The Better SMB Podcast

Episode SummaryHutch — founder of Plan AConsulting and former NZ Police detective — joins David Altena and Rob Bull to share what 15+ years of working with Kiwi SMEs has taught him. From running petrol stations to advising businesses across New Zealand, he unpacks thepatterns holding owners back and the practical steps to break free.Episode Highlights1. From the Police Force to Petrol StationsBurned out after years in the CIB and Serious Crime, John bought a service station with no business training and learned by making “donations to the market.”2. The Trap of BusynessBusy isn’t the same as productive.John’s turning point was counting pies during a stock-take. Is your daily activity actually moving the business forward?3. Delegate vs. AbdicateHis first two operations managersfailed — not their fault. He abdicated instead of delegated. The fix: clear expectations, accountability, and his mantra “Trust, but validate.”4. Strategy Fits on One PageStrategy is a set of integrated choices, not a 50-page document. Start with one question: What’s your winning aspiration?5. Governance Scales DownFor a sole trader it’s 20 minutes of honest reflection. For a $17M business, an Advisory Board. Either way: direction, oversight, accountability.6. Breakthrough vs. StuckBusinesses that scale are clear on direction, willing to try things, and know their numbers. Tom Peters: “Whoever tries the most, wins.”7. The Undercover Business AdvisorWhile running a covert police op in the South Island, Hutch’s cover story was that he was a business advisor. Years later — that’s exactly what he became.Quick-Fire Round•       Weekly question: “Have I achieved what I set out to achieve?”•       Biggest myth: You need to be the fountain of all knowledge•       Books: The E-Myth Revisited, 7 Habits, Good to Great, Scaling Up, Playing to Win•       Hawke’s Bay hidden gem: Sit undera tree on a beach and look out at the sea Key Takeaways•       Stop counting pies — if you’re doing it, you’re stuck•       Busyness is not a badge of honour•       Trust, but validate•       Strategy fits on one page•       Governance scales to any size business•       Mistakes are tuition fees — learnand move on Links & ResourcesGuestPlan A Consulting — www.planaconsulting.co.nzEpisode SponsorSetSeed — www.setseed.comThe Better SMB PodcastListen on SpotifyBooks Mentioned•       The E-Myth Revisited — Michael E. Gerber•       The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen Covey•       Good to Great / Built to Last / How the Mighty Fall — Jim Collins•       Scaling Up — Verne Harnish•       Playing to Win — Roger Martin& A.G. Lafley•       Blue Ocean Strategy — Kim & Mauborgne•       Red Team Thinking / American Icon — Bryce Hoffman•       Slow Productivity — Cal Newport•       Alchemy — Rory Sutherland  Episode Tags#BetterSMB  •  #PlanAConsulting  • #SMELeadership  •  #NZBusiness   #BusinessGrowthThe Better SMB Podcast is proudly sponsored by SetSeed — www.setseed.com

New Zealand earns $21 billion a year from dairy exports. Yet the performance gap between the best farms and the rest is enormous — and it has almost nothing to do with technology, weather, or market access. It's leadership.Tennielle Ellingham has spent 20 years inside this gap. Through Beyond the Gate, she works with farmers, vets, advisors, and rural business owners on the part of farm performance that most training programmes don't touch: how you lead under pressure, build a team that speaks up, and make better decisions when the stakes are high and support is thin.In this episode:

• Why operational excellence in dairying is a leadership maturity problem — not a tech problem
• What visibly separates a top-quartile farm from an average one
• Why "adoption is not utilisation" — and where tech investment quietly fails
• The workforce capability crisis and what it actually costs on farm
• Why NZ's real competitive edge isn't pasture — it's leadership capability per hectare

Key quote: "Anyone can copy our grass. They can't copy three generations of decision-making."🔗 Beyond the Gate: beyondthegate.mn.co🎙️ The Better SMB Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/0VmzaRqeU5g94kzfPRKQlqProudly sponsored by SetSeed — www.setseed.com#BetterSMB #NZDairy #BeyondTheGate #LeadershipPerHectare #FarmLeadership

