Friends in Business

Friends in Business

By Jemimah Ashleigh and Ben WrightBusinessEntrepreneurshipCareersManagement
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Friends in Business episodes

  • Episode 29: How To Know If You're An Expert In Your Field

    In this episode of the Friends in Business Podcast, Ben Wright and Jemimah Ashleigh explore the importance of recognising and effectively communicating your expertise in business. The conversation kicks off with a light-hearted reflection on Ben’s recent success in aquathlons, celebrating his championship win, before transitioning into a discussion on how these skills translate into valuable business insights. Jemimah stresses the importance of understanding the specific problem your business addresses, knowing your target audience, and identifying the platforms they frequent, whether it’s LinkedIn or Qantas magazines. Together, they introduce a strategic communication framework known as the “10 Things Exercise,” which helps businesses pinpoint their core expertise and leverage it for thought leadership and content creation.

    Key Takeaways: 

    • Understanding the precise problem your business addresses is critical for effective communication and engagement with your audience.
    • Identify where your target audience spends their time and tailor your content to those platforms, like LinkedIn for business leaders.
    •  Build a “10 Things” list to clarify your and your business’s core expertise, creating a focused blueprint for social media and content strategy.
    • Maintain focus on relevant content that aligns with your expertise, resisting the temptation to get sidetracked by unrelated opportunities.
    • Tailor content to reflect the outcomes and benefits your products or services offer to reinforce your position as an industry expert.

    • Time Stamps: 

      0:00 Intro

      0:56 Ben’s Big Win

      5:11 Building Out Expertise 

      9:01 Getting Very Clear On What Problem to Solve

      14:08 Figuring Out What To Communicate

      15:09 Doing the 10 Things

      17:12 Social Media Plan

      20:03 10 Things In A Product Level Business

      22:44 Recap

      24:44 Outro

      Be sure to stay tuned for more enlightening content from the Friends in Business podcast. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and leave a review to support us and help others discover these valuable discussions.

      26 min
    • Episode 28: Defining Success - How To Know What It Looks Like for YOU

      In this episode of the Friends in Business Podcast, Ben Wright and Jemimah Ashleigh guides you through the realms of entrepreneurship, success, and personal development. As Ben and Jemimah explore the concept of success beyond financial metrics, they reflect on their individual journeys, emphasising the significance of personal goals and the importance of fostering a supportive team. For Ben, success in his 40s is defined by working smarter rather than harder. With a disciplined approach and a strong work ethic, he highlights the value of strategic planning and teamwork in achieving success. Jemimah, in contrast, views success as the autonomy to be her own boss and the ability to create opportunities for others. She discusses the importance of a balanced team, allowing for both professional success and personal fulfilment.

      Key Takeaways: 

      • Explore how success can be defined through personal fulfillment and growth, not just financial achievements.
      • Jemimah and Ben share their entrepreneurial journeys, detailing the successes and challenges they’ve encountered.
      • Learn how building a robust team can enhance productivity and contribute to a more balanced work-life dynamic.
      • Understand the importance of setting clear goals, creating strategic plans, and executing them effectively to achieve success.
      • Gain insights into cultivating personal growth alongside professional success, with practical advice from experienced entrepreneurs.

      • Time Stamps: 

        0:00 Intro

        1:05 Jemimah Recent Entrepreneurial Adventure

        4:15 Success and the Drivers for Success

        5:15 Studying Your 20’s, Learning in your 30’s, Making Money in Your 40’s

        9:58 Jemimah’s Driver for Success No. 1

        15:53 Being Your Own Boss When You Are Not Owning Your Business

        16:48 Jemimah’s Driver for Success No. 2

        20:30 Framework to Driving Success

        25:14 Outro

        Be sure to stay tuned for more enlightening content from the Friends in Business podcast. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and leave a review to support us and help others discover these valuable discussions.

        27 min
      • Episode 27: The Best Pieces of Advice We've Received Over Our 20+ Year Careers

        In this episode of the Friends in Business Podcast, Ben Wright and Jemimah Ashley delve into invaluable advice for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Despite the looming threat of a cyclone, they maintain that the show must go on, setting a tone of resilience for an episode brimming with practical wisdom. Ben and Jemimah share pivotal pieces of advice that have significantly shaped their careers. These takeaways offer invaluable guidance for anyone looking to sharpen their business skills while enhancing their personal well-being.

