The Matt J Hanham Show

The real risk in business isn't failure. It's drift. In this bite-sized Inside Out episode, I explore why most founders don't stall because they try and fail — they stall because they stay safe. Planning feels responsible. Tweaking feels productive. Research feels strategic. But often, it's hesitation disguised as preparation. Growth requires exposure. Open water. Movement. The danger isn't being out there and getting it wrong. The danger is drifting in the harbour — slowly postponing the very thing that would move you forward. If there's a launch you're delaying, a call you're avoiding, or a step you keep pushing to "next week," this episode is your reminder. Drift feels harmless. Until it isn't. What harbour are you currently sitting in?

A cold call on my personal mobile this week turned into a useful reminder. The call wasn't malicious. The pitch wasn't terrible. But within a minute it became clear we were in the same line of work. In this short Inside Out episode, I unpack how cold calls and outreach can go wrong not because the execution is bad, but because the context is missing. Marketing and sales are investments of time, money, and attention. When the who isn't clear, even good effort can quickly backfire. This episode is a simple reminder to slow down just enough to do the homework, understand the context, and make sure your effort is aimed in the right direction.

In this Inside Out episode, I read a short parable often referred to as The Mexican Fisherman and the Banker and share a few reflections it brings up for me. It's a simple story about ambition, success, and the idea of "someday." How easily we can postpone the very freedom we say we're chasing. This episode isn't against ambition or rejecting growth. It's about pausing to ask a better question: Are we building businesses and careers that support our lives, or are we deferring life in the name of building more? Inside the episode, I reflect on: The difference between chasing freedom vs "living it" now Deferred happiness and "someday" thinking How easy it is to measure success externally Designing a life intentionally, not accidentally If you've ever found yourself chasing the next milestone without stopping to ask why, this episode is an invitation to pause, and see what's already here.

How many times have you said you're trying to get fit, start a business, create content, or make a change? The truth is, "trying" isn't effort. It's a delay tactic. In this Inside Out solo episode, I unpack why the word trying keeps us stuck in limbo, how it lets us avoid real responsibility, and why a simple decision can change everything. Inspired by the famous Yoda quote "There is no try" this episode is a reminder that progress doesn't come from motivation or perfection, but from commitment and action. If you've been stuck negotiating with yourself, this is your nudge to decide, take the first small step, and move forward — starting today.

AI isn't coming for your job. Someone who's willing to learn faster than you is. In this Inside Out episode, I explore a simple but confronting idea: in times of massive change, it's not the experts who win — it's the learners. Inspired by Eric Hoffer's quote about learners inheriting the earth, this episode looks at how AI is accelerating the gap between people who stay curious and people who cling to what they already know. This isn't about becoming technical or mastering every new tool. It's about identity, humility, and the willingness to start again. Inside the episode: Why expertise now has a shorter shelf life Learners vs "the learned" in the AI era Curiosity as a competitive advantage Why adaptability matters more than certainty The mindset shift required to thrive in change If AI feels intimidating, overwhelming, or confusing, this episode reframes the conversation in a way that puts the power back in your hands.

Most leaders get stuck competing on better. Better service. Better price. Better results. But "better" puts you in the same box as everyone else. In this episode, I break down why different always beats better — and how the two-word brand concept helped me simplify and clarify my entire identity. Inside this episode: Why "better" is the trap that keeps you stuck How "different" creates instant separation The psychology of a simple, memorable personal brand What a "two-word brand" actually is How I arrived at The Creative Accountant Why clarity is the #1 unlock for SME owners right now Shout out to Chris Do at the Futur, this concept has changed the game for me. If you're trying to stand out, find your voice, or make sense of your own story… this episode will hit. 🎧 Listen in and DM me your two-word brand.

If you keep putting off a decision, you’re already making one, and it’s probably the wrong one. In this Inside Out episode, I unpack the Paradox of Choice. Why indecision keeps us stuck, how perfectionism disguises itself as “thinking it through,” and a simple way to force clarity, fast. Ironically, I recorded this episode months ago… and then delayed publishing it. I told myself I needed to “re-launch properly” or wait until I was consistently recording again. Classic decision paralysis. After all that hesitation, it took less than 10 minutes to finally upload it, proving the point of the episode itself. If you’ve been over-planning, waiting for the “perfect time,” or telling yourself you’ll start soon, this one’s for you. Let’s stop trying to make the perfect choice and start making any choice that moves us forward. What’s inside: Why overthinking is disguised fear The hidden cost of indecision How successful people decide fast A journaling prompt to cut through paralysis If you’ve been sitting on something — an idea, a decision, a launch — take this as your sign. Do it. Publish it. Send it. Move. Tag me @mattjhanham when you do.

