If you’re a business owner, one day you will exit your business — whether by choice or circumstance. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: most business owners are not ready when that moment arrives. And that lack of preparation could cost you the biggest payday of your life.

In this episode, host Paul Sweeney is joined by investment banker and exit strategist Cameron Bishop, who has been on both sides of the table — acquiring more than 50 businesses for private equity firms before switching focus to helping owners maximise their sale value. Cameron reveals the key factors buyers look for, the most costly mistakes sellers make, and what you should start doing now, even if selling feels years away.

You’ll learn:

• Why preparing years in advance creates dramatically higher business value
• The importance of accurate accounting (especially accrual-based reporting)
• How owner dependency sabotages valuation — and what succession planning really means
• How customer concentration or vendor reliance can make a business unsellable
• Why professional advice isn’t a cost — it’s an investment that often returns millions

Whether you’re planning to sell soon or simply want a stronger, more resilient business, this episode will reshape how you think about value — and what it takes to unlock it.

Cameron Bishop is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with a proven track record of driving exceptional growth and transformation across diverse industries. He began his career in publishing, culminating in his leadership of Intertec Publishing, where he scaled the company from a small business to a $400 million enterprise with a global footprint. Subsequently, he co-founded Ascend Media, a high-growth media company, demonstrating his entrepreneurial acumen and ability to build successful organizations from the ground up.

Beyond his corporate successes, Cameron has dedicated himself to advising and mentoring business owners. His experience spans various roles, including CEO of SkillPath Seminars, where he spearheaded a company-wide transformation, and his work with Capitus, guiding businesses through strategic transitions and maximizing their value. Cameron is passionate about empowering business leaders to achieve their full potential and continues to leverage his deep expertise to help entrepreneurs navigate challenges, unlock new opportunities, and achieve lasting success.

www.raincatcher.com

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Running a business often comes with the constant pressure to reduce expenses and improve profit. But what if cost cutting alone isn’t the right answer? What if the real opportunity lies in rethinking how you resource, structure, and invest in your business rather than simply slashing spending?

In this episode, host Paul Sweeney sits down with entrepreneur and Navitas Consulting founder Michael Haskell to unpack the smart side of cost management—one that doesn’t sacrifice quality, capability, or growth. Whether you're scaling, restructuring, or trying to improve margins, this episode will help you recognise the difference between cutting costs and optimising them.

Michael shares practical strategies including how to:

• Identify hidden inefficiencies eating into profit
• Decide which roles must remain local and which can be outsourced or made remote
• Use alternate staffing models (salary, contract, offshore talent) to protect cashflow and capability
• Improve margins without compromising service or output
• Shift thinking from “spend less” to “invest smarter”

Listeners will walk away with a clearer, more confident approach to costs—one that strengthens operational discipline and business value rather than weakening it.

Michael Haskell is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with over 20 years of experience helping businesses grow smarter and faster. He’s taken companies public and now serves as the managing partner of Navitas Consulting, a firm that helps businesses scale by placing top finance talent - remotely and cost-effectively.

Michael has worked across New Zealand, Singapore, and the U.S., and is passionate about building businesses that are both profitable and impactful. He’s also a dynamic speaker who shares real-world advice on growth strategy, cost management, and leadership.

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Running a business becomes overwhelming when your data, systems, and processes slip into chaos—making it harder to make smart decisions, stay profitable, and plan for the future. In this episode, you’ll learn exactly how to clean up your business data, streamline your systems, and set up a structure that gives you clarity, confidence, and control. If you’ve ever felt stuck, disorganised, or unsure about what’s really going on in your business, this conversation will show you how to turn your mess into meaningful insights that help you grow.

In this episode, host Paul Sweeney sits down with Sonya Corkery from Clear Plans Consulting—an expert in business systems, operations and strategic planning. Sonya shares why business owners become overwhelmed with data and systems, the biggest risks of messy or outdated information, and the powerful role data plays in decision-making and long-term planning. She breaks down what “cleaning up your business” really means—from choosing the right software to setting up systems properly, creating meaningful dashboards, and using both data and intuition to steer your business forward.

Sonya also explains the importance of engaging specialists, building a strong advisory team, and structuring your operations so you can scale safely and profitably. Whether you’re a sole trader, a fast-growing trade business, or a larger organisation managing complex projects, you’ll walk away with clear steps to regain control, reduce stress, and set your business up for sustainable success.

