#080 - Chelsea Pottenger

02/12/25 • 61 min

Chelsea Pottenger is a psychology postgraduate, an international motivational speaker and accredited mindfulness and meditation coach. She is a leading authority on productivity, mindfulness and well-being. In this episode, you will learn:

How your personal well-being directly impacts your business success.
If you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of your business.
Establishing sustainable habits like regular breaks, quality sleep, and mental wellness practices helps you avoid burnout, sharpen focus, and enhance leadership.
Sustainable habits aren't just self-care—they are a strategy to ensure you’re always at your best, driving your business forward.

How your personal well-being directly impacts your business success.
If you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of your business.
Establishing sustainable habits like regular breaks, quality sleep, and mental wellness practices helps you avoid burnout, sharpen focus, and enhance leadership.
Sustainable habits aren't just self-care—they are a strategy to ensure you’re always at your best, driving your business forward.

Previous Episode

#079 - Peter Ritchie AO

Top 10 highlights from my conversation with Peter Ritchie AO:

1. Peter’s journey with McDonald’s Australia started with an unexpected opportunity. Despite initial doubts, he took a leap of faith, setting the foundation for a transformative career. 2. Peter emphasised that true leadership means accepting full responsibility while maintaining consistency, fairness, and justice. Leaders must project energy and foster environments where teams thrive.

3. Confronted with high labour costs, Peter committed up to 30% of annual profits to training for five years. This strategy turned McDonald’s Australia into a global benchmark for productivity.

4. Peter stressed that genuine self-confidence in leadership comes from deep competence, cultivated through structured training, feedback, and measurable outcomes.

5. It took McDonald’s Australia seven years to become profitable. Peter’s perseverance, backed by key figures like Fred Turner, enabled the company to overcome challenges and succeed.

6. By involving partners, franchisees, and mentors, Peter ensured McDonald’s was built on strong relationships that fostered shared growth and success.

7. Peter attributed McDonald’s success to its willingness to test, learn, and pivot—such as recognising the pivotal role of marketing in the late 1970s.

8. Peter’s commitment to community and philanthropy is exemplified by his role in establishing Ronald McDonald House Charities in Australia, which continues to support families of sick children.

9. Peter’s forward-thinking approach turned McDonald’s Australia from struggling stores into an industry leader by embracing global best practices and planning for the long term.

10. Despite his extraordinary achievements, Peter remains grounded, acknowledging the contributions of his team and the ongoing lessons he learns from others. In episode #79 of the Be Better Off Show, I speak with Peter Ritchie AO, the visionary who brought McDonald’s to Australia and transformed it into a powerhouse. We discuss leadership, overcoming challenges, and the impact of investing in people.

Next Episode

#081 - Scott Evans

Scott Evans is the Managing Director and Owner of Game Farm, the largest multi species game bird producer in the Southern Hemisphere. He shares both his business and his health insights in this deeply personal interview. In this episode, you will learn:

When you're facing a health crisis, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, like there’s no clear path forward.
In those dark moments, it’s crucial to dig deep and trust in your own strength.
Surrounding yourself with the right people—those who truly understand and care—can make all the difference.
It’s not just about pushing through; it’s about believing that you can overcome any obstacle with the right support and a strong mindset.