The Self Made Theory

Ever wanted to completely change your career direction?  Or maybe you have a hobby which you would love to turn into an actual business?

 

Well, that’s what happened to Richard Cooper, who founded the artisan knife making business, Dog Boy Knives.  What he produces has to be seen to be believed (check out the photos on my website) – these amazing chef and other knives are handcrafted into practical works of art (with some made of 80 layers of Damascus Steel, which was used in sword making centuries ago).  They’re used by chefs around the world (you might even find a few in Michelin starred restaurant kitchens).

 

Richard and I talk about:

 

• How he left a good-paying job to start a passion business (something that resonates with my own story)
• The Importance of Mentors
• The pursuit of quality means that what you made 2 years ago isn’t likely to be something you’re happy with today
• How Family & friends are often the 1st customers of a new start-up

 

If you want to find out more about Dog Boy Knives, head to our website www.theselfmadetheory.com/podcast where we have some very cool photos, plus all the ways you can engage with Richard.

 

Until next time….keep INNOVATING, OVERCOMING and PROSPERING

 

CONTACT DETAILS for Richard & Dog Boy Knives

Web:

https://www.dogboyknives.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/dogboyknives/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/dogboyknives

Need help in your business?

If you’re an entrepreneur, or business leader, and are faced with challenges in your startup, scale up or established business that you’re not sure how to solve for, then contact us to discuss how our Executive Coaching / Advisory practice can help you.  Email us at [email protected]

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Sam Costello; co-founded BiomeBank (it’s a poo bank, used to treat various diseases – it’s not a gross story, it’s actually quite amazing).

You will learn about the incredible medical benefits of this treatment, the importance of having a healthy microbiome, and how Dr. Costello came to start his business, BiomeBank.

Whether you're a listener who wants to get involved in this research (ie donate!), a person who wants to learn more about the health benefits of a healthy microbiome, or just interested in starting and running a business, listen on your favourite podcast app or click below:

 

www.theselfmadetheory.com/podcast

 

Until next time….keep INNOVATING, OVERCOMING and PROSPERING

 

CONTACT DETAILS

Web:

https://biomebank.org/home/

Donate:

https://biomebank.org/support-us

Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/company/biomebank/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-costello-0618671a1/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/BankBiome 

https://twitter.com/bresch23

Email:

[email protected]

 

NEED HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS?

If you’re an entrepreneur, or business leader, and are faced with challenges in your startup, scale up or established business that you’re not sure how to solve for, then contact us to discuss how our Executive Coaching / Advisory practice can help you.  Email us on [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Sam Costello; co-founded BiomeBank (it’s a poo bank, used to treat various diseases – it’s not a gross story, it’s actually quite amazing).

You will learn about the incredible medical benefits of this treatment, the importance of having a healthy microbiome, and how Dr. Costello came to start his business, BiomeBank.

Whether you're a listener who wants to get involved in this research (ie donate!), a person who wants to learn more about the health benefits of a healthy microbiome, or just interested in starting and running a business, listen on your favourite podcast app or click below:

 

www.theselfmadetheory.com/podcast

 

Until next time….keep INNOVATING, OVERCOMING and PROSPERING

 

CONTACT DETAILS

Web:

https://biomebank.org/home/

Donate:

https://biomebank.org/support-us

Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/company/biomebank/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-costello-0618671a1/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/BankBiome 

https://twitter.com/bresch23

Email:

 

NEED HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS?

If you’re an entrepreneur, or business leader, and are faced with challenges in your startup, scale up or established business that you’re not sure how to solve for, then contact us to discuss how our Executive Coaching / Advisory practice can help you.  Email us on [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode will inspire you to take a step back, reflect on your work or business, and think of innovative ways to disrupt the traditional, perhaps broken, business model you are working in.

 

I interview Mellissa Larkin, Founder and Managing Director of legal firm Peripheral Blue.

 

In this episode, she talks about disrupting the traditional, Partner-centric legal firm model.   Her vision is wonderful – focused not on how her firm is going to bill the next 6-minute increment, but by being laser focussed on her client’s perspective and on the wellbeing of her staff.  A real challenge to all the traditional legal firms around the world.

 

Thank you for listening to this episode. Don’t just click onto your next podcast, head over to my website (www.theselfmadetheory.com/podcast) to subscribe to know what’s latest!

 

Until next time….keep INNOVATING, OVERCOMING and PROSPERING

 

CONTACT DETAILS

Web:

www.peripheralblue.com.au

Linkedin:

www.linkedin.com/in/mellissalarkin

www.linkedin.com/company/peripheral-blue

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/PeripheralBlue

 

NEED HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS?

If you’re an entrepreneur, or business leader, and are faced with challenges in your startup, scale up, or established business that you’re not sure how to solve, then contact us to discuss how our Executive Coaching / Advisory practice can help you.  Email us at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Self Made Theory, I chat with Kelly Jamieson, co-founder of Edible Blooms!  A totally amazing, unique gift business in Australia, the UK & New Zealand.

