Welcome to this weeks’ episode of The Australian Small Business Show!

In this episode we’re joined by returning guest Anthony Hopson. When we last had Anthony on the podcast he was talking about his work as a Finance Broker with his business Urban Brokers and today he is back to talk about how he supports business owners in an entirely different way – through teaching Breathwork.

As Anthony shares today, how we breathe impacts our work performance, stress management, decision making and emotional regulation. Put simply, our state of being affects our breath, and our breath affects our state of being.

Being unable to emotionally regulate can affect our quality of life – relationships at home, work, school, and social interactions. Breathwork can help with this.

How we breathe can influence our stress response and how we can regulate from stressful events.

In business, this can help with things like decision making, navigating difficult conversations, analysing information and pretty much all aspects of running a business.

Breathwork and Ice/cold water immersion can be used therapeutically to: down-regulate and heal from chronic stress’ and trauma; managing anxiety including workplace stress/ task overwhelm and burnout; up-regulate out of depression and enhance energy production; improve sports and workplace performance through achieving higher focus – making more consistent coherent, balanced and emotionally regulated decisions.

If you’re interested in learning more and working with Anthony you can contact him on Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/the_urbanbroker/

Connect with Us:

If you're an Australian Small Business Owner, we'd love to connect with you on socials. You can give our Facebook Page a like here: https://www.facebook.com/theaustraliansmallbusinessshow

Or follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/aussmallbizshow/

We’d love to hear from you!

Exciting news: our website is live – check it out at: https://www.theaustraliansmallbusinessshow.com.au/

* Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.

Welcome to this weeks’ episode of The Australian Small Business Show!

In this episode Kristy-Lee and Matt are talking through their 2025 years in review, from the lessons learnt to what went well. For many of us it’s been a tough year in business, so we’re not going to sugar coat it, this has been one of those years. Expectations have been high, budgets have been low and tensions have emerged.

Then we turn our minds to 2026 and what we have on the horizon, both for the Australian Small Business Show and in our respective businesses, and life in general.

Connect with Us: If you're an Australian Small Business Owner, we'd love to connect with you on socials. You can give our Facebook Page a like here: https://www.facebook.com/theaustraliansmallbusinessshow

Or follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/aussmallbizshow/

We’d love to hear from you!

Exciting news: our website is live – check it out at: https://www.theaustraliansmallbusinessshow.com.au/

* Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.

Welcome to this weeks’ episode of The Australian Small Business Show!

In this episode Kristy-Lee is sharing a simple but really helpful reflection practice that she does at the end of each year to help her start to map out how she will start the year ahead.

And to show we walk the talk, we’re going to walk through this exercise live with you.

There are 3 questions to ask yourself before the year wraps up:

1) What will you stop doing in 2026?

2) What will you keep doing in the new year?

3) What will you start doing next year?

You can ask these questions of yourself for your business as a whole, every part of business, your health, your relationships, or just life!

Connect with Us: If you're an Australian Small Business Owner, we'd love to connect with you on socials. You can give our Facebook Page a like here: https://www.facebook.com/theaustraliansmallbusinessshow

Or follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/aussmallbizshow/

We’d love to hear from you!

To sign up to our newsletter, head over to the website at: https://www.theaustraliansmallbusinessshow.com.au/

* Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.

Welcome to this weeks’ episode of The Australian Small Business Show!

In this episode we up from last week’s conversation with Elise from Thryv, shifting the focus away from tech tools and toward the deeper systems and processes that make a small business more resilient.

As the year winds down and business owners across the country juggle school events, holidays, deadlines, and fatigue, they explore what it really takes to run a business that doesn’t constantly feel like a roller coaster.

Our goal: helping small business owners put structure around the day-to-day so the whole operation doesn’t depend on one person showing up perfectly every single day.

We begin with the backbone of every successful business, communication. From predictable team meetings to clear communication channels and consistent follow-through, we look at how these rhythms build trust and stability inside a team.

Communication isn’t just internal; it’s also how you update customers, manage workflows, and keep everyone aligned when things change.

