The Critical Few Actions

The Critical Few Actions

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The Critical Few Actions episodes

  • Has Your Business Outgrown The Way You Run iT?
    Join Me For A Free Live WebinarYou know the problem. You’ve tried the solutions.But nothing has really changed?

    Join other CEOs and senior leadership team members for an open and practical conversation with John Downes about what really sits behind persistent business problems, and how to identify the right solution.

    Drawing on more than 30 years of hands-on business mentoring experience, John will share what he has seen work, what often fails, and open the discussion around how to identify what is really causing the problem.

    https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/HowieTran18

    Watch the "4 Minute Critical Insights" episode Summary, all the guest contact info and downloadables, follow the link below

    https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/HowieTran18

    Episdoe Summary

    Howie Tran’s experience with Mrs Tran’s Kitchen highlights the challenge of turning a family-run, passion-driven business into a professional, scalable operation.

    The discussion explores shifting from traditional commodity products to tailored, allergen-safe offerings while building supply chain rigour and expanding the customer base.

    Alongside product innovation, Howie addresses the need for clearer roles, delegated authority and healthy conflict to strengthen company culture and support sustainable growth.

    Who This Episode Is For

    Are you navigating the challenge of transforming a family business with deep roots into a professional organisation capable of scaling beyond its traditional customer base?

    Do you struggle to delegate effectively and build a strong culture that engages your team while maintaining accountability and clear roles?

    This content is intended for founders and CEOs leading evolving family businesses who must professionalise culture, clarify accountability, and prioritise customers to build scalable, sustainable growth.

    56 min
  • Leadership Capicity Under Prolonged Uncertantity
    Ready to build a stronger business?

    If this episode has you thinking differently about leadership, growth, and building a business beyond a great product, we’d love to help.

    Join one of our FREE Strategic Planning Webinars and discover the practical strategies that help founders and CEOs build stronger, more resilient businesses.https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/K-PetaSigley1Who This Episode Is For

    Are you leading your business through prolonged uncertainty and struggling to maintain steady decision-making while protecting your team and sustaining performance?

    Do you find it challenging to balance caring for your people’s resilience and wellbeing with meeting your organisation’s financial and strategic demands?

    This is especially relevant for founders and CEOs navigating complex leadership transitions who need to build resilience as a strategic capability without sacrificing clarity, confidence, or culture.

    Summary

    Leading through prolonged uncertainty calls for resilience as a steady leadership capability, not a quick fix. The discussion explores how transparency, clear purpose, and trusting experienced teams support forward momentum rather than simply bouncing back.

    It stresses compassionate accountability, making space for reflection, and practical ways to measure resilience and culture. These approaches help leaders balance people’s wellbeing with business demands during ongoing change.

    What You'll Learn
    • Build resilience as a continuous leadership capability that balances steadfastness with adaptability through uncertainty.
    • Protect your organisation’s focus by clearly defining and communicating a concise set of top priorities.
    • Develop team accountability by assigning specific responsibilities and conducting regular progress reviews.
    • Use customer feedback consistently to align your products and services with evolving customer needs.
    • Recognise that resilient leadership combines compassion with clear boundaries to sustain both people and business performance.

    1 hr 8 min
  • Can Your Business Grow Without You?

    If you’d like to discover the few actions that could make the biggest difference in your business, join me for one of my free webinars.

    https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/WebinarEnquiryCaptivate-00-JaiVilla1

    Visit the Episode Podcast Page for more info about this episode, including the 4 minute insights video.

    https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/00-JaiVilla1EpisodePage

    Jai transformed a casual dance hobby into a structured business focused on confidence and community, not just technique, and created one of Australia's largest dance schools with 40,000+ students.

    Jai’s system uses a 28-day cycle to build momentum while simplifying operations and marketing. When COVID hit, he integrated automation to ease friction, freeing energy for culture and teaching. He is now aiming to reduce founder reliance.

