Better Business, Better Life

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Jonathan Sheldon, owner of BelleauWood Coaching, to explore the Entrepreneurial Stool and the three essential foundations entrepreneurs need to build a successful business & life.Jonathan shares his journey from serving as an infantry squad leader in the Marine Corps to spending 14 years in financial planning before transitioning into professional coaching.Drawing on his experience in leadership, business & mentorship, Jonathan explains why coaching is about elevating others, providing an objective 30,000-foot view & helping people pressure-test their own answers rather than simply telling them what to do.At the centre of the conversation is the Entrepreneurial Stool, built on three essential legs: a coach, an operating system & a peer group.Jonathan explains how each plays a different but complementary role. A coach provides perspective & accountability, an operating system such as EOS® provides practical structure & tools, and a peer group helps combat the isolation that often comes with leadership while creating space to share ideas & learn from others.The conversation then turns to purpose and the Japanese concept of ikigai, which explores the intersection of what you are good at, what you love, what the world needs & what you can be paid for.Jonathan finishes with three practical principles for creating greater focus every day: conduct regular time audits, keep your personal purpose visible & create a concrete daily schedule built around three non-negotiables: one personal, one business & one flexible task.This episode offers a practical framework for entrepreneurs who want more than business growth. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra.chantry-taylor@eosworldwide.com ►EOS Worldwide Website: Debra Chantry-Taylor | EOS Implementer | EOS Worldwide ___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Jonathan Sheldon – LinkedIn: Jonathan Sheldon, PCC. - BelleauWood Coaching | LinkedIn ► Website – BelleauWood Coaching – https://www.belleauwood.coach Ep 295 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:38 Introducing Jonathan Sheldon 02:28 The Story Behind BelleauWood 04:41 From The Marines To Financial Planning 08:58 Starting A Coaching Practice 12:52 Why Everyone Needs A Coach 14:18 The Three Legs Of The Entrepreneurial Stool 17:20 How Coaching And Accountability Work 21:01 Jonathan’s Experience With EOS 23:50 Common Struggles For Business Owners 28:40 Counterbalance, Not Work-Life Balance 33:40 Ikigai And Finding Your Purpose 39:25 Marine Lessons: Practise More Than You Play 41:45 Three Top Tips And Wrap-Up

Founder / Creative Director at Follis Inc John Follis: "I began on Madison Ave with the top agencies in the US on accounts like VW, Pizza Hut and Coke. That led to the co-founding of my own agency, Follis&Verdi, which became one of the most awarded creative agencies in the country. As the media and marketing landscape changed, so did my business. In '04, I created one of the first online consultancies, "Follis Marketing Therapy", which enabled business owners across the US to work with me directly on their marketing and creative issues. In '06, I hosted and produced the first marketing podcast; "The Marketing Show with John Follis" which continued for 7 years. In 2013, to meet the demand for the exploding digital video market, we added "Big Idea Video" which offers businesses a variety of high-impact web video content including animated "explainer videos". Currently, that work is featured on Vimeo, LinkedIn, and 4 YouTube Channels. Additional career highlights include: Being selected one of "New York's 12 Best" by The New York Ad Club. Being honored at The White House for a national public service campaign that I spearheaded. Receiving the first ever United Nations Public Service Award at The UN. Being invited to speak at venues including The World Business Academy and Yale University. Winning over 3 dozen major ad awards including Clio Awards. Having my successful ad work featured in a Prentice-Hall marketing textbook. Having my successful ad work taught as a case study in The Harvard Business Review. Being invited to write for ADWEEK and Small Biz Trends. Being published in a pop-culture anthology with internationally known writers including Stephen King. Writing, directing and producing a film that won a Hollywood International Documentary Film award. Being listed on Wikipedia: https://en.everybodywiki.com/John_Follis" HOST'S DETAILS: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Professional EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.com.au/ ____________________________________________ GUESTS DETAILS: ____________________________________________ ►Website: https://www.follisinc.com/