What does it take to build a high-performing business — and then hand it on to the next generation?David and Rob sit down with Jeff and Sasha Langham, the father-daughter team behind Drain Ninjas — a West Auckland drainage company and winner of the High Performance Award at the 2025 Northwest Country Business Association Business Awards. Drain Unblocking Auckland | Vacuum Loading | Drain NinjasTheir story starts simply: a gap in the market, a commitment to communication, and a family that saw an opportunity. Ten years on, they're a multi-service operation with a loyal team, a strong word-of-mouth reputation, and a business built to last beyond its founders.The conversation covers three big themes. First, the power of stepping back — entering the awards forced Sasha to reflect on a decade of progress she'd been too deep in the trenches to appreciate. Second, the team comes first — Drain Ninjas brought the whole crew to the awards night, because if the business wins, everyone wins. And third, succession done right — Jeff planned for the handover from day one, building a business that didn't revolve around any one person, with clear roles, documented plans, and support structures already in place.Their advice for other Kiwi family businesses? Start the conversation earlier than you think you need to. Clarify roles. Write it down. And don't wait until you're ready to retire to think about what happens next.Practical, honest, and full of hard-won insight — this one's worth sharing with every business owner you know.
A big thanks to our web sponsors, Set Seed. Go to www.setseed.com to access great developers and an all-in-one platform for your business.

It might be a bit late in posting, but David and Rob came back after the summer break to kick off 2026 with a look under the hood — reflecting on what's worked, what's ahead, and how you can help shape the conversation.With 31 episodes now in the wild and a growing audience, the highlights from the past year include some standout guests, a government minister on the show, a top-rated episode with Dave Bunting becoming compulsory listening at a local marketing firm, and a column in NZ Manufacturer Magazine.But this episode is really about what's coming. The guys share their BHAG — getting 100,000 New Zealand SMBs on a high-performance journey — and the practical tools being built to make that happen. Backed by Setseed, a new online diagnostic capability was launched on March 4th at the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, giving businesses a way to benchmark their performance, compare themselves to industry peers, and chart a roadmap for growth.There's also a new team member — Danielle Hancock — joining as General Manager, plus exciting guests already locked in for the first half of the year and a push to get all major political parties on the show ahead of the election.The message? New Zealand's productivity problem is real — and the solution isn't coming from Wellington. It starts with businesses getting better, one decision at a time.Got a guest suggestion? Know someone who should hear this? Share it with three business owners you know. The rising tide lifts all boats.

Every construction project generates thousands of documents, drawings, decisions, and specifications. Then the project ends — and most of that intelligence disappears, buried on USB sticks or lost in SharePoint folders nobody revisits. In this episode, hosts David and Rob sit down with Jon Sinclair of Performance Building Technologies to explore why the construction industry's data problem is costing New Zealand dearly, and what businesses of any size can do about it today. Jon's path is anything but conventional — environmental scientist turned London developer turned managed services specialist — and it gives him a sharp eye for where the industry is leaving value on the table. His solution is something he calls "asset memory": a shared, searchable intelligence that carries the story of a building long after the project team has moved on.  What You'll Learn The scale of the problem. Construction professionals spend roughly 35% of their time on non-value-added work. A 3,500-page specification that takes 3–4 weeks to manually review can be processed by AI in under two hours — more accurately. New Zealand's productivity gap is stark: it costs us 50% more to build infrastructure than the US, and up to 900% more than countries like South Korea and Finland. The handover cliff. The biggest performance loss in construction doesn't happen during a project — it happens the moment it ends. Operational teams inherit a curated subset of project data; the rest vanishes. Jon makes the case that handover should be treated as a critical project phase, not a loose end. Why you're building two assets. Every project creates a physical asset and a digital one. The physical asset is visible; the digital one is usually ignored. But the digital asset compounds in value over time — informing maintenance, resolving disputes, proving compliance, and affecting resale. Jon shares a real example where a commercial owner discovered their building was 20% larger than they'd been leasing it for, simply because no one had ever checked. What asset memory looks like in practice. Rather than curating a subset of information into a structured system, Performance Building Technologies captures everything and lets AI do the filtering. Their approach layers a small language model trained on New Zealand building codes and construction terminology on top of all project data — so facility managers can ask "What's behind the wall in Ward 3?" or "What are the warranty conditions on the specialist lighting?" and get answers in seconds. The rework revelation. 70% of health and safety incidents on construction sites happen during rework. When teams are under pressure to redo work, that's when accidents occur. Solving the data problem is a safety issue as much as a productivity one. Practical first steps. Jon's three starting points for any construction business: (1) build a visual record of your work on site — LiDAR-equipped phones and apps like Polycam make it simple; (2) use AI to understand the specs you're signing before you sign them; (3) think about how you hand over information, because retained payments are often tied to digital deliverables. Key TakeawaysThe organisations that treat data as an asset — not an afterthought — will be the ones that close New Zealand's productivity gap and set a new benchmark for the industry. Start small, capture everything, and remember: the digital foundation matters just as much as the physical one.Connect with Jon Sinclair and Performance Building Technologies to learn more about asset memory and digital transformation in construction.Rapid Fire Questions