Get the Profit First book here – Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz

Sonya Corkery has worked in business operations and data management for many years, and offers listeners practical solutions to streamline their business operations and achieve their goals. Sonya offers actionable strategies to 'clean up' their businesses and gain clarity on their trajectories. She is a business owner, wife, and mother that helps to empower fellow business owners to take control of their enterprises and design the lives they desire.

www.clearplanconsulting.com.au

Get 1:1 support cleaning up and understanding the overall health of your business. De-code your business health in 20 minutes with a friendly obligation-free chat.

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If you’ve ever wondered how to scale your business from a solo operation to a multimillion-dollar enterprise — without outside investors — this episode is for you. Bryan Clayton, CEO and co-founder of GreenPal, joins host Paul Sweeney to share his journey from mowing lawns to building a $30 million tech company serving over 300,000 customers.

Bryan reveals the hard-earned lessons behind bootstrapping growth — from hiring his first employees and scrambling to meet payrolls to mastering sales, building systems, and creating sustainable growth without debt or shortcuts. He breaks down the mindset shifts every business owner must make to move from doing all the work themselves to building a team that drives the business forward.

Listeners will learn:

• How to grow from a one-person business to a thriving, scalable company
• Why learning each part of your business before delegating is crucial
• The right (and wrong) ways to use debt when growing
• How listening to your customers can guide product and service innovation
• Why overnight success is a myth — and what real, long-term growth looks like

Whether you’re running a service business or building a start-up, Bryan’s insights on leadership, growth, and resilience will inspire you to think bigger — and execute smarter.

Bryan Clayton has been recognised as one of Inc. Magazine's "Top Entrepreneurs" and has built GreenPal to over 300,000 customers and $30 million a year in revenue. He is a serial entrepreneur with 22 years of experience in the lawn, landscaping, and garden industry. Before GreenPal, he built Peachtree Inc. to over $10 million a year before selling it. Bryan is a thought leader in the green industry, often sharing his insights through various media outlets and speaking engagements.

www.yourgreenpal.com

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What if your business could run smoothly—even grow—without you being the one to make every decision, solve every problem, or put out every fire? It’s not a fantasy. It’s completely possible. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney chats with Ryan Cassin, founder of Superpowers HQ, about how entrepreneurs can finally escape the bottleneck trap and build a business that thrives independently.

Ryan reveals how to design systems that capture your judgment, not just your tasks, empowering your team to think and act with your values and intent. He breaks down how to move from doing everything yourself to leading a self-managing company where your people make smart decisions—even when you’re not in the room.

You’ll learn how to:

• Turn your systems into tools for thinking, not just checklists for doing
• Empower your team with frameworks like the approval matrix to build confidence and accountability
• Shift from “delegating down” to delegating up, seeing your team as investments rather than expenses
• Protect your golden hours so you can focus on your highest-value, most creative work
• Use automation strategically while keeping the human judgment that makes your business special

If you’ve ever thought your business can’t run without you, this episode will change your mind. Learn how to reclaim your time, scale sustainably, and keep the magic alive while your business grows beyond you.

Get Ryan's book here: Superpowered: The Secret That Helps Every Entrepreneur Eliminate the Suck, 10X Their Impact, and Have More Fun in Work and Life

Ryan Cassin is passionate about entrepreneurship, having launched and sold multiple businesses. He co-founded Superpowers, which helps entrepreneurs hire and train their right-fi t executive assistant. Cassin is also a co-founder of Here Homes, a real estate investment platform which owns and manages over 100 rental properties across Dallas.

www.superpowershq.com

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If you’ve ever struggled to find funding for your start-up or early-stage business, this episode is for you. Many founders assume that capital raising is only for big corporations or venture-backed tech firms—but as Dr David Cunic reveals, small business owners can access funding too, if they know where to look and how to prepare.

In this episode, Dr David Cunic—entrepreneur, investor, and founder of UCS Advisors—shares practical, real-world advice on how to raise capital even when you’re pre-revenue or under five years old. He explains why clarity of purpose matters, how to avoid the most common fundraising mistakes, and what investors really look for before writing a cheque. You’ll learn the concept of “Dr David's Green Nuggets”—small, actionable insights that can polish your pitch and prepare you for investment success.