        Key Takeaways: 

        • Striving for perfection can cause delays. Progress is about making incremental steps, even if they are not perfect.
        • Perfect for navigating tough emotional or business times by reminding oneself that difficult moments are temporary.
        • Setting boundaries is crucial to prevent work from overtaking personal time and well-being.
        • Encourages taking immediate action to prevent procrastination and build a habit of productivity.
        • Highlights the importance of prioritizing tasks and balancing different areas of life without spreading oneself too thin.

        • Time Stamps: 

          0:00 Intro

          3:03 The Pieces of Advice Ben And Jemimah Had Across Their Careers

          5:03 “Done Is Better Than Perfect”

          7:15 “This Too Shall Pass”

          9:26 “ You Have to Know When to Stop”

          10:31 Creating Boundaries

          12:40 “Why Do Tomorrow What You Can Do Today”

          16:15 “ You Can Have It All, But You Can’t Have It At The Same Time”

          20:30 “ Work out What You Really Good At And Supplement Those Skills With People Who Are Good Around What You Aren’t”

          22:35 Recap

          23:53 Outro

          Be sure to stay tuned for more enlightening content from the Friends in Business podcast. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and leave a review to support us and help others discover these valuable discussions.

          25 min
        • Episode 26: Effective Personal Development Strategies

          In this episode of the Friends in Business Podcast, Ben Wright and Jemimah Ashleigh explore the essential role personal development plays in achieving business success. Throughout the discussion, they introduce the four fundamental pillars of personal development: mental, social, emotional, and physical growth. Jemima stresses the importance of mental development. Her insights on social growth emphasise the value of surrounding oneself with empowering, diverse individuals, building on the popular idea that “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Ben further introduces a surprise fifth pillar: team development, recommending training, coaching, and regular one-on-one meetings as key strategies to foster team growth. Both Ben and Jemima advocate for physical health as the cornerstone for all forms of growth, reinforcing earlier discussions on the importance of exercise, nutrition, and rest.

          Key Takeaways: 

          •   Personal development is crucial for business success, composed of mental, social, emotional, and physical growth.
          •   Networking and enriching social circles significantly influence your personal and professional life.
          •   Emotional maturity and self-awareness are key traits for effective leadership and personal growth.
          •   Physical health is foundational to personal growth, impacting productivity and overall well-being.
          •   Incorporating consistent team development initiatives through training and coaching ensures sustained business growth.

          • Time Stamps: 

            0:00 Intro

            1:34 Personal Development

            3:00 Mental Growth

            8:28 Social Growth

            10:44 Emotional Growth

            11:53 Physical Growth

            15:20 Team Growth

            18:20 Weekly Silver Bullet

            20:10 Outro

            Be sure to stay tuned for more enlightening content from the Friends in Business podcast. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and leave a review to support us and help others discover these valuable discussions.

            21 min
          • Episode 25: What are the Most Common Challenges Facing Leaders Right Now?

            In this episode of the Friends in Business Podcast, Ben Wright and Jemimah Ashleigh discuss key challenges facing business leaders, including talent management, customer trust, and technology adoption. Drawing from a recent study, they explore how businesses can effectively manage and retain talent post-COVID-19, build customer trust through social selling, and adopt technology that enhances the customer journey. Ben and Jemimah offer practical insights to help leaders navigate an evolving business landscape and improve operational efficiency.

            Key Takeaways: 

            •   Emphasize the importance of genuine development plans to keep teams engaged and retain talent effectively.
            •   Explore strategies for establishing trust with customers in a digital world with limited face-to-face interactions.
            •     Highlight the importance of maintaining customer relationships to leverage revenue from returning clients.
            •   Discuss the role of social media platforms in selling and how to effectively utilize them to engage customers and drive sales.
            •   Provide a framework for integrating technology solutions based on the customer journey to maximize efficiency.

