What do you do when a business you love isn't doing what a business needs to do - make money?That's exactly where Claire finds herself right now. Owner of Mogo Book Store on the NSW South Coast, Claire is in the middle of one of the most emotionally loaded decisions a founder can face: close, sell, or find a reason to keep going.But spend five minutes listening to Claire talk about books and you'll understand why this decision isn't simple. This isn't a hobby she picked up casually. Claire is someone who feels books. The old ones, the rare ones, the ones that have lived a whole life before they reach her shelves. There were moments in this conversation that genuinely gave us goosebumps. That kind of love for what you do makes everything else a whole lot harder to walk away from.In this episode, we sit down with Claire for a conversation that is equal parts honest, funny, and genuinely moving. She doesn't have it all figured out and she doesn't pretend to. What she does have is six kids, a full-time government job in Canberra, a deep love for books, and a very clear sense of what Mogo Book Store means beyond the bottom line.In this episode we talk about:The decision Claire is currently navigating - whether to close or sell Mogo Book Store, and everything that makes that so complicatedHow she bought the store off Facebook - while working full time and raising six children - and what happened when the dream met realityExpectations vs reality: what we imagine owning a beautiful little bookstore in a small town will look like, and what it actually looks like day to dayWhat it's like to listen to someone speak about something they truly love - and the goosebumps that came with itThe moments of pure joy - opening the store, breathing in the smell of books, sitting with a chai latte - and how those moments make the hard ones feel even harder to walk away fromThe moments when you're ready to give up, and what pulls you backThe impact of big chain retailers on small independents like Mogo Book Store - customers conditioned to expect prices that simply aren't possible for a small business to matchClaire's extraordinary connection to her customers - she learns who they are, worries about them when they haven't been in, and on scouting trips, keeps specific clients in mind when she spots something they'd loveThe guilt of not having enough time for everything and how Claire found ways to bring her family into the business rather than pull herself away from themLife with a blended family of six children, and how the chaos is very much real and very much woven into the fabric of the storeWhat working a shift at Mogo Book Store means for each of Claire's younger kids, and why it feels completely different for each one of themMogo Book Store's point of difference: this isn't a new bookstore. Claire sources and restores books, many of them rare or old, and there's a whole world of people who care deeply about thatThe shift in Mogo - once a buzzy tourist destination on the South Coast and what that change has meant for small businesses in the villageHonest reflection: what Claire would do differently if she started again; getting things in writing, finding a good accountant from day oneTaking risks, and the truth that they don't always work out and why having a go is the only way you'll ever find that outThe quote that stayed with us: "After all, tomorrow is another day." - Gone with the WindThis episode is for you if: You've ever kept something going for reasons that don't show up on a spreadsheet. Or you're in the thick of deciding whether a risk that didn't quite pay off was still worth taking. Or you just need a reminder that tomorrow is, in fact, another day.📍 Find Mogo Book Store in Mogo, NSW South Coast📲 Follow us on Instagram: @for.founders.sake 🎵 TikTok: @forfounderssakepodcast ▶️ YouTube: @forfounderssake
This episode is a behind-the-scenes chat between Shelb & Em as we unpack how we’re intentionally setting ourselves up for the year ahead - in business, life and everything in between.It’s not about hype.It’s not about unrealistic resolutions.It’s about clarity, ownership and execution.In this episode we talk about: Scaling smart — and learning the hard wayToward the end of 2025, we made what felt like a smart next move for the podcast: bringing on an editor. The goal? Faster turnaround times and the possibility of moving from fortnightly to weekly episodes.For Em, this was a big step. Letting go of the editing process - something she’s deeply particular about - wasn’t easy. But growth requires delegation, right?Let’s just say… it didn’t quite go to plan.You’ll have to listen to hear exactly what happened - and what it taught us about control, standards and trusting the right people.Effective goal setting (without the fluff)There’s nothing wrong with a big, lofty goal. But dreaming is one thing - executing is another. We break down how to reverse-engineer ambitious goals so they’re actually achievable.Measuring success beyond numbersNot every goal has a dollar figure attached. Some are about energy, health, presence or capacity. We talk about how to measure progress when success is a feeling - not a financial metric.Hiring a ‘non money-making’ team memberWhen is the right time to invest in support that doesn’t directly generate revenue? We unpack the mindset shift required to hire for capacity and sustainability - not just immediate ROI.Our business goals for the year aheadWe share what we’re building, refining and focusing on - and where we’re intentionally stretching ourselves this year.If you’re mapping out your year, questioning your next hire, or sitting with big goals that feel slightly uncomfortable - this one’s for you.Success isn’t accidental.It’s intentional.Follow along:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/for.founders.sake/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForFoundersSakeIf this episode resonated, take a screenshot and tag us - we love seeing you listening.
