Better Business, Better Life

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

In this week’s episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor dives deep into the Issues Solving Track (IDS), a core component of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). She explains how spending 80-85% of your problem-solving time on identifying the right issue can lead to better solutions, faster results, and a more efficient team. 

She walks you through the three-step IDS process: Identify, Discuss, and Solve, emphasising the power of asking the right clarifying questions, like the Five Whys, to uncover root causes. She also introduces the concept of the Issue Champion, the person who drives the issue-solving process forward, ensuring the issue gets the attention it needs. 

Debra also shares real-world examples and practical tips for using IDS effectively, so you can tackle your business problems like a pro. If you're struggling with recurring issues in your business, this episode will help you break them down and come up with actionable solutions. 

Tune in to learn how mastering IDS can lead to more sustainable business growth and smoother team dynamics! 

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: 
IDS - Getting Clear on the Issue: https://bbbl.pub/IDS 

Episode 247 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction 

00:36 – Understanding the Issues Solving Track (IDS)   

03:49 – The Importance of Proper Identification   

05:30 – The Role of the Issue Champion   

06:15 – Clarifying Questions in the Identify Step   

09:16 – The Discuss and Solve Steps   

12:16 – The Five Whys Technique   

13:48 – Real-World Examples of IDS in Action   

15:14 – Recap and Challenge

In this week’s episode of Better Business, Better Life, host Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Beth Fahey, a former filmmaker turned bakery owner who grew her business from two to 32 employees before discovering the power of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). 

Beth shares how tools like the Accountability Chart and Level 10 Meetings transformed her team’s communication, culture, and focus, and how she now helps other business leaders achieve the same results as a professional EOS Implementer. Together, she and Debra explore what it really takes to create strong leadership, foster accountability, and maintain alignment as a company scales. 

They also chat about Beth’s upcoming book on EOS rollout, her inspiring podcast Bad Boss Confessional, and the importance of self-care and vulnerability in leadership.

Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting your EOS journey, this episode is packed with relatable insights and practical tools to help you lead with clarity, courage, and compassion. 

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 DETAILS: 

► Beth Fahey – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethfahey/ 

► Beth Fahey – Website: https://www.bethfahey.com/ 

► Beth Fahey – EOS Worldwide: https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/beth-fahey/ 

► Bad Boss Confessional Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/07WsPdrtQt3h69PPdL2GXB?si=9980d86bf5c94556 

Episode 246 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction 

01:08 – Leadership and Accountability in Business   

30:05 – Beth’s Career Journey and EOS Implementation   

30:16 – The Impact of the Traction Book and EOS Implementation   

30:36 – Level 10 Meetings and Team Engagement   

32:08 – Rolling Out EOS and Overcoming Resistance   

32:21 – The Role of Leadership Teams and Operational Teams   

37:40 – Financial Transparency and Team Engagement   

43:36 – The Importance of Self-Care for Leaders   

44:44 – Beth’s Podcast: Bad Boss Confessional   

49:39 – Final Thoughts and Contact Information  

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, host Debra Chantry-Taylor tackles one of the hardest parts of leadership, dealing with underperforming employees. With honesty and compassion, she explains why avoiding tough conversations only damages trust, culture, and team morale. 

Debra introduces practical EOS tools like the People Analyser and the SBI (Situation, Behaviour, Impact) model to help leaders give clear, kind, and effective feedback. She explores how to balance courage with compassion, offering coaching and support where improvement is possible, and guiding respectful exits when it’s not. 

Packed with real-world stories, including how one business boosted performance by 20% after making a difficult staffing change, this episode is a must-listen for any leader who wants to strengthen trust, improve culture, and lead with confidence. 

Because great leadership isn’t about avoiding discomfort, it’s about doing what’s right for the business and the people in it. 

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 245 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction

00:38 – Handling Persistent Performance Issues in Leadership   

02:12 – Reasons for Avoiding Tough Decisions   

04:10 – Using the People Analyser Tool   

07:51 – Radical Candour and Specific Feedback   

09:58 – Changing the Person or the Role   

11:46 – Reflecting and Taking Action   

14:05 – Final Thoughts and Resources

In this week’s episode of Better Business, Better Life, host Debra Chantry-Taylor chats with Sarah Thomas, an email marketing automation expert who reveals how smart, personalised emails can outperform social media and transform customer relationships. 

