Owen Rask on building Rask from scratch, surviving the hardest years of business, and designing an operating system for long-term scale.

In this opening episode of the Australian Business Podcast Summer Series, Owen Rask shares the real story behind building Rask — not the polished highlight reel, but the uncomfortable truth of what it actually takes to survive and scale a modern Australian business.

From starting with little more than an idea, an iMac and a strong sense of purpose, Owen walks through the messy middle years that almost broke the business. He explains why years five and six were harder than the early days, how losing licences, shrinking teams and running out of cash shaped his leadership style, and why managing your own psychology is the most important skill a founder can develop.

Drawing on lessons from The Hard Thing About Hard Things, this episode reframes anxiety, uncertainty and loneliness as part of the job — not signs of failure. Owen breaks down what smart founders do differently: confronting problems early, encouraging brutal honesty, and understanding that leadership is simply a series of tough conversations.

You’ll also hear how Rask operates today, including the Inflection Operating System that underpins decision-making, execution and growth. With more than 38,000 students, 60,000 account holders and over 250,000 podcast listeners, Owen shares clear targets for the years ahead — including a $5 million turnover goal and a $30–50 million valuation — and what it will take to get there.

If you’re building a business and wondering whether the struggle ever ends, this episode gives you the clarity and perspective to keep going.

Topics covered in this Australian Business Podcast episode

- The unspoken realities of building a business

- Why the struggle is the job

- Managing founder psychology under pressure

- The Inflection Operating System explained

- Confronting existential business risks early

- Setting long-term growth and valuation targets

Episode Resources

Join Rask’s business community

Rask’s Australian Business Podcast

Rask Business 101 (free course)

Rask Operating System (Owen's blog): https://www.raskmedia.com.au/2026/01/04/rask-operating-system

Books

No Rules Rules: https://www.amazon.com.au/No-Rules-Netflix-Culture-Reinvention/dp/1984877860/

Hard Thing About Hard Things: https://www.amazon.com.au/Hard-Thing-About-Things-Building/dp/0062273205

Traction: https://www.amazon.com.au/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837

The E-Myth Revisited: https://www.amazon.com.au/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280

Rask Resources

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

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