Your Business Boost

Welcome to the fourth and final part of this limited series of Your Business Boost where we have been preparing your business so that you can take a lovely break over the festive season. For many business owners, switching off 100% may not be entirely possible as there could be work that absolutely has to be done during your break. In this episode I share tips to make your break as relaxing as possible, without needing to be constantly dipping in and out of work. We cover: I hope that all I have shared over the last 4 episodes has helped you see that it IS possible for you take a holiday this year. You can download your Holiday Proof Your Business Checklist by going to michellebroadbent.com.au/holidays ------------- For more information and resources for this episode, please visit Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Part 3 of this limited series of Your Business Boost where I am sharing tools to help you holiday proof your business. In this episode, we look at exactly how your business will run while you are away. We cover how to: Utilising tech and getting human support will make it possible for you to take a break without feeling like you need to be “on” the whole time. The tips in this episode are going to help you to do just that. To download your Holiday Proof Your Business Checklist, go to michellebroadbent.com.au/holidays ------------- For more information and resources for this episode, please visit Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Part 2 of this limited series of Your Business Boost where I am sharing tools to help you holiday proof your business. In this episode, I am going to show you how to master your time at a time of year when we feel like there is not enough of it. We cover: You can wrap up the year without working yourself into the ground and missing all the things that are important to you. The tips I share in this episode are going to support you. To download your Holiday Proof Your Business Checklist, go to michellebroadbent.com.au/holidays ------------- For more information and resources for this episode, please visit Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Part 1 of this limited series of Your Business Boost. Over the next four episodes, I will share steps that you can start taking this week to prepare you and your business for a relaxing holiday. It is possible to take a break over the festive season but you do have some decisions to make and action to take now. Don’t worry - I’ve got you! In this episode, we focus on laying the groundwork - taking control of your time and making space for what is important. You want your schedule to reflect your priorities and I’m going to show you exactly how you can do that. We cover -------------- For more information and resources for this episode, please visit Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s nothing like crossing over into the second half of the year to trigger you to take action on those big projects in your business. I am supporting a number of women to bring some massive goals to life this quarter and a common conundrum is “How am I going to fit this in among all the other competing priorities in my life?” In a perfect world, everything would slot in beautifully but in reality, life needs some serious adjustment in order to give these projects the required energy and focus to achieve the outcomes you want. I call these Seasons of Sacrifice. This is a break from normal programming - it doesn’t last forever but there is always a reason for the season. Sometimes we consciously choose the season, other times the season is forced upon us. Whatever the reason, I have some tips to get you through it and out the other side and I’m sharing them with you in this episode. To be kept up to date with everything happening in my business, join my email list here - michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au -------------- For more information and resources for this episode, please visit Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest on this episode is Vanessa Bennett, CEO and co-founder of Next Evolution Performance - an organisation that uses neuroscience to help driven business leaders and teams to optimise productivity, energy and profitability without the burnout. Like Vanessa and her team, I do not believe that success needs to equal burn out. Sadly, I see many broken women limp into my world who have nothing left in the tank after doing everything themselves. Vanessa works with leaders of businesses of all shapes and sizes every day and she is sharing the goods with us in our chat. Not only does she have the intel and the insights, she has solutions for us to better manage our energy to avoid burnout. We talk about just how much cognitive energy we have per day (and spoiler alert - it’s not anywhere near as much as you think). Vanessa shares how we can manage and, most importantly, optimise our energy and how crucial automation, delegation and simplification are for this. Vanessa’s insights are going to help shift your focus from how much you do and for how long to improving your output and lowering workload. To learn more about Vanessa and her work, visit here Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn -------------- For more information and resources for this episode, please visit: Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest, Jenn Donovan, has had a really interesting journey from lawyer to retail store owner to marketing consultant. Her mission is to take her many years of experience as a business owner to help other small business owners make marketing a priority and stand out in a crowded marketplace. Where do we start? That’s exactly what Jenn is sharing with you in this episode. We do a deep dive into the importance of human-to-human marketing and community. Jenn shares examples of businesses that have successfully built a strong community, including her Spend With Us - Buy From a Bush Business Marketplace, an online shopping marketplace directly supporting Australian rural and regional families and communities Jenn offers tips for simplifying social media and marketing efforts as well as a great book recommendation that is sure to boost your business if you are struggling with pricing. Learn more about Jenn Jen’s podcast: "Small Business Made Simple." Connect with Jenn on LinkedIn -------------- For more information and resources for this episode, please visit: Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you feel about your business branding? Are you proud? Do you feel like it is a true representation of your business? Or does it make you cringe? Perhaps you’ve thrown that project in the Too Hard Basket? Or maybe it’s never been a priority for you? My guest in this episode believes that every business, no matter how small, deserves the right to an extraordinary online presence, top-shelf creative and an inspiring brand. Zoe Scott is a seasoned designer, branding specialist and founder of design agency The Design Order. Zoe has found her sweet spot helping small businesses get cut through in the marketplace. She is a pro at taking her clients business and branding to the next level. Clients love her can-do attitude and her ability to make the experience