Smart Business Growth with Nicky & Ness

Smart Business Growth with Nicky & Ness

No one said running your own business would be easy—juggling time, rallying your team, all while pushing for growth in a competitive market. Ever feel like you're spinning wheels, chasing time that just slips through your fingers? Well, what if we told you it doesn't have to be this relentless grind? As business coaches with hands-on insight, our podcast explores the psyche behind your work ethic, helping you break free from the shackles of 'busy' to reclaim your time freedom. This is no fireside chat—it's pragmatic, actionable, strategic. Every episode contains real-world, high-impact advice that empowers you to work smarter, not harder. We disrupt the status quo, decoding high performance, outlining growth strategies, and redefining profit—transforming the numbers game into a tailored success plan for you. We're shattering cycles of conventional thinking, equipping you with mindset shifts that you can implement for instant results. But it's not all about the bottom line. We dive into the human element, too, examining how your deepest needs drive your business. With Smart Business Growth with Nicky & Ness, you join a community intent on achieving peak performance collectively. Are you ready to take the leap from surviving to abundantly thriving? Tune in, let's break those cycles, and catapult your business to new heights. Wherever you listen to podcasts, we're there, waiting to welcome you

Episodes

March 18, 2025 28 mins

Nicky and Ness dive deep into the world of AI with Leanne Shelton, exploring how businesses can integrate AI without losing the human touch. We kick off the discussion by addressing the overwhelming pressure many feel in experimenting with AI tools and Leanne’s advice to start small. From simple tasks like email editing to gradually incorporating tools like Microsoft Copilot or OpenAI, she emphasizes the importance of easing into A...

Mark as Played

Could you be sabotaging your company's success with decision fatigue? Discover how this silent productivity killer might be draining your resources and leaving your business in the dust. 

On today's Smart Business Growth Podcast, Nicky and Ness tackle the pressing issue of decision fatigue in leadership. We explore the heavy toll of constant decision-making on leaders, revealing how it can inflate costs, erode profits, and...

Mark as Played

Join us on a captivating journey with Andy McCarthy, the visionary founder of Gippsland Solar, who shares his extraordinary tale of building a solar empire in the heart of Australia's coal country. Discover how Andy overcame not only industry resistance but also personal demons of entrepreneurial addiction, leading to a transformative journey of self-awareness and reinvention. Through his candid reflections, Andy reveals the h...

Mark as Played

In this episode of the Smart Business Growth Podcast, hosts Nicky and Ness explore the concept of New Year's resolutions in the context of both personal and business growth. They discuss the challenges and pressures of setting resolutions, the importance of understanding one's 'why' through vision and mission statements, and the power of selecting a theme or word for the year. The episode encourages listeners to...

Mark as Played

In the final installment of the summer series revisiting season two's most popular episodes, Nicky and Ness dive into the core reasons people start their own businesses versus the often stark reality that follows. They discuss the importance of redefining success and aligning business goals with personal fulfillment to achieve a balanced work-life dynamic. The episode is packed with actionable advice on questioning default bel...

Mark as Played

In this episode of the Smart Business Growth Podcast, Nicky and Ness revisit a compelling conversation with Mel Packham, a brand strategist focused on ethical and sustainable business practices. The discussion dives into redefining what sustainability in business means in 2024, emphasising the importance of not just environmental impact but also human health, wellbeing, and purpose-driven growth. Mel shares insights on how business...

Mark as Played

In this special summer series episode, hosts Nicky and Ness revisit their popular session with business coach Janine Garner. Janine interviews them, discussing their book 'Healthy Hustle' and its pivotal messages. They explore creating a sustainable business through 'healthy hustle,' covering smart growth, peak performance, and time freedom. They emphasise breaking unhealthy hustle patterns and implementing effe...

Mark as Played

In this special episode from the Smart Business Growth Podcast's 2024 Summer Series, Nicky and Ness revisit a compelling conversation with James Bartrop, director and founder of ShadowSafe. The discussion centers on distinguishing between unhealthy, hard hustle and healthy hustle. James shares his journey from unsustainable work habits to achieving balanced success, including significant revenue growth, improved family life, a...

Mark as Played
December 17, 2024 21 mins

As season two of the podcast wraps up, it’s time to reflect on the concept of taking genuine holidays as business owners. With Christmas around the corner, many of us are craving a break. But are we really disconnecting, or are we bringing work along for the ride? Join Nicky and Ness as they explore the importance of stepping away and how to truly switch off.

