Business Benchmark Group Podcast

We interview Robert Krastich, owner of Sharper Facility Services (sharper.com.au) which offers high-end commercial cleaning in Melbourne. The business was established in 2004 and Robert had done a fantastic job growing it to that point. However, he realised he had reached a crossroads. Although he was making good income and had established a good client base, he also recognised he had lost some focus and commitment to growing the business. He knew he wanted to take his business to the next level, but he realised he didn’t have the knowledge or experience to successfully do so. In April 2018, Robert reached out to Business Benchmark Group. Since working with us to re-focus his business strategy and clearly articulating his goals, his business has gone to a whole new level. Robert imparts valuable advice and experience for all business owners, who will hear first-hand what it takes to break through your glass ceiling and take your business to new and greater heights. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The uncertain economic environment we're in can be a source of concern for business owners. However - it doesn't need to be that way if you use the Triple A approach to growing your business - Anticipation, Acceleration and Aggregation. With this approach, you can ensure your business is always on the front foot and poised to respond to risks and take advantage of opportunities. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/business-benchmark-group-podcast/id1372652118?mt=2 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/5ZbuFOBaZ8YQ3eT1u3Y14R SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/businessbenchmarkgroup iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-Business-Benchmark-29372537/ Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/business-benchmark-group-podcast PodBean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/yi4rd-6bc65/Business-Benchmark-Group-Podcast ACast: https://acast.com/businessbenchmarkgroup

Stefan Kazakis joins ABC Nightlife's Tony Delroy to discuss why it's important for business owners to periodically take a good, hard look at the health of your business and determine what's working, what's not working and what are we doing about it. It's important that you just don't walk past a low standard in your business, you need to always be reflecting and analysing on what areas you can improve. Business owners should be investing at least 2 hours per week to think clearly about their business goals and determine how their business is going in the way to achieve them. Conduct your own 3-minute business health check at our website. http://businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au/3-minute-business-health-check/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/business-benchmark-group-podcast/id1372652118?mt=2 Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/podcast/5ZbuFOBaZ8YQ3eT1u3Y14R SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/businessbenchma

Anyone who has ever run a small business can tell stories about the immeasurable value of word-of-mouth referrals by happy customers - some would even argue it is the most powerful form of advertising when someone is singing the praises of your company or product. Likewise, talk about a bad experience is news that travels far and wide - that's why business owners and their staff should strive to make sure customers are always happy so they will refer your product or service to family and friends. Stefan Kazakis, CEO of the Business Benchmark Group, joins Tony Delroy on ABC Radio's Nightlife to explains how important it is to build a referral-based business. DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WHITEPAPER: "How To Build An Effective Referral Strategy" https://businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au/resources/learn-how-to-harness-the-power-of-the-referral/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/business-benchmark-group-podcast/id1372652118?mt=2

We often think about crisis as a negative – but it can also often be considered a positive. In this brain stretch episode, Stefan explores how business owners need to recognise the difference between leadership and management, especially in response to a crisis. As a leader, it is your responsibility to grow your resources, to understanding what is working, what is not working and to determine what you’re going to do about it. A manager’s role is to manage those resources in order to get better outcomes, improve output and increase efficiency and effectiveness. As a small business owner, you’re often required to wear both hats multiple times in a day, or even within an hour. As a leader, you need to recognise that there are two different mindsets you can have: a “cost of growth” mindset where you stay in maintenance mode, versus a “cost of opportunity” mindset where you’re in investment mode and actively looking to take your business forward. It is up to you as a business owner to ensure you lead your

You spend 50%-60% of your life at work, so as business owners have the responsibility to fill it with the right people. Stefan discusses how to ensure you're hiring A-Graders to join your team. He describes interview techniques he uses, what to look for in a candidate, and the importance of culture fit. - - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Stefan's Books: "How to Grow a Business" https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Business-Stefan-Kazakis/dp/0994545274 "From Deadwood To Diamonds" https://www.amazon.com/Deadwood-Diamonds-Business-Achieve-Success-ebook/dp/B00J1V0TWI - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au. Email info@businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/business-benchmark-group-podcast/id1372652118?mt=2 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/businessbenchmarkgroup iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-Business-Benc

When it comes to building your competitive advantage, it all comes back to the concept of "Hero or Guide". This means that when you make the customers the hero of the story - by understanding their wants, needs and motivations and focusing on how to better serve them - this will inevitably mean that you will be able to innovate and serve your customers better than your competitors. Stefan explores this idea, and gives advice to business owners looking to build a business that is innovative and stands out from the competition. - - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Stefan's Books: "How to Grow a Business" https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Business-Stefan-Kazakis/dp/0994545274 "From Deadwood To Diamonds" https://www.amazon.com/Deadwood-Diamonds-Business-Achieve-Success-ebook/dp/B00J1V0TWI - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au. Email info@businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Subscribe to ou

