Podcast My Business

Positioning, AI slop and knowing what your business stands for with Krista PattersonIn this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Krista Patterson from The Positioning Collective about positioning, leadership, AI-generated content and why businesses need clarity before they create more content.The conversation starts with the idea of champion teams and why talented people do not always create a strong team on their own. From there, Tony and Krista move into positioning, AI slop, shortened attention spans, startup clarity, sales, personal brand and why more content is not always better content.Krista makes the point that AI can help produce content quickly, but if a business is not clear on its audience, message and market position, the output can easily become scattered, generic or irrelevant.Tony and Krista discuss:why a group of talented people still needs a shared visionwhat business teams can learn from sportwhy shortened attention spans make clarity more importanthow AI can create more content but not necessarily better contentwhy AI slop often starts with unclear positioninghow businesses can use AI without losing their voicewhy founders need to understand the position they want to hold in the marketthe importance of knowing the one idea you want to hold in the customer’s mindwhy selling can take different formswhy every person and business has a brand, whether they work on it or notwhy going viral is not useful if you are attracting the wrong audienceAI can create content, but it cannot create clarity.If a business does not know who it is trying to reach, what it wants to be known for and what message it wants to own, more content may only create more noise.Krista’s point is simple but important: before businesses produce more posts, articles, videos or AI-generated content, they need to understand their positioning.Clarity comes before volume.Krista PattersonThe Positioning CollectiveWebsite:https://positioningcollective.com

Mental health access, self-care and support with Garrett HoustonIn this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Garrett Houston from Psychology South and Wellbeing Services in Tasmania.Garrett talks about the need for better access to mental health support, especially in areas where services can be limited and waiting lists can stretch for months.The conversation covers how Psychology South has expanded its clinic capacity, why face-to-face support still matters, the challenges of delivering mental health services in Tasmania, and the practical role of self-care, connection, exercise, sunshine and getting outside.Tony and Garrett discuss:why access to mental health support mattershow Psychology South has expanded its service capacitywhy some people wait months to see a psychologistthe mental health challenges faced in Tasmaniathe role of face-to-face support and telehealthwhy online search matters when people are looking for helpsimple self-care habits that can support mental healthwhy connection, movement and getting outside still matterthe importance of helping people before things get worseMental health support should not take months to access.When people are struggling, waiting too long can make things harder. Better access, earlier support and practical self-care can all play a role in helping people get through difficult periods.Garrett also makes the point that self-care does not fix everything, but the basics still matter: connection, movement, sleep, food, sunshine and time outdoors.Garrett HoustonPsychology South and Wellbeing ServicesTasmania

Loneliness, social prescribing and real-world connection with Davis LemkeIn this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Davis Lemke, CEO of Clarity Health Care, about loneliness, social prescribing, green prescribing and the role real-world connection can play in supporting mental health.The conversation looks at why people can feel more disconnected even when they are constantly connected online, and why activities such as bushwalking, exercise, community groups and shared interests can help people build healthier routines and stronger social connections.Davis also explains how health care is starting to look more broadly at wellbeing, not just disease treatment, and why connection, physical activity and community participation can all form part of better mental health support.Tony and Davis discuss:why loneliness has become such a serious issuewhy online contact is not always the same as real connectionhow bushwalking and green space can support mental wellbeingwhat social prescribing and green prescribing meanwhy community groups and shared activities can help reduce isolationhow workplaces and business owners can think more deliberately about connectionwhy wellbeing support should be proactive, not only used when things go wrongBeing connected online is not the same as feeling connected in real life.Social media can create contact, information and interaction. But real connection often needs something deeper: conversation, shared activity, community and repeated human contact.For business owners and workplaces, that matters too.If more work and communication are happening online, connection needs to be planned more deliberately.Davis LemkeCEO, Clarity Health CareWebsite:https://www.clarityhealthcare.com.au/In this episodeKey takeawayGuest

The Mental Load of Building a BusinessFounder wellbeing and sustainable performance with Byron McCaugheyIn this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Byron McCaughey, psychologist and founder of Sublime Studio, about the pressure founders and entrepreneurs carry when building a business.The conversation covers founder stress, uncertainty, burnout warning signs, online visibility, authentic leadership and why wellbeing is closely linked to business performance. Byron also explains why psychological capital should be treated as a business lever, not just a personal wellbeing issue. Founder pressure and uncertaintyWhy business owners often look like they are copingStress, anxiety and the “red zone”How pressure affects decisions, communication and relationshipsOnline visibility without feeling like you have to performAuthentic leadership and showing up without wearing a maskPsychological capital and sustainable performancePractical tools for staying grounded under pressureByron shared a short grounding exercise called Dropping the Anchor, designed to help you step out of your mind and re-engage with the present moment when stress, anxiety or overwhelm starts to build.The exercise uses the acronym ACE:Accept what is showing up for you without judgement or resistance.Example:“I acknowledge that I’m feeling nervous about this meeting, and that’s okay.”Shift your attention to something physical you can control right now.Examples include pressing your feet into the floor, taking a slow deep breath, or noticing your hands on the chair.Anchor yourself to your environment by noticing something around you that you had not paid attention to before.Examples include the way light is coming through the window, the shape of an object in the room, or details in someone’s face.Byron also discussed Psychological Capital as an important part of founder wellbeing and sustainable performance.Psychological Capital helps founders get a clearer picture of their mental fitness across the four pillars of mental fitness, and learn how to strengthen the foundations that support sustainable performance.Byron describes psychological capital as a performance multiplier and says it should be seen as a business lever, just like other forms of capital inside a business. Looking like you are coping is not the same as coping.For founders and business owners, sustainable performance requires self-awareness, support, practical tools and a stronger mental foundation.Byron McCaugheyPsychologistSublime StudioWebsite:https://sublimestudio.com.au/

Sole traders make up a huge part of Australia’s small business economy, but many are still left to manage superannuation, tax and long-term financial planning largely on their own.In this episode of Podcast My Business, Tony Skinner speaks with Karan Anand from Hnry about why superannuation matters for sole traders, why many independent earners delay or avoid contributions, and how the system is still largely designed around employees rather than people who work for themselves.Karan explains the discipline challenge of voluntary super contributions, the tax treatment of concessional contributions, the importance of understanding fees and returns, and the admin steps sole traders can easily miss.The conversation also touches on Hnry’s ContractorSuper update, which is designed to help businesses manage contractor super payments where those obligations apply.This is a practical conversation for sole traders, independent earners, contractors and small business owners who want to better understand the role super can play in long-term financial security.Most employees have superannuation handled for them.For many sole traders, it is a very different story.They often need to make contributions themselves, manage the cash flow, understand the rules, and make sure the right admin steps are completed.That can be difficult when they are already doing the work, chasing invoices, managing tax, paying expenses and keeping the business moving.In this episode, Tony Skinner speaks with Karan Anand from Hnry about sole traders, superannuation and the long-term financial decisions independent earners need to think about.Karan explains why many sole traders do not make regular super contributions, why some are delaying contributions under financial pressure, and how voluntary super can be both a wealth-building tool and a discipline challenge.The conversation also covers concessional contributions, super fund performance, fees, the importance of getting advice, and why the system still often assumes a traditional employee/employer relationship.Karan also discusses Hnry’s ContractorSuper update, designed to help businesses manage contractor super payments where those obligations apply.