Sarah shares her journey from managing data systems at Debenhams to helping businesses craft meaningful automations, from welcome sequences to post-purchase follow-ups and re-engagement campaigns. She explains why success isn’t about list size, but about clean data, segmentation, and connection. 

Listeners will learn how to audit their customer journeys, implement high-performing automations, and focus on metrics that truly drive conversions. With open rates up to 40%, compared to social media’s 3%, Sarah proves that email remains the most powerful tool for turning subscribers into loyal customers. 

If you’re ready to ditch generic blasts and start building relationships that convert, this episode is your step-by-step guide. 

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 DETAILS: 

► Sarah Thomas – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-thomas-9417493a/ 

► Tierra Marketing Co. Website: https://www.tierramarketingco.com/ 

► Free Resources: 

• Media Kit: https://media-kit-sarah-tierra-marketing-co.tiiny.site/ 

• Email Growth Blueprint: https://www.tierramarketingco.com/email-growth-blueprint 

Episode 244 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction and Background   

01:36 – Early Career and Email Marketing   

04:18 – Challenges and Importance of Data   

05:30 – Customer Life Cycle and Email Automation   

11:44 – Mapping the Customer Journey   

13:24 – A/B Testing and Metrics   

32:32 – Case Studies and Real-World Examples   

32:57 – Practical Tips and Tools   

33:10 – Final Thoughts and Resources 

In this heartfelt episode of Better Business, Better Life, host Debra Chantry-Taylor welcomes back relationship coach and former therapist Kathy Rushing to explore how entrepreneurs can strengthen their marriages while building successful businesses. 

Drawing on decades of experience, and her own 45-year marriage to a serial entrepreneur, Kathy shares her powerful CRAVE framework: Communication, Rituals and Rhythms, Appreciation and Affirmation, Vision, and Energy. Together, she and Debra unpack how small, intentional habits can keep relationships strong through the chaos of entrepreneurship. 

From recognising early warning signs of drifting apart to using tools like the DISC profile and the Weekly Marriage Compass, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help couples stay connected, communicate better, and build shared visions for life and business. 

Warm, wise, and deeply relatable, it’s a reminder that success at work means little without harmony at home, and that every great business starts with a strong foundation of love and understanding. 

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 DETAILS: 

► Kathy Rushing – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-rushing/ 

► Lodestar Relationship Coaching Website: https://kathyrushing.com/ 

Episode 243 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction and Recap of Previous Discussion   

01:54 – Kathy Rushing’s Background and the CRAVE Framework   

04:50 – The Importance of Communication and Rituals   

05:13 – Balancing Business and Marriage   

18:44 – Tools and Assessments for Improving Marriage   

31:06 – Identifying Early Warning Signs of Drift   

32:40 – Strategies for Managing Stress in Marriage   

32:57 – Top Tips for Improving Marriage   

49:48 – Conclusion and Resources   

In this week’s episode of Better Business, Better Life, host Debra Chantry-Taylor sits down with Ian Murray, visionary of Murray Insurance and EOS Implementer, to explore how implementing EOS turned his chaotic insurance agency into a thriving, values-driven business. 

Ian opens up about his early struggles, working nonstop, feeling frustrated with his team, and trying to self-implement EOS before realising the true power of doing it with his people, not to them. With honesty and humour, he shares how EOS tools like the Level 10 Meeting, Vision/Traction Organizer (VTO), and Leadership + Management Accountability (LMA) framework reshaped his leadership and his company’s culture. 

From the moment a simple book recommendation, Traction, changed his path, to the pivotal “focus day” that led to one leader stepping down (and the business stepping up), Ian’s story is a powerful reminder that clarity and consistency beat chaos every time. 

Whether you’re self-implementing EOS or considering bringing in an implementer, this episode is packed with real-world lessons about alignment, accountability, and leading with vision. 

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 DETAILS: 

► Ian Murray – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianasmurray 

► Ian Murray – EOS Worldwide: https://www.eosworldwide.com/ian-murray 

► Murray Insurance Website: https://www.murrayinsurance.ca/ 

Episode 242 Chapters:   

00:00 – Ian Murray’s Journey to EOS Implementation   

07:16 – Challenges and Learnings in Implementing EOS   

10:29 – The Impact of Vision and Core Focus   

16:17 – The Role of the VTO and Accountability Chart   

20:45 – The Power of Quarterly Conversations and LMA   

45:17 – Ian’s Ideal Client and Final Tips   

In this week’s episode of Better Business, Better Life, host Debra Chantry-Taylor dives into one of the most common traps for business leaders, taking on too many priorities and finishing none. 

