Episodes

  • MYB122: Escaping the Mud Pit: How to Set SMARTER Goals for Business Growth

    MYB122: Escaping the Mud Pit: How to Set SMARTER Goals for Business Growth
    Feb 26 2026
    In this episode of the Max Your Business Podcast, hosts Ben Fewtrell and David Carlin dive into why so many business owners feel stuck in the daily grind, and exactly how to get out of it. We've all been there: you're so bogged down in the day-to-day operations (what Ben and David call the "Mud Pit") that you can't see the blue sky above. But being busy isn't the same as being productive. In this session, the guys unpack the difference between just having a wish list and setting SMARTER goals that actually stick. They share the missing ingredients that most goal-setting frameworks leave out (Emotion and Reward), why writing your goals down puts you in the top 3% of achievers, and how to build a practical "staircase" plan to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. If you're ready to stop reacting to your business and start driving it forward, this episode is your wake-up call to step out of the mud and get strategic. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome to the Max Your Business Podcast 01:00 – A quick look at how AI and automation are forcing better systems in business 06:12 – The "Mud Pit" Analogy: Why you can't see the opportunities when you're stuck in the operations 09:00 – Making the choice: It's not about getting out of the mud, it's about choosing not to jump in 12:50 – Introduction to the SMARTER goals framework (and why SMART isn't enough) 13:56 – The two missing letters: Why Emotion and Reward are critical for long-term success 16:22 – The Reality Check: Ensuring your capacity matches your growth goals 21:40 – The stats don't lie: Why writing your goals down is the secret to wealth 24:20 – Building the Staircase: Turning a goal into a step-by-step plan 28:43 – Your Next Steps Key Takeaways: Stay Out of the Mud Pit: You can't strategise effectively when you're neck-deep in daily tasks. You must deliberately carve out time to step away—even if it's just to a park bench—to see the bigger picture. Make Your Goals SMARTER: Standard SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely) are great, but they lack heart. Adding Emotion (your 'why') and Reward (how you'll celebrate) gives you the drive to push through hard times. Reality Checks are Crucial: It's easy to set a turnover target, but do you have the capacity to handle it? Sometimes growth requires a dip in profits first to invest in the systems and team needed to sustain it. Write It Down: It sounds simple, but studies show that the small percentage of people who actually write their goals down control the vast majority of the wealth. Build the Staircase: A goal without a plan is just a wish. You need to build the "staircase" between your current reality and your destination so you know exactly which step to take next. 🚀 Get your free SMARTER Goals Workbook at maxmyprofit.com.au/smart and start planning your best year yet. Tune in to find out how to set goals that actually happen. Don't miss this episode—and don't forget to subscribe for more practical insights every week.
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    29 mins
  • MYB121: Is Email Your Biggest Time Thief? Practical Ways to Reclaim Your Day