In this episode, Stefan examines the 6 Pillars of Business that you need to focus on if you want to take your business global. As Stefan often says - "Business is not easy, but it doesn't need to be hard". To build a successful strategy to take your business global, you need to have a laser focus on these 6 pillars only, and determine how they will look in 2, 5 and 10 years. - - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Stefan's Books: "How to Grow a Business" https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Business-Stefan-Kazakis/dp/0994545274 "From Deadwood To Diamonds" https://www.amazon.com/Deadwood-Diamonds-Business-Achieve-Success-ebook/dp/B00J1V0TWI - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au. Email info@businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/business-benchmark-group-podcast/id1372652118?mt=2 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/businessbenchm

Chris Galea's story as a business owner is an incredibly interesting and eventful ride. He purchased Polyshine - suppliers of polishing compound for the manufacturing industry - in 2008 and by 2010, he was down to his last $1,000 in the bank and was on his way to Singapore to do a deal that HAD to work, otherwise he and his business were in dire straits. Unfortunately, that meeting fell through! He was "stood up" and had no other options on the table, and was staring down the failure of his business after years of hard work. However, without giving away more of his story, through tenacity and persistence, it was this same trip that turned around his fortunes completely. In the years since, he has built a very strong reputation of the business internationally and taken advantage of some amazing opportunities and his business has flourished ever since. This is a must-listen to episode for business owners who have ridden all the ups and downs of life as a business owner. Chris's story shows the power of

In this brain stretch episode, Stefan asks you to think global and think about how your business can serve more customers and take advantage of more opportunities beyond our borders. What does your business, and your life, look like in 10 years time? Stefan discusses the need to engage in forward-thinking, and consider creating that will take you where you want to be. In 520 weeks, you might be stuck in the same place, or you could be in a whole new place. Ultimately, it is up to you. You are the agent of change. It’s not just about working harder. The game of business is about leveraging other people’s time and other people’s money. Stefan describes the 6 Keys to becoming a Game Changer. 1. Focus 2. Uncomfortable 3. Resilience 4. Ignorance 5. Failure 6. No excuses - - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Stefan's Books: "How to Grow a Business" https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Business-Stefan-Kazakis/dp/0994545274 "From Deadwood To Diamonds" https://www.amazon.com/Deadwood-Diamonds-Business-Achieve-Success-eboo

This episode of our podcast was recorded at our Your Profit Blueprint event in February 2019. Stefan explores the market conditions we're likely to face in 2019 and discusses how imperative it is for owners of small businesses to plan ahead and be ready in a "ninja stance" ready to react to challenges, and attack opportunities. Stefan discusses the importance of critical and strategic thinking in all areas of your business and how to build plans that are bullet-proof. He explains what questions you need to be asking, who you need to be targeting to become your future clients, and how you need to be attracting A-grade players to join your team. - - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Stefan's Books: "How to Grow a Business" https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Business-Stefan-Kazakis/dp/0994545274 "From Deadwood To Diamonds" https://www.amazon.com/Deadwood-Diamonds-Business-Achieve-Success-ebook/dp/B00J1V0TWI - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.

How do you outplay and outlast in the game of business? How do you outlast your head trash - your mental fatigue that says that you can't do something? Stefan explores how to create stamina in today's brain-stretch episode of our podcast. When you give up on something and never complete it - it's a missed opportunity and helps create a pattern in your life of a person who just never finishes things. Life is a pattern - the last 5 years are not much different to the 5 years before that. And the next 5 years will be the same unless you create new patterns so you can outlast the mental fatigue that gets in the way of stamina. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? Get in touch with Business Benchmark Group! Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au. Email info@businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au Call 03 9001 0878 - - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Stefan's Books: "How to Grow a Business" https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Business-Stefan-Kazakis/dp/0994545274 "From Deadwood To Dia

Rob and Rose Seymour are the owners of a unique business - PureProtect. They are specialists in Mould, Damp, Water Damage and Indoor Air Quality and deliver hygiene and infection control solutions to industries where health and safety are paramount. They operate as mould re-mediators, licensed builders and fix buildings and homes with mould damage. They reveal how they have been able to achieve extraordinary growth, particularly over the previous 12 months, and go into detail about what changes they needed to make personally, and as a business, to achieve that growth. One point to note is the enormous benefit that PureProtect has experienced since they began charging for quotes, rather than doing them for free. The flow-on effects throughout the business have been remarkable. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? Get in touch with Business Benchmark Group! Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au. Email info@businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au Call 03 9001 0878 - - - -

