Some business owners are very good at starting things but struggle to complete them. Others are better at finishing projects but find it very challenging to get started. How can we work with our personal strengths and weaknesses and the strengths in our team so we can make a great business?

There’s a strange contradiction for many business people. We want to be busy because it means there’s lots happening but we don’t want to be busy because it’s hard work and can be stressful. At the same time, many of us define ourselves by how busy we are. Someone says “How are you?” “Busy” is a common answer. So the question is whether business has to be busy or could there be a better way of experiencing it?

Many formulae for business success use words like prospect, lead, traffic and conversion which can be dehumanising. It’s easy to forget that a lead or a prospect is a complete human being with a life of their own. They’re not just a target for a marketing campaign or sales pipeline. In this episode we explore a different formula which helps you to connect with the people and activities that will grow your business

Can we predict the future? That’s an eternal question for human beings. It’s also a far more interesting question than appears at first sight. So let’s explore what we can and can’t predict and how we can use the power of prediction in our business decisions.

Business is one of the most powerful agents of change on the planet, so it’s natural for business owners to be at the forefront in solving the biggest challenges of our time. At times this can feel very daunting, especially if you care a lot about the future but don’t always feel powerful enough to make a big enough difference. How can we have the courage to do what it takes and move the needle?

How do we need to change as business owners and how do our businesses need to change to meet the requirements of the future? Since small businesses are so powerful in their ability to create solutions to collective problems it’s not a time for business as usual. Each of us has the opportunity to ask some bigger questions about the purpose of being in business and come up with some bigger answers. That’s what creates fulfilment.

Matt turns the tables and interviews Sarah about her very personal story of starting and growing her business. They explore some of the issues around money and being a business owner that have most challenged Sarah and how she overcame them and found purpose and direction in her business life.

What happens when you can’t get in touch with your creativity any more? When you lose motivation and don’t have any ideas? It happens to all of us from time to time, and it’s actually a good thing if you understand what’s going on.

Many people find it very hard to talk about their purpose (and their business purpose). You might feel vulnerable and exposed speaking about something that seems so personal and goes deeper than many business conversations. But remarkable things happen when you have the courage to speak about your purpose with sincerity and integrity.