Thriving Business
Dr Kate De Jong & Sam Morris
THRIVING BUSINESS
Business Insights to Help You Grow Your Business with Ease
We’re two seasoned business owners — Sam Morris and Kate De Jong — sharing our nearly thirty-year combined experience of starting and growing service-based businesses from the ground up. We so many small businesses struggling or falling prey to expensive promises of quick fixes or silver bullets. Both of us know what it REALLY takes to start and grow a business, we've done it many times over and we've got the blisters to prove it! We’ve joined forces to share our knowledge and experience so you can find the easiest path to success, doing it your way, and most importantly — staying true to yourself.
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Top 10 Thriving Business Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Thriving Business episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Thriving Business for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Thriving Business episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Finding Clarity and the ‘Right’ Path to Business Growth
Thriving Business
12/20/23 • 35 min
Join Kate De Jong and Sam Morris in this episode of the Thriving Business Podcast as they candidly share their entrepreneurial journey, exploring the challenges of finding clarity, embracing specialisation, and achieving business growth through getting clear on their own unique zone of genius. There are so many different pathways available to achieve business growth. But not all of them work consistently and reliably. Kate and Sam share their personal journeys on how their growth has come as a result of evolving clarity, something that can’t be rushed but that comes with experience and trial and error.
Key Highlights:
- Discussion on the entrepreneurial roller coaster: Kate and Sam acknowledge the ups and downs in the life of a small business owner with an emphasis on sharing their vulnerabilities to help others realise they’re not alone.
- Struggles with clarity (or lack of): Kate and Sam acknowledge that “appearing to have it all together” doesn't negate the internal struggles that all business owners face. They discuss the challenge of finding clarity amidst the busy grind of running a business.
- The journey of specialisation: Kate and Sam explore the discomfort in letting go of certain tasks and finding a specific focus. They discuss the realisation of the importance of specialising in order to get traction and establish yourself as a leader and specialist in your field.
- Marketing and strategic planning: Kate shares her journey in clarifying her business focus around clarity of purpose, message and strategic planning. Sam's focus and zone of genius is on AI, systems, and automation as her specialisation.
- Imposter Syndrome: Kate shares her imposter syndrome around calling herself a ‘marketer’ even though she’s done more than 10,000 hours in the field of marketing, and how so many other business owners struggle with this. They discuss the value of practical experience versus formal education.
- Clarity of business focus: Kate shares her journey of rebranding and shifting towards marketing clarity on her website and the growth that has happened as a result. Sam's focus on AI, systems, and automation has similarly created exciting growth.
And so much more!
As you reflect on your entrepreneurial journey, what challenges have you faced in finding clarity, and how have you navigated them to achieve growth in your business? Listen to the full podcast now to gain insights on how entrepreneurs navigate challenges and find clarity for business growth!
Connect with the Women Doing Business Hosts:
Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business
Website: https://katedejong.com/
Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness
Email: [email protected]
Sam Morris | The Business Implementor
Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/
Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach
Email: [email protected]
08/07/23 • 47 min
In this episode, Kate and Sam dive into discussions about the power of mindset shifts on the journey towards personal and professional growth. They explore fascinating topics such as the influence of movies and documentaries on mindset, the challenges of fear in entrepreneurship, and the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people to elevate thinking.
Episode Highlights:
- Sam shares her admiration for the recently released Barbie movie and its surprising depth in tackling feminism and gender roles.
- Sam highlights how the Barbie flipped stereotypes, empowering women while emphasising the need for balance and equity.
- Sam and Kate discuss FEAR in entrepreneurship and how it differs from the fear experienced in traditional employment.
- Kate shares her personal experiences of dealing with financial fear and the realisation that letting go and surrendering can lead to breakthroughs
- The girls discuss the importance of conquering fear, drawing parallels between extreme sports and the challenges faced by business owners
- The significance of letting go of control and trusting others in running your business operations.
- They discuss mindset shifts required to focus on high-value tasks that drive business growth and revenue generation.
- Why it’s important to be surrounded by individuals who elevate one's thinking and inspire growth.
- Sam reflects on the connection between coaching in sports and business coaching.
- The value of learning from people who are already achieving what you aspire to achieve.
- Kate shares her experience of running a mastermind group and how some members outgrow the group as they progress. Recognising when you've surpassed the current level of your circle is essential for continued growth.