            • Time Stamps: 

              0:00 Intro

              2:40 Key Challenges Facing Leaders

              3:28 Primary and Secondary Resources 

              3:45 Talent Management

              6:50 Building Trust with Customers

              9:25 Customer Retention

              11:59 Social Selling

              16:37 Technology Systems

              19:36 Weekly Silver Bullet

              21:10 Outro

              Be sure to stay tuned for more enlightening content from the Friends in Business podcast. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and leave a review to support us and help others discover these valuable discussions.

              23 min
            • Episode 24: How to Set Boundaries in Your Business

              In this episode of the Friends in Business Podcast, Ben Wright and Jemimah Ashleigh tackle an essential topic for entrepreneurs and leaders: the art of setting boundaries. Drawing from their personal journeys and professional expertise, they explore the intricacies of mental, emotional, and time boundaries, offering practical strategies to help listeners thrive. Ben and Jemimah highlight the critical role mental boundaries play in preventing burnout, stressing the importance of clearly defining work and leisure time. The conversation also delves into emotional boundaries, emphasising the need to navigate professional relationships while maintaining personal limits. 

              Key Takeaways: 

              • Developing mental, emotional, and time boundaries is crucial for leaders and entrepreneurs to prevent burnout and maintain healthy relationships.
              • Set limitations on work and digital interactions, like not checking emails after hours, to ensure cognitive breaks and maintain productivity.
              • Recognize professional limits and manage client interactions to avoid taking on unnecessary emotional burdens.
              • Allocate specific times for tasks and adhere to schedule commitments to optimize efficiency and protect personal time.
              • Start small with setting boundaries, gradually increase to more significant commitments, and ensure these are shared with relevant stakeholders.

              • Time Stamps: 

                0:00 Intro

                1:31 Boundaries

                3:40 3 Different Types of Boundaries

                4:47 Mental Boundaries

                9:33 Emotional Boundaries

                15:06 Time Boundaries

                20:34 Wrap Up

                21:10 Weekly Silver Bullet

                22:41 Outro

                Be sure to stay tuned for more enlightening content from the Friends in Business podcast. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and leave a review to support us and help others discover these valuable discussions.

                24 min
              • Episode 23: Why You Must Invest into Training Your Team

                In this episode of the Friends in Business Podcast, Ben Wright and Jemimah Ashleigh delve into the fundamentals of effective training programs. Aimed at equipping listeners with practical strategies, they unpack the 5 C’s of Training: Customised, Consistent, Concise, Compelling, and Coaching. Ben discusses the value of setting clear, concise training outcomes to prevent overwhelming teams while keeping them focused on key objectives.  Jemimah adds practical examples, emphasising the significance of making training engaging through diverse approaches, and advocates for the added benefit of coaching. The conversation blends strategic insight with actionable advice, offering valuable tips to improve the efficiency and impact of business training sessions.

                Key Takeaways: 

                • Emphasize training that is customized to match team needs for maximum relevance and impact.
                • Maintain consistency in training schedules to establish routine and foster engagement.
                • Deliver concise and clear outcomes from each session to avoid information overload.
                • Create compelling sessions through diverse delivery methods to suit different learning styles.
                • Ensure coaching is integrated to personalize and enhance training effectiveness.

                • Time Stamps: 

                  0:00 Intro

                  3:54 5 C’s of Training

                  4:48 Customized

                  6:50 Consistent

                  8:37 Concise

                  10:27 Compelling

                  12:16 Coaching Program that Supplements the Training Program

                  15:36 Weekly Silver Bullet

                  16:58 Outro

                  Be sure to stay tuned for more enlightening content from the Friends in Business podcast. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and leave a review to support us and help others discover these valuable discussions.

                  18 min
                • Episode 22: 3 Things to Get Ready For If You Are Moving Into the Media

                  In this episode of the Friends in Business Podcast, Ben Wright and Jemimah Ashleigh delve into the common pitfalls businesses encounter with media outreach and reveal effective strategies for utilising media to enhance business profiles. This segment is packed with actionable tips and techniques for media engagement. From understanding media call-outs to creating compelling media kits, the hosts cover it all. The discussion highlights the importance of strategic media alignment—ensuring your chosen outlets resonate with your business objectives and target audience. With Jemimah, the visibility expert, at the helm, listeners will gain invaluable insights into using media not only for exposure but also as a powerful driver of business success.

