The Lone Recruiter

The 2026 Australian Budget has triggered a lot of emotion, uncertainty and fear across the market and recruiters are hearing it directly from clients.

Here's what I'm seeing, hearing and doing right now as businesses react to major legislative and economic changes.

This isn’t so much about politics. It’s about mindset, market psychology and how recruiters can avoid getting dragged into fear-based thinking when clients start talking hiring freezes, market contractions and uncertainty.

I share why moments like this create hesitation across the economy, why recruiters need to stay close to their clients, and how the best operators position themselves early when the market shifts.

👉 Why recruiters absorb client fear without realising it

If you’re a recruiter navigating nervous clients, shifting markets or economic uncertainty, this episode is for you.

At some point, almost every recruiter thinks about going out on their own.

More freedom. More money. No boss.

But what I’ve seen over the years is that a lot of recruiters underestimate the financial pressure that comes with actually running a business.

In this ep, I break down the biggest pitfalls I see with solo recruiters and agency founders: cashflow, tax, and the hidden stress that catches people out after the early wins start rolling in.

I talk about:

If you’re thinking about launching your own recruitment business (or already have) this ep is worth a listen.

Follow The Lone Recruiter for more conversations around recruitment, business, mindset, and building long-term success.

Most people stop at level two.

They make good money…

But what if wealth was actually a 4-level game?

In today's ep I break down the “Game of Millions”, a framework that completely changed how I think about success, leadership and purpose.

Level 1:

Level 2:

Level 3:

Level 4:

The real trap?

Tune in for:

👉 Why level 2 is where most people get stuck

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Most recruiters completely change their success rate with passive candidates once they understand one thing:

A headhunted candidate is psychologically very different to an applicant.

Applicants are already in the market.

That means the language you use throughout a process matters more than most recruiters realise.

Tune in for:

👉 Why passive candidates trigger “fight or flight”

Because sometimes the difference between a placement and a ghosted candidate… is just the wording.

When markets get tough, most business owners default to the same move:

Cut costs.

But there’s a problem with that strategy…

It’s a finite game.

Today I unpack a simple mindset shift that completely reframed how I think about business growth, recruitment and opportunity during hard times.

Because while cost cutting has a limit… revenue growth doesn’t.

You can only cut to zero.

This ep is for agency owners, leaders and recruiters who are feeling the pressure of tighter markets and trying to decide which path to take:

We dive into:

If you’re in a tough patch right now, this one might help reset your perspective!

Do you feel like you’re performing at a high level… but running on empty underneath?

In this ep, I sit down with Luke Maslin to unpack the hidden cost of high performance  and why so many ambitious recruiters are unknowingly burning themselves out.

Luke shares his journey from semi-pro athlete to struggling with anxiety and health challenges, and how that led him into the world of functional health, blood work analysis, and performance optimisation.

We dive into what’s really going on beneath the surface when you “feel fine” but aren’t operating at your best — and why most people are stuck in reactive health instead of proactive control.

We also explore the difference between a healthy high performer and an anxious overachiever — and why that distinction could determine your long-term success (and sanity).

Tune in for:

If you’re in recruitment, or any high-performance environment — this one will hit close to home.

Ever feel like every new brief means starting from scratch?

Today I break down the difference between generalist chaos and specialist control and why constantly reinventing the wheel is slowing you down more than you think. I share how I’d approach a messy, wide desk, and the simple shift that can turn repeat work into repeatable success.

If you’re tired of doing a full search every single time, this one’s for you.

Tune in for:

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Ever felt like you're holding back who you really are at work?

In this ep, I sit down with Eva Bantin (formerly Eva Wilson), recruiter, business owner, and self-proclaimed “people alchemist”, who’s done something most won’t: she’s completely leaned into her authentic self and built a thriving business around it.

From nearly 30 years in recruitment to rebranding her life, career, and even her name, Eva shares what happened when she stopped playing the corporate game and started showing up as herself, astrology, humour, tiny home life and all.

And here’s the kicker… it worked.

We unpack how authenticity isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a magnet for the right clients, candidates, and opportunities.

👉 Why “being professional” might actually be holding you back

What happens when you bring hundreds of recruiters together in one place?

In this ep, I sit down with Pete Watson to unpack the growth of Recruitment United and why community, training, and real-time collaboration are becoming game changers in the industry.

From a scrappy WhatsApp group to the largest recruitment community in Australia, this is a look at what’s working, what’s evolving, and where it’s all heading next.

Tune in for:

The people around you either drag you down or lift you up.

In this ep, I share a CrossFit analogy that shows how being surrounded by high performers naturally raises your standards, your effort, and your results without you even realising it.

Who you surround yourself with is everything.

Tune in for:

If you want to grow, change your environment and let it do the heavy lifting.