In our latest episode of the Thriving Business Podcast, Kate was honoured to sit down with James Bryden, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) expert and creator of the ‘Wisdumb’ Model. In our humble opinion, ‘Wisdumb’ is the greatest gift you can give yourself, your business and the people in your life — and in this episode we discuss how you can cultivate it.

After a career as a footballer, eventually becoming Head Coach of an Indonesian soccer team and reaching ‘celebrity status’ in South East Asia, James then went on to become a business owner. After experiencing a devastating bankruptcy, James had to dig deep to learn more about himself and how to develop and manage others. He embarked on a mission to understand the role of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in developing people, both individually and in team environments, to create thriving workplace cultures, develop and retain good employees, and boost overall productivity and business profitability.

James shares some great nuggest of wisdom that we know you’ll enjoy! If you want to achieve higher levels of fulfilment and success in business and life, don’t miss this episode.

Highlights:

• A dive into James' background and his lifelong learning journey—from his struggles in school to becoming a leader in Emotional Intelligence (EQ).
• James shares the power of the Harrison Assessment and how it’s helped countless businesses to better understand their teams and unlock staff potential.
• Understanding how individuals display different behaviours in the workplace that impact team dynamics and productivity.
• Why a positive workplace culture is crucial for employee retention and overall business success, and the key elements to creating psychological safety so all can thrive.
• James reveals his new "WisDumb Model" and its incredible potential in reshaping business culture.
• The key to fostering loyalty and reducing turnover in today’s competitive work environment.
  
  
  

To get a copy of James’ eBook THE WISDUMB WAY, go to this link: https://productivitycoach.com.au/ebook/the-wisdumb-way/

If you found today’s episode insightful, don’t forget to subscribe to the Thriving Business Podcast so you never miss an episode!

Want to hear more from James? Drop us a comment or leave a review with your thoughts. Tune in now!

Did you know that almost half of all small businesses in Australia have experienced a cyber attack of some kind in the last year, and the average cost of those attacks is $40,000 AUD?

In this episode of the Thriving Business Podcast, hosts Kate De Jong and Sam Morris welcome Peter Treneman from GroupSupport IT to discuss the critical role of IT and cybersecurity in small business. Together they explore the necessity of consistent data backups, the value of building a relationship with IT professionals and the ongoing rise of cyber attacks that are crippling small businesses across Australia. Through real-life case studies, Peter shares some of the critical ways you can protect your business from expensive disruptions to ultimately safeguard your operations and reputation.

Takeaways:

• Good IT service providers can liberate business owners from the burden of IT at an affordable cost.
• Backing up data is crucial for protecting your intellectual property and operations.
• Google and Microsoft have limitations in data recovery.
• Investing in IT support can save significant time and money in the long run.
• Small businesses are often targets for cyber attacks.
• Cybersecurity is not just a nice-to-have these days; it’s essential.
• The Essential Eight framework provides a baseline for cybersecurity in your business.
• Many businesses underestimate the cost of data breaches.
• Building a relationship with IT professionals is vital.
• Budgeting for IT security is a necessary investment.

For more information, please go to these links:

Essential 8 Framework for Cybersecurity

https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/essential-cybersecurity/essential-eight/essential-eight-explained

Practical tips to protect your business

https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn-basics

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

This week, Kate sat down with Louise Matson, founder of the iconic shoe brand ‘Louise M Shoes’ to discuss her journey from a seasoned flight attendant to creating a successful and exquisite line of shoes tailored specifically for airline crew and corporate women, combining both comfort and style. Louise shares her experiences in the shoe industry, the art and science behind authentic shoe making and the challenges of an online retail business. The conversation delved into the impact of COVID-19 on retail, the importance of carefully choosing business partnerships, and her recent decision to change tack in business altogether.

Kate and Louise explore the signs that tell you it’s time to change direction, touching on the transition from direct sales to B2B opportunities, the importance of authenticity in marketing, and the power of acknowledging your progress and achievements. Louise shares the relief of letting go of certain business pressures, the excitement of new opportunities, and the lessons learned throughout her extensive entrepreneurial journey; including the fact that changing direction is not a failure but a part of the entrepreneurial journey.

Highlights:

• Louise's journey began as a flight attendant struggling to find suitable shoes that were both comfortable and stylish.
• Navigating the challenges of the shoe industry requires innovation and resilience.
• Shoe making is both an art and a science, requiring attention to detail.
• Business partnerships must be aligned in vision and goals.
• Finding joy in business is essential for long-term success.
• Transitioning from B2C to B2B can open new opportunities.
• Letting go of certain business pressures can lead to personal relief and positive change across the board.
• New opportunities lead to exciting ventures.
• And lots more!

To learn more about Louise M shoes go to: https://www.louisemshoes.com

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com