and time outdoors.Garrett HoustonPsychology South and Wellbeing ServicesTasmania

Loneliness, social prescribing and real-world connection with Davis LemkeIn this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Davis Lemke, CEO of Clarity Health Care, about loneliness, social prescribing, green prescribing and the role real-world connection can play in supporting mental health.The conversation looks at why people can feel more disconnected even when they are constantly connected online, and why activities such as bushwalking, exercise, community groups and shared interests can help people build healthier routines and stronger social connections.Davis also explains how health care is starting to look more broadly at wellbeing, not just disease treatment, and why connection, physical activity and community participation can all form part of better mental health support.Tony and Davis discuss:why loneliness has become such a serious issuewhy online contact is not always the same as real connectionhow bushwalking and green space can support mental wellbeingwhat social prescribing and green prescribing meanwhy community groups and shared activities can help reduce isolationhow workplaces and business owners can think more deliberately about connectionwhy wellbeing support should be proactive, not only used when things go wrongBeing connected online is not the same as feeling connected in real life.Social media can create contact, information and interaction. But real connection often needs something deeper: conversation, shared activity, community and repeated human contact.For business owners and workplaces, that matters too.If more work and communication are happening online, connection needs to be planned more deliberately.Davis LemkeCEO, Clarity Health CareWebsite:https://www.clarityhealthcare.com.au/In this episodeKey takeawayGuest

The Mental Load of Building a BusinessFounder wellbeing and sustainable performance with Byron McCaugheyIn this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Byron McCaughey, psychologist and founder of Sublime Studio, about the pressure founders and entrepreneurs carry when building a business.The conversation covers founder stress, uncertainty, burnout warning signs, online visibility, authentic leadership and why wellbeing is closely linked to business performance. Byron also explains why psychological capital should be treated as a business lever, not just a personal wellbeing issue. Founder pressure and uncertaintyWhy business owners often look like they are copingStress, anxiety and the “red zone”How pressure affects decisions, communication and relationshipsOnline visibility without feeling like you have to performAuthentic leadership and showing up without wearing a maskPsychological capital and sustainable performancePractical tools for staying grounded under pressureByron shared a short grounding exercise called Dropping the Anchor, designed to help you step out of your mind and re-engage with the present moment when stress, anxiety or overwhelm starts to build.The exercise uses the acronym ACE:Accept what is showing up for you without judgement or resistance.Example:“I acknowledge that I’m feeling nervous about this meeting, and that’s okay.”Shift your attention to something physical you can control right now.Examples include pressing your feet into the floor, taking a slow deep breath, or noticing your hands on the chair.Anchor yourself to your environment by noticing something around you that you had not paid attention to before.Examples include the way light is coming through the window, the shape of an object in the room, or details in someone’s face.Byron also discussed Psychological Capital as an important part of founder wellbeing and sustainable performance.Psychological Capital helps founders get a clearer picture of their mental fitness across the four pillars of mental fitness, and learn how to strengthen the foundations that support sustainable performance.Byron describes psychological capital as a performance multiplier and says it should be seen as a business lever, just like other forms of capital inside a business. Looking like you are coping is not the same as coping.For founders and business owners, sustainable performance requires self-awareness, support, practical tools and a stronger mental foundation.Byron McCaugheyPsychologistSublime StudioWebsite:https://sublimestudio.com.au/

Sole traders make up a huge part of Australia’s small business economy, but many are still left to manage superannuation, tax and long-term financial planning largely on their own.In this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Karan Anand from Hnry about why superannuation matters for sole traders, why many independent earners delay or avoid contributions, and how the system is still largely designed around employees rather than people who work for themselves.Karan explains the discipline challenge of voluntary super contributions, the tax treatment of concessional contributions, the importance of understanding fees and returns, and the admin steps sole traders can easily miss.The conversation also touches on Hnry’s ContractorSuper update, which is designed to help businesses manage contractor super payments where those obligations apply.This is a practical conversation for sole traders, independent earners, contractors and small business owners who want to better understand the role super can play in long-term financial security.Most employees have superannuation handled for them.For many sole traders, it is a very different story.They often need to make contributions themselves, manage the cash flow, understand the rules, and make sure the right admin steps are completed.That can be difficult when they are already doing the work, chasing invoices, managing tax, paying expenses and keeping the business moving.In this episode, Tony Skinner speaks with Karan Anand from Hnry about sole traders, superannuation and the long-term financial decisions independent earners need to think about.Karan explains why many sole traders do not make regular super contributions, why some are delaying contributions under financial pressure, and how voluntary super can be both a wealth-building tool and a discipline challenge.The conversation also covers concessional contributions, super fund performance, fees, the importance of getting advice, and why the system still often assumes a traditional employee/employer relationship.Karan also discusses Hnry’s ContractorSuper update, designed to help businesses manage contractor super payments where those obligations apply.

In this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Andrew Towner about sport, networking and business — recorded off the back of the Socceroos’ famous win over Turkey.The conversation starts with football, but quickly moves into a bigger business lesson: the most expensive team is not always the best team.Andrew shares how sport creates a natural connection point between people, and why business often flows more easily once trust and relationships have been built. From networking events to club partnerships, he explains why bringing people together around a shared interest can open doors that cold outreach often cannot.Tony and Andrew also discuss the similarities between running a business and coaching a team. Talent matters, but so do structure, leadership, clear roles, trust and people management. As Andrew points out, some of the best coaches are not just technical experts — they are managers of people.The episode also covers networking consistency, follow-up, accountability and why business relationships often take months or years to turn into real opportunities.In this episodeWhy the Socceroos’ win was a great reminder that team value does not guarantee team performanceThe difference between a team of champions and a champion teamHow sport creates an easy starting point for business conversationsWhy networking works best when it is built around relationships, not quick salesWhat business owners can learn from coaches and sporting teamsWhy trust, follow-up and accountability matter in business developmentHow business opportunities can come from relationships built years earlierKey themesSport and businessNetworkingBusiness relationshipsTeamworkLeadershipTrustAccountabilityFollow-upSocceroosWorld CupBusiness developmentGuestAndrew TownerAndrew works with businesses through sport, networking and relationship-building, helping people connect through shared interests and business communities.

When a business gets into trouble, the damage does not always stay inside the business.As Alan Bond discovered, business failure can become personal very quickly.In this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Chris Baskerville, Partner at Jirsch Sutherland Insolvency Solutions, about what happens when business debt, personal pressure, bankruptcy and restructuring collide.This conversation looks at the rise in personal and business insolvencies, the risks directors face, how personal and company finances can become tangled, and why acting early can make a major difference.Chris also explains the options people may have before and after bankruptcy, including personal insolvency agreements, restructuring pathways and the importance of understanding cash flow before the pressure becomes too great.In this episode, we cover:Why personal and business insolvencies are risingHow business debt can become personal pressureSole traders, companies and liability structuresDirector liability and tax debtPhoenixing and legal consequencesBankruptcy and restrictions on managing companiesPersonal insolvency agreementsCash flow problems in construction and retailWhy profit on paper does not always mean cash in the bankWhy getting advice early matters