Better Business, Better Life

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by David Hori, a business acquisition specialist who has led and supported multiple successful exits, including a sale to Toyota.

David unpacks why exit planning is not a future event but a leadership discipline that needs to start early. He explains how strong teams, clear processes, and transparency create real business value and allow a business to operate without its founder at the centre. Drawing on his experience across VC-funded startups, acquisitions, and exits, David shares practical insights into building businesses that are genuinely exit-ready.

The conversation explores the role of EOS in reducing owner dependency, the importance of involving the leadership team in exit conversations, and why understanding valuation drivers early gives owners more choice and control. David also shares details of his upcoming webinar series designed to help business owners navigate exit planning with clarity and confidence.

This episode is essential listening for founders who want optionality, continuity, and a business that can thrive beyond them.

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:         

___________________________________________         

►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner

►Connect with Debra: [email protected]

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ 

►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ 

___________________________________________ 

GUEST'S DETAILS: 

► David Hori – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamdavidhori/

►Topline Operators – Website: https://www.toplineops.com/

Episode 257 Chapters:  

00:00 – Introduction 

00:47 – Introduction and Overview of Business Outcomes  

01:23 – David Hori’s Background and Expertise  

02:39 – David’s Journey from Law Firm to VC-Funded Startups  

05:28 – The Importance of Processes and Systems in Scaling  

07:15 – Scaling and the Theory of Constraints  

08:09 – Factors Influencing VC-Funded Business Success  

10:16 – The Role of Transparency and Team in Exit Planning  

14:11 – David’s Experience with the Toyota Exit  

16:21 – Key Considerations for Business Owners Planning an Exit  

26:16 – David’s Tips for Business Owners Considering an Exit  

33:54 – David’s Upcoming Webinar on Exit Planning  

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Ryan Hogan, a serial entrepreneur and CEO of Talent Harbour, shares his incredible journey from bankruptcy to scaling a business to $55 million using EOS and other tools. Ryan discusses the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, including the crucial role of communication, accountability, and structure in scaling a business.

Ryan’s entrepreneurial journey spans various ventures, from a murder mystery company to Hunt a Killer, where he pivoted to subscription boxes and landed major retailers like Target and Walmart. He attributes much of his success to implementing EOS, joining peer groups like Vistage and EO, and surrounding himself with brilliant problem-solvers.

He offers valuable advice for entrepreneurs, including the importance of having an operating system, seeking business coaching, and investing in peer support. Ryan’s journey serves as an inspiring example of resilience, learning from failure, and the strategic approach needed to grow a business.

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:        

___________________________________________        

►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner

►Connect with Debra: [email protected]

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/

►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/

___________________________________________

RYAN'S DETAILS:

►Ryan Hogan – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanehogan/

►Talent Harbor – Website: https://talentharbor.com/

Episode 256 Chapters:  

00:00 – Introduction

00:42 – Entrepreneurship and Communication Challenges

02:39 – Ryan Hogan’s Entrepreneurial Journey

04:10 – Transition to Hunt a Killer

45:25 – The Role of EOS in Business Success

45:38 – Talent Harbour and Future Plans

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor unpacks why January so often feels harder than it should for entrepreneurs and leadership teams, and why losing momentum early in the year is far more common than most people admit. 

Debra challenges the idea that momentum is about speed, explaining instead that it is built through direction and consistency. She explores the five key reasons January momentum collapses, including unrealistic expectations, goals built on optimism rather than truth, avoiding last year’s unresolved issues, mismatched team energy, and the habit of trying to do everything yourself. 

Drawing on real client stories and lived experience, Debra reframes January as a warm up month rather than a sprint. She encourages leaders to start with honest conversations, prioritise fewer meaningful actions, reset team rhythms, and address family business tensions that often surface over the holidays. 

This episode is a grounded reminder that momentum is not created through hype or hustle. It comes from clarity, honesty, and giving yourself permission to rebuild at a sustainable pace. If January has already felt heavy or disappointing, this conversation will help you reset without guilt and move forward with confidence. 