From planning your funding tranches to identifying the right investor profile, David offers a refreshingly transparent view of how to turn your business idea into reality. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, this episode will equip you with the mindset, structure, and tools to secure the capital your business deserves.

Dr David Cunic serves as the CEO of UCS Advisors and is recognized nationally as an expert in investor relations, networking, and professional investment strategy. Leveraging over 18 years of industry experience, Dr Cunic has guided hundreds of founders in raising capital, refining their presentations, offering actionable business insights, and establishing investor-ready pipelines.

He has successfully founded more than ten companies, achieved multiple exits, and led teams exceeding 300 members across sectors including healthcare, science, agriculture, and start-up operations. An Alfred P. Sloan Award recipient, Dr Cunic—known as the “Triple Headed Dragon”—is respected for his extensive expertise in operations, public speaking, and capital acquisition.

As a frequent national speaker and investor judge, Dr Cunic maintains a robust network within both the start-up and investment communities. He is often consulted in high-stakes scenarios with demanding timelines.

A strong advocate for organizational culture, Dr Cunic promotes Positive Mental Attitude as a core operational principle, exemplified by UCS’s PMA Pin initiative—hundreds of which have been distributed among founders, investors, and community leaders. His guiding philosophy, “Always be willing to achieve your greatness,” reflects his commitment to preparation, resilience, and fostering investor-readiness.

www.ucsgreatness.com

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What if your business was built to outlast you? In this inspiring episode, Dave Munson, founder of Saddleback Leather Company, shares how he turned a simple idea for a long-lasting leather bag into a global brand known for its craftsmanship, purpose, and impact.

Listeners will learn how to create a purpose-driven business that combines quality, sustainability, and authenticity—one that leaves a true legacy. Dave reveals why he refuses to compromise on quality, how a clear mission attracts the right employees and customers, and why caring for people and the planet leads to lasting success.

From building a company with a 100-year warranty to funding education and community initiatives in Africa, Dave’s story shows that business success is about much more than profit—it’s about creating something worth fighting over, even after you’re gone.

Tune in to discover how to design your business to endure, inspire, and give back for generations to come.

Order Dave's book, They'll Fight Over It When You're Dead to hear the rest of his story!

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Dave Munson is the founder of Saddleback Leather Co., a globally recognized brand known for crafting over-engineered leather bags built to last 100 years. His journey began in a small leather shop in Mexico with one goal: “Make it so tough my grandkids fight over it when I’m dead.” Since then, he’s survived jungle treks, car crashes, and even an assassin — all with his trusty leather bag in tow.

Today, Dave leads Saddleback alongside his wife, Suzette, creating world-class products while giving back through their sister brand Love 41 and outreach initiatives in Rwanda, Mexico, and Texas. With partnerships including Toyota, the Texas Rangers, and Martin Guitar, Dave continues to build with purpose — using business as a vehicle to love people and lift communities.

www.saddlebackleather.com

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Are you treating your LinkedIn profile like just another digital résumé? If so, you’re missing one of the most powerful business tools available. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with Al Kushner—LinkedIn strategist, keynote speaker, and author of The AI LinkedIn Advantage—to uncover how business owners can use LinkedIn and AI to authentically build their personal brand and attract new opportunities.

Al shares practical, time-saving strategies to help you optimize your profile, stand out from competitors, and create content that resonates with your audience. You’ll learn how to use AI tools like ChatGPT to write engaging posts, leverage LinkedIn newsletters to expand your reach, and maintain authenticity in an AI-driven world. Whether your profile needs a total overhaul or a simple refresh, this episode gives you the actionable steps to start turning your LinkedIn presence into a growth engine for your business.

Get Al's free LinkedIn profile optimization checklist www.linkedvantage.com/audit

Al Kushner is an award-winning author and sought-after LinkedIn Growth Strategist, renowned for his innovative approach to digital networking. His groundbreaking book, The A.I. LinkedIn Advantage, has transformed how professionals and businesses leverage artificial intelligence to optimize their LinkedIn presence, grow networks, and drive meaningful engagement. Al’s expertise in blending AI-driven strategies with actionable insights has made him a trusted advisor and thought leader, empowering countless individuals to achieve measurable results on the platform.

www.linkedvantage.com

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