    What You'll Learn
    • How he built a business with 40,000 students when his competitors struggle to reach 1,000
    • Design your customer journey to prioritise clear milestones that build confidence and reduce friction from the customer’s perspective.
    • Build a consistent operating rhythm that shapes core activities and eases delegation while lowering stress across your team.
    • Use systems and automation strategically to remove friction without sacrificing the human connection and culture in your business.
    • Recognise founder dependency as a critical barrier to growth and design your business to function effectively without relying on you

    1 hr 3 min
  • A Good Product Is Not The Same As A Strong Business
    Ready to build a stronger business?

    If this episode has you thinking differently about leadership, growth, and building a business beyond a great product, we'd love to help.

    Join one of our free Strategic Planning Webinars and discover the practical strategies that help founders and CEOs build stronger, more resilient businesses. John Downes works live with participants to explore real business challenges and practical ways to address them.

    Places are limited to just 15 participants to keep every session interactive and valuable.

    Click below to register your interest. A member of our team will personally get in touch with details of the next webinar.

    To reserve your place Click Here

    (https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/WebinarEnquiryCaptivate)

    Whether you're a founder, CEO, or business owner, there comes a point where having a great product is no longer enough. Sustainable growth depends on building the leadership, systems, and commercial discipline that allow your business to thrive without relying on you for every decision.

    In this episode, John Downes speaks with Richard Seymour, founder and CEO of Mount Zero Olives, about the journey from producing an exceptional product to building a resilient, values-driven business. Their conversation is full of practical insights for leaders who want to strengthen their business while staying true to what makes it unique.

    Summary

    Mount Zero’s journey highlights the challenge of growing a small, values-driven food business into a sustainable brand. Along the way, Richard navigated the transition from hands-on farming to strategic leadership, systematised knowledge, and built stronger team capabilities.

    The discussion focuses on practical steps to balance quality, customer loyalty, and margin control while embracing transparency and partnerships to manage growth without losing core values.

    What You'll Learn
    • Build your growth strategy around a few clear values that act as filters for all new opportunities.
    • Protect your margins and cash flow by tracking the three key numbers that reveal real business health.
    • Develop your team’s problem-solving skills by stepping back and asking questions instead of providing quick fixes.
    • Use your purpose and boundaries to test whether new products, markets, or partners align with your brand’s core.
    • Shift from hands-on control to strategic leadership to unlock sustainable growth and team ownership.

    Three Strategic Insights:

    This episode explores how to move from producing to truly creating value in your business.

    • Turning values into decision filters

    • Knowing the numbers that protect the business

    • Moving from doing to leading

    Each insight includes practical actions you can apply in your own business.

    Watch the 4 Minute Insights video for the complete discussion, practical examples and recommended actions.

    Final Thought

    Define your purpose, know what you will celebrate, know your absolute no's, and then use those boundaries to test your strategy. Step back and look at your business more objectively. Are you capturing the value your business creates? Are your values making decisions clearer? And are you leading the team or still carrying too much of the business on your own shoulders? Consider your #CriticalFewActions™ and focus on what truly matters rather than spreading your time across too many priorities.

    Highlights

    00:00 Podcast Guest Setup

    02:24 Mount Zero Today

    03:56 From Farm to Factory

    04:44 Origin Story and Return

    06:58 Becoming a Food Brand

    11:37 COVID Brand Wake Up

    12:54 Founder Bottleneck Shift

    16:04 Systems and Processes

    18:24 Values Provenance Sustainability

    24:01 Quality Differentiation

    25:34 Vertical Integration Growth

    28:18 Choosing New Products

    29:05 Testing New Products

    29:38 Culling Slow Movers

    30:11 Growing Through Partnerships

    31:55 Empathy In Supply Chain

    33:10 Climate Risk And Pricing

    35:33 Margins And Key Metrics

    38:22 Channel Cashflow Reality

    39:53 Founder Role And Strategy

    56 min
  • Not All Revenue Is Good Revenue: Strategic Lessons for Founders with Paris Singer

    WANT Paris’ checklist and Business Ready Checklist? https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/Paris-Singer-Fluid-Branding

    Please Subscribe/Follow here https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/Subscribe-Me

    Not All Revenue Is Good Revenue: Strategic Lessons for Founders with Paris Singer

    What separates a busy founder from a strategic one?

    In this conversation, Paris Singer shares lessons on startups, growth, brand, and leadership, while John Downes highlights the strategic shifts that help founders build better businesses.