- Why it’s essential not to be the smartest person in the room
And so much more!
Connect with the Women Doing Business Hosts:
Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business
Website: https://katedejong.com/
Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness
Email: [email protected]
Sam Morris | The Business Implementor
Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/
Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach
Email: [email protected]
Marketing Essentials to Grow Your Business with Ease
Thriving Business
07/17/23 • 39 min
In this episode of Women Doing Business, hosts Kate De Jong and Sam Morris start with a discussion around the TV series "Paper Giants" and its portrayal of Ita Buttrose and her pioneering role for women in media. Buttrose became the founding editor of the hugely successful Cleo magazine in 1972 and was the first woman to be appointed editor-in-chief of a major daily newspaper in Australia. She was also the first woman to chair the ABC. They reflect on the progress that has been made for women in business over the past 50 years, but also acknowledge the ongoing struggles for equality and representation.
Kate and Sam then move on to talk about the fundamental essentials required in powerful marketing.
Episode Highlights:
- The importance of an automated customer journey that nurtures prospects into paying customers and how to do it well.
- Building connections with your target audience through email marketing.
- The significance of building a list and using lead magnets and nurture funnels to provide value to potential customers and establish trust and credibility.
- The misconception that creating a product or course will automatically lead to success, emphasising the importance of testing, market feedback, and focusing on delivering value to customers.
- Ways to understand your audience's needs and incorporate market research.
- Kate shares the value of feedback and how she uses it to improve offerings.
- They encourage first-time business owners to engage with their target market and seek feedback for success.
- How to deal with difficult clients, including those who may not be a good fit or have conflicting approaches.
And so much more!
Connect with the Women Doing Business Hosts:
Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business
Website: https://katedejong.com/
Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness
Email: [email protected]
Sam Morris | The Business Implementor
Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/
Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach
Email: [email protected]
Authentic Selling and the Power of Downtime in Business
Thriving Business
07/10/23 • 55 min
In this episode, Kate and Sam delve into the value of creating space for relaxation and inspiration in business as a means to access your intuition and the powerful insight you need for business growth. They share their experiences at Kate’s recent Inspired Business Bali Retreat and Sam’s upcoming guided European tour.
They then delve into the topic of authentic selling; what that means, how to do it well and why so many women struggle to sell. They discuss how the entrepreneurial spirit thrives in unexpected places. Get ready to be inspired and motivated on your own entrepreneurial journey!
- Kate and Sam discuss the importance of embracing imperfection and getting on with business as women as Sam struggles with a cold and a cold sore while recording.
- Kate shares her experience at the Inspired Business Bali retreat, where female entrepreneurs focused on their businesses in the tranquil surrounds of Bali.
- The retreat allowed for introspection and the release of emotional burdens carried by the participants.
- Sam talks about her upcoming trip to Europe and how she's relinquishing control by joining a guided coach tour.
- The challenges of justifying investments in oneself and the pressure to demonstrate a tangible return on investment are discussed.
- The value of creating space for relaxation and inspiration is highlighted, even though it may not lead to immediate results.
- Kate shares a story about authentic selling she witnessed in Bali, where the sellers identified needs and offered their services without being pushy.
- The contrast between poor selling experiences and the positive impact of genuine conversations and customer focus is emphasized.
- The Balinese culture fosters an entrepreneurial spirit due to the lack of a safety net, and they find creative ways to survive and thrive.
- When you focus on genuinely looking for opportunities to serve it attracts opportunities for growth and recognition.
- Finding your people and serving them aligns with your purpose and values, allowing for business flow.
And so much more!
Connect with the Women Doing Business Hosts:
Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business
Website: https://katiedejong.com/
Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness
Email: [email protected]
Sam Morris | The Business Implementor
Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/
Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach
Email: [email protected]
How Our Definition of “Success” is Making Us Stressed, Anxious and Unwell — and What We Can Do About It
Thriving Business
02/01/24 • 37 min
Summary:
In today’s episode, Kate shares her exciting news about approving her TEDx talk for 2024. The topic? The Fulfilment Effect: How Career Contentment Drives Global Health, Happiness, and Prosperity. Kate and Sam dive into a deep conversation about how our societal expectations, the messages we give our children, our definition of “success” and our education system is leading to rampant burnout, anxiety, and stress in the workplace globally. According to Gallup, 70% of the global workforce is disengaged. In Australia, nearly 60% of professionals report feeling stressed in their work. And this is having far-reaching problems on our collective health and wellbeing. Kate and Sam both have personal stories on this topic and passionately share their views about how we can make things better.
