Conversations That Grow

A lot of people seem to think that in order to be successful, they have to give up all other aspects of their life, but that's not true. In fact, finding balance is one of the most important things you can do if you want to grow a successful business.Join us for a brand new episode where Brendon Macdonald from Digital Smile Design talks about his journey, the lessons he learnt as an entrepreneur and how it helped him grow and be successful in life.Here's some of the great stuff that we cover in this show:Brendon & his wife started their business over 10 years ago when a large publishing company left Europe after the 2008 crash. They started to sell advertising for their magazine and eventually bought out the other partners in the dental publication. As digital media became more popular they decided to start Yello Veedub as a social media marketing agency with 50+ dental clients including DSD who later bought their agency.Brendon talks about the challenges he faced when he went from having his own agency and making all the decisions himself to working for DSD as an employee.Brendon experienced an identity crisis with his business, Yello Veedub. He was constantly in a fight for survival and had no time to reflect or grow as an individual. After the sale of Yello Veedub, Brendon began focusing on four main pillars: balance, being, business and body.There are three key areas to meaningful growth: autonomy, mastery and purpose. Brendon realized he was holding his team back by providing all the answers himself instead of allowing them autonomy and self-discovery. Becoming a coach was one of the biggest learning moments for him - working on the business rather than just within it had huge impacts on both his own productivity and morale within his organization.Brendon suggests focusing on balance in order to maximize business performance. He recommends listing activities that are classified as working in the business and assigning a percentage of time towards them. He also emphasizes building processes, delegating tasks, and creating autonomy within the team to free up more time for long-term planning.People are always looking to move up and have more success, defined however they see fit. This can be a difficult mindset to break out of, but it is possible. Brendon has gone through many changes in the past few years and shares that it was difficult at first because he had to get used to not being in charge all the time. He has since learned how to better communicate with those around him and present his ideas in a way that is more effective.-----------------------ABOUT BRENDONBrendon is an astute problem solver who strives for excellence and executes plans with care and determination. He inspires others with his discerning nature and conscientious, measured approach.Brendon Macdonald is Sales & Marketing Director at Digital Smile Design (DSD) where he took this position when DSD acquired Yello Veedub, his Sales & Marketing Agency in 2018. Yello Veedub, a Full Service Sales & Marketing Agency in 2015, specializing in the dental market. Before this he was involved in several social media consulting and e-commerce businesses focusing and specialising in the global health sector.Brendon has extensive experience in brand & online digital strategies in the B2B & B2C healthcare & e-commerce sectors. He has a Bachelor of Economics from Rhodes University (2003) and worked in investment banking for a number of years before starting his own businesses in the retail sector before his last venture with Yello Veedub.-----------------------For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.

A lot of people might think that when you go through something like cancer, your life is over. But that's not true. In this podcast episode, Jayne Moore shares the lessons she learnt as she became more and more resilient in personal life as well as in business even after a second cancer diagnosis. From leading without getting paid, to dealing with conflict, Jayne has a wealth of experience to share which you would not want to miss out on.Here's some of the great stuff that we cover in this show:Jayne began her career in administration and retail before moving to London. She was offered a job at Harrods, where she learned about people from all walks of life, including celebrities such as Princess Diana and Joan Collins. She was then headhunted by Lancaster for an ambitious role with the company that required her to move to Birmingham. That is where she met her future husband.Jayne had a short stint in radio, which led to her running a small local station called KCI. She lost her voice on the first day of work and was eventually diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She talks about how being the youngest in a family of six, she lacked confidence and always thought she needed someone else's help to succeed. But Karren Brady inspired and challenged her to realize her true potential.Jayne believes that if you need to use someone's skills, they need to be paid for it. She does not like using students as volunteers to grow her business. She is proud of the Kickstart scheme which has enabled 80% of participants to consider full-time employment. Her husband being ex-military inspired her to build a support system around those transitioning out of the military into civilian life.Jayne talks about how they recruit people. She says that they do not encourage a CV because it doesn't help create diversity and inclusion. Instead they want applicants to sent them a video or animation and express themselves in ways that a CV cannot capture. Additionally, speaking on the phone is encouraged since it shows one's ability to communicate effectively which is important when working with clients or influencers.Jayne shares her struggles with cancer and menopause and how her team helped her take some time away and get through the tough times. She found strength in the idea that pain is growth, likening it to how lobsters grow by getting uncomfortable before breaking out of their shells into something new.-----------------------ABOUT JAYNEJayne Moore is the founder and Chief Executive of Jayne Moore Media Group. She is a successful award-winning entrepreneur and business leader.Jayne established Moore Media in 2011 and has developed it from a traditional public relations consultancy into a full multi-media communications agency, and this has equipped her to deliver the full breadth of PR, social media, and branding needs of clients in the digital age. During lockdown 2020, Jayne developed I Am Moore to be a government gateway for the Kickstart scheme, successfully placing almost 300 young people into employment.In addition to this, Jayne launched My Odd Job Guys, a handy person service working to place Ex-forces and blue light personnel into work and generating work placements for young people who have been affected by unemployment and homelessness. Jayne is passionate about ensuring that challenging topics are communicated effectively. As a former magazine editor, she has an expert rep in reputation management and crisis management. She also gives her time to lead a number of organizations outside of work. -----------------------For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.