    Summary

    In this Meet the Founder episode, John Downes speaks with Paris Singer, CEO of Fluid Branding, about the real lessons behind building and scaling a business.

    Paris shares his journey from early startups through to acquiring and leading a brand agency. Along the way, John draws out the strategic decisions that separate reactive growth from deliberate business building.

    Together, they explore what many founders learn the hard way. Not all revenue is good revenue. Focus matters. Clarity matters. And strategy must lead execution.

    If you are leading a business and want to step out of the day-to-day, this conversation will help you think more clearly about where to focus next.

    What You Will Learn
    • Why chasing every opportunity slows your growth
    • How to validate your business through real clients
    • The shift from execution to strategy in modern businesses
    • Why brand now belongs in the boardroom
    • How trust allows you to challenge and lead clients better
    • The importance of focusing on your #CriticalFewActions™

    Highlights

    00:00 The Startup Lesson Most Founders Learn Too Late

    04:34 The Fastest Way to Validate Your Business Idea

    07:37 Why He Bought Into a Branding Agency

    09:23 Why Execution Is Losing Value (And What Matters Now)

    11:58 The Real Meaning of Being a Trusted Adviser

    15:03 When Brand Stops Being Marketing and Drives Strategy

    17:47 How Smart Leaders Handle Uncertain Markets

    21:48 The Right Way to Use AI in Your Business

    24:31 Why He Stepped Back and Sought Strategic Advice

    27:47 What He Would Do Differently Starting Again

    31:51 The Few Actions That Actually Move a Business Forward

    33:25 Free Tools to Help You Refocus Your Business

    John’s Strategic Insight

    Many founders stay busy for too long.

    The shift to becoming strategic comes when you:

    • choose the right work, not all work
    • prioritise what truly moves the business
    • step back regularly to assess direction

    That is where most businesses either accelerate or stall.

    Who This Episode Is For
    • Founders stuck in day-to-day delivery
    • CEOs trying to scale without losing focus
    • Leaders unsure which opportunities to pursue
    • Business owners who want clearer strategic direction

    If this episode resonates, it may be time to step back and assess your own business.

    The Organisation Performance & Value Diagnostic helps you identify the #CriticalFewActions™ that will move your business forward.

    —-------------

    Sponsor: The CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning and Implementation

    Are you a business owner or CEO striving to elevate your business to new heights? But right now… you’re not hitting the targets or objectives your business needs to achieve. Or maybe you’ve hit a roadblock you can’t move past—a major challenge with no clear solution—and there’s no one in your world you can talk to about it.

    This isn’t another generic leadership course. It’s a highly focused, small-group programme where you’ll work alongside your peers, on your business, break through barriers, and implement real-world strategies—not just to solve the problems holding your business back, but to accelerate your growth faster than you thought possible.

    Find out more here: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/ceo-masterclass/

    #CriticalFewActions #CEOMasterclass

    #StrategyExecution #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #MediumBusiness #CEO #StrategicPlanning #OrganisationalAlignment #BusinessGrowth

    34 min
  • Fiona Holland: How to transition from Founder to CEO and Chair and Avoid ‘Tissue Rejection’

    Subscribe/Follow and click here for further information and the eBook of resources:

    https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/

    Please let me know if I’m on the right track with the podcast. It means the world to me to know I’m adding value.

    Are you stepping back from your business but still find everyone waiting for you to make the final call?

    Has your organisation outgrown instinctive, founder-led decision-making?

    Are you trying to empower a CEO but feel the pull of old habits and legacy systems?

    If you are trying to transition from founder-led operations to a CEO–Chair model without creating friction or confusion, this episode is for you.

    In this conversation with Fiona Holland, CEO of Tri-Tech Chemicals, we explore the real-world challenges founders face when they hand over control. You’ll hear how Fiona navigated authority, governance, gut-feel decision-making, and the risk of organisational “tissue rejection” when a new CEO steps in.