 

Kelly runs her business from both her office in Adelaide and from her farm, which she has done so for 10 years.  While you can imagine how prepared she was for Covid19 having a home office, based on her business model, there are just some things that can’t be done remotely.

 

I also chat with Kelly about other things she has faced building her business, including a rebranding disaster, how and what happens when your workforce is predominantly female.

 

Since meeting Kelly, I reckon I’ve had at least 3 occasions where I’ve needed to get a gift for someone – 1 locally and 2 interstate.  So, of course, I just had to try out Edible Blooms.  And they didn’t disappoint – those who received the gifts loved them.

 

I want to thank Kelly for an engaging, open conversation – you are going to love her insight.

 

Until next time...keep INNOVATING, OVERCOMING and PROSPERING

 

CONTACT DETAILS

 Web:

https://www.edibleblooms.com.au/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/edibleblooms.au

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/edible-blooms-global

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/EdibleBlooms/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1f8i05q9u7fTMCkJxjhfTQ

 

Need help in your business?

If you’re an entrepreneur, or business leader, and are faced with challenges in your startup, scale-up, or established business that you’re not sure how to solve for, then contact us to discuss how our Executive Coaching / Advisory practice can help you.  Email us at [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our "Pilot" episode for "Entrepreneurs on eScooters" is the wild, featuring Allison Nikula, founder of CareApp.

A very, very different way of telling a great story.  You really need to see the video of this interview:  www.entrepreneursonescooters.com 

Allison was inspired to create CareApp through her own personal experience seeing her grandparents access aged care services.  CareApp is a powerful communication and engagement platform for aged care providers.  It brings providers, residents, carers, and families together to build a wonderful care community and support seniors to love the way they live.

And it's no small task - ageing population is on the rise with the percentage of Australians aged 65 and over rising dramatically over the past decades*:

  1927 - 5% of the total population aged 65 and over

  1977 - 9% of the total population aged 65 and over

  2017 - 15% of the total population aged 65 and over

Allison and I discuss her journey from idea through to today where she has customers locally and globally:

1. How to build a tech company when you don’t have a tech background
2. The importance of customer feedback in product development
3. The process around pitching to Investors (inc a scary example of when it doesn't go well!)
4. Why having an “exit strategy” is essentialwhen you’re founding a business

 

A huge thank you to Allison for being our very 1st "Entrepreneur on eScooter".

This interview was recorded in January 2020 (pre-Covid19).  As a pilot episode, it's not perfect - a few issues with some of the audio/camera shots, etc, but overall, it is a great overview of what we will producing in future episodes (which are likely to be a little shorter as well).

Until next time….keep INNOVATING, OVERCOMING and PROSPERING

 

SPONSORSHIP

If you would like to discuss sponsoring an episode or series of Entrepreneurs on eScooters, please reach out to us via email [email protected]

Thank you to New Black Designs, our Pilot Episode sponsor.

https://www.newblackdesigns.com/

 

CONTACT DETAILS for ALLISON & CAREAPP

Web: https://www.careapp.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careapp.group/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/careapp/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-nikula/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/careapp.group

Twitter: https://twitter.com/careappgroup

 

NEED HELP IN YOUR BUSINESS OR STARTUP?

If you’re an entrepreneur, or business leader, and are faced with challenges in your startup, scale-up, or established business that you’re not sure how to solve for, then contact us to discuss how our Executive Coaching / Advisory practice can help you.  Email us on [email protected]

 

*Source:  ABS - https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/0/1CD2B1952AFC5E7ACA257298000F2E76?OpenDocument

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know those people you meet whose stories are just so fascinating that you just have to hear more?

 

Well, this week on The Self Made Theory, that person is Mark Roe from Fusetec. He’s making body parts

 

Mark has reinvented himself as an entrepreneur multiple times.  Originally starting in the printing industry, he sold that business and semi-retired to an island in Fiji…only to discover that reliable deliveries to the island he was on was non-existent…so, like all good entrepreneurs would, he started a ferry-shipping service, which became the biggest in Fiji.

 

Fast forward and he’s now back in Australia – and making realistic body parts so that surgeons can learn their skills without practicing on real bodies.  And Mark didn’t know anything about healthcare before he started.

 

This episode is just plain fascinating - you will learn a lot about how the entrepreneurial mindset works.

 

Until next time…keep INNOVATING, OVERCOMING and PROSPERING

 

NEED HELP IN YOUR BUSINESS?

If you’re an entrepreneur, or business leader, and are faced with challenges in your startup, scale-up, or established business that you’re not sure how to solve for, then contact us to discuss how our Executive Coaching / Advisory practice can help you.  Email us on [email protected]

 

CONTACT DETAILS FOR MARK/FUSETEC

Web:

https://fusetec.com.au/ 

 

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/fusetec/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-roe-2285136b/

 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/fusetec.com.au/

 

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNdWdwoo5Ws5WtXE7cMvkDA

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oh my goodness - you are going to love this episode! 

