In this episode, I sit down with John Perry, a seasoned entrepreneur and the driving force behind multiple successful ventures. John shares his wealth of experience, diving deep into the challenges and rewards of building businesses from the ground up. With over 40 years in various industries, John offers invaluable insights into the nuances of entrepreneurship, capital raising, and the importance of resilience.

John begins by discussing his current role with Being Investable, where he focuses on helping entrepreneurs become more attractive to investors by overcoming internal barriers and refining their business models. He emphasizes that while having a great idea is important, investors ultimately invest in people. John’s approach is deeply rooted in systems thinking, a perspective he honed during his early career in advertising and later at Rank Xerox, where he learned the critical importance of structured processes in achieving business success.

Throughout our conversation, John reflects on his journey, from his first job selling sweets to running a successful educational software company, and later ventures in aquaculture and the automotive industry. He candidly discusses the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, including the steep learning curves and the hard-earned lessons from each venture.

One key takeaway from John’s journey is the significance of timing and environment in the success of a business. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to carefully assess the external factors that can impact their ventures, from political climates to market demand, and stresses that success often depends on these broader systems aligning in your favor.

"Entrepreneurship is a hundred times harder than the hardest thing you’ve ever done," John advises. "But if you can do it for yourself, because you love to see the outcome happen, even if it doesn’t, you’ll have learned something invaluable about yourself."

Join me as we explore John Perry's entrepreneurial journey, his approach to overcoming challenges, and his passion for helping others navigate the complex world of business. This episode is packed with practical advice and inspirational stories that will resonate with both budding entrepreneurs and seasoned business professionals.

LinkedIn

Website

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Andrew Baxter, a highly experienced marketing expert and business leader. We dive into his extensive career, from his early days in marketing to leading some of Australia's most prominent agencies, and his transition into advisory roles where he now guides and mentors the next generation of business leaders.

BYOB Episode 6 with Sevan Tuna

In this episode, I sit down with Sevan Tuna, the managing partner at Alexander Spencer, to discuss his journey in building a successful accounting practice and diversifying into various business ventures. Sevan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, offering valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship and business management.

Sevan shares his background, detailing his journey from his first paying job to his current position at Alexander Spencer. He recounts the challenges he faced and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. Starting in the accounting field, Sevan worked tirelessly to gain experience and build his expertise. His hard work and dedication eventually led him to become a partner at Alexander Spencer, where he now plays a crucial role in the firm's growth and diversification efforts.

Throughout our conversation, Sevan emphasises the importance of hard work, especially in the initial stages of any business venture. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to take risks, particularly when they have fewer responsibilities, and to view failures as opportunities to learn and grow. His story includes personal anecdotes, such as the journey of an acquaintance who transitioned from a different career path to owning a successful Jim’s Mowing franchise, highlighting that entrepreneurship can take many forms and doesn't always have to involve large-scale businesses.

"Surrounding yourself with really smart people at the start is really important. People are willing to give their time for free, and you can learn a lot from them," says Sevan. He discusses the value of mentorship and forming advisory boards, stressing that building a supportive network is crucial for personal and professional growth. His insights provide practical advice for anyone looking to carve out their own path in the business world.

Join me as we delve into Sevan's remarkable journey, his struggles and triumphs, and his dedication to fostering creativity and innovation. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business owners alike.

Alexander Spencer Website: https://www.alexanderspencer.com.auSevan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sevantuna/

Welcome to episode 5 of the Build Your Own Business podcast! In this episode, I reconnect with Gareth Benson, a commercial IP lawyer by trade and a highly creative entrepreneur. Gareth applies his creativity to a myriad of projects and ventures, showcasing his passion for empowering others with innovative ideas.

Gareth has recently released the second edition of his book, Ideaology, which guides readers on how to create profitable intellectual property. During our conversation, he delves into his journey to his current position, sharing the challenges he faced in finding his purpose and passion.

Gareth's story is truly inspiring and offers valuable insights for anyone embarking on a new venture. He emphasizes the importance of helping others and the impact it has on personal and professional growth.

In his parting wisdom, Gareth reminds us, "The goal is ourselves - we can be rich in who we surround ourselves with, what we do, and how we spend our time."

Join us as we explore Gareth's remarkable journey, his struggles and triumphs, and his dedication to fostering creativity and innovation.

Tune in to gain practical advice, hear engaging stories, and get inspired to take the next step in your own entrepreneurial journey.

Gareth’s book

IP Assist Website

Gareth's LinkedIn

Welcome to episode 4 of the Build Your Own Business podcast! In this episode, I have a chat with Michael Kenihan, an experienced physiotherapist and businessman who has been a leader in the healthcare industry for three decades. I’ve known Michael since the start of Social Star and we’ve worked together on a variety of interesting projects. Most recently we worked with him to write and publish a book ‘The Health Practitioner’s Journey’, on how to build a successful career in healthcare as a practitioner.

He emphasises the importance of understanding and navigating the risks involved in entrepreneurship and has some sage advice to young people starting out as budding entrepreneurs. "It's okay to consider the risks of doing something new, but it's important you don't let a desire to mitigate all the risks stop you from taking the step. Risks are inherently 'risky,' but there's risk in everything, and if you want to move forward, you have to take these steps."

Join us as we delve into Michael's inspiring journey, from sports medicine to corporate healthcare, and finally to successful entrepreneurship. His insights and experiences offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to carve out their own path in the healthcare industry.