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Guy Newton, an experienced EOS® practitioner and an EOS Implementer, to explore how the 1-3-1 Method can help teams make better decisions, build confidence & reduce leadership bottlenecks. Guy shares his unconventional career journey from jackaroo work and mining into IT, leadership & business operations. After more than 20 years in IT and helping to build and run a building company, he discovered EOS and spent around eight years applying the tools inside businesses before becoming an EOS Implementer himself. Throughout the conversation, Guy explains why EOS works best as an integrated system rather than a collection of individual tools. He highlights the Level 10 Meeting as one of the most powerful tools, showing how its consistent structure brings together the Accountability Chart, Scorecard, Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO) & Issues List to turn discussion into action and keep teams moving forward. A key focus is the 1-3-1 approach: identify one Issue, come up with three possible options & recommend one. Guy explains how this simple method encourages people to think through problems themselves rather than immediately escalating every decision to their manager. Over time, it builds confidence, ownership & better decision-making throughout the organisation. This episode is a practical look at how EOS can help businesses make faster decisions, strengthen accountability, reduce bottlenecks & develop teams that take genuine ownership of solving problems. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra.chantry-taylor@eosworldwide.com ►EOS Worldwide Website: Debra Chantry-Taylor | EOS Implementer | EOS Worldwide ___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Guy Newton – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-newton ► Website – EOS® Implementer – https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/guy-newton/ Ep 294 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:37 – Guy Newton’s Background 06:25 – The Power of EOS Tools 09:13 – Integrator vs Implementer Roles 11:05 – Implementing Effective Leadership 22:27 – Managing Visionaries and Values 30:18 – Getting Started with EOS

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Sonya, a retired architect & experienced EOS Implementer®, to explore what it really takes to make EOS® work & create lasting change within an organisation. Sonya shares her journey from a 46-year career in architecture to becoming an EOS Implementer. After being dismissed from a leadership role, she realised she was ready for a new direction. Discovering Traction & Get a Grip introduced her to EOS, & after attending boot camp, she went on to spend eight & a half years implementing EOS with more than 50 clients. With her architectural background, Sonya has a particular passion for working with architects, engineers & contractors. She explains why these professionals can be excellent at delivering work for clients, but often struggle to step back & work on the business itself. EOS provides the structure & clarity needed to make that transition. A major focus of the conversation is The Accountability Chart, which Sonya describes as her favourite EOS tool. She explains how it clarifies roles, responsibilities, expectations, hand-offs & cultural guardrails, while helping leadership teams make better decisions about people & structure. Debra & Sonya also explore how The Accountability Chart works alongside the V/TO, Core Values, People Analyzer, IDS & Rocks to create deeper organisational change. This episode is a valuable listen for business owners & leadership teams who want to understand what it really takes to make EOS work. It is not simply about completing the tools. It is about mastering the system, changing behaviours, strengthening the culture & creating an organisation that can continue to grow with clarity & confidence.

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor explores why business is a game and how the principles of Formula 1 can help leaders create greater clarity, accountability & consistent performance. Debra compares running a business to competing in a Formula 1 championship, where everyone knows the rules, understands their role, knows the consequences & can see exactly what the scoreboard is measuring. She challenges leaders to look beyond individual wins, busy teams or one strong month and ask a more important question: What championship is your business actually trying to win, and how do you know when you’re winning? A major focus of the episode is the Scorecard. Debra explains why leaders need a small number of meaningful measures that show both what has happened & what is likely to happen next. Leading indicators such as quality sales conversations, appointments, proposals or demonstrations can provide an early warning when performance is heading off track, while revenue, profit & cash show the results. The goal isn’t to punish people with numbers. It’s to use data to understand performance, spot problems earlier & make better decisions. The Formula 1 analogy also highlights the importance of clear roles & accountability. The leadership team acts like the pit wall, interpreting the information coming from across the business & giving the driver the right information at the right time. Clear ownership matters because when everyone owns a result, nobody truly does. Debra also explores why this becomes particularly important in family businesses, where people can simultaneously hold family, ownership & employee roles. The episode looks at how businesses need to respond when conditions change, whether that’s a lost customer, changing interest rates, AI, regulation, tariffs or another unexpected disruption. Like a racing team responding to a safety car or changing track conditions, strong businesses adapt without losing sight of the championship they’re trying to win. This episode is a practical reminder that business is a game, but winning isn’t about one spectacular race. It’s about knowing what winning looks like, measuring what matters, making timely adjustments & consistently improving quarter after quarter. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra.chantry-taylor@eosworldwide.com ►EOS Worldwide Website: Debra Chantry-Taylor | EOS Implementer | EOS Worldwide ___________________________________________ Ep 292 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 02:07 – The Importance of a Scorecard 04:18 – Winning Races vs Championships 09:18 – Building High-Performing Teams 12:53 – Using Data to Improve Performance 15:47 – Executing Through Pit Stops 18:47 – Planning in 90-Day Cycles 20:30 – Managing Roles and Boundaries 22:14 – Defining Your Own Success