 

I met up recently with Eloise Hall and Isobel Marshall, co-founders of TABOO Sanitary Products.  And BEFORE you decide that this isn’t a topic of interest for you, especially you fellas out there, you HAVE to listen to this.

 

Why?

 

This episode is all about business models, social impact, making a difference, overcoming hurdles, the process from business idea through to business launch and ultimately, it’s about changing the World. 

 

Isobel and Eloise are super driven, super passionate – and the language they use when they describe business is way, way beyond the few years of experience they’ve had.   And I love that they have decided that TABOO should be a Social Enterprise, which is a different business model than your usual Not-For-Profit.

 

I was so inspired by what they’re doing that I went home after our interview and signed up for their product subscription – not for me personally, obviously, but as a donation to women in need. 

 

Now – here’s my Call to Action for you personally (whether you are a bloke, a woman who’s reached menopause, a parent or whetheryou want to use their product personally) – jump on their website below and subscribe.  You can make a difference in a young woman’s life for less than the price of 2 cups of coffee a month. 

 

Until next time….keep INNOVATING, OVERCOMING and PROSPERING

 

CONTACT DETAILS FOR TABOO

 

Web:

https://tabooau.co/

 

Stockists:

https://tabooau.co/stockists/

 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/taboosanitaryproducts/

 

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/taboo-sanitary-products 

 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/taboosanitaryproducts

 

REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE

One Girl https://www.onegirl.org.au/

 

 

If you’re an entrepreneur, or business leader, and are faced with challenges in your startup, scale-up, or established business that you’re not sure how to solve for, then contact us to discuss how our Executive Coaching / Advisory practice can help you.  Email us on [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Serial entrepreneurs are so much fun – and the honesty and openness of my next guests is refreshing……and enlightening.

 

Leah Itsines and Mitch Caon co-founded BARE - the Balanced And Realistic Eating Guide – a “realistic’ way of looking at food.  They have a big following, including over half a million Instagram followers.

 

But the BARE Guide isn’t the only thing they’ve launched – they have had a lot, and I mean a lot of business ideas, and many failures along the way….and it’s this piece that is so important for you to listen to. 

 

It’s all great when we hear stories of success, but listening to people’s failures is even more important – because it’s from this much learning comes.

 

We cover a lot of ground, including:

 

1. The critical importance of staying true to your Vision and your Brand, and what happens when you stray from this
2. Are all entrepreneurs control freaks?
3. How being a “couple” can work really well in business (if you define your roles well)
4. How important it is to not to be scared to fail. You will only get better and better.
5. The importance of true customer feedback, not just the feedback from biased friends and family

 

If you want to find out more about Leah, Mitch or BARE Guide, head to our website www.theselfmadetheory.com/podcast where we have our show notes, plus all the ways you can engage with them.  PLUS, we have some great photos of them & their business in there as well.

 

Until next time….keep INNOVATING, OVERCOMING and PROSPERING

 

 

REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE

YouTube Failure Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsv0_9Q2-Ds&t=903s

 

 

CONTACT DETAILS

 

Web:

www.leahitsines.com

 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/leahitsines/

https://www.instagram.com/mitchcaon/

https://www.instagram.com/bareguide/

 

 

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-caon-123572121/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-itsines-b89b93166/

 

 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/l.itsines/

  

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1f8i05q9u7fTMCkJxjhfTQ

 

If you’re an entrepreneur, or business leader, and are faced with challenges in your startup, scale up or established business that you’re not sure how to solve for, then contact us to discuss how our Executive Coaching / Advisory practice can help you.  Email us on [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you move from being an aerospace engineer working on missile systems to running your own video game development company?

 

That’s part of the story of Dineth Abeynayake, founder of Foxie Games.  Foxie produces mobile-based games that sell across the world, some which lead their category.

 

It’s a pretty fascinating story, and we cover a lot in this interview on how to start and build a company. If you’ve got a side hack going on, this is well worth the listen.

 

Some key themes that come out in this interview include:

 

1. How to leave a stable career to pursue your passion
2. How an entrepreneur moves from doing it all themselves to relying on their team
3. What’s involved in the game development cycle

 

If you have a creative itch that needs to be scratched, I’m sure you will enjoy Dineth’s story.

 

If you want to find out more about Dineth, how to connect on social media and where to download Foxie apps, head to our website www.theselfmadetheory.com/podcast.

 

Until next time - keep INNOVATING, OVERCOMING and PROSPERING

 

CONTACT DETAILS FOR FOXIE GAMES

 

Web:

https://www.foxieventures.com/

 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/foxieventures/

 

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/foxie-games/

 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/FoxieVentures/

 

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/FoxieVentures

 

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC2lLTJeegBn1Tax8A14FAw

 

NEED HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS / IDEA?

If you’re an entrepreneur, or business leader, and are faced with challenges in your startup, scale up or established business that you’re not sure how to solve for, then contact us to discuss how our Executive Coaching / Advisory practice can help you.  Email us on [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.