Roxanne Calder is a recruitment expert, business founder, and author of the eye-opening book "Earning Power." In this episode Ce and Roxanne unpack the core moments that shape our financial futures, from pay negotiations and navigating maternity leave to the small, everyday decisions that can make a big difference over time. With the gender pay gap costing women a million dollars over their lifetime, this is one episode you don't want to miss.

Roxanne shares hard-hitting facts, personal insights, and actionable strategies to help women, and anyone supporting them, close the pay gap and take control of their earning potential.

Key topics

1. Understanding & Combating the Gender Pay Gap

Women can lose over $1 million due to the pay gap over a career.

Factors include discrimination, career breaks (like maternity leave), and industry choice.

The importance of being proactive and informed to minimize the impact.

2. The Power of Mindset and Self-Advocacy

Women are often conditioned to underestimate their abilities or hesitate in seeking opportunities.

Men tend to apply for roles even if underqualified, while women may hold back if not 100% qualified.

Practicing negotiation, challenging self-doubt, and confidently asserting value are crucial to bridging the gap.

3. Planning Career Breaks and Re-Entry

Financial and career planning before, during, and after maternity leave is essential.

Stay connected to your workplace and keep skills updated during breaks.

Open conversations with partners and employers about financial goals and upskilling can foster a smoother return.

4. Practical Steps for Business Owners & Professionals

Know and confidently communicate your worth—don’t undervalue your services or accept less than deserved.

Incremental, sustainable changes (like small savings or upskilling) can compound over time.

It’s never too late to improve your financial trajectory—micro-decisions matter.

Time stamped overview

00:00 Closing the Workforce Gender Gap

04:46 Gender Wage Disparity in Graduates

10:17 Impact of Maternity on Women's Finances

12:51 Realistic Planning for Maternity Leave

15:31 Know Your Worth in Negotiations

19:43 Empower Change: Choose Your Path

23:23 Resilient Recruiter: Value and Commitment

27:31 Small Steps, Big Impact

30:01 "Smart Savings Habits from First Pay"

31:29 "Earning Power: Take Financial Control"

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Amy Jacobson is a human behaviour and emotional intelligence specialist, bestselling author, and keynote speaker. She has made it her mission to help leaders and organisations embed emotional intelligence into their workplace culture—something she believes is often overlooked, yet crucial for business success.

In this conversation, Cec and Amy explore what emotional intelligence really is, why it’s a gamechanger for business owners, and practical ways to develop these skills—whether you’re managing a team, navigating tricky conversations, or fostering a positive workplace culture, even in remote settings. Drawing on years of hands-on corporate experience and her new book, "The Emotional Intelligence Advantage," Amy shares actionable advice for building empathy, self-awareness, and resilience in both personal and professional life.

1. Emotional Intelligence as a Learnable Skill

It’s not an innate trait, but a set of skills that can be developed and improved throughout life.

Practice, repetition, and self-awareness are essential to growing emotional intelligence.

Ownership and responsibility for one’s actions and emotions is central to EQ.

2. The Crucial Role of Empathy

Empathy is different from sympathy: it requires understanding another’s emotions without judgment.

Empathy can be taught and is essential for healthy workplace culture and leadership.

Practicing empathy helps navigate difficult conversations and build trust.

3. Navigating Difficult Conversations

Address tough issues promptly—don’t avoid or delay.

Focus on emotions rather than just facts or situations.

Use techniques like the “Ask-Ask-Tell” method to encourage self-ownership while maintaining boundaries.

Emotional regulation (such as staying calm and listening) is key during heated discussions.

4. Building a Positive Team and Workplace Culture

Emotional intelligence underpins workplace culture, especially with remote and flexible teams.

Relationships and understanding what makes people “tick” drive effective collaboration.

Lack of emotional intelligence can breed toxicity, poor performance, and disengagement.