    MYB121: Is Email Your Biggest Time Thief? Practical Ways to Reclaim Your Day
    Feb 19 2026
    In this episode of the In this episode of the Max Your Business Podcast, hosts Ben Fewtrell and David Carlin tackle one of the biggest "time thieves" in modern business: the dreaded email inbox. If you're the type of business owner who gets anxiety seeing that little red notification bubble climb into the hundreds (or thousands), this episode is a must-listen. Ben and David unpack why email has morphed from a productivity tool into a massive distraction, costing the average person over two hours a day. They share their personal systems for achieving "Inbox Zero," the power of being proactive rather than reactive, and practical automations you can set up today to filter the noise. Whether you're a Trello user, an Outlook devotee, or just someone looking to get their sanity back, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you communicate more efficiently. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome to the Max Your Business Podcast 01:41 – A brief history lesson: When did email actually become a thing? 04:36 – The "Inbox Zero" philosophy and dealing with notification anxiety 09:23 – Ben's morning routine: The "4 D" principle (Delete, Defer, Delegate, Do) 11:09 – Why turning off notifications might be the best productivity hack you ever implement 14:28 – The shocking stats: How much time (and money) email is actually costing you 16:16 – Stop being the troubleshooter: Training your team not to email you with every problem 20:48 – A practical guide to setting up Rules and Folders to automate your sorting 26:00 – The "Segmentation Strategy": Using specific email addresses for travel, subscriptions, and accounts 30:04 – Your Next Steps: How to get the free email organisation guide Key Takeaways: The 4 D's of Management: When processing email, make a quick decision: Delete it, Defer it (to a task manager like Trello), Delegate it to a team member, or Do it immediately if it takes less than 60 seconds. Be Proactive, Not Reactive: Checking email first thing in the morning or responding instantly to every "ding" puts you in a reactive state. Schedule specific times to check your inbox so you stay in control of your day. Automate with Rules: Don't manually sort every message. Set up rules in your email client to automatically file newsletters, bills, and non-urgent notifications into specific folders you can check later. Segment Your Inboxes: Consider creating separate email addresses (e.g., travel@ or subscriptions@) to keep your primary inbox clear of noise and marketing spam. Calculate the Opportunity Cost: Spending 5 hours a week sorting emails isn't just annoying—it could be costing your business hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost productive time over the long run. 🚀 Get your free Email Organisation Guide at maxmyprofit.com.au/email and stop chasing your tail. Tune in to discover how to finally tame the email beast. Don't miss this episode—and don't forget to subscribe for more practical insights every week.
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    35 mins
  • MYB120: Turnover is Vanity: The Real Financial Numbers You Need to Track

    MYB120: Turnover is Vanity: The Real Financial Numbers You Need to Track
    Feb 12 2026
    In this episode of the Max Your Business Podcast, hosts Ben Fewtrell and David Carlin dive into the financial metrics that actually matter. While many business owners focus on turnover or the current bank balance, those numbers alone can often be misleading. Ben and David explain why "turnover is vanity, profit is sanity" and unpack the specific KPIs that give you true visibility over your business. From understanding your break-even point to managing the "cash gap," this episode covers the essential data you need to stop playing "darts in the dark" and start making educated decisions. If you want to move from just operating a business to truly running one, you need to know your numbers. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome to the Max Your Business Podcast 03:41 – The "darts in the dark" analogy: why you need visibility 07:47 – Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity 08:50 – The three levers you can pull to increase net profit 17:33 – Why Gross Margin is one of the most important numbers to track 18:43 – Understanding your Break Even point (and why it's exciting) 22:42 – Profit is theory, cash is reality: The Cash Gap explained 33:30 – Measuring conversion rates beyond just the sale 37:25 – The invisible numbers: calculating the cost of doing nothing 40:20 – Why measuring capacity is crucial for growth 44:40 – Your Next Steps Key Takeaways: Visibility is Key: Running a business without knowing your numbers is like playing darts in the dark. You need data to make informed decisions. Turnover vs Profit: High turnover doesn't mean a healthy business. Focus on what is left over, not just what comes in. The Three Levers: To increase net profit, you can only really do three things: increase sales, increase gross margin, or reduce expenses. Know Your Break Even: This isn't just about covering costs. It is the point where every dollar earned afterwards contributes directly to your bottom line. Mind the Cash Gap: Profit appears on a P&L, but cash is what pays the bills. A cash flow forecast is essential to ensure you don't run out of money while waiting to get paid. Operator vs Owner: An operator works in the business. An owner runs the business by looking at the numbers and making strategic adjustments. 🚀 Get your free KPI download with 63 examples at maxmyprofit.com.au/kpi and start measuring what matters. Tune in to learn which numbers you should be tracking. Don't miss this episode, and don't forget to subscribe for more practical insights every week.
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    48 mins
  • MYB119: Business Planning 2026: How to Design a Life-First Business