Operations come next, including SOPs, flow charts, calendar structures, and review cycles. We speak candidly about how often small business owners keep everything in their head, even though it’s now easier than ever to capture processes using screen recordings or AI tools. Well-documented processes mean work can continue even when key team members are away, sick, or overloaded.

We also explore decision-making frameworks, structures that prevent reactive choices, protect the business from wrong-fit clients, and guide consistent responses when things go wrong, such as losing a major client.

Of course we also need systems for how you deliver your product or service. Whether it’s a client experience flow, consistent advice delivery, or using templates and scripts to ensure quality, we highlight how predictable delivery creates trust and scalability.

Then there are financial systems. Not just bookkeeping, but true financial visibility. Knowing your numbers, tracking budgets, understanding acquisition metrics, and building recurring revenue models to reduce financial pressure.

Finally, we wrap with a reminder that business resilience also depends on personal resilience. Burnout is real, especially at this time of year.

Connect with Us: If you're an Australian Small Business Owner, we'd love to connect with you on socials. You can give our Facebook Page a like here: https://www.facebook.com/theaustraliansmallbusinessshow

Or follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/aussmallbizshow/

We’d love to hear from you!

Exciting news: our website is live – check it out at: https://www.theaustraliansmallbusinessshow.com.au/

• Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.

Welcome to this weeks’ episode of The Australian Small Business Show!

Today we’re joined by Elise Balsillie from Thryv to talk about building business resilience and growth through smarter technology.

As Head of Thryv Australia and New Zealand, Elise leads teams across customer channels, helping businesses streamline operations, embrace technology and grow with confidence through digital transformation.

With more than 25 years of experience in media, education and technology, including two decades at Thryv, Elise is passionate about empowering small businesses and delivering solutions that provide them a competitive edge.

Under her leadership, Thryv has been recognized as an 'Employer of Choice' for two consecutive years, reflecting her commitment to people and culture.

Elise completed leadership programs from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Harvard Business School.

Connect with Elise and the team at Thryv at www.thyrv.com.au

Connect with Us: If you're an Australian Small Business Owner, we'd love to connect with you on socials. You can give our Facebook Page a like here: https://www.facebook.com/theaustraliansmallbusinessshow

Or follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/aussmallbizshow/

Exciting news: our website is live – check it out at: https://www.theaustraliansmallbusinessshow.com.au/

* Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.

Welcome to this weeks’ episode of The Australian Small Business Show!

Today we’re talking about a time of year we all look forward to, but can often come with unnecessary headaches – Christmas close downs. Here’s what we cover:

Communicating the Closure Early:

Start telling people now, if you haven’t already. Use every channel: website banner, Google Business Profile, email list, socials, invoice footer, and phone voicemail. Be explicit about things like final working day, re-opening day, response times during shutdown and your emergency contact process (if you offer it).

Preparing Your Team:

With your staff, ensure you are following the correct process according to the relevant Modern Awards. Lock in leave dates early so there are no surprises and people have time to prepare. Make clear who’s “on call”, if anyone. Double-check payroll runs, public holidays, award requirements, leave loading, contractor cut-off dates.

Client Expectations & Boundary Setting:

Set boundaries like you mean them:

• “We are closed — emails will not be answered until X date.”
• “Urgent work must be booked before X.”

Operational Wrap-Up Before Shut Down

Checklist to run through:

• Final billings & invoices out
• Chase debtors before Christmas (January money is imaginary money)
• Stocktake and re-ordering set for January
• Auto-responses set up
• Backups done
• Client files and jobs moved to “ready to resume” status
• Update your phone voicemail (rookie mistake if you forget)

Security & Risk Management:

Be sure things are secure. Turn off what should be off. Lock what should be locked. If you’re a physical premises: alarms, cameras, shutters, utilities. If you’re digital: revoke any temp access, update passwords, check MFA settings.

Cashflow Strategy for December/January:

December can be a cash-in month, use it. If January is quiet considering things like bringing forward billings, pre-sell work for mid-January, offer early-bird discounts for Feb start dates and set aside a “silly-season float” to cover BAS, wages, and GST surprises.

Use the Break Properly:

This may be the only time that you genuinely get to rest – use it!