Timestamped overview

00:00 Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

04:46 Emotional Intelligence: Ownership & Impact

09:23 Teaching Empathy in Toxic Workplaces

12:28 Overcoming Fear in Tough Talks

16:34 "Handling Anger with Empathy"

18:45 "Empathetic Communication Technique"

21:42 Building Emotional Connections

26:17 Perspective on Leadership Differences

29:12 "Breathe: Cultivating Emotional Intelligence"

32:16 Celebrate the Book's Impact

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Cec Busby sits down with Gary Waldon—a true master of transformation, whose career has spanned an incredible 44 different jobs, from teacher to topless waiter to CEO advisor, and now bestselling author.

Together, they dive deep into the topic of reinvention and the inevitability of change, whether it comes by choice or crashes into your life unexpectedly. Gary shares stories from his colorful career, practical advice for embracing and managing major life and business shifts, and why detaching your identity from your job title is crucial for resilience.

You'll also hear about his CREATE framework for navigating change, insights on building a failure-proof mindset, and how emerging technologies like AI can play a pivotal role in your next reinvention.

Key topics

1. The Nature of Change & Reinvention

·     Change is inevitable for everyone in life and business.

·     Reinvention means building on past experiences, not starting from

·     Personal identity is often wrapped up in what we do, making change

Adapting to both chosen and unexpected disruptions is crucial for growth.

2. Practical Tools for Navigating Change

·     Gary’s CREATE framework: Change happens, Reality check, Empower, Action,Try again, Enjoy it.

·     Taking the first small step breaks the paralysis of fear.

·     Honest self-assessment and seeking outside perspectives help reveal

·     Building resilience through a growth mindset and viewing failure as part

3. Embracing Failure & Overcoming Internal Barriers

·     Acknowledge and address the fear of failure — it’s a major blocker for

·     “Bob,” the inner critic, tries to hold us back; recognising and managing

·     Using humour helps release emotional tension and brings mental clarity.

· Normalise failures and plan detours; anticipate things won’t always go

4. Leveraging Technology & Keeping Purpose

·     AI and tech are transforming business approaches and opening up new

·     Early and proactive exploration of tools like AI can future-proof

·     Reinvent with purpose—avoid chasing constant newness without direction.

·     Stay curious and open-minded to change, measuring progress and knowing when to pivot.

00:00 "Mastering Change with Gary Walden"

06:30 Personal Growth Through Life Challenges

08:11 Embracing Change and Moving Forward

11:06 Embracing Change and Resilience

15:46 Empowered Clarity Through Action

18:55 "Resilient Growth Mindset"

23:17 AI Tools Empower Small Business Owners

25:12 Impending AI Revolution Impact

29:22 "Bob: Your Brain's Protective Boss"

31:36 "Laughter: Essential Emotional Release"

34:41 AI: Expanding Personal Opportunities

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In this episode of Flying Solo, we chat with Fiona Campbell – founder of Thought Penny and the VA Lead Network – about how she turned redundancy on maternity leave into a booming remote business. Fiona shares her journey from C-suite EA to virtual assistant queen, her top tips for setting up systems that scale, and how she gets a whopping 70% open rate on her emails. If you’re drowning in to-dos, struggling with delegation or unsure whether a VA is worth the investment, Fiona’s got you covered with smart, actionable advice to streamline your solo business – and reclaim your time.

Key topics

1. Building a Successful Remote and VA Business

·     Fiona’s journey from executive assistant to launching Thought Penny and

·     The impact of niching down and leveraging online presence to quickly

·     Addressing common client needs: supplementing skills, freeing up time,

2. Essential Systems and Automation for Soloists

·     Importance of task management tools (e.g., Asana) for visibility and

·     Strategies for identifying which business tasks to automate or delegate

·     Encouragement to document workflows, even for solos, to enable growth

 3. Finding and Working with the Right VA

·     Process of matching business owners with suitable VAs through detailed

·     Avoiding the pitfalls of hiring solely based on lowest cost or

·     Key advice: hire for capability and value, with clear communication and

4. Maximising Email List Engagement and Deliverability

·     Maintaining a high-quality, engaged list through ruthless pruning and

·     Creating relevant, valuable content and offering subscriber preferences

·     Ensuring technical setup (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for strong email