Drawing on her experience as a certified EOS Implementer, Debra breaks down the power of setting clear, focused quarterly priorities or “rocks.” She explains why most leaders only have about 65 hours per quarter to work on the business, and how spreading that time too thin leads to burnout and stalled progress. 

Through practical examples and relatable stories, Debra shows how to define true rocks (not boulders), write SMART goals, and block time to make meaningful progress. She also shares how integrating rocks into weekly meetings and scorecards keeps teams aligned and accountable. 

Whether you’re a visionary constantly chasing new ideas or a leader buried in the day-to-day, this episode will help you refocus on what truly moves the business forward, fewer priorities, done better. 

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: 

► ROCKS – Why You Don’t Get Them Done  
► How to Think & Build SMART Rocks 

Episode 241 Chapters:   

00:00 – Episode Introduction and Purpose   

01:22 – Understanding the Concept of Rocks   

01:38 – Time Management and Prioritisation   

05:08 – Defining and Managing Rocks   

13:58 – Writing SMART Rocks   

14:10 – Practical Tips for Managing Rocks

In this week’s episode of Better Business, Better Life, host Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by therapist and entrepreneurial spouse Kathy Rushing, as they explore how couples can thrive in both business and love. 

Kathy opens up about her own journey with her husband, Mark, a serial entrepreneur, and the strain that long hours, financial pressure, and constant business demands can place on a relationship. Together, Debra and Kathy dive into practical ways to protect your marriage from becoming a casualty of entrepreneurship. 

Through Kathy’s powerful CRAVE framework, Communication, Rhythms, Appreciation, Vision, and Energy - listeners discover how small, consistent habits can create deeper connection and resilience. From setting non-negotiable date nights to maintaining shared vision and gratitude, this episode offers a roadmap for couples who want both a thriving business and a fulfilling relationship.

Warm, honest, and deeply relatable, this conversation reminds us that behind every great entrepreneur is often a great partner - and nurturing that partnership is the key to a better 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: 

► Kathy Rushing - LinkedIn 

► Lodestar Relationship Coaching - Website 
 
 

Episode 240 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction and Guest Overview   

02:47 – Kathy Rushing’s Background   

11:27 – Challenges in Entrepreneurial Marriages   

12:22 – The Importance of Enthusiastic Agreement   

19:27 – Tools and Frameworks for Marriage Success   

20:31 – Vision and Energy in Marriage   

30:27 – Practical Tips for Entrepreneurial Couples   

30:44 – Conclusion and Resources   

This week on Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor sits down with Laurie Seymour, an EOS implementer, and Curtis Williams, her very first client and the owner of a thriving personal training studio.

Curtis shares how the pandemic forced him to adapt, offering free Zoom classes that eventually evolved into a structured, scalable business model. Laurie, who found EOS after struggling with self-implementation, helped Curtis bring order and accountability into the business through tools like the Level 10 Meeting and the scorecard. Together, they reveal how EOS has transformed Curtis’s gym into a model built for growth.

The conversation also explores the personal side of their relationship, from Laurie regaining her health and strength through Curtis’s training, to Curtis finding clarity and confidence as a leader. With insights on defining core values, staying the course with EOS, and planning for expansion, this episode is a masterclass in how structure and discipline create freedom.

Whether you’re running a small business or looking to scale, Laurie and Curtis’s journey proves that with focus and the right tools, long-term success is well within reach.

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: 

► Laurie Seymour - LinkedIn 
► Laurie Seymour - EOS Worldwide 
► Curtis Williams - LinkedIn

► Life Techs Fitness 

Episode 239 Chapters:   

00:00 – Introduction   

00:53 – Background of the Guests 

01:35 – Laurie’s Journey to Becoming an EOS Implementer 

05:48 – Curtis’s Introduction to EOS

09:00 – Implementing EOS in a Personal Training Business 

12:40 – Challenges and Solutions in Implementing EOS

13:37 – Impact of EOS on Business Operations

27:16 – Personal and Professional Growth

27:47 – Tips for Business Owners

41:12 – Final Thoughts and Future Plans