    MYB119: Business Planning 2026: How to Design a Life-First Business
    Feb 5 2026
    In this first episode for 2026, hosts Ben Fewtrell and David Carlin kick off the new year by challenging the way business owners typically approach their planning. Instead of filling your calendar with work and squeezing life into the gaps, they argue for flipping the script entirely. Ben and David discuss why traditional resolutions often fail and introduce a more robust framework for success. They cover the importance of setting a "Big Hairy Audacious Goal" (BHAG), identifying the "energy leaks" that held you back last year, and picking a central theme to guide your decisions. If you want to ensure you don't reach December wondering where the year went, this episode provides the blueprint for designing a business that serves your life, rather than the other way around. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome to the Max Your Business Podcast 02:30 – Making 2026 a year to remember for the right reasons 04:12 – Defining your BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) 06:00 – The three critical areas to set goals in: Business, Life, and Self 08:28 – The "Self-First" approach: Why you should plan your personal growth before your business growth 10:15 – The Rule of Three: Why focusing on too many things ensures nothing gets done 12:10 – How to restructure your diary by locking in non-negotiables and "life stuff" first 15:00 – Breaking your annual vision down into manageable quarterly outcomes 16:30 – Identifying "energy leaks" from 2025 and how to plug them 19:00 – Choosing a "Theme" for the year to act as your decision-making anchor 26:20 – A lesson on vision and success from the new Sydney Fish Markets 27:40 – Your Next Steps Key Takeaways: Flip Your Planning Priority: Most business owners fill their diary with work and hope life fits around it. To build a sustainable business, you must schedule your life, rest, and non-negotiables first, then fit the business in what remains. Set a Theme for the Year: Pick a single word or phrase (like "Leverage" or "Simplicity") to act as your guiding light. If a new opportunity or task doesn't align with your theme, it makes it much easier to say no. Identify Energy Leaks: Look back at 2025 and identify the tasks or situations that drained you. Whether it's being the default problem solver or dealing with repetitive admin, make it a goal to systemise or delegate these zappers in 2026. The Power of Three: If everything matters, nothing does. Limit yourself to three key goals in each area (Business, Life, Self) to maintain focus and actually achieve mastery. Reverse Engineer Your Quarters: Don't plan forward from where you are now, as you will only see obstacles. Start with the end result in mind and work backward to define your quarterly outcomes. 🚀 Ready to build the business you imagined? Head to maxmyprofit.com.au to download our enrolment pack or chat with the team about how coaching can help you stay accountable in 2026. Tune in to get your year started on the right track. Don't miss this episode, and don't forget to subscribe for more practical insights every week.
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    29 mins
  • MYB118: 2026 Business Planning: How to Review Your Year and Reset for Growth

    MYB118: 2026 Business Planning: How to Review Your Year and Reset for Growth
    Dec 18 2025
    In this final episode of the Max Your Business Podcast, hosts Ben Fewtrell and David Carlin put on their coaching hats to guide you through the transition from the "silly season" into a powerful new year. It's been a cracking year, and as we race towards Christmas, it's easy to get caught up in the momentum and forget to stop, breathe, and reflect. Ben and David unpack why dwelling on the negatives of the past 12 months creates a "white worm" of negativity in your brain, and how shifting your focus to your wins can change your entire trajectory for 2026. They break down the essential formulas for success (Be x Do = Have), why you need to design your business like an architect designs a building, and how to set "Big Hairy Audacious Goals" by thinking like an 8-year-old with no limitations. If you want to hit the ground running when the doors open in 2026, this episode is your blueprint. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome to the Max Your Business Podcast 03:45 – The power of listing your wins to create positive momentum 07:00 – The essential question: "What did I achieve that I am most proud of?" 10:14 – Setting your Reticular Activating System (RAS) for a successful 2026 12:16 – Three critical questions to review your year effectively 14:40 – Unpacking the "Be x Do = Have" success formula 20:18 – How changing your Response changes the Outcome (E + R = O) 24:45 – Using "childlike thinking" to remove limitations from your goals 27:00 – Why you must plan your profit and holidays before the work 39:50 – 2025 Wrap up and 2026 return dates Key Takeaways: Audit Your Wins: Your brain needs evidence of success; list what went right to build energy for next year. Stop Tolerating: Identify the bad clients, poor behaviour, or excuses that you will leave behind in 2025. Be x Do = Have: Success starts with who you are "being" (your beliefs and identity), not just the tasks you do. Design First, Build Second: Define your ideal profit and lifestyle numbers before you create the operational plan. Feed the Hungry Crowd: Be the energetic innovator in your industry who pushes boundaries and creates trends. Every Problem Has a Solution: Pre-empt your 2026 hurdles now and ask "How can I overcome this?" rather than "I can't." 🚀 See You in 2026! The Max Your Business Podcast will be taking a short break over the summer holidays. We will be back in your ears on Thursday, February 5th, 2026. Have a safe and happy Christmas, and keep building the business you imagined.
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    41 mins
  • MYB117: How to Structure Your Business for Growth: Building a High-Performance Team