a fun and rewarding one. In our chat, Zoe and I talk about the common struggles faced by business owners when it comes to branding and, most importantly, how to overcome them. We explore the preparation required before collaborating with a branding specialist - including the importance of finding a service provider who aligns with your business vision and understands your target audience. Zoe also acknowledges the budget constraints of small businesses and talks through how design tools like Canva can help you put your best face forward. She addresses some common issues she sees in her website audits and highlights how these things can have a negative impact on your business. This episode is jam-packed with insights that are going to help you enhance your brand presence and impactfully connect with your target audience. CONNECT WITH ZOE Follow @thedesignorder on Instagram -------------- For more information and resources for this episode, please visit: Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may be feeling like things are a little “quiet” on the business front right now. Instead of hitting the panic button, take action instead. Considered action. But it’s the one action that many business owners try to avoid… Business development, lead generation, new business activity - notice how we try to call it anything but “sales” activity? My guest in this episode has redefined what it means to “do sales”. Abbie White’s superpower is marrying sales and marketing efforts in order to deliver out of this world results for her clients. She has proven strategies that are easy to implement and she is sharing the gold with us in this episode. She wants you to know what she knows so that you can boost your business This is a replay of a conversation I had with Abbie almost two years ago so there are mentions of covid and lockdowns. The content is particularly timely right now and everything she shares is as applicable now as it was back then. Strap yourself in because after you listen to our chat you are going to feel amped up and ready to tackle business development head on in your business. CONNECT with Abbie on LinkedIn Find our more about Rev Up HERE Use the discount code "Michelle" for 10% off your first month. -------------- For more information and resources for this episode, please visit: Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time to reflect on the first half of 2023… At this time of year I always run through my Half Yearly Reflection and I’m sharing the details in today’s episode. This is a process where I take the time to identify what worked well and what didn’t - in business and life - and to tap into how it made me feel. I take you through the exact steps I follow as well as the prompts I use to get me thinking. Do you take time to pause and reflect on your business (and life)? This episode will get you started and I also have a great resource to help you gather your thoughts and learnings. You can access your own Reflection Worksheet HERE Let me know how you go! For more information and resources for this episode, please visit: And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shivani Gupta has had a most extraordinary career as an entrepreneur. She has owned, scaled and exited multi million dollar businesses, presented to over a quarter of a million people all around the world and has authored eight books. When Shivani and I first met, she was in the process of selling her business and facing an uncertain future. This led to her decision to take a six-month sabbatical and in this episode of Your Business Boost, Shavni talks about what came up for her during this time. She grappled with questions about her identity and purpose outside of her professional and personal roles. Who was she if she wasn’t a business owner? She shares very openly about how challenging she found it to “let go” and her struggle to find joy in the absence of familiar identities. I’m going to let Shivani tell you in her own words how this played out but… spoiler alert… It has led her to her most important work yet. CONNECT WITH SHIVANI Shivani on LinkedIn ------------- Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I LOVE a plan. Sitting down and formulating the pathway to achieve mine or my client’s dreams is the stuff I live for. And I LOVE working with women who love planning as much as I do. One of those women is the episode’s guest, Melissa Marsden. Mel is the Founder of workplace strategy and interior design studio, COMUNiTI. She has spent over 20 years guiding organisations to leverage their physical environments to elevate employee experience, empower high performing teams and unleash productivity. Her design and business brilliance have been recognised by the Australian Institute of Management, Design Institute of Australia and Telstra Business Women’s Awards among many others. She is also the host of the Work Life by Design podcast which I have been a special guest interviewing her about her recently published book, The Next Workplace. She sounds like a rock star right? She is! But even rock stars get thrown curve balls and that is what Mel is sharing with us in this episode. Because about 18 months ago - behind the very polished, gorgeous looking business and woman, life was most definitely not going according to her well-thought out plan. Business was exploding, her team was imploding, there was a surprise pregnancy, looming book and client work deadlines coming in one after the other. I have been privileged to have worked with Mel before, during and after this period and I have marvelled at her grace and resilience through all of these plot twists. In our chat, Mel shares her experience of what it's really like to build a business, write a book AND have a baby all at the same time. I am so thankful that Mel agreed to have this conversation because I know that right now, a lot of people’s businesses and lives may not be going according to plan. If this is the case for you, please know that you are not alone. I hope that this conversation provides you with some much needed comfort and perspective. Connect with Mel Connect with Mel on LinkedIn ----------------------------- Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we are in the month of June, our business focus this month is on all things finance so that we can wrap up the financial year in the best position possible. In this episode I am sharing five things you can do this month to finish the financial year on a high and set yourself up for success next year. These are actions that I take in my own business and have done over the last 7 years to not only minimise my tax obligations but maintain a financially healthy business. Don’t procrastinate and leave this until the end of June. Start this week while there is still time to take action that will have a positive impact on your business. ------- If you need further assistance to set your business up for a strong start to the new financial year, get in touch about my Power Planning Sessions. Email me at: michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au ------- Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of year. The calendar ticks over to the month of June this week which means end of financial year. With the focus