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:         
___________________________________________         
►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner 

►Connect with Debra: [email protected]  

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ 
►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ 

Episode 255 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction 

00:34 – January’s Emotional and Productivity Challenges   

02:56 – Biological and Emotional Factors Affecting January Productivity   

04:05 – Common Pitfalls and Real Examples of January Madness   

08:59 – Rebuilding Momentum with Real Solutions   

11:11 – Practical Tips for Maintaining Momentum   

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Justine Parsons, founder of Your VA and The Lever, to explore the pivotal shift from managing a business to truly leading one. Justine shares her 27-year journey of building a virtual assistant business from the ground up, growing a team of more than 50 people, and eventually realising that success should not mean constant reactivity, exhaustion, or being needed for every decision. Together, Debra and Justine unpack the moment many founders face where the business works, but the role they are playing no longer does. The conversation dives into the emotional and practical challenges of stepping out of day to day management, trusting others to lead, and redefining what success looks like beyond revenue and growth. Justine reflects the importance of external support, mentorship, and frameworks like EOS in helping her create clarity, build a strong leadership team, and put the right people in the right seats. This episode is a powerful reminder that businesses are meant to serve their owners, not consume them. If you are feeling stuck in the weeds, questioning your role, or sensing it is time to move from managing to leading, this conversation will help you see what is possible on the other side. CONNECT WITH DEBRA:         ___________________________________________         ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: [email protected] ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________ JUSTINE'S DETAILS: ►Justine Parsons – LinkedIn: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/justineparsons ►The Lever – Website: https://thelever.co.nz/ Episode 254 Chapters:   00:00 – Introduction 00:35 – Transitioning from Manager to Leader 03:24 – Challenges and Solutions with EOS 05:32 – Personal Success and Business Balance 08:43 – The Role of Leadership and Management 18:45 – Building a Strong Leadership Team 47:38 – The Journey to Becoming a Leader 48:03 – The Impact of EOS on Business Growth 48:32 – The Role of External Support in Business Success 50:54 – The Importance of Trust and Accountability 51:08 – The Journey to Personal and Business Freedom

In this week’s episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor challenges the annual ritual of New Year’s resolutions and explains why most of them quietly collapse by February. 

Debra unpacks the three big illusions that keep entrepreneurs stuck. The belief in a magical fresh start, the short-lived energy of January, and the assumption that wanting change is the same as committing to it. She shares a loving truth many leaders need to hear. You are not lazy or undisciplined, you are overloaded and unsupported by structure. 

Rather than chasing motivation, Debra offers a simpler, more sustainable approach. Choosing just two non-negotiable anchors for the year, one personal and one business, and building a consistent weekly rhythm that makes progress unavoidable. She explores how creating friction for old habits, setting firm boundaries, and planning energy into the calendar are essential for real change. 

The episode also highlights a crucial but often ignored factor in personal follow-through. Your team. Debra explains why individual willpower is not enough, and how tenacious, accountable teams make long-term change possible. 

If you are tired of setting goals you do not keep and ready to build a year that actually sticks, this episode will help you replace resolutions with systems and start the year with clarity, compassion, and traction. 

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:         
___________________________________________         
►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner 

►Connect with Debra: ⁠[email protected] ⁠ 

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ 
►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ 

Episode 253 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction 

00:33 – New Year’s Resolutions and Structural Failures   

01:54 – Three January Illusions   

02:51 – Loving Truths and Overloading   

04:49 – The Three-Week Slump   

06:40 – Setting Goals and Building Systems   

07:13 – Creating Friction and Setting Boundaries   

09:04 – Treating Yourself with Compassion   

10:19 – The Role of Tenacious Teams   

In this holiday episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor tackles a familiar but rarely confronted reality for entrepreneurs: most don’t truly rest over the Christmas break, they simply pause while staying mentally tethered to work.  