For most people, failure can be quite discouraging but failure is only a stepping stone to success. With the right attitude, you can achieve anything you want in life.Tune in to this episode of Push to Be More where Ryan Flannagan from Nuanced Media shares his incredible journey of delivering pizza with an MBA to conquering Amazon!Here's some of the great stuff that we cover in this show:Ryan talks about how he coped with failure at the start of his entrepreneurial journey. He recommends focusing on what you can control, understanding that things happen for a reason, and getting up every day to keep moving forward. He also talks about how important it is to have a win-win mindset when it comes to business relationships.Matt and Ryan discuss the idea that going through tough times makes a person stronger, how taking risks is a part of being an entrepreneur, and staying true to your morals is important, especially when things are tough.Experience is a highly valuable asset in business. Knowing what not to do is as crucial as knowing what to do, as is focusing on the things that will make you money, rather than wasting time on things that won't.Ryan talks about his major goals in life - to provide value, be financially independent, stay physically healthy, and be a great husband/father/citizen.Ryan believes that exercising for at least 30 minutes a day is key to resetting your metabolism and being the best version of yourself. Meditation and focusing on his goals are also important elements of self-care for him. He believes in the power of affirmation, or taking time to appreciate what you do have in your life.-----------------------ABOUT RYANRyan is the CEO of Nuanced Media, and has spent more than fifteen years in eCommerce, multi-channel digital marketing, and third-party marketing places. He has worked with hundreds of companies to establish best practices, focusing on the 20 per cent that produces 80 per cent of the revenue.Ryan is a passionate thought leader in the eCommerce industry. He has been interviewed and quoted by Buzz Feed, Modern Retail, as well as many other news outlets - including the eCommerce Podcast.-----------------------For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.

David Perry is a firm believer that the ability to relate in conversation on a whole host of different topics will create opportunities for meaningful connections that can help you grow your business. Join us for this episode of Push to be More as he shares his thoughts on leadership, how he deals with challenges and the importance of learning something about everything and everything about something!Here's some of the great stuff that we cover in this show:David moved to England in the early 1990s. He got involved with the game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which was a huge success and led to Playmates Toys funding his own video game company, Shiny Entertainment. From there, he went on to have an incredibly successful career in video games, e-commerce businesses, and more - all thanks to taking advantage of opportunities as they arose.David discusses the idea of levelling up. In a video game, every little thing you do progresses you towards the next level. This keeps people playing. In life too, sometimes people get stuck and don't move forward If they don't know what the next stage is, or can't see themselves getting closer to a goal.According to David, titles are not important in a company. He talks about how to use the idea of levelling up in leadership by finding 10Xers (talented people who just work it out) and hiring those who think outside the box.David talks about the importance of continuous growth and learning new things, even if they don't seem immediately relevant. He recounts a story of how he got free servers for his startup by cold-calling companies from Wikipedia and how such attitude gets things done.Learning something about everything and everything about something is a philosophy David consciously adopted which has led him to some amazing opportunities in his life.-----------------------ABOUT DAVEDavid Perry is an innovative leader in the gaming industry whose technology has shaped how we see gaming today and in the future. His work with Gaikai led to Sony PlayStation acquiring his company to establish itself in streaming video games from the cloud - PlayStation Now.David now finds himself as the CEO of Carro, a partnership e-commerce network designed for Shopify brands. By teaming up with other companies in the same space, over 30,000 brands using Carro are able to improve brand recognition, sales volume and acquire new customers.-----------------------For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.