• Books: The End of the World Is Just the Beginning by Peter Zeihan . The Mandibles by Lionel Shriver — a fictional collapse of the US economy in 2028 that's feeling a little too real right now.
• Weirdly competitive hobby: Sourdough baking — bread, pita, waffles, pizza. All of it.
• Best spot in Grey Lynn, Auckland: Honey Bones — great food, great vibe.

Most small and medium businesses think of governance as box‑ticking, compliance, or something only “big corporates” need. But what if governance was actually your competitive advantage?In this episode, we sit down with Dr Peter Crow, an internationally recognised governance advisor and director, to unpack what governance really means for SMBs — and why almost everything business owners think about governance is wrong.Peter makes governance accessible, practical, and deeply human. He shows how the right conversations, the right people, and the right focus can shift a business from drifting like a “cork in a washing machine” to intentionally steering towards performance, resilience, and growth.Whether you’re a founder wearing 14 hats or an ambitious SMB preparing to scale, this conversation reframes governance from compliance to capability — from structure to strategic enabler.HighlightsGovernance is not compliance — it’s performancePeter challenges the biggest misconception in SMBs: that governance is about slowing things down, following rules, or meeting obligations. True governance is about steering, guiding, and enabling growth.The moment an owner should consider governance
From generational succession to new markets, or simply not wanting to make decisions alone — Peter explains the real triggers for adding governance capability.Why structure matters less than behaviour and capabilityBoards don’t perform because of frameworks. They perform because of people — how they think, behave, and challenge each other.“You cannot comply your way to performance”
Peter’s seven‑word myth‑buster reframes governance as a game plan, not a checklist.---------------------  The Better SMB Podcast is sponsored by SetSeed, the all-in-one platform that redefines what a website can be. Smart, secure and AI-tailored to reflect your brand. No plugins, no patchwork, no problems. Just world-class software and support in one subscription. Discover more at setseed.com  ---------------------  Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn Rob Bull David Altena Learn more about NZ Lean Academy and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business  Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more higher performing business today  

Innovation isn’t just about technology or government policy, it’s a leadership choice. In this episode of The Better SMB Podcast, we sit down with Sean Doherty, former Callaghan Innovation leader, to unpack why New Zealand’s prosperity depends on the decisions business leaders make today. Sean shares insights from decades in engineering, manufacturing, and national innovation programmes, challenging SMB owners to step out of their comfort zone and start building capacity for growth. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 

• Why New Zealand is “poor because it chooses to be” 

• The real difference between R&D, innovation and adoption 

• How leadership, not funding, is the biggest barrier to progress 

• Practical steps to shift from cost-cutting to growth 

Episode Highlights: 

• “Innovation isn’t a destination—it’s a daily choice.” 

• The three barriers holding SMBs back: funding, lack of strategy, and comfort 

• Why waiting for government support is a losing game 

• How small acts of leadership courage, like listening to staff ideas, can unlock big breakthroughs 

 --------------------- The Better SMB Podcast is sponsored by SetSeed, the all-in-one platform that redefines what a website can be. Smart, secure and AI-tailored to reflect your brand. No plugins, no patchwork, no problems. Just world-class software and support in one subscription. Discover more at setseed.com --------------------- Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn Rob Bull David Altena Learn more about New Zealand Lean Academy and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business  Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today