Connect with Us: If you're an Australian Small Business Owner, we'd love to connect with you on socials. You can give our Facebook Page a like here: https://www.facebook.com/theaustraliansmallbusinessshow

Or follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/aussmallbizshow/

Exciting news: our website is live – check it out at: https://www.theaustraliansmallbusinessshow.com.au/

* Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.

Welcome to this weeks’ episode of The Australian Small Business Show!

Today we are sharing 6 Sales Tips for Small Business Owners Sales is the lifeblood of every small business. But let’s be real, most of us don’t love it….

This episode breaks down how to sell more effectively without feeling “salesy,” and how small business owners can turn conversations into conversions.

1. The Mindset Shift:

From Selling to Helping People hate being sold to but love being helped. Position your offer as a solution, not a transaction. Reframe sales as serving, you’re solving a problem that matters.

2. Know Your Customer:

Identify your ideal client, what keeps them up at night? Use their language, not yours. Mirror the way they describe their challenges. Don’t sell to everyone; speak directly to your niche.

3. Nail Your Offer:

Clarity beats cleverness. Make your product or service easy to understand and buy. Know the what it is that your thing does for your ideal client.

4. Build Trust Before You Pitch:

People need at least 6-7 touch points before they will buy. You really need to build the know like and trust factor. Use content (podcasts, blogs, emails, social proof) to show your expertise. Case studies and testimonials are gold. Consistency and authenticity build familiarity, and familiarity builds trust.

5. Close the Sale (Without Feeling Awkward):

Don’t be afraid to ask for the business. The magic phrase: “Would you like to go ahead?” Handle objections by asking questions: “What’s holding you back?” or “What would make this a yes for you?” Remember, silence isn’t rejection. Give the prospect space to think.

6. Follow-Up Like a Pro:

Most sales happen after the 5th contact so persistence pays off. Automate where possible (CRM, email reminders). Keep the follow-up warm and human: “Just checking in to see if you had any questions,” not “Are you ready to buy?”

Bonus Tip: The Numbers Don’t Lie and Measure What Matters:

Track conversion rates, lead sources, and average sale value. Small tweaks in conversion % can create huge profit jumps. Learn from what’s working — then double down.

Connect with Us: If you're an Australian Small Business Owner, we'd love to connect with you on socials. You can give our Facebook Page a like here: https://www.facebook.com/theaustraliansmallbusinessshow

Or follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/aussmallbizshow/

Exciting news: our website is live – check it out at: https://www.theaustraliansmallbusinessshow.com.au/

• Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.

Welcome to this weeks’ episode of The Australian Small Business Show!

Today we are joined by returning guest Adrienne Donnelly from Seed Virtual Assistants and Organised by Adrienne to discuss the tricky topic of how to choose the right VA for your small business. Knowing you need (or want) a VA is one thing, but selecting the right one is quite another challenge. In this discussion we unpack how to make a great decision on who you engage as a Virtual Assistant for your small business.

Adrienne is an experienced personal virtual assistant and mentor to other established and aspiring VA’s across Australia.

Since the beginning, Adrienne has held a passion (and a knack) for all things organisation and facilitation and has made it her business to ensure all the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted, offering the ultimate peace of mind to the businesses and individuals she supports.

Since launching her business, Adrienne has connected with industry professionals of all kinds. Now, she has a team of specialists that work with her on projects, including other VAs, graphic designers, photographers, videographers, copywriters, website developers and editors.

With ever-growing opportunities in the digital world, and the capacity to work remotely, flexibly and often immediately, Adrienne believes that virtual assistants are becoming increasingly sought-after.

Adrienne is also a co-founder of The Newcastle Virtual Assistants Network, which has fulfilled a need for connection and collaboration in the industry, and has become an incredible opportunity for local business owners since its inception in 2019.

Connect with Adrienne:

https://www.organisedbyadrienne.com.au/

https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/

Connect with Us:

If you're an Australian Small Business Owner, we'd love to connect with you on socials. You can give our Facebook Page a like here: https://www.facebook.com/theaustraliansmallbusinessshow

Or follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/aussmallbizshow/

Exciting news: our website is live – check it out at: https://www.theaustraliansmallbusinessshow.com.au/

• Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.