Rick Girard is the CEO of Stride Search & Intertru. in this episode, Rick shares his passion about helping founders win-win the strongest hires to fuel unprecedented company growth. Learn also how to eliminate bad hires by building value - interview process that produces concrete evidence to support each and every hiring decision. Podcast guest Rick Girard CEO of Stride Search & Intertru: "I help entrepreneurs eliminate bad hires by building value-driven interview process that produces concrete evidence to support each and every hiring decision. Healing Career Wounds available: https://amzn.to/3tGbtre Extremely passionate about helping founders win-win the strongest hires to fuel unprecedented company growth! Created the Hiring Operating System, HireOS®. The solution for leaders to win-win the strongest people by blowing up "best practices" with a humanistic, evidence driven, non-biased and time efficient experience. Author of "Healing Career Wounds" (May 2021) & Radio/podcast host of Hire Power Radio Strong social media presence, podcast audience, public speaking, and mad street cred When not running a school for Gifted Mutants as Professor X, I host the Hire Power Radio Show & Podcast, a weekly series on LinkedIn Live, which serves as a business leader’s resource to solve their most difficult hiring challenges. I compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and have an affinity for any adrenaline-pumping activity such as surfing, snowboarding, rock climbing and running with scissors." HOST'S DETAILS: ___________________________________________ ► Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Professional EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ► See how she can help you: https://businessaction.com.au/ ____________________________________________ GUESTS DETAILS: ____________________________________________ ►LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-girard-07722/ ►Email: Rick@stridesearch.com

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Megan Piper to explore how EOS® helped transform a technology business From $3M to $52M, while creating greater clarity, accountability, and trust across the leadership team. Megan shares her journey from an unhappy French teacher to becoming an Integrator and fractional CFO, playing a key role in helping a technology business grow from $3 million to $52 million. Her experience demonstrates how the right operating system can bring structure and consistency to a rapidly growing organisation without creating unnecessary rigidity. Throughout the conversation, Megan and Debra explore how EOS creates a common language for leadership teams, helping them move away from ad hoc follow-up and towards consistent quarterly execution. Rather than being a fixed structure or piece of software, EOSprovides a framework that can be adapted to the needs of each organisation. With distributed teams becoming increasingly common, Megan and Debra also discuss the importance of intentional communication and how virtual environments can sometimes reduce hierarchy and give more people an opportunity to participate. This episode offers an insightful look at what can happen when a growing business combines a clear operating system with strong leadership, accountability, and trust. From $3M to $52M is not simply a story about revenue growth, but about the people, systems, and leadership practices that helped make that growth possible. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra.chantry-taylor@eosworldwide.com ►EOS Worldwide Website: Debra Chantry-Taylor | EOS Implementer | EOS Worldwide ___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Megan Piper – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganpiper/ ► Website – EOS® Implementer – https://implementer.EOS®worldwide.com/megan-piper/ Ep 291 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:36 – Megan Piper’s Professional Journey 03:39 – Defining Business Operating Systems 14:22 – Lessons from Scaling and Challenges 17:07 – The Visionary and Integrator Dynamic 21:59 – Key EOS Tools and Implementation 22:52 – Communication and Team Dynamics