Key Highlights:
- Personal journey: Kate candidly shares her journey from a pivotal youth moment where societal expectations diverted her from following her natural strengths and the disastrous consequences that unraveled as a result.
- TEDx talk theme: In her upcoming TEDx talk, Kate underscores the profound connection between vocational happiness and physical health, emphasising how aligning one's career with strengths, personality, and natural abilities is essential to long-term wellbeing.
- Societal pressure on children: Sam and Kate discuss the societal pressures on children to conform to traditional career paths, leading to anxiety and dissatisfaction within the younger generation.
- Research into education systems: Drawing on research into the education systems of the world's happiest countries, Kate advocates for fostering self-awareness in children and encouraging diverse career pathways right from a young age.
- Emphasis on joy and purpose: How do we redefine success beyond societal norms and foster encouragement for individuals to follow their strengths and passion, instead of trying to live up to limited perceptions of “successful”?
This episode concludes with a powerful message: Success is not defined by societal norms but by doing what you love and loving what you do. Kate and Sam envision a world where career contentment becomes the true measure of success.
Other great links: Listen to Ken Robinson’s great TEDx 2006 talk ‘Do Schools Kill Creativity?’ https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_do_schools_kill_creativity?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
Connect with the Women Doing Business Hosts:
Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business
Website: https://katedejong.com/
Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness
Email: [email protected]
Sam Morris | The Business Implementor
Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/
Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach
Email: [email protected]
Trusting the Business Journey, Even When Life Throws You Curveballs
Thriving Business
06/05/24 • 57 min
In this episode, Kate and Sam open up and share some of the things going on behind the scenes that have made life and business challenging in recent months. Building a business is not always an easy journey, especially when life throws curveballs into the mix!
Sam shares her recent stressful experiences with some personal medical challenges. She discusses the emotional and mental toll these experiences can have, even while you have to keep showing up for your clients and your business. Kate and Sam talk about the importance of sharing and supporting one another when going through these experiences. They also emphasise the need for regular health screenings and taking care of oneself while running a business.
The conversation highlights the role of mindset and the power of positive thinking in navigating difficult situations. The conversation explores the themes of faith, learning lessons, being present, vulnerability, all the way through to content marketing, and the power of social media.
Sam and Kate discuss the importance of learning the lessons that life presents and how the universe will keep throwing challenges until those lessons are learned. They also talk about the significance of being present in the moment and trusting that you are exactly where you need to be. The conversation delves into the vulnerability of sharing personal experiences on social media and the balance between authenticity and oversharing. They also touch on the importance of organic and paid marketing strategies and the role of social media in business growth.
Takeaways
- Health issues and personal challenges can have a significant emotional and mental toll.
- Sharing and supporting one another is important in navigating difficult situations.
- Regular health screenings are crucial for early detection and prevention.
- Taking care of oneself is essential while running a business.
- Mindset and positive thinking play a significant role in overcoming challenges. Life presents lessons that we need to learn, and the universe will keep throwing challenges until those lessons are learned.
- Being present in the moment and trusting that you are exactly where you need to be is essential for personal growth.
- There is a balance between authenticity and oversharing on social media, and it's important to be mindful of what and when to share.
- Organic and paid marketing strategies should be used in parallel to maximise the effectiveness of social media advertising.
- Quality content is more important than quantity when it comes to content marketing.
Connect with the hosts:
Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business
Website: https://katedejong.com/
Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness
Email: [email protected]
Sam Morris | The Business Implementor
Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/
Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach
Email: [email protected]
Unlock the Secrets to Successful Social Media Marketing with Katrina Collins at Butterfly Media
Thriving Business
04/24/24 • 54 min
In this episode of the Thriving Business Podcast, host Sam Morris is joined by a special guest, Katrina Collins from Butterfly Media, to delve into the world of social media marketing and Facebook advertising. Butterfly Media is a digital marketing agency that provides effortless lead generation for professional coaches. Katrina believes every person has the potential to do great things which is why she’s committed to shining a light on the brave, authentic and talented coaches who are bogged down by the everyday grind in their business.