    What You’ll Learn

    == Why founders struggle to let go of authority even after stepping out of operations

    == How CEOs can build legitimacy when long-term staff still default to the founder

    == How a new CEO stepped up significantly her skills and network

    == Why missing governance and Delegation of Authority creates risk as you grow

    == How to reset your strategic plan with your leadership team and board

    == Practical steps to avoid “tissue rejection” when bringing in a CEO

    Highlights

    00:00 Fiona's Early Career and Education

    05:28 Joining Tri-Tech and Initial Challenges

    10:43 Transitioning to CEO and Establishing Authority

    21:50 Implementing Strategic Changes

    27:27 Navigating Founder-CEO Dynamics

    37:08 Facilitating a Smooth Transition

    37:22 Mutual Respect and Open Communication

    38:29 Implementing Systems and Processes

    40:13 Educating the Board and Governance

    40:59 Advice for Retiring Founders

    44:35 Navigating Founder-CEO Relationships

    54:46 How to Develop as a CEO and build a network

    58:57 The Power of Knowing Your OPV

    01:04:09 Future of the Chemical Industry and Tri-Tech

    01:06:25 Advice for Aspiring CEOs

    01:08:21 #CriticalFewActions™ for Founders and CEOs

    The #CriticalFewActions™ You Can Do Today

    When I work with successful business leaders, I often see founders stepping back from operations without changing the structures that once held everything together. This leaves CEOs responsible but not fully empowered, and teams confused about where decisions truly sit.

    Here are the three key insights I took from the conversation:

    Insight 1: Clarify authority early

    Many founders still speak with the authority of the past, which unintentionally overrides the CEO.

    So, what can you do?

    • Agree which decisions belong to the CEO and which remain with the founder–Chair.

    • Communicate these boundaries clearly and reinforce them consistently.

    Insight 2: Put governance and structure in place

    Mid-sized businesses often rely on habit and history, not defined systems or Delegation of Authority.

    So, what can you do?

    • Create a simple Delegation of Authority so staff know who approves what.

    • Establish a predictable governance rhythm with reporting and defined decision pathways.

    Insight 3: Rebuild the strategic plan together

    If the strategy lives only in the founder’s head, the CEO cannot lead effectively.

    So, what can you do?

    • Develop the strategic plan with your CEO, board, and leadership team together.

    • Link KPIs and roles to the plan so accountability is shared and transparent.

    Final Thought

    If your organisation is entering a founder-to-CEO transition, the risks are real but manageable. Clarity, structure, and a shared strategic plan remove friction and protect both the business and the founder’s legacy.

    This episode gives you practical steps to ensure your business grows beyond gut-feel and into sustainable, scalable leadership.

    1 hr 5 min
  • John Downes: You’ve Got the Strategy. Now What? Turning Plans Into Action

    Subscribe/Follow and click here for further information and the eBook of resources:

    https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/

    Have you ever completed a strategy offsite and wondered why nothing changed afterwards?

    Does your leadership team stay busy, but not truly aligned?

    Are you carrying the strategy in your head, hoping others will catch up?

    If you’ve written a strategy but it hasn’t delivered meaningful results, this episode is for you.

    In this episode, John Downes shares a candid conversation originally recorded with Elise Margow on her Confidentially Speaking webinar to explore how CEOs of medium-sized businesses can move strategy off the page and into real action through ownership, rhythm, and leadership discipline.

    What You’ll Learn:

    == Why strategies stall when leaders move too fast

    == How shared ownership changes execution outcomes

    == Why quarterly and monthly rhythms matter more than long-term plans

    == How founder dynamics can block implementation

    == What to do when leaders resist the strategy

    Highlights

    00:00 Introduction to John Downes

    10:42 Why preparation matters more than intention

    18:43 A real strategy case study in action

    23:31 Quarterly execution that actually works

    27:14 Balancing daily pressure with strategic focus

    31:00 Founder dynamics in smaller businesses

    31:43 Communicating strategy without assumptions

    34:08 Respect and collaboration in planning

    36:50 What to do with rigid founders

    40:39 Handling naysayers during execution

    43:48 Family relationships and business tension

    51:16 Adapting strategy mid-implementation

    53:55 #CriticalFewActions™ for Senior Leaders

    The #CriticalFewActions™ You Can Do Today

    Here are the three key insights I took from the conversation:

    Insight 1: Strategy fails without shared ownership.