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Keith, an executive coach and leadership development specialist, to explore how to stop trying to be right and start getting curious in our relationships, teams & organisations. Keith shares insights from his background in clinical social work, family therapy, executive coaching & Conversational Intelligence, explaining how quickly our brains begin assessing whether an interaction feels safe or threatening. He explores how much of that assessment happens through non-verbal communication, including tone, body language, eye contact, attention & listening behaviours. The conversation dives into why trust can be built through authentic curiosity & genuine listening, and how easily it can be damaged when leaders interrupt, become distracted, make assumptions or enter conversations already convinced they know the answer. Keith encourages leaders to become more aware of the signals they are sending and to take responsibility for their own contribution to a relationship. Debra & Keith also explore what happens when trust has already been damaged. Rebuilding it requires courage, empathy & a willingness to acknowledge that a relationship has become difficult. Rather than allowing negative assumptions to grow, leaders can create space to discuss what each person needs & make the invisible dynamics visible. This episode is a valuable listen for leaders, entrepreneurs & family business owners who want to understand how everyday conversations can either build or break trust, and how becoming more intentional about communication can transform the way people work together. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.com.au ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Keith Greer – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-greer-l-c-s-w-p-c-c-81256a130/ ► Website – Keith Greer Coaching – https://www.keithgreercoaching.com/ Ep 290 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:36 – Keith Grier’s Professional Journey 06:35 – The Science of Conversational Intelligence 12:52 – Building Trust Through Communication 17:18 – Navigating Difficult Conversations 21:27 – Dynamics in Family Businesses 32:47 – Implementing Trust and Safety Agreements 54:17 – Managing Personalities and Styles 54:57 – Key Takeaways for Effective Leadership

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor explores why leaders flying blind can put an entire business at risk, and how the right data can give leadership teams the visibility they need to make better decisions. Debra explains why businesses rarely fail without warning. Before major problems appear, there are usually subtle signals hiding in the numbers, from declining sales and increasing debtor days to changes in customer behaviour and operational performance. The challenge is knowing which numbers actually matter and using them early enough to do something about them. A key focus of the episode is the difference between leading and lagging indicators. Revenue, profit & customer loss tell you what has already happened, while measures such as sales calls, proposals sent & other activity-based indicators can provide an early warning of what is likely to happen next. Debra explains how leaders can reverse engineer their desired outcomes to identify the activities that will influence future results. Debra also explores why a Scorecard should work like a car dashboard. It does not need to tell you exactly what has gone wrong, but it should alert you to where you need to look before a small issue becomes a major problem. Keeping the leadership Scorecard to five to fifteen critical numbers makes it easier to spot trends without overwhelming the team with unnecessary data. Ultimately, this episode is about replacing hope & hindsight with visibility and action. A strong Scorecard gives leaders the information they need to spot problems early, investigate what is really happening & make course corrections before issues become catastrophic. If your leadership team is making decisions based on gut feel, outdated financial reports or numbers that tell you what happened rather than what is coming next, this episode will help you build a Scorecard that keeps you from flying blind. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra.chantry-taylor@eosworldwide.com ►EOS Worldwide Website: Debra Chantry-Taylor | EOS Implementer | EOS Worldwide Ep 289 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:47 – The Purpose of Data 07:58 – Leading and Lagging Indicators 13:40 – The Pitfalls of Bad Data 18:03 – Managing People with Numbers 23:25 – Common Scorecard Mistakes 27:00 – Building an Effective Scorecard

Brenden is the founder of MasterTalk, a coaching business he started to help ambitious executives & business owners become TOP 1% communicators in their industries so that they can accelerate their success in the workplace & companies. He also hosts a successful YouTube channel by the same name with over 11,000 subscribers. He has coached many executives from companies like Salesforce, Amazon, IBM, Morgan Stanley, Blue Cross, J. Walter Thompson, Deloitte, Verizon and the list goes on." HOST'S DETAILS: ___________________________________________ ► Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Professional EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►See how she can help you: https://www.businessaction.com.au/ ____________________________________________ GUESTS DETAILS: ____________________________________________ ►Website: https://www.rockstarcommunicator.com/