I'm excited to welcome Samuel Power on the podcast today. I met Samuel through his father in law - Michael Kenihan who is a long term client and friend of mine. Samuel is a mortgage broker with extensive experience and knowledge in the industry of financial services. When I did a workshop with him earlier this year I found his knowledge and understanding far exceeds the ordinary for mortgage brokers. 

We’ll take a walk down memory lane with Samuel; from his first paying job to moving to Melbourne from Sydney and the ins and outs of starting his own business recently. 

Samuel works closely with his clients to guide them through the journey of either buying a first home, investment properties or more complex matters like SMSF loans and more. His exceptional understanding and value in education means he is able to empower his clients to understand the process they’re going through and take charge of their journey. 

Samuel took on the challenges of starting your own business with confidence and it is well paying off due to his perseverance and level headed approach. 

This is another great chat with a fellow entrepreneur. Samuel’s parting advice to listeners looking to go into starting their own business ‘plan plan and plan again’ he believes there’s no harm in getting bogged down in the details to make sure you get it right, starting a business is a big venture and you want to feel prepared!

References:

Loan Market Website

LinkedIn

I'm delighted to have Sarah Hobday-North with me on the podcast. Sarah, an architect and entrepreneur, is the founder of Architect GP, a venture aimed at making architecture advice widely accessible.

We'll dive deep into Sarah's journey from being raised by architect parents to forging her own path in the industry. Despite growing up in an architectural environment, Sarah initially veered away from following her parents' footsteps. However, her innate love for architecture eventually led her back to her roots, with a clear vision of making architectural guidance accessible to all.

Architect GP was born out of this vision, with the aim of simplifying the process of consulting an architect, similar to visiting a GP for health concerns. Andrew met Sarah when she was starting this business and helped her to build the necessary assets to reach her target audience.

Through dedication and persistence, Sarah has managed to expand her network of like-minded architects who share her vision. Together, they strive to make architectural advice readily available and understandable to everyone.

Another great conversation to learn more about the intricacies and driving force behind starting a business. Sarah’s parting advice ‘you’re closer than you think to the next thing that works’.

In today's conversation, I sat down with Mitchell Bacha, a friend and client I’ve worked with to build his personal brand. Mitchell started his business, SUMParts Consulting after returning to Australia from spending over a decade in Asia as the CEO of luxury fashion brands, Valentino and Celine. 

Mitchell's career trajectory is nothing short of inspiring. Starting as a humble Christmas casual at HUGO BOSS in Sydney, he embarked on a path that led him to becoming a well-known fashion figure in Asia. After over a decade of honing his expertise overseas, Mitchell has returned to Australia to embark on a new career sharing his knowledge with local businesses.

SUMParts embodies Mitchell's philosophy that the whole should be greater than the sum of its parts. Drawing from his experiences overseeing all elements of the Luxury and Retail businesses, Mitchell emphasises the importance of synergies — how different elements can work together productively to create a powerful business and brand.

In this episode, we delve deep into Mitchell's journey, from his early days in retail to his pivotal roles at global fashion giants. We explore how his time abroad provided invaluable insights into all aspects of running a business, which he now channels into his consulting endeavours.

Join us as we uncover the intricacies of the luxury brand industry and learn firsthand from Mitchell's wealth of experience. 

Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, there's something for everyone in this captivating conversation.

Welcome back to the Build Your Own Business podcast! I'm Andrew Ford, and I'm thrilled to restart this journey with you. When I started the BYOB podcast, my goal was simple: to create a space where small business owners could connect with the stories of others who've transitioned from corporate careers to entrepreneurship.

It's a tough transition from employee to business owner, filled with challenges both in the market and in your mind. But through this podcast, we aim to pull these stories out of people's lives and share them with our audience, so that no one feels alone in their business journey.

I originally began the podcast in 2018 and ran for two years, producing over 40 episodes until the pandemic hit and we had to pause. Alongside the podcast, we also had the BYOB business group, a face to face networking community for small business owners.

But now, we're excited to announce the return of BYOB. The podcast is back, and soon, our business networking groups will follow suit. We've lined up some incredible guests who will dive deep into their personal journeys of transformation, from being part of an organisation to running their own businesses.

Expect candid stories, insightful chats, and valuable advice for anyone considering a similar path. I hope you'll join us for the ride and enjoy the podcast.

Together, let's learn, grow, and build our own businesses!

Nicholas de Castella joins us in this episode to talk about his journey from being an employee to owning and managing several businesses including being a Master Life Coach. Nicholas has spent the last 28 years working with the healing power of the breath, mindfulness and body awareness, travelling the globe. His goal is to teach mature people practical, emotional intelligence to find their passion and live it.

What is covered in this episode:

• Background on the work Nicholas does today.
• His first paying job.
• How running has helped him improve his life and performance at school.
• What led him to his work on personal growth.
• The 4 levels we exist on.
• Why Nicholas decided to study and understand emotions better.
• How to find out if someone is accredited in Breathwork.
• The benefits of verbalizing and crystallizing your intent.
• Being in touch with yourself to access the flow stage.
• 3 sources of intelligence.
• The future for his business.
• Biggest challenges in the way of growth.
• Nicholas shares his knowledge on money, business and marketing.
• One piece of advice Nicholas can give to people planning to leave their job.
• Where happiness comes from.