In this episode, we sit down with Matt Hatcher — Mayor of the Eurobodalla Shire Council, local business owner, and dad — to unpack what it really looks like to juggle leadership, business, community, and family in a very public role.This conversation moves fast and jumps around (in the best way), and it quickly becomes clear just how much passion Matt brings to everything he does.WHAT WE COVER IN THE EP...Starting & running businessesMatt’s journey into business and what it takes to get something off the groundPreparing for a big summer season before the bushfires hit and the Shire came to a haltAccidentally stepping away from his business after becoming deeply involved in disaster recoveryBeing immersed in recovery efforts for around 18 monthsA viral moment during this time that resulted in selling over a quarter of a million dollars in coffee beans onlineSpilling a little tea ☕️Matt shares insight into a new business venture he’s involved in — Bar SomethingEarly details around the vision and why it’s something completely new for the areaCommunity & volunteeringThe importance of local community groups and volunteeringNew and creative ways clubs and organisations can raise moneyWhy community involvement matters in regional areasHow local government actually worksThe difference between local, state, and federal government, and who is responsible for whatDisaster recoveryPublic transportInfrastructure and planningWhat it was really like running for MayorThe very normal moment Matt received the call that he was the new MayorGoing from a regular citizen one day to Mayor the nextHow council chambers operate, voting systems, and why the Mayor is essentially one councillor among manyDevelopment, consultation & criticismHow Development Applications (DAs) workCommunity consultation and notification — and why much of it often goes unreadThe pushback and negativity that can arise when developments appear around the ShireHandling criticism, negativity, and confrontational moments — particularly in Facebook community groupsThe human sideWearing many hats across business, leadership, and family lifeBalancing public leadership with being a present dadStaying grounded while operating in the public eye-----LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EP...Bar Somethinghttps://www.barsomething.comThe Kioskhttps://www.instagram.com/its_the_kiosk/The Bearded Brewerhttps://www.beardedbrewercoffee.com/Guerrilla Roastershttps://www.guerrillaroasters.com/---Follow For Founders’ SakeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/for.founders.sake/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ForFoundersSake
Tom and Terri from Arcus Advisory in Moruya started their business during COVID, with young kids, a recent move, and a few curveballs along the way. No big deal, right? What began in the rumpus room grew fast enough to need a real office and a proper team and Terri stepped in to make sure it didn't all fall apart. Together they're a pretty unbeatable team. Tom's the calm, steady one, Terri brings the energy and the structure, and somehow it all works. Today we're getting into EOFY prep, the numbers that actually matter, and what it's genuinely like to run a business with the person you share a Netflix password with. Turns out they're both very passionate about Vanderpump Rules. We didn't see that coming either.About Arcus AdvisoryTom and Terri run Arcus Advisory, a family owned accounting and advisory firm located on the NSW South Coast, based out of Moruya. Tom is a Chartered Accountant and registered tax agent with over 10 years of experience in tax and accounting, with a real passion for small and medium business. Terri keeps the whole operation running. She joined the business as it experienced rapid growth, stepping in as the organiser and the backbone that allowed Tom to keep doing what he does best. What started in a rumpus room is now a proper firm with an office in town, a growing team, and a reputation as one of the most popular accounting practices on the South Coast. They offer a full range of services including taxation, business advisory, bookkeeping, and corporate governance and were recognised as the #4 Most Popular accounting firm in the Illawarra & South Coast Region for 2024.Visit: arcusadvisory.com.au | Unit 3/51 Vulcan Street, Moruya NSW | (02) 4410 0214In This Episode We CoverStarting a business during COVID, with young kids, a recent move, and health challenges thrown in for good measureFrom rumpus room to real office, how rapid growth changed everything and brought Terri into the businessWhat it's actually like to run a business with your partner, and how Tom and Terri balance each other out (spoiler: Tom's the calm, Terri's the chaos coordinator in the best possible way)How they set boundaries so work doesn't follow them home, or at least knowing when to call itDelegating and trusting new people, the balance between training properly and giving your team space to growAdapting to budget changes and what that means for the tax advice they give clients right nowEOFY prep: practical things you can do right now to make tax time less stressfulRapid fire: Claimable or Not 🎯And their not so secret shared love of reality TV, specifically Vanderpump Rules, and we're not even a little bit surprised Tom knows every cast memberConnect with Arcus Advisory🌐 arcusadvisory.com.au📍 Unit 3/51 Vulcan Street, Moruya NSW📞 (02) 4410 0214📧 info@arcusadvisory.com.auFind Us📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/for.founders.sake🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forfounderssakepodcast▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forfounderssakeFor Founders Sake is a podcast for and about the founders of the NSW South Coast, real stories, real businesses, no filter.
Beck Thompson is a dating and attachment coach, podcast host, and author behind The Relationship Circle — and this conversation goes deep.Beck shares how her background in social work and trauma led her to specialise in relationships and dating, and why trusting your intuition as a business owner — even when it means turning down a client — is one of the most powerful things you can do.We talk about the juggle. The very real, very exhausting balancing act of showing up for your relationship when you're also running a business, raising kids, and trying to keep your head above water. Because your business doesn't pause for your relationships — and your relationships don't pause for your business. Somewhere in the middle of all of that, a lot of us are quietly wondering if we're doing enough. Beck's take? Balance isn't the goal. Doing the best you can in any given moment is.We get into attachment styles: anxious, avoidant, anxious-avoidant, and secure — what they actually mean, how they show up in your relationships, and what it looks like to move toward something healthier.And then there's social media — the curated highlight reel that has us quietly measuring our relationships against something that doesn't exist. Beck unpacks why that comparison is so damaging, and brings it all back to self-worth: knowing what you deserve, and actually holding that standard.Whether you're navigating the dating world, deep in something complicated, or happily settled in a long-term relationship — Shelby and I both walked away from this one with something. It's equal parts validating and eye-opening, no matter where you're at.This one will stay with you.Connect with Beck: 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_relationship_circleFollow For Founders Sake: 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/for.founders.sake 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forfounderssakepodcast ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forfounderssake