    MYB117: How to Structure Your Business for Growth: Building a High-Performance Team
    Dec 11 2025
    In this episode of the Max Your Business Podcast, hosts Ben Fewtrell and David Carlin dive deep into one of the biggest challenges business owners face: building a team that actually helps you grow, rather than just adding to your workload. As we head towards the end of the year, it's the perfect time to review not just where your business has been, but where your team is heading. Ben and David unpack why the old excuse of "it's hard to find good people" is often a reflection of the business owner's mindset, not the market. They discuss the critical shift from a "worker mindset" to a "business owner mindset," the dangers of building an organisational chart around specific people rather than outcomes, and why hiring for skills alone is a recipe for disaster. If you're ready to stop meddling in every task and start building a high-performance culture that attracts talent to you, this episode is a must-listen. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome to the Max Your Business Podcast 06:44 – The First Step: Why you need a "Mindset for Growth" before you hire anyone 09:05 – Worker Mindset vs. Business Owner Mindset: Are you trading time for money or building an asset? 14:50 – Overcoming the psychological blocker of needing to "know it all" as a leader 20:15 – Structuring Your Business: Why you must design the role for outcomes, not for the person 25:20 – The Chef Analogy: Why hiring for skills without considering personality can ruin your culture 28:40 – Moving from "Job Ads" to "Attraction": How to get great staff coming to you 32:36 – Your Next Steps & A Special Offer Key Takeaways: Mindset is Everything: Your beliefs dictate your reality. Stop saying it's "hard to find staff" and shift your focus to attraction. Structure for Outcomes: Build your org chart around the functions your business needs, not the people you currently have. Clarify the Role First: Define the KPIs, accountabilities, and outcomes before you ever write a job ad. Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill: You can teach processes, but you can't teach culture fit. Be an Attractive Employer: Showcase your culture on socials to pull in talent—even those who aren't actively looking. 🚀 Special Offer: Ready to master the art of recruitment and leadership? Ben and David are offering 50% off their comprehensive "Building Your Team" course for a limited time. Go to maxmyprofit.com.au/byt and use the promo code MAXEDBYT at checkout. Tune in to learn how to structure your business for freedom and profit. Don't miss this episode—and don't forget to subscribe for more practical insights every week.
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    37 mins
  • MYB116: 116: Turn More Enquiries into Customers - The Maths of High-Converting Sales