    If your team didn’t help build it, they won’t own it.

    So, what can you do?

    Involve your leadership team early. Test assumptions together.

    Insight 2: Long-term plans don’t drive action.

    Strategy needs rhythm, not intention.

    So, what can you do?

    Set monthly commitments. Review progress openly.


    Insight 3: Execution is a leadership discipline.

    Behaviour changes results.

    So, what can you do?

    Step out of the day-to-day and lead the review process.

    If you found this conversation valuable, please Subscribe / Follow, leave a comment, and share this episode with your peer business leaders. Your support helps us reach more CEOs who want to improve organisation performance and value.

    Stay in the loop with show updates and exclusive content: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/

    Sponsor: The CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning and Implementation

    Are you a business owner or CEO striving to elevate your business to new heights? But right now… you’re not hitting the targets or objectives your business needs to achieve. Or maybe you’ve hit a roadblock you can’t move past—a major challenge with no clear solution—and there’s no one in your world you can talk to about it.

    This isn’t another generic leadership course. It’s a highly focused, small-group programme where you’ll work alongside your peers, on your business, break through barriers, and implement real-world strategies—not just to solve the problems holding your business back, but to accelerate your growth faster than you thought possible.

    Find out more here: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/ceo-masterclass/

    Final Thought

    If your strategy hasn’t changed behaviour, it hasn’t worked. Start smaller, involve your team sooner, and lead the discipline of execution. That’s where progress actually happens.

    #CriticalFewActions #CEOMasterclass

    #StrategyExecution #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #MediumBusiness #CEO #StrategicPlanning #OrganisationalAlignment #BusinessGrowth

    55 min
  • Carmen McKinney: How to beat AI Slop With Numbers You Can Trust
    Carmen McKinney: How to Beat AI Slop With Numbers You Can Trust

    Subscribe/Follow and click here for further information and the eBook of resources:

    https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/

    Please let me know if I’m on the right track with the podcast. It means the world to me to know I’m adding value.

    Are you making strategic decisions based on data you assume is accurate?

    Are you leading growth plans without checking if your assumptions stand up?

    Are you unsure whether AI is helping or quietly increasing your risk?


    If you rely on information that may no longer be trustworthy, this episode is for you.


    In this conversation, John Downes speaks with IBISWorld’s Carmen McKinney about why data quality is declining, how CEOs can strengthen their planning with real benchmarks, and how to cut through AI slop to make better long-term decisions. For leaders of mid-sized organisations, this discussion highlights how evidence-based insight can reshape your strategy and focus your team.


    What You’ll Learn:

    == Why AI is flooding the internet with unreliable information

    == How to validate gut feel with credible benchmarks

    == How to identify your winnable market

    == Why strategic focus beats busywork

    == How to sharpen your planning with trusted research


    Highlights

    00:00 Introduction to Carmen and IBISWorld

    05:20 What industry research really tells leaders

    07:17 Strategic planning made clearer with benchmarks

    20:24 AI slop and declining data quality

    32:13 The future of industry research and AI

    39:52 #CriticalFewActions™ for Senior Leaders


    The #CriticalFewActions™ You Can Do Today

    When I work with successful business leaders, I often see how easy it is to plan from assumptions rather than evidence. Many still rely on instinct, even when the market is shifting faster than they expect.


    Here are the three key insights I took from the conversation:


    Insight 1: The risk of poor-quality information.

    AI slop is making it harder to trust what you read.

    So, what can you do?

    Use validated, professional sources for major decisions.

    Ask your team to show the source and evidence for every assumption.


    Insight 2: Balancing gut feel with benchmarks.

    Gut feel only draws on what you already know.

    So, what can you do?

    Benchmark your projections against real industry data.

    Check whether your chosen markets are already dominated by large competitors.


    Insight 3: Narrow your focus to win.

    Most companies try to change too many things at once.

    So, what can you do?

    Choose one clear competitive position and align your resources.

    Stop or pause low-value initiatives to protect execution.


    If you found this conversation valuable, please Subscribe / Follow, leave a comment, and share this episode with your peer business leaders. Your support helps us reach more CEOs who want to improve organisation performance and value.