on finance, I thought it would be the ideal time to have a chat with my client and oracle of all things finance, Hilary O’Dwyer. Hilary is a Virtual CFO and the founder of Titian Consulting. She is a numbers ninja and champion for small business owners. She helps everyone from one-person start-ups to international enterprises untangle their numbers and achieve financial success. Hilary’s gift is sharing her financial knowledge in an easy to digest manner and demystifying the hard stuff - and that’s exactly what she is doing for us in this episode. In this episode, Hilary and I talk about the role a CFO plays in our business. She shares tips for how we can be more financially savvy in our businesses and where we should put our attention to ensure we are building a business that can survive long term. To learn more about Hilary and how she can support your business - visit Connect with Hilary on LinkedIn For more information and resources for this episode, please visit: Michelle Broadbent Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As business owners, we are all generating content every day. Not just social media content - you are sending emails, people are visiting your website, you might be sharing worksheets or questionnaires with your clients. Do you ever consider how this content could be received by one of the 1 billion people worldwide who are living with disabilities? No judgement here - because if you aren’t, you are in the majority. My guest on this episode is Kathryn Collins, an accredited Accessible Document Specialist who has built a successful business helping organisations make their documentation accessible to everyone, especially people with a disability, a vision impairment or who are neurodivergent. Kat is committed to helping businesses of all sizes to understand the importance of accessibility when creating bespoke document designs. And that is what she is here to talk to us about today. It’s definitely an area that gets overlooked - and like so many things in business, we don’t know what we don’t know and Kat is the woman to educate us. To learn more about Kat. Connect with Kat on LinkedIn For more information and resources for this episode, please visit: Michelle Broadbent Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No matter what business you are in, loyal client relationships are key to building a sustainable business. This is part 2 of my two part series working through ways you may be negatively impacting your existing client relationships. These are things that you may not even realise you're doing but they are causing your clients to go looking for love elsewhere. You don't want to waste all the time, effort and money you spent getting clients by not retaining them. Being aware of these potential red flags will help you here. For more information and resources for this episode, please visit: Michelle Broadbent Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maintaining loyal client relationships is a sure fire way to build a sustainable business. Yet far too many people spend an enormous amount of time, effort (and $$$) acquiring new clients and not enough energy retaining them. Over the next two episodes, I share with you 10 ways you could be sabotaging your business and causing your hard-won clients to go looking for love elsewhere. Being aware of these potential red flags will ensure you take action that encourages your clients to stay with you for the long haul. Because the success of your business depends on having clients who value you and what you do for them. For more information and resources for this episode, please visit: Michelle Broadbent Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breaking up with a client is not exactly the most fun part of our job as business owners but sadly it does need to happen from time to time. In this episode I am sharing some practical tips to consider when you find yourself in this situation. Yes - it can be a stressful and dreaded experience but I want you to feel confident that you can manage the situation in a way that is damage-limiting and maintains your professionalism and integrity. Clear communication, leaning on terms of business and your internal processes are going to serve you well here. You can’t control other people’s behaviour but you can control how you respond to it and there is no need for you to stay in a working relationship that is unsustainable. For more information and resources for this episode, please visit: Michelle Broadbent Connect with me via email at michelle@michellebroadbent.com.au Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever considered building a business with your life partner? You may have romantic notions of working alongside your loved one day-in and day-out. Or perhaps you couldn’t think of anything worse??! How about building a second business with your husband within the first year of becoming new parents??! That’s exactly what my guest today has done and she is here to tell us what it’s been like. Amy Faulkner and her husband Alex founded their brand strategy consultancy Starts with A in 2016 and have been working alongside each other ever since. Just over 18 months ago they became parents, moved countries AND started a second business together. Amy shares her learnings and exactly how she has made it all happen. She will be the first to tell you that she is NOT superwoman but she is an Action Taker. And she and Alex have taken considered action to live the life of their dreams. Right now. Links: For more information and to purchase Really Good Conversations visit Here Amy has given listeners a discount code: MB23 (for 15% off, valid until 5th June 2023) Connect with Amy on LinkedIn Follow @startswitha on Instagram Amy’s recommendation was the Headway App which you can download here And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. Michelle Broadbent Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to themes of depression and anxiety. As business owners, it’s easy to fall into a trap of working in a bit of a bubble. There is a world full of amazing people who think, learn and behave in diverse ways and it’s important to expand our knowledge and exposure so that we can be even better service providers, and humans. As a supporter of neurodiverse women in my business, I am learning more every day about the nuances of assisting women who work, think and process information completely differently to me. Which is why I asked today’s guest, Sarah Spence, to join me for a chat. Sarah has grown her content marketing business from a solopreneur to an agency with a team of 20 in just 2 years. During this time of amazing growth, Sarah was diagnosed with ADHD. In our chat, Sarah shares openly about her experience of ADHD and how it's impacted her as a business founder. Sarah is a champion of neurodivergent people and gives us some great tips for working with neurodiverse people in our lives. I learned so much during my chat with Sarah and I know you will too. Connect with Sarah Follow Sarah on Instagram And if you loved this episode, please share it with your Business Buddies or leave us a review on your podcast player. Michelle Broadbent Follow @michbroadbent on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.