    MYB116: 116: Turn More Enquiries into Customers - The Maths of High-Converting Sales
    Dec 4 2025
    In this episode of the Max Your Business Podcast, hosts Ben Fewtrell and David Carlin tackle a massive issue for many business owners. That is the obsession with getting more leads while ignoring the ones they already have. If you are thinking about spending more money on marketing to grow your business, you might want to hit pause and listen to this first. Ben and David explain why increasing your conversion rate is far more profitable (and cheaper) than chasing new traffic. They unpack the psychology behind why people buy, why "convincing" customers is the wrong approach, and how a solid, repeatable sales process can transform your bottom line. Whether you love sales or it makes you cringe, this episode is packed with practical strategies. You will learn to help communicate better, reduce buyer resistance, and close more deals without being "salesy." Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome to the Max Your Business Podcast 04:28 – The maths of sales: Stop spending on marketing and focus on conversion 05:54 – The "Test, Adjust, Measure" approach: You can't fix sales without the numbers 07:15 – Flipping the script: Helping people decide instead of convincing them 09:23 – The power of a boring process: Why your sales routine shouldn't change 14:00 – Communication skills: Why talking too much kills sales 16:03 – A tactile case study: How a "Santa Sack" of products doubled conversions 19:15 – Selling the hole, not the drill: Focus on the customer's transformation 26:15 – A special Christmas offer: Get 50% off the "Building Your Sales" course 30:35 – The Kirby Vacuum story: Selling $3,000 vacuums by sticking to the process Key Takeaways: Fix Conversion Before Marketing: Before you spend another cent on ads, look at your conversion rate. A small increase there can halve your customer acquisition cost and double your profitability. Stop Convincing, Start Qualifying: A good sales process isn't about tricking people into buying. It is about qualifying leads quickly so you are only talking to people who actually have a problem you can solve. Routine is Reliable: Great salespeople don't wing it. They follow a documented, step-by-step process that allows them to measure what works and what doesn't. Adapt Your Communication: Everyone buys differently. Whether it is visual, auditory, or hands-on, you need to adapt your style to match your prospect. Tools like DISC profiling can be a game changer here. Sell the Transformation: Your customer doesn't want your product. They want the result your product gives them. Focus on the "after" state rather than the features. Measure Everything: You need to know your numbers. If you don't know your current conversion rate or average dollar sale, you are flying blind. 🚀 Ready to overhaul your sales process? Get 50% off the Building Your Sales (BYS) course for a limited time. Go to maxmyprofit.com.au/bys and use the promo code MAXEDBYS at checkout. Tune in to learn how to stop leaving money on the table. Don't miss this episode and don't forget to subscribe for more practical insights every week.
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    35 mins
  • MYB115: Stop Working Harder - How to Structure Your Business to Run Without You

    MYB115: Stop Working Harder - How to Structure Your Business to Run Without You
    Nov 27 2025
    In this episode of the Max Your Business Podcast, hosts Ben Fewtrell and David Carlin unpack why working harder is rarely the answer to scaling a successful business. If the thought of doubling your customers makes you panic because you'd just be working twice as hard, then your business structure needs a rethink. Ben and David use a great fishing analogy to explain why technique beats brute strength every time. They introduce a game changing concept called the "Four Machines" framework. This is all about moving away from people based job descriptions and moving towards function based outputs. It is a shift that allows you to step back, systemise, and finally build a business that works without you constantly turning the gears. If you feel like you are the bottleneck in your own business, this episode will give you the clarity you need to restructure for real freedom. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome to the Max Your Business Podcast 02:47 – The fishing analogy: Why technique matters more than muscle in business 06:30 – Introduction to the "Building Your Business" module 08:50 – Why traditional job descriptions often fail and how to think about "roles" instead 12:50 – The Four Machines Framework: Lead Gen, Conversion, Client Fulfillment, and Business 16:15 – Shifting your mindset from managing people to managing machines 19:00 – The importance of "Output" over activity 21:20 – A real world example: Where does an estimator actually fit in your structure? 26:45 – How to systemise your sales process by cloning your top performer 32:40 – Details on the "Building Your Business" course and a special 50% off offer Key Takeaways: Technique Over Effort: Just like sport fishing with light gear, running a growing business requires better technique, not just heavier lines and more effort. Think in Machines, Not People: Stop building roles around specific people. instead, view your business as four distinct machines (Lead Gen, Conversion, Client Fulfillment, Business) and define what each machine needs to produce. Focus on Output: It doesn't matter how your team achieves a result as long as the system is followed and the required output is met. This removes the micromanagement of daily tasks. Structure Before Hiring: Before you hire another staff member, define the functional role within the machine. This ensures you are hiring for a specific outcome, not just a list of tasks. Systemise for Consistency: Whether it is answering the phone or closing a sale, document the process your best performer uses so the rest of the team can replicate that success. 🚀 Special Offer: Ready to implement this structure? Get the full "Building Your Business" course (13 guided modules) at maxmyprofit.com.au/byb. Use the promo code MAXEDBYB for a massive 50% discount. Tune in to learn how to stop being the busiest person in your business. Don't miss this episode and don't forget to subscribe for more practical insights every week.
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    41 mins