                  Key Takeaways: 

                  •   Get clear about what your business does and focus on media opportunities that align with your business goals.
                  •   Identify where your ideal clients’ attention is focused to tailor your media strategy effectively.
                  •   Develop a compelling media kit to present your business professionally to media outlets.
                  •   The decision to engage with the media should be intentional, aligning with your business growth strategies.
                  •   Media engagement is not just about exposure—it can effectively drive business success when strategically aligned.

                  • Time Stamps: 

                    0:00 Intro

                    2:30 Preparing to Go Media

                    5:54 Get Clear on What You Want To Be Known For

                    8:20 Be Focus on What Media Outlets You Want

                    11:44 How To Start Pitching

                    16:57 Weekly Silver Bullet

                    18:52 Outro

                    Be sure to stay tuned for more enlightening content from the Friends in Business podcast. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and leave a review to support us and help others discover these valuable discussions.

                    20 min
                  • Episode 21: The 5-Step Blueprint to Make Change Management Stick

                    In this episode of the Friends in Business Podcast, Ben Wright and Jemimah Ashleigh delves into the common challenges faced during change management and presents actionable strategies to overcome them, making it a must-listen for anyone seeking to drive meaningful change within their organisation. Ben and Jemimah stress the importance of setting clear objectives, defining success, appointing change advocates, scheduling regular reviews, and securing early victories. Drawing on real-life examples, Ben shares his distinctive methodology, which includes leveraging storytellers, motivators, and thinkers as change champions, and demonstrates how this strategy has driven exceptional growth in businesses.

                    Key Takeaways: 

                    •   Define specific objectives for your change management initiatives to guide the team and measure success effectively.
                    •   Break down tasks into actionable steps with clear definitions of what success looks like.
                    •   Use roles like storytellers, motivators, and thinkers to foster engagement and ensure accountability within the team.
                    •   Implement a semesterly check-in process to refine strategies and maintain direction.
                    •   Ensure early victories to build momentum and keep the team motivated towards long-term goals.

                    • Time Stamps: 

                      0:00 Intro

                      2:09 Change Management

                      4:45 Getting Clear on Your Goals for the Program

                      6:35 Map Out What Success Looks Like

                      9:16 Appointing Champions of Change

                      13:49 Setting Your Review Period

                      15:05 Find Quick Wins

                      18:02 Weekly Silver Bullet

                      Be sure to stay tuned for more enlightening content from the Friends in Business podcast. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and leave a review to support us and help others discover these valuable discussions.

                      20 min
                    • Episode 20: How We Deal With Imposter Syndrome

                      In this episode of the Friends in Business Podcast, Ben Wright and Jemimah Ashleigh explore the widespread issue of imposter syndrome, a challenge frequently faced by leaders and entrepreneurs. Ben opens up about his personal journey of fast-paced entrepreneurial success in his twenties, recounting his struggles with self-doubt while managing a large team. Jemimah  enriches the conversation by discussing the various imposter syndrome archetypes, including the perfectionist, the superhero, and the natural genius, while offering practical advice on how to combat these feelings. Together, the hosts highlight the value of recognising one’s accomplishments, seeking mentorship, and embracing ongoing learning.

                      Key Takeaways: 

                      •   Identify and label your imposter syndrome type to effectively address it.
                      •   Keep a detailed list of accomplishments to combat self-doubt.
                      •   Leverage personal and professional networks for guidance and reassurance.
                      •   Regularly assess and address gaps in knowledge and skills for personal growth.
                      •   Approach new challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, maintaining progress and adapting to change.

                      • Time Stamps: 

                        0:00 Intro

                        1:31 Imposter Syndrome

                        6:32 Types of Imposters

                        9:12 How To Work Through Imposter Syndrome

                        19:11 Weekly Silver Bullet

                        20:35 Outro

                        Be sure to stay tuned for more enlightening content from the Friends in Business podcast. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and leave a review to support us and help others discover these valuable discussions.

                        22 min

                      About Friends in Business

                      From the publisher's feed

                      Welcome to the *Friends in Business Podcast,* where hosts Jemimah Ashleigh and Ben Wright join forces to become your trusted allies in the world of entrepreneurship. This dynamic duo is dedicated to sharing their extensive knowledge and experience to help you navigate the complexities of business with confidence and clarity.