Marc Montager is the Sales Manager at Alloys - "The Non-Traditional Distributor". With almost 30 years experience in the industry and with hard-earned experience in managing and growing high-performance teams, Marc gives tremendous insight into what it takes to build a high performance team and what to look for when recruiting new members into a team. Marc is not one to tolerate mediocrity, and shares many of his personal experiences in managing teams and improving them for higher performance. He also shares his most important factors for success and what to look for in employees beyond technical capabilities, including urgency, willingness, curiosity and discipline. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? Get in touch with Business Benchmark Group! Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au. Email info@businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au Call 03 9001 0878 - - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Stefan's Books: "How to Grow a Business" https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Business-Stefan-Kaz

This is a "brain stretch" episode in order to get you thinking about how your business is positioned, and how you plan to be innovative. As we enter a new year, this is an important time to reflect upon how you position your business - who you are, what you do and who you do it for. Stefan also explores the concept of whether you position yourself as a hero to your clients - or instead, whether you're a guide for them. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? Get in touch with Business Benchmark Group! Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au. Email info@businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au Call 03 9001 0878 - - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Stefan's Books: "How to Grow a Business" https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Business-Stefan-Kazakis/dp/0994545274 "From Deadwood To Diamonds" https://www.amazon.com/Deadwood-Diamonds-Business-Achieve-Success-ebook/dp/B00J1V0TWI

A recording of Stefan's speech to the graduating class at East Doncaster Secondary College. As an alumni of that same high school years ago and ongoing involvement in the school community, Stefan was asked to speak to the Class of 2018. He gives some inspiring and practical advice, that not only will serve them well in their journey into the big wide world and adulthood, but also provides us all with some inspiration and reflection as we begin a brand new year. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? Get in touch with Business Benchmark Group! Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au. Email info@businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au Call 03 9001 0878 - - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Stefan's Books: "How to Grow a Business" https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Business-Stefan-Kazakis/dp/0994545274 "From Deadwood To Diamonds" https://www.amazon.com/Deadwood-Diamonds-Business-Achieve-Success-ebook/dp/B00J1V0TWI

Identifying and serving your ideal target market is vital to the long term success of your business. You need to shape your business from the foundations up, and focus on how you can best serve your ideal customer. If you try to be everything to everyone, you are actually going to be no good to anybody. From a strategic point of view, your desired target market directs the cut of your business. Stefan gives an example of when he was brought into his parent's struggling textile and manufacturing business - and how important important identifying and serving their ideal customer was in turning around the business. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? Get in touch with Business Benchmark Group! Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au. Email info@businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au Call 03 9001 0878 - - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Stefan's Books: "How to Grow a Business" https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Business-Stefan-Kazakis/dp/0994545274 "From Deadwood To Diamonds" https://

What does it take to build an A-Grade team? Stefan explores what leaders need to do to grow high performance teams and what employers need to look for when hiring new members for your team. Key to building a high performance team is a focus on progression, and not letting perfection get in the way. Stefan also explores the four key attributes to look for when building a high performance team: 1. Organisational skills 2. Communication skills 3. Interpersonal skills 4. Analytical skills - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Get in touch with Business Benchmark Group! Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au. Email info@businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au Call 03 9001 0878 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Stefan's Books: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "How to Grow a Business" https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Business-Stefan-Kazakis/dp/0994545274 "From Deadwood To Diamonds" https://www.amazon.com/Deadwood-Diamonds-Business-Achieve

Our interview with Damian De Vincentis, owner of be0nd plumbing. be0nd plumbing (www.beondplumbing.com.au) is one of Victoria’s leading emergency response and maintenance plumbing companies who offer 24/7 emergency service including storm relief. Being involved in reactive maintenance and having to work closely with insurance companies requires strict adherence to processes and inevitably a lot of paperwork. This is always a significant challenge to meet, especially in a fast-growing business. Damian became a client of ours in November 2017. Since then, beOnd plumbing has gone from strength to strength. • Revenue has more than doubled • Team has grown from four to eight • Huge improvement in process handling • Key achievement has been building a trusted team of A-graders who reliably adopt and follow the procedures put in place. Damian shares tremendous insight into how beOnd plumbing has been able to grow so successfully, especially over the previous 12 months, and how vital his team, and the process

In business, and in your personal life, you make a choice: Are you a dream maker, or a dream taker? In this brain stretch episode, Stefan explores the concepts of “Mindset, Belief, Identity and Accountability”, and how getting these right is crucial to your business success. The reality is that to be successful in business, you need to have a curiosity-based mindset and be open to evaluating new information. You need to open-minded about how to consistently do things better. You need to cultivate an identity of embracing accountability. You need to have stamina, and ensure you always finish things – not just start them. The journey of business is never a straight line. It’s not easy, which is why only 13% of adults in the world have the belief and mindset to run a business. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Need a business coach? Visit businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au Email info@businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au Subscribe to our podcast: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/business-benchmark-g