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Bobby Rouse to explore the risks of picking and choosing EOS tools instead of embracing EOS® as a complete operating system. Bobby shares his journey from growing up on a farm in Idaho to becoming a serial entrepreneur and Professional EOS Implementer®. His experiences across management, technology & business helped him recognise the value of EOS as a practical framework for creating clarity, discipline & stronger leadership teams. A key theme throughout the conversation is that EOS works because the tools are designed to work together. Bobby explains that businesses do not change simply because they introduce a Level 10 Meeting® or a Scorecard. Real change happens when the people within the organisation change how they think, communicate, make decisions & hold one another accountable. Debra & Bobby discuss why businesses that self-implement often fall into the trap of picking and choosing EOS tools. A leadership team might adopt Level 10 Meetings or create a Scorecard while overlooking foundational tools such as the Accountability Chart® and People Analyzer®. While this can create some improvement, it rarely delivers the full transformation EOS is designed to create. Bobby & Debra also unpack the importance of keeping Scorecards simple. Using a scuba diving analogy, Bobby explains that leaders do not need hundreds of numbers to understand whether a business is healthy. They need the handful of critical numbers that tell them whether they are heading in the right direction. The episode goes beyond business implementation too, with practical advice on staying in your designated seat, using your calendar to architect your life & taking regular Clarity Breaks when pressure and uncertainty increase. Bobby also shares the “Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it kind?” framework as a useful way to challenge the stories & communication patterns that can affect both teams and individuals. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra.chantry-taylor@eosworldwide.com ►EOS Worldwide Website: Debra Chantry-Taylor | EOS Implementer | EOS Worldwide ___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Bobby Rouse – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-rouse-2887613/ ► Website – EOS Worldwide – Bobby Rouse | EOS Implementer | EOS Worldwide Ep 288 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:14 – The Impact of Traction 31:44 – Becoming an EOS Implementer 31:56 – Space Learning and Implementation Mastery 32:09 – Self-Implementation vs Professional Help 32:19 – Effective Data and Scorecards 41:26 – Essential Business Tips

Alicia Butler Pierre is the owner & CEO of a company called Equilibria Inc. They specialize in building operations management, specialising in sort of diagnosing, and designing business infrastructure and processes. Discover her three D's and three R's top tips in this episode.

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Mathis Young, a former dog grooming franchise owner and now Professional EOS Implementer®, to explore his journey from struggling to scaling a business. Mathis shares how he went from struggling with the day-to-day demands of running a dog grooming franchise, including managing appointments, grooming dogs & dealing with the stress of being constantly needed, to building the largest franchise in the USA. A major turning point came when Mathis recognised that he could not continue doing everything himself. Hiring his first manager, Steve, gave him the support & perspective he needed to step away from the operational side of the business and focus on growth. Mathis explains how having the right people in the right seats became a crucial part of his journey. His experience with Vistage during the challenges of COVID-19 eventually introduced him to EOS®. Although initially sceptical, Mathis discovered how the EOS framework could bring structure, accountability & clarity to his growing business. Through tools such as the Level 10 Meeting®, Accountability Chart® & Scorecard, his leadership team developed stronger communication, clearer priorities & greater ownership. The conversation also highlights the importance of asking for help, surrounding yourself with a supportive network & being willing to learn from others. Mathis shares how mentors, peer groups & the EOS community helped him achieve not only greater business success but also more peace & fulfilment. If you’re feeling stuck in your business, doing too much yourself, or wondering what it takes to scale successfully, this episode offers an honest & inspiring look at what can happen when you ask for help, build the right team & create the structure needed to grow. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra.chantry-taylor@eosworldwide.com ►EOS Worldwide: https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/debra-chantry-taylor/ ___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Mathis Young – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathisyoung/ ► Website – EOS Worldwide – https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/mathis-young/ Ep 287 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:32 – Mathis Young’s Journey to Entrepreneurship 02:33 – Mathis’ Entry Into the Dog Grooming Franchise 05:23 – The Turning Point: Hiring a Manager 08:48 – Joining Vistage and Discovering EOS® 11:42 – Implementing EOS® and Its Impact 25:14 – Transitioning to an EOS Implementer® 31:11 – Mathis’ Approach as an EOS Implementer® 34:31 – Challenges and Successes with Clients 40:54 – Mathis’ Personal Reflections