    Sponsor: The CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning and Implementation

    Are you a business owner or CEO striving to elevate your business to new heights? But right now… you’re not hitting the targets or objectives your business needs to achieve. Or maybe you’ve hit a roadblock you can’t move past—a major challenge with no clear solution—and there’s no one in your world you can talk to about it.

    This isn’t another generic leadership course. It’s a highly focused, small-group programme where you’ll work alongside your peers, on your business, break through barriers, and implement real-world strategies—not just to solve the problems holding your business back, but to accelerate your growth faster than you thought possible.

    Find out more here: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/ceo-masterclass/


    Final Thought

    If your decisions are only as strong as the information behind them, now is the time to check the quality of your inputs. Better data leads to better choices, and better choices shape the business you become.


    #CriticalFewActions #CEOMasterclass

    #StrategicPlanning #BusinessLeadership #IndustryResearch #DataQuality #Benchmarking #MidSizedBusiness #AIForBusiness #OrganisationalPerformance

    42 min
  • Grant Lingwood-Smith on the Four Habits of High-Performing CFOs

    Please Subscribe/Follow so I know I’m adding value and to give you more like this.

    Find further information and the eBook of resources: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/

    1. Are you getting the insights you need from your finance team?
    2. Do your budgets and KPIs actually drive performance?
    3. Is your CFO helping your business learn, or only reporting numbers?

    If you struggle to get meaningful insight from your finance function, this episode is for you.

    A great CFO helps your organisation plan well, measure what matters, and learn from results. In this conversation, Grant Lingwood-Smith explains the four habits that set high-performing CFOs apart and how medium-sized businesses can turn finance into a genuine learning engine.


    What You’ll Learn:

    == Why collaborative budgeting builds ownership and accountability

    == How effective management information sharpens decision-making

    == How to simplify OKRs and KPIs to drive real performance

    == The power of structured reflection and replanning

    == What great CFOs and CEOs do differently


    Highlights

    00:00 Introducing Grant Lingwood-Smith

    01:56 What makes a great finance team

    04:18 Balancing support and accountability

    08:10 Budgeting and forecasting challenges

    19:09 Creating effective management information

    29:38 Why performance measures matter

    30:56 Simplifying OKRs for all roles

    32:12 Assigning accountability for OKRs

    33:18 Clear OKRs and KPIs that motivate

    35:16 Engaging employees with business goals

    38:09 Wins and challenges in business metrics

    47:26 How great teams reflect and replan

    54:34 What great CEOs and CFOs do differently

    01:00:14 #CriticalFewActions™ for Senior Leaders


    The #CriticalFewActions™ You Can Do Today:

    When I work with successful business leaders, I often see a gap between the numbers they report and the actions they take. Too many treat finance as compliance rather than a learning engine. Here are the three key insights I took from the conversation:


    1. Budget and Track Performance.

    Many CEOs treat budgeting as a financial task rather than a shared commitment.

    So, what can you do?

    • Involve your leadership team in setting assumptions so they own the numbers.

    • Review results monthly with a focus on learning, not blame.


    1. Creating and Using Management Information.

    Reports often show everything but explain nothing.

    So, what can you do?

    • Redesign reporting packs to focus on what is actionable.

    • Give each KPI a clear owner with responsibility to act.


    1. Reflect and Re-Plan.

    Growth stalls when leaders skip reflection.

    So, what can you do?

    • Schedule quarterly reflection sessions to discuss patterns, not just data.

    • Embed a ‘what did we learn?’ question into planning cycles.


    If you found this conversation valuable, please Subscribe / Follow, leave a comment. Your support helps us reach more CEOs who want to improve their organisation performance and value.


    Sponsor: The CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning and Implementation

    Are you a business owner or CEO striving to elevate your business to new heights? But right now… you’re not hitting the targets or objectives your business needs to achieve. Or maybe you’ve hit a roadblock you can’t move past—a major challenge with no clear solution—and there’s no one in your world you can talk to about it.