Katrina shares her journey from a creative background to founding Butterfly Media, driven by her passion for storytelling and helping business owners to recognise their worth. Katrina and Sam discuss the importance of having a strategic plan for social media marketing, focusing on building connections and sharing stories rather than just sales pitches. Katrina emphasises the power of authenticity in social media content, advising listeners to stay focused on their clients' needs and avoid oversharing. They explore the organic process of social media marketing, guiding listeners on how to create content that resonates with their audience and leads them on a journey toward becoming clients. Katrina shares insights into the role of advertising in converting social media followers into clients, highlighting the importance of engaging with followers authentically and providing value before making sales pitches and so much more!
Key Highlights:
- Organic Social Media: Establishing a Plan for Success: Katrina shares the importance of creating a 12-month content plan aligned with quarterly sales goals. She explains how to focus on storytelling and educational content rather than just sales pitches.
- Authenticity in Social Media, Finding the Balance: Katrina advises how to stay true to yourself and your audience, focusing on solving your clients' problems and sharing your personal stories in a genuine way.
- Building Relationships through Outreach: Learn how to engage with influencers and communities in your niche. Use direct messages (DMs) strategically to start conversations and build connections.
- Paid advertising: How to do it right!
- The Power of Facebook Groups: Groups can be effective for selling products with limited-time offers. For service providers, community-focused engagement may be more beneficial. Consider alternative platforms like WhatsApp and specialised membership communities for deeper engagement.
- And lots more!
Are you ready to explore the power of paid advertising to scale your business to new heights? Tune in to discover the strategies and insights shared by Katrina from Butterfly Media.
Connect with the hosts:
Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business
Bali retreat: https://katedejong.com/inspired-business-bali-retreat/
Website: https://katedejong.com/
Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness
Email: [email protected]
Sam Morris | The Business Implementor
Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/
Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach
Email: [email protected]
Harnessing intuition to do better business with Intuitive Reiki Master Lisa Brandis
Thriving Business
08/14/23 • 56 min
In this episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing our dear friend and business colleague Lisa Brandis, founder of Intuitive Reiki International and author of the newly released (and incredible!) book "Intuitive Reiki: A Transformational Journey of Deep Spiritual Awakening." In our discussion, Lisa shares her experience and insights on integrating intuition and spirituality into business, which isn’t often talked about in business discussions, and yet it’s so important. Each and every one of us has access to a powerful source of guidance through our intuition. Tune in to hear all about it!
Episode Highlights:
- How to get the balance right between flowing with your intuition and implementing enough structure in your business to be profitable and successful.
- Lisa's journey of personal growth through Reiki.
- Coping with grief through connecting with the spirit realm .
- Lisa shares experiences as a psychic medium in which she channels departed loved ones and animal energies.
- Learning to trust your emotions as your internal guidance system.
- Embracing emotions as a superpower, especially for females in powerful roles.
- Making decisions by integrating wisdom from your head, heart, and gut.
- Recognising the body's physical response to decisions (yes vs. no).
- The importance of meditation in connecting with intuition.
- Surrounding oneself with supportive advisors and friends.
- The significance of ‘alignment’ in business and decision-making.
- Recognising the impact and value of spiritual services in this modern era of business.
And so much more!
Featured in the Episode:
Lisa’s Book: https://intuitivereiki.com.au/about-lisa-brandis/
Stay Connected with Lisa Brandis:
Website: https://intuitivereiki.com.au/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/intuitive_reiki_int/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisabrandis/
Connect with the Women Doing Business Hosts:
Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business
Website: https://katedejong.com/
Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness
Email: [email protected]
Sam Morris | The Business Implementor
Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/
Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach
Email: [email protected]
Behind the Curtain with Jessica Gough, The Sugar Duchess: Business, Burlesque and Balancing Acts
Thriving Business
09/13/24 • 51 min
This week we were privileged to be joined by the fabulous entrepreneur-extraordinaire Jessica Gough, a.k.a The Sugar Duchess, founder and owner of Tease Industries Pty Ltd., a company dedicated to providing empowerment platforms for creative artists in the realm of Cabaret and Burlesque. Trained at the WA Academy for Performing Arts (WAAPA) and previously a video journalist for the ABC, Jess took a leap of faith in 2018 to pursue her passion for Burlesque and the performing arts.