Financial wellbeing is one of the single biggest causes of stress for Kiwis. And money is a very emotional thing. Having forged a career as a tax specialist, business owner and Chartered Accountant, Jono Bredin is the proud CEO of Enable.Me - a business whose core purpose is to change the financial lives of hardworking New Zealanders. Enable Me has been around for the last 14-15 years and is the brainchild of Hannah McQueen, an amazing human who revolutionised the way Kiwis think about their finances. Jono shares how Hannah is a Visionary, with all the incredible ideas at rapid pace. He stepped in to run alongside her & help her with some of the heavy lifting, so that she could focus on what she is best at. That's what really brought EOS to the front of his mind as a tool that could take Enable Me to that next level - being able to harness the absolute best of Hannah in an organised way. He shares how they started implementing with 15 people on their leadership team, and through EOS introducing more rigor and accountability to these roles, they now have a leadership team of 6. Not only is Jono the CEO & Integrator, he is also a customer of Enable.Me. "What sticks with me, as I went through my journey, was that I thought I was good with money. I was an accountant. But when you actually turn up the dial, what are you frittering away each week? And how could we be using that to get you ahead faster? For people who've got family, how do we help them achieve the goals that they've got for their children and for the next generation? We are ultimately trying to build out a personal or a family's cash surplus, that's the first stage of the journey. Then it's how do we put that surplus to work? How can it be multiplied by doing things in a certain way?" Every person in New Zealand can use financial literacy and financial accountability to get ahead faster. Even those people who think they are good with money, Jono included, can benefit from a layer of accountability that Enable Me provides. In his spare time, Jono is a National Rugby Referee, having also officiated Netball to the highest international level. Jono's biggest challenge is being the proud Dad of three kids 5 years old and under!

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor explores why another year on the Scorecard should never be treated as just another set of numbers. Instead, it can be an opportunity to recognise progress, strengthen culture & understand what is helping a business succeed. Debra challenges the tendency for leadership teams to focus almost exclusively on what is going wrong. Red numbers, missed targets & Rocks that have fallen off track naturally attract attention, but when leaders only notice failure, they can unintentionally teach their teams that problems get recognised while consistent success simply becomes expected. As her own business approaches its 21st anniversary, Debra reflects on the years of decisions, challenges, mistakes, relationships & achievements that build a business over time. She explores why celebrating success does not mean lowering standards or handing out praise for the sake of it. Genuine recognition is about noticing meaningful results, incremental improvements, courageous behaviours & people living the organisation’s Core Values. The conversation also looks at how leaders can use their Scorecard differently. Instead of treating it purely as an exception report for problems, Debra encourages teams to examine what is going well & ask why. When a person or team consistently delivers strong results, understanding what they are doing differently can help turn individual success into a repeatable system that others can learn from. Debra also explores what success looks like in family businesses, where commercial results are only one part of the picture. Healthy succession conversations, clearer boundaries between family & business, and next-generation family members earning their roles through merit can all represent significant wins that deserve recognition. At the heart of the episode is Debra’s idea of carefrontational leadership. Great leaders need the courage to address underperformance, but they also need the awareness to acknowledge excellence. By asking questions such as “What are we proud of from the last 90 days?” & “What are we doing now that we used to find difficult?”, leadership teams can create a culture where progress is noticed as well as problems. This episode is a reminder that another year on the Scorecard is more than a collection of targets & results. It is a story of what the business has learned, what its people have achieved & what can be celebrated as it continues to grow. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.com.au ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________ Ep 286 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 01:23 – The Importance of Noticing Success 05:00 – Lessons from Twenty-One Years 06:50 – Defining Genuine Recognition 08:19 – Using the Scorecard Effectively 12:41 – Building Culture Through Values 14:03 – Success in Family Businesses 16:36 – Implementing Better Leadership Habits