    This isn’t another generic leadership course. It’s a highly focused, small-group programme where you’ll work alongside your peers, on your business, break through barriers, and implement real-world strategies—not just to solve the problems holding your business back, but to accelerate your growth faster than you thought possible.

    Find out more here: https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/Grant1Lingwood-SmithSP


    Final Thought

    If your finance team only reports the numbers, you’re missing half their value. The real shift comes when they help the business learn, adjust, and improve. That is where performance accelerates.



    #CriticalFewActions #CEOMasterclass

    #BusinessPerformance #StrategicPlanning #CFOInsights #OrganisationalLearning #MediumBusiness #BusinessImprovement

    1 hr 2 min
  • David Sanders: Why Getting Product/Service Costing Right Is the Key to Growing Performance and Value

    Have you Subscribed/Followed yet? Please do so I know I’m on the right track and adding value.

    Click here for further information and the eBook of resources:

    https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/

    Do you really know what your products cost? Or, just what your system says they do?

    When your data tells you one thing, but your invoices say another, who do you trust?

    And what if the purpose behind your costing model is the reason you can’t see what’s really happening?

    If you’ve ever wondered why your numbers don’t match your experience, this episode is for you.

    In this conversation, John Downes speaks with Dave Sanders, CEO of Bestrane, about the truth behind product costing and how CEOs can use it to make better decisions and improve their Organisation Performance and Value.

    What You’ll Learn:

    == How to reveal hidden behaviours through your costing model

    == Why AI can’t replace good judgement in decision-making

    == How accurate costing improves business performance and value


    Highlights:

    00:00 Dave Sanders and The Journey into Product Costing

    02:38 Understanding Product Costing

    04:10 Case Study: Electronic Components and Software

    07:33 The Role of Invoices in Costing

    17:40 Challenges in Product and Service Costing

    21:52 Value-Based Pricing in Practice

    23:10 Challenges in Service Pricing

    25:26 Costing in Software Businesses

    34:29 AI's Impact on Costing and Decision Making

    38:20 Critical Actions for Founders and CEOs


    The #CriticalFewActions™ You Can Do Today

    When I work with successful business leaders to create their Strategic Plans and help them implement them, I often find that their product and service costing doesn’t tell the full story. Many assume they know their margins, until the data reveals how sales or customer behaviour drives unseen cost.


    The first Insight is about Purpose-Driven Costing.

    Many costing models exist to satisfy accountants rather than decision-makers.

    So, what can you do?

    • Define what decision each cost figure is meant to support.

    • Align every measure with your business purpose: service, efficiency, or value.


    The second Insight is about Revealing Hidden Behaviour.

    Linking costs to activity exposes how teams or branches use resources differently.

    So, what can you do?

    • Analyse behaviour patterns behind cost drivers.

    • Use costing to start conversations that improve performance, not assign blame.


    The third Insight is about Thinking Before You Automate.

    AI can model hundreds of scenarios, but leaders must still decide what matters.

    So, what can you do?

    • Use technology to test options but decide with intent.

    • Keep purpose and human judgement at the centre of every decision.


    Sponsor: The CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning and Implementation

    Are you a business owner or CEO striving to elevate your business to new heights? But right now… you’re not hitting the targets or objectives your business needs to achieve. Or maybe you’ve hit a roadblock you can’t move past—a major challenge with no clear solution; and there’s no one in your world you can talk to about it.

    This isn’t another generic leadership course. It’s a highly focused, small-group programme where you’ll work alongside your peers, on your business, break through barriers, and implement real-world strategies; not just to solve the problems holding your business back, but to accelerate your growth faster than you thought possible.


    Find out more here: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/ceo-masterclass/


    Final Thought

    When product costing is connected to purpose, it becomes more than accounting. It becomes strategy. CEOs who align their numbers with their decisions gain clarity, control, and confidence. Start by asking: what decisions do these figures really help me make?



    #CriticalFewActions #CEOMasterclass

    #ProductCosting #BusinessStrategy #DecisionMaking #Leadership #AI #OperationalExcellence #BusinessGrowth #JohnDownes

    41 min

About The Critical Few Actions

From the publisher's feed

Overwhelmed by trying to do it all? Focus on the criticalfewactions™ that will have the biggest impact on your business's success.