Timestamped overview

00:00 Streamlining Business with Fiona Campbell

06:12 Virtual Assistant roles & responsibilities

10:06 Letting go in business delegation

11:30 Evaluating task automation needs

15:36 Task management: Digital vs. Paper

20:39 Optimising Virtual Assistant roles

24:19 Beware cheapest Virtual Assistants

28:41 High subscriber lists hurt reputation

31:50 Optimise email engagement strategy

35:02 Optimising email preferences

38:12 "Set SPF records to avoid spam"

40:25 Outsource Tasks You Dislike

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This week's episode of Flying Solo focuses on the often overlooked yet crucial aspect of being a solo entrepreneur—our personal wellbeing and resilience.

Melli O'Brien, renowned coach, mindfulness educator, and author of Deep Resilience has aided over a million individuals worldwide in finding inner calm and clarity. She shares her personal journey from dealing with mental health crises to becoming a beacon of mindfulness and strength.

In this conversation, Melli dives into the key skills necessary for cultivating resilience, breaking down her four-part method designed to empower you through life's adversities. Whether you're feeling burnt out, caught in overthinking traps, or simply eager to strengthen your mindset, this episode is filled with practical insights and strategies to help you reconnect with your inner strength and values.

Melli O'Brien's Background and Journey

Development of Skills and Writing of "Deep Resilience" Book

Discussion on Resilience and Inner Strength

The FEAR and RISE Models

Mindfulness and Its Misconceptions

Practical Application of Mindfulness and Managing Overthinking

Addressing Burnout and Maintaining Balance

06:17 Deep Resilience and Personal Growth

10:05 Overcoming FEAR Pattern

11:52 Managing Emotions and Stress Wisely

15:52 Staying Connected to Your Values

18:53 Overcoming Anxious Thoughts

21:14 Mindfulness Simplifies Emotional Awareness

27:20 Resilience Framework: 3 C's for Wellbeing

28:49 Mastering Skills Through Practice

34:57 Mindfulness to Combat Burnout

38:47 Burnout Check-In: Drainers vs. Sustainers

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Shani Taylor is an award-winning business coach, speaker, best-selling author, and even hailed as the Global Coach of the Year by the Duchess of York. Her passion lies in empowering everyday Aussies to become masters of leadership, sales, and human behaviour, ensuring they can scale their businesses without facing burnout.

In this episode, Shani shares her unique journey from a challenging upbringing to her phenomenal success, where she grew her business from scratch to an international success story, serving clients in 25 countries. We'll dive into her philosophy of using conversation and relationship-building as tools for growth, how mindset and behavior are key to scaling businesses, and the crucial role of mentors in one's journey to success.

Join us as Shani uncovers her secrets to achieving that elusive seven-figure revenue and learn how you can implement her techniques in your own business endeavours. 

Timestamped overview

05:01 Exceptional Intrapreneurial Dedication

10:11 Authentic Coaching: Practicing What You Preach

13:27 Building Resilience for Business Growth

15:36 Start Your Day with Priority

19:53 McMentorship vs. Quality Mentorship

21:53 Prioritising Business: A Daily Ritual

27:00 Compartmentalising Emotions in Leadership

28:33 Emotional Management with Timers

34:00 Symbolic $100 Business Gesture

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Todd Polke, is an investor, entrepreneur, and international educator in wealth creation. With over two decades of experience assisting thousands in mastering their finances, Todd is here to share insights from his new book, "Escape the Middle." This episode promises to equip you with strategies to tackle financial stagnation and construct a future tailored to your financial goals. Whether you're just beginning your financial journey or looking to elevate your wealth, Todd's expertise will motivate you towards achieving economic independence. Don't miss this conversation filled with practical steps to help you take charge of your money and transform your financial future.