In 2009, while battling breast cancer, Kim Sorrelle's love, Steve, received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. After six great weeks together, Kim held Steve as he took his last breath. Her first book, Cry Until You Laugh , chronicles that journey through laughter and tears and laughter again. The back-to-back cancer diagnosis led her youngest son, Noah, to change his trajectory and earn a Ph.D. as a cancer researcher. With a focus on breast cancer, Noah has made significant discoveries that have already helped with other research and continue to move the needle on the survivor rate. Kim's second book, Love Is , came from a desire to know the true meaning of love. Love Is , chronicles her year-long quest to discover the true meaning of love, a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, always enlightening journey that led to life-changing discoveries found mostly on the streets of Haiti. Today, Kim lives in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, a regular radio, television, and podcast guest, Kim speaks to audiences all over the world. Inspirational and educational, Kim entertains CEOs, industry leaders, company staff members, educators, parents, women's groups, and more. With first-hand experience, Kim also speaks for The American Cancer Society and Susan G. Koman. A coach is always a coach and Kim is no different. Working with individuals and teams, Kim helps people succeed not only in business and family life but in every aspect of life, leading to greater fulfillment and happiness while teaching the secrets to working less and playing more. When she is not writing, broadcasting, coaching, speaking, or serving, Kim enjoys her life-long and newer friendships, hanging out with the grandkids, reading, playing tennis and pickleball, painting (she's no Bob Ross!), traveling, meeting new people, and an occasional stick of black licorice. HOST'S DETAILS: ___________________________________________ ► Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Professional EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►See how she can help you: https://www.businessaction.com.au/ ____________________________________________ GUESTS DETAILS: ____________________________________________ ►Book: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Yearlong-Experiment-Living-Corinthians/dp/0825446740/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=love+is+kim+sorrelle&qid=1629861751&sr=8-1 ►Website: https://www.kimsorrelle.com/

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by an experienced EOS Implementer®, Mirko Roettgers to explore how to go from losing money to 20%+ Profit with EOS®. The conversation begins with Mirko's journey from digital transformation in Queensland’s tourism industry to entrepreneurship, where he discovered EOS® while working with a Martech startup. At the time, the business was struggling with negative profits. After implementing EOS, it transformed into a company generating more than 20% profit margins. A major part of that turnaround came from focusing on the right things. The leadership team introduced a disciplined Scorecard®, identified the numbers that genuinely drove performance, & made sure the right people were in the right seats. Debra & Mirko also discuss the Accountability Chart®, why it can be confronting, & how it helps leadership teams clarify ownership, uncover gaps & resolve confusion around accountability. They also explore the value of leading indicators, the challenge of being an Integrator pulled into constant firefighting, & why sustainable growth requires a strong leadership team underneath the Integrator role. The conversation then turns to the opportunities ahead for Queensland, including the 2032 Olympic Games & major infrastructure investment. Rather than simply hoping for growth, Debra & Mirko discuss why businesses need to build the structure, people & systems now so they are ready when those opportunities arrive. Drawing on the discipline of ultra-marathon running, this episode is a powerful reminder that business growth rarely comes from one dramatic effort. It comes from consistent execution, clear priorities, disciplined habits & the willingness to keep moving when things get difficult. A valuable listen for business owners who feel stuck, want to improve profitability, or need to prepare their organisation for the next stage of growth. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.com.au ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Mirko Roettgers – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirkoroettgers/ ► Website – Mirko Roettgers – https://www.mirkoroettgers.com.au/ Ep 285 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:30 – Mirko’s Professional Journey 05:36 – The Power of EOS Tools 09:54 – Developing Effective Scorecards 14:23 – Challenges of the Integrator Role 18:58 – Transitioning to EOS Implementation 22:50 – Economic Outlook and Scaling 27:07 – Clarity and Business Discipline