A lot of people seem to struggle with this idea of being true to themselves and often times end up doing things they don't want to do or compromising their values just to fit in or please others.In this episode, Chris Ivers shares why it's important to stay true to yourself, how to strike the right work-life balance and what to do when the going gets tough. Here's some of the great great stuff that we cover in this show:Chris talks about her experience transitioning from a big agency to running her own small business. She says that when you run your own business, you suddenly have an appreciation for all the different facets involved in keeping it afloat.One of the keys to success for creatives is learning how to walk away from their work and take breaks in order to avoid burnout.The global financial meltdown of 2008 impacted Chris's advertising agency and it was difficult to keep the business running during that time. But she is proud of her team and herself for making it through.Getting the right people around you, particularly around finance, to help set up and run your business from a financial standpoint is Chris' advice to business owners.Chris enjoys being outside and spending time on her farm in New Zealand. She likes to stay active, and enjoys diving, fishing, swimming, and walking. She is a creative person who appreciates art galleries and live theater.-----------------------ABOUT CHRISChris has been a Director of her own advertising and brand strategy agency for over 15 years, and understands what it takes to build a successful business. Getting the right people and giving them an inspiring vision, creating teams that know where they are heading, and feeling passionate about what they are achieving is what she strives to deliver. If you get this right, growth follows.Chris is an unusual combination of left and right-brain thinking with a career that is truly a creative background: one where new ideas, complex problem solving, and critical thinking were a daily occurrence.She was born and bred in New Zealand and loves the country. She believes businesses can deliver not only economic success, but social success and works hard to help New Zealand and the Kiwis succeed.-----------------------For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.

Ready to discover the hidden wisdom of "just keep turning up"? Check out this episode with guest Andrew Kelly on the power of curiosity and unstoppable motivation! This inspiring journey is guaranteed to help you move forward one step at a time.Here's some of the great stuff that we cover in this show:Andrew became interested in cycling in his early teenage years. He went on to pursue this passion and raced competitively in Australia and Europe, but had to stop due to a burst appendix, which almost killed him. but looking back, he feels happy about how things turned out.He shares how the lessons learned from road cycling - such as the importance of conserving energy and always showing up - have impacted his life.He credits his coach with teaching him the "great secret" of just turning up, which has led to success both in his career and personal relationships.He attributes his success to curiosity, something that drives him to constantly seek out new information and knowledge.Andrew is an avid reader and considers reading a valuable pastime because it requires imagination and effort. It also helps spark new ideas and fuel curiosity.Talking about his work with the Antarctic Science Foundation, Andrew shares how Antarctica is a huge repository of information that could help us understand our moment in time and build strategies to mitigate climate change.----------------------ABOUT ANDREWAndrew Kelly started his career with eight years in banking and at the same time, competed at an elite level in Road Cycling. It was here that Andrew learned the importance of preparation for racing, training, visualisation, strategy, analysis, persistence, tenacity, determination, accountability…and, as we are talking about today - the unsexy wisdom behind the idea of just keep turning up.He went on to build and sell an advertising agency before heading to the third sector captivated with the idea of doing good in society. Across two decades, he has witnessed the power of generosity by facilitating transformational gifts to Youth Off The Streets, The Smith Family, The Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS), the Society of St Vincent De Paul and Children’s Medical Research Institute.Andrew is now the CEO of The Antarctic Science Foundation, which creates connections between philanthropists and researchers to enable catalytic scientific research on the Icy Continent and is an Observer on the Australian Antarctic Science Council.He still cycles around 300km per week, plays the piano and guitar, reads lots of books but his self-proclaimed favourite role is simply being a dad!----------------------For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.

Are you ready to become a more intentional and authentic leader? Learn from our guest, Brett Curry's inspiring stories, practical strategies, and expert advice on leading with integrity and staying rooted in your values.Here's some of the great stuff that we cover in this show:Brett Curry has been in the digital marketing industry for a long time and has seen many changes. Throughout his journey, he has learned many lessons - one of the most important being to hire people who will fit into the company culture. He also believes in training and supporting employees so they can reach their full potential.Brett highlights the importance of being authentic as a leader. People can tell when you're not being genuine and that if you have the right team, they will appreciate your transparency.Brett discusses the importance of delegation in parenting and business. He and his wife always wanted a big family and they have eight kids who are being homeschooled. They believe that having a strong relationship is key to their success as a family.In order to stay centered, Brett has restructured his diet, regulates his sleep, and uses a five minute journal. What really matters in life is something that Brett learned at a young age after losing his mother to cancer.-----------------------ABOUT BRETTBrett is a seasoned entrepreneur, digital marketer and podcast host. He leads an 8-Figure ad agency of Google, YouTube and Amazon marketing rockstars. Brett is also the father of 8 children, and a basketball coach.-----------------------For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.