Debra unpacks the subtle behaviours that sabotage real downtime, from “just checking emails” to quietly solving work problems in your head and explains why these habits prevent genuine recovery. She shares why true rest isn’t indulgent or irresponsible, but essential for clear thinking, strong leadership, and sustainable businesses.  

Through her signature lens of fierce clarity and loving truth, Debra outlines five practical steps for a healthy Christmas break, choosing presence, resting without guilt, reflecting lightly, reconnecting with who you are beyond the business, and letting go of martyr behaviour. She also explores why family businesses often struggle at Christmas, and how blurred boundaries can quietly undermine both rest and relationships.  

The episode closes with Debra sharing her own plans for switching off properly, offering a grounded reminder that a business strong enough to survive your absence is a sign of leadership done well.  

So if you’re heading into the festive season exhausted, distracted, or secretly planning to “just check in,” this episode is your permission slip, and your plan, to truly rest. 

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:         
___________________________________________         
►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner 

►Connect with Debra: ⁠[email protected] ⁠ 

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ 
►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ 

Episode 252 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction 

00:38 – Christmas Break Realities for Entrepreneurs   

02:32 – The Truth About Entrepreneurs’ Christmas Breaks   

04:23 – The Importance of Rest for Entrepreneurs   

05:20 – Family Businesses and Christmas   

08:50 – Preparing Your Business for a Proper Break   

11:26 – Debra’s Personal Christmas Plans 

In this week’s episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Kerry Boulton, an experienced exit planner, business coach, and investor, for a candid conversation about what really happens when business owners don’t plan their exit. 

Drawing on decades of lived experience, Kerry shares her journey from running a major division in the 1980s to owning, exiting, and reinvesting in multiple businesses. She unpacks a confronting statistic from the Exit Planning Institute: 73% of business owners regret selling their business, largely because they failed to plan both the exit itself and what comes next. 

Together, Debra and Kerry explore what it truly means to be exit-ready, from strong financials, systems, and succession planning, to reducing owner dependency and thinking deeply about purpose beyond the business. The conversation also dives into family business succession, the emotional realities of exiting, and why starting at least three years early can make all the difference. 

This episode is a powerful reminder that exiting a business isn’t a single transaction, it’s a transition. And done well, it can set you up not just for financial security, but for a meaningful and intentional next chapter of life. 

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:         

___________________________________________         

►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner 

►Connect with Debra: ⁠[email protected] ⁠ 

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ 

►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ 

___________________________________________ 

GUESTS DETAILS: 

► Kerry Boulton – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessvaluebuildermelbourne/ 

► Get Her Complimentary Valuation Assessment: https://theexitstrategygroup.com.au/value-builder-questionnaire/ 

► Get Her Book, The Uncensored Truth about Exit Strategies: https://freeexitstrategybook.com.au/  

Episode 251 Chapters:   

0:00 – Kerry’s Introduction and Background in Exit Planning   

2:29 – The Journey to Business Ownership and Initial Challenges   

7:33 – Implementing TQM and Attracting International Buyers   

11:25 – The Importance of Exit Planning for Baby Boomers   

14:35 – The Impact of Not Having an Exit Strategy   

19:53 – Financial Considerations and the Role of Professionals   

25:38 – Family Business Succession Planning   

32:58 – The Importance of Systems and Financial Health   

36:48 – The Role of Earn-Outs and Private Equity   

40:22 – Top Tips for Exit Planning   

In this week’s Better Business, Better Life podcast, Debra Chantry-Taylor delves into the costly consequences of half-committing to EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), revealing how partial implementation leads to confusion, trust issues, and stunted growth. Through real-life examples and stories, Debra stresses the importance of committing fully to EOS, including consistently running Level 10 meetings, maintaining accurate scorecards, and setting realistic rocks (priorities). 

Debra also highlights the essential leadership practices required for success with EOS, such as clear direction, accountability, and the LMA (Lead, Manage, Accountability) tools, which provide structure and ensure the right people are in the right seats. The episode provides actionable insights for business leaders to get back on track and achieve transformation by embracing EOS tools and practices with dedication and consistency. 