Is AI coming for your job? And what should you do about it? If you think it’s not going to happen to my job, I’m not at risk, you might just be the most vulnerable. One message I’m seeing a bit is an ad from Jack Delosa from the Entourage, who said “If you’re a business owner, AI is not going to take your business, but a competitor with AI will.” In this Inside Out episode, I unpack that message and call to action, and what you should do about it, whether you think AI is a threat to your industry, job or business right now or not. I think that Jack (Delosa) is on the money, it’s not the AI, but humans with AI, and the short answer is yes, someone is bound to at least try. So what's your next move?

Writing a book. In my experience, so many people say they could if they wanted to, or should write one when you talk to them at a BBQ. But should you do it? My thinking is, if you're talking about it, you should find a way to start doing it. Or stop lying to yourself that you will one day. The truth is for most of us, like many things out there, you have no idea what you are doing which is one of the reasons you haven't started. Why should you know the "how to's" and the "ins and outs" of something you've never done before. The only way to make progress is to start and figure it out along the way. Writing a book took me back to the 3rd grade (or maybe earlier) with that feeling of not having a clue what to do next...But is there any other way? When was the last time you allowed yourself to be the fool? There are probably 100s of things, excuses, people, concerns that will stop you from writing that book, but here are 5 to get you started.

I start this inside out episode with a clip from the On Purpose Podcast with Jay Shetty interviewing Adam Grant which spoke to me when I saw it on Instagram this week. Adam said “So many people limit themselves by saying I dont want to self-promote.” I think that creating content or art even isn’t for everyone, but if you’re going to do it, be you. I unpack this quote, what it means to me, and how it relates to creating content in the real world so you don't get caught in the self-promotion trap when marketing your business.

In this Inside Out episode I unpack an excerpt from a conversation Price Pritchett had with Lewis Howes on the School of Greatness Podcast. It struck a chord with me, especially around planning for our big dreams, our excuses for not taking action and what to do to avoid the over-populated graveyard "The Planning Place" as Price branded it.

“Our enemy is not lack of preparation; it’s not the difficulty of the project, or the state of the marketplace or the emptiness of our bank account. The Enemy is resistance." In this Inside Out episode I talk through the topic of resistance, elegantly outlined in Steven Pressfield's powerful, motivational and brief book titled "Do the Work".

The brilliant Joseph Campbell once said “If you want to help the world, teach people how to live in it". In this Inside Out episode, I unpack why this quote inspires me and what it could mean for you, especially if you're in the business of creating (or wanting to create) any form of content from social media to music or writing that book you've always wanted to.

Listen in to find out what's going on in 2024! From the Visible framework and creating a business that gives you your true Visible life through to the Donkey and the Sea Turtle book release and our plans to finally spend time living on the island. (Hint: It's happening this year!)

The concept of "Leading by Example" will mean something different to all of us. Here is my take, deeply anchored in the legacy I leave behind with my children, and what they learn by watching what I do, not just what I say.

A little lesson in humility as we embark on a new content creation mission and I jump in head first to learn a new skill to launch the www.livinontherock.com project. Then I reflect on an old episode "What Will Business Look Like In 2070?" and how the pandemic has accelerated innovation and the speed of change.

Getting back on that horse! Why do we make it so "hard" to get going again? In this episode, I'll share what happened, where things are at and what's going to happen in the future of the Amplify Your Business Podcast with Matt J Hanham, where I have candid conversations with inspiring people and turn topics inside out to help you build a business that works for you and create more freedom in life. I've got some updates, stories, lessons and exciting developments for those that tune in.

Founder of The Sales Institute and Principle Growth Expert at The Entourage, sales guru Petar Lackovic has been changing businesses all around Australia for many years, helping them reach unprecedented growth. He shares his unique sales approach on today’s episode of Amplify Your Business!

Famed real estate broker and star of the hit reality show “Million Dollar Property” Ryan Serhant has been working in the extremely competitive housing market of New York City for the past 15 years and has learned a thing or two as a result about how to keep ahead of his 80,000 competitors in New York alone.

Sarah Blackah is an international speaker and intuitive female leadership mentor who organises female leadership retreats and workshops around the world. For Sarah, helping women achieve their joy states and not feel constricted by the quest for perfection is what she’s all about.