Episode Highlights:

  • Startling statistics on how often business owners t...
Mark as Played

In this podcast episode, hosts Nicky and Ness share their experiences from an exceptionally busy week that included Nicky's TEDx talk at QUT and the launch of their book, 'Healthy Hustle.' 

They discuss the preparation and emotional journey behind Nicky's TEDx talk, the importance of balancing a healthy hustle, and the lessons learned along the way. 

Key takeaways include recognising the ongoin...

Mark as Played

In this episode, Vanessa is joined by sales expert Darcy Smyth to explore the evolving sales landscape in a post-COVID world. They discuss overcoming sales challenges, the impact of economic changes, and effective strategies to thrive despite market fluctuations.

Episode Highlights:

  • Market Changes: Darcy explains how the sales environment has shifted over the past five years, highlighting the importance of persistence and underst...
Mark as Played
November 26, 2024 19 mins

In this episode, Nicky and Ness dive into the modern obsession with busyness and how it often leads to unproductive patterns. They discuss the societal pressure to be constantly "busy" and share strategies to combat feelings of overwhelm. Learn about the 51% of work time spent on low-value tasks and how to make your efforts more meaningful.

Episode Highlights:

  • The paradox of busyness and procrastination.
  • Strategies to br...
Mark as Played
November 19, 2024 19 mins

In this episode, Nicky and Ness delve into the challenges of maintaining a healthy hustle in the world of sales. With burnout rates soaring and the market becoming increasingly competitive, it's essential for sales professionals to find sustainable strategies for success. They discuss the impact of longer lead times, tighter budgets, and increased competition on sales teams and explore four key strategies to help sales profess...

Mark as Played

In this episode, Nicky, Ness and Laura explore the crucial link between functional breathing and peak performance in leadership. They delve into how improving the quality of our breath can transform our work and decision-making abilities, leading to more effective leadership and business growth.

Episode Highlights:

  • The Importance of Functional Breathing: Understanding how proper breathing affects presence, decision-making, and le...
Mark as Played

In this episode of the Smart Business Growth Podcast, hosts Nicky and Ness dive into critical aspects of workplace stress, burnout, and sustainable growth. They uncover the hidden costs of aggressive hustling, share startling statistics on stress-related illnesses, and review the right-to-disconnect laws in Australia. The hosts explore the primary motivators for change—pleasure and pain—and provide strategies for overcoming negativ...

Mark as Played

In this episode, Nicky and Ness dive deep into how our beliefs influence every aspect of our lives and businesses. They discuss how beliefs around money, sales, and success can either propel us forward or hold us back. With real-life examples and practical insights, they explore the importance of challenging ingrained belief systems to unlock true potential.

Episode Highlights:

  • The power of beliefs and their impact on business an...
Mark as Played

In this episode, Nicky and Ness delve into the critical topic of sustainability in business for 2024 and beyond. Joined by expert Mel, they discuss what it truly means to run a sustainable business in today’s evolving landscape. They explore the interconnected challenges facing businesses, from environmental impacts to human health, and how smart business owners can navigate these complexities.

Episode Highlights:

  • Defining Sustai...
Mark as Played

In this episode, Nicky and Ness, authors of the new book "Healthy Hustle," are joined by business coach Janine Garner to discuss the importance of rethinking the traditional hustle culture and embracing a healthier approach to business and life. They argue that the relentless pursuit of success at all costs is leading to burnout, exhaustion, and ultimately, unsustainable business practices.

Episode Highlights

  • Hustle Cul...
Mark as Played
October 8, 2024 19 mins

In this episode, Nicky and Ness dive into the essential topic of managing your energy. They explore how different work styles and energy rhythms impact performance, especially for those with neurodivergent brains. They discuss the importance of understanding energy gainers and drainers, and how behavioural profiling, like DISC, can help. Nicky shares her journey of embracing her natural energy rhythm, while Ness highlights the bene...

Mark as Played

In this episode, Nicky and Ness are joined by James Bartrop of Shadow Safe to discuss the concept of "Healthy Hustle." They explore how old-school, relentless work habits can be detrimental, and why balancing drive with well-being is essential for sustainable success. James shares his personal journey from unhealthy hustle to finding a healthier, more balanced approach to business and life.

Episode Highlights:

  • James&apo...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.