Kate and Jess met back in 2019, one year after Jess had purchased the Perth International Burlesque Festival. Six years later, Jess shares what it’s been like running a Burlesque and Cabaret performance company, while juggling a full time career. We love hearing real stories from business owners who have relentlessly pursued their passion and never given up. Kate and Jess discuss the original origins and definition of Burlesque as a celebration of bodies, identities, and diversity.
Jess talks through the challenges faced by her community during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resilience of the Burlesque community, and emerging to continue building a highly successful business. She also shares her experience of balancing her passion for the Burlesque art form with a full-time job and the importance of diversifying her business.
Key Takeaways
- Like many business owners, Jess has the ability to be highly creative, but she balances it with a focused and disciplined business mind, which she says has been the key to her success.
- "Growth isn't linear"; Jess discusses the ups and downs of growing a business.
- The Burlesque art form is a celebration of bodies, identities, and differences, with origins in Europe in parody and storytelling.
- Tease Industries creates platforms for artists to explore and showcase their craft and fosters inclusivity in the Burlesque community and beyond.
- The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Burlesque industry, but the community supported each other and found ways to adapt.
- Jessica successfully balances her passion for Burlesque with a full-time job, emphasising the importance of stable income while building a business.
- Diversification is crucial for business sustainability and growth, allowing for multiple revenue streams and opportunities.
- Failure is a learning opportunity and should be embraced.
- Surrounding yourself with a supportive community is essential for success.
- The merging of science and spirituality can lead to personal growth and abundance.
- And lots more!
Connect with the Hosts:
Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business
Website: https://katedejong.com/
Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness
Email: [email protected]
Sam Morris | The Business Implementor
Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/
Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach
Email: [email protected]
Halve Your Marketing Time & Effort Using AI: Sam Shares Her Secrets to Producing Limitless Content in Minutes
Thriving Business
01/03/24 • 34 min
Summary:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important when it comes to leveraging your time and increasing your productivity, which we all know is the number one challenge and goal for business owners. The more time you can spend on revenue generation, the better! But you still have to have a consistent online presence in the meantime.
In this episode, Sam shares insights into enhancing productivity using AI tools to manage her marketing content creation efficiently. There are some great practical tips in this episode that you won’t want to miss out on! The hosts discuss the evolving landscape of authentic content creation and offer practical tips on using AI for content batching and graphic creation.
Key Highlights:
- Venturing into Live Streaming: As a part of their efforts to leverage their time, Kate and Sam bravely dive into the world of live streaming their podcast on their social media channels, facing the uncertainties and imperfections of the experience with a sense of adventure, with the aim to build valuable content with minimum effort.
- Strategic Business Investments: Kate and Sam discuss the challenges of making strategic decisions when investing money in their business and finding efficient ways to get a healthy ROI on marketing investments.
- AI Optimisation for Productivity: Sam shares her recent use of artificial intelligence (AI) to structure her daily schedule efficiently, addressing the ongoing challenge of finding the most effective ways to utilise time.
- Embracing AI AND Authenticity in Content Creation: The conversation delves into the evolving landscape of content creation, focusing on the shift towards authenticity and the prioritisation of delivering valuable messages over achieving visual perfection.
- AI Tools for Content Batching: Sam explains her practical approach to content creation, utilising AI tools like Claude for content batching, extracting snippets, and repurposing existing content into engaging graphics using platforms like Canva. Don’t miss this incredible information that you can apply in your business straight away!
You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how to simplify your content creation and strategically engage your audience on social media to drive website traffic and conversions.
Connect with the Women Doing Business Hosts:
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ThrivingBusinessPodcast
Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business
Website: https://katedejong.com/
Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness
Email: [email protected]
Sam Morris | The Business Implementor
Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/
Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach
Email: [email protected]
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FAQ
How many episodes does Thriving Business have?
Thriving Business currently has 45 episodes available.
What topics does Thriving Business cover?
The podcast is about Branding, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Podcasts, Business, Copywriting and Marketing Strategy.
What is the most popular episode on Thriving Business?
The episode title 'Forbes Top 10 Business Trends for 2024: Navigating the Human Side of Business as AI Takes the Wheel' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Thriving Business?
The average episode length on Thriving Business is 47 minutes.
How often are episodes of Thriving Business released?
Episodes of Thriving Business are typically released every 13 days, 19 hours.
When was the first episode of Thriving Business?
The first episode of Thriving Business was released on Jun 9, 2023.
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