Resilience is not something to be learned, but something to be discovered. It requires an inner sense of knowing and can be developed through the experience of facing challenges and pressure. Whether it's conquering your day-to-day tasks or striving for a bigger goal, resilience is the key to success. Here's some of the great stuff that we cover in this show:Entrepreneurship is about more than just having a good idea--it's also about being confident and resilient. It can be difficult for entrepreneurs to find the right team members who complement their skillset, but it's essential in order to create a successful business. Resilience is key in entrepreneurship--without it, businesses are likely to fail.As an entrepreneur, it is important to be able to work in the front line and understand what the real problems are. It is also important to have a mind that is resilient and can tolerate ambiguity. Part of being an entrepreneur is learning to be a leader. A leader is someone who works in the front line and has enough capacity to take on other people's problems.Matt and Simon discuss the importance of core values and how they can help you understand when it is time to move on from a situation. For Simon, one of his core values is people. He loves being around people and finds them essential for success. However, he also recognises that as he gets older, he may need to find ways to recharge that don't require so much face-to-face interaction.----------------------------ABOUT SIMONSimon has spent over 40 years of creating and delivering projects and figuring out this whole entrepreneurial thing! Starting out life as a dentist, moving into the sun-bed and eventually the health spa game he sold it all and moved to NZ. Now he creates change and development in peoples lives and their business, with 1-2-1 coaching and mentoring. He's also been doing a lot of short-term change assignments in the health sector.----------------------------For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.

Leading a business is not an easy feat and the organisation changes only as fast as the slowest person there. Ian Finch, the CEO of Mando joins Matt in the first episode of Push to be More to share his learnings on how to build a sustainable future and growing a little bit better each day!Here's some of the great stuff that we cover in this show:Mando is a digital agency that focuses on technology and change. They offer services such as managed services, professional services, and consultancy services. They have a few programs of work every year with a relatively small customer base.In their first year, the company picked up a one-page website and some brochureware. They landed their first competitive pitch with Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and delivered a successful project. This led to more work with bigger brands, including Sony and Final Fantasy. The company then developed their own technology and partnered with other companies to create an e-learning system which then opened the door to working with even bigger clients who were looking for a combination of experience design, best-of-breed technology, and systems support.In the early 2000s, after the dot com bubble burst, the company decided to focus on design and problem solving instead of just media and games. They also changed their sales strategy from trying to sell anything to treating sales more like project management and facilitation. Recently, they have been focusing on becoming more vertical in terms of market proposition and building intellectual property.In his forties, Ian realizes that less is more. He says he has four rooms in his life: emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual. He tries to do something mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally every day to stay balanced.----------------------------ABOUT IANIan Finch is CEO of Mando, a digital agency focused on engineering positive change in organisations through specialist product development teams. Ian is also a husband and dad, mental health advocate, a big fan of outdoor pursuits and a yoga devotee.----------------------------For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.

A lot of times we get held back by our limitations, but the truth is that most of these limitations are self-imposed and mind over matter. In this episode, Ram Gidoomal shares his journey of going from a rich boy to a refugee and then coming full circle to succeed in ways beyond his imagination. His story is nothing short of inspiring!Here's some of the great stuff that we cover in this show:Ram Gidoomal is a British author, businessman, and philanthropist who has written several books, including his most recent one - The Silk Road. He decided to write this book to highlight the issues facing young Asian women and the differential treatment between men and women in their community.Ram was born into an Indian immigrant family of silk traders in Kenya and enjoyed an idyllic childhood in Mombasa. As he turned 17, his family endured devastating second deportation, to London. Starting from scratch, his family worked hard and eventually became very successful.In 1987, Ram visited the slums of Bombay and was shocked by what he saw. He joined hands with Steve Chalke to initiate Christmas Cracker, a project that aimed to raise 1 million pounds for 200 youth groups across the UK. The project ended up raising nearly 5 million pounds over 7 years.In 2000, Ram was approached to run for Mayor of London by a new Christian Democrat party. He agreed to run, and his campaign shifted the political agenda to focus on the needs of the carless, homeless and jobless. Gidoomal proposed issuing a 500 million pound bond to regenerate East London, and today social impact finance has reached over a billion pounds in London.----------------------ABOUT RAMRAM GIDOOMAL was born into an Indian immigrant family in Kenya and has worked for over 30 years at board and senior management level in the private, public, and voluntary sectors. At present he is, among other things, Chair of Cotton Connect. Author of several books, and recipient of Honorary Doctorates from three UK universities, he is included in High flyers 50 - the 50 most eminent people of Indian origin living and working outside India. In 1998 he was appointed a CBE by HM The Queen.----------------------For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.