If you’re struggling with half-implementing EOS or facing bottlenecks in your business, this episode is a must-listen. It’s time to break free from the chaos and make the full commitment to EOS for your company’s success. 

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:         
___________________________________________         
►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner 

►Connect with Debra: ⁠[email protected] ⁠ 

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ 
►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ 
___________________________________________ 

Free Resources: 
Organisational Checkup: https://bbbl.pub/OrgCheckUp 

Episode 250 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction 
00:41 – Commitment to EOS and Leadership Practices   

01:43 – The Great Business Lie and Half-Using EOS   

04:50 – Costs of Half-Using EOS   

06:26 – The Role of LMA in EOS   

08:40 – Full Commitment to EOS   

12:19 – Steps to Get Back on Track with EOS   

14:57 – Conclusion and Call to Action 

In this week’s episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor sits down with Owen Garrity, founder and lead creative of FPW Media, to explore his remarkable journey from professional photographer to leading a 50-person full-service agency, all without external investment. 

Owen shares the pivotal lessons he’s learned along the way, from paying four months’ rent upfront just to secure his first space, to scaling through grit, creativity, and an unshakable belief in saying “yes” to opportunity. He opens up about the challenges of delegation, the balance between control and trust, and the importance of celebrating wins, even when growth feels relentless. 

Together, Debra and Owen dive into the core principles that have shaped FPW Media’s success: client-centricity, a commitment to team culture, and the courage to follow intuition. Owen also gives a glimpse into his next chapter, expanding into AI-driven services, new industries, and strategic acquisitions, while maintaining the same passion and purpose that started it all. 

This episode is an inspiring listen for entrepreneurs who believe in building something extraordinary from the ground up, one bold decision at a time. 

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:         
___________________________________________         
►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner 

►Connect with Debra: ⁠[email protected] ⁠ 

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ 
►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ 
___________________________________________ 

GUESTS DETAILS: 

►Owen Garrity – LinkedIn 

►Owen Garrity – Website 

Episode 249 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction 

00:43 – Owen Garrity’s Journey and Philosophy   

04:31 – Building FPW Media from Scratch   

08:50 – Lessons Learned in Leadership   

17:30 – Growth and Client-Centric Approach   

31:02 – Building Trust and Team Dynamics   

35:27 – Future Plans and Personal Life   

39:07 – Advice for Entrepreneurs   

In this week’s episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor welcomes back Scott Rusnak, EOS Implementer, author and cyclist, for an inspiring conversation on designing a life that truly aligns with your values.

Drawing from his new book, Who is the Architect of Your Own Life, Scott shares practical exercises to help you achieve clarity, purpose and balance. He uses his signature analogy of juggling life’s “balls” such as business, family, health and faith to illustrate how to prioritise what matters most without dropping the ones that cannot bounce back.

Together, Debra and Scott explore how EOS tools and strong core values can guide your business decisions and also support your personal growth. They discuss the importance of planning intentional time with loved ones, maintaining daily health habits and surrounding yourself with supportive people.

With plenty of warmth and wisdom, this episode is a reminder that true success is not just about business wins. It is about living deliberately, loving fully and designing your life on purpose.

CONNECT WITH DEBRA:         ___________________________________________ 

►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner

►Connect with Debra: ⁠[email protected] ⁠

►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________

GUESTS DETAILS:

►Scott Rusnak – LinkedIn

►Scott Rusnak – Website

Episode 248 Chapters:  

00:00 – Introduction

00:38 – EOS Life and Importance of People

05:45 – Scott Rusnak’s Journey and Insights

07:05 – Balancing Business and Personal Life

11:04 – EOS Implementation and Core Values

18:02 – Core Values and Business Success

29:04 – Planning and Clarity Breaks

32:15 – Scott’s Book and Personal Stories

39:28 – Final Thoughts and Future Plans