Wyndi (Rodokal) Tagi is a Visionary who is passionate about enhancing the mana of Māori and Pacifica People, with a vision to impact the lives of 10 million. Wyndi took an idea, convinced her husband to start a business and things were going well. Then they were told by one of the big 4 accounting firms that they should stop spending so much time & money with their community & with their family - that their culture didn't differentiate them. It was demoralising but also a big turning point for Wyndi & her husband Eli. Hear how they took this, what it prompted in them & how they built this into a purpose-led business across several countries. Wyndi is now one of my EOS clients. We connected on LinkedIn initially and just chewed the fat over a walk & talk. Later on, she contacted me having read the EOS books & wanted to talk to me to see if I could help them. She shares what EOS has done for the business & their family, how they went from 47 goals down to 6 & how they manage to employ family in the business without any issues. More about Wyndi: On her mother's side, she is from Ati-Hau-Nui-A-Paparangi, on her dad's side, she is of NZ European descent from England and Greece. After her first breast cancer diagnosis in 2017, she decided that she wanted to ensure she lived her best life and she wasn’t interested in dying with regret. So she's been living into her purpose, which is to better the statistics of Māori and Pacifica people. WE Accounting is one of the many vehicles she drives for doing just that. "At WE, WE don’t just believe in a better future, WE are building it. Our Accounting Practice provides support, guidance and opens growth opportunities to small and medium-sized NZ businesses. WE know that SME’s are the backbone of the economy and when they thrive, so too do families, communities and our economy."

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Dr Michael Filosi, former owner of Fullarton Park Dental, to explore his remarkable journey from doing everything to almost nothing in the business he built. Michael began his career as a dentist after graduating from Adelaide University in 2006. For years, he was deeply involved in the clinical side of the practice, personally generating around 40% of its revenue. But as his interest in business, strategy & leadership grew, he began asking an important question: how could he build a successful business that no longer depended on him? That question led Michael on an intensive journey of business education. He read around 100 business books in three years, including Traction by Gino Wickman, & began applying what he learned to his practice. Over time, he reduced his clinical contribution from 40% of revenue to just 0.6%, creating a business that could operate successfully without relying on any single person. Michael shares how clear expectations, strong recruitment, accountability & the right Visionary/Integrator relationship helped him build a more scalable & dependable organisation. With a strong leadership team around him, he was able to move away from doing everything himself & focus instead on vision, growth & the bigger picture. Debra & Michael also explore some of the harder realities of business ownership, including dealing with underperforming team members, maintaining high standards, learning from mistakes & creating a culture where people feel comfortable giving honest feedback. Michael explains why reducing key-person dependency is one of the most important things any owner can do to protect the long-term value of their business. The conversation also dives into financial resilience. Michael shares why business owners need to prepare for difficult periods while things are going well, from maintaining a rainy-day fund to understanding cash flow & making thoughtful long-term investments. Having experienced economic uncertainty firsthand, he explains why planning for the unexpected is essential for both financial security & peace of mind. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.com.au ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Dr. Michael Filosi – LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/michaelfilosi ► Website – Fullarton Park Dental : https://www.fullartondental.com.au/ Ep 284 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 03:29 – The Importance of Business Education and Planning 06:57 – Building a Scalable and Dependable Business 08:06 – Challenges and Lessons in Business Ownership 08:37 – The Role of Leadership and Team Dynamics 08:49 – The Impact of Business Ownership on Personal Life 09:32 – The Journey to Success and the Importance of Resilience 11:32 – Preparing for the Worst 54:38 – Top Tips for Business Success

Jack Martin is the Co-founder of 52TEN, a proud U.S. Army Veteran, Father & Husband. In this episode, he talks us through how he founded 52Ten, 6 years ago & has built it up to over 25 people. He share the challenges he has faced & how he overcame them, plus where that name come from. But most importantly he shares with us how he keeps his family 7 children & particularly his wife happy & how he brings Andrea on the EOS Journey. Jack's top 3 tips: 1. Read the book Traction, before you buy or start a business. And find yourself an EOS Implementer 2. Stay in your superpower 80% of the time 3. Learn how to let go