In this episode of The Better SMB Podcast, hosts Rob Bull and David Altena sit down with Ray Everest, educator, entrepreneur and co-founder of Future Focus, to explore what it takes to build a business that thrives without you. From humble beginnings in Tokoroa to leading six early learning centres in Papamoa, Ray shares his journey of scaling with purpose, removing ego from leadership, and creating deep societal impact through innovation. Ray’s story is one of resilience, vision and continuous improvement. He discusses how he and his wife Courtney built Future Focus from the ground up, the importance of leadership development, and how their new AI-powered platform, Auro, is transforming early childhood education by helping teachers intervene earlier and more effectively with children needing behavioural and learning support. Whether you’re an SMB owner, educational leader or someone passionate about building high-performing teams, this episode is packed with insights on sustainable growth, leadership behaviours, and creating scalable impact. Highlights: 

• How Ray scaled Future Focus to six centres in seven years with over 120 staff supporting 550 children 

• Why removing your DNA from the business is key to sustainable growth 

• The genesis of Oro, an AI-driven platform set to revolutionise early learning support and the education industry 

• Ray’s leadership philosophy: empowering people to exceed expectations and make mistakes safely  

---------------------  The Better SMB Podcast is sponsored by SetSeed, the all-in-one platform that redefines what a website can be. Smart, secure and AI-tailored to reflect your brand. No plugins, no patchwork, no problems. Just world-class software and support in one subscription. Discover more at setseed.com  ---------------------  Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn Rob Bull David Altena Learn more about NZ Lean Academy and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business  Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more higher performing business today

In this episode of The Better SMB Podcast, we welcome Chris Parnell, Co-Founder and CEO of SetSeed, as both our guest and announce their official sponsorship of The Better SMB podcast. Chris shares his inspiring journey from Rotorua to building a global Customer Experience Platform that simplifies websites, CRMs, e-commerce, and email marketing for businesses worldwide. We dive into why SetSeed chose to partner with The Better SMB, explore Chris’s entrepreneurial story, and uncover practical lessons for SMB leaders who want to lift performance and embrace bold moves. Highlights 

• SetSeed + The Better SMB: Why this partnership matters and what success looks like. 

• From panic attacks to global impact: How Chris turned challenges into opportunities and built SetSeed from the ground up. 

• Customer Experience vs. CMS: What makes SetSeed different and why it matters for SMB productivity. 

• Actionable advice for SMB leaders: Mindset shifts, tech as an enabler, and the bold moves that drive growth. 

Chris’s story is a powerful reminder that bold decisions shape better businesses. If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with another business leader who could use some inspiration, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. ---------------------  The Better SMB Podcast is sponsored by SetSeed, the all-in-one platform that redefines what a website can be. Smart, secure and AI-tailored to reflect your brand. No plugins, no patchwork, no problems. Just world-class software and support in one subscription. Discover more at setseed.com  ---------------------  Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn Rob Bull David Altena Learn more about NZ Lean Academy and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business  Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today

In this episode, we spend some time with Danielle Hancock, General Manager of the North West Country Business Association, to explore one of Aotearoa’s most connected, community-driven business regions. We talk about what makes the North West so unique, the generational businesses that continue to thrive, and the deep sense of collaboration that sets this region apart. We also unpack the partnership between The Better SMB and the North West Country Business Association, including the launch of the Better SMB High-Performance Award – supporting SMEs with benchmarking, insights and practical next steps for lifting business performance. We discuss: 

• What defines the North West Country business community 

• The small-town collaboration and multi-generation businesses shaping the region 

• Challenges facing “mum and dad” SMEs and why decision-making can feel lonely 

• Why North West Country partnered with The Better SMB to lift productivity 

• How performance reporting can strengthen business confidence and capability 

Listen out for some of these highlights: 

•  “This is the only community where everyone walks into the awards hugging each other.” 

•  “Mum and dad businesses make decisions quickly — they just need the right support.” 

•  “We want to create a bit of FOMO — we want others to say, ‘How do we get what they’ve got?’” 

Thank you for tuning in to The Better SMB! Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave a review. ---------------------  The Better SMB Podcast is sponsored by SetSeed, the all-in-one platform that redefines what a website can be. Smart, secure and AI-tailored to reflect your brand. No plugins, no patchwork, no problems. Just world-class software and support in one subscription. Discover more at setseed.com  ---------------------  Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn Rob Bull David Altena Learn more about NZ Lean Academy and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business  Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today