Key topics

Foundational Principles of Wealth Creation

Business and Personal Wealth Integration

Developing a Wealth-Oriented Mindset

Practical Financial Strategies for Solopreneurs

Timestamped overview

00:00 "Financial Freedom with Todd Polke"

04:54 Success Requires a System

07:15 Prioritize Personal Wealth Now

11:07 "Building Financial Foundations"

14:45 Automate Financial Goals Setup

19:52 "Adopting Millionaire Habits"

22:39 "Weekly Wealth Hour"

26:27 Micro Investing for Wealth Creation

30:20 Invest Equity, Not Just Pay Mortgage

32:13 Rethink Mortgage Payoff Strategies

37:03 The Nature of Comfort Zones

40:58 "Escape the Middle" Availability

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Emma Lagerlow, a wealth and mindset coach, entrepreneur, and author of Worthy and Wealthy. In this episode of Flying Solo, Emma shares her journey and insights on building a life of abundance by aligning self-worth, purpose, well-being, and time.

Listeners can expect to learn about the five pillars Emma believes make up a truly wealthy life, how self-worth influences financial empowerment, and why aligning your purpose with your work or passions is key to true wealth.

Emma also delves into the importance of being money mindful, breaking free from scarcity mindsets, and finding harmony between personal growth and financial success. Whether you're a solopreneur struggling to balance time and business or someone seeking financial freedom, this episode promises valuable takeaways on living a rich life on your own terms.

Sit back, relax, and get ready to rethink your approach to wealth!

Key points

1.Redefining Wealth

2. Mindset and Empowerment

3. Purpose and Personal Growth

4. Practical Application and Teaching

Timestamped overview

00:00 Redefining Wealth Through Life Experience

05:35 "Balancing Self-Care, Money, and Time"

09:01 "Money Mindset Awareness & Action"

10:20 Money Mindfulness and Beliefs

15:41 Defining Financial Freedom

17:56 Time Management for Business Owners

21:33 "Redefining Wealth Beyond Material Success"

25:05 Align Life with True Purpose

27:00 "Reframing Wealth with Emma"

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In the episode, we're joined by the incredible Ingrid Maynard, a renowned sales performance expert and founder of The Sales Doctor. Ingrid is here to revolutionise the way you think about selling!

We'lll dive into Ingrid's game-changing approach that turns your entire business into a sales engine without the usual pressure. Ingrid shares why simply being customer-centric isn't enough anymore and how you can build value at every touch point in your business. We'll hear about Ingrid's journey from a shy, introverted teenager at The Body Shop to becoming a national sales manager and author of "The Sales Revolution."

These topics offer a comprehensive view of the strategies and advice discussed in the episode.

Timestamped overview:

00:00 "Shy Teen's Sales Transformation"

03:54 "Transformative Journey into Service-Oriented Selling"

09:45 Mastering the Art of Business Offers

12:55 "Understanding Real Sales Value"

14:13 "Understanding Value in Sales"

18:20 "Customer Consciousness & Commercial Competence"

21:53 Transforming Sales Through Genuine Help

26:58 Engaging Multiple Decision Makers

28:12 "Understanding Presence and Competition"

33:11 Optimizing Revenue with Certainty

35:08 Embrace In-Person Meetings Again

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Melissa Browne, an award-winning former accountant and financial advisor who has built three seven-figure businesses in different industries. In this episode of Flying Solo Melissa shares her journey from an accidental business owner to a strategic entrepreneur, She discusses why now is the perfect time to start a business and offers practical insights for soloists and small business owners on managing finances, pricing strategies, and creating successful business structures. Whether you're dreaming of a side hustle or aiming to scale your enterprise, Melissa's advice will equip you with the knowledge to navigate the challenges of modern entrepreneurship. Tune in to gain valuable tips that could transform your business approach and boost your success.

Key topics

1. Challenges in running a profitable business

1. Common mistakes and strategies for new business owners

1. Understanding and tracking business numbers

1. Pricing Ssrategies

Timestamped overview

00:00 Intro to Melissa

05:45 Targeted Marketing & Customer Retention

09:47 "Essential Business Numbers to Track"

12:06 New Business Success Metrics Focus

16:33 Shrinkflation and Pricing Strategies

18:13 Decoy Pricing Strategy Explained

21:36 Sole Trader Business Setup Guide

24:22 "Consult Accountant Before Starting Business"

29:16 "Understanding Numbers Boosts Business Success"

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