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Business By Design
Business by Design is the podcast for owners who want to start, scale or exit a business. Each week, Stuart Wemyss and Mena Abraham unpack the four things every business must get right: value, engine, reach and team. Using the VERT flywheel, they show how these fit together to build a business that runs without you, and how the choices you make inside the business flow through to your personal wealth, lifestyle and exit options. Every episode is short and to the point, with no fluff and no sales pitches. Go to https://www.vertflywheel.com
Episodes
204 episodes
Ep 104: The key to business success is fanatical discipline
In this episode, Stuart and Mena discuss the importance of fanatic discipline in achieving long-term business success. Drawing a parallel with health and fitness, Stuart explains that, just like staying in shape requires consistent effort over ...
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Ep 103: Using the flywheel concept to grow your business
In this episode, Stuart and Mena explore the powerful Flywheel concept, originally developed by Jim Collins, and how it can drive sustainable growth in business. They explain that great companies don’t rely on one key strategy but instead build...
Ep 102: How to improve your business’ productivity
In this episode, Stuart Wemyss and Mena explore strategies to enhance business productivity amidst Australia’s declining productivity rates. They begin by discussing the factors contributing to this decline, including a lack of competition, exc...
Ep 101: Firing bullets and then firing cannonballs
In this episode, Stuart and Mena introduce Jim Collins' book 'Great by Choice', focusing on how companies thrive in uncertain and chaotic environments. They explore the concept of "firing bullets, then cannonballs," where businesses te...
Ep 100: Interest rates have a wide-reaching impact on business
In this episode, Mena and Stuart dive into the various ways rising interest rates can impact businesses. They explain how higher interest rates directly affect business valuation by reducing multiples, as higher required returns lower company v...
Ep 99: The importance of running your own race
In this podcast, Mena and Stuart emphasise the importance of staying focused on your own business strategy and pace. They caution against common mistakes like investing in unsuitable assets, withdrawing funds without considering tax implication...
Ep 98: Why self-employed people favour investing in property
In this episode, Stuart and Mena explore why self-employed individuals often gravitate toward property investment and the key considerations they should keep in mind. They discuss the appeal of property as an easily understood and tangible asse...
Ep 97: How to prepare your business for an economic slowdown/recession
In this episode, Mena and Stuart discuss practical strategies for businesses to navigate an economic slowdown or recession in Australia, reflecting on the lessons learned from the 1990-1992 recession, where unemployment soared to 10.8% and inte...
Ep 96: How to maximise your borrowing capacity from your business
In this episode, Stuart and Mena explore strategies to maximise borrowing capacity from your business profits. They stress the importance of having a knowledgeable broker who can effectively advocate for you with bank credit managers. The duo h...
Ep 95: How to structure your property development
In this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into the complexities of property development, offering valuable insights on how to structure your projects effectively. They tackle common misconceptions about development feasibility, emphasising the imp...
Ep 94: How to best protect your interests in the event of a relationship breakdown
In this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into the crucial topic of protecting your interests in the event of a relationship breakdown, especially when owning a business or investment entity. They discuss proactive steps to take when entering a ne...
Ep 93: Protecting your business from cybersecurity threats
In this episode, Stuart and Mena tackle the crucial topic of protecting your business from cybersecurity threats. With 59% of losses reported to the ACCC's Scamwatch in 2022 affecting small and micro businesses, they delve into common cybersecu...
Ep 92: What insurance should you have for your business?
Do you have a question? Email questions@investopoly.com.au and Stuart and Mena may answer it in the podcast.In this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into the crucial topic of business insu...
Ep 91: Asset protection for business owners
In this episode, Stuart and Mena dive into the crucial topic of asset protection for business owners. They explore the various risks that business owners face, both from a business and personal standpoint. On the business side, they discuss the...
Ep 90: Create a financial crystal ball for your business
In this episode, Mena and Stuart explore the power of financial modelling and why it's essential for your business. They discuss the limitations of standard financial reporting, which often provides a high-level overview but lacks the detail ne...
Ep 89: Business planning for a new year
In this episode, Mena and Stuart explore key strategies for planning your business for a successful new year. They start by emphasising the importance of reviewing the past year's performance through a thorough analysis of financial reports and...
Ep 88: How to fire a bad customer
In this episode, Mena and Stuart tackle the challenging but crucial topic of how to fire a customer that doesn’t suit your business. They explore the impact of bad customers, who not only fail to refer new clients but also take longer to serve,...
Ep 87: Top 5 reasons why businesses fail
In this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into the top five reasons why businesses fail and offer practical advice on how to avoid these pitfalls. They start with the crucial issue of running out of money, emphasising the importance of adequate wo...
Ep 86: Our top 10 hiring mistakes and learnings
In this episode, Stuart and Mena delve into the top 10 hiring mistakes and the invaluable lessons they've learned along the way. They share candid insights on building a strong team, emphasising the importance of hiring slowly and firing quickl...
Ep 85: Customer feedback surveys: everything business owners must know
In this episode, Stuart and Mena dive into the world of customer feedback surveys, uncovering essential insights for business owners. They explore the Net Promoter Score (NPS) introduced by Fred Reichheld, a straightforward yet powerful tool fo...
Ep 84: Tax planning for End of Financial Year
In this episode, Stuart and Mena provide a comprehensive guide to end-of-financial-year tax planning strategies that can help maximise your tax savings. With a wealth of practical tips and considerations, they break down complex tax concepts in...
Ep 83: Should I merge my business?
In this episode, Stuart and Mena dive into the critical considerations surrounding business mergers, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs and business owners contemplating this strategic move.They emphasise the paramount importa...
Ep 82: What should my profit margin be? 5 strategies to improve it
In this episode, Mena and Stuart delve into acceptable profit margins and strategies to improve them. They emphasise regularly reviewing and adjusting pricing to reflect cost increases while considering pricing power (
Ep 81: What to do if you are reliant on one customer?
In this episode, Stuart and Mena discuss the challenges and potential strategies for businesses that are heavily reliant on a single major customer. They acknowledge that while having a large customer can be advantageous, it also poses signific...
Ep 80: Why you should outsource your bookkeeping function
In this episode, Stuart and Mena dive into the invaluable benefits of outsourcing your bookkeeping function, highlighting how it can be a game-changer for businesses seeking